About us

Staff profiles

Brian Lucas, Resource Centre Manager
Huma Haider, Research Fellow
Claire Mcloughlin, Research Fellow
Sumedh Rao, Research Fellow
Sarah O'Connor, Information Officer

Brian Lucas

Resource Centre Manager
International Development Department (IDD), University of Birmingham

Tel: +44 (0) 121 414 5037
Email: brian@gsdrc.org

GSDRC Responsibilities

Coordinating the overall work of the resource centre
Strategic management and quality oversight
Administration, contracts, personnel, and financial management
Managing relations with clients
Producing rapid response research on a range of governance, conflict and social development issues for DFID, AusAID and other clients

Profile

Brian is a project manager specialising in knowledge management and information technology solutions for international development and environmental issues. He has experience as a manager, communicator, and educator in the public, private, and NGO sectors. Brian joined the Governance Resource Centre, the predecessor to the GSDRC, in 2004 and led the bid to form the current GSDRC, and in 2005 became the manager of the GSDRC. Prior experience includes:

Manager, information services unit, and web developer, United Nations Environment Programme GRID-Arendal (environmental information centre, Norway)
Web and database developer, CUSO / Fundación Acceso (capacity-building NGO, Costa Rica)
Director, manager, and workshop facilitator, The Global Change Game (environment and development education NGO, Canada)
Vice-president Publishing and web developer, Internet Solutions, Inc. (Internet service provider and web site publishing company, Canada)

Qualifications

MSc Management of Non-Governmental Organizations, London School of Economics
MSc, BSc Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba, Canada.

Areas of interest

Knowledge and information management
Information and communication technologies
Environment and sustainable development
E-Governance
Management of Non Governmental Organisations
Distance learning

Projects and publications

Management and administration of the GSDRC
Teaching Knowledge Management and E-governance, University of Birmingham
Teaching on Development Management programme, University of Agder, Norway

Huma Haider

Research Fellow
International Development Department (IDD), University of Birmingham

Tel: +44 (0) 121 414 8468
Email: huma@gsdrc.org

GSDRC Responsibilities

Producing rapid response research on a range of governance, conflict and social development issues for DFID, AusAID and other clients
Writing and updating GSDRC topic guides

Profile

Huma joined the GSDRC in 2007. She is a licensed attorney (New York State Bar) and worked previously in the Prosecution Support Section of the War Crimes Chamber, Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. She has also researched into issues of refugee / IDP return, coexistence and reconciliation in Bosnia.

Prior to this, Huma was Director of Research and Publications at the Atlantic Council of Canada (a NGO focusing on NATO, security and development, and peacebuilding); and founding editor of The Transatlantic Quarterly (a journal focusing on the interplay of political, socioeconomic, legal, cultural and military components in the development of peace and security).

Qualifications

BA Political Science / Economics (McGill University)
LLB (University of Toronto)
MBA (University of Toronto)
LLM International Human Rights Law (London School of Economics)

Areas of interest

Transitional justice in the context of peacebuilding
Coexistence and reconciliation in divided societies
Identity and conflict dynamics
Role of refugees, IDPs and diaspora communities in conflict dynamics and peacebuilding
The Balkans, particularly Bosnia and Herzegovina

Projects and publications

GSDRC Topic Guides

Journal articles

Haider, H., 2011, ‘Social Repair in Divided Societies: Integrating a Coexistence Lens into Transitional Justice’, Conflict, Security and Development, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 175–203
Welch, T., Haider, H., Meenagh, H., and M’Boge, Y., 2011, ‘Witness Anonymity at the International Criminal Court: Due Process for Defendants, Witnesses or Both?’, Denning Law Journal, 23, pp. 29-46
Haider, H. and Welch, T., 2010, ‘The Use of Protective Measures for Victims and Witnesses and the Balance of Competing Interests Under International Law: The Special Case of War Crimes Trials’, L’Observateur des Nations Unies, 28, Special Edition on ‘The Place of the Victim in International Law’
Haider, H., 2010, ‘The Politicisation of Humanitarian Assistance: Refugee and IDP Policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina’, The Journal of Humanitarian Assistance, April
Haider, H., 2009, '(Re)-Imagining Coexistence: Striving for Sustainable Return, Reintegration and Reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina', International Journal of Transitional Justice, 3(1), pp. 91-113
Haider, H. and Welch, T., 2008, ‘The Protection of Witnesses in Bosnian War Crimes Trials: A Fair Balance Between the Interests of the Victims and the Rights of the Accused?’, Denning Law Journal, 20, pp. 55-86

