Justice systems in low-resource and conflict-affected settings are often stretched to breaking point. In Malawi, for example, fewer than 800 lawyers serve a population of 22 million, and legal aid caseloads run into the tens of thousands
In 2024, the International Growth Centre (IGC) launched their Transformational Change methodology: a renewed approach to understand how their work influences policy and to further evidence its impact. The methodology aims to identify the conditions in which research can achieve significant and positive policy and academic impact by focusing on innovative contribution, institutionalisation, scalability, and impact. Through this work, the IGC can inform future IGC strategies and direct resources where they can generate the greatest impact.
The Transformational Change methodology goes beyond IGC’s project-level impact evidence to understand how clusters of research, sustained partnerships, and iterative policy engagement contribute to durable change over time. It assesses how IGC-supported work advances the research frontier while contributing to institutionalisation, scalability, and policy impact across reform agendas.
Transformational Change methodology identifies 4 dimensions: 1) innovative contribution; 2) institutionalisation; 3) scalability; and 4) impact.
IGC have developed a series of case studies that describe the Transformational Change achieved through the 4 identified dimensions; key factors that were necessary to bring about successful change; and the conditions for Transformational Change.
Transformational Change case studies from Mozambique, Uganda and Ghana.
Mozambique
In northern Mozambique, radicalisation and terrorism had caused social unset, economic decline and nearly one million people forced from their homes.
Over the past ten years, the IGC has funded 7 innovative research projects to support Mozambique’s government with evidence-informed strategies for conflict management, support information campaigns to mitigate resource-related mismanagement, and facilitated the reintegration of Internally Displaced People.
Further information on how the IGC Transformational Change methodology contributed to the impact of this research cluster can be found in the following paper:
Uganda
The Uganda Economic Growth Forum (EGF) was launched in 2017 as a joint initiative of MOFPED and the IGC and has since become a platform that brings together policymakers, researchers, civil society, and stakeholders from various sectors to discuss and develop economic growth.
So far, the IGC has funded 7 events, two research projects and a book, in support of the EGF. From May to July 2024, the IGC applied the Transformational Change methodology to EGF drawing on internal documents, official reports, publications and fourteen interviews.
For further details on the key findings of this work, read this case study:
Transformational Change Case study – Uganda (pdf)
Ghana
In Ghana, market inefficiencies and information gaps between farmers and traders have led to suboptimal pricing, mismatched supply and demand, and reduced market participation.
IGC funded a cluster of 7 research projects and one event to explore solutions to these agricultural challenges. The key outcome of this work is the research support and policy engagement that contributed to the design, implementation, and evaluation of the Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX).
For more information on how the Transformational Change methodology contributed to the positive change to GCX, see the following paper:
Driving Transformational Change in Ghana: Supporting the Ghana Commodity Exchange
And watch this video:
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