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