Bridging the Gap Between Research Agendas and Practice: Insights from a Novel Evaluation Method

Background One in three women globally experience physical or sexual violence, driving the urgent need for research to inform prevention and response efforts. The Global Shared Research Agenda (GSRA), developed by SVRI and EQI, using an adapted democratic, crowd-sourcing method, seeks to guide research on violence against women and children (VAW/C) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, mechanisms to monitor the alignment between such research agendas and research activity remain limited. Methods We piloted a low-cost, desk-based mapping approach using abstracts from the 2019 and 2022 SVRI Forums, the world’s largest conferences focused on VAW/C. Abstracts were systematically matched to GSRA priority research questions to assess trends, gaps, and emerging topics. Results A high proportion of abstracts aligned with GSRA priorities, indicating substantial influence of the agenda on research focus. However, emerging themes—including decolonisation, practitioner wellbeing, and political and funding dynamics—fell outside the GSRA’s current scope, highlighting evolving priorities in the field. The process also revealed challenges, such as broad questions attracting more matches, while narrowly defined priorities risked missing relevant research. Conclusions This matching process offers an accessible, cost-effective tool for tracking the influence of research agendas like the GSRA. Findings suggest the GSRA has successfully shaped research priorities but underscore the need for periodic updates to reflect emerging areas of interest. Incorporating such approaches into conference processes could strengthen the connection between research agendas and practice, ensuring that the GSRA remains relevant and serves to effectively guide research to address VAW/C globally.