The African Programme on Rethinking Development Economics (Aporde) and the DSI/NRF South African Research Chair in Industrial Development (SARChI Industrial Development) are delighted to announce the second Thandika Mkandawire Prize for Outstanding Scholarship in African Political Economy and Economic Development. This prize is to be awarded annually to recognise outstanding research papers of the highest quality by African scholars. A second award, the Thandika Mkandawire Prize for Young Scholars in African Political Economy and Economic Development, is specifically for young researchers.
Thandika Mkandawire Prize winners 2022
Eyob Balcha Gebremariam (recipient of the 2022 Thandika Mkandawire Prize for Outstanding Scholarship in African Political Economy and Economic Development); Ayabonga Cawe (recipient of the 2022 the Thandika Mkandawire Prize for Young Scholars in African Political Economy and Economic Development
Dr Eyob Balcha Gebremariam
Dr Eyob Balcha Gebremariam is the recipient of the 2022 Thandika Mkandawire Prize for Outstanding Scholarship in African Political Economy and Economic Development. He is a Research Associate at the Perivoli Africa Research Centre, University of Bristol and an Adjunct Professor of African Studies at the Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies. He received a doctoral degree in Development Policy and Management from the University of Manchester, UK. He taught African Political Economy and African Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science (2017- 2021). His research areas include African political economy, the politics of development, and the politics of knowledge production in Africa (decolonial perspectives)
Ayabonga Cawe
Ayabonga Cawe is a Johannesburg based development economist, author, columnist, broadcaster and activist. He is Managing Director of Xesibe Holdings (Pty) Ltd, a platform involved in advisory, facilitation and content development across a wide range of fields. He hosts MetroFMTalk on MetroFM, writes a regular column for Business Day and is a part-time Special Advisor to Minister Patel at the South African DTIC. Ayabonga has previously worked as Economic Justice Manager at Oxfam South Africa, working on policy advocacy and research. Ayabonga is a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa. He is a Sessional Lecturer at the School of Economic and Finance at Wits University and holds an M. Com in Development Theory and Policy from Wits.
The awards:
Thandika Mkandawire Prize for Outstanding Scholarship in African Political Economy and Economic Development
- This prize is intended to recognise leading contributions, with outstanding levels of scholarship.
- The author/s of the winning submission will receive an award of $10 000. There are no conditions attached to the utilisation of the prize.
Thandika Mkandawire Prize for Young Scholars in African Political Economy and Economic Development
- The author/s of the winning submission will receive an award of $2 500. There are no conditions attached to the utilisation of the prize.
- The winner/s will be accepted and funded to attend Aporde 2022 (should they not already be Aporde alumni).
The winners will be announced by August. The decisions of the selection committees are final and no correspondence will be entered into. The selection committees reserve the right not to make awards.
About Professor Thandika Mkandawire:
Thandika Mkandawire (1940-2020) was a Malawian political economist who made fundamental contributions to thinking around African economic development. He held various positions, including as Director of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) and Executive Secretary of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA). At the time of his passing, he held a Chair at the London School of Economics, having previously been a professor at universities in Zimbabwe and Sweden. He passed away in Sweden, where he had lived for many years.