What this life looks like
You use economic analysis to understand and tackle poverty. Development Economists research the economic dimensions of poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment — investigating what drives economic growth, why some communities prosper while others remain poor, how public policy can accelerate human development, and how investments in health, education, and infrastructure pay off in economic terms. In Africa, where the stakes of economic policy are measured in millions of lives, development economics is one of the most consequential academic and applied fields available.
What she actually does
You design and conduct economic research — often involving large household survey datasets — analyse the impact of development programmes using randomised control trials and other rigorous methods, produce policy recommendations and reports, advise governments and international organisations on economic strategy, build economic models of poverty and growth, and communicate your findings to both academic and policy audiences.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Research Organisations | J-PAL Africa (Cape Town), IFPRI Africa, African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), IGC Africa offices |
| Development Finance | World Bank Africa, AfDB Research, IMF Africa, IFAD — major development finance institutions with research arms |
| Government | National planning commissions, treasury economic research, Central Bank research departments |
| Universities | Economics departments at University of Cape Town, Makerere, University of Ghana — academic research and teaching |
Why it matters in Africa
Africa is home to the world's fastest-growing economies and its highest concentrations of extreme poverty — a paradox that development economists are working to resolve. Questions like how to design cash transfer programmes that actually reduce poverty, why some African countries have grown rapidly while others have stagnated, how to make smallholder farming profitable, and how to build health systems that work for the poor are all at the frontier of development economics research.
Your pathway in
- Study Economics with outstanding results at undergraduate level
- Pursue postgraduate study — a master's at minimum, ideally a PhD for academic or senior research careers
- Develop strong econometric skills: Stata, R, and Python are the primary tools of development economics research
- Build field research experience: household surveys, randomised control trials, and qualitative fieldwork all require specific methodological skills
- Connect with J-PAL (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab) Africa, IFPRI, IGDP, and African economic research institutions
Skills you will need
- Econometrics and statistical analysis (Stata, R)
- Survey research design
- Impact evaluation methods
- Economic modelling
- Policy writing and communication
- Academic research and publication
A woman in this field
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Nigeria
Ngozi is a globally revered Nigerian development economist, finance expert, and trailblazer. She made history as the first woman and the first African to serve as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Before her historic appointment at the WTO, she dedicated over 25 years to a stellar career at the World Bank as a development economist, rising to the number-two position of Managing Director, Operations. In this role, she oversaw a massive multi-billion dollar operational portfolio spanning Africa and South Asia, implementing structural programs to shield low-income and impoverished countries during the global food and financial crises.
Take your first step
- Research J-PAL at povertyactionlab.org — their published summaries of development economics research across Africa show you exactly what rigorous development economics looks like and what it can achieve
- Study the Randomised Control Trial (RCT) methodology — it is the most important innovation in development economics over the last two decades and understanding it is essential for anyone entering the field
- Read 'Poor Economics' by Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo — it is the most accessible and engaging introduction to development economics research, written by two Nobel Prize winners
- Research the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) at aerc.ac.ke — they fund and train African economists across the continent and offer scholarships for postgraduate study