Program Overview

360-degree feedback on development priorities, progress, and performance

AidData triangulates information from its surveys, snap polls, and interviews to produce public reports and custom analysis that help development agencies be more responsive to partner priorities and maximize their impact with Global South leaders. Our research regularly feeds into agency-wide evaluations and strategy reviews, as well as international standard-setting bodies, such as MOPAN, Paris21, and the OECD. Our team advises both development agencies and Global South policy research organizations on how they can build stronger in-house capabilities to assess policy influence.

Focus Areas

Listening to Leaders Survey

Fielded every three years, our Listening to Leaders survey captures the perspectives of public, private, and civil society leaders in 148 low- and middle-income countries on a series of topics including development priorities and donor performance. It provides a comparative view across stakeholder groups, sectors, and geographic regions over time. AidData has fielded four waves of the survey in 2014, 2017, 2020, and 2024. The resulting research has been featured in NPR, Bloomberg, Foreign Policy, The Washington Post, and The Guardian, among others.

Snap Polls

Our snap polls facilitate a deeper dive into a specific topic. Usually fielded to a small and targeted group of individuals, these short surveys provide additional insights into questions that are uncovered by our large-n Listening to Leaders survey. In collaboration with the Brookings Institution, our snap poll on education data garnered insights from over 300 policymakers. In collaboration with PARIS21 and Open Data Watch, over 1,000 Global South policymakers shared their views on national statistics in our snap poll.

Custom Analysis and Advice

Drawing on data from our Listening to Leaders survey and snap polls, AidData produces a wide range of custom analysis, profiles, and datasets for both public use and the internal needs of development agencies and other partners. Our survey data analysis can be paired with qualitative data collected through key informant interviews or desk research to generate targeted, high-value insights.

Publications

Blog Posts

Spotlight

Tuning in to a New Perspective


This video is an overview of LTL's 360 degree feedback on development priorities, progress, and performance from the perspective of leaders in low- and middle-income countries. We research convergence and divergence in priorities; barriers and opportunities to advance reforms; performance of development partners; and evidence-informed policymaking.

Bridging the Gap between Leaders and Citizens


This video provides a case study into the Listening to Leaders 2018 report, which draws upon the unique experiences and perspectives of government officials, civil society leaders, private sector representatives, and development partners working on the ground in developing countries. 

Program Team

For technical or research inquires, contact:

Policy Analysis

Samantha Custer

Director of Policy Analysis

Policy Analysis

Rodney Knight

Senior Research Scientist

Policy Analysis

Ana Horigoshi

Research Scientist

Policy Analysis

Jonathan A. Solis

Research Scientist

Policy Analysis

Kelsey Marshall

Program Manager

Alex Wooley

Director of Partnerships and Communications