Akuma, Gemeda Olani
Gemeda Olani Akuma is a Sida-funded postdoctoral fellow at EfD-Mak, in collaboration with NatCap. He holds a PhD in Development Economics from Addis Ababa University, completed in partnership with the University of Gothenburg through a Sida-supported bilateral academic program.
Research interests
Dr. Gemeda’s research focuses on the intersection of development economics and environmental sustainability, with a particular interest in sustainable land use, climate-smart agriculture, agricultural technology adoption, biodiversity conservation, water resource management, forestry, food security, ecosystem services, and climate resilience. His current work evaluates the impact of conservation technologies on agricultural productivity among smallholder farmers.
His previous research investigated the effectiveness of social protection programs—such as public works and safety nets—in enhancing household adaptive capacity to climate change. He has also examined the role of local institutions, including village networks, in shaping adaptation outcomes and the influence of land cover dynamics on mitigating the effects of weather shocks on rural livelihoods. Overall, his work is set within the broader context of rural development and environmental change in low-income countries, emphasizing the socio-economic and ecological determinants of sustainable resource use and livelihood resilience.
Research grants and consultancy
- Data Use Research Competition 2023 (November 2023 to June 2024). The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) 50x2030 Initiative, 2023.