PhD Researchers

Ferdinand Adu-Baffour

	Biography Ferdinand Adu-Baffour has a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from the University of Ghana and an MSc. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Hohenheim. For his master’s thesis, which assessed the impact of different mechanization service provision models on small scale farms in Zambia, Ferdinand gained rich practical experience working together with partners from Zambia (IAPRI) and Germany (University of Hohenheim and John Deere). He also has years of experience working in the space of agribusiness, rural development, and agriculture where he worked on USAID funded projects, in most parts of Ghana, as a data analyst and later as a monitoring and evaluation officer.
Contact	fadubaffour@yahoo.com
PhD Research Project: Benefiting from extractive minerals while safeguarding the environment Over the last decades, small scale gold mining (SSM) in Ghana has evolved from using rudimentary tools to using sophisticated earth moving equipment and hazardous chemicals. This is associated with major environmental and health concerns, as a result of the degradation and contamination of land and the environment, which serve as a source of livelihood for host mining communities. This project explores sustainable technical and institutional options to remediate degraded and contaminated mined lands for future economic use.
Publications Adu-Baffour, F., Daum, T. and Birner, R. (2019) Can small farms benefit from big companies’ initiatives to promote mechanization in Africa? A case study from Zambia. Food Policy, 84, 133–145. doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2019.03.007

Bisrat Getnet Awoke

	Biography Bisrat Getnet Awoke holds a B.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering and Mechanization from Hawassa University and an M.Sc. in Agricultural Machinery Engineering from Adama Science and Technology University in Ethiopia. Bisrat has led the Agricultural Engineering Research Directorate at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research for 6 years. He has worked on different research projects such as the project “Farm Mechanization and Conservation Agriculture for Sustainable Intensification (FACASI)” of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT) and the project “Cultivate Africa” of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). He has also worked on projects funded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit). Bisrat is co-founder and deputy president of the Ethiopian Society of Agricultural Engineers. He is doing his Ph.D. at the University of Hohenheim under a DAAD scholarship.
Contact	bisratgetnet.awoke@uni-hohenheim.de
Ph.D. Research Project: Performance evaluation of medium hp tractors and planters for small-scale conservation tillage and crop protection systems in Eastern Africa The project explores options for sustainable agricultural mechanization in Eastern Africa. In Ethiopia, an agronomic field trial to better understand the opportunities and challenges of mechanized Conservation Agriculture. In Kenya, an institutional model for smallholder mechanization in the context of potato production is evaluated.
Selected publications Daum, T., Seidel, A., Awoke, B., Birner, R (2022). Animal traction, two-wheel tractors, or four-wheel tractors? A best-fit approach to guide farm mechanization in Africa. Hohenheim Working Papers on Social and Institutional Change in Agricultural Development. 001-2022. University of Hohenheim. Alemu, D. Fanta A, and Getnet B., (2021) Performance Evaluation of Engine Operated Potato Grader. Ethiopian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Vol 31,No.2,pp 61-71,2021. https://www.ajol.info/ index.php /ejas/article/view/206713 Awoke, B. G., Baudron, F., Antille, D. L., Kebede, L., Anawte, D. A., Tikuneh, D. B., & Aikins, K. A. (2020). Evaluation of two-wheel tractor attached seeders used in conservation agriculture systems of Ethiopia. ASABE 2020 Annual International Meeting. https://doi.org/10.13031/ aim.202000334 Baudron, F., Misiko, M., Getnet, B., Nazare, R., Sariah, J., & Kaumbutho, P. (2019). A farm-level assessment of labor and mechanization in Eastern and Southern Africa. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 39(2), 17. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13593-019-0563-5 Kebede, Laike, and Bisrat Getnet. (2016). Performance of Single Axle Tractors in the Semi-Arid Central Part of Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 27 (1). https://www.ajol.info /index. php/ejas/article/view/150341 Awoke, B. G., Kebede, L., & Hae K, K. (2015). Evaluation of Conservation Tillage Techniques for Maize Production in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 25(2), 47-58.

