The Gates Foundation and the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)’s Agricultural Research Partnership aimed to advance equity, food security and systemic research and impact in Africa and South Asia. It combined the Gates Foundation’s technical expertise and innovation leadership with FCDO’s development priorities, geographic reach, and flexible funding mechanisms.
Our evaluation of the partnership came at a pivotal moment; when the collaboration framework approached its 2026 conclusion, this evaluation provided a timely opportunity to reflect on nearly a decade of joint investment, innovation and learning.
We sought to understand how the partnership had evolved, what it had achieved and how its operational mechanisms contributed to its outcomes.
This work sought to inform the future of the Gates-FCDO partnership but also provide insights that could be applied across sectors and geographies.
Ultimately, it tells a story of how partnerships, when thoughtfully designed and executed, can amplify impact and unlock solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems.
Our role
Our evaluation assessed the partnership’s effectiveness, impact and added value in advancing agricultural research and innovation (R&I) to address food security, nutrition, and climate resilience in Africa and South Asia.
It also examined how well the partnership addressed priorities such as equity and inclusivity.
The evaluation was guided by five core focuses:
1. Understanding the partnership’s evolution
How has the collaboration adapted to shifting priorities, expanded its scope and responded to global challenges?
2. Identifying the advantages of each partner
How have the unique strengths of each partner been combined to create added value?
3. Assessing the partnership’s impact
What tangible outcomes (new technologies, policy change etc.) and intangible benefits (convening power, influence etc.) has the partnership brought? What is the value for money of the joint investments?
4. Exploring how the partnership has supported impact
What mechanisms have enabled success? How have principles of equity, inclusion and legitimacy been embedded in the work?
5. Informing future opportunities
What are the strategic directions for the next phase of the partnership? How can it build on momentum, address emerging challenges and scale successful approaches?
Methods and approaches
Focusing on both developmental outcomes and operational mechanisms, the evaluation assessed how elements such as secondee roles, co-funding models, and adaptability to sectoral shifts enhanced collaboration.
Evaluation methods included:
Theory of change development
A key focus of the evaluation was on sustained research and development (R&D) over the long term.
We co-created a partnership-level theory of change to map how the collaboration drives impact, from research investments to real-world outcomes.
This framing shifted focus from sectors to problem-solving and considered the broader orchestration of R&I investments, experts, and initiatives. It captured the partnership’s role in leadership, visibility, and mobilising investments.
The ToC mapped R&I impact pathways, from commissioning mission-led projects to coordinating investments and scaling agricultural and health technologies. It also enabled retrospective analysis of R&I investments, aligning them with mission principles and prioritising research quality.
Qualitative methods
We combined qualitative methods, including:
- Key informant interviews with stakeholders from FCDO, Gates Foundation, grantees, and partners.
- Document and portfolio reviews to assess financial flows, strategic alignment, and project outcomes.
- Case Studies and Impact Briefs
We also conducted deep dives into selected projects to understand how the partnership contributed to tangible and intangible impacts, such as policy influence, innovation uptake, and equity outcomes.
Coding and analysis
Using a structured coding framework, we analysed data for patterns, strengths, and areas for improvement.
Collaborative learning
We held workshops with stakeholders to validate findings, co-create recommendations, and ensure the evaluation supports future decision-making.
Outcomes and impact
Ultimately, this evaluation supported adaptive learning and strategic decision-making, ensuring that future investments are grounded in evidence and aligned with the evolving challenges of global development.
The evaluation highlighted how coordinated, long-term R&I investments can drive transformative change. It also emphasised the importance of equity, inclusivity, and positioning research for real-world use.
