BUA Institution

Humbolt-Universität zu Berlin

Description of Research

My research focuses on social protection and labour markets. In my current work, I am using experimental methods to study the potential to leverage innovations in the design and delivery of social protection systems to increase household resilience to poverty and to extreme climate events such as floods. In the past, I have researched labour markets, inequality, poverty alleviation, poverty dynamics, and social stratification, using a variety of methods, including longitudinal surveys, field experiments, qualitative studies, and behavioural lab experiments.

Where in the world has your career been largely based until now?

I am South African, and did my Bachelors at he University of Cape Town, where I then worked as a researcher at the Southern African Labour and Development Research Unit. Since 2016 I have been based at the University of Oxford, but my research has been largely focused on South Africa and Bangladesh. 

Why Berlin?

I am visiting Tilman Brück, Professor for Economic Development and Food Security at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, to explore potential collaboration in future research projects. I don't see myself living in the UK forever, and am interested to see whether Berlin might be somewhere that I could settle. 

How will your research change the world?

Climate change is increasing the severity of climate shocks, and these disasters are disproportionately concentrated in the world’s poorest countries and annually push millions of people into poverty. Social protection systems provide one way to directly reach those who are impacted by such events, but these the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of these systems are not well understood. My research will provide evidence on innovations in the design and delivery of these systems, allowing governments, NGOs and multilaterals to reach more people, more effectively, at a lower cost.

How did you become interested in your specific topic?

Mostly chance. I was previously invited to join the evaluation of a poverty alleviation programme in Bangladesh, and things snowballed from there: My colleagues were working in parallel on a project evaluating cash transfers for flood relief, and I started working with them to set up projects and secure funding. 

If you could have a radical career change for a week, what would it be?

I'd be a rock climber.

Who is the most interesting or inspiring person you have ever worked with?

Murray Leibbrandt at the University of Cape Town: He taught me the value of kindness as a leadership quality.