Development Practice in Eastern and Southern Africa: Lived Experiences from the Trenches

Tshilidzi Madzivhandila is CEO of the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network’s (FANRPAN), in Pretoria, South Africa. He is Expert in public policies and programmes evaluation having studied at the School of Business, Economics and Public Policy at the University of the New England (Australia).

Sepo Hachigonta is Director of Strategic Partnerships within the Strategy, Planning and Partnerships business unit at the National Research Foundation (NRF), in Pretoria, South Africa. His research interests are in trans-disciplinary fields, food systems as well as Africa’s science, technology and innovation policy landscape.

Joseph Francis is Professor and Director of the Institute for Rural Development at the University of Venda in South Africa. He has worked as University Academic for more than 23 years during which time he has extensively engaged with grassroots communities in various countries in southern Africa. His expertiseencompasses local governance, public participation, local economic development, innovation for development and poverty studies.

Oluwatoyin (Toyin) Dare Kolawole is Professor of Rural Development at the Okavango Research Institute (ORI), University of Botswana (UB), in Botswana. He is Adjunct Faculty at the Eastern University based in Pennsylvania, USA, and was UC Visiting Canterbury Fellow in 2014. His works are at the interface of science, policy and agriculture in Africa.

Joseph Kamuzhanje is Professor and Director and Lead Consultant for the Perch Inc Development Consultancy Services, in Zimbabwe. He is Experienced Rural and Urban Planner, Development Practitioner and Social Scientist with over 25 years of experience in development.

Shirley Dewolf is Pastor, Community Activist, Mentor and Retired University Lecturer. She has extensive experience in rural development planning and implementation, refugee support and human resources development.