EOIs are screened first for eligibility. They will then be reviewed to assess whether a theory-based design is plausible: can the impact assessment question be answered with reasonable confidence from existing or newly gathered evidence, and if evidence will be collected, how feasible this is.  

Eligibility criteria include:  

• Completed research project with a demonstrable FCDO RAD (formerly RED) funding link. 
• Evidence of FCDO funding should be provided through published outputs, grant documentation, acknowledgements, project records, or other clear documentation; publicly available outputs that cite FCDO funding should be used where possible.
• Clearly articulated theory of change or equivalent causal logic. 
• Plausible and traceable impact pathway from the research activity to later outcomes. 
• Sufficient evidence base for retrospective analysis, including documentation, outputs, and accessible stakeholders where relevant. 
• Fit with the eligible methods and with the scale of inference that the data can support. 
• Potential contribution to portfolio learning, methodological learning, or policy relevance.  

Assessment criteria for the EOI stage 

• Eligibility: Is the project completed and clearly linked to FCDO RAD funding? 
• Impact pathway: Is there a plausible and traceable link from the research to the claimed impact? 
• Evidence availability: Will there be enough documentation and evidence, or stakeholder access to support retrospective assessment? 
• Method fit: Could a theory-based or configurational method plausibly answer the proposed impact question? 
• Strategic and learning value: Would the case contribute to policy relevance, methodological learning, or portfolio learning?