In order to influence governments to affect change, MEDICS ensures to provide adequate evidence, research and policy documentation illustrating that the issues they are concerned with need serious consideration.

In 2017, MEDICS was awarded Independent Research Organisation (IRO) status by Research Councils UK. To qualify as an IRO, organisations must prove to Research Councils UK that they “possess an existing in-house capacity to carry out research that materially extends and enhances the national research base” and that they are able to “demonstrate an independent capability to undertake and lead research programmes.”

Our policy and research work is based broadly around our four strategic priorities: also known as our change themes. These are health, education, social inclusion and community development.

Our research strategy sets out four objectives:

1. Keep up to date with the existing body of evidence and ensure its effective use in our programmes and advocacy
2. Conduct high quality research to generate new evidence to address global knowledge gaps and our operational challenges
3. Build organisational capacity and effective partnerships to generate, understand and use research evidence
4. Ensure effective dissemination of research findings within and outside the organisation