Dr Harry Bregazzi awarded Social Science Engagement Fellowship to work with the FCDO
We are delighted to announce that Dr Harry Bregazzi has been awarded a prestigious Social Science Engagement Fellowship, a University of Oxford initiative aimed at deepening partnerships beyond academia. Through this fellowship, Harry will be seconded to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for three months, working closely with officials to explore the application of social outcomes partnerships (SOPs) in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
We are delighted to announce that Dr Harry Bregazzi has been awarded a prestigious Social Science Engagement Fellowship, a University of Oxford initiative aimed at deepening partnerships beyond academia. Through this fellowship, Harry will be seconded to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for three months, working closely with officials to explore the application of social outcomes partnerships (SOPs) in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
Harry brings a wealth of expertise to this role, drawing on his extensive background in service provision in fragile and conflict-affected states, systematic reviews of evidence on ‘outcomes-based’ service provision, and service system strengthening. As an active member of the Oxford Network of Peace Studies and a contributor to the SyROCCo project, his work has consistently focused on understanding and addressing challenges in fragile states.
The collaboration is designed to facilitate knowledge exchange, enabling research insights to inform policy challenges. Harry will engage with teams within FCDO to present evidence on SOPs’ applicability in fragile contexts, including their potential use in de-mining programmes and post-conflict reconstruction efforts. He will also participate in stakeholder meetings with humanitarian and development practitioners, helping to shape a research agenda grounded in policy needs.
A key element of this partnership will involve co-developing a new policy resource, to be hosted on the GO Lab website, which will maximise the use of research outputs in practitioner communities. This resource will consolidate data from existing SOPs in fragile states, alongside summarised evidence and policy insights. Its purpose is to provide actionable policy recommendations, bolster understanding of the scope for SOPs in fragile states, and so inform the design of prospective programmes.
Harry Bregazzi shared his enthusiasm for the fellowship:
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with FCDO to work on the pressing matters of service delivery in fragile states. This is a great opportunity for me to understand the priorities of policymakers as they pursue new approaches in international development. Ultimately, we hope to help make programmes in fragile states more effective.”
The mission of the Government Outcomes Lab is to conduct world-class, engaged research that actively informs policy and practice for better social outcomes. This partnership with FCDO builds on GO Lab’s extensive work exploring the potential of social outcomes partnerships to address systemic challenges in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders, encouraging institutional resilience, and promoting accountability, SOPs could offer promising avenues for more effective service delivery. Through this fellowship, we aim to deepen understanding of their applicability and support policymakers in designing solutions that respond to the unique challenges of these environments.