Insa Flachsbarth

Dr. Insa Flachsbarth is a Researcher associated with the GIGA Institute of African Studies since June 2021. She previously held Research Fellow positions at the GIGA Institute of African Studies (2019–2021) and the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (2010–2015). Her academic journey includes a summa cum laude PhD in Agricultural Economics from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and a Diplom-Kauffrau in Business Administration from the University of Hamburg.

Dr. Flachsbarth’s research focuses on the (development and environmental) effects of global land acquisitions, the globalization of agricultural markets, and private governance structures. She contributes to understanding how large-scale land investments impact natural resources, rural poverty, and food security, particularly in the Global South and Africa.

Her recent publications analyze land governance, certification schemes, and rural development, emphasizing transparency in land deals and institutional quality in agricultural exports. She actively participates in policy dialogues, including the GIZ Land Hub Meeting 2020 and Think20 Saudi Arabia, advocating for evidence-based land sector policies. Dr. Flachsbarth collaborates with institutions like the Land Matrix Initiative and Georg-August-University Göttingen, focusing on projects funded by BMZ, EU, and SDC.