Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology

The Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology (BARA) is a unique academic research unit within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arizona. BARA's fundamental mission is to place anthropology at the service of contemporary society and to prepare the next generation of professional anthropologists who can both advance our knowledge of the human condition and address the pressing issues of local communities engaged in the dynamics of change. BARA faculty carry out research, teaching, and outreach activities within Arizona, throughout the country, and internationally.

The challenge of sustainable and equitable development for the most vulnerable populations of the world has become increasingly urgent as the process of globalization weaves peoples and economies into a single fabric. Through its research and outreach activities, BARA has joined the effort to achieve the U.N. Millennium goals of reducing poverty and hunger worldwide and enabling local communities to determine their own sustainable livelihood alternatives. BARA faculty have adopted a livelihood security approach that focuses on the decision-making processes of households and communities within the context of political, cultural, and economic institutions.

BARA faculty have also developed a comprehensive research methodology that integrates qualitative methods, such as rapid appraisals, participatory research techniques, focus group interviews, and team ethnography, with more quantitative survey methods, such as baseline studies and monitoring and evaluation systems. BARA has established its expertise in empirical field-based research and has wide experience in household livelihood assessments, project design, monitoring and evaluation, and policy analysis.