Consider what UK development researchers and the UK NGO community could do together, working with partners in the developing world – to understand the causes of poverty, design solutions, advocate for change, and assist in implementation. For researchers, the job starts at the interface of research and policy. How can we improve the interaction between researchers and policy-makers? ODI's work suggests that the answer lies in the political context, the nature of the evidence, the links between policy and research communities, and in external influences. This article outlines the benefits of collaboration between NGOs and researchers and considers ways forward.