Policy

Research at the Centre for Public Authority and International Development (CPAID) has direct implications for governments, intergovernmental organisations, NGOs and courts of law. Based on empirical evidence, its researchers make real-world impact through clear recommendations, expert reports and policy-oriented workshops. View policy briefs and evidence submissions below.

Website: CPAID impact (lse.ac.uk) 

Governance

• Landmark trial at the ICC (Feb. 2021). CPAID impact report: Changing the course of a landmark trial at the ICC (lse.ac.uk)  

• Onyango, G. (2023) State Politics and Public Policy in Eastern Africa - A Comparative Perspective Palgrave Macmillan. 

• Kirk, T., Pendle, N. and Diing, A. (2024). Community Self-Protection, Public Authority and the Safety of Strangers in Bor and Ler, South Sudan. Global Policy 

Pandemics & Epidemics 

• Kirk, T., Green, D., Allen, T., Carayannis, T., Bazonzi, José, Ndala, J., Stys, P., Muzuri, P., Nyenyezi Bisoka, A., Vlassenroot, K., Diing Akoi Nyuon, A., Macdonald, A., Owor, A., Storer, L., Okello, J., Hopwood, J., Porter, H., Oryem, R., Parker, M. & Akello Ayebare, G. (2021) Crisis responses, opportunity and public authority during Covid‐19's first wave in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Disasters, 45 (S1). S195 - S215. ISSN 0361-3666 

• Allen, Tim and Parker, Melissa (2023) In the line of duty: militarizing African epidemics. Global Policy. ISSN 1758-5880 

• Parker, M., Baluku, M., Ozunga, B., Okello, B., Kermundu, P., Akello, G., MacGregor, H., Leach, M. and Allen, T. (2022) Epidemics and the military: responding to COVID-19 in Uganda. Social Science and Medicine, 314. ISSN 0277-9536 

• Moro, L., Pendle, N., Robinson, A. & Tanner, L. “This is your disease”: Dynamics of local authority and NGO responses to Covid-19 in South Sudan. Policy brief (September 2021). 

• Akello, G. & Green, D. (2020). Preparedness, heightened response and systems strengthening for Ebola in Uganda. Ebola-Uganda-policy-brief-Grace-Akello-latest.pdf (lse.ac.uk) 

• Parker, Melissa and Allen, Tim (2018) #PublicAuthority: what will happen when there is another epidemic? Ebola in Mathiane, Sierra Leone. Africa at LSE.  

• Allen, T. & Parker, M. (2016) Deworming delusions? Mass drug administration in East African schools. Journal of Biosocial Science, 48 (S1). S116-S147. ISSN 0021-9320

Humanitarianism

• Moro, L., Pendle, N., Robinson, A. & Tanner, L. Localising humanitarian aid during armed conflict: Learning from the histories and creativity of South Sudanese NGOs. Policy report (March 2020). 
• Kirk, T., Stys, P., Muhindo, S., Balume, B., Mazuri, P., Tchumisi, I., N’simire, S. & Green, D. Understanding household coping strategies in Goma, DRC. Policy brief (July 2021). . 

The African Trade Policy Programme brings together international expertise on African trade policy, trade negotiations and trade policy implementation to better leverage trade as a vehicle for inclusive development. The programme team has extensive experience in working with countries, development partners and international organisations across trade policy research, design, innovation and implementation. At its heart is the desire to make trade policy work better for Africa.

• June 2023 White paper on sustainable industrialisation in Africa: White-Paper-on-Sustainable-Industrialisation-in-Africa.pdf (lse.ac.uk) June 2023

• Submission to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero addressing carbon leakage risk to support decarbonisation.  2023

• Written evidence to the parliamentary review committee on the UK’s trade policy towards developing countries. The submission focused on the UK’s approach towards African countries. February 2022
• Roundtable on the African Continental Free Trade Area organised by the AfCFTA Secretariat with representatives from United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, UK Government and Parliament, US Congress, and EU Commission. July 2021

PERISCOPE was a large-scale research project involving a consortium of 32 European institutions to investigate the social, economic, behavioural and mental health-related aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.    

The project ran for 36 months from 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2023

• Understanding the response to COVID-19 and enhancing preparedness for future generations

• A Future Fit for Young People
• The LSE Commission for Pandemic Governance and Inequalities: an experiment in cross-disciplinarity for pandemic policy

• LSE Periscope Overview Report 

• LSE/Periscope Policy Conference  

• LSE European Commission Report 

Visit the LSE PERISCOPE page or the external PERISCOPE website for more information. 

Ethnographies of (Dis)Engagement explores orientations towards COVID-19 vaccines among social groups who have reported some of the lowest rates of COVID-19 vaccine uptake across the G7, and the world. 

