The Disability KaR programme commissioned a number of specific research projects. These have included substantive studies on poverty, disability and development and a comparative analysis of disability and gender mainstreaming.

There were also briefing notes prepared on the social model of disability and the disability policies of national and international development agencies. These formed part of the 'Enabling disabled people to reduce poverty' study. (The research papers can be downloaded in the Research papers, Reducing poverty study section).

The scope and range of research developed when the UK disability movement became more directly engaged in the programme. Supported by the Programme Advisory Group (PAG), in which disabled people were in the majority, a research agenda was formulated. This was firmly rooted in the research priorities and modalities of Southern DPOs, as expressed at the Malawi roundtable. It resulted in the production of seven short-term but ambitious research projects, all of which were characterised by collaborative working between disabled people in the North and South and the active involvement of Southern DPOs. The research included:

1. Research gaps on the topic of disability and development
2. Disability policy and legislation
3. The collection and use by disabled people of statistical data
4. Whether disabled people’s voices are being heard in the development process
5. Mainstreaming disability in development cooperation
6. Disabled people in conflict and emergency situations
7. Inclusive education in Asia and Africa

(See the Thematic Research section for more information on each of the seven projects, or click on any of the titles above)

The Policy Project, which was designed to provide technical support to DFID with regard to disability issues, also commissioned a number of research projects. For more information see Programme area 2. DFID Policy Project.

The executive summaries and full reports can be downloaded in the Research papers section