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MAKING AN IMPACT

We engage on an international level with organisations, institutions, policymakers, and advisers to form connections and make a difference in developing countries.

SPOTLIGHTS

Photograph of follow up visit to a primary school in Malawi as part of the school leadership project

School Leadership Training In Malawi

Motorbike driver and health worker delivering vaccines in rural sierra leone

Last Mile Delivery in Sierra Leone

Women queueing at aid station in flood water in Bangladesh

Anticipatory Cash Transfers in Bangladesh

Photo of Johannesburg Central Business District

Influencing Cash Transfer Grants in South Africa

CAPACITY BUILDING

CONNECTING WITH INSTITUTIONS

We work with academic institutions on the African continent to host events and provide training for postgraduate students.

Each year we fund 30+ academics living and working in Africa to present their papers at the CSAE Conference in March in Oxford. Since 2019, we have also funded speakers to join us for a CSAE Economic Development in Africa Workshop, hosted in a different African country every year. At the Workshop speakers receive feedback on their work prior to presenting at the CSAE Conference in the UK.

Staff and students from the host institution are also invited to the CSAE Workshop to take part in training sessions run by non-government organisations and academics on research techniques, proposal writing, and key areas of development economics.

Large group of participants gather in front of the workshop banner at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

Participants at the CSAE Workshop 2025 in Addis Ababa

CSAE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA WORKSHOP

The CSAE Workshop 2026 will be held in Nairobi, Kenya.

CSAE Workshop 2026 graphic with grey and orange background and CSAE and AERC logos

PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS

Graphic for funding video includes photograph of previous funded conference participants socialising

CSAE CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOP FUNDING

Watch our video about funding for African scholars to attend our events, and hear from previous funded participants.
More about our funding
Photo of Halefom Nigus presenting at the CSAE Conference 2025

INTERVIEW WITH A FUNDED PARTICIPANT IN 2026

We spoke to Salma Emmanuel about her time as a funded participant at the CSAE events in 2025/26

Watch Salma's interview
Photo of Halefom Nigus presenting at the CSAE Conference 2025

INTERVIEW WITH A FUNDED PARTICIPANT IN 2025

We spoke to Halefom Nigus about his time as a funded participant at the CSAE events in 2024/2025.
Watch Nigus' interview

ADVISING POLICYMAKERS

ECONOMIC POLICY NETWORK AT OXFORD

The Economic Policy Network helps local leaders build and sustain growth coalitions across politics, business, the civil service, and the public

Launched in 2023, the Economic Policy Network is a partnership between the Centre for the Study of African Economies and the Blavatnik School of Government, at the University of Oxford in the UK. 

 

Kate Orkin screenshot from ESRC video on South Africa policy impact

PUBLIC POLICY IMPACT

Working with policy makers and academics in developing countries to directly impact public policy.
MBRG Policy Partnerships
Stefan Dercon discussing impact at the CSAE

HOW ACADEMICS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Addressing the problems that policy makers are dealing with in our research makes us better researchers.
Why research matters
Chris Adam discussing impact at the CSAE

ENGAGING AT AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

An important role for academics is to engage at the international level to challenge strategies and thinking on policy advice.
Thinking that challenges

OPEN POLITICAL ECONOMY ANALYSIS

Delivering practical political economy analysis on binding constraints in growth and development, with action-oriented advice for increasing the effectiveness of policy and investment, regardless of source of funds. 

The Open Political Economy Anaylsis Programme is a new initiative based at the CSAE and hosted by the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.