Professor Evans Osabuohien presented on two edited book projects stemming from ideas developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 90 chapter proposals were received for the two books covering topics on Africa's development challenges and policy responses to socioeconomic shocks. Key lessons included the importance of collaboration, taking action on ideas, