CCRP welcomes Kate Wellard as new SAf Liaison Scientist

The CCRP is delighted to welcome Kate Wellard, PhD as the new Liaison Scientist (LS) for the Southern Africa (SAf) CoP. Kate’s first day in this new role was on November 1. Many members of the CCRP family already know Kate, as she has been involved in the program in various ways over the past ten years, including as a project advisor, a grantee, and a project reviewer. Kate is a social scientist and Principal Research Fellow at the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), University of Greenwich in the UK. She re-joined NRI in 2012, having previously worked for the Institute in 1996-7. Kate has held positions at several UK and African universities and development organizations, including Bunda College, University of Malawi (now LUANAR) as well as the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). Her research centers on the social, institutional, and policy aspects of agricultural innovation with smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. She has led research programs on farmer-centered research, policy, and agriculture-nutrition linkages, in collaboration with partners in various universities, research organizations and non-governmental organizations in southern and eastern Africa for more than two decades. Kate holds a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Reading and a Doctorate in Development Studies from the University of East Anglia. The program also extends heartfelt thanks to outgoing SAf Liaison Scientist Tim Chancellor, PhD for his service to the program. Tim will remain as part of the CCRP SAf Regional Team for a few more months, until the end of January 2018, to help provide a smooth transition with Kate and Prudence.   After than point, Tim is stepping down as LS in order to devote more time towards current and upcoming responsibilities at NRI, including the capacity strengthening program and an increasing role in overseeing institutional partnerships, as well as a new leadership position as Vice President of Agrinatura, a network of European universities and research organizations with interests in working with partners in developing countries. Since these roles involve ongoing interaction and work with various organizations in southern Africa, Tim looks forward to staying in touch and continuing to collaborate with members of the SAf CoP in various ways.