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Research Initiatives

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King Center research initiatives bring together communities of scholars working on sustained global development and poverty alleviation research agendas.

Learn more about the Request for Proposals (RFP) and application process

Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change in the Global South Initiative

Given the amount of unavoidable warming and the growing movement in the international community to provide funding for adaptation, the initiative aims to identify where adaptation has occurred and what policies can effectively encourage future climate adaptation and resilience.

Read more about Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change in the Global South
cityscape

African Urbanization and Development Research Initiative

The African Urbanization and Development Research Initiative (AUDRI) is a research program focusing on the determinants of household welfare and firm growth in two of the fastest growing cities in sub-Saharan Africa: Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire).

Read more about AUDRI
A flooded village with several people sitting on rooftops and two individuals on a floating platform

Climate Resilience Measurement Lab

The Climate Resilience Measurement Lab aims to create standardized tools for measuring resilience at the individual and household levels. By integrating these tools into other ongoing large-scale surveys, this effort could transform how governments, NGOs, and researchers understand and respond to climate impacts.

Read more about the Climate Resilience Measurement Lab
water pipes

Extreme Poverty, Infrastructure, and Climate Initiative

The Extreme Poverty, Infrastructure, and Climate (EPIC) Initiative seeks to shed light on how infrastructure investments can spur poverty alleviation, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Read more about the EPIC initiative
migrant worker picking strawberries in a field

Guestworker Migration Initiative

The Guestworker Migration Initiative analyzes the impacts of short-term labor migration on agricultural employers, migrants, and origin communities to inform the development of productive, effective, and humane immigration policy.

Read more about the Guestworker Migration initiative

HIV Wastewater Epidemiology in South Africa Initiative

The HIV Wastewater Epidemiology in South Africa Initiative is collaborating with South African scientists to explore whether wastewater surveillance can detect unrecognized HIV transmission and drug resistance: a potential cost-effective, anonymous way to track outbreaks and target interventions in high-risk communities.

Read more about the HIV Wastewater Epidemiology in South Africa Initiative
woman speaking to crowd

Inclusive Democracy and Development Lab

In partnership with a political party in India and a large central government Ministry, the Inclusive Democracy and Development (ID2) Lab will focus on improving women’s representation at all levels of the political process. 

Read more about the Inclusive Democracy and Development Lab
Bags of spices

Initiative on Combating Lead Exposure

This initiative is working to reduce lead exposure, including in the turmeric wholesale and acid battery recycling industries. The initiative is a multidisciplinary and transnational effort.

Read more about reducing lead exposure

Politics, Accountability, and Climate Transition (PACT) Lab

The lab is investigating how pressures emanating from the natural world in the wake of climate change increasingly shape politics in the Global South, including whether climate change itself could undermine the political feasibility of meaningful action on mitigation or adaptation.

Read more about Climate Change and Political Mobilization in the Global South
railroad tracks

Stanford Human Trafficking Data Lab

Human trafficking for forced labor or sexual exploitation poses unique challenges for policymakers. However, little is known about how the market for trafficked individuals works – and ultimately, how to prevent these crimes.

Read more about the Stanford Human Trafficking Data Lab

Request for Proposals

The King Center invites proposals from Stanford faculty for multi-faculty initiatives harnessing and developing the university’s distinctive strengths in research on global development and poverty.

Review the RFP and application process