Research and Evaluation Division (RED) was established in 1975, and over time it evolved as a multi-disciplinary independent research unit within the framework of BRAC. The division has been playing an important role in designing BRAC`s development interventions, monitoring progress, documenting achievements, and undertaking impact assessment studies. It provides an analytical basis for BRAC`s programmatic decisions, fine-tuning it for better performance and making development efforts evidence-based, effective, and community-sensitive. RED conducts programme-driven research in agriculture, applied and reproductive health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, education, environment, extreme poverty, food security and nutrition, microfinance, and social development and human rights. The division also caters to issues of national and international importance independently and in collaboration with reputed academic institutions and international agencies. RED`s research activities are supported by three specialized units, namely, i) knowledge management; ii) field operations; and iii) data management. In addition, RED has a number of field research stations countrywide to facilitate data collection. RED also extends research support to overseas programmes of BRAC in Asia and Africa. The research findings are disseminated through a range of oral and print media. Since inception, it has produced nearly 1,200 research reports, and published 350 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals (as of September 2009).