Hi there, I'm Hayat!
I am a Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT) at the University of Nottingham, UK. As an applied economist, my research explores topics at the intersection of economics, agriculture, environment, and international development—with a particular focus on rural livelihoods and poverty, climate resilience, agricultural policy, and sustainable agriculture. I address complex rural and environmental challenges across diverse geographic and socioeconomic contexts, drawing on interdisciplinary approaches and data-driven insights.
I use a mix of experimental, quasi-experimental, survey, and observational data to evaluate economic interventions and policies. Methodologically, I specialize in applied econometrics, causal inference, and impact evaluation, with experience in fieldwork, survey design, project appraisals, feasibility studies, and economic modeling. I am proficient in tools such as Stata, R, Python, and SPSS.
I hold a Ph.D. in Development and Agricultural Economics from the University of Nottingham and an MSc in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University. After completing my Ph.D., I worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in Dubai, contributing to multidisciplinary projects across the MENA region, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central Asia. My experience also includes positions in academia and policy, including teaching in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension at Kabul University and serving as an economist with the Department for International Development (DfID) in Afghanistan.
My work is published in journals such as The Journal of Development Studies, PLOS ONE, Progress in Development Studies, and Sustainability, and I have contributed to policy briefs, technical reports, and book chapters. Additionally, I have a paper currently under review (revise and resubmit) at Food Policy.
Feel free to explore my work, and please reach out if you're interested in collaborating or starting a conversation.
Contact Info
Research Affiliate, Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT)
Current Address: Durham, NC, United States
Email: hayatullah.ahmadzai1@nottingham.ac.uk
Cell: +1 919 408 6341
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