Nikola Blaschke

	Biography Since 2019, Nikola Blaschke is a Ph.D. candidate at the Chair of Social and Institutional Change in Agricultural Development at the University of Hohenheim. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Hohenheim (2016) and her Master’s degree in International Development Management from the University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus (2018). Nikola’s Ph.D. research is funded by a scholarship awarded by the Landesgraduiertenförderung Baden-Württemberg. Her second home is in Malaysia, where she spends a lot of time since she volunteered there in 2012.
Contact	nikola_blaschke@yahoo.com
PhD Research Project: An Analysis of the Concept of Food Sovereignty Despite growing wealth, up to two billion people suffer from hunger and malnutrition. In recent years, civil society organizations that suggest alternative solutions to this crisis have increasingly gained a voice, such as the international peasant organization La Via Campesina, which advocates for a radical change of the current “agro-industrial” food system towards one which is democratically controlled by the people, what they call “food sovereignty”. This research project examines how established development discourses (“agro-industrialization”) and alternative development discourses (“food sovereignty”) have grown historically to explore their strengths, contingencies and contradictions as well as their connection with broader cultural and societal shifts. This discursive approach, in combination with political and economic perspectives, allows developing a more critical stance towards all actors and organizations involved with agricultural development in order to think about meaningful ways to improve the lives of the vulnerable.

Denise Güttler

	Biography Denise Güttler is a Ph.D. candidate at the Chair of Social and Institutional Change in Agricultural Development at the University of Hohenheim. She obtained a Diploma in Agricultural Biology with the main focus on Agricultural Biotechnology, Virology, and Microbiology from the University of Hohenheim. After her research stay at Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch-Institute for Clinical Pharmacology (IKP), she returned to the University of Hohenheim to work on her Ph.D. Denise is also the coordinator of the Ph.D. Program “Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, and Bioeconomy” funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Contact	d.guettler@uni-hohenheim.de
Ph.D. Research Project: The role of livestock farmers and animal health workers in managing zoonotic diseases in Africa Zoonotic diseases are caused by germs spreading between animals and people. This could be seen in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, when a new coronavirus spread from animals to people, causing a devastating worldwide pandemic. Denise’s research project investigates knowledge and management practices on zoonotic diseases by livestock farmers and animal health workers. Further, the project analysis the devastating dimensions of Covid-19 on food security and other aspects.
Selected Publications Nyokabi S, Birner R, Bett B, Isuyi L, Grace D, Guettler D, Lindahl J. (2018) Informal value chain actors' knowledge and perceptions about zoonotic diseases and biosecurity in Kenya and the importance for food safety and public health. Trop Anim Health Prod. Mar, 50(3), 509-518. doi: 10.1007/s11250-017-1460-z.

Francisco Hidalgo

	Biography Francisco Hidalgo has a B.Sc. in Ecology from Javeriana University (Bogotá, Colombia 2006) and an M.Sc. in Sustainable Resource Management from the Technische Universität München (2015). Francisco has six years of experience in sustainable certification processes in coffee production in Colombia and two years of experience in participatory ecological restoration in agricultural systems. He has also participated in research and development projects on the attitudes of local communities toward the use and conservation of natural resources and the evaluation of biodiversity-based businesses.
Contact	francisco.hidalgo@uni-hohenheim.de
PhD Research Project: Digital tools in agriculture - advancements and trends in the coffee sector Digitalization promises a transformation in agriculture. For example, digital tools can help farmers to use resources more efficiently through strengthened information management, thus increasing productivity and profitability while reducing environmental impacts. Focusing on coffee value chains, the research identifies technological advancements and trends and explores how digital tools can contribute to addressing the numerous challenges of coffee production. The research aims to guide the development of digital tools and the design of policies to encourage their adoption.

