Our Research
Overarching Research Agenda
The Global Development Solutions (GDS) Lab is an interdisciplinary initiative at Auburn University that examines the evolving role of civil society in fostering democratic participation and advancing sustainable development—particularly in African contexts. Our work is grounded in the belief that civil society organizations (CSOs) are essential to building inclusive, responsive, and resilient societies.
The GDS Lab investigates the dual role of civil society:
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Civic Intermediary – acting as a bridge between citizens and the state by facilitating civic engagement, amplifying marginalized voices, and promoting participatory governance.
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Service Provider – delivering essential services that supplement or complement state functions, particularly in areas where public infrastructure is weak or absent.
Our research seeks to understand what enables or constrains civil society’s capacity to fulfill these roles. We are especially interested in three interrelated factors:
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Access to Resources – including financial capital, human talent, and infrastructure, which determine an organization’s operational viability and strategic flexibility.
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Level of Professionalization – the degree to which CSOs adopt formalized structures, processes, and expertise that enhance their credibility, efficiency, and ability to scale.
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Presence of Localization – the extent to which organizations are embedded in and responsive to local contexts, cultures, and needs, which affects legitimacy, trust, and long-term impact.
We analyze how civil society organizations navigate complex political, economic, and social environments. Our studies explore how these organizations build capacity, form partnerships, and adapt to shifting conditions—all while striving to remain accountable to the communities they serve. The GDS Lab’s conceptual model (referenced above) visualizes this process, illustrating how internal organizational factors and external systemic conditions interact to shape civil society’s effectiveness. By integrating insights from political science, nonprofit studies, development theory, and design, our work contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how civil society can drive locally grounded, globally informed change.
From Participation to Empowerment: Advancing Girls’ Leadership in Liberian Schools
This project examines the impact of participatory development (PD) approaches in girls’ empowerment programs implemented in two schools in Liberia. The project advances understanding of how participatory methods influence program outcomes, including knowledge acquisition and empowerment, for adolescent girls in low-resource educational settings. The study has two specific aims: (1) to evaluate the effects of different participatory approaches on program outcomes, and (2) to identify which participatory methods are perceived as authentic and meaningful by participants. Programs will be implemented in each school with three cohorts of 20 girls (six programs total, 120 participants). Each school will employ different participatory approaches, ranging from low to high levels of engagement, to develop curricula on Girls’ Leadership covering topics such as leadership, self-efficacy, and civic engagement. This project will produce curricula that will be available for future use throughout the two schools, their local communities, and to other educational stakeholders in Liberia.
Power Dynamics and Positionality in Civil Society Research in the Global South
This project utilizes case studies from third sector research that we have conducted in the Global South to examine the use of research brokers and researcher positionality. The project provides concrete examples of experiences that allow us to reflect on issues that arise during the research process, and help us be mindful of the realities of the research process that require flexibility and adaptation.
The Impact of U.S. Foreign Aid Cuts on Civil Society Organizations in Ghana and Liberia
For countries such as Liberia and Ghana, where civil society organizations (CSOs) rely heavily on foreign aid, the dismantling of USAID had major impacts on CSOs’ financial decisions, operations, and program sustainability. Drawing on survey data from 89 CSOs, this study moves beyond prior macro-level analyses to provide quantitative evidence of how USAID funding cuts affect CSOs in Liberia and Ghana. In doing so, it offers the first two-country comparative analysis of the impacts of USAID-related funding reductions and CSOs’ adaptive strategies. The findings provide insights into how organizations operating in resource-constrained environments adapt to funding shocks, reduce dependency, and diversify their resource base amid a rapidly changing aid landscape.
Education, Democracy, and Development (EdD): Building Liberian Civil Society Capacity Through Nonprofit Management Education
This project uses participatory action research to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities by building Liberian civil society’s capacity to facilitate development through capacity building and nonprofit management education.
Measuring the Impact of Civil Society on Political Participation in Liberia
This research project increases our understanding of the conditions under which civil society can facilitate political participation in fragile settings. It relies on a field experiment and multi-level modeling to investigate the impact of civil society on various forms of political participation in Liberia, West Africa.
Promoting Philanthropy for Social Justice Program
Through a collaborative partnership with the Centre for African Philanthropy and Social Impact (CAPSI) at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, South Africa, the program will offer a framework for various research projects on the intertwining of philanthropic traditions, institutional settings and configurations, and civil society practices in the United States, Africa, and African diaspora.
