About us
Agulhas [uh-guhl-uhs]
Noun: from the Cabo das Agulhas [ˈkaβu ðɐz ɐˈɣuʎɐʃ], “Cape of the Needles”; It gives its name to the Agulhas Current, a key driver of the global climate.
Agulhas Applied Knowledge is a research and strategy consultancy focused on global challenges, with an international team based in London.
We offer a deep understanding of ideas and evidence and are able to distil the key elements needed to guide practical action. We are value driven, working for a more sustainable world. We have extensive experience working on policy and strategy to inspire positive change.
Our story
From our beginnings in 2003, Agulhas Applied Knowledge has become a leading provider of evaluation, learning, and knowledge to improve strategy. From our canal side headquarters in central London, we work across the world in support of international cooperation on global challenges. Agulhas is an Employee-Owned company. We are owned and run by those who know Agulhas and our values best – our people. Our team is diverse and close-knit, all driven by common values that seek to build a better, more sustainable future. Our success is based on our agility, our focus on what matters and our simple commitment to excellence.
In 2023, we became a Certified B Corporation; part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact.
Click through our history below to see how we’ve evolved:
2024
Launch event for MOPAN WHO Report presented to WHO Director-General and Head of MOPAN Secretariat
2024
Agulhas appointed Lead Service Provider of ICAI 4
2024
Refresh of employee policy handbook to reflect Agulhas’ principles and employee-led initiatives
2024
Big Issues
2024
2024 first year to pass 1.5C global warming limit
2024
COP 29 in Azerbaijan
2023
GCF-IEU/ILO present Agulhas research at COP28
2023
Agulhas speak on Learning From Aid Spending in Afghanistan at RUSI
2023
Agulhas becomes a certified B Corporation
2023
Lauren Pett becomes Agulhas’ CEO
2023
Big Issues
2023
Transition from fossil fuels agreed at COP28
2023
Start of Israel-Hamas war
2023
WHO declares end of COVID-19 pandemic
2022
Agulhas supports GIZ, UNHCR, and WFP Jordan at the Financial Inclusion of Refugees in Jordan conference
2022
Agulhas supports climate, clean air and Just Transition work across multiple clients
2022
Agulhas launches MOPAN assessment of IOM
2022
Agulhas presents on collaborative evaluations at UK Evaluation Society Conference
2022
Big Issues
2022
COP27 in Egypt
2022
World population reaches 8 billion
2022
Russian invasion of Ukraine impacts oil and gas supply and prices globally
2021
Agulhas support IPPR at COP26
2021
MOPAN Assessment of UN OCHA 2020 published
2021
UN Women: Strengthening the Resilience of Syrian Women and Girls and Host Communities programme report
2021
Agulhas becomes an Employee-Owned Trust
2021
Big Issues
Covid-19 global pandemic
COP26 in Glasgow
2020 – 2018
MOPAN service provider
2020
CRUNCH Hub established
2019
ICAI Lead Service Provider ICAI 3
2019
Climate Hub Established
Agulhas appointed Independent Monitor of the Jordan Compact
2018
Big Issues
2020
FCO and DFID merged into FCDO
2020
Covid-19 global pandemic
2019
XR campaign on climate crisis
Net Zero target enshrined in UK law
2017 - 2014
Evaluation of Disasters Emergency Committee Yemen response
Evaluation of Australia’s economic partnerships with middle-income countries in Asia
2017
Agulhas moves to new HQ
(Canalside Hoxton)
2017
ICAI Lead Service Provider ICAI 2
2015
AfDB High-Level Panel on Aid Effectiveness in Africa
ICAI review of ‘How DFID learns’.
2014
Big Issues
2016
Grand Bargain announced at World Humanitarian Summit
Political focus on migration crisis
2015
Sustainable Development Goals agreed
UK 0.7% GNI ODA target Act
2014
Doing Development Differently Manifesto
2013 - 2009
M&E supplier for the African governance Initiative
2013
ICAI Service Provider
2011
Strategic evaluation of Australian law and justice assistance
First AfDB Africa Development Effectiveness Review
2011
Independent monitoring team for aid effectiveness in Vietnam
2010
Big Issues
2011
Syrian refugee crisis begins
2008 - 2003
Evaluation of DFID’s response to Paris Declaration
2008
Core support to Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change
2006
Bosnia Governance Assessment
2003
Agulhas Founded
2003
Big Issues
2008
UK Climate Change Act
2006
Stern Review on Economics of Climate Change makes the economic case for action
2005
Paris Aid Effectiveness Agenda resets global approach to aid
Our principles
Agulhas' principles guide who we are, how we work, and how we treat our colleagues, partners and clients
Commitment
We will continue to work to harness knowledge and learning for sustainable development.
Effectiveness
We will strive to deliver the best quality work we can in the areas where we can use our skills to make the greatest impact. We will continually look for ways to do better: individually; together; and with clients, contractors and communities.
Openness
We will share ideas and good practice. We will raise concerns quickly and deal with them fairly.
Integrity
We will conduct ourselves in a way of which we can be proud. We will be honest with each other, our clients and ourselves. We will provide challenge where it is needed and praise where it is due.
Respect
We will treat each other and our clients, communities and supply chain with respect. We will take the time to listen to others, look for the best in people and strive to empower others to be their best.
Equity
We will be mindful of power imbalances in everything we do. Our approach will continuously evolve, recognising our collective responsibility to unlearn biases and re-learn what it means to be equitable, inclusive and just.
What we do
Our services
Agulhas offers an array of services to enable our clients and partners to understand and apply knowledge in order to tackle the world’s most pressing crises. This may include research, evaluation, bespoke training or a combination of many outputs. Working closely with partners enables us to provide tailored solutions relevant to each organisation.
Monitoring and evaluation
We deliver evaluations, learning and knowledge to inform strategy, plans and actions. We draw on our broad methodological toolkit to produce dedicated research outputs in order to generate a deeper understanding of policies, practice and performance.
Knowledge and learning
We enable organisations to apply learning and build capacity to enable continuous improvement.
Strategy and policy
We support clients to apply knowledge to their unique circumstances, for better performance and impact, harnessing evaluation, learning and knowledge to improve strategy.
Work with us
Our partners
Agulhas' network of trusted partners around the globe are integral to our work.
Catalyst
Data Innovators
ZeniZeni
Mindset
Extra Partner For Carousel
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