Applied Research

Research that answers questions practitioners actually have.

Academic research asks interesting questions. Applied research asks useful ones. IMACON conducts studies designed to inform programme decisions, policy discussions, and sector strategies — not to sit on a shelf. Our research is methodologically rigorous but written for people who need to act on the findings.

We specialise in multi-country comparative studies, rapid needs assessments, and sector analyses in contexts where reliable secondary data is scarce and primary data collection requires cultural competence, local language skills, and the ability to navigate complex institutional environments.

What this looks like in practice

Multi-country study on digitalisation and marginalisation in adult learning

Commissioned by DVV International and funded by BMZ, this study examined how the shift to digital learning formats was affecting access for marginalised populations across three regions: Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan), Southeast Asia (Cambodia), and the Middle East (Palestine). Each country study — 15 to 20 pages of analysis plus annexes — examined the interaction between technology access, demographic factors (age, gender, ethnicity, rural/urban location), and educational outcomes. The cross-country analysis identified common patterns and region-specific dynamics, delivered through written reports and a webinar presentation to practitioners and policymakers. The research went beyond documenting the digital divide. It examined how community-based learning centres were adapting (or failing to adapt) to hybrid delivery models, what infrastructure gaps made digital learning unrealistic for certain populations, and where digitalisation was creating new forms of exclusion rather than expanding access.

Media landscape and journalism education research in Ukraine

For DW Akademie, we studied how wartime conditions had reshaped the media sector — changes in audience behaviour, the economics of local media, the effectiveness of different journalism training formats, and the specific challenge of building media literacy among seniors (aged 60+) who were disproportionately exposed to disinformation. The research directly informed programme design decisions about training modalities and target audience prioritisation.

Embedded research in media development programmes

Through evaluations of Internews's Granat programme (phases 1 and 2), we conducted studies examining media audience dynamics, journalism capacity-building effectiveness, and the role of civil society in supporting independent media in restrictive environments.

Methodology and access

Every study is designed around the specific research questions — we don't apply a standard template. That said, our typical approach combines desk review of available literature and programme documentation with primary data collection through key informant interviews (typically 5+ per country in multi-country studies), focus group discussions where group dynamics reveal insights that individual interviews miss, and quantitative analysis where baseline or survey data exists. We build feedback loops into the research process: draft findings are shared with commissioning organisations and key stakeholders before finalisation, ensuring that the analysis is both accurate and actionable.

Research quality depends on who you can talk to and whether they trust you enough to say what they actually think. Our team and network of 15+ regional experts conduct interviews and focus groups in English, Russian, German, French, Turkish, Tajik, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Khmer, Armenian, Georgian, and Albanian. This isn't a nice-to-have — it's what makes the difference between surface-level findings and research that captures what's really happening.

What this looks like in practice

Multi-country study on digitalisation and marginalisation in adult learning

Media landscape and journalism education research in Ukraine

Embedded research in media development programmes

Methodology and access

Productized services