Institute of Social and Policy Sciences

What Institute of Social and Policy Sciences does

The Institute of Social and Policy Sciences (I-SAPS) is an Islamabad-based non-profit research and policy institute, established in 2007, that delivers evidence-based policy research, technical assistance, and capacity-building services to Pakistani federal and provincial governments, international development organizations, and civil society groups. Its portfolio spans eight core program areas — Education, TVET/STEP-UP, Disaster Risk Management, Governance & Law, Development and Social Change, Economy and Management, Conflict & Stabilization, and Health — supported by knowledge services including large-scale surveys, assessments, case studies, policy dialogues, and training programs. Notable technical offerings include the STRIDE model for context-specific local education planning, the SMS-based Adult Female Literacy Programme using mobile learning in rural Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the CHP-EVA community health accountability initiative.

I-SAPS generates revenue primarily through professional services contracts and grants from government agencies and multilateral/international development partners (including UNICEF, DFID, Save the Children, Oxfam, GIZ, Open Society Institute, and Mobilink Foundation). The institute also runs fee-based diploma and short-course programs in social and policy sciences, faculty fellowships, and operates the peer-reviewed Journal of Social & Policy Sciences (J-SAPS). Its go-to-market motion is direct enterprise field sales into institutional counterparties, supplemented by fortnightly policy seminars, an annual international colloquium, and a blog/publication ecosystem. Geographic reach covers all four provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan) plus Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with offices in Islamabad (HQ) and Peshawar.

Name

Institute of Social and Policy Sciences

Legal name

Institute of Social and Policy Sciences

Website

https://i-saps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Institute of Social and Policy Sciences (I-SAPS) is an Islamabad-based non-profit research and policy institute, founded in 2007, providing evidence-based policy research, technical assistance, and capacity building to Pakistani federal and provincial governments and international development partners across education, health, governance, and social development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Donor Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) Programs (BPADABAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Monitoring, Evaluation, Performance Management & Quality Improvement (HLAJAMAJ)

Keywords

• Policy research services
• Social policy analysis
• Education sector research
• Governance and development
• Capacity building training

Headquarters

HQ city

Islamabad

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Projects: I-SAPS provides policy and reform support services to various public sector organizations including federal and provincial governments, receiving project-based funding and contracts for research, analysis, and capacity building services.
2. Development Partner Funding: The institute receives funding and grants from international development organizations including UNICEF, DFID, Save the Children, ActionAid Pakistan, and others for implementing development programs and research initiatives.
3. Technical Assistance Services: I-SAPS provides technical assistance services to government and corporate sector clients, including policy analysis, training programs, and workforce development services under its TVET and STEP-UP initiatives.
4. Diploma and Short Course Programs: The institute delivers intensive diploma programs and short courses in social and policy sciences, offering fellowships on merit for individuals participating in these educational programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

I-SAPS is an independent research and policy institute providing evidence-based research, policy analysis, capacity building, and technical assistance across nine program areas: Education, TVET/STEP-UP, Disaster Risk Management, Governance & Law, Development & Social Change, Economy & Management, Conflict & Stabilization, Health, and Devolution & Decentralization. The institute delivers services to government agencies, international development partners, and civil society through direct project implementation, training programs, surveys, policy dialogues, and diploma/short course offerings in Pakistan.

Product overview

I-SAPS is a research and policy institute offering a multi-program portfolio focused on social and policy sciences in Pakistan. The core offerings include eight program areas (Education, TVET/STEP-UP, Disaster Risk Management, Governance & Law, Development and Social Change, Economy and Management, Conflict & Stabilization, Health, and Devolution & Decentralization) supported by knowledge services (Research & Analysis, Surveys, Assessments, Case Studies, Policy Dialogues, Training & Capacity Building). Key initiatives include STRIDE for education retention, the SMS-based Adult Female Literacy Programme using mobile learning, and CHP-EVA for health accountability. The institute also publishes the Journal of Social & Policy Sciences, organizes annual colloquia, and offers academic programs including diplomas, short courses, and graduate degrees. The portfolio is research-driven with emphasis on evidence-based policy engagement across governance, economic, and social development domains.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education Program Research, policy analysis, and reform support for Pakistan's education sector covering governance, management, and public finance of education. Designed for government ministries, departments, and education reform stakeholders.
• STEP-UP (Skills Training, Trades, Entrepreneurship - Pathways for Upwards Mobility) TVET initiative bridging skills gaps, aligning training with labor market needs, and enhancing youth employability through public financing analyses, supply-demand assessments, and qualification development. Targets youth aged 15-30, government TVET departments, and development partners.
• Disaster Risk Management Program Policy improvement, institutional strengthening, transparency in financial flows, and disaster risk management initiatives aligned with National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy 2013 and National Disaster Management Act 2010. Serves government agencies and humanitarian organizations.
• Governance & Law Program Research on Pakistan's constitutional history, political systems, legislative frameworks, access to justice, and democratic governance challenges. Designed for government, parliamentarians, civil society, and legal reform advocates.
• Development and Social Change Program Integrating sociological perspectives into development research, policy advice, and capacity building addressing patterns of social organization along gender, class, culture, ethnicity, and age lines. Serves development sector and civil society stakeholders.
• Economy and Management Program Research and analysis on managing emerging challenges in Pakistan's economy, market, trade, and development, including policy engagement and evidence-based advice for structural transformation. Targets government economic ministries and policy reformers.
• Conflict & Stabilization Program Multidisciplinary research on conflicts affecting peace and stability of Pakistan and South Asia, including knowledge gap filling and policy community engagement. Serves security, peacebuilding, and development stakeholders.
• Health Program Evidence-driven decision-making and participatory performance accountability research for well-functioning, efficient, and equitable health services across Pakistan's provinces. Serves health ministries, departments, and health sector partners.
• Devolution & Decentralization Program Research and capacity building on political economy of governance reforms, citizen capacity for demand articulation, and procedural engagement within local government systems. Targets local government bodies and civil society.
• STRIDE (Sustainable Transition and Retention in Delivering Education) Innovative model for context-specific local planning, financing, and service delivery addressing retention and transition from primary to middle and matric levels using actionable evidence at Union Council level. Implemented under the Education Program.
• SMS-based Adult Female Literacy Programme (m-Learning) Mobile learning initiative empowering rural women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with basic literacy skills using customized curriculum and ICT-based sustained learning across 154 villages and 8 districts. Implemented with Mobilink Foundation and GuarantCo support.
• CHP-EVA (Community Health Partners for Empowerment, Voice and Accountability) Community empowerment and accountability initiative establishing Tehsil and District Health Support Committees to improve maternal and child health services. Achieved 93% engagement rate (78 of 84 VHCs engaged) and functionalized 12 of 18 non-functional VHCs.
• WEAC (Writing Education and Assistance Center) Analytic writing instruction center providing collaborative environment for developing evidence-based arguments and critical analysis skills, connecting faculty with accomplished writers from across the world. Serves academics and researchers.
• Journal of Social & Policy Sciences (J-SAPS) Peer-reviewed academic journal publishing research on social and policy sciences topics, contributing to creating and supporting a research culture that is scientific and socially-relevant. Serves academia and the research community.
• I-SAPS Colloquium Annual multi-disciplinary colloquium bringing scholars together to debate conceptual assumptions in knowledge production relevant to Pakistani realities. Serves scholars and researchers.
• Diplomas & Short Courses Intensive diploma programs and short courses in social and policy sciences for development professionals, graduates, and government officials covering governance, law, economy, and development topics. Fellowship positions available on merit.
• Graduate Programs Undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate academic programs in social and policy sciences offered by I-SAPS.
• Research Support & Fellowships Faculty Fellowship Program and fellowships for diploma and short courses supporting research capacity building in social sciences. Provides research support, fellowships, and academic resources to faculty and graduate students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% engagement rate of Village Health Committees (78 out of 84 VHCs engaged under CHP-EVA initiative)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ministry of Education, PunjabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry providing policy direction and project implementation support for education sector reforms in Punjab province.
• Punjab Resource Management Program (PRMP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment program providing resource management support and project implementation in Punjab.
• Programme Monitoring and Implementation Unit (PMIU), Government of PunjabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial government unit responsible for monitoring and implementation of education and development programs.
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization providing funding, technical guidance, and program support for child-focused education and health initiatives.
• Results for Development Institute (R4D)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational nonprofit think tank providing research and analysis support for health and education policy initiatives.
• ActionAid PakistanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO working on development and social justice issues in Pakistan, collaborating on advocacy and research initiatives.
• Campaign for Quality Education (CQE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil society coalition focused on education quality advocacy and policy reform.
• Oxfam GBmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational confederation of NGOs focused on alleviating global poverty, collaborating on development research and advocacy.
• GTZ/GIZmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman development agency providing technical cooperation services and expertise for development programs.
• Save the Children InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal NGO focused on child rights and education, collaborating on child-focused development programs and research.
• Mobilink FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate foundation of Mobilink (Jazz) providing funding and mobile technology support for the SMS-based Adult Female Literacy Programme in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• Health and Nutrition Innovative Fund (HANIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth and nutrition fund providing support for community health partnerships and voice and accountability initiatives under DFID/UKaid funding.
• J-SAPScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJournal of Social & Policy Sciences - an academic journal operated by I-SAPS contributing to creating and supporting a research culture that is scientific and socially-relevant.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Heartfile: Pakistan-based health policy think tank working on health systems, financing, and accountability. Directly comparable to I-SAPS's Health program and CHP-EVA initiative in evidence-based health policy and community accountability work.
• Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI): Islamabad-based independent policy research think tank working on sustainable development, governance, and social policy in Pakistan. Highly comparable in mission, geographic footprint, donor mix, and government-facing research model to I-SAPS.
• Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE): Islamabad-based research and graduate teaching institute focused on development economics, policy analysis, and training. Comparable in public-finance and economy research, training programs, and government advisory role.
• Collective for Social Science Research: Karachi-based research organization conducting applied social science research on gender, education, health, and governance in Pakistan. Comparable in size, research depth, and donor-funded social policy portfolio.
• Tabadlab: Islamabad-based public policy think tank focused on governance, economic reform, and rule of law in Pakistan. Comparable in policy advocacy model, government engagement, and donor-funded research output.

Emerging players

• Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Pakistan: Global development research organization running impact evaluations and policy programs in Pakistan. Comparable in evidence-based programming and donor-funded research partnerships with provincial governments.
• J-PAL South Asia: Randomized evaluation lab active in Pakistan running impact evaluations in education, health, and governance. Comparable as a donor-funded M&E and evidence-generation partner for government and international agencies.

Broad incumbents

• Oxford Policy Management: UK-headquartered international development consultancy with a long-standing Pakistan practice in education, governance, and public finance. Comparable as a competitor for donor MEL and policy reform contracts in Pakistan.
• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): Global CGIAR research institute with a South Asia office conducting policy research on agriculture, nutrition, and development. Comparable as a large international think tank competing for donor-funded policy research in Pakistan.

Regional players

• Centre for Policy Research (CPR) India: New Delhi-based public policy research institution covering governance, education, health, and economy. Comparable as a regional South Asia policy think tank serving government and international donors, though operating in India rather than Pakistan.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/i_saps
• Facebookfacebook.com/ISAPS.pk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-of-social-and-policy-sciences-i-saps-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Social and Policy Sciences