Books and book chapters

Haider, H., 2013, ‘Media and Transitional Justice’ in The Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice, eds. L. Stan and N. Nedelsky, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Haider, H., 2013, ‘Re-writing History Textbooks’ in The Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice, eds. L. Stan and N. Nedelsky. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Iacobucci, E., Trebilcock M, and Haider, H., 2001, 'Economic Shocks: Defining a Role for Government', CD Howe Institute, Toronto

Research papers

Haider, H. and Rao, S., 2010, ‘Political and Social Analysis for Development Policy and Practice: An Overview of Five Approaches’, Issues Paper, GSDRC, Birmingham
Haider, H., 2009, ‘Community-based Approaches to Peacebuilding in Conflict-affected and Fragile Contexts’, Paper commissioned by AusAID, GSDRC, Birmingham, UK
Haider, H., 2009, ‘Security Sector Reform in South-Eastern and Eastern Europe’, The Global Facilitation Network for Security Sector Reform, Birmingham, UK

Conference papers

Haider, H., 2012, ‘Transnational Transitional Justice and Reconciliation: The Participation of Conflict-generated Diaspora in Addressing the Legacy of Mass Violence’, paper presented at the conference, Relationships between Diasporas and Their ‘Homelands’ and Their Impact on the State, National Identities, and Peace and Conflict, 3-5 February, Beirut
Haider, H., 2011, ‘Return in Divided Societies: Restoring Coexistence and Promoting Reintegration in Bosnia and Herzegovina’, Conference on Displacement and Reconciliation, Ottawa, 9–10 June
Haider, H., 2010, 'Positive Interactions between Coexistence, Transitional Justice and Peacebuilding in Divided Societies', paper to be presented at the International Studies Association Annual Convention: Theory vs. Policy? Connecting Scholars and Practitioners’, 17-20 February, New Orleans
Haider, H., 2008, '”Let's Have a Coffee”: Rebuilding Coexistence and Achieving Sustainable Return and Reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina', paper presented at the International Peace Research Association Global Conference: Sustainable Futures – Enacting Peace for Development, 15-19 July, Leuven, Belgium

Edited works

Haider, H., 2004, 'NATO and EU Enlargement: New Security and Economic Opportunities', The Atlantic Council of Canada, Toronto 2004-2005
The Transatlantic Quarterly (TAQ), The Atlantic Council of Canada, Toronto

Other

Haider, H., 2012, 'Social Repair in Divided Societies', IDD Policy Brief No. 03/12, University of Birmingham
Haider, H., 2009, ‘The Politicisation of Humanitarian Assistance: Return in Bosnia and Herzegovina’, Pulsdemokratije (The Pulse of Democracy), Open Society Fund, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Claire Mcloughlin

Research Fellow
International Development Department (IDD), University of Birmingham

Email: claire@gsdrc.org

GSDRC Responsibilities

Producing rapid response research on a range of governance, conflict and social development issues for DFID AusAID and other clients
Writing and updating GSDRC topic guides

Profile

Claire joined the GSDRC in 2004. Prior to this she was a civil servant in the UK Home Office’s Migration Directorate. Her recent work and research has focused on non-state service providers, the relationship between service delivery and state-building, and policies and approaches to aid in fragile situations.

Qualifications

MA International Relations and World Order, University of Leicester
BA History and Politics, University of Leicester

Areas of interest

Service delivery in fragile situations
Non-state service providers and relationships with the state
International policy and approaches to aid in fragile situations
Political economy analysis
Migration and development

