University academic to lead Afghan research
Posted on 22 October 2008
Dr David Connolly, a Research Fellow in the Post-War Reconstruction and Development Unit (PRDU), in the University’s Department of Politics, has been commissioned by five leading NGOs to carry out the project in partnership with Afghan researchers.
The research will assess governance in several provinces in Afghanistan and recommend ways for NGOs to engage more effectively with the provincial government. The NGOs supporting the research are ActionAid, CARE International, DACAAR, Mercy Corps and Oxfam GB.
We shall try to establish the best and most effective role that NGOs can play in strengthening provincial government
Dr David Connolly
It builds on previous work that the PRDU has carried out in Afghanistan. In 2005, the Afghan Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) and the World Bank chose the PRDU to carry out the mid term evaluation of the country’s US$ 600 million National Solidarity Programme (NSP).
Dr Connolly, who was part of the team involved in the NSP evaluation, said: "We shall try to establish the best and most effective role that NGOs can play in strengthening provincial government, and also more broadly in relation to governance and recovery. The study will produce a set of recommendations which the NGOs will be able to translate into policy."
The research is expected to take two months to complete and the final report is due to be presented in Kabul early in the New Year.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- More on Dr Connolly’s research at: www.york.ac.uk/depts/poli/prdu/David.htm
- More information on the Post-War Reconstruction and Development Unit at www.york.ac.uk/depts/poli/prdu/welcome.htm
- More information on the University of York’s Department of Politics at www.york.ac.uk/depts/poli/about/index.htm