Catalogue of Studies 2007

In Afghanistan today there is an essential need for coordinated research. The National Centre for Policy Research has therefore taken up the task of assembling a Catalogue of Studies on topical issues relating to the present social, economic, judicial and political problems facing the country. After conducting a number of workshops and consulting scholars, educationalists and officials, altogether 90 subjects were found to be of particular importance. They cover the fields of Law, Political Science, Economics, and Sociology. Each of the Center’s three departments is in charge of 30 subjects. Of these, each department will choose one or two -

topics for research in the year 2007.

The aim of these studies is to provide information and guidelines for all those involved in policy development: government, NGOs, donors, and others. Therefore, each study will include a survey of facts and documents, aimed at arriving at an overview, offer an analysis of this overview, and suggest a number of recommendations for the development of appropriate policy.

The Catalogue of Studies was designed as a consultation tool to allow input into the final choice of research by those involved in research and policy-making. It contains three lists of 30 research topics, corresponding to the Center’s three departments. These lists were designed as questionnaires, allowing consulting organizations and individuals the opportunity to rate each topic in accordance with the degree of priority they attach to it. Rating is done on a scale of 1-10, with 1 denoting highest priority, and 10 the lowest. Consulting organizations and individuals were asked to rate every topic on the basis of this scale.

Once the consultation process ended, results were entered into a database from which the