Matthew Alford

Matthew Alford is a Professor of International Business and Management at Alliance Manchester Business School (The University of Manchester), specializing in global value chains (GVCs), sustainability governance, and labour dynamics in developing regions. He leads the PMO Comparative & International Business department and focuses on state roles in regulating sustainability challenges across transnational networks, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa's agricultural and garment sectors.

His research integrates UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing global inequalities and decent work. Key collaborations involve the Global Development Institute (GDI) and projects like Digitalization in Global Value Chains (2023–2026) and Decent Work in Regional Value Chains (2019–2020). Alford earned his PhD in International Development from GDI, Manchester.

Research interests include polycentric governance, private-public collaboration in GVCs, and multi-scalar labour agency. His recent publications analyze governance tensions in South African fruit sectors and Kenyan horticulture, highlighting ethical trade dynamics and state-regulatory interactions. He has been recognized with awards for research excellence, including the Wiley Top Cited Article (2022) and Faculty Dissertation Supervisor Award (2020).

Alford’s work bridges academia and policy, addressing global trade’s socio-economic impacts through interdisciplinary frameworks. He actively contributes to public debates on ethical trade, automation’s role in labour exploitation, and inclusive governance models for GVCs.