Linda Isuyi

	Biography Linda Isuyi obtained a B.Sc in Agricultural Economics from the University of Egerton, Kenya, and an M.Sc in Agricultural Economics from the University of Hohenheim, Germany, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Before starting her Ph.D. at the University of Hohenheim under a DAAD scholarship, Linda worked as an Agricultural Economist with Bhundia Associates (Kenya), interned as a Graduate Fellow with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Kenya, and worked as an Agricultural Specialists with the Institute of Export and Operations Management (Nigeria). Besides her Ph.D. work, Linda is a passionate practicing farmer in Nigeria.
Contact	linda.isuyi@uni-hohenheim.de
PhD Research Project: Digital technologies and services in African agriculture focusing on livestock value chains in Nigeria Digital technology use in agriculture is on the rise globally, however, little is known about the status, opportunities, and challenges of digital tools across livestock value chains in Sub-Saharan Africa. Focusing on Nigeria, the research project delves into the emergent use of digital technologies and services in the livestock value chains. The project explores the impacts of digital technology use, identifies barriers to digital technology adoption, and investigate the role of social media for actors in the livestock value chain.

Saima Jabeen

	Biography Saima Jabeen worked as a doctoral candidate at the University of Hohenheim. She received her Bachelor's degree in Agriculture and a Master degree in Agriculture Economics from the University of Agriculture in Faisalabad (Pakistan). Her professional interests focus on water resources, institutional and policy change, and social aspects. Her current projects include environmental impact assessments, especially concerning developing countries. She has conducted quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques and analysis. Her long-term goal is to become a policy adviser. She wants to use her untiring commitment and drive to bring more dignity and self-sufficiency to the citizens of developing countries.
Contact	+49 711 - 459 23632
PhD Research Project: Challenges of sustainable wastewater management in Pakistan - A case study of Faisalabad The project investigates challenges for sustainable wastewater management in Faisalabad, Pakistan, which is located in a semiarid region with increasing water scarcity. In Faisalabad, industrial development and rapid urbanization have triggered intensive pumping as well as untreated dumping and reuse of untreated wastewater, posing threats to human and environmental health. The study examines linkages between wastewater management and human and environmental health and explores institutional conditions governing the management of wastewater to develop better policies.

Roseline Katusiime

	Biography Roseline Katusiime is a Ugandan national pursuing a PhD in Agricultural Sciences at the Department of Social and Institutional Change in Agricultural Development of the University of Hohenheim (sponsored by the Germany Academic Exchange Service, DAAD). Roseline holds an M.Sc. with a Specialization in Agricultural Systems from the University of Western Australia, a B.Sc. in Horticulture with Management and Entrepreneurship and a Diploma in Agriculture from Uganda. She is a founding member of Albertine Interventions for Development (AID) and served as a service provider at the National Agricultural Advisory Services of the Government of Uganda. She has worked with several organizations in the field of agriculture and food security, for example, as a project officer, programme coordinator, trainer, extension and value chain development specialist and quality assurance assistant.
Contact	roselinekatusiime@gmail.com
PhD Research Project: A comparison of different methods to detect and analysis micronutrient gaps in dietary patterns in Western Uganda In Uganda, micronutrient deficiencies have led to malnutrition which is responsible for an estimated 60% of infant deaths and 25% of maternal deaths. Detecting micronutrient gaps is important but challenged by a lack of empirical evidence and adequate data collection methods for obtaining insights on dietary intake at the individual level. The research compares different methods on how to best collect data, including a novel smartphone application (the Calculator of Inadequate Micronutrient Intake, CIMI) and qualitative approaches to analyse micronutrient gaps in dietary patterns and identify better strategies for promoting healthier diets among poor and vulnerable communities in Western Uganda.
Publications Daum, T., Birner, R., Biesalski, K., Blaschke, N., Bosch, C., Güttler, D., Heni, J., Kariuki, J., Katusiime, R., Seidel, A., Senon, N-Z., Woode, G. (2020). Between pandemics and famines: Towards nutrition-sensitive lockdowns during Covid-19 and beyond. Hohenheim Working Papers on Social and Institutional Change in Agricultural Development, 006-2020. Birner, R. Blaschke, N., Bosch, C., Daum, T., Graf, S., Güttler, D., Heni, J., Kariuki, J., Katusiime, R., Seidel, A., Senon, N-Z., Woode, G. (2020). ‘We would rather die from Covid-19 than from hunger ́ -Exploring lockdown stringencies in five African countries. Hohenheim Working Papers on Social and Institutional Change in Agricultural Development, 005-2020. You, M. P., Nichols, P., Katusiime, R., & Barbetti, M. J. (2020). Novel Disease Host Resistances in the World Core Collection of Trifolium Subterraneum. Plant Disease.

