The triangle represents how HEARD defines itself as applied research organisation The three categories of work: Research, Knowledge Advancement & Education and Systems Support summarise our core business, research, and our commitment to applying scientific knowledge through regular interaction, including training, with agencies that design and implement practical development programmes. We see our purpose as being, on the one hand, to do research that serves the design of effective strategies, policies and interventions and, on the other, to stimulate interventions informed by sound research. This means that HEARD incorporates scientific and practical aims in research designs, using a methodology of integration. And the whole is underwritten by an ethos of sharing knowledge and transferring skills.