Projects and publications

GSDRC Topic guides

Journal articles

Batley, R., McCourt, W., and Mcloughlin, C., 2012, 'The Politics and Governance of Public Services in Developing Countries', Public Management Review, vol. 14, no. 2, pp.131-144
Scott, Z., Mcloughlin, C., and Marquette, H., 2012, 'Combining Value for Money with Increased Aid to Fragile States: Welcome Partnership or Clash of Agendas?', Crime, Law and Social Change, vol. 1, February 2012
Mcloughlin, C., 2011, ‘Factors Affecting State-NGO Relations in Service Provision: Key Themes from the Literature’, Public Administration and Development, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 240-251
Batley, R., and Mcloughlin, C., 2010, ‘Engagement with Non-State Service Providers in Fragile States: Reconciling State-Building and Service Delivery’, Development Policy Review, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 131–154

Book chapters

Claire was a member of the core drafting team for an OECD Handbook:
OECD PDG, 2010, 'Handbook on Contracting Out Government Functions and Services in Post-conflict and Fragile Situations', Partnership for Democratic Governance, OECD Publishing, Paris

Research papers

Mcloughlin, C., and Batley, R., 2012, 'The Politics of What Works in Service Provision: An Evidence-based Review', ESID Working Paper 06, Effective States and Inclusive Development Research Centre, University of Manchester
Teamey, K., and Mcloughlin, C., 2009, ‘Understanding the dynamics of relationships between government agencies and non-state providers of basic services: Key issues emerging from the literature’, Non-governmental Public Action (NGPA) Working Paper Series, London School of Economics, London

Sumedh Rao

Research Fellow
International Development Department (IDD), University of Birmingham

Tel: +44 (0) 121 414 7592
Email: sumedh@gsdrc.org

GSDRC Responsibilities

Producing rapid response research on a range of governance, conflict and social development issues for DFID, AusAID and other clients
Writing and updating GSDRC topic guides

Profile

Sumedh joined the GSDRC in May 2010. He has worked as a policy analyst and researcher with the Overseas Development Institute, Development Initiatives, Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and with DFID. He has worked on issues related to peacebuilding, state-building, capacity development and aid with a recent focus on aid architecture, donor reform in relation to risk and aid instruments in fragile states. He is fluent in English, French, Japanese and Konkani.

Qualifications

Master of Public Affairs, Sciences Po, Paris
BSc Politics and International Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science, London
BSc Psychology, University College London

Areas of interest

Governance in situations of conflict and fragility
International policy and approaches to aid in fragile situations
State-building and state fragility
Political economy analysis
Aid architecture

Projects and publications

Research papers

Rao, S. and Marquette, H., 2012, 'Corruption indicators in Performance Assessment Frameworks for budget support', U4 Issue 2012:1, U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, Chr. Michelsen Institute, Bergen

Haider, H. and Rao, S., 2010, ‘Political and Social Analysis for Development Policy and Practice: An Overview of Five Approaches’, Issues Paper, GSDRC, Birmingham

Baudienville, G., Domingo, P., Basu Ray, D. Rao, S. and Hedger, E., 2010, ‘Aid Instruments in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations : Impacts on the State- and Peace-Building Agenda’ Overseas Development Institute paper submitted to DFID

Development Initiatives, 2009, ‘Mapping of Transition Financing Procedures and Mechanisms’ submitted to OECD INCAF Task Team on Financing and Aid Architecture.

Rao, S., Higgins-Steele, A., Konialis, E., Ota M. and Wong, I. 2008 ‘Lessons Learned from Regional Approaches to Peacebuilding’, submitted to the UN Peacebuilding Support Office

Policy report contributions

OECD and UNECA, 2009, 'Mutual Review for Development Effectiveness in Africa Report 2009'

OECD and UNECA, 2009, 'Development Finance in Africa: From Monterrey to Doha'

OECD-DAC, 2008, Report on Multilateral Aid, DCD/DAC(2008)58/ADD

Sarah O'Connor

Information Officer
International Development Department (IDD), University of Birmingham

Tel: +44 (0) 121 414 3911
Email: sarah@gsdrc.org

GSDRC Responsibilities

Managing the production of document summaries for the online library and topic guides
Monitoring new publications and managing relationships with other organisations to ensure capture of the best materials in GSDRC topic areas
Marketing GSDRC services and publications

Profile

Sarah has over eight years’ experience in international development, largely in knowledge management roles. Before joining the GSDRC in 2008, she was an editor and web manager for an international NGO and also worked in the publishing sector (Oxford University Press and Learning Media).

Qualifications

BA English Language and Literature, University of Oxford