Research & methods
How problems become problems
Recognition, diagnosis and the roots we refuse to uproot. Every development intervention begins long before the first dollar is spent. It begins long before the baseline survey,…
Research & methods
Research & methods
What transforms understanding into recognised knowledge?
Understanding, legitimacy and the politics of recognition. I never doubted the value of expertise. Throughout my career I have worked with economists, engineers, statisticians,…
Research & methods
What if our data lies? African feminist methods for researching the invisible
What if our most trusted research methods are not just flawed, but actively harmful? What happens when the very tools we use to understand poverty and work systematically erase…
Research & methods
Research that misses everything that matters
What happens when our research documents women's empowerment while systematically erasing their oppression? My first consultancy assignment taught me how research can miss every…
Research & methods
When research becomes violence
What is the purpose of research? Is it to generate academic publications? Is it to catalogue problems? Or is it to create wish lists for donors? We must think carefully about th…
Research & methods
Beyond the data: Research methods that understand women's lives
A few years ago, I was privileged to evaluate a women’s economic empowerment programme. I will never forget Adanna's face when she handed in her loan repayment. For months, she…
Research & methods
Can policy analysis advance gender equality in Africa?
My practical work in gender equality started at a community level. I saw a well-intentioned agricultural programme fail. It aimed to boost harvests, but by giving land titles on…
Research & methods
Exploring work prospects for young people in a global village
Welcome to our latest post in the series aimed at preparing young professionals for the evolving work landscape. Previously, we explored mismatches between education and job mar…
Research & methods
Why humans are often the weakest link in cybersecurity
Humans frequently represent the weakest link in cybersecurity due to their capacity for error and unpredictable behavior. Unlike software, which undergoes rigorous testing and i…
Research & methods
Sustainable Transport: The Keystone of Global Development Goals
Have you ever considered how the simple act of commuting impacts global poverty, education, and health? How does our daily travel influence the lives of those in the remotest pa…
Research & methods
A corroded pipe, a polluted stream, and the quest for genuine equality
Are we addressing symptoms or root causes? The under-representation of women in pivotal areas such as leadership, decision-making, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, an…