National Research and Development Centre (NRDC) in London England is dedicated to conducting research into adult literacy, numeracy, ESOL and ICT. This is one of England’s leading research centres working to help improve the quality of adult literacy teaching and learning so that young people and adults can progress in life and work.
See http://www.nrdc.org.uk/ (United Kingdom)

Pennsylvania Action Research Network (PAARN)'s “objective is to help practitioners develop more problem-posing/problem-solving skills with action research as a method of inquiry, in ABE, GED, and ESL programs. With these skills, it is hoped that new knowledge can be created that discovers and validates the best methods, promising strategies, and effective techniques to improve daily practice. Using the guidelines created for this project, PAARN facilitators work with practitioners from various literacy agencies, including community colleges, literacy councils, correctional facilities and adult learning centers.”
See http://www.able.state.pa.us/able/cwp/view.asp?A=215&Q=110085 (United States)

Plain Language Association INternational (PLAIN) provides free plain-language articles, writing tutorials, web links, news, networking opportunities, professional support, and e-mail discussion groups. It also offers PLAIN membership, connections with consultants, and professional conferences
See http://www.plainlanguagenetwork.org (International)

Research and Practise in Adult Literacy (RaPAL) is the “only British national organisation that focuses on the role of literacy in adult life. [It] is an independent network of learners, teachers, managers and researchers in adult basic education. RaPAL campaigns for the rights of all adults to have access to the full range of literacies in their lives [and] offers a critique of current policy and practise where it is based on simplistic notions of literacy as skill…RaPAL encourages a broad range of collaborative and reflective research involving all participants in literacy work as partners.”
See http://www.literacy.lancs.ac.uk/rapal/index.htm (United Kingdom)

University of Sheffield School of Education Literacy Research Centre “brings together a group of 12 academic staff, and approximately the same number of research students, all of whom are active in literacy research.”
See http://www.shef.ac.uk/literacy/index.html (United Kingdom)

Virginia Adult Education Research Network (VAERN)’s mission is to strengthen and enhance the Virginia Adult Education and Literacy System through professional development, technology, communication, collaboration, and resource sharing.
See http://www.valrc.org (United States)

Women Expanding / Literacy Education Action Resource Network (WE LEARN)“promotes women's literacy as a tool for personal growth and social change through networking, education, action, and resource development. WE LEARN addresses the barriers, consequences, and impact of gender-based differences on women’s learning and how those difference affect women’s success and their ability to progress socially, economically and politically. Our goals include: to create widespread visibility and support of issues related to women’s literacy and adult basic education; to expand the availability of women-centered literacy materials and curriculum resources; and to be a strong and sustainable constituency-centered organization. WE LEARN is the only national U.S. organization directly addressing the issues of adult women’s literacy and the needs of women in adult basic education.”
See http://www.litwomen.org/welearn.html (United States)