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Who we are

With research staff from more than 60 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

Emily Schmidt

Emily Schmidt is a Senior Research Fellow in the Development Strategies and Governance Unit. Her most recent research explores household livelihood strategies in Papua New Guinea, including linkages between agriculture, poverty, and nutrition outcomes among rural smallholder farmers.

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What we do

Since 1975, IFPRI’s research has been informing policies and development programs to improve food security, nutrition, and livelihoods around the world.

Where we work

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Where we work

IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 80 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.


Bedru Balana

Research Fellow and Acting Program Leader, Nigeria

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Bio

Bedru Balana is a Research Fellow and the Acting Program Leader for the Nigeria Country Program in the Natural Resources and Resilience Unit, based in IFPRI’s Nigeria office. He is an agricultural economist with extensive experience in applied microeconomic research to inform agricultural development and food policies in Africa. His core research areas include technical and institutional constraints to investments in smallholder agriculture, agricultural markets, rural finance, agricultural technology adoption, climate-smart agriculture, livelihoods and poverty, and food and nutrition security in developing countries. He currently leads and manages large research-for-development (R4D) projects, oversees the planning and implementation of household surveys, and delivers capacity strengthening trainings. Through his supervision, mentorship, and communication with research staff, local partners, and collaborators, Bedru ensures timely completion of project activities, and his engagement with program implementers, policymakers, and donors helps inform the design and delivery of programs and policies that can sustainably enhance food security and reduce poverty in low-income countries. He has published more than 50 articles in high-impact, peer-reviewed international journals as well as book chapters, policy briefs, and technical reports. He has experience in Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso, where he undertakes several agriculture development research, policy dialogue, and capacity strengthening activities. Prior to joining IFPRI, Bedru worked in different academic and development research organizations including Mekelle University (Ethiopia), James Hutton Institute (UK), and in two CGIAR centers (IWMI and IFPRI). He earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from Addis Ababa University, and a PhD in agricultural economics from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.


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