Sandhya Kumar

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Contact	+49 711 - 459 23632

Mary Lubungu

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Contact	marylubungu@gmail.com +49 711 - 459 23632

Vida Mantey

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Contact	vida.mantey@uni-hohenheim.de

Eric Mensah Kumeh

	Biography Eric Kumeh Mensah is a Ghanaian national, who has obtained a B.Sc in Agroforestry and an M.Sc. and Natural Resource Governance from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. As a former development worker, Eric has won and implemented several projects, including some funded by the FAO, the EU, the Dutch Ministry for Foreign Affairs (DGIS) and the Norwegian Development Agency (NORAD). Next to his position as a PhD Candidate (DAAD scholar), Eric is the founder and manager of Breakout Africa, a blog for young people on good governance and economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Contact	ekumehmensah@gmail.com +49 711 - 459 23670
PhD Research Project: Moving towards deforestation-free cocoa and food security in Ghana Ghana is the second-largest producer of cocoa in the world. However, as cocoa crops are using up more and more farm land, farmers encroach protected forests to sustain their livelihoods and attain food security. This project aims to uncover the dynamics that are involved with this challenge and to explore under which conditions deforestation-free cocoa and food security are attainable so as to inform academic and policy discourses and encourage debate on sustainable cocoa production.
Selected Publications 2020 Omulo, G and Kumeh, E. M. Farmer-to-farmer digital network as a strategy to strengthen agricultural performance in Kenya: A research note on ‘Wefarm’ platform. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 158: 120120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120120 2019 Kumeh, E. M. and Abu, D.K. A reality check: unveiling the unseen faces of SRA compliance in Ghana. International Forestry Review, 21(4): 446-459. https://doi.org/10.1505/146554819827906843 2019 Kumeh, E. M. and Omulo, G. Youth’s access to agricultural land in Sub-Saharan Africa: A missing link in the global land grabbing discourse. Land Use Policy, 89: 104210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104210 2019 Kumeh, E. M., Kyereh, B., Oduro, K. A., Brobbey, L. K. and Nketiah, S. K. Transparency in the governance of landscape restoration finance: A case study of Ghana's Forest Plantation Development Fund. Scientific African, 6: e00185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2019.e00185

Josephine Montford

	Biography Josephine Montford is a Ph.D. candidate in the DAAD-funded IPPAE programme at the Chair of Social and Institutional Change in Agricultural Development at the University of Hohenheim. She holds an M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the same university and a B.Sc. in Agriculture from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. Before joining the IPPAE programme, Josephine worked as an Assistant Registrar and an Adjunct Lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.
Contact	josephinemariagoretti.montford@uni-hohenheim.de
PhD Research project: Interlinkages between cocoa farming and gold mining In the last years, the proliferation of small-scale gold mining has caused a rampant conversion of cocoa farms in Ghana. However, there can be both trade-offs and synergies between gold mining and cocoa farming. The research project aims to better understand linkages between gold mining and cocoa production and how they affect the sustainability and future of cocoa farmers. This project aims to understand the governance dynamics of this relationship in a bid to inform policy discourses toward a more favorable outcome.

