Simon Manda

Dr Simon Manda is a Lecturer in International Development at the University of Leeds' School of Politics and International Studies (POLIS), part of the Faculty of Social Sciences. He joined Leeds in 2021 after a Visiting Research position at Oregon State University (2020–2021), focusing on climate adaptation and community relocation in flood-prone areas. Previously, he spent a decade at the University of Zambia (UNZA), serving as a Lecturer and Postgraduate Coordinator in the Department of Development Studies. His research spans land governance, climate resilience, agri-food systems, and gender dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa. He co-directs the Centre for Global Development and advises multiple PhD students exploring topics like energy transitions, flood security, and urban agriculture in Africa.

Dr Manda’s expertise includes the political economy of large-scale land investments, sustainable development goals, and the intersection of indigenous knowledge with modern climate policies. He holds a PhD and MA from the University of Leeds and a BA from UNZA. His work bridges academic research with policy advocacy, particularly in Zambia and broader African contexts. He is a member of the Development Studies Association and the African Studies Association of the UK.

His recent research outputs highlight trends in energy transitions, disaster anthropology, and climate adaptation strategies. A notable focus is on Zambia’s agricultural policies, Chinese agro-investments, and gendered impacts of crises like the pandemic. He critically examines how legal frameworks and market dynamics shape community resilience and resource access in developing regions.

Current research students under his supervision include studies on soybean transitions in Zambia, climate adaptation in Indonesia, and urban female farmers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His work often employs a reflective, interdisciplinary approach to address rural development challenges.