Andrej Smirnov is a Research Assistant at ISDC. His Research interest include the interaction between inequality and growth, migration and economics of conflict. At ISDC, Andrej works on the “Gendered Dimension of Forced Displacement” project and assists with data analysis in the “Life with Corona” survey. Previously Andrej held Research Assistant positions at DeZIM-Institute (German […]
Laura Peitz
Laura Peitz is a Researcher at ISDC and a PhD Researcher at The Hertie School in Berlin as part of the Berlin Graduate School for Global and Transregional Studies (BGTS). Her research interests include UN peacebuilding efforts, micro-level dynamics of violence, development finance, Multilateral Development Banks and private sector engagement in development. Among others, Laura […]
Gabija Verbaite
Gabija Verbaite is an intern at ISDC. Her diverse research interests include interdisciplinary analysis of Eastern Europe, namely, how trust, corruption, and informality affect the post-communist social and economic development. At ISDC, Gabija is working on a research project “Inequality and Governance in Unstable Democracies: The Mediating Role of Trust.” Currently, she is also assisting […]
Rebecca Wolfe
Dr. Rebecca J. Wolfe is a Research Affiliate at ISDC. She is a lecturer at the Harris School for Public Policy at the University of Chicago, where she is an associate at the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts. She is a leading expert on political violence, conflict and violent extremism. […]
SEEDS: Long-term Impacts of a Complex Agricultural Intervention on Welfare, Behaviour and Stability in Syria
In this project, we study a complex agricultural intervention in a protracted crisis setting. We use innovative quantitative methods to analyse impact magnitudes, pathways and interactions of different intervention components across multiple local contexts and on multiple outcomes.
Child Development in the Context of a School Feeding Programme in Kyrgyzstan
A Mercy Corps-funded study into the effects of nutrition on health and education among Kyrgyz children, and the causal impacts of the McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program on these outcomes.
ADB Country Diagnostic Study: Kyrgyz Republic: Improving Growth Potential
This study presents an in-depth analysis of the sector reforms needed to enable the Kyrgyz Republic to achieve higher and more sustainable economic growth. Dr Damir Esenaliev of ISDC has co-authored the chapter titled on Human Resources for Inclusive Growth.
New Publication on Gender Earnings Inequality and Wage Policy in Kyrgyzstan published in Comparative Economic Studies
New paper by Damir Esenaliev and Kathryn H. Anderson on gender earnings inequality and wage policy in Kyrgyzstan has been published in Comparative Economic Studies. The findings show that the policy reform conducted in 2011 to increase the wages for teachers, health and social workers not only reduced wage gap in these sectors compared to non-reformed sectors, but also had a pronounced gender gap narrowing effect in the reform sectors and economy-wide.
Gender Earnings Inequality and Wage Policy: Teachers, Health Care, and Social Workers in Central Asia
The policy reform conducted in 2011 in Kyrgyzstan to increase the wages for teachers, health and social workers not only reduced wage gap in these sectors compared to non-reformed sectors, but also had a pronounced gender gap narrowing effect in the reform sectors and economy-wide.
Wim Naudé
Wim Naudé is Research Affiliate at ISDC, Visiting Professor at RWTH Aachen University and Research Fellow at the IZA Institute of Labor Economics, in Germany. He is also a Fellow at the Africa Study Centre at the University of Leiden, and a Full Professor atthe Maastricht School of Management, both in the Netherlands. His research […]
Assets for Alimentation? The Nutritional Impact of Assets-Based Programming in Niger
A recent strand of aid programming aims to develop household assets by removing the stresses associated with meeting basic nutritional needs. In this paper, we posit that such nutrition-sensitive programmes can reduce malnourishment by encouraging further investment in diet.
Strengthening Food Security in Acute Crisis Settings: First Insights from North-east Nigeria
Endline analysis of FAO Northeast Nigeria Resilience Programme show significant improvements in food security particularly to IDPs and households living under extreme violent conflict, underscoring the significant of developmental interventions in protracted crises.
Damir Esenaliev joins ISDC
Dr Damir Esenaliev joined ISDC as a Senior Researcher in January 2019. He brings topical expertise on peace-building, social cohesion, human development, labor markets, inequality, and rural development, and regional expertise in Central Asian and transition economies. Damir also has extensive experience designing and conducting panel data collection and impact evaluations. He will continue his […]
On the Return on Investment of Security Sector Assistance and Peacebuilding Assistance
Peacebuilding assistance and security sector assistance both aim at the same outcome – reductions in political violence. In this exploratory article, we show only the former has its desired impact, with security sector support apparently acting to increase violence.
An Impact Evaluation of WFP Malnutrition Interventions in Niger
Although much has been learned about the performance of food aid interventions, less is known about their impact in situations of chronic, rather than acute, food insecurity. In this article, we show little medium-term impact of direct food provision of nutritional outcomes but a strong, positive, impact of assets based programming in chronically food insecure Niger.
Money can’t buy love but can it buy peace? Evidence from the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE II)
While randomisation is often eschewed in bottom-up peacebuilding contexts in favour of more targeted programming, there is no guarantee that targeted spending gets to those who need it most. In this article, we discuss the apparent failure of one such targeted rollout – that of the PEACE II programmes in Ireland.
Impact Evaluation of UNHCR’s Engagement in Humanitarian-Development Cooperation
This project provides quantitative estimates of the impact of humanitarian-development cooperation on refugees and host communities in Ethiopia and Jordan.
Seeds of Resilience: A Quasi-experimental Impact Analysis of an FAO Emergency Intervention in Syria
A short- and medium-term impact evaluation of a food security and resilience intervention by FAO Syria that aims to address emergency needs, support early recovery, and build longer-term resilience in the agricultural sector.
Micro-level Linkages between Poverty and Fragility
An AERC-commissioned study analyzing the micro-level interlinkages between poverty and fragility based on panel data from Kenya.
On the Return on Investment of Security Sector Assistance and Peacebuilding Assistance
An empirical analysis of the differential impacts of military and civilian peacebuilding assistance, and associated return on investment.