We take commissions from organisations that need careful, sourced analysis of Pakistan, its neighbourhood and its international relationships:
Governments and diplomatic missions
Background research for visits, anniversaries and new agreements; reviews of a bilateral relationship.
International organisations
Scoping and baseline studies, context analysis and literature reviews before a programme begins.
Chambers, business councils and companies
Analysis of trade regimes, market access and policy change, written for decision-makers.
Universities and foundations
Commissioned reviews, data collection and research partnerships with an IPDS centre.
From question to deliverable
Every commission follows the same logic, whatever its size:
Step 1
Your question
The decision or problem behind the request, and who will use the answer.
Step 2
Our method
Official documents and data, published research, and interviews with officials, experts and practitioners where needed.
Step 3
The deliverable
A brief, report, dataset, timeline or presentation, written to a stated length and standard.
Step 4
Timeframe
Agreed in the proposal, with a review point before the final draft.
Step 5
Engagement
A single commission, a series of outputs, or a longer research partnership.
Illustrations of the kind of work we take on. Every commission is scoped individually.
A trade body needs to understand a change in a preferential trade regime
Method
Review of the legal texts and official reporting, analysis of trade data, interviews with exporters
Deliverable
Policy paper of 4,000 to 6,000 words, with a briefing for the board
Typical timeframe
Four to six weeks
An embassy is preparing for a bilateral anniversary or high-level visit
Method
Audit of agreements, visits, trade and people-to-people links from official sources
Deliverable
Background dossier with a sourced timeline of the relationship
Typical timeframe
Two to three weeks
An international organisation is designing a programme in Pakistan
Method
Literature and data review, key-informant interviews, a validation discussion
Deliverable
Scoping or baseline study with recommendations
Typical timeframe
Six to ten weeks
A foundation wants an overview of research on a regional question
Method
Structured review of academic and policy literature in English and regional sources
Deliverable
Review essay with an annotated bibliography
Typical timeframe
Three to five weeks
Typical formats are below. Timeframes are indicative and are confirmed in the proposal; fees are quoted on proposal.
Rapid brief
Two to four pages on a single question, with sources.
One to two weeks
Policy paper or report
A sourced analysis with findings and options for decision-makers.
Four to eight weeks
Study with fieldwork
Interviews, surveys or consultations alongside desk research.
Two to four months
Research partnership
A programme of outputs with an IPDS centre over a year or more.
By agreement
1
Enquiry
Tell us what you need through the enquiry form. A member of the team replies to arrange a short conversation.
2
Scoping conversation
We discuss the question, the audience, the timeline and any constraints, and suggest the format that fits.
3
Written proposal
A short proposal sets out the scope, method, team, deliverables, timeline and fee. Nothing starts until it is agreed in writing.
4
Delivery
The work is carried out by the relevant IPDS centre, with editorial review by the Research Desk before anything is delivered.
5
Follow-up
We present the findings or run a debriefing, and agree any follow-on work.
Our own published work shows the standard a commission is held to:
SCO Commitments TrackerA sourced record of commitments made at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and their follow-through.
GSP+ Transition TrackerPakistan’s position in the EU’s preferential trade scheme, followed against official sources.
IPDS is an independent, nonpartisan institute. These commitments apply to every engagement:
—IPDS keeps full editorial control of anything published under its name. Findings are not agreed with, or changed for, the organisation that commissioned the work.
—Commissioned work can stay confidential to the organisation that asked for it. If it is published, the commissioning organisation is named.
—IPDS does not lobby or campaign on behalf of any government, company or organisation.
—We decline work that would conflict with our nonpartisan mandate or with existing commitments, and we tell you early if we cannot take a project on.
Use the enquiry form to tell us what you need, when you need it and who it is for. A member of the team will reply to arrange a short scoping conversation.
You may also be interested in Geopolitical Risk Analysis or Track II Dialogues.
