The Reach Experience
Reach has developed a unique approach to uncover how and why certain development programs are able to reach the world’s poorest of the poor. Over 12-18 months, research teams conduct extensive primary and secondary research, and receive in-depth training and coaching to foster purpose-driven moral leadership that will accelerate their capacity to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.
The Research Process:
Once chosen, students are mentored for 12-18 months by dedicated faculty mentors as they undertake intensive primary and secondary research. The research process involves case selection, desk research, research design and ethics, research methods, stakeholder interviews, field research. When the data collection is completed, teams produce a case study, highlighting the findings from each project.
Research findings are presented at the annual Reach Symposium attended by leading thinkers, researchers and practitioners from the public, private and civil society sectors. Findings have appeared in prominent journals.
Reach researchers have conducted field research all over the world, including in Africa, Latin America, Oceania, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, as well as in Canada.
Case studies have examined such topics as: how to reach refugees with a biometric cash assistance program in Jordan; how to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Thailand; how to get affordable solar panels to nomadic herders in Mongolia; and how to optimize food processing, operation and distribution in Mexico.
Professional Skills Development & Performance Coaching
In conjunction to the research process, researchers participate in a series of workshops that build professional skills to support their research activities throughout the academic year. A team of professional performance coaches work with the teams to share best practices and regular feedback, which is pivotal to developing a team culture that drives high performance.