Institute for African Development
N’Dri Thérèse Assié-Lumumba
Professor, African and African Diaspora
Additional Information
Program
Role
- Faculty
- IAD Core Faculty
- IAD Advisory Council
Contact
Email: n.assie-lumumba@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-255-7839
Geophysicist Eric Ndoh
Earthquake Science Unites Threatened Scholar with Cornell Researchers
Cameroonian Ndikum “Eric” Ndoh is one of four virtual IIE-SRF fellows currently supported by Global Cornell.
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The Iran War Is Changing How Millions of People Cook — and What They Eat
Chris Barrett, IAD/SEAP
Chris Barrett, a Cornell University agricultural and development economist, warns that the ongoing conflict could exacerbate food insecurity in Africa and globally, and discusses its implications for the clean energy transition.
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Rising Up at Night (Tongo Saa)
April 13, 2026
6:00 pm
Cornell Cinema
Darkness falls over Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and its 17 million inhabitants. It is just before Christmas and people are struggling to gain access to electric light. Kudi is mobilising the residents of his Kisenso neighbourhood to collect money for a new power cable. On Mount Mangengenge, a holy place overlooking the city, Pastor Gédéon delivers a sermon about the light of Christ as the path to life and truth. Davido is searching for a place to stay after his house was flooded by the Congo River. Together with other young men, he kills time by working out and dreams of a better future.
Rising Up at Night (Tongo Saa) is a sensitive portrait of the residents of Kinshasa as they face the challenges of life in an environment plagued by violence and colored by the uncertainty of tomorrow.
Free admission! Sponsored by the Institute for African Development in the Einaudi Center for International Studies.
Additional Information
Program
Einaudi Center for International Studies
Institute for African Development
Iran War's Energy, Fertilizer Shocks Threaten Food Prices
Christopher Barrett, IAD/SEAP
Christopher Barrett, a Cornell University agricultural economist, offers analysis on how the Iran war's energy and fertilizer disruptions will raise food prices and threaten global food security.
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Einaudi Spring Showcase
April 20, 2026
4:30 pm
Statler Hotel, Room E/F
Come and explore international research from students at the Einaudi Center for International Studies. Our undergraduate Global Scholars will present posters on their international aid projects.
Global Scholars Showcase
Global Scholars will present a showcase of their capstone projects providing public commentary and perspectives on international aid.
Undergraduate global scholars consider the multiple perspectives that shape the global landscape of international aid and the communities impacted. They have partnered with Einaudi Center practitioner in residence Paul Kaiser and faculty mentor Ed Mabaya—expert researchers and practitioners on international development—to design their projects. Applications for the next cohort will open in fall 2026.
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The Einaudi Spring Showcase is hosted by the Einaudi Center for International Studies.
Additional Information
Program
Einaudi Center for International Studies
Reppy Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies
East Asia Program
Southeast Asia Program
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Institute for African Development
Institute for European Studies
South Asia Program
Migrations Program
Southwest Asia and North Africa Program
Iran War: Wheat Prices Jump as US Weather Raises Inflation Fears
Chris Barrett, IAD/SEAP
“It’s unclear whether the added costs of fuel and fertilizer will outpace the higher prices crops fetch,” said Chris Barrett, professor of public policy and economics.
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Global Food Price Shock Looms. Who Will Be Hit?
Chris Barrett, IAD/SEAP
Chris Barrett, a Cornell University agricultural economist, comments on the potential impact of Strait of Hormuz shipping disruptions on global food prices.
Additional Information
IAD Graduate Student Lightning Talks
The IAD Graduate Student Lightning Talks (GSLT) are designed to showcase the diverse research, field experiences, and scholarship of Cornell graduate students with a research focus on African development. In the fast-paced format, each participant delivers a 10-minute presentation highlighting their current projects, research findings, or fieldwork experiences. The event creates an opportunity for students to share their work with the broader community while fostering interdisciplinary dialogue on issues related to African development and global engagement. The program is planned to launch in Fall 2026 and aims to become a recurring platform for scholarly exchange within the institute.
The forum provides a supportive environment for students to present their ideas, receive feedback, and engage with faculty, peers, and practitioners interested in African development. Students at any stage of their research are encouraged to share their work and contribute to this collaborative academic exchange.
For more information about the IAD Graduate Student Lightning Talks or participation details, please contact IAD@cornell.edu.