Olawale Akinrinde | Food Security | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr  Olawale Akinrinde |  Food Security |  Best Researcher Award

Research Fellow at  University of Johannesburg,  South Africa

Dr. Olawale O. Akinrinde is a distinguished researcher and lecturer specializing in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Food Security, International Development, Public Policy, and Global Governance. He is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and a Tenured Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Osun State University, Nigeria.

Profile:

🎓 Academic Background:

PhD in Strategic Studies – Nigerian Defence Academy (2017-2022)
M.Sc. in International Relations – University of Ibadan (2014-2016)
B.Sc. (First-Class Honours) in Political Science & International Relations – Osun State University (2008-2012)

🔬 Research Focus:

Dr. Akinrinde is a renowned African scholar specializing in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Food Security, International Development, Public Policy, and Global Governance. His research has been published in SCOPUS and Web of Science-indexed journals, making significant contributions to policy analysis and socio-economic development.

🏆 Awards & Fellowships:

🎖 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2023, 2024) – University of Johannesburg
🎖 TETFUND National Research Fund (2023)
🎖 Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) RT2 Training Invite (2024) – Berkeley, California

Publication Top Notes:

  • Political Crisis and The Politics of Religious Divisiveness in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic
    O. Oyetunbi, O. O. Akinrinde
    The Digest: Journal of Jurisprudence and Legisprudence, 2(2), 173-196 (2021)

  • The Triangle of Terror: Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen, Bandits, and Organised Insecurity in Nigeria
    B. Omitola, S. Adedire, O. O. Akinrinde, O. Omodunbi, et al.
    Studia Securitatis, 15(1), 21-33 (2021)

  • Boko Haram Terrorism and the Futurology of Nigeria’s Development
    O. O. Akinrinde, S. Tegbe
    Annals of Spiru Haret University, Economic Series, 20(3), 117-139 (2020)

  • Traditional Institutions and Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria: A Critical Analysis
    B. Omitola, O. O. Akinrinde, A. Omitola
    Journal of Law and Legal Reform, 2(4), 539-552 (2021)

  • The Influence of Globalization on Insurgency: Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab in the Age of Information Technology
    A. I. Adeyeye, O. O. Akinrinde, O. O. Omodunbi
    NUST Journal of International Peace & Stability, 15-29 (2022)

  • Africanity and the Politics of African Xenophobia: A Study of Two Parallels
    O. O. Akinrinde
    Annals of Spiru Haret University, Economic Series, 20(4), 133-151 (2020)

  • Farmers-Herders Conflict and Nigeria’s Quest for Food Security: The Imperative Need for Information Communications Technology
    O. O. Akinrinde, A. A. Osuwa, K. W. Olawoyin
    Journal of Digital Food, Energy & Water Systems, 2(2) (2021)

  • The Politics of Non-Refoulement and the Syrian Refugee Crisis
    O. O. Akinrinde
    The Journal of International Relations, Peace Studies, and Development, 4(1), 6 (2018)

  • Political Economy and the Dialectics of Xenophobia in Post-Apartheid South Africa
    O. O. Akinrinde, U. Tar
    Journal of African-Centered Solutions in Peace and Security, 4(1), 50-63 (2021)

  • Swimming Against the Tide: Challenges of Religious Crises and Insecurity in Nigeria’s Democratic Space
    K. W. Olawoyin, O. O. Omodunbi, O. O. Akinrinde
    Annals of the Constantin Brancusi University of Targu Jiu – Letters & Social Sciences (2021)

 

Richard Moyo | Food Security | Best Researcher Award

Mr Richard Moyo |  Food Security  |  Best Researcher Award

Associate Consultant at  University of Malawi,  Malawi

Richard Steven Moyo is a pragmatic and results-driven economist with over five years of hands-on experience in evidence-based monitoring and evaluation. His expertise includes economic modeling, data collection, survey design, data analysis, and preparing research reports. Richard specializes in health economics, public sector economics, and evidence-based decision-making, using tools such as STATA, R, and Excel for economic evaluation.

Profile:

Education:

  • Master of Arts in Economics (2024) – University of Malawi (Health Economics & Public Sector Economics)
  • Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics (2019) – Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Professional Experience:

  • Associate Consultant (2022-Present) – ASPIRE Consultancy
    • Data Manager for the Malawi Water and Sanitation Project-1 (MWSP 1), overseeing customer satisfaction and willingness-to-pay surveys.
  • Research Fellow (2024-2025) – Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA)
    • Co-author of the Malawi State of Environment Outlook Report, contributing to environmental research and policy.
  • Adjunct Lecturer (2024-Present) – University of Livingstonia
    • Teaching courses in Health Economics and Public Health.
  • Research Fellow (2024-Present) – University of Malawi
    • Conducted economic impact assessments on the Art sector and evaluated the Titukulane Project with IFPRI Malawi.
  • Research Supervisor/Data Analyst (2020-2023) – Center for Social Research (CSR)
    • Led impact evaluations of educational programs focused on reducing teenage pregnancies in Malawi.
  • Monitoring & Evaluation Officer (2020-2023) – Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning
    • Conducted data analysis on market trends and evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 Urban Cash Transfer Intervention.

Skills Profile:

  • Technical Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, STATA, R-Studio, SPSS.
  • Leadership: Led teams in the implementation and evaluation of multiple research projects.
  • Research: Conducted 4 baseline studies and 6 impact evaluations, achieving 20% savings in project budgets.

Publication Title Format:

  • Moyo, R., & Chirwa, G.C. (2025). The economic implications of noncommunicable diseases on food security and resilience in Malawi. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 19, 101646.
  • Moyo, R., Love, D., Mul, M., Mupangwa, W., & Twomlow, S. (2006). Impact and sustainability of low-head drip irrigation kits, in the semi-arid Gwanda and Beitbridge Districts, Mzingwane Catchment, Limpopo Basin, Zimbabwe. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 31(15-16), 885–892.

 

 

Reem Hashad | Food Systems | Best Researcher Award

Dr Reem Hashad |  Food Systems |  Best Researcher Award

Collaborator at  International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI),  Egypt

Reem Nabil Hashad is a dual U.S. and Egyptian citizen and an economist specializing in development economics, food policy, and public finance. She earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 2021, with a dissertation on public policy’s impact on nutrition, childhood stunting, and corruption. She holds two master’s degrees in economics from UIC and the American University in Cairo (AUC), where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Economics.

Publication profile:

🎓 Education:

  • Ph.D. in Economics – University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), 2021
    Dissertation: “The Role of Public Policy in Nutrition, Childhood Stunting, and Corruption”
  • M.A. in Economics – UIC, 2017
  • M.A. in Economics – American University in Cairo (AUC), 2014
    Dissertation: “Repayment Determinants for Egyptian Microfinance Institutions”
  • B.A. in Economics – AUC, Magna Cum Laude, 2012

🔬 Research Fields:

  • Development Economics
  • Food Policy
  • Public Finance
  • Applied Microeconomics

💼 Professional Experience:

  • Consultant – International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) & World Bank, 2023-24
    Designed and implemented projects related to smallholder farmers, gender equality, and entrepreneurship.
  • Research Economist – USDA, 2021-22
    Focused on food security research, policy evaluation, and nutrition assistance programs.
  • Financial, Market, and Economic Analyst – HLB Egypt Makary Consulting, 2014-15
    Conducted feasibility studies and market research for national projects.

📊 Research & Teaching Experience:

  • Research Assistant – UIC, 2018-19
    Collaborated on economic and health research projects.
  • Instructor – Econometrics, UIC, 2017-18
    Taught graduate and undergraduate courses in econometrics, microeconomics, and statistics.

🏅 Awards & Honors:

  • Team Recognition – CIA’s Center for the Study of Intelligence, 2022
  • Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching Award – UIC, Honorable Mention, 2021
  • Top GPA – Master’s in Economics, AUC, 2014

Publication Top Notes:

  • Global food value chains and obesity in low- and middle-income countries

 

Sewareg Demelash | Sustainable Food System | Best Researcher Award

Mrs. Sewareg Demelash | Sustainable Food System | Best Researcher Award

Mrs. Sewareg Demelash, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

Mrs. Sewareg Adamu Demelash is a seasoned Ethiopian researcher and consultant with extensive experience in international trade policy, food systems sustainability, and social development. She holds a Master’s in International Trade Policy and Trade Law from Lund University and is currently a PhD student at Addis Ababa University. Sewareg has worked on various impactful projects, including drought resilience programs and social cash transfers, with notable organizations like the World Bank and UNICEF. Her publications focus on sustainable food systems and trade dynamics. Fluent in Amharic and English, she brings exceptional skills in research, consultancy, and project management. 📊🌍✍️

 

Publication Profile

Scopus

Education 🎓

PhD Student, Addis Ababa University

Masters in International Trade Policy and Trade Law, Lund University & TRAPCA

B.A. in Economics, Haramaya University

Experience 💼

Sewareg Adamu Demelash is an Ethiopian researcher with extensive experience in economic and policy consultancy. She has managed significant projects, including baseline surveys for various programs and consultancy roles for major organizations such as the World Bank and UNICEF. Sewareg has also contributed to academic research on sustainable food systems and development projects.

Professional Achievements 🏆

Sewareg has successfully led various projects, supported youth employment initiatives, and contributed to the development of technical proposals worth over $500,000. She has held key roles in different organizations, including Big Win Philanthropy and Frontieri Consult.

 

Research Focus

Sewareg Adamu Demelash’s research primarily focuses on sustainable food systems and economic policy. Her recent work includes examining the sustainability of food systems in Ethiopia from a multi-dimensional perspective and analyzing national performance in a global context. Her research contributes to understanding and improving food security, resilience, and policy frameworks in developing regions. This focus is crucial for developing strategies to enhance food system sustainability and address challenges related to economic development and environmental impact. Her expertise is instrumental in shaping policies for more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems. 🌍📈

 

Publication Top Notes

Measuring food system sustainability in Ethiopia: Towards a Multi-Dimensional perspective

Investigating the Dynamics and Trends of Sustainable Food Systems in Ethiopia: Characterizing the National Performance within the Global Context