Mapping ODA research and innovation (MODARI)

Map of ODA research and innovation projects

Data last updated: 12/03/2025

Data range: projects active between September 2021 and January 2025

Default data fields: active projects selected

Download the underlying dataset here. See regional summaries of MODARI data here.

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Data caveats

For FCDO projects, due to currently limited availability of partner project data, both funder and partner data have been included to avoid information gaps where possible. As such, care may be needed to avoid double counting these activities if both the funder and delivery partner are included in analyses. The ‘Project Title’ and ‘Funder Programme Name’ columns allow the user to see which projects are funded under the same programme where known.

Many external partners receive funding from multiple organisations for their projects, some of which may be non-UK ODA. This should be considered when totalling UK ODA investment across projects. Projects labelled as belonging to the funds “FCDO Research – Partnerships” and “Global Health Research – Partnerships” are more likely to include non-UK ODA.

Missing data

Some data on beneficiary countries and names/countries of partner organisations is missing as this is not always available in public data. As of the August 2024 update, there is less missing data, and work to increase coverage across UK government funders and delivery partners will continue.

Archived datasets

Download January 2024 MODARI data here

Download July 2023 MODARI data here

Download December 2021 MODARI data here

Themes

Projects have been categorised into the following key research themes:

- Agricultural advancements: research and development projects focusing on improving agricultural practices, enhancing crop yields, sustainable farming methods, and technological innovations in the agricultural sector

- Climate change: focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, developing policies and strategies to combat climate change, and enhancing carbon sequestration methods

- Education: projects focusing on educational research, access to quality education, and innovations in the education sector

- Energy: initiatives aimed at advancing renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and exploring innovative technologies for clean and sustainable energy production

- Environmental sustainability: projects promoting environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management, and solutions to mitigate the impact of environmental challenges

- Governance and policy: projects related to improving governance structures, policy development, and capacity-building for effective public administration

- Health: projects dedicated to medical advancements, public health research, disease prevention, and the development of healthcare technologies to improve overall health outcomes

- Humanitarian assistance: research and development efforts focused on providing aid and support to communities affected by disasters, conflicts, or emergencies

- Infrastructure development: initiatives aimed at improving and expanding critical infrastructure, including transportation, water supply, and technology networks

- Social equity and protection: projects addressing gender disparities, promoting women’s rights, enhancing social welfare, poverty alleviation, and developing safety nets to protect vulnerable populations

- Violence and conflict mitigation: initiatives focused on understanding, preventing, and mitigating violence and conflict, ranging from conflict resolution strategies to promoting peace-building efforts

We have produced a written guide with instructions and visual tips on how to pull out data at different levels: Tableau R&I project map user guide. You can find a demo video demonstrating how to navigate the dashboard and download data at the bottom of this page.

Navigating the dashboard

The dashboard in the ‘Data Tool’ tab consists of a world map (number of ODA-funded Research & Innovation projects for each country), a tree map (showing number of ODA R&I projects for each key research theme) and a project table (with details of the ODA R&I projects).

When you arrive on the dashboard, two fields have custom filters by default. These filters can be cleared to show the whole dataset:

Country: ‘United Kingdom’ is unselected by default to allow for greater definition in colour between other countries on the world map.

Status: Only active projects are shown for a current view of ODA funding.

Searching and filtering

The project table is filtered by clicking the country/theme on the map or selecting from filters on the right-hand side of the dashboard. The search bar can be used to look for keywords in the project abstract in conjunction with themes. A country or theme can be unselected if clicked again on either of the maps.

When more than one country or a region is selected, the project table may include several rows of the same project if that project benefits or is located in the selected countries/regions. These duplicates can be identified using the project title or id column in the project table.

Downloading data

You have two options for downloading MODARI data:

Download the full underlying dataset (click here) – designed for users who want to use and manipulate the full dataset for their own analyses.
Download filtered data from within the Tableau toolbar using the Download button > crosstab option – designed for users who only want data on certain countries/themes.

Video Player

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Download File: https://ukcdr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/0125_MODARI-Demo.mp4?_=1

00:00

Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.

Statement from Professor Charlotte Watts (Chief Scientific Advisor and Director for Research and Evidence at the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO):

‘By giving us a much better picture of the ODA R&D landscape across UK funders, MODARI is proving to be a valuable information tool for colleagues based in the UK, in our overseas network, and our partners in ODA-eligible countries. MODARI should be viewed as a priority, and I am keen to see how the platform evolves. Huge thanks to the MODARI team.’

What is MODARI?

MODARI is a project working to improve the availability and consistency of data on ODA-funded research and innovation across UK government funders and implementing partners. This work began in 2021 and continues in 2025 with three areas of focus:

ODA funding calls (browse the UK ODA Opportunities here for signposting to funders’ websites and an overview of funding flows)
ODA–funded projects (click on the Data Tool tab to explore the dashboard of UK ODA R&I activities)
Results of ODA-funded projects (work ongoing)

Who is MODARI for?

This is a public resource designed for a wide range of stakeholders including:

Country-based development staff – to find projects with a focus on your country or involving local partners

ODA data analysts in government – to see their organisation’s R&I portfolio mapped in a single place and download data

Researchers and institutions – to look for existing projects on a thematic area to inform your organisation’s research planning

Where does the data come from?

Data comes directly from ODA funders, building on their existing IT systems and ODA reporting processes. We collect standardised project information on a bi-annual basis to ensure the MODARI database remains up to date. The data fields were chosen to balance range of potential portfolio analyses with data collection feasibility across organisations.

Why is UKCDR working on this?

UKCDR has delivered several analyses on ODA-funded research and innovation, for example, UK ODA and Wellcome-funded research capacity strengthening in LMICs. We understand the challenges and opportunities associated with cross-funder datasets perhaps better than any other organisation. We strongly believe that timely, reliable data are key for a coherent, impactful approach to funding development research.