My research focuses on the role of irrigation in agricultural productivity and climate adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa. I study how the allocation of irrigation infrastructure affects economic outcomes, using spatial data, econometric methods, and machine learning.
More broadly, my work aims to inform policy design in water and agricultural systems under climate change.
Irrigation and Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa
Satellite data and econometric methods
Examines how irrigation mitigates the impact of climate variability on agricultural productivity. Combines high-resolution satellite data with causal inference approaches to estimate the role of irrigation in improving drought resilience.
Political Economy of Irrigation Allocation in Sub-Saharan Africa
Spatial and econometric methods
Examines how irrigation infrastructure is allocated across regions in Sub-Saharan Africa and whether current allocation reflects underlying agricultural productivity. Develops a framework to quantify misallocation and estimate potential productivity gains from more efficient placement. Further investigates the extent to which political factors drive allocation decisions, testing whether deviations from optimal placement can be explained by political incentives.
Irrigation Interventions and Economic Outcomes among People Living with HIV
Experimental and econometric methods
Analyzes data from a completed randomized controlled trial in Kenya to examine the economic and health impacts of irrigation interventions. Focuses on interpreting experimental results through an economic lens, exploring mechanisms and heterogeneity in treatment effects to better understand how irrigation affects household welfare and resilience.