Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
My research in Sub-Saharan Africa explores the social, political and economic aspects of food production and natural resource management, and their relationships to wider societal change. Much of my recent work has been concerned with the politics of natural resource management in West Africa, with a particular focus on the extractive industries, livelihood change and social conflict. My disciplinary background is in human geography, but my work has largely been interdisciplinary in its approach, drawing principally upon anthropology and politics/political economy.
In pursuing my research, I have developed strong international links with a wide range of institutions in Africa, including Fourah Bay College (Sierra Leone), Bayero University Kano (Nigeria) and Makerere University (Uganda). Before joining the International Development Group at Bath, I was a post-doctoral fellow at IDPM, University of Manchester (2007-2009) and IDS Sussex (2005-2007).
Current and recent research themes:
- Socio-economic dimensions of small-scale mining in West Africa
- Natural resource governance and the extractive industries
- Community-based resource management, livelihoods and institution building in post-conflict states
- Youth identity politics and rural development in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Urban and peri-urban food production and resource management in West Africa
Find out more about my research on natural resources in West Africa here
PhD Supervison
I am interested in supervising PhD students working on topics related to:
- The environmental and socio-economic dimensions of artisanal and small-scale mining.
- The dynamics of conflict and competition over natural resources in developing countries.
- Community based resource management and livelihoods in post conflict states.
I am particularly committed to working with students whose research interests lie in West Africa.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Sustainability under threat? Urban pressure and land degradation in the Kano Close-Settled Zone, Nigeria, University of Sussex
Award Date: 1 Jan 2004
Master of Economics, University of Sussex
Award Date: 1 Jan 2000
Bachelor of Arts, Queen's University, Kingston
Award Date: 1 Jan 1999
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where Roy Maconachie is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
-
Green energy at what cost? Cobalt extraction, alternative futures and the quest for a ‘just transition’ in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Maconachie, R. (PI) & Hatzisavvidou, S. (CoI)
1/04/25 → 1/06/27
Project: Research council
-
ESRC IAA - UN Screening and Panel Discussion of Cobalt Rush
Maconachie, R. (PI)
Economic and Social Research Council
8/01/24 → 7/05/24
Project: Research council
-
Sowing the seeds of the 'good city': urban agriculture, sustainable livelihoods and wellbeing in Freetown, Sierra Leone
Maconachie, R. (PI) & Bryant, L. (CoI)
30/04/22 → 30/07/24
Project: Research council
-
From stone to phone: Livelihoods, resource governance and artisanal cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Maconachie, R. (PI) & Sun, Y. (CoI)
1/10/20 → 31/07/21
Project: Research-related funding
-
Green rooted agriculture associations (GRASS): community-led pairing of urban agriculture and phytoremediation in Sierra Leone
Bryant, L. (PI), Kjeldsen, T. (CoI) & Maconachie, R. (CoI)
18/11/19 → 8/03/23
Project: Research council
-
A growing concern: investigating sustainable water quality and urban food production in Freetown, Sierra Leone
Bryant, L., Maconachie, R., Schnabel, B., Swaray, A., Howard, G., Gbanie, S., Bangura, K., Kamara, A. & Antwi-Agyei, P., 1 Feb 2025, In: Water Supply. 25, 2, p. 183-192 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Stuck in transition? Artisanal mining, livelihood diversification and rural change in Sierra Leone
Maconachie, R. & Conteh, F. M., 1 Jun 2025, In: Extractive Industries and Society. 22, 101604.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Citation (SciVal) -
Children’s Work in West African Cocoa Production: Drivers, contestations and critical reflections
Thorsen, D. & Maconachie, R., 28 Apr 2023, Children’s Work in African Agriculture: The Harmful and the Harmless. Sumberg, J. & Sabates-Wheeler, R. (eds.). Bristol University Press, p. 251-272 22 p.Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Book chapter
Open Access4 Citations (SciVal) -
Theorising ‘harm’ in relation to children’s work
Maconachie, R., Howard, N. & Bock, R., 28 Apr 2023, Children’s Work in African Agriculture: The Harmful and the Harmless. Sumberg, J. & Sabates-Wheeler, R. (eds.). Bristol University Press, p. 24-51 28 p.Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Book chapter
Open Access -
Artisanal mining and livelihoods in the Global South
Maconachie, R., 23 Aug 2022, The Routledge Handbook on Livelihoods in the Global South. Nunan, F., Barnes, C. & Krishnamurthy, S. (eds.). Abingdon, U. K.: Routledge, p. 345-356 12 p.Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Book chapter
Open AccessFile3 Citations (SciVal)87 Downloads (Pure)