Pardee Fellow Solikha Makhmatova interns with ISS African Futures

August 14, 2024

Solikha Makhmatova, a fellow at the Pardee Institute for International Futures, is currently engaged in a summer internship with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) African Futures.  

As part of the internship, Solikha works with the African Futures & Innovation (AFI) programme team where she updates the country reports for Angola and Zambia. She also conducts desktop research, where she analyzes datasets and uses the International Futures (IFs) tool for long-term forecasting—a role that directly relates to her experience at the Pardee Institute, where she developed expertise in using the IFs model for scenario development and risk frameworks. 

According to Solikha, her position as a Pardee fellow has provided her with hands-on experience in using the International Futures model, which has been “instrumental” in her current role. “My training in scenario development and data analysis at Pardee equipped me with the necessary skills to effectively contribute to complex research projects at ISS.” she notes.  

Reflecting on her experience, Solikha noted, "This internship has enhanced my skills in applying quantitative analysis to real-world development issues and deepened my understanding of Africa’s human development challenges. Working on the Angola and Zambia reports has given me practical experience in long-term forecasting and policy analysis, while also broadening my professional network within the field of international security and development." 

The internship, which began in June, is set to conclude in August. This opportunity is part of the Pardee Institute's mission to deeply involve highly capable students in learning advanced research methods and applying them to real-world research.