Research

ARWEO has been working in research for the last 17 years in Afghanistan. ARWEO has a clear aim of building up the capacity of Afghans to conduct quality research at a competitive level while simultaneously helping to empower Afghan civil society to take a leadership role in research, advocacy, and policy formulation in peace and development processes and debates nationally; giving ownership back to Afghans. ARWEO’s research capability grew from our programmatic work. The reports generated have not only provided support for field initiatives but also given insight into topics that could be researched further to develop a broader understanding of focus-driven issues. ARWEO’s independent research department was incorporated in full in 2008 and has produced many valuable, original research pieces, including sensitive research projects in notoriously unstable and dangerous provinces which have been instrumental in providing a comprehensive view of evolving and at times volatile situations.

ARWEO researchers can work in some of Afghanistan’s most conflict-prone areas because we emphasize the need to work with and develop local capabilities and thus establish lasting ties on the community level. For instance, through our work with Peace Councils, AREWO has had access to conflict records which has allowed us to map changes in conflict trends and correlate these trends with wider regional, national, or climactic movements. We have conducted research in all provinces relevant to this research (Uruzgan, Nangarhar, Badghis, Kunduz), but also in Helmand, Kandahar, Kunar, Bamyan, Daikundi, Herat, Baghlan, Farah, Ghor, Logar, Paktia, Paktika, Khost and Parwan. We retain networks of contacts with persons of influence and local governance structures in all of the above.