Simon Addison

I am a Principal Researcher in the Climate Change Group at IIED, where I lead research and policy initiatives to address the climate emergency in low income countries, with a focus on climate risk governance and how to design and finance effective locally-led adaptation.

An expert on sustainable development and disaster management in contexts affected by conflict and displacement, environmental degradation and climate change, I have over 20 years' experience leading projects, teams and consortia to design and deliver programmes that support marginalised communities to manage social, economic and environmental risks, especially in the Greater Horn of Africa.

My experience includes work with major NGOs and academic institutions as a manager, technical expert and researcher on disaster management and risk reduction, climate change adaptation and resilient livelihoods development, women’s empowerment, governance and human rights.

I hold Masters degrees in Geography and International Development from the Universities of Oxford and Melbourne, conducted doctoral research on the political ecology of internal displacement crises at the University of Oxford, and have held research posts at the Universities of Oxford and Manchester, City University of New York (CUNY), the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London and York University in Toronto.

My country experience includes work in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Somalia, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Zimbabwe, Malawi, India, East Timor and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and I have led regional initiatives across the Horn, East and Central Africa.

Joined 2021