• Vaccine calculations among diaspora populations: evidence from South Sudanese communities in Canada 

• Key Considerations: Equitable Engagement to Promote COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Undocumented Urban Migrants 

• Key Considerations: Engaging ‘People on the Move’ to Promote COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Italy 

• Key Considerations: Tackling Structural Discrimination and COVID-19 Vaccine Barriers for Roma Communities in Italy 

Website Ethnographies of (Dis)Engagement (lse.ac.uk)  

The aim of the project is to map and compare fundamental rights and freedoms currently protected under the Afghan Constitution with Islamic teaching, traditions and texts in Afghanistan and elsewhere, with a view to identifying possible points of convergence in relation to the promotion and protection of those rights in Afghanistan going forward. 

• Abadi, H., Seeking an Islamic Framework Towards Peacebuilding and Women’s Inclusion, Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa (2022).  Policy brief
• Policy guide to peacemaking using Islamic principles: Commonalities between International Norms and Islamic Principles. Released soon.  

Website International Norms project (lse.ac.uk)  

Broadly, the project seeks to identify evidence needs of public health practitioners and explore how perceived challenges may impede the use of evidence when implementing global health interventions in their localities. 

Selected policy briefs and critical papers  

• Fergus, C., Ozunga, Bono, O., Parker, M., Kamurari, S. and Allen, T. (2022) Shifting the dynamics: implementation of locally driven, mixed-methods modelling to inform schistosomiasis control and elimination activities. BMJ Global Health, 7 (2). ISSN 2059-7908 
• Fergus, C., Pearson, G. Opportunities and disconnects in the use of primary research on schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths for policy and practice: results from a survey of researchers. Journal of Public Health Policy 42, 402–421 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-021-00294-x  
• Cristin A. Fergus & Elizabeth Storer, with support from Moses Adriko and Moses Arinaitwe. Uganda information and evidence rapid assessment survey report This report for the Uganda Ministry of Health, reflects a survey conducted between 3 December 2020 and 15 January 2021. 

The Hub research focuses on gender-justice, inclusive security, and peace in conflict-affected societies working with 40 partner organisations around the world. The Hub has mainly prioritised policy lab workshops as its’ primary activity.  

• APPG for Afghan Women and Girls, established by Dr Neelam Raina at partnership institution Middlesex University and a direct result of the Hub’s ongoing policy and advocacy work for Afghan citizen resettlement. 
• House of Commons - Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups as at 22 February 2023: Afghan Women and Girls 
• Neelam and Professor Brad Blitz’s appearance before the Defence Committee in November 2021 on the withdrawal of allied troops from AFG: 
• Hub members give evidence on the UK's withdrawal from Afghanistan - The Gender Hub  
• Professor Paul Kirby and Christine Chinkin’s 2023 policy recommendations regarding Conflict Related Sexual Violence and defence are on the Hub website: Women, Peace and Security, Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, and Defence - The Gender Hub. 

The Trajectories of Displacement project is a multi-disciplinary exploration into return and social repair after mass displacement in Northern Uganda. The research produced the following policy recommendations:

• Children from the LRA and services for formerly abducted persons
  Read the document here.
• Birth Registration for children born in LRA captivity in Northern Uganda
  Read the document here.
• Vernacularizing psychiatric discourse in post-conflict northern Uganda
  Read the document here.
• The Biometrically Verified Food Distribution (BVFD) Challenge
  Read the document here.
• Trauma-focussed mental health interventions
  Read the document here.
• NGOs and justice mechanisms in post-war contexts
  Read the document here.
• The ‘self-help’ group - structures and deeper understandings
  Read the document here.
• The healing powers of sport for youths in post-conflict Northern Uganda
  Read the document here.
• A roadmap towards the collective healing of child soldiers and “rebel wives”
  Read the document here.
• How to ensure effective uptake of family planning strategies in Northern Uganda
  Read the document here.
• Exploring the Karamojong language for clues about climate related risks
  Read the document here.

Community-Based Armed Groups (CBAGs) are armed groups embedded within communities such as vigilantes, militias and criminal gangs. While these groups have been found to engage in political violence on behalf of their sponsors and to commit crimes for self-motivated reasons, in many contexts, including parts of sub-Saharan Africa, they are also among the main providers of local security. See our policy documents on CBAGs below.

• Schubert, M. (2020). Transforming community-based armed groups into commuity security providers. Resolve network.
• Schubert, M. (2020). Measuring the success of approaches to community-based armed groups. Resolve network.

FLIA researchers have published on Uganda’s response to the 2018 Ebola outbreak at its border with the DRC. Co-written by FLIA Visiting Professor Grace Akello and FLIA Investigator Professor Duncan Green, the brief provides clear recommendations for future epidemic outbreaks.

Based on ethnographic studies over 12 months, the brief reports that the response to Ebola was uncoordinated, chaotic and over-bureaucratic, with little tangible benefit on the ground, supported by international donors who influenced the neglect of vital areas in the Ugandan government’s response.

• Akello, G. & Green, D. (2020). Preparedness, heightened response and systems strengthening for Ebola in Uganda.
  Read the policy brief here