Using Social Simulation for Aid and Development Analytics during Armed Conflict: Experiences from Uruzgan

Abstract

A participatory social simulation framework is presented to support context analysis in Uruzgan province's Baluchi Valley region, Afghanistan under the banner of context sensitivity. Working in fragile states and areas affected by armed conflict is challenging for locals, development workers and researchers alike. Meaningful interaction with locals for data collection purposes is difficult and techniques applied should balance the desire for broad and in-depth data elicitation with sound risk management. Rarely can standard solutions deliver the results needed for making informed decisions in such circumstance. The reader is shown protocols for data collection and analytics that are tailored to doing context analysis and decision support for development cooperation in areas affected by armed conflict. Select results are presented to demonstrate the usefulness of the framework. The article concludes with a comparison of the proposed framework with development cooperation requirements.