Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) was a competitive grants program that invited scientists in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) to apply for awards of up to $300,000 to support research and capacity-building activities on topics with strong potential development impacts. Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), from 2011 to 2024, PEER supported over 463 scientists in 60 USAID-partner countries. These researchers partnered with U.S. government-supported scientists in mutually beneficial collaborations that produced scientific breakthroughs, trained future scientists, built capacity at local higher education institutions, and translated evidence into policy. Funded researchers examined international development topics such as environmental resilience, global health, and digital development, among others. PEER’s core objectives were (1) advancing high quality research to improve programs and policies; (2) building partnerships between local research institutions and in-country and global entities; and (3) strengthening the research capacity in developing countries to generate solutions to local challenges.