Beyond the grant: How Ethiopia is building research ecosystems for impact
The Ethiopia Challenge Fund is utilizing local research to address the country's diverse development needs, moving away from top-down grant models. By involving local stakeholders and steering committees, the initiative aims to create a sustainable research ecosystem that informs national policy.
Why it matters
It demonstrates a shift in international development strategy toward local ownership and evidence-based policy making in complex environments.
Beyond the grant: How Ethiopia is building research ecosystems for impact July 22, 2026 • Blog Originally posted on Oxford Policy Management blog . The earlier pieces in this series made the case for local ownership and ecosystem-building. The Ethiopia Challenge Fund shows what those ideas look like in practice: research questions rooted in national realities, led by local researchers, and carried forward through national institutions.
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