Cynthia Kamwengo

My research explores the changing geographies of global power and development, with a specific focus on South-South and trilateral development cooperation in African countries. It examines global policymaking and the geopolitics of development by drawing on postcolonial and decolonial theories on knowledge production, power relations and agency. Themes such as culture, identity and ethnographic methods are central in my research. I also have an interest in the intersections between gender and development. This includes the role of gender analysis/mainstreaming in planning processes and the importance of women’s access to decision-making positions.

I’m currently co-investigator of a project that is aimed at deconstructing and reconstructing the teaching of African development studies in the UK higher education sector. This project is using student engagement and cross-cultural collaboration to explore how academics can move away from the tendency to engage in deficit theorizing about African countries, by highlighting African literatures, innovations and successful policy lessons.