Nick Chisholm

I am Academic Director of two teaching programmes in UCC: the BSc in International Development & Food Policy, and the joint MSc in Rural Development, delivered in collaboration with Mekelle and Hawassa Universities in Ethiopia, to Ethiopian rural development practitioners.

My research focusses primarily on two broad issues: food insecurity and hunger, and sustainable natural resource management. I adopt a holistic and multi-disciplinary perspective in my research, reflecting my disciplinary background in geography, agricultural economics and environmental studies.

My approach combines both applied and theoretical/conceptual work. Because I have been involved in practical international development work for almost 30 years, I have a strong applied focus in my research in the broad area of sustainable development: some of my research in Ethiopia has been ¿operational research¿ which provides direct outputs for clients (resource-poor farmers).

Much of my research-related activity has also been focussed on strengthening institutional capacity of teachers and researchers in developing countries, particularly Ethiopia and the Philippines.

I have a particular theoretical and conceptual interest in complex development issues which occur at the intersection of different theoretical fields, for example the interaction of environmental economics, institutional analysis and bio-physical processes in the context of sustainable development.

With regard to food security analyses, I have been involved in a number of policy and programme reviews which have involved both primary data collection and extensive documentary review. Much of this work has been of an applied nature for the purpose of policy development at Government level and has fed in to Government of Ireland policy and programming on hunger and food security issues.