Greta Semplici

Greta Semplici is a Visiting Fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, part of the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. Her academic work focuses on the intersection of mobility, resilience, and development, particularly in dryland regions of Africa. She brings extensive field experience from Northern Kenya and Somalia to her research on pastoralist communities and their adaptation strategies.

Her educational background includes:

• D.Phil. (Ph.D.) in International Development from the University of Oxford
• M.Sc. in Development Economics from the University of Florence
• B.A. in Development Economics and International Cooperation from the University of Florence

Greta's research explores the concept of resilience from the perspective of mobile pastoralists in Turkana County, Northern Kenya. Her work examines how nomadic communities understand and enact resilience in the face of climate change and development interventions. She investigates the relationship between humans, animals, and the environment, challenging conventional approaches to development and humanitarian aid in dryland regions. Her research bridges academic theory with practical development applications, emphasizing local knowledge systems.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on resilience, mobility, and development in dryland regions. Her work increasingly connects pastoralist knowledge systems with climate change adaptation, highlighting how traditional practices offer valuable insights for contemporary environmental challenges. She examines the tension between external development interventions and local realities, advocating for approaches that honor mobile communities' expertise and adaptability.

Greta has taught development economics and qualitative research methods, sharing her expertise on development studies, livelihood studies, pastoralism, and rangeland research. Her professional experience includes work with FAO Somalia as a Monitoring and Evaluation International Consultant and collaborations with LAMA Development and Cooperation Agency, ODI, IMI, and the EUI.

Currently, she is working on her book manuscript titled 'Moving Deserts: Resilience and Development in the Drylands,' which promises to synthesize her extensive fieldwork and theoretical contributions to the understanding of resilience in mobile communities.