Ángela Navarrete-Cruz

	Biography Ángela Navarrete-Cruz holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Political Studies from the National University of Colombia. She has worked as a researcher and lecturer in the areas of community development, peacebuilding, and democracy at various universities, including the National University of Colombia, the Javeriana University, the University of Ibagué, and the University of Tolima. Additionally, Ángela has served at the National Traders Federation of Colombia (FENALCO), the Foundation for the Technological Development of Trade, Services, and Tourism (FUNDECOMERCIO), and the Federation of Coffee Growers (FEDECAFE), as a manager and evaluator of development projects. Ángela was awarded a scholarship by the National University of Colombia to pursue her Bachelor in Sociology and was selected by the Kettering Foundation as International Research Resident in 2014. Currently, she is a scholarship holder of the German Academic Exchange Service – DAAD. ORCID Profile: orcid.org/0000-0002-7701-6380
Contact	angelap.navarrete@uni-hohenheim.de
Phd Research Project: Agrarian Aspects of the Civil War in Colombia: Land Accumulation, Non-state Governance Systems in Wartime, and Collective Action in Post-conflict Rural Areas The protracted armed conflict in Colombia has large impacts in rural areas, putting at risk the livelihoods of millions of people living from agriculture. The project explores how armed conflict affects land distribution, power relations, and civilian collective action in rural areas. The project focuses on the role of certain sectors of agrarian elites, the relation between non-state armed actors and civilians, and explores the potential of rural producers’ organizations in leveraging peacebuilding. The research aims to guide public policies aiming at fostering peacebuilding.

Evelyne Wairimu Njuguna

	Biography Evelyne Njuguna, Kenya Evelyne has been a doctoral researcher at the Division of Social and Institutional Change in Agricultural Development since October 2020. She is a recipient of a DAAD scholarship under the International PhD Programme in Agricultural Economics, Bioeconomy and Sustainable Food Systems (IPPAE). Her PhD project deals with the digitalization of agriculture in developing countries. Using Kenya as a case study, she examines how digital tools can address the challenges faced by smallholder farmers and how better governance conditions can foster the adoption of digital tools. Furthermore, her research examines the role of digital tools in promoting knowledge and good practice in soil fertility management among smallholder farmers. Prior to pursuing her PhD, Evelyne worked for the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), the University of Nairobi and at Dodore Kenya Ltd. She has more than nine years of experience in social science research, including the design and implementation of qualitative and quantitative research projects. She has worked with both private and public institutions. Evelyne holds a Master’s degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Follow Evelyne on LinkedIn here and see her most recent work/publication on Google scholar here.
Contact	evelynewairimu.njuguna@uni-hohenheim.de
Ph.D. Research Project: Exploring the potential of digital tools as a catalyst to agricultural transformation in Kenya Kenya continues to rely heavily on the agricultural sector yet its annual average agricultural productivity growth rate has stagnated in the last fifty years. At the same time, the country has positioned itself as a leading agri-tech hub among low and middle-income countries. This study takes a closer look into the digital tools at the disposal of farmers, and analyses their abilities based on categorization criteria. Hypothesizing that impact is higher as the digital tools become “smarter” with tailor-made services, the study narrows to focus on sophisticated tools to determine if services offered are translating to knowledge and practices and also examine changes resulting from smart farming.

