Water for Women is unusual in being both a WASH implementation and a research fund. This learning brief documents the value and contribution of research that was designed and integrated with the actions of other actors to achieve Fund outcomes between 2018 and 2024.

It draws on internal reports and 20 interviews with 35 stakeholders from the Fund Coordinator, research and civil society partner organisations and government, with findings discussed and validated at the final Water for Women Fund event in October 2024. It finds significant value in research partnerships, improving both processes and outcomes and generating catalytic value beyond individual projects.