Collective for Social Science Research

What Collective for Social Science Research does

Collective for Social Science Research is a Karachi, Pakistan-based nonprofit research organization founded in 2002 that conducts empirical research on Pakistan's social, political, and economic issues. The organization operates with a small team (11-50 employees) and focuses on seven core research areas: social protection, federalism, disaster and climate change, political participation, social marginality, labour and wages, and agriculture, food security, and nutrition. Its primary outputs are working papers, reports, briefs, and blog posts made freely available as PDF downloads from its website, with no commercial pricing. The organization also produces curated data resources, including an Election 2024 compilation from ECP Form 47 data distributed as Excel and Google Sheets files, and satellite-imagery-based flood extent maps for the 2022 Pakistan floods.

The organization's underlying research methodology spans qualitative field research, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), survey data analysis using Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) and Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data, living wage estimation using the Anker Methodology, and spatial/geographic analysis using satellite imagery overlays. Notable analytical frameworks include poverty targeting analysis of BISP (Benazir Income Support Programme) using consumption expenditure ranking and Principal Component Analysis, and electoral roll data quality assessment using NADRA-ECP database linkages to identify distortions from non-registered voters.

The organization's business model is grant-funded rather than commercial. Revenue is sourced from international development and academic institutions including the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Institute of Development Studies (IDS), SOAS Anti-Corruption Evidence (ACE) consortium, and the International Growth Centre (IGC). It also derives influence through policy advisory roles, notably Senior Researcher Haris Gazdar's board membership on BISP. Primary user segments are government policymakers, academic researchers, media organizations, and civil society groups, with engagement occurring through publication downloads, media opinion pieces, and international research partnerships.

Name

Collective for Social Science Research

Legal name

Collective for Social Science Research

Website

https://researchcollective.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Collective for Social Science Research is a Karachi-based nonprofit research organization conducting empirical social science research on Pakistan's social protection, federalism, climate, political participation, labor, and agriculture sectors, publishing open-access working papers, data compilations, and policy briefs for government, academic, and civil society audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)

Keywords

• Social science research
• Policy research
• Poverty analysis
• Electoral research
• Climate vulnerability research

Headquarters

HQ city

Karachi

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Project Funding: The organization conducts research funded by international development organizations and academic institutions. Projects include support from USIP for federalism research, IDS for civic space studies, and SOAS-ACE for pharmaceutical sector analysis.
2. Policy Advisory Services: Research findings are disseminated through government advisory roles and board memberships. Team members serve on boards such as BISP Board, providing expertise for policy development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Collective for Social Science Research is a Pakistan-based nonprofit research organization that produces rigorous, data-driven social science research on social, political, and economic issues in Pakistan. Its core outputs include working papers, policy briefs, reports, blog posts, and data compilations covering social protection, federalism, disaster and climate change, political participation, social marginality, labour and wages, and agriculture. All outputs are freely distributed via open-access PDF downloads and datasets.

Product overview

Collective for Social Science Research is a research organization focused on social science research in Pakistan. The organization offers research publications (working papers, reports, briefs), blog posts with analysis on current issues, and data resources including election data compilations and flood mapping resources. The portfolio consists of core research outputs covering topics such as social protection, federalism, disaster and climate change, political participation, labour and wages, and agriculture. The organization does not operate a software product or platform but disseminates research findings through publications, blogs, and publicly available data resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Publications

Quantifiable outcome

• Research on BISP targeting found 18-22.5% coverage of poorest quintile in 2018-2019, with potential increase to 35% under expanded program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Growth Centre (IGC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to explore climate vulnerabilities in Sindh province, examining socio-economic impacts of climate-related disasters and assessing policy responses for mitigation strategies.
• United States Institute of Peace (USIP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch supported by USIP on federalism in hybrid regimes and the 18th Amendment in Pakistan, including studies on provincial autonomy and policing post-18th Amendment.
• SOAS Anti-Corruption Evidence (ACE) Research ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK Aid funded research program examining pharmaceutical sector corruption, pricing, procurement and quality issues in Pakistan through political economy analysis.
• Institute of Development Studies (IDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Action for Empowerment and Accountability' (A4EA) research programme examining civic space changes during COVID-19 in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
• University College LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on 'Family and Community in the Time of COVID-19' longitudinal comparative study examining child well-being impacts of lockdown.
• Sustainable Development Policy InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresentation and dialogue on universal social protection at SDPI's annual Sustainable Development Conference.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• LUMS Centre for Governance and Public Policy: Lahore-based academic centre producing policy-oriented research on governance, politics, and public policy in Pakistan; comparable in research area and Pakistani policy focus, anchored in a university setting.
• Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP): Pakistan's leading independent human rights organization producing research and advocacy on civil liberties, governance, and social inclusion; thematically adjacent to the Collective's social marginality and political participation work.

Direct peers

• International Growth Centre (IGC): UK-funded research organisation providing evidence-based advice on growth and development in developing countries; partnered with the Collective on climate vulnerability work and operates a similar applied-research model.
• Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI): Islamabad-based policy research think tank producing research on sustainable development, governance, and social policy in Pakistan; directly comparable as a peer Pakistani think tank with overlapping thematic areas.
• Institute of Development Studies (IDS): UK-based global research institute on international development; an active partner of the Collective on the A4EA programme and directly comparable in social science research on governance and accountability.
• United States Institute of Peace (USIP): US-based federally funded institute producing research and analysis on conflict, governance, and federalism; partnered with the Collective on federalism research and comparable in applied social science policy work.
• SOAS Anti-Corruption Evidence (ACE) Research Consortium: UK Aid-funded research consortium producing evidence on corruption in challenging contexts; partnered with the Collective on pharmaceutical sector corruption analysis and shares a political-economy research methodology.
• Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE): Islamabad-based autonomous research institute focused on development economics and policy research in Pakistan; comparable in mission, methodology, and target audience of policymakers and academics.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CollectiveKHI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/collective-for-social-science-research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Collective for Social Science Research