Growth Research, a Methods Site, and SADs 2.0 (AIM Research Update)

By Morgan Fairless, Filip_Murar, vicky_cox, Ambitious Impact @ 2026-06-04T14:44 (+24)

We're looking at livelihoods research again (contribute ideas or reach out to support the team with your expertise), sharing our new methods site, and releasing updated SADs guidance.

Looking at livelihoods and growth again

We last conducted research into livelihoods and growth in 2024, leading to the launch of great projects including Lead Research for Action, Better Futures Guide,  and other upcoming projects.  

We will be working on finding more ideas in this space, trying to focus on more exploratory plays with leverage to influence growth agendas in LMICs. We are especially excited to look further into energy transitions, artificial intelligence for development, remittances, migration, and infrastructure. 

You can read our house view on livelihoods and growth here. 

• Contribute ideas to our initial brainstorm through this form
• Could you support our research? Reach out to me with your CV and a blurb if you have experience in this sector and want to support our agenda in some capacity (which may include full time fellowships).  

A new site

In an effort to make our work more transparent, we have uploaded our methodological guidance and live house views to a giftbook site. In there, you will find:

• Our "takes" on certain topics, such as how to think about the impact of education, or our charity taxonomy.
• Notes on methods, such as our approach to prioritization, and cost-effectiveness.
• All content from our now-closed AIM Research Training Program 

Suffering-adjusted Days revamp

After much support and feedback from many individuals (thanks especially to Sam Hilton and Vicky Cox), we have now created updated guidance and models on our SADs approach to quantifying animal welfare harms. You can read more about our update to the method here.