Andrés Mejía Acosta

Andrés Mejía Acosta serves as the Kuster Family Associate Dean for Policy and Practice and Associate Professor of Political Economy of Development in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. A Kellogg Institute Faculty Fellow since 2023, he previously held positions as Reader of Political Economy at King's College London (2013-2022) and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sussex's Institute of Development Studies.

• University of Notre Dame (Current)
• King's College London (2013-2022)
• University of Sussex (2006-2013)
• Multiple Latin American institutions including FLACSO Ecuador

Mejía Acosta's research examines formal and informal political bargaining dynamics among government elites when adopting sustainable and inclusive policies in low- and middle-income countries. His work spans comparative political institutions, transparency and accountability in extractive industries, fiscal decentralization, and nutrition governance. He leads the Analysing Nutrition Governance project across nine countries including Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Niger, Pakistan, Peru, and Zambia.

His recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward understanding how political dynamics affect social outcomes, particularly in nutrition policy and fiscal governance. The research demonstrates sophisticated analysis of subnational political dynamics and their impact on public spending and policy implementation across different institutional contexts.

Professional Recognition:

• Consultant for British Department for International Development
• Advisory role for the Carter Center and Freedom House
• Technical advisor to Inter-American Development Bank and UNICEF
• Key contributor to Ecuador's National Strategy for the Prevention and Eradication of Malnutrition (2021-23)

Mejía Acosta actively mentors students and collaborates with international development organizations. His current research on executive-led state erosion in Ecuador (2024-2025) continues his longstanding focus on political institutions in Latin America. He frequently participates in high-level policy discussions, recently moderating panels on Mexico's constitutional politics and digital democracy, and has presented at numerous conferences including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 75th anniversary forum.