Projects Overview

The URDR is a trans-disciplinary research unit based at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. It engages with paid clients around sustainable development and violence prevention with a critical lens on complex religious and cultural systems and a focus on equipping local communities to respond more effectively. Read more

The URDR offers a research and learning consulting hub for networks, NGOs, governments, private trusts and students through delivering evidence-based research, curriculum development, training and innovative tool design. Its team has expertise across multiple disciplines. It offers professional research and training services with an emphasis on evidence building, knowledge sharing and theory construction from below. Its empirical footprint spans Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas with mixed methods research to inform government and NGO policies and civil society grassroots action. The Unit can be contracted to conduct research. Click here for more information about our partners or here for more about our recent projects.

Evidence-Based Research

The URDR has carried out research in Afghanistan, Angola, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Colombia, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Georgia, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Peru, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Zambia around the below themes:

Theory Building from Below

The URDR's research generates innovative theoretical contributions that connects different disciplinary insights. This helps bridge the worlds of theory and practice. Disseminating these findings into academic, practitioner and popular forums is essential for improved practice in the field. To access some of the URDR's research outputs across the below spectrum, click here.