Credit: Bridging research and community solutions. IA generated image.
Joining the World Bank Group as a 2025 Africa Fellow has been a turning point in connecting my academic research with real-world climate finance practice. I worked with the Climate Finance Mobilisation Unit (SCCFM), which designs and implements results-based climate finance (RBCF) programs across land-use sectors. These programs reward countries for verified emission reductions while also aiming to deliver co-benefits such as improved livelihoods, strengthened institutions, and biodiversity conservation.
I am currently completing a PhD in Politics at the University of Oxford, where my research focuses on the political economy of energy transitions in resource-rich states, with Nigeria as my primary case study. My primary interest lies in how national governments, international institutions, and private actors shape the pace and distributional outcomes of clean energy adoption. My work combines field research with policy analysis to understand the institutional and political barriers to equitable energy transitions in low- and middle-income countries.
At SCCFM, I supported two major initiatives: the BioCarbon Fund’s Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL) and the SCALE program (Sustainable Climate Action through Landscape-based Emissions Reductions). I focused on developing a Co-Benefits Index (CBI) - a framework to help measure and communicate the broader development impacts of climate finance programs beyond carbon reductions. I also contributed to internal implementation reviews, helped assess stakeholder engagement strategies, and supported the development of strategic planning documents.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the fellowship has been gaining exposure to the complexity and multi-sectoral nature of programs within a large institution. Working alongside task team leaders, technical specialists, and program managers has deepened my understanding of what it takes to design and deliver climate finance programs in settings with real political, institutional, and capacity limitations. It has also helped me see more clearly where research can effectively inform better policy design and where it sometimes falls short in addressing real-world constraints.
Beyond the technical work, the fellowship has provided an opportunity for professional growth. I have benefited from a supportive supervisor, opportunities to present my ideas internally, and engaging conversations with other Africa Fellows working on a range of topics, from health policy to macroeconomics. The program has not only expanded my network but has also helped clarify the kind of roles I want to pursue after my PhD.
For early-career African scholars seeking to transition between research and policy, the Africa Fellowship Program presents an exceptional opportunity. It offers a front-row seat to development decision-making, while also creating space to shape those decisions from an African perspective.
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