The Strategic Policy Impact and Research Unit (formerly the Economics and Statistics Analysis Unit) was established by DFID and ODI to undertake research, analysis and synthesis to improve understanding of the processes of poverty reduction and pro-poor growth in the contemporary global context, and of the design and implementation of policies that promote these objectives. SPIRU’s mission is to make research conclusions available to DFID and the wider development community.

The objective of the Unit is to improve access to policy-relevant research information and build its capacity for rigorous evidence-based policymaking thereby improving the quality of donor and government strategies for poverty eradication.