Mapping of research capacity in Afghanistan

Abstract

This report presents the results of a September 2011 study commissioned by the Department for International Development (DFID)’s South Asia Research Hub (SARH) and DFID-Afghanistan (DFID-A) to map research capacity in Afghanistan and identify gaps in research and analysis which would be valuable to Afghan and international development partners. The mapping sought to answer the following questions: 1. Who are the main funders of research and policy analysis in Afghanistan? 2. What are the main areas in which research is being carried out and by whom? 3. What is the current capacity for high-quality research and policy analysis by sector? 4. What are the capacity building needs for Afghan research institutions and think tanks? 5. What are the evidence gaps in DFID-A’s Operational Plan and other development partners planning documents? 6. What research and analysis currently available could fill these gaps? 7. Who is best placed to commission research and analysis to fill identified gaps? The methodology consisted of a review of Afghan government, DFID and other donor policy documents; review of research and analytical outputs; and interviews with relevant producers and consumers of research, as well as stakeholders in the Afghan development process. The main focus was on the sectors contained explicitly or implicitly in DFID-A’s operational plan, namely governance and security, agriculture, natural resource management, rural livelihoods, environment, wealth creation, gender, health, education, and humanitarian assistance, although many of the observations made about research in these sectors apply more broadly across other sectors