The Research Services Department provides both technical and management support to all the research undertakings of the Institute, particularly those conducted by the Research Staff. The RSD is comprised of two units, Project Services and the Management Information Services. Each unit is composed of four highly dedicated personnel.

The Project Services unit undertakes all the components of research management, from proposal development to contracting to monitoring and review of research outputs. The PSS likewise facilitates the formulation of the PIDS research agenda and coordinates its implementation. It also maintains continuous liaison with other departments within the Institute and with external contacts, such as current and prospective donor agencies and clients.

The Management Information Services unit, meanwhile, takes care of all the computing services required by all the departments within the Institute. It manages the PIDS information systems and services all the IT requirements of the Institute. The MIS also provides training to PIDS staff on various software applications and manages all the IT and computing hardware of the Institute.