Samuel Hickey

Samuel Hickey is a Professor of Politics and Development at the Global Development Institute, University of Manchester, and currently serves as Deputy CEO of the African Cities Research Consortium (funded by FCDO). He holds roles as Managing Director and Head of Discipline at the School of Environment & Development.

He holds a BA in Politics (Liverpool, 1994), PGDip in Research Methodology (UCE, 1996), MA in Development Studies (Staffs, 1997), and a PhD in Development Studies (Staffs, 2002). His research focuses on the intersection of politics and development, including state capacity, natural resource governance, and social justice. He has led major initiatives like the DFID-funded Effective States and Inclusive Development (ESID) Centre (2011–2019).

Key research interests include political settlements, bureaucratic effectiveness in Africa, and the role of NGOs in development. He has advised organizations such as DFID, UNDP, and the World Bank. Current projects include the Politics of State Capacity in Africa (£0.5m ESRC-DFID grant).

Hickey has supervised 17 PhD students, focusing on governance, social protection, and political dynamics in Africa and Latin America. He contributes to courses on development fundamentals, policy analysis, and anti-poverty strategies.

His work aligns with UN SDGs related to poverty reduction and sustainable cities, leveraging political economy frameworks to inform inclusive development policies.