Simon Manda

Simon Manda is a Lecturer in International Development and Co-Director of the Centre for Global Development at the University of Leeds.

His areas of expertise are Flood disasters; Disaster anthropology; Climate adaptation; Land & Water Politics; Livelihoods; Food Systems; Gender; Politics of Development; Value Chains; Energy Transitions; and Zambia.

Simon has previously been a visiting researcher at Oregon State University and has worked on a project funded by the National Science Foundation whose centrality pointed to adaptation possibilities for individuals, neighbourhoods and communities who are faced with repetitive flooding. The project specifically focused on the policy options for communities who wish to relocate together.

Prior to this, Simon was a Lecturer for ten years at the University of Zambia (UNZA) in the Department of Development Studies and the Postgraduate Coordinator.

Simon has also had Non-Visiting Fellowship Appointments at the Centre for Trade and Development (CTPD) in Zambia and the Pan African Scientific Research Council.

Simon has also been a Mandela Washington Fellow.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies from the University of Zambia, a Master of Arts degree in Global Development and a PhD in Environment and Development from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. His PhD examined ‘Large-scale Agricultural Investments and Livelihood Dynamics on the Zambian ‘Sugarbelt.’ He has researched soya transitions and implications on land-use dynamics, nutrition and agri-food systems in Zambia.

Simon has also been a Commonwealth Scholar.