Godfrey Omulo

	Biography Godfrey Omulo holds a B.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya, and an M.Sc. from Makerere University, Uganda. After his B.Sc., Mr. Omulo worked as an agricultural machine and equipment sales engineer. He has worked as an assistant lecturer at JKUAT and Rongo University, Kenya, before starting his Ph.D. at the University of Hohenheim under a DAAD scholarship. Besides his Ph.D. work, Mr. Omulo is a writer and regional coordinator to the blog Breakout Africa.
Contact	godfrey.omulo@uni-hohenheim.de
PhD Research Project: Utilizing sustainable agricultural mechanization to unlock the potential of conservation agriculture in Zambia Conservation Agriculture (CA), which aims to build more healthy soils, may help farmers to raise agricultural productivity and adapt to climate change. However, its adoption has remained low across Africa. This has been attributed to the high labor-intensity of CA when practiced without mechanization. Thus, focusing on Zambia, the project explores the opportunities and challenges of locally adapted, mechanized CA. The research centers on an on-farm experiment comparing different types of mechanized CA, explores perceptions of emergent farmers on mechanized CA, and studies discourses on CA among a spectrum of stakeholders such as farmers and policymakers.

Mellyne Atieno Ongango

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Contact	mellyneatieno.ongango@uni-hohenheim.de

Rashid Parvez Khan

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Contact	rashidparvez.khan@uni-hohenheim.de +49 711 - 459 23615

Fatema Sarker

Biography

Fatema Sarker holds a B.Sc. in Agribusiness Management and an M.Sc. in Development and Poverty Studies from Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Bangladesh. She has worked as a lecturer at the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University on several projects on women empowerment and entrepreneurship from the National Science and Technology (NST) and the University Grand Commission Research funds. Her Ph.D. is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

She is co-founder of the Saleha Foundation, a philanthropic organization focusing on distressed women and children.

Contact

fatema.sau@gmail.com

PhD Research Project: Gender Dynamics and Human Nutrition in Livestock Production Systems

While gender aspects of livestock production are increasingly getting attention, little is known on how women in livestock rearing households can be empowered and how this affects the nutrition of the household.

Focusing on Bangladesh, the research investigates linkages between female livestock ownership, women’s empowerment, and household nutrition, aiming to derive lessons for development interventions.

Selected publications

2017	Sarker, F., Dewan, B. and Kazal, M.M.H. Women Entrepreneurship and Its Impact on Empowerment: A Study in the Dhaka City, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Journal of Political Economy, 31(5): 453-468
2016	Sarker, F. and Kazal, M.M.H. Enhancement Factors of Women Entrepreneurship Development: A Micro Level Study in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. Stamford Journal of Economics, III(1): 31-44
2015	Ghosh, A.K., Kazal M.M.H., Akhter, S and Sarker, F. Climate Adaptive Agriculture Practices of the Farmers in Vabodha Area: A Study on Water Logged Village in South-West Region, Bangladesh. The Journal of Social Studies, 148: 28-55.

Louis Schwarze

	Biography Louis Schwarze holds a B.Sc. in Agricultural Science from University of Kassel and a M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from Hohenheim University. As part of his studies he investigated the integration of biodigesters into mixed farming systems in Mexico and governance challenges of pesticides in Zambia. After completing his B.Sc., Louis worked as a development advisor for Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Western Kenya where he supported Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in the establishment of sweet potato seed systems and advisory services.
Contact	louis.schwarze@uni-hohenheim.de louis.schwarze@uni-hohenheim.de
PhD research Project: Fostering innovations to reduce livestock’s long shadow in Kenya Africa is currently undergoing a livestock revolution as demand for livestock products soars due to rapid population growth, rising incomes and urbanization. For example, the demand for meat is projected to quadruple between 2010 and 2050 in Africa. This creates opportunities to enhance livelihoods of millions of livestock keepers as well as reducing pervasive nutritional deficiencies. However, livestock production is known for its “long shadow” – its many negative effects through contribution to climate change, degradation of natural resources and biodiversity, and zoonotic diseases. The project explores how sustainability of livestock value chains and food systems can be enhanced through technical and institutional innovations. Therefore, it investigates how the design of innovation systems that support dissemination of innovations can be optimized.

Anna Seidel

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Contact	Anna.Seidel@uni-hohenheim.de

Masooma Torfa

	Biography Masooma Torfa has a master’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Hohenheim, a diploma in development management from the Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Kabul University. Masooma has professional work experiences in development projects in Afghanistan with the United Nations Kabul Office and USAID. In the field of migration, she has worked with numerous institutions including the European Commission, the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), the European Program for Integration and Migration (EPIM), Advocate Europe, and Malteser. Masooma has been awarded a scholarship by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for her master’s degree and a scholarship by the Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst for her Ph.D. Masooma is the co-founder and directing member of Female Fellows e.V, an NGO that is working on the integration and empowerment of migrant women in southern Germany.
Contact	masooma@uni-hohenheim.de
PhD research project Around 60% of the globally registered refugees come from three countries: Syria, Afghanistan, and South Sudan. In Germany, Syrians and Afghans constitute half of the total asylum applicants. The research project aims to help improve German and European migration policies by studying the origin and transit migration of Afghans and Syrians. The research explores refugees' integration opportunities and challenges as well as the role of influential actors/factors in migration and integration processes.
Publication Torfa M. (2019) Refugee-Led Organisations (RLOs) in Europe: Policy Contributions, Opportunities and Challenges. European Council on Refugees and Exil (ECRE) Working Paper 01/2019.

George Woode

	Biography George Woode is a Ghanaian who holds a Diploma in Statistics a B.Sc. in Economics and an M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Hohenheim. He is a professionally trained teacher and facilitator and has over 23 years of work experience in program and project monitoring and evaluation in agriculture, health, and education working with the Ghanian Ministry of Education, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), West African Health Organization (WAHO) as well as in three projects funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). George Woode is an external Ph.D. student. Currently, he is the monitoring and evaluation manager in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded poultry value chain project.
Contact	george.woode@uni-hohenheim.de
PhD Research Project: Governance challenges of nutrition programs in Ghana Undernutrition remains a barrier to achieving the sustainable development goals in Ghana, where 14% of children under five years are underweight. To change this several donor-funded nutrition programs are active in Ghana. The project examines how governance challenges in implementing nutrition programs impact nutrition outcomes, focusing on children under five years and explore avenues for reducing these challenges. The project seeks to draw general lessons for the implementation of donor-funded nutrition programs within the framework of public-private partnerships.
Selected Publications Woode, G. Birner, R. (2019) Does governance impact under-nutrition: An integrated approach to reducing underweight in children under 5. Poster presentation at the 4th International Congress Hidden Hunger at the University of Hohenheim, Germany. Woode, G. (2016) An analysis of the goat value chain as a strategy for poverty reduction In Ghana. See https://www.coursehero.com/file/32726893/AN-ANALYSIS-OF-THE-GOAT-VALUE-CHAIN-AS-Apdf/ Aikins, M., Laar, A., Nonvignon, J., Sackey, S., Ikeda, T., Woode, G., ... & Nyonator, F. (2013). Evaluation of facilitative supervision visits in primary health care service delivery in Northern Ghana. BMC Health Services Research, 13(1), 1-10. Chapman, D., Barcikowski, E., Sowah, M., Gyamera, E., & Woode, G. (2002). Do communities know best?: Testing a premise of educational decentralization: community members' perceptions of their local schools in Ghana. International Journal of Educational Development, 22(2), 181-189.

Ferdinand Adu-Baffour

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Bisrat Getnet Awoke

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Nikola Blaschke

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Denise Güttler

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Francisco Hidalgo

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Linda Isuyi

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Saima Jabeen

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Roseline Katusiime

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Sandhya Kumar

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Mary Lubungu

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Vida Mantey

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Eric Mensah Kumeh

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Josephine Montford

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Ángela Navarrete-Cruz

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Evelyne Wairimu Njuguna

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Godfrey Omulo

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Mellyne Atieno Ongango

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Rashid Parvez Khan

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Fatema Sarker

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Louis Schwarze

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Anna Seidel

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Masooma Torfa

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George Woode

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Contact - Department of Social and Institutional Change in Agricultural Development (490c)

Further Information

Further Information - for students