I have a strong academic background in agricultural economics, with a PhD from Kiel University and an MSc from the University of Hohenheim, Germany. My research interests include climate change adaptation and sustainable development in agriculture. I have published several scientific papers and presented at international conferences on these topics. Additionally, I have worked as an advisor for the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) on climate risk management and agricultural insurance. I am passionate about applying my knowledge and skills to create positive impacts for people and the planet.

Peter Anti Partey (Ph.D.) is a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast. He also serves as an Adjunct lecturer of Quantitative Techniques and Curriculum Development and Management with the Institute for Oil and Gas Studies at the University of Cape Coast and ITECPD at the University of Education, Winneba, respectively. He is also a Visiting Scholar at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. His specialisations include the economics of education, education policy analysis, quantitative research techniques, curriculum, and pedagogy. Peter has consulted for organisations such as Newcastle University (UK), the DFID (GEC) – UK, GIZ – Ghana, the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), the Centre for Evaluation (Ceval), and the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research (RWI). He is an affiliate consultant for Think Africa Institute (Sierra Leone) and The Friedensau Institute for Evaluation (FIFE – Germany). He is the Executive Director of the Institute for Education Studies (IFEST), an educational policy think tank with a speciality in education policy analysis and advocacy. He has worked with various ministries of education in Africa, including those in Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, and Zambia, where his expertise has proven valuable to managers in the education sector in these countries. He has developed an Educational Resource Deprivation Index (ERDI) to track the distribution of educational resources, ensuring quality, access, and equity in education delivery in Ghana.

Dr. Kwaku Arhin-Sam is a researcher and lecturer with over ten years of experience monitoring and evaluating development and humanitarian aid interventions. He has twelve years of experience in qualitative and quantitative research and teaching, including upstream methods like Outcome Mapping and Outcome Harvesting.

He acquired his PhD in sociology from the Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences at Jacobs University Bremen and the University of Bremen, Germany.  Kwaku obtained his MA in international social Sciences and bachelor’s in Education (Social Sciences) from the Friedensau Adventist University in Germany and the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, respectively. His research areas include Migration and Development, International Migration Policies and Partnerships, Identity and Belonging Politics, Return Migration, Integration and Reintegration Politics, Human Rights and Conflict Resolution.

Daniel Bendix is Professor for Global Development at Friedensau Adventist University. His work focuses on postcolonial development studies, reproductive health and population policy as well as race and migrant labour. His publications include “Global Development and Colonial Power. German Development Policy at Home and Abroad”. He is a member of glokal e.V. and has long been active in development education.

Dr. Jill Philine Blau is a researcher, lecturer and consultant. She researches on commons & commoning, work & affect and questions development from a feminist and intersectional perspective. She works with humanitarian and development practitioners and currently heads the M.A. Development Studies Online program at FAU. She has written extensively on collective land use in its interface with pastoralism and gender. She consults public and private actors in the fields of commoning and social justice.

Hussain Bux Korejo is a development and public sector professional with over ten years of experience across diverse fields, including public health, climate change, disaster risk reduction (DRR), SME development, digital innovation, gender, youth, and women’s empowerment. He has extensive expertise in project planning and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, accountability, research, and data analysis.

Experienced in networking, fundraising, and project management, I am committed to promoting human rights, peace, and coexistence. My work focuses
on advocating for the rights of minority, religious, racial, ethnic, and indigenous communities across the MENA region, particularly in Tunisia. I strive to empower
grassroots organisations by strengthening their organisational capacity, project management, and networking strategies, ensuring the sustainability and
effectiveness of their initiatives.

Peter Kwabena Essien is a seasoned international development consultant with over 10 years of experience in education, TVET, labour market analysis, and youth employment across Sub-Saharan Africa. He specialises in program design, monitoring and evaluation, and policy analysis, with a strong track record of supporting development partners including the World Bank, European Union, Mastercard Foundation, and Opportunity International. Peter currently serves as Technical Expert – Labour and Emerging Technologies at Workforce Development International. His work integrates participatory evaluation methods, inclusion frameworks, and systems thinking to generate actionable insights that enhance development outcomes.

