Global Development and Research Initiative

Project Background

Despite high secondary enrolment, rural Bangladesh students lag in grade-level English/math competencies; longest global COVID school closures (Mar 2020-Sep 2021) exacerbated gaps for Grade 9-10 SSC examinees from low-SES homes lacking parental help or quality private tutoring.
Building on prior IRI/IVR success, proposed clustered RCT in 210 rural/peri-urban SW secondary schools tests low-cost toll-free IVR podcasts (144 lessons: 72 English/math, curriculum-aligned, role-model narrated) + aspiration messages for ~2,520 students; arms include standalone IVR vs Assisted (bi-weekly 30-min tutor calls for comprehension/motivation) + weekly SMS nudges/reminders/content/career guidance—to mitigate loss, boost engagement/outcomes.

Roles of GDRI

Capacity Development and Intervention Design: Operationalized lesson plans into IVR audio (English/math, national curriculum); recruited university role-models for 144 podcasts (clear/local style); coordinated toll-free setup/IVR flow testing for rural access.
Field Implementation and Community Engagement: Recruited schools/students (12-15 Grade 9/school, 210 schools); pre-intervention demos (access/benefits/support); T2: recruited/managed tutors for bi-weekly 30-min calls; oversaw weekly SMS (2x: reminders/nudges/content/career); monitored IVR usage (calls/duration/progress/quizzes).
Data Management, Cleaning, and Analysis: Baseline/endline assessments; surveys on engagement/learning; cleaned IVR/SMS/tutor data for RCT analysis.

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.

IVR Audio Lessons for SSC Exam Prep After COVID Closures

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