We are committed to finding better ways in which the international community can support development by helping to improve governance and developing realistic approaches to promoting rights in poor countries, and within the global system.
In both these areas, our research focuses on methods and tools to ensure that development policies and programmes are adequate and deliver tangible results, taking into account relevant facts of history, geography, politics and international relations.
We work directly with donors and other practitioners to research governance and rights issues and provide policy advisory services based on our evidence base. Through the Africa Power and Politics Programme, for example, we are conducting ground-breaking research aimed at identifying ways of improving governance-for-development in sub-Saharan Africa by 'working with the grain' of local societies.
