Global Development and Research Initiative

Project Background

Rural Bangladesh lacks quality pre-primary education for 3-5-year-olds from poor homes. This 2017-2019 clustered RCT (222 Khulna/Satkhira villages, ~7,000 kids aged 36-60 months) tested three models vs control: (i) 5-day/week village preschool; (ii) weekly home-visits (varying saturation); (iii) 3-day preschool + home-visits—adapting Perry/CHECC for literacy/numeracy/executive/socio-emotional skills.
Assessments (baseline/1yr/2yr): Woodcock-Johnson (literacy/numeracy/exec function), ASQ-3, household/parenting surveys. All treatments yielded ~0.5 SD cognitive/non-cognitive gains (largest for weakest/poor kids), spillovers to siblings/peers; home-visits showed 0.2 SD gains for untreated via parental networks (stronger with treated-family ties).

Roles of GDRI

Capacity Development and Intervention Design: Adapted integrated curriculum/home-visiting toolkit with Monash/BIED/IER for rural context; identified villages, secured preschool spaces, ensured safety/child-protection norms.
Field Implementation and Community Engagement: Recruited/managed local female teachers (secondary+ experience); 5-day training + monthly refreshers on pedagogy/curriculum/caregiver engagement/assessments; oversaw 5-day preschools/weekly visits/parent groups.
Data Management, Cleaning, and Analysis: Baseline/mid/endline child assessments (literacy/numeracy/exec function), household/parenting surveys by graduate enumerators; pre-intervention parental network survey (borrowing/illness support/visits); monitored attendance/fidelity via supervision/leaders; data entry/cleaning/analytic datasets; disseminated findings on low-cost gains/spillovers via networks to stakeholders.

Our expertise lies in designing and implementing rigorous, large-scale empirical research—especially RCTs, mixed-methods studies, and impact evaluations—across education, gender, health, agriculture, crisis response, and climate adaptation in real-world Bangladeshi settings. We specialize in translating complex research questions into actionable study designs, ensuring methodological rigor while remaining sensitive to local contexts and constraints.

Our team has extensive experience in survey design, instrument development, and high-frequency data collection using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. We are proficient in managing large datasets, applying advanced econometric techniques, and ensuring data quality through robust monitoring and validation systems. From baseline to endline, we maintain strict adherence to ethical standards and research protocols.

We also excel in working closely with government agencies, NGOs, and local communities to co-design interventions and ensure policy relevance. Our work emphasizes generating evidence that is not only academically sound but also practically useful for decision-makers. We have a strong track record in producing policy briefs, academic papers, and dissemination materials tailored to diverse audiences.

In addition, we bring expertise in capacity building, training enumerators and field supervisors, and strengthening local research ecosystems. By combining technical excellence with deep contextual understanding, we aim to contribute meaningful insights that inform policy, improve program effectiveness, and drive sustainable development outcomes in Bangladesh.

Early Childhood Programs for Rural Kids' School Readiness

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