In parts of the world affected by conflict, professionals work in environments shaped by violence, uncertainty, and deep social complexity.
Whether facilitating dialogue, conducting research, supporting communities, providing humanitarian assistance or peacebuilding, these roles often involve navigating emotionally demanding situations where decisions carry ethical, psychological, and physical weight. In some settings, professionals also face direct risks including threats, kidnapping, injury, and death.
Yet, while these experiences are widely recognised, the practical knowledge people develop to navigate them is rarely captured in ways that genuinely support those doing this work in practice.
A new University of Gloucestershire project from Dilshaad Bundhoo (CCRI) and Kenny Lynch (School of Arts, Culture and Environment), entitled GROUNDED, aims to change that by inviting professionals with experience of working in conflict-affected high-risk environments to take part in a short survey.
Take part in the survey
https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/glos/grounded-survey
Participation is anonymous, and the survey takes approximately 10–15 minutes to complete. Participants who wish to remain involved will also have opportunities to contribute to follow-up conversations and a Delphi process exploring emerging findings and future directions for the project.
BLOG: What helps professionals in conflict and crisis settings stay grounded?
GROUNDED researchers Dilshaad Bundhoo and Kenny Lynch explore the, largely undocumented, skills that practitioners rely on in their high-pressure, high-stakes roles, and how they are setting out to uncover this hidden knowledge.
About the researchers
Dilshaad Bundhoo is a Research Fellow at the Countryside & Community Research Institute (CCRI). She specialises in understanding socio-cognitive dynamics which facilitates constructive social and interpersonal exchanges. Her doctoral thesis, an immersive four-year research project in Israel and the West Bank, focused on workplace interpersonal resilience.
Kenny Lynch is Professor of Development and Community in the School of Arts, Culture and Environment. His research interests are in the links between the cities and the countryside in developing world countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa.
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