Nana K. Poku is the John Ferguson Professor of African Studies at the University of Bradford. He joined the university’s Peace Studies Department in 2006 from the United Nations, where he held the posts of senior policy adviser to the executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and director of research for the Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa (UN-CHGA). He currently serves as a special adviser to the government of Ghana on PRSP and health issues and has led fourteen appraisal missions in eleven countries in Africa. He has also been an adviser to the European Union, the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Development Programme, among other international agencies.
Anna Mdee is deputy director of the John and Elnora Ferguson Centre for African Studies (JEFCAS) and also Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning) in the School of Social and International Studies at the University of Bradford. Her research has focused on aid policy, civil society and community-driven development in East and southern Africa. She is currently working on developing strategic partnerships with African universities to build long-term initiatives for strengthening development research and teaching.