About Us
The Group for the Analysis of Development (GRADE) is a private non-profit research center with no political affiliation. Its mission is to develop applied research to stimulate and enrich the debate, design and implementation of public policy.
Since being founded in 1980, in Lima, Peru, GRADE has been dedicated to undertaking economic, educational, environmental and social studies in areas relevant to the development of Peru and other Latin American countries. The institution aims to disseminate the results of its work to policy makers and the general public.
In order to meet its strategic objectives, GRADE’s employees carry out academically rigorous research with a high level of objectivity in order to ensure that conclusions drawn on the nature and causes of economic and social processes are supported by solid empirical evidence.
Thanks to the work it has carried out over the last two decades, GRADE is considered one of the most important social research centers in Peru and Latin America.
The institution has focused on achieving academic excellence and making valuable contributions to the formulation and implementation of social and economic policies. Through various mechanisms, GRADE attempts to build bridges between academic research and the public sector.
GRADE is governed by a Members Assembly, in which the majority of its Senior Researchers participate. The Assembly defines the institution’s research areas and identifies strategies for developing and guaranteeing GRADE’s independence. Likewise, the Members Assembly elects an Executive Board responsible for supervising the institution’s progress over two-year periods. The Executive Board works with the Research Board to coordinate GRADE’s projects and research activities, as well as manage and disseminate its publications.
Researchers at GRADE have traditionally combined research and academic work with public service. All researchers at the institution participate in academic activities at national and international levels and publish their studies in books, working documents and international journals. The majority of researchers at GRADE also teach at universities in Lima or in other Peruvian provinces. They also participate in activities related to public sector in a variety of ways. In some cases, they temporarily take time off from GRADE to assume a public service role.
Furthermore, many GRADE researchers participate in directives, advisory commissions, round-table discussions, and national advisory boards working on topics related to their specific line of research. This enables them to apply the experiences and knowledge gained from their research work direct to the public sector.
