About RFC
Who we are
Learn about Resilience Futures Centre, a Lahore-based research and policy initiative exploring resilience, livelihoods, social protection, governance and inclusive development.
Who we are
A research and policy initiative based in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Resilience Futures Centre (RFC) is a research and policy initiative based in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. RFC seeks to strengthen understanding of development challenges through research, analysis and accessible knowledge products.
Its work is being developed around the relationship between people’s livelihoods, environmental and economic risks, public policy, social protection and institutional practice. RFC’s aim is to produce useful evidence and practical insights that can inform discussion, programme design and decision-making.
Why RFC exists
Policies and programmes are stronger when they are informed by evidence, grounded in local realities and clear about the problems they are trying to address. Yet the experiences of communities, small enterprises and vulnerable livelihood groups may not always be reflected adequately in decisions. RFC seeks to help examine these gaps and communicate findings in forms that researchers, practitioners and institutions can use.
Our perspective
Resilience as a connected social, economic, environmental and institutional question
Example · Household
A household’s ability to manage a climate-related disruption may be influenced by income security, access to services, social networks and the availability of practical support.
Example · Enterprise
A woman-led microenterprise may be affected by customer access, digital tools, finance, time constraints and the wider business environment.
By exploring such connections, RFC aims to contribute to more nuanced research and policy discussion.
Where we work
RFC is based in Lahore, Pakistan, with an initial emphasis on research questions relevant to Punjab and the wider Pakistani context. Collaboration beyond this geographic starting point may be considered where a project’s objectives, resources, partnerships and technical requirements make it appropriate.
Our stage of development
RFC is a developing, founder-led initiative. It is building its research portfolio, institutional processes and collaboration pipeline. The website will distinguish between:
- 1Prior work by the founderAcademic research and publications completed before RFC.
- 2Research being developedProposed and in-development initiatives, clearly marked as such.
- 3Outputs completed under RFC’s nameRFC-branded work, listed once completed and approved.
Founder and leadership
Founder-led, grounded in research
RFC is led by a founder with academic training in Sociology and Political Science and research interests in climate resilience, livelihoods, social protection, governance and public policy. The founder’s academic work includes research on farmers’ perceptions, coping strategies and livelihood patterns in Lahore and Kasur, as well as co-authored work on social protection and media and civil-society relations.
The founder also brings experience in management consultancy, strategic planning and organizational development. These individual credentials provide relevant background for RFC’s development.
Previous academic work by the founderOur ambition
RFC aims to develop a credible body of research, build responsible partnerships, undertake suitable commissioned assignments and contribute constructively to policy and programme learning.
Its growth will depend on the quality of its work, transparent practice, appropriate resources and the strength of its collaborations.
Interested in working with RFC?
RFC welcomes enquiries about research collaboration, commissioned analysis and knowledge exchange.