ACLED’s Afghanistan Coverage: Adapting Sourcing Strategy in an Evolving Context

Posted: 16 March 2022| Region: Asia Pacific | Category: Analysis

Authors: Roudabeh Kishi; Josh Satre; Asena Karacalti; Rachel Goodman; Ashik KC

Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, ACLED undertook a methodological review to adapt to the evolving conflict landscape on the ground and enhance coverage of emerging trends. As a result of this process, data from two partner organizations, Afghan Peace Watch and ExTrac, as well as multiple new media outlets and trusted social media accounts, have added over 3,800 unique events to the dataset.

* For more information, see ACLED Methodology and Coding Decisions around Political Violence and Demonstrations in Afghanistan
** For more information about ACLED’s sourcing strategy, see FAQs: ACLED Sourcing Methodology

Roudabeh Kishi

Roudabeh Kishi previously served as the Director of Research & Innovation at ACLED. She oversaw research at the organization, including data collection via the regional research desks, methodology team, and management of research partnerships; data science and analysis; and communications. Dr. Kishi holds a PhD in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland. She has worked as a consultant for numerous organizations around political violence, peace and conflict, development, gender, and quantitative data methods.

Josh Satre

Josh Satre is a Research Analyst at ACLED and has been with the organization since August 2020. He supports the organization by providing quantitative analysis and producing data visualizations for ACLED. Josh holds an MA in Global Finance, Trade and Economic Integration with a concentration in quantitative methods from the Josef Korbel School at the University of Denver and a BA in Political Science from Swarthmore College. Josh has over six years of experience working with different non-profit organizations.

Asena Karacalti

Asena Karacalti is the Afghanistan Assistant Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since May 2017. Asena has previously worked as the Central Asia & the Caucasus, and Africa Research Manager at ACLED. She holds a BA in Law from Ankara University, and an MSc in Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies from KU Leuven. Her research interests focus on the transit experiences of migrant and refugee populations and political violence across the Middle East and Afghanistan. She has past experience as a lawyer and as an expert in migration and asylum organizations.

Rachel Goodman

Rachel Goodman is a Data Coordinator with ACLED. She holds an MA in International Studies from the University of Denver, with specializations in International Development and Data Analysis. She previously worked at the Center on Human Rights Education and the Idaho State Senate. Her primary research interests include the politics of development, political violence, and state-level politics in the United States.

Ashik KC

Ashik KC is a Methodology Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since October 2018, originally hired as a Pakistan researcher. As part of the Methodology team, he currently oversees application of actors, categorization of actors and several methodology projects to enhance ACLED's data usage in analysis. Ashik holds a PhD in Political Science from University of Warsaw, and an MA in Peace and Conflict Research from Uppsala University. Ashik has over ten years of combined experience of desk and field research in violent political and ethnic conflicts in Nepal, South Asia, South Caucasus, Ukraine and Moldova. His research interests include ethno-territorial conflicts and the role of regional organizations in conflict resolution.

Categories: Analysis, Infographics archive16 March 2022