Our work

Sectors

Over the past ten years, we have delivered more than 100 projects in East Africa, with a focus on research with high social impact.

We provide research services in East Africa on the subjects of education, public health, agriculture, youth and livelihoods, and urbanization, climate and migration, with cross-cutting themes of gender and social protection.

Our past and ongoing projects include design and implementation of impact evaluations, large-scale data collection surveys, qualitative research through interviews and focus groups, and landscape analysis.

Education

We have worked on projects across all levels of the education system: basic, secondary, university, and vocational. Our projects cover a wide range of thematic areas including student learning outcomes, school dropout and transitions, self-centered learning, gender, school leadership and teaching quality. In addition to interviews, we use methods such as literacy and numeracy assessments and classroom observations.

Public health

Topics we have worked on include nutrition and food security, early childhood development, sexual and reproductive health, and access to health services. These projects range from desk-based assessments and landscape analysis, to large mixed-methods data collection campaigns involving thousands of households and complex methods such as anthropometric measurements and environmental monitoring. We have carried out work in public health for clients such as the World Bank, UNICEF, DFID and USAID, among others.

Agriculture

Laterite has hands-on experience with projects focused on agriculture and rural development across East Africa. We have worked on a range of projects in this sector, from quantitative surveys to perception and attitudes studies to secondary data analysis. We have significant experience in the design and implementation of large impact evaluations, for example of coffee agronomy training programs. Many of our projects explore the intersection of agriculture and other themes such as nutrition, livelihoods, gender, and public health.

Youth & livelihoods research in East Africa

Youth and livelihoods

Laterite’s previous and ongoing collaborations include projects on youth and adolescence, transitions from school to work, employment and employability, economic empowerment, household dynamics, social protection and wages, and financial inclusion. We have worked with a range of clients including the Mastercard Foundation, ODI, the World Bank, the International Growth Centre, Rwanda Revenue Authority, Smart Campaign, and Kepler.

Urbanization, climate & migration research in East Africa

Urbanization, climate and migration

Laterite works on projects focusing on the social and economic impacts of urban development in East Africa. To date, this work has included research on informal settlements and the economic geography of secondary cities. We have a special interest in understanding the impacts of climate change on urban and rural communities. Our research on migration focuses on livelihoods and economic impacts for both refugees and host communities, including in response to COVID-19.