Policy

Initial Development Plan 

Policy Department on SESRI Website

Introduction

The Policy Department at SESRI was established in 2014 with the aim of advancing evidence-based decision-making and policy-making. The Policy Department works in three streams: it works directly with governmental and non-governmental institutions in Qatar to provide data-driven analyses and policy recommendations; it complements SESRI’s Research Department by providing policy analysis to the departments’ survey-based projects; and it pursues its own research interests based on advancing the goals of the Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030. The Policy Department at SESRI also works to encourage data-driven policy analysis among academics, institutions and the public by organizing workshops and training courses throughout the year.

The Policy Department’s work is carried out through four specialized desks, as follows:

Social Development Desk

Led by Dr Noora Lari

Research Assistant Professor

Manager of Policy Department

The Social Development Desk prioritizes survey research projects relating to the sociocultural development in the State of Qatar, which helps establish evidence-based social policies from research data to decision-making. It covers areas of common interest at governmental and civil society institutions and places the subject on policy makers’ agendas, while making the community aware of current sociocultural and socioeconomic challenges. It prioritizes interdisciplinary themes including those relating to family issues, work–family balance policies, gender relations, demographic transitions, youth engagement, marital relationships and rehabilitation, divorce trends, parenting, and children’s wellbeing and protection.

Examples of Projects carried out by the Social Development Desk

• Work-family Balance among Qatari Families
• Arab Family Strength Inventory
• Family Cohesion/solidarity in Qatar
• Influencing factors of marriage delay and women’s labor force participation in Qatar

Government Services Desk

Led by Dr Nada Abdelkader

Research Assistant Professor

The Government and Public Services Desk focuses on government and public service performance in Qatar in terms of service delivery, service quality, and users’ satisfaction with public services. The Government Services Desk aims to support the development of strong public sector institutions and the efficient and transparent delivery of public services, as highlighted in QNV 2030, by informing decision-makers and the public on the quality of public services, users’ satisfaction with public services in Qatar, and potential ways to achieve the target of overall public sector efficiency.

Examples of Projects carried out by the Government Services Desk

• Satisfaction with public services
• Customer satisfaction with Municipality Services
• Qatar Education Survey

Sustainable Development Desk

Led by Dr Sana Abusin

Research Associate

The Sustainable Development Desk works in line with the current national strategies and QNV 2030 on topics of priority to the State of Qatar. Specifically, the desk provides information for the public, stakeholders and government and suggests recommendations that may help guide policy and decision making in the field of sustainable development. The research includes all topics that aimed at the long-term stability of the economy and environment and related to the idea of meeting the needs of today, without compromising the needs of tomorrow. The desk produces research and projects that result from the overlap and interrelationships between the three: society, economy and environment pillars and integration of environmental policies and development strategies. Specifically, these projects and research address sustainability in the environment, natural resources, and food /water security. The desk uses either SESRI survey data or information collected from government stakeholders.

Examples of Projects carried out by the Sustainable Development Desk

• Institutional food waste “Conceptual framework for effective management of institutional food waste in Qatar”
• Food Systems Approach to Support Efficient and Effective Local Supply Chains in Qatar: Strengthening the Market for Locally Produced Products and Reducing Food Loss and Waste
• Environmental eco-friendly Ramadan tent for zero food waste

Politics and Legislative Desk

Led by Dr Justin Gengler

Research Associate Professor

The Politics and Legislative Desk prioritizes research into current legislation and other political developments in Qatar, about which decision-making can be informed by the results of SESRI surveys.  Such developments include those relating to Central Municipal and Shura Council elections, permanent residency and citizenship, taxation and welfare reform, political values, and the continuing effects of the 2017 blockade. The desk aims to inform policymakers and other stakeholders in Qatar, as well as external scholars and policymakers with an interest in Qatar, about important trends in public opinion, political behavior, and value change in the country.  The desk also uses surveys—either targeted or general population surveys—as a tool for investigating specific issues or questions faced by relevant entities in Qatar.

Examples of Projects carried out by the Politics and Legislative Desk

• Public Attitudes toward Qatar’s Draft Law on Permanent Residency
• Central Municipal Council Elections 2019
• Mobile Media Use in Qatar
• Global Index on Vulnerability to Violent Extremism
  • The COVID-19 Epidemic in Qatar: Trends in Public Risk Perceptions, Behavioral Responses, and Determinants of Compliance with Preventive Measures