The International Labour Organization (ILO) and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) have launched a global survey to identify the most urgent and impactful research priorities to combat forced labour and human trafficking. This initiative represents a crucial step toward developing shared priorities for evidence-based action — and your voice is needed.
Despite growing awareness of these critical issues, major gaps remain in our understanding of what works, for whom, and under what conditions. Currently, an estimated 27.6 million people worldwide are trapped in situations of forced labour. The global community has committed to ending these human rights abuses, but efforts must be grounded in solid evidence to be truly effective.
This is where the global survey comes in. The ILO and IPA are reaching out to researchers, policymakers, donors, practitioners, and individuals with lived experience to gather insights on the most pressing knowledge gaps. Your participation will directly shape the development of Global Research Priorities — a roadmap for research that informs real-world interventions.
The survey focuses on identifying high-impact research questions, to future understand enabling environments for successful interventions, and assess which methods are most effective and robust in measuring success. It also seeks to serve as a tool to inform the allocation of scarce donor resources for research towards the most promising solutions.
Respondents have the option to be acknowledged in the final publication, and findings will be made publicly available to encourage transparency and collaboration across sectors. The results will guide a long-term, dynamic research programme that supports policy innovation based on robust evidence and programme design at scale.
If you are working to address human trafficking or forced labour — whether through local initiatives, at the policy level, or through research — this is your opportunity to help steer the future of global research. By taking the survey, you can help ensure that future programmes are based not on assumptions, but on tested, evidence-based strategies.
Deadline to participate: 15 September 2025