We care deeply for the people whose stories we tell, the organizations we work with, and the way we communicate to the world.
We bring together diverse teams to produce rigorous, multimedia research grounded in social science. We are uncompromising in safeguarding the integrity of our work and the dignity of the people and communities whose lives shape it.
DAWNING is inspired by the light that touches the horizon each morning. We are optimistic by nature. We believe a well-told story can change how we see the world. Our own story draws on the myth of Icarus, whose face and wings appear in our logo. Like him, we strive to get as close to the light as possible —with a healthy dose of humility about the limitations of our wings.
We believe informed citizens bring vital energy to public life. We believe in the power of civic dialogue, where citizens, community leaders, and decision-makers come together to nurture a more open and empathetic society. For us, relationships come first. Whether with our partners or the people who inhabit our narratives, strong bonds don’t just yield powerful stories —they are the lifeblood of our work.
We know that our legacy is not just the work we do but the way we do it. We do not operate as a conventional business, but as a culture of equals with a fierce commitment to excellence. We strive to create a work environment that fosters creativity, resilience, team spirit, grace under pressure, global sensitivity, humility, and empathy in even the most difficult circumstances.
We are a non-partisan, non-ideological research nonprofit committed to sharing rigorous, data-driven evidence on pressing social and environmental challenges. We conduct our work ethically and collaboratively, listening carefully to one another and to the communities we engage. We hold ourselves accountable to our team, our partners, the people whose lives inform our research, and the public. We operate with honesty and integrity at all times and comply fully with the laws and regulations of the countries in which we work.
We do not advance hidden agendas or advocacy positions. Our commitment to independent, evidence-based work reflects our duty to the people we meet — a duty to represent their experiences fairly and accurately. Our findings reflect our best independent judgment and are never shaped by personal preferences or by the interests of sources, clients, or partners. We are uncompromising in safeguarding the integrity of our research and reporting.
Our work is guided by the belief that informed citizens strengthen public life. We strive to produce research and reporting that is insightful, transparent, and accessible so that readers can engage thoughtfully with the complex issues shaping our world. In sharing our work publicly, we remain accountable both to the people whose lives inform our research and to the audiences who engage with it.
People are at the foundation of DAWNING’s work. We treat those whose lives inform our research, those we collaborate with, and one another with respect, care, and dignity. Our work is guided by a human-centered approach in which the well-being of people always comes first. Recognizing the sensitivity of the issues we study, our team is trained in practices such as trauma-informed care and follows rigorous health and safety protocols to engage with communities responsibly and with respect.
DAWNING gathers informed, written consent from all participants in our research. As part of this process, we clearly explain the purpose of our work and ask individuals whether they are willing to participate. We do not offer or accept remuneration for participation, and we explain how data will be collected, stored, and shared. Whenever possible, we reconfirm consent with participants before publication of our work.
DAWNING projects employ established social science research methods and are conducted with rigorous standards of evidence. Our team includes specialists in the application of social science research in complex and difficult-to-access settings. Our work is fact-driven and relies on methods such as face-to-face interviews, documentary photography, and in-depth literature reviews. We strengthen the validity of our findings through triangulation of data, methods, researchers, locations, and sources.
Every DAWNING project involves the collection, storage, and preservation of first-hand testimony and visual documentation. Protecting this material is essential to maintaining reliable records of the issues and communities we study. DAWNING maintains strict data security practices both in and out of the field and follows established professional standards to safeguard sensitive material and the integrity of our work.
At DAWNING, we believe social science can be both rigorous and accessible. Our work brings together research and the visual arts to create forms of knowledge that engage people beyond academic or policy circles.
Innovation is part of our responsibility.
Many of the issues we study are complex, distant, or difficult to grasp. By combining scientific inquiry with photography, illustration, and other branches of the arts and humanities, we work to make these realities visible and understandable without simplifying them.
We also recognize that the stories we share originate in the lives of others. Our responsibility is not only to represent those experiences faithfully, but to remain mindful of the people whose lives shape our work. Their realities continue long after a book is printed or an exhibit opens, and that awareness guides how we approach our craft.
We present our findings as clearly and fairly as possible, allowing readers to form their own conclusions. We do not advocate, advance personal opinions, or make policy recommendations.
