USAID’s localization initiative has served as the beating pulse of R4P’s research component. From the selection of research partners, the composition of field missions, and the ownership of findings, the empowerment and professionalization of local research capacities remains a constant focus of this component, regardless of the research topic. The Political Economy Analysis series was led by national research center CAPEG, and data gathering from the artisanal gold study was driven by an Ivoirian analyst in collaboration with an international gold expert. R4P’s national research partner Indigo Côte d’Ivoire is a highly respected national action research team that has two dedicated research-facilitators embedded in the R4P team for continued context analysis. R4P staff ensures permanent presence in border areas with a local network of context analysts enabling an iterative evolution of the context’s analysis. While the focus may be on R4P’s research products and their application to the ongoing national effort to counter the spread of violent extremism, an equally important goal is the empowerment and professionalization of national and local research capacities.