PhD Development Management

The PhD in Development Management is designed for advanced professionals and scholars who seek to shape the future of development thinking, policy, and practice. The program responds to the growing demand for intellectual leadership that can address Africa’s complex challenges of poverty, inequality, climate change, governance, and inclusive growth within a rapidly changing global order. This doctoral program provides a platform for original research that interrogates how development systems are designed, financed, and managed, and how they can be transformed to deliver measurable, sustainable impact. Candidates will explore the intersections of economics, policy, management, and innovation, and will engage with emerging themes such as systems change, digital transformation, development finance, and impact measurement. The program combines rigorous academic inquiry with practical relevance. Through advanced coursework, seminars, and supervised research, candidates will critically analyze development theories, assess institutional models, and generate new knowledge that informs policy and strengthens organizational effectiveness. They will also gain exposure to contemporary frameworks such as market systems development, adaptive management, and sustainability metrics, positioning them to contribute to cutting edge debates in both academia and practice. Graduates of the PhD in Development Management emerge as development strategists and thought leaders with the capacity to influence policy, design transformative programs, and provide intellectual direction to governments, donor agencies, international organizations, and social enterprises. They will not only advance scholarship but also drive meaningful impact in communities, institutions, and markets across Africa and beyond.