1.Food Security and Livelihoods

MADO undertakes applied and operational research to assess food availability, access, utilization, and stability at household and community levels. This includes market assessments, crop yield studies, household economy analyses (HEA), and evaluations of agricultural input efficacy. Research will also focus on adaptive livelihood strategies in response to shocks such as conflict, displacement, and climate variability.

2. Water, Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH)

MADO will expand its research in WASH to go beyond service delivery and address the broader issues of water governance, accountability, and resilience. The following research areas will be prioritized:

A. Water Security and Governance

• Accountability Monitoring:

Investigate public and private actors’ roles in water provision and their compliance with standards, budgets, and service mandates.

• Citizen Voice Amplification:

Document and elevate community experiences with water access, service breakdowns, and local coping mechanisms.

• Investigative Research:

Explore underlying causes of poor water service delivery, corruption in water resource management, and gaps in infrastructure maintenance.

• Evidence-Based Advocacy:

Generate and disseminate credible data to support advocacy for equitable and sustainable water policies at local and national levels.

• Resilience and Climate Adaptation:

Study the impact of seasonal variability, floods, and droughts on water access and quality to inform climate-adaptive water systems.

B. Hygiene and Sanitation

• Hygiene behavior and the impact of behavioral change campaigns.
• Gender-sensitive WASH access in schools, health centers, and public spaces.
• Effectiveness of Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and household-level interventions.
• Relationship between poor sanitation practices and disease outbreaks such as cholera and diarrhea.
• nstrual hygiene management (MHM) and its link to school absenteeism and dignity.



3. Education

MADO will conduct operational and participatory research to identify the barriers and opportunities in education service delivery, especially among marginalized groups. Research areas will include:

• Access and dropout analysis for girls, displaced children, and children with disabilities.
• Impact of crises (conflict, displacement, and economic instability) on learning continuity.
• Evaluation of Accelerated Learning Programs (ALPs) and community-based education models.
• Safe learning environments and school-based protection mechanisms.
• Teacher availability, capacity development, and motivation.
• This research will guide the development of inclusive, safe, and quality education programs while supporting advocacy for systemic reform and resource allocation in the education sector.



4. Health

Research in this thematic area will explore barriers to accessing primary health care, community health-seeking behaviors, and quality of service delivery. Special attention will be given to maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH), disease burden patterns, and community health systems strengthening. Findings will inform interventions that improve access, equity, and responsiveness of health services.




5. Nutrition

MADO will conduct regular nutrition assessments, SMART surveys, Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) studies, and analyses of food consumption patterns. Research will also investigate the determinants of malnutrition, seasonal variation in nutritional status, and the effectiveness of targeted supplementary feeding programs. Evidence generated will guide nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific programming.




6. Protection

MADO’s protection research will focus on gender-based violence (GBV), child protection, and community-based protection mechanisms. Studies will analyze patterns and drivers of protection risks, the effectiveness of case management systems, and the impact of conflict and displacement on vulnerable populations. Special emphasis will be placed on the lived experiences of women, girls, and persons with disabilities.




7. Environment and Climate Change

Research in this area will include environmental impact assessments, land use and natural resource mapping, and climate risk analyses. MADO will explore the effects of climate change on agriculture, livelihoods, and water systems, while also investigating community-level adaptation strategies. This evidence will guide programming that strengthens environmental sustainability and climate resilience.




Cross-Cutting Research Principles

MADO’s research approach will be grounded in:

• Participatory methodologies:

that engage affected communities.

• Gender and social inclusion:

ensuring diverse voices are represented.

• Ethical standards

  to protect the rights and dignity of all participants

• Rights-Based and Ethical Approaches:

Ensuring data protection, informed consent, and safe participation, especially for vulnerable groups.

• Conflict and Climate Sensitivity:

Adapting research tools and methodologies to the evolving humanitarian and environmental context.

Collaboration and Learning:

Partnering with academic institutions, civil society, and government to ensure credibility,nifluence, and scale-up of evidence-based solutions.




By investing in rigorous research and data-driven analysis, MADO seeks to enhance the impact of its programs and contribute to long-term, transformative development across South Sudan.