Conclusions and Recommendations

Abstract

The chapter concludes the book by presenting the main findings of the research, providing some practical recommendations to increase the influence of research on SSR policy, and setting the project within the current and future literature on research utilisation and post-war recovery. The recommendations section of the chapter abandons the descriptive, explanatory approach of the book for a more normative and prescriptive tone, suggesting some practical measures to promote and improve the use of research in internationally-led SSR policy. These recommendations reinforce the methodological, theoretical, and empirical contribution of the study to the literature and discipline. They are aimed at impacting the theoretical research-policy debate and help researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers maximise the influence of research on policy. While these recommendations mainly target Her Majesty’s Government departments, such as the Department for International Development (DFID) or the Stabilisation Unit, similar organisations such as bilateral aid-financing agencies like the United States Agency for International Development and the Canadian International Development Agency, governments or intergovernmental bodies like the United Nations or the European Commission, international financial institutions such as the World Bank, non-governmental or philanthropic entities such as Oxfam or the Gates Foundation, research sponsors like the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) or the Leverhulme Trust, and the private sector could equally benefit from some of the findings of this study to improve the commissioning, management, dissemination, and utilisation of research in their programmes and policy. Finally, the last section of the book focuses on the importance of this study vis-à-vis the general literature on research utilisation and post-war recovery and points to future research directions that could stem from this work.