LASER PULSE R4D Innovation Science Framework and Tools: Application of Comprehensive Issue Analysis to Inform Development Research in East Africa, Part 1: Basic Education (BE), Maternal/Child Healthcare (MCH)

This approach, initially referred to as Comprehensive Issue Analysis, is rooted in innovation science and aims to assist researchers in framing and analyzing the scope of issues related to specific development priorities. The method involves gathering conditions for success from an extensive literature review and internet resources, as well as input from advisors and stakeholders. These conditions are then shortlisted to specifically address those that are required in the context and not adequately addressed. The results of this process help frame development research themes and focal areas that form the basis of a Request for Applications (RFA) for funding of LASER research grants. The document includes several tools for application, including a Success Factor Tree, a Stakeholder Map, and a Template. The Success Factor Tree is an extensive outline of the key factors that are likely needed to achieve commonly desirable outcomes when addressing a specific grand challenge problem. The Stakeholder Map is a visual representation of the stakeholder categories/roles that are likely to play a vital role in addressing a specific grand challenge problem. The Basic Education Success Factor Tree is a detailed outline of the key factors that are likely needed to achieve commonly desirable outcomes when addressing the grand challenge problem of basic education. The tree is organized into two main branches: Security/Safety and Policy. The Security/Safety branch includes factors such as ensuring safety within the basic education system, establishing quality standards for basic education, and providing a safe and secure learning environment for students. The Policy branch includes factors such as establishing the importance of equitable access to basic education through structured policies, ensuring that policies are inclusive and representative of the people they serve, and protecting policies from misuse. The tree also includes factors related to the provision of basic education, such as establishing national goals for provision of basic education and developing policies on various aspects related to basic education. The document also includes a Stakeholder Map for Basic Education, which identifies the key stakeholder categories/roles that are likely to play a vital role in addressing the grand challenge problem of basic education. These stakeholders include government officials, educators, parents, students, and community leaders. The LASER PULSE R4D Innovation Science Framework and Tools document provides a comprehensive approach to identifying and addressing the most critical factors that contribute to grand challenge problems in development research. The tools and methods outlined in the document can be used to frame and analyze the scope of issues related to specific development priorities, and to inform the development of RFAs for funding of LASER research grants. The document is part of a larger technical report series entitled LASER PULSE R4D Innovation Science Frameworks and Tools, which will provide more accessible and usable tools for those interested in applying them. The document is an early stage in the evolution of the overall process, and its contents should be considered as archived. Future documents in the series will provide more refined and usable tools for application.