Below you will find a selection of U8 research projects from previous years, which provides an idea of the breadth and quality of U8 research. If you would like to see your project here then email Ross or Yosi, our Research Coordinators, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

"Globalisation, Development and Civil War: Afghanistan between Two Empires, the Soviet in the 1980s and the American in the 21st Century"

Summary: An analysis of the impact of globalisation on Afghanisatan, from a social, economic and political perspective

Author: Kava Spartak, University of Westminster

"HIV/AIDS Policy in Uganda"

Summary: Uganda is often upheld as a shining example in the fight against HIV/AIDS. She has managed to reduce the prevalence rate of HIV drastically and has been more successful than other countries. However, it still suffers from a relatively high number of people living with the disease and HIV is still spreading, and damaging Uganda. In this essay I will look at Uganda’s past and how it faced the HIV crisis, what the HIV problem looks like in Uganda today, the groups in society most at risk and through that the problems in society which hinder the prevention of HIV and finally some possible prevention solutions.

Author: Aleksandra Wojnowska, University of Oxford

"Is Industrialisation the key to Economic Development in Uganda?"

Summary: This essay will argue that the great emphasis on industrialization is misplaced in the case of the Ugandan economy. Certainly, the benefits of successful industrialization are great for economies that can sustain it, but Uganda is not yet at ‘take-off’ stage. In fact, the process of rapid industrialization that the government seem to be expecting is not feasible given the current state of the Ugandan economy. This does not mean that the Ugandan economy is doomed to failure – in fact the future of the Ugandan economy seems very strong – but it seems the government would do better to look beyond their current emphasis on industrialization.

Author: David Innes, University of Oxford


"Can Uganda break the oil curse?"

Summary: The historical precedents of countries like Nigeria, Gabon and Sudan, ravaged by poverty in spite of their mineral inheritance, makes it starkly clear that the discovery of oil in Uganda is not necessarily the boon it might seem. In the sorry tale of Africa’s tumultuous relationship with the black gold, there is a warning for Uganda. Our purpose here is to try and establish whether Uganda can heed that warning and escape being claimed as another victim of Africa’s oil curse.

Author: Aveek Bhattacharya, University of Oxford

"Pipe Dreams? An Examination of Uganda's Development Strategy in Water and Sanitation Services"

Summary: After explaining the hydrological and institutional features that form the foundation of Uganda’s current water and sanitation services (WSS) situation, I provide a separate analysis for water and sanitation strategies in urban and rural areas. Due both to government and NGO administrative frameworks and histories, significant differences exist between these geographically, socially and politically distinct environments. While Uganda’s development strategy is still strongly steered by international actors, this paper shows evidence that the country is leading its own WSS decision-making and developing strong domestic capacity in the sector.

Author: Gemma Boag, University of Oxford

"What prevents a focus on youth-led development? A study into the inter-generational power relations in different countries"

Summary: This research project aims to look at the obstacles which prevent development initiatives from taking a more youth-led approach, by examining the power-relations between generations, and identifying the factors which may be preventing youth leadership and participation. The research aims to look at power structures which may prevent youth from getting involved in their communities, and looks at what can be done to increase citizenship awareness and youth participation among young people. The first chapter looks at the benefits of youth participation, thus highlighting the significance of allowing youth to play an active role in societal development. The second chapter looks at the ways in which young people are alienated from participating in social and political affairs, and these barriers are evaluated in the third chapter which asks if overall the youth of today are generally empowered. The final chapter suggests some measures which can improve youth participation.

Authors: Suda Perera, Gareth Wall, Sandeep Gautam and Patrick Obeng