Set against a broad socio-economic rights framework, the Children's Institute’s current research agenda consists of these broad, inter-related thematic areas:
- Child poverty and inequality
- Early childhood development
- Violence against children
- Intersections of VAC & VAW
- Children and COVID-19
Staff from different disciplines work collaboratively on most major projects. While self-initiated projects make up the bulk of activities, government tenders and other commissions to the Children’s Institute have increased over the years.