Demand-Driven Research is characterized by its responsiveness to the needs and priorities of stakeholders, including policymakers, practitioners, and communities affected by the issues being studied. This approach emphasizes the need for research that is directly relevant to  the challenges faced by decision-makers, with the goal of informing evidence-based policy and program development.

As a testament to the initiative's successful  implementation, DDRI has identified and nurtured 6 DFE projects developed by our network members that cater to the specific evidence requirements of policymakers.

Project 1: Gamified Savings as a Problem Gambling Intervention

NIERA members Dr. Laura Barasa, Dr. Annet Adong, and their collaborators from the World Bank (Sylvan Herskowitz) and the University of California, Berkeley (Maximilian Müller) studied the impact of gamified soccer prize-linked savings products on savings and gambling expenditure among male youth in Kenya and Uganda. Using a sample of 2000 male youth, the lab-in-the-field experiment tested the effects of savings products with the potential for winning large, low-likelihood prizes and the gamification of these rewards, designed to mimic sports betting.

The study aimed to determine if such products increased savings and reduced problematic sports betting behavior. The study found that combining skewed rewards (low probability but large rewards), early payments, and gamification positively impacted the likelihood of saving. Similarly, combining skewed rewards and early payments without gamification also increased the likelihood of saving. However, gamification and skewed rewards did not significantly boost saving if paired with delayed payments.

These findings suggest that the most effective way to increase savings is by combining skewed rewards with either gamification or early payments. Innovative mobile financial services leveraging these features can potentially expand savings among vulnerable male youth and reduce their exposure to problematic sports betting and gambling. Given the high financial and social costs of gambling addiction, these gamified savings products offer a promising solution for preventing and mitigating risky gambling behavior, potentially yielding long-term savings and societal benefits. 

Countries of Focus: Kenya and Uganda

Project 2:Reducing Poverty Among the Urban Poor in Uganda. Evaluating The Effectiveness and Inclusiveness of the Parish Development Model

NIERA member Dr. Mary Nantongo and Dr. Enoch Owusu-Sekyere from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences are evaluating the impact of agri-food value chain interventions under the Parish Development Model (PDM) on the welfare of vulnerable urban poor in Kampala City.

Using a mixed-method approach on a sample of 1500 respondents, the study examines how membership in agri-food enterprise groups under the PDM influences household incomes and poverty levels. It also investigates the distributional impacts of the PDM on different segments of beneficiary households, including the poor, women, and youth.

Additionally, the study explores the role of inclusive participation in decision-making regarding access to resources, benefits, and opportunities in supporting the PDM's poverty reduction efforts.

Country of Focus: Uganda

Project 3:The Impact of Community Based Health Insurance on Health Service Utilization (CBHI): An Experimental Evidence from Ethiopia

Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI) schemes have become a primary means of financing healthcare in many developing countries, crucially providing affordable and accessible healthcare to millions.

NIERA members Dr. Alebel Bayrau, Dr. Shibiru Ayalew, and Dr. Jemal Adem from the Policy Studies Institute are evaluating the effectiveness of targeted subsidies and information provision on CBHI uptake and healthcare utilization through a randomized experiment with 1400 households.

The study aims to understand how these interventions affect the enrollment of poor and vulnerable populations in CBHI and their impact on healthcare utilization. It also seeks to identify barriers to health insurance uptake and analyze the impact of subsidy information provision on non-health outcomes among poor and vulnerable groups in Ethiopia.

The findings will provide evidence to propose policy options to enhance CBHI's contribution to universal health coverage.

Country of Focus: Ethiopia

Project 4:Impact of the Switch from Ten to Five Dose Measles Rubella (MR) Vaccines in Kenya

NIERA member Dr. Apollo Maima and collaborating partners from the University of Nairobi (Prof. Faith Okalebo), Innovia Research Consulting (Doreen Othero), KEMRI (Cameline Orlendo), and Maseno University (Edna Osano) are assessing the impact of switching from 10-dose to 5-dose measles-rubella (MR) vaccine vials on various variables. 

These include vaccine coverage and wastage, acceptability by healthcare workers, supply chain operational factors, and the total cost per vaccinated child. Conducted in the Kenyan counties of Vihiga, Homa Bay, and Kiambu, the study uses a parallel-clustered randomized control design with a sample size of 470 facilities.

The study is supported by the National Vaccines and Immunization Program - Ministry of Health, which will supply 35,000 vials of the MR vaccine. It aims to provide local evidence to the Ministry of Health on the viability of switching from 10-dose to 5-dose measles-rubella vials.

Country of Focus: Kenya

Project 5: Evaluation of HIV Self-Test Programs in Tanzania and Kenya through Mixed Methods Design 

NIERA members Dr. Werner Maokola, Dr. Samuel Muhula, and Christina Fille conducted a study to clarify the process of HIV self-testing (HIVST) implementation, focusing on coverage and service availability. The study aimed to understand perceptions and barriers to implementation from various stakeholders' perspectives and assess HIVST's impact on critical outcomes, including the retention rate after a year of antiretroviral therapy, viral load suppression levels, and the incidence of opportunistic infections. 

The study found positive progress in the implementation of HIV self-testing (HIVST) programs, with increased uptake, especially among men and youth. Key facilitators of HIVST uptake include privacy, convenience (testing without a third party), free availability of kits, and the desire to know one's status.

However, barriers to implementation include fear of knowing one's status due to stigma, lack of knowledge on using test kits, skepticism about results and bureaucracy in accessing test kits. The study recommends expanding HIVST availability beyond health facilities to public areas, educating healthcare providers and communities about the program, addressing confidentiality concerns, and collaborating with the private sector, including pharmacies and distributors, to enhance access to HIV self-testing.

Countries of Focus: Tanzania and Kenya

Project 6: Artistic Pathways for Youth Employment

NIERA member Professor Amos Njuguna and partners from USIU-Africa (Salome Asena) and Across Productions (Daniel Ndambuki) are evaluating a model to boost youth employment in the creative sector.

This study reverses the traditional creative industry model by starting with market research, moving to pre-production, and piloting locally before scaling to regional and continental markets. Using the Approaches to Inclusive Markets Systems methodology, the intervention aims to create systemic change by aligning the education system with the creative industry, supporting quality content creation, monetization of talent, and knowledge building on intellectual property rights.

Baseline survey findings from 984 creatives showed a gender imbalance (57% male, 43% female) in applications, varied income levels across creative activities, limited access to training and mentorship, and a heavy reliance on mobile savings and personal networks for financing.

Country of Focus: Kenya