My interests are Child Exploitation; Modern Slavery, Immigration & Trafficking; Gender; Poverty & Social Inequality
My work is driven by a personal commitment to social justice. I recently secured funding from the NHS for study (2023) to examine the motivations for vaccination among Black people in London as part of a nationwide study; exemplifying my dedication and impact in the fields of social and health justice, race, and equality.
My contribution to knowledge, policy and practice include co-investigating a cross-country qualitative study titled 'The Dynamics of Healthcare Utilization in the Context of the RTS,S/AS01 Vaccine Introduction in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi' (HUS) which helped inform the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) decision to scale-up of the malaria vaccines in malaria prone areas globally. The longitudinal study (2019-2022) informed the ground-breaking Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP) and multi-dose vaccine introduction worldwide. I have also contributed to the development of the Theory of Change for the UN in Malawi (2017).
Areas of my research interests include Child Exploitation; Modern Slavery, Immigration & Trafficking; Poverty & Social Inequality; the Sociology of Health Inequalities and Accessibility; Decision Making & Conceptualisation of Risk. I am keen on participatory action research with vulnerable groups with lived experiences of extreme forms of exploitation and marginalisation. My work is underpinned by integrating theoretical frameworks such as a children's rights approach, the capability approach, and other critical theories like intersectionality, critical race theory and feminist perspectives.
I have been deeply involved with marginalised communities in sub-Saharan Africa, working with children and young people who have experienced extreme forms of exploitation, including child slavery, human trafficking, and child sexual exploitation. In addition to undertaking research, I have conducted and facilitated numerous workshops on a range of topics: child protection, youth empowerment, women's empowerment, sexuality and gender justice, poverty and livelihoods, as well as politics, democracy, and governance. Furthermore, I have played a key role in working, collaborating, and managing research and development projects funded by notable organisations such as the World Health Organisation, NHS, USAID, EU, UNDP, UN Women, DCA, HIVOS, and Save the Children.
I am available for inquiries regarding PhD supervision & other areas of potential collaborations in these areas.
