I am a Principal Researcher at the Human Settlements Group of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). In KNOW, I am leading Work Package 4, which focuses on translating research into practice to advance urban equality.

My research interests include the application of Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach in development practice; participatory planning and design; as well as housing and informal settlement upgrading. I have collaborated with academics and grassroots collectives in Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, and South Africa. Apart from research and action learning initiatives, I have provided consultancy for international development donors and agencies such as Oxfam, Comic Relief, Practical Action and UNDP.

At the moment I am a co-interstigator at the KNOW and the ‘Transforming Universities for a Changing Climate’ (https://www.climate-uni.com) GCRF funded projects. I am a founding and board member of the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC). I am also on the board of Habitat International Coalition and an associate of Architecture Sans Frontières–UK.