Diana Mitlin

Diana Mitlin is a Professor of Global Urbanism at the Global Development Institute (GDI), The University of Manchester. She also serves as Principal Researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and CEO of the African Cities Research Consortium (FCDO-funded). Her research focuses on urban poverty, inequality, and participatory development strategies in the Global South. She has held leadership roles including Managing Director of GDI (2015–2019) and Director of the Global Urban Research Centre (2012–2016).

Education:

• BA (Econ) in Economics & Sociology, University of Manchester (1983)
• MSc (Econ) in Economics, Birkbeck College (1989)
• PhD in Development Studies, London School of Economics (2001)

Research Interests: Urban basic services, tenure security, NGO effectiveness, and citizen-led development. Her work emphasizes grassroots collaboration with organizations like Shack/Slum Dwellers International and the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights. Recent projects include Leverhulme-funded participatory planning networks and FCDO’s African Cities initiative.

Grants & Projects:

• African Cities Research Consortium (FCDO, 2020–2026)
• Leverhulme Trust-funded participatory planning network
• ESRC/DFID-funded urban poverty research

Labs/Teams: Leads the Manchester Urban Institute and contributes to GDI’s interdisciplinary urban development programs. Collaborates with global networks like the Urban Poor Fund (Netherlands).