Elvis Melia

Elvis Melia is a Research Associate and Lecturer at the Chair of International Relations and African Politics, Institute of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Duisburg-Essen. He is also an Associate Researcher at the German Development Institute (DIE) and a member of the Institute for Development and Peace (INEF). His work bridges academic research and policy advisory, with a strong regional focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Master of Arts in International Relations and Development Policy, University of Duisburg-Essen (2012)
• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Research, University of Duisburg-Essen (2009)

His research centers on the political economy of digital transformation in Africa, particularly the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its implications for governance, economic growth, and labor markets. He investigates how structural, institutional, and leadership factors shape digital innovation in countries like Kenya, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. A major focus is on the rise of online labor and platform economies in African cities, analyzing their growth, sustainability, gender inclusivity, and integration into global digital value chains.

Elvis's publications and presentations emphasize digital job creation, digital governance, and industrial policy. His recent work analyzes the future of work in Africa, digital skills development, and strategies for inclusive digital transformation. He has contributed to policy discussions at the European Commission, GIZ, and the Tony Blair Institute.

• Advised the Governments of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda on digital transformation strategies
• Consulted for GIZ, USAID, Rockefeller Foundation, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, and Tony Blair Institute
• Collaborates with Oxford Internet Institute’s iLabour project on African online labor
• Conducted fieldwork in Angola, Chad, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Sudan

• Principal Investigator, "African jobs in the digital era" (German Development Institute, 2017–2020)
• Lead Consultant, "Rwanda: The Future of Work in 2030" (GIZ, 2021)
• Strategy development for Digital Skills Accelerator Africa (GIZ, 2020)

He teaches undergraduate seminars on the global knowledge economy, African growth governance, and the role of technology in peace and conflict. His advisory work supports governments and development partners in shaping equitable digital economies. He is actively involved in public discourse through media features in Deutsche Welle and policy commentaries for the German Development Institute.