We provided research and strategic advice to the UK’s Development Finance Institution, the CDC Group, on the most effective use of Technical Assistance (TA) and grants to further the impact of CDC’s investments in Financial Institutions. This included producing a learning paper based on a meta-analysis of case studies, evaluations and impact reports as well as key informant interviews with a range of funders and practitioners. We then supported CDC to operationalise these lessons, for example through revised TA/grant application processes and the production of staff guidance notes.