Alex Duncan has worked as a development practitioner, researcher, manager, and consultant economist in many parts of Africa, Asia and Europe, and at strategic level for several development agencies. Most of his current work is on the political economy of development, and he has had a particular long-term interest in eastern and southern Africa. His background is in agriculture and rural development. He has worked for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Bank and Oxford Policy Management. He is a Senior Research Associate of the African Studies Centre, Oxford University.