Research & Insights · Research & methods

Research & methods

Explore essays and reflections on research & methods, grounded in African realities and open to new questions.

30 July 2026

How problems become problems

Recognition, diagnosis and the roots we refuse to uproot. Every development intervention begins long before the first dollar is spent. It begins long before the baseline survey,…

15 min read · Read essay

Research & methods

29 July 2026

What transforms understanding into recognised knowledge?

Understanding, legitimacy and the politics of recognition. I never doubted the value of expertise. Throughout my career I have worked with economists, engineers, statisticians,…

7 min read · Read essay