Engaged scholarship is often linked to 1) community involvement and participatory (action) research. It could equally well be considered in cases where 2) scholars create and share policy-relevant research results, whether designed independently or in collaboration/commissioned by policy-makers.

The two strands of engagement may often have very different goals, and require different methods. However, they both require collaborative approach and attitude, as well as consideration on how to disseminate, and version, academic research. At the same time, no one mold fits all engaged research. Even with policy-oriented research, there are major differences, as this  insightful commentary by the World Bank on the difference between policy-relevant and policy-adjacent research illustrates. And, the same conceptual challenges could be found when collaborating with a civil society organization.

Here are some resources for researchers involved in either form of engaged scholarship:

Collaborative practices:

• The IDEO Human Centered Design Toolkit.
• Collaborative Practices and Partnership Toolkit (for education, but great principles for practical multi-stakeholder collaboration).

Knowledge sharing and knowledge management:

• Knowledge Sharing Toolkit Wiki by several international development organizations; the special section on research.
• Great K2P principles and tools for researchers at researchtoaction.com.

The art of policy briefs:

• Toolkit for researchers by IDRC.
• Preparing policy briefs by FAO.

Good literature (theory/methods/cases/other advise):

• The classic: Engaged Scholarship. A Guide for Organizational and Social Research.
• Five strategies for researchers to consider when conceptualising new research are proposed, each of which addresses something about the mechanism of policy change.
• Planning with Complexity. An introduction to collaborative rationality for public policy.

Other interesting sources:

• SciDevNet – the world’s leading source of reliable and authoritative news, views and analysis on information about science and technology for global development.
• Project Syndicate – featuring exclusive contributions from the world’s most prominent political leaders, policymakers, economists, philosophers, scientists, business leaders, and civic activists, Project Syndicate delivers  analysis and insight on global issues.
• The Guardian Global Development Professionals Network – plenty of relevant news and other content.
• Peace and Collaborative Development Network of over 34000 scholars and practitioners – great list serve of interesting resources, courses, opportunities.
• TechChange – online professional development courses in the latest in technology for development.