Hello, and welcome to my personal page!
I am a development and agricultural economist with over a decade of experience studying how agricultural systems, climate variability, and policy shape livelihoods in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in fragile and resource-constrained settings. My research focuses on agricultural production and policy, climate resilience, food security and nutrition, and the adoption of agricultural innovations. I have led multi-country projects that integrate household surveys, experimental studies, and administrative and climate data to evaluate programs and interventions, producing evidence that informs development strategies and policy decisions. I am a research affiliate with the Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT) at the University of Nottingham, UK. I am also a MESA Global Academy Scholar (2025–2026), engaging with scholars on Middle East and North Africa issues.
My empirical work relies on applied econometrics, causal inference, and impact evaluation. Using large-scale household surveys, administrative, and observational data, I apply experimental and quasi-experimental approaches to analyze the impacts of policies and development programs. I also have experience in field research, survey design, project appraisal, feasibility studies, and cost–benefit analysis, and I work primarily in Stata, R, and Python.
I hold a Ph.D. in Development and Agricultural Economics from the University of Nottingham and an MSc in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University. Following my PhD, I was 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. I have also held academic and policy positions, 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 recent work has been published in Food Policy (2025), The Journal of Development Studies (2025), PLOS ONE, Progress in Development Studies, Sustainability, and other peer-reviewed journals. I have also contributed to policy briefs, technical reports, and book chapters.
I welcome questions, collaborations, and discussions on topics in development, agriculture, and environmental economics. You can explore my research here or reach out to connect.
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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