Development International e.V.

Research

What is the evidence on the ground?

Rules, standards and programmes are meant to improve conditions for workers, communities and ecosystems. We evaluate whether they do, and we study the conditions they are meant to change: who works in a supply chain, where harm occurs and who can offer remedy. Our methods are chosen for the question, from econometric impact evaluation to surveys, case studies and participatory research with the people affected.

Impact evaluation · Minerals and metals · For the OECD · 2023–25

A decade of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance in tin, tantalum and tungsten supply chains

Ten years after the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains was adopted, did it reduce conflict at mine sites? We combined difference-in-differences analysis of mine-level data with nine case studies, under independent peer review.

The evaluation builds on the monitoring and evaluation framework we designed for the Guidance in 2021.

Difference-in-differencesCase studiesSecondary data analysisPeer review
61%
fewer violent incidents (estimated) at mine sites enrolled in the iTSCi due diligence programme
Commissioner
OECD
Team
9 researchers, international
Design
Quasi-experimental, mixed methods
Terminal evaluation · Minerals and metals · For UNEP · 2026

planetGOLD: reducing mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining

Terminal evaluation of the GEF-funded planetGOLD programme, which works with artisanal and small-scale gold miners to reduce and eliminate mercury use while improving access to finance, formalisation and markets for responsibly produced gold.

The evaluation will assess what the programme achieved for miners, their communities and the environment, drawing on a structured sampling framework and field research in the Philippines.

Structured samplingField research
Under way
Inception complete; fieldwork next in the Philippines
Commissioner
UNEP
Programme
planetGOLD (GEF projects 9602 and 9767)
Issue
Mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining

How we approach a question

We start from the question and the evidence that can answer it, not from a preferred method. To establish where things stand, we use population surveys, econometric estimation and mapping. To test whether a rule or programme made a difference, we estimate impact with quasi-experimental designs where data allow, and otherwise use contribution analysis and process tracing to show how and why change happened.

We judge findings from the perspective of the people a rule or programme is meant to benefit, and apply the OECD-DAC evaluation criteria where commissioners require them.

Our methods in full

Question firstMethods chosen for what needs to be known
From baseline to impactSurveys and estimation to describe; quasi-experimental or theory-based designs to explain
Rightsholder perspectiveOutcomes judged by what changes for people affected
Fieldwork with consentInformed consent, anonymity and safeguarding

Evaluations and studies

2025
Evaluation · Agricultural commodities

Evaluation of the ABS Initiative on BioTrade market pathways

OECD-DAC evaluation of a multi-donor, multi-country initiative, triangulating qualitative evidence across Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa and Kenya.

For GIZ · 2-person team
OECD-DAC criteriaCase studiesKey informant interviews
2024–25
Evaluation · Minerals and metals

Incentive framework for artisanal gold miners and traders, Dabakala, Côte d’Ivoire

Relevance, cost-effectiveness and sustainability of ten CRAFT and OECD practices in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, assessed with gold cooperatives and buyers.

For Solidaridad · 9-person team
Contribution analysisParticipatory workshopsKey informant interviews
2024–25
Assessment · Cross-sector

Independent assessment of SBTi: credibility, impact and data management

Parallel surveys of staff (n=74) and Advisory Group members (n=82), content analysis of 141 media articles from 58 outlets using AI-assisted extraction validated by manual coding, and social media sentiment analysis.

For Science Based Targets initiative · 3-person team
SurveysContent analysisSentiment analysis
2023–25
Study · Agricultural commodities

Estimating the number of workers in small producer organisations

Econometric estimation of hired labour prevalence in Fairtrade cocoa cooperatives in Côte d’Ivoire.

For Fairtrade International · 6-person team
Econometric modellingSurvey
2024
Study · Cross-sector

Non-judicial grievance mechanisms: an ecosystem of stakeholders

A global mapping of the organisations that facilitate access to remedy for business-related harm, to help identify gaps in access.

With the Access to Remedy Institute
Stakeholder mapping
Report
2023–24
Study · Agricultural commodities

Rainforest Alliance’s future in the HREDD ecosystem

Mapping of the due diligence service ecosystem around Rainforest Alliance’s partner companies, with a gap analysis against its internal HREDD typology.

For Rainforest Alliance · 4-person team
Key informant interviewsDocumentary analysisEcosystem mapping
2022–23
Study · Multiple sectors

Addressing root causes: private sector impacts on child labour outcomes

Systems modelling of the relationships between firms, households and child labour, identifying 74 practices companies can use to tackle root causes, with three value chain case studies.

For UNICEF · 4-person team
Systems modellingCase studiesLiterature review
2021
Study · Cross-sector

50 billion euros: Europe’s child labour footprint in 2019

Economic modelling of the value of EU imports associated with child labour, adapting a multiple-equilibria model to EU trade data and ILO child labour statistics.

For The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament
Economic modellingSecondary data analysis
2020–21
Study · Agricultural commodities

Contextual analysis of workers in Fairtrade small-scale producer organisations

Comparison across ten producer organisations in five countries, with 300 worker interviews and 87 key informant interviews. Cocoa in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, bananas in Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Peru. It informed Fairtrade’s system-wide worker strategy. Authors: C. N. Bayer, E. de Buhr and W. E. Bertrand.

For Fairtrade International
SurveyCase comparisonKey informant interviews
Executive summary, policy brief and Fairtrade’s management response
2017
Study · Cross-sector

NGO leadership in grievance mechanisms and access to remedy in global supply chains

The roles NGOs play in shaping and operating effective grievance mechanisms, with case studies of the mechanisms led by Amader Kotha and the Issara Institute. Authored by DI’s Jesse Hudson with Mark Winters, and presented in Geneva in November 2017.

Commissioned by the Ethical Trading Initiative
Case studiesKey informant interviews
Paper at the Ethical Trading Initiative
2015
Survey · Minerals and metals

Dodd-Frank Section 1502: supply chain survey

A survey along 3TG supply chains on how conflict minerals programmes are implemented in practice, from issuers down to their suppliers.

Survey
Findings presentation
2014
Survey · Minerals and metals

Dodd-Frank Section 1502: post-filing survey

A survey of issuers after the first filing year, estimating the actual cost of complying with Section 1502.

SurveyCost estimation
Survey report
Engraving of an enumerator team reviewing questionnaires in the field
Surveyor team, Ghana