Summary of Research Interests
My current research is focused on the adoption of climate related micro-finance products designed to relieve pressures on rural food security and poverty in Kenya. I am specifically interested in exploring the dynamics of behavioural economics and environmental risk on financial decision making and consequently on economic development. My research relies on both quantitative econometric modelling approaches as well as experimental economic approaches. The projects also incorporate spatial data analysis through the use of GIS tools. Broadly I am interested in how individuals mitigate and adapt to climate change at the micro level and how financial products and policies can better facilitate development in this area.
PhD Thesis Title
Insure, Adapt, Overcome: Exploring the dynamics between environmental risk and microfinance among smallholders in Kenya
Supervisors and Advisor
Dr. Shaun Larcom (Supervisor); Prof Andreas Kontoleon (Advisor)
Start Date
Michaelmas 2017
End Date
Summer 2021
College
Magdalene College
Education
Ph.D. Candidate, University of Cambridge (2017– present)
- Researcher, Center for Environment Energy and Natural Resource Governance (C-EENRG) (2017- Present)
- Commonwealth Scholarship (2017 – 2020)
- Cambridge Trust Scholarship (2017 – 2021)
MPhil in Environmental Policy, University of Cambridge (2014 – 2015)
- SKYE Foundation Scholarship (2014)
- Cambridge Trust Scholarship (2014)
BSc in Economics, Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics, Environmental Science, Rhodes University (South Africa) (2009 – 2013)
- Graduate Assistant, Department of Environmental Science (2013)
Awards and Scholarships
- McKinsey Risk Prize, McKinsey (2020)
- Commonwealth Scholarship (2017 – 2020)
- Cambridge Trust Scholarship (2017 – 2021)
- SKYE Foundation Scholarship (2014)
- Cambridge Trust Scholarship (2014)
Teaching and Research Experience
- Teaching Associate, MPhil in Environmental Policy, Department of Land Economy , University of Cambridge (2018 – present)
- Undergraduate Small Group Teaching, Paper 5: Environmental Economics and Law, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge (2018 – present)
- Research Assistant, Dr. Ling Li, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge (2018/19)
Professional Experience
- Climate Change Advisor, Promethium Carbon (Johannesburg, South Africa) (2016 – 2017)
Internships and Volunteer Experience
- Volunteer Researcher, Centre for Ecological Development and Research (Derhadun, India) (2015)
Professional Qualifications
- Corporate Standard Training, Greenhouse Gas Protocol (2016)
Articles and Book Chapters
- Vosper, S. & Mercure, J-F. 2016. Assessing the effectiveness of South Africa’s emissions based purchase tax for private passenger vehicles: a consumer choice modelling approach. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa 27(4): 25-37. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2016/v27i4a1436
Working Papers
- Insure or Unsure? Basis Risk Exposure and Uptake of Weather Index Insurance in Kenya
- Insure, Adapt, Overcome: Strategic Sowing Decisions and Germination Index Insurance Pay-outs in Kenya.
Conference Presentations
- 17th EUDN PhD Workshop on Development Economics (EUDN, Belgium), “Insure or Unsure? Basis Risk Exposure and Uptake of Weather Index Insurance in Kenya” (2019)