Dr. Nyamwaya Munthali holds a PhD in International Development Studies from Wageningen University and a PgD in Teaching Methodology from the University of Lusaka. Before joining the University of Zambia – Development Studies Department as a lecturer and researcher, she was a lecturer for development and communication studies at Cavendish University Zambia (CUZ). At CUZ, she served as Acting Head of Department for communication-related programmes, Research Coordinator under the School of Arts, Education and Social Sciences and as a member of the University’s PhD and Publications Board.
Her research interests that involve field work in Zambia, Tanzania, India and Ghana, focus on the social situated-ness of information and communication technologies (ICTs), the role of strategic (digital) communication mechanisms in fostering development, and the broader (negative) implications of technological innovation. As both an academic and activist, she is also pursuing research on the decolonisation of knowledge (processes)—particularly within the field of development studies. At the same time, she sits on the Editorial Board of the Knowledge Management for Development Journal.
Additionally, Dr Munthali has over eight years of experience working in the Zambian agricultural sector on mobile innovation, livelihood-enhancing, and business and social enterprise development projects. Her roles have included project management and contributing to the design and implementation of monitoring, evaluation and communication systems.

Dr. Chigemezi Nnadozie Wogu—a mission historian, theologian, and pastor serving multicultural and German congregations in Germany.
I am a certified Prepare/Enrich trainer and facilitator, offering marriage and premarital counselling. I work with couples to help them build strong, meaningful relationships rooted in mutual understanding, emotional connection, and spiritual growth. Whether preparing for marriage or navigating the complexities of committed life together, I aim to offer guidance that is thoughtful, empathetic, and grounded in faith.
With a Ph.D. in Theology, I currently pastor a diverse community and guest lecture at Friedensau Adventist University’s Faculty of Theology in Germany. I’m passionate about fostering faith communities that honour cultural identity while pursuing a deeper understanding of theological heritage.

A multidisciplinary researcher, scholar and consultant with over twenty years in International Development Management, Social Entrepreneurship and Agribusiness Management. Core experiences across sub-Saharan Africa.

Ernest Nutakor specialises in project design and evaluation. He develops and reviews concept notes, designs and assesses questionnaires, and prepares statistical reports to support evidence-based decision-making.

Amanda is an academic-activist with a specialisation in gender and development studies. Her research focuses on Social inequalities, Critical (and geography) Masculinities, Sexualities, gender-based violence, feminism and feminist organising, and Climate Change Adaptation. Amanda seeks to interrogate through theory and praxis the critical role of social constructionism, systems thinking, and critical theory in shaping development interventions and outcomes.

Dr. Franze Seidel holds a BA in Social Work, an MA in International Social Sciences, and a PhD in Sociology. Dr. Seidel has over ten years of teaching experience at the university level and brings strong expertise in qualitative research methods. In addition, Dr. Seidel has practical experience working in the NGO sector, combining academic knowledge with applied practice.

Dr. Annette Witherspoon is a Liberian scholar and educator whose career spans over twenty years and crosses continents. Currently based in Germany, Saijue Annette serves as Head of Program for the Bachelor’s in International Social Work and as a Senior Lecturer in Development Studies at Friedensau Adventist University. Her academic journey is distinguished; she earned her PhD in Development Sociology from Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, graduating summa cum laude, and was awarded the Faculty of Social Science Dissertation Prize in 2021.
Dr. Witherspoon’s expertise is grounded in both international academic research and practical experience. Her professional path shows a strong commitment to social change, development studies, and education, with key roles in academia, international NGOs, and humanitarian initiatives. She started her career in education and community development in West Africa before progressing into programme management and research. Her roles include serving as Rapid Research Manager for the “Ebola Community Action Platform (ECAP)” with Mercy Corps in Liberia and acting as a consultant and emergency coordinator for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). Dr. Witherspoon has been an affiliate of FIFE since 2015.
She has been involved in monitoring, evaluation, and compliance activities across Guinea-Conakry, Uganda, Norway, Greece, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Liberia, managing projects funded by USAID, the EU, the African Development Bank, and private organisations.
In academia, Dr. Witherspoon’s research and teaching cover topics such as Conflict and Peace, Power and Sustainability (Social), Rural Livelihoods, Value Chain Governance, Gender and Intersectionality, and Project Management for International Development. Her experience includes serving as a research associate at the Diversity Research Institute at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, guest lectureships at the University of Vienna, Austria, and ongoing roles at Friedensau Adventist University, where she has taught for over eight years in the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Her international experience is extensive, including work and study placements in countries such as Liberia, Guinea, Ghana, Uganda, Mali, Burkina Faso, Norway, Germany, Ukraine, Romania, Greece, Albania, Croatia, Macedonia, and Madagascar. She is fluent in English, speaks good French, and has intermediate proficiency in German.
Dr. Witherspoon combines academic rigour with a profound practical understanding of social issues, international development, and higher education—qualities that have established her as a respected figure in her field and a valued mentor to students and colleagues alike.