About Us
The Research on International Policy Implementation Lab (RIPIL) conducts timely, rigorous research in collaboration with policymakers and practitioners to generate real-world impact. RIPIL was founded in 2020 at American University, with a commitment to involving the people who will ultimately use our research at every stage of the research process, from identifying questions through to engaging with research findings.
RIPIL fulfills this mission in two ways: we collaborate with policymakers and practitioners to lead scholarship on pressing topics in international peace, security, development, and humanitarian response, and we investigate the engagement methods that foster research use.
We welcome inquiries regarding collaboration and partnerships. Please contact us at RIPIL@american.edu.
Our Research Model
At RIPIL, we understand that effective policy requires accessible and useful evidence from the local to the global level. We also understand that research is more impactful when end-users are engaged throughout the research process.
Therefore, our research model centers on building partnerships with regular feedback loops between researchers and the end users. Simply put, we work collaboratively to:
Identify important research questions that are relevant to policymakers and practitioners,
Conduct and validate rigorous research on these questions, and
Engage policymakers and practitioners in the implications of the findings.
This research model emphasizes the importance of sustained and meaningful relationships. To foster and grow the relationships essential for research use, we build collaboration and learning spaces among diverse groups to engage constructively with new research, generate new ideas, and encourage collective problem-solving.
Ultimately, these practices help ensure that research contributes to greater societal impact.
