Dr Carolyn Chisadza, a senior lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of Pretoria (UP) is a recipient of the University of Oxford’s AfOx Visiting Fellowship. The fellowship, which is part of the Africa Oxford Visiting Fellowship Programme, is designed to enable exceptional African researchers to build international networks and focus on a project of their choice in collaboration with Oxford-based scholars.

During the 12-month fellowship, she will collaborate with Professor Romuald Meango from the University of Oxford and Professor Matthew Clance from UP’s Department of Economics on a project that examines the interlinked dynamics between conflict, peacekeeping and sexual violence in Africa. For her study at Oxford, she aims to investigate the persistence of sexual violence during armed conflict and contribute to the dialogue surrounding this issue. Her study will contribute to the discussion on the effectiveness of peacekeeping interventions in conflict countries, highlighting the possibility that those expected to protect the victims can also be perpetrators of violence. Dr Chisadza will be affiliated with the University of Oxford’s Department of Economics for the duration of her fellowship, which includes ten months of virtual engagement and a two-month in-person visit to Oxford during Trinity Term.

At UP, her academic activities include studying the frictions that exist within societies and lecturing on microeconomics, macroeconomics, economic growth, and economic development. Her research focuses on development issues related to inequality, conflict and the quality of institutions (including gender, ethnic, democratic, and historical factors) within Africa. Dr Chisadza’s research has been published in top academic journals and peer-reviewed edited books. She has also refereed for top academic journals and served as a guest editor for Sustainability’s special issue on 'Environment, Climate, and Sustainable Economic Development'. She is the recipient of the Stella Nkomo Award for Best Doctoral Thesis and the 2020 J.J.I Middleton medal for the best first article published in the South African Journal of Economics.

Dr Chisadza said she was delighted to be awarded the fellowship. “I am very excited and honoured to be awarded the fellowship as it is quite competitive. This fellowship will enhance my research profile and allow me to collaborate with other researchers.”