Area(s) of Expertise

Hikmatu Lalaki Awudu, PhD, is a trained interdisciplinary scholar in Sociology, whose research focuses on agricultural production, climate change, migration, gender, and sustainable community development. Her current research examines the distributional effects of agricultural intensification, climate change, and migrant labor dynamics within Ghana’s cocoa-growing regions.

Born and raised in Ghana, Dr. Awudu brings over 15 years of research experience across West Africa. She holds a BA in Integrated Development Studies from the University for Development Studies and an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Cape Coast (UCC). She earned her PhD in Sociology from Michigan State University.

In addition to her academic work, Dr. Awudu is a co-director of Kala Atol, a non-profit organization based in Tamale, Ghana. The organization champions community development by promoting urban farming, preserving local culinary traditions, hosting African literature book clubs, and organizing cultural exchange visits. Throughout her career, she has collaborated extensively with NGOs on monitoring and evaluation projects. Reflecting her deep passion for regional equity, she previously worked with UCC’s Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy, and Documentation (CEGRAD) to advance gender issues in Ghana and the broader West African region.