What Research For Impact Pte. Ltd. does

Research For Impact Pte. Ltd. (RFI) is a Singapore-incorporated, privately held research firm founded by Dr Joanne Yoong that delivers multidisciplinary research, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), advisory, and capacity-building services to organisations with social-purpose mandates. Its commercial offering is organised under four pillars: Advisory (evidence-based programme, policy and practice design support), Research (quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies including fieldwork and desk research), Systems (co-design of M&E and data systems), and Training (capacity-building workshops on programme and economic evaluation, delivered through the Academy For Impact sub-brand). Pricing is opaque for bespoke research contracts and transparent for Academy workshops (S$1,950–S$2,100 NETT per 3-day seat).

The firm monetises through project-based professional services engagements funded by foundations, NGOs, government agencies and increasingly multinational corporates (e.g., Johnson & Johnson Singapore, Takeda Pharmaceuticals), supplemented by open-enrolment training revenue from the Academy. It has delivered projects in at least 18 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Latin America, and publishes in peer-reviewed venues such as The Lancet, BMJ Open, PLOS and Nature Scientific Reports. Notable validation includes leadership of the EUR 10-million EU-funded CO-CREATE consortium and the conversion of RFI research into the Majurity Trust's SGD500,000 Scaffold Fund and Octava Foundation's Young Learners Fund.

The team comprises PhD-credentialed economists, anthropologists, behavioural and qualitative researchers, supported by finance, data-governance and corporate functions, with a designated Data Protection Officer for PDPA compliance. RFI does not disclose revenue and has not raised outside funding; operations remain founder-led with a lean Singapore headquarters at 190 Clemenceau Avenue.

Name

Research For Impact Pte. Ltd.

Legal name

Research For Impact Pte. Ltd.

Website

https://rforimpact.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Research For Impact Pte. Ltd. is a Singapore-based behavioral and social sciences research firm that delivers multidisciplinary research, monitoring and evaluation, advisory, and capacity-building services to foundations, NGOs, government agencies, and multinational corporates with social-purpose mandates worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Evaluation Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH), Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA)

Keywords

• Social impact research
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Research advisory services
• Capacity building training
• Behavioral science research

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

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 and Advisory Services: RFI provides multidisciplinary research, monitoring and evaluation, and advisory services to organisations with social purpose goals. This includes project-based research engagements with clients such as Johnson & Johnson Singapore, The Majurity Trust, and Octava Foundation.
2. Training and Capacity-Building Workshops: The company conducts open enrollment workshops on programme evaluation and economic evaluation fundamentals. Workshops are priced at S$2100 NETT for regular participants and S$1950 NETT for IPC & charities, running 3-day sessions at venues like Lifelong Learning Institute.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Research For Impact (RFI) is a research organization that designs and delivers applied research, monitoring and evaluation, advisory, and capacity-building services for social impact programmes. Its core work spans programme evaluation, economic evaluation, behavioural and anthropological research, and training workshops for clients in development, public health, and social sectors.

Product overview

Research For Impact (RFI) is a Singapore-based research organization offering a portfolio of professional services including Advisory, Research, Systems, and Training services. The core offering consists of research and evaluation services delivered through multidisciplinary teams, complemented by capacity-building workshops (Programme Evaluation Workshop, Economic Evaluation Workshop) offered through the Academy For Impact. RFI also produces publications and manages featured research projects spanning health, social protection, finance, and community development sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Academy For Impact (AFI): Training and capacity-building division of Research For Impact, offering workshops and programs for impact leaders and practitioners in intervention design, programme evaluation, and social science research methods.

Products and services

• Advisory Services

Quantifiable outcome

• EUR 10-million European Union-funded project led (CO-CREATE)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Johnson & Johnson SingaporecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohnson & Johnson Singapore served as both client and partner for RFI's Value-Based Healthcare research project. The project explored stakeholders' knowledge and perceptions of VBHC, potential enablers, and challenges to implementation in Singapore, including a public webinar with senior stakeholders from healthcare, health policymaking, and academic sectors.
• The Majurity TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Majurity Trust was client and funder for the Building Bridges research project on improving lives and livelihoods of migrant construction workers. This project informed the creation of The Majurity Trust's SGD500,000 Scaffold Fund and has been cited by on-the-ground social initiatives.
• HealthserveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthserve partnered with RFI on the Building Bridges project, contributing qualitative insights through stakeholder consultations and individual interviews with representatives from various sectors including policymaking, healthcare, academia, industry, civil society, and philanthropy.
• Blackbox ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlackbox Research partnered with RFI on the Building Bridges project, conducting an online survey targeting a representative sample of 1000 adult Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents.
• Octava FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOctava Foundation was client and funder for RFI's research project on equity among young learners in Singapore. This project informed the creation of Octava Foundation's Young Learners Fund, which supports solutions closing the disadvantage gap in education for primary school-aged children.
• Centre for Evidence and ImplementationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre for Evidence and Implementation partnered with RFI on the Youth and Parent Attitudes towards Mental Health Support project, contributing to the mixed-methods research approach including quantitative surveys and focus group discussions.
• Galen Centre for Health and Social PolicyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGalen Centre for Health and Social Policy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia collaborated with RFI on a commentary about tobacco-free generations in the Western Pacific, published in The Lancet Regional Health Western Pacific.
• University of Southern California Center for Improving Chronic Illness CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSC's Center for Improving Chronic Illness Care co-authored with RFI on the study examining China's healthcare system preparedness for Alzheimer's treatment, using desk research, expert interviews, and simulation models.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Pact: International development organization with capacity-building and M&E services for NGOs and community programs; comparable mission and capacity-building offerings to RFI's Academy For Impact, though executed at much larger scale.
• NORC at the University of Chicago: Independent research institution with deep survey, evaluation, and policy research capabilities; comparable to RFI's research services for social-purpose clients, especially in health and community development.
• Mathematica Policy Research: Large US-based policy research and evaluation firm working across health, education, and social programs; overlapping with RFI's M&E, program evaluation, and economic evaluation services but at far greater scale and breadth.
• RTI International: Large global research institute delivering social science research, M&E, and health systems work for governments and foundations; broader portfolio than RFI but with overlapping evaluation and behavioral research practices.

Direct peers

• ID Insight: Advisory, research, and M&E organization focused on social impact across Africa and Asia; closely comparable in mission, methodology, and client mix to RFI's work with foundations, NGOs, and governments.
• Itad: UK-based M&E and learning consultancy serving international development funders; comparable in offering programme evaluation, economic evaluation, and capacity building similar to RFI's Academy For Impact workshops.
• Busara Center for Behavioral Economics: Behavioral science research and advisory firm working with development and social-purpose clients; highly comparable to RFI's behavioral economics and decision-making research on vulnerable populations.
• Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL): Academic research center conducting randomized evaluations on poverty and social programs; directly comparable to RFI's evidence-driven evaluation practice for NGOs and governments.
• Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA): Global non-profit running randomized evaluations and behavioral research in developing countries; closely comparable to RFI's mixed-methods M&E work for social-purpose organizations, though at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Genesis Analytics: Africa-focused economics and M&E consultancy with growing Asia presence; comparable in behavioral economics and evaluation work for social-purpose clients, though primarily operating in different geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/research-for-impact-singapore

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Research For Impact Pte. Ltd.