New Delhi  ·  South Asia  ·  Est. 2018

Evidence
that moves
policy forward.

Social research advisory. MEL systems. Programme evaluation. Applied research across health, education, gender, climate, and governance.

20+ Years field experience
28+ States & UTs covered
200+ Evaluations delivered
7 Countries
500+ Indian districts
30+ Socio-cultural regions
STATA R Python RCTs Quasi-experimental Photovoice FGDs Mixed methods

Rigorous research.
Real-world use.

01

Field-first

Findings begin in the field. Every framework we deliver is tested against what frontline workers, community members, and respondents actually say — not what the literature predicts they will say.

02

Methodologically plural

Statistical rigour (Stata, R, Python, RCTs, quasi-experimental designs) sits alongside participatory methods (photovoice, FGDs, life-history interviews) and Human-Centred Design. We pick the method the question deserves.

03

Frameworks that last

Reports get filed; frameworks get used. We design MEL systems, indicator architectures, and learning layers to outlive the engagement and travel from the field to the policy table.

Pinpoint Ventures is a development research and advisory practice led by a development economist and qualified lawyer with two decades of experience across Oxfam India, Evidence Action, BBC Media Action, and Sesame Workshop India Trust.

The practice specialises in applied research that travels from the field to the policy table — not just findings, but frameworks that last. Statistical rigour (STATA, R, Python) sits alongside participatory methods and deep contextual knowledge of South Asia's governance systems, markets, and communities.

We publish at PolicyGrounds.press and The Research Rundown.

End-to-end research
from design through dissemination.

01 Impact Evaluation RCTs and quasi-experimental designs for health, education, gender, and livelihoods programmes. We handle power calculations, treatment and control management, and rigorous statistical analysis through to publication. Quantitative
02 Research Design From exploratory qualitative work to large-scale mixed-methods studies. Survey programming in SurveyCTO, CommCare, and CSPRO. Analysis in STATA, R, and Python. Mixed methods
03 Policy Analysis Evidence synthesis, stakeholder mapping, and strategic analysis translated into policy briefs. Published in BehanBox, The Wire, and PolicyGrounds.press. Policy
04 MEL Frameworks Monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems built for adaptive programming. Recent work includes MEL portfolio design for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. MEL
05 Strategic Advisory Theory of change, organisational strategy, and Human-Centred Design. We built a district-level learning layer for the India Health and Climate Resilience Fund. Strategy
06 Capacity Building Training and mentoring for in-house research and MEL teams. Tailored workshops, data literacy coaching, and long-form cohort programmes for development practitioners. Training
07 Fractional MLE / Research Head Embedded part-time leadership of your MEL or research function. We act as your interim head of evidence — setting strategy, hiring, building frameworks, and holding the quality bar — without the full-time cost. Best for organisations between research leads or scaling their evidence function. Embedded
08 Research Study Captaining End-to-end leadership of a single study from research question through to publication. We act as principal investigator: design the study, manage the team, navigate ethics and IRB, supervise fieldwork, write up, and own the deliverable. For organisations who have a question but no in-house lead. Lead PI

Deep experience across
South Asian development contexts.

01 / Gender
Gender & Empowerment

Women's economic empowerment, menstrual health, girls' education, social norms change, and GBSS law analysis.

02 / Health
Public Health & RMNCH+A

Maternal health RCTs, WASH, nutrition, health financing, and climate-health resilience.

03 / Education
Education, FLN & ECCE

Learning outcomes, critical thinking RCTs, school innovations, foundational literacy and numeracy.

04 / Climate
Climate & Air Quality

Climate adaptation, air quality policy, gender-climate intersections, and disaster risk reduction.

05 / Governance
Governance & Policy

Social protection analysis across MGNREGA, PDS, ICDS; policy reform and civic data tools.

06 / Livelihoods
Livelihoods & Child Protection

Seasonal migration, family reunification, child welfare systems, and animal welfare.

Recent research
and advisory engagements.

2026 — Ongoing

Claylab Education MEL

MEL architecture design for Claylab Education — theory of change, indicator frameworks, and data systems for learning outcome measurement.

MEL Education Theory of Change
2026

ANDE — Green Investment Portfolio Evaluation

Evaluation framework for the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) Access to Green Finance programme in India, funded by IKEA Foundation — assessing behaviour and perception change among investors in waste management and circularity sectors.

ANDE Climate Finance Circularity
2026

India Institute: Critical Thinking RCT

Research advisory for India Institute on a randomised controlled trial commissioned by Tamil Nadu government to evaluate critical thinking curriculum across government schools.

RCT Education Tamil Nadu
2026

India Institute: Discrimination Study

Research advisory for India Institute on a study examining discrimination and inequality outcomes in India.

Discrimination India Institute Inequality
2026

National Child Protection System MEL

MEL frameworks for child protection actors under POCSO and the Juvenile Justice Act — programme architecture, implementation fidelity, and outcome measurement.

POCSO JJ Act MEL
2026

Women's Aspirations Study (DIU / TRI)

Primary research on livelihood aspirations, mobility, and economic agency among women in rural and peri-urban India for Transform Rural India.

Gender Livelihoods Qualitative
2025 — 2026

Fish Welfare Initiative / ARA

Managing India operations for the Alliance for Responsible Aquaculture across Andhra Pradesh — water quality standards, stocking density, and policy engagement with AWBI and BIS.

Animal Welfare Andhra Pradesh Policy
2025

GAIN — South-South Food Fortification

Advisory on India–West Africa food fortification technology transfer and the Food Culture Institute project for India, with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.

Nutrition South-South Tech Transfer
2024 — 2025

Gates Foundation MEL Advisory

MEL portfolio design for Women's Economic Empowerment and Public Health projects at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

MEL WEE Public Health
2023 — 2025

IHCRF / Blockchain for Impact

Designed the India Health and Climate Resilience Fund Fellowship programme and district-level learning architecture using Human-Centred Design. Four district base papers, two technical papers, and a position paper on climate-health.

Climate-Health HCD Fellowship Design
2023

Railway Children India

Study on family reunification strategies for runaway platform children from the Delhi–Bengal railway corridor, covering livelihood and climate challenges across six central Indian states.

Child Protection Reunification 6 States
2021 — 2023

Catalyst Consulting — Low-Cost Private Schools

Multi-state study on parental attitudes to low-cost private schooling across seven Indian states.

Education Parental Attitudes 7 States
2021 — 2023

Tata Trusts — Menstrual Practices Study

Research on menstrual practices among women and adolescent daughters across five Indian states.

Health Menstrual Health 5 States
2021 — 2023

PLAN India — 'Because I Am a Girl'

Research on Gender-Based Sex Selection laws and enforcement in India for PLAN India's 'Because I Am a Girl' report.

Gender GBSS Laws PLAN India

Tell us about
your research needs.

We take on a small number of engagements each year. Tell us what you are working on.

Location New Delhi. Working across South Asia.
Research newsletter Research Rundown
Policy writing PolicyGrounds.press