About Us

About Us

Development Research Group (DRG), is a think-and-do tank and social enterprise advancing Development Studies in conflict-affected contexts across Afghanistan and the wider Global South founded by Dr Orzala Nemat, an Afghan origin scholar who is currently based in the United Kingdom.

DRG empowers youth and women leaders in business and development through rigorous research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL), executive education, and mentorship, working in partnership with local organisations. We deliver high-standard, evidence-based research and assessments that support informed decision-making for governments, development actors, and institutions operating in fragile and transitional environments. Combining methodological rigour with deep contextual insight, DRG prioritises ethical practice, local relevance, and ground-level realities to ensure policy and programming are shaped by evidence — not assumptions.

Vision

We envision a world with equal access to education and opportunities for people in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Through research, learning opportunities, and mentorship, we support young and women leaders in shaping inclusive and resilient societies.

Mission

To strengthen development expertise in the Global South by connecting local voices to global platforms, enriching both policy and practice through context-driven knowledge.

Experts Hub

We work with a multidisciplinary network of experts to study, research and conduct assessment programs, projects and research assignments in the following areas:

  • Humanitarian Action & Ethics

  • Governance, Peace-building, and Reconciliation

  • Livelihoods, Food Security and Nutrition

  • Child Development and Education

  • Education Studies

  • Environmental and Water Studies

  • Gender Studies

  • Socio-cultural Studies and Anthropology

  • Borderland Studies and the Illicit Economy

  • Displacement and Migrations

  • Political Economy

  • Legal and Constitutional Studies

Management Team

DRG is led by highly experienced development professionals; our management team oversees strategic planning, partnerships, and implementation across all DRG projects.

  • Dr. Orzala Nemat

    Founder & Director

  • Mirwais Wardak

    Senior Consultant

  • Dr. Oroub El-Abed

    Senior Researcher

  • Dr. Francy Carranza-Franco

    Senior Researcher

  • Shukria Azadmanish

    Research Consultant

  • Shahnaz Faqiri

    Senior Communications Consultant