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Joachim De Weerdt

Joachim De Weerdt is a senior research fellow and programme leader in IFPRI’s Development Strategies and Governance Unit. He is currently based in Lilongwe, where he heads IFPRI’s Malawi Country Office, engaging in research and outreach activities to support evidence-based policymaking, while building in-country capacity. He has published extensively on topics related to poverty, agricultural and rural development, internal migration, urbanisation, social networks, early childhood development and survey methodology. Before joining IFPRI, Joachim was an associate professor at the Institute of Development Policy, University of Antwerp, and a senior research fellow at the LICOS Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance, KU Leuven. He also co-founded Economic Development Initiatives (EDI), a research firm based in Tanzania, where he served as research director for more than 10 years. During that time, EDI grew from a small, two-person start-up to a sustainable, internationally recognised research institute. Joachim holds a PhD in economics from KU Leuven, Belgium.

Malawi faces a food crisis: why plans to avert hunger aren’t realistic and what can be done

Jun 03, 2024 11:03 am UTC| Insights & Views

Malawi is heading towards a severe food crisis later this year. Drought brought on by the El Niño weather pattern has affected the harvest of maize, the staple food grown by nine out of 10 farming households in the...

Economy

UAW Threatens Nationwide Strike as Stellantis Allegedly Breaks Production Promises

The United Auto Workers union announced on August 19 that it may initiate a nationwide strike against Stellantis, accusing the automaker of failing to uphold production commitments. The dispute, involving tens of thousands...

Oil Prices Drop 2% Amid Gaza Ceasefire Talks and China's Economic Slowdown

Oil prices fell by 2% on August 19, with Brent crude dropping below $80 per barrel. The decline comes as successful Middle Eastern peace talks seem likely to reduce supply risks, coupled with concerns over weakening demand...

Rising Household Debt in South Korea Signals Central Bank's Reluctance for Rate Cuts

South Koreas household debt surged last quarter, reaching 1,896 trillion won, as mortgage loans soared by 5.9%. This increase is likely to deter the Bank of Korea from considering an interest rate cut when it meets on...

Ethiopia’s $1 Billion Debt Restructure Faces Investor Pushback Amid Economic Uncertainty

Ethiopia is pushing forward with the restructuring of its $1 billion international bond, despite investor concerns over the governments proposed debt haircut. The nations efforts come amid severe foreign currency shortages...

Indonesia Targets Lower Budget Deficit in 2025 Amid Increased Spending on Social Programs

Indonesias outgoing leader Joko Widodo announced a projected budget deficit reduction to 2.53% of GDP in 2025, even as government spending is set to rise nearly 9% to support new social initiatives under incoming President...

Politics

Kamala Harris to Champion Pro-Crypto Policies Amid Heavy Backlash Following DNC Platform Snub

Kamala Harris is set to endorse pro-crypto legislation, responding to heavy backlash after the DNCs platform excluded cryptocurrencies. Harris to Back Pro-Crypto Policy An assistant to Kamala Harriss campaign made...

Ex-POTUS Barack Obama Delivers Scathing Rebuke of Trump’s ‘Constant Whining’ at DNC—Here’s What He Said

In a powerful address at the Democratic National Convention, former President Barack Obama delivered a sharp critique of his successor, Donald Trump, characterizing the former presidents rhetoric as a constant stream of...

Morning Joe Exposes GOP’s Worst Nightmare: Democrats’ Joyful DNC Rally Sends Shockwaves

The first night of the Democratic National Convention left a powerful impression on political commentators, with MSNBCs Joe Scarborough highlighting a striking contrast that could pose a significant challenge to the...

Kamala Harris’ Bold Move Set to Infuriate Donald Trump: A Strategic Rally in Trump’s Backyard

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to hold a high-profile rally at a venue in Milwaukee, the same location where Trump recently accepted his partys nomination. This bold move, reported by The New York Times, underscores...

Lincoln Project Mocks Donald Trump’s Legal Threat: ‘Point and Laugh While He Cries’

The Lincoln Project, a well-known anti-Trump organization, has once again found itself in the crosshairs of former President Donald Trumps legal team. Last week, the group received a cease and desist letter from Trumps...

Science

Eli Lilly’s Weight Loss Drug Shows 94% Diabetes Risk Reduction in Pre-Diabetic Patients

Eli Lilly announced on August 20 that its weight loss drug, tirzepatide, reduced the risk of diabetes in pre-diabetic patients by up to 94%. The drug, tested over three years, also helped patients lose up to 22.9% of their...

Polaris Dawn: Historic Spacewalk and Record-Setting Mission with SpaceX Crew Dragon

The Polaris Dawn mission, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, will make history with the first commercial spacewalk and a record-setting 1,400-kilometer orbit. The five-day mission, launching on August 26, 2024, will push...

SpaceX Prepares for Risky Tower Capture in Upcoming Starship Flight 5 Test

SpaceX is testing its launch tower arms in preparation for a risky attempt to capture the Super Heavy booster during Starship Flight 5. As the company awaits FAA approval, the success of this maneuver could mark a...

Samsung Leads the Race to Make CXL Memory the Next Big Thing in AI

Samsung Electronics is spearheading the development of Compute Express Link (CXL) memory, a cutting-edge technology poised to revolutionize AI data processing. As the market gears up for massive growth, Samsung plans to...

Boeing and Lockheed Martin in Talks to Sell ULA to Sierra Space for Up to $3 Billion

Boeing and Lockheed Martin are negotiating the sale of their rocket-launch joint venture, United Launch Alliance (ULA), to Sierra Space in a deal potentially valued at $2 billion to $3 billion. The transaction could...

Technology

McDonald’s Instagram Hacked: Solana Meme Coin Grimace Promoted, Hackers Boast $700,000 Haul

McDonalds Instagram account was compromised by hackers who promoted Grimace, a Solana-based meme coin, causing widespread concern over crypto-related scams. Hackers Compromise McDonalds Instagram, Promote Solana Meme...

Justin Sun Projects TRON's Revenue to Hit $4B with Bold Meme Strategy

Justin Sun predicts TRON will achieve over $4 billion in revenue within the next year, driven by a strategic focus on meme tokens and expanding market activity. TRONs $4B Revenue Goal Linked to Meme Strategy In the...

Unlock GPT-4o’s Full Potential: OpenAI's 'Fine-Tuning' Revolutionizes AI Services

OpenAI has unleashed a transformative fine-tuning feature for GPT-4o, allowing businesses to harness AIs full potential by customizing outputs to perfectly align with their projects. OpenAI Fine-Tunes GPT-4o for...

El Salvador's Bitcoin Certification Initiative Trains Thousands of Civil Servants for Enhanced Governance

El Salvador is advancing its Bitcoin-driven economy by certifying 80,000 civil servants, a move expected to elevate the countrys public administration through comprehensive training. National Bitcoin Office Drives El...

OpenAI and Condé Nast Forge Multi-Year Partnership to Integrate Premium Content

On August 20, OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, announced a groundbreaking multi-year partnership with Condé Nast. This collaboration will see content from iconic publications like Vogue and The New Yorker integrated into...