Ajoy Datta

Ajoy Datta joined the Overseas Development Institute's RAPID Programme in April 2008, where he is currently a Research Officer. To date he has contributed to RAPID's understanding of the political economy of research uptake with a focus on the role of think tanks (or policy research organizations) in developing countries. He also provides technical support on developing and implementing policy engagement strategies (including research communication) and is increasingly providing advice on monitoring and evaluating policy engagement. His work spans Africa and Asia with a focus on Uganda, Vietnam, and Zambia. He has also worked in New Member States in Eastern Europe and counties in Central Asia.

Before joining the RAPID team, he spent over a year working as a research assistant on aid system reform including coordinating the Forum on the Future of Aid and managing a project to assess stakeholder perceptions of key multilateral organizations. He also worked at a health-focused NGO (called THET) as the Ghana program coordinator, where he contributed to THET's support to health services there through institutional partnerships or twinning arrangements.

Mr. Datta completed a Masters in Development Studies at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies in 2006, with his thesis assessing the costs, risks and benefits of Zambia's participation in the Fresh Vegetable value chain. During his studies he interned at Interact Worldwide - a Sexual/Reproductive Health and HIV and AIDS NGO in the UK. Prior to his Masters, he worked with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in Zambia (May 2002-Sept 2005), first as a volunteer physics teacher at a secondary school and later for the VSO country office as a program development officer. His first degree was Manufacturing Engineering and Management.

Read his article, Producing Home Grown Solutions: Think Tanks and Knowledge Networks in International Development.