FCDO Research Advisory Group (RAG)

The Research Advisory Group (RAG) provides strategic guidance, rapid insights, and independent challenge to support UK government aims to eradicate global poverty and research and development objectives.

Science, technology, research and innovation continue to have significant importance in solving global challenges, so the role of independent scientific expertise is critical.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)’s Research Advisory Group (RAG), established in 2022, provides strategic guidance, rapid insights, and independent challenge to help achieve the FCDO’s ambitious global research and development objectives.

The FCDO makes significant research and technology development investments. This research funding, overseen by FCDO’s Chief Scientific Adviser, supports international collaborations with researchers and innovators from around the world, drawing upon the scientific strengths of the UK.

The research is problem-focused, seeking to use the power of science and research to generate solutions to major development challenges, and generate evidence and data to support the UK’s development and diplomatic work.

The nature of FCDO’s diplomatic, international development and policymaking activities puts the department in a unique position. A research advisory group with diverse expertise and experience to reflect the FCDO’s agenda is therefore required.

Minister for International Development, Women and Equalities, Anneliese Dodds said: 

The new UK government’s mission is to create a world free from poverty on a liveable planet. To tackle global crises and deliver sustainable growth, we need to draw on the strength which comes from equal partnerships.

RAG membership

The FCDO’s Research Advisory Group is made up of internationally-recognised academic experts in global health, energy, climate, agriculture, international relations and economics.

The RAG is co-chaired by 2 members and meets every 3 months to provide confidential, independent external advice and challenge to the FCDO’s research and development (R&D) investments. Meetings also provide a forum where future strategic directions can be discussed.

Over the past year the group has:

  • supported FCDO R&D investment prioritisation
  • helped inform FCDO’s approach to research commissioning
  • helped to strengthen our work across a board spectrum of topics, including research system strengthening initiatives, Open Access policies, and AI for Development

In 2024, the RAG secretariat and Co-Chairs ran a successful recruitment campaign to expand RAG membership and have welcomed 4 new members from big data innovation, AI, education/employment, and women and girls.

Members

  • [Co-chair] Professor AbuBakr Bahaj, Professor of Sustainable Energy at the University of Southampton
  • [Co-chair] Professor Anne Mills, Deputy Director & Provost and Professor of Health Economics and Policy at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
  • Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of the Scottish Rural College
  • Professor Dominik Zaum, Reader in International Relations, University of Reading
  • Professor Francisca Mutapi, Professor in Global Health Infection and Immunity, co-Director of the Global Health Academy at the University of Edinburgh
  • Professor Helen Rees OBE, Ad Hominem Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University of the Witwatersrand and Founder and Executive Director of the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute
  • Professor Tony Venables CBE, Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Economics at Oxford University
  • Professor Nigel Arnell, Professor of Climate Change Science at the University of Reading
  • Professor Douglas Gollin, Professor of Development Economics at Oxford University
  • Professor Washington Yotto Ochieng, Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London
  • Professor Sabina Rashid, Mushtaque Chowdhury Chair in Health and Poverty, Director, Center of Excellence for Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (CGSRHR) (new)
  • Dr Claudia Garcia-Moreno, Physician, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, WHO (new)
  • Professor Matt Jones, Professor of Computer Science, Swansea University (new)
  • Professor Andy Tatem, Professor of Spatial Demography and Epidemiology, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton; Director and Founder, WorldPop (new)