This paper discusses a research agenda setting project conducted for an international non-governmental organization which aims to help create a regionally relevant, high-quality knowledge base on key education issues of policy and practice. Specifically, we illustrate how our team adapted the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHRNI) methodology for research priority setting to identify areas for future education research. The paper focuses on the methods used and lessons learned from adapting these methods for education research, as opposed to the results of the exercise itself. While the traditional CHNRI model is not directly applicable to education research, an adapted version of this methodology provides an evidence-based approach to support the decision making process of research funders. The CHNRI method does not provide definite answers on what research should be funded; rather it provides a solid platform to support informed discussion on ways research can be prioritized.