The Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) is a pan-African not-for-profit organisation based in Nairobi that aims to increase the capacity of African academic institutions and researchers to contribute stronger evidence based research on public policy that can have a positive impact on pro-poor development policies in Africa. It was established in response to the declining capacity in political and social science research output in sub-Saharan Africa.
Contact Info
6th Floor, I & M Building 2nd Ngong Avenue, Upper Hill
Urban Governance and Turning African Cities Around:
This theme explores recent rapid urbanisation in Africa and emerging evidence that some metropolitan cities are turning around their past deficits in the provision of infrastructure and services. Visit the project page
Varieties of Modes of Governance and Inclusive Development:
Focusing on the nature of recent “growth” in Africa, this thematic area examines the typologies of modes of governance in Africa and uses that to analyse differential effects on inclusive development. Visit the project page
Governance, Social Policy and Social Protection in Africa:
This thematic area was launched in 2016. See social protection for updates.
PASGR has facilitated various activities including the African Research Database on Global Development Goals and the Post-2015 Data Test Project
Non-state social protection in Africa:
Social protection was selected as a research theme due to the apparent high level of priority placed on the issue by African governments, the donor community, and regional intergovernmental bodies like the African Union (AU). Visit the project page here
Effective Public Service Delivery:
What roles do formal and informal institutions play in the provision of basic education, water supply and transportation infrastructure (roads) public services at country and sector level? What are the most feasible institutional and policy options to improve the delivery of public services in different national and institutional contexts? How do these compare across countries? Visit the project page here
New Forms of Social and Political Action: A Study of #BringbackOurGirls, Nigeria:
The project examines how progressive social and political action emerges in situations of fragility, conflict, and closed political spaces, the trajectories they take and their impact on empowerment and accountability, with a focus on the #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) movement. BBOG is one of Nigeria’s intense social media-driven and female-led actions, which emerged in April 2014 following the abduction of 276 girls by the violent extremist group Boko Haram from government girls’ secondary school Chibok, Borno State North-East Nigeria. Our study attempts to understand the pathways the movement has taken, and the impact it has on empowerment and accountability, within the context of fragility, conflict, and violence in Nigeria. Visit the project page here
Regional Mini-studies on Illicit Transfers and Tax Reforms in Africa:
Following discussions with the Ford Foundation in early 2017, PASGR initiated regional evidence syntheses on illicit transfers and tax reforms in Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. The four-country case studies are to map and synthesise available literature/information on illicit transfers and tax reforms and further identify key stakeholders to be involved in future policy discussions. The evidence generated from the mapping exercises shall be used to guide and inform the establishment of research – policy community (Utafiti Sera) on Tax Reforms and Illicit Transfers in the study countries. Visit the project page here