Andy McKay researches on development economics, especially in relation to poverty/inequality and how these are impacted by policy (trade, fiscal etc.); on labour issues including female employment and informality; on inclusive growth; on agriculture; and on international trade. In terms of genographic focus, he work predominantly on Africa, especially East and West Africa, and Vietnam.
He supervises many PhD students on a range of development topics at Sussex.
He was recently successful in obtaining funding in an IDRC/DFID/Hewlett supported programme on growth opportuntiies for women. The project is for three years and focuses on early labour market transitions for young women in six Eastern and West African countries. It is to be undertaken in collaboration with Professor Jane Mariara from the University of Nairobi , Professor Andy Newell at Sussex, Dr Cinzia Rienzo at NIESR, London, and a range of African partners. Further details of the project are available here
Andy was an associate director of the DFID-funded Chronic Poverty Research Centre (www.chronicpoverty.org) from 2005-11, and an active researcher from 2000-2011. He acts as a resource person for the biannual workshops of the African Economic Research Consortium (www.aercafrica.org), a role he has played since 2005, and served on the steering committee of a collaborative research project on growth-poverty reduction linkages in Africa.
Andy has extensive experience of giving policy advice to bilateral donors including DFID, international organisations and governments of developing countries. He also has significant experience of giving short courses, especially for government employees, in the north and south.
He has previously worked at the Universities of Nottingham (1992 to 2003) and Bath (2003 to 2006); as well as the Overseas Development Institute (2001 to 2005). He has also worked on many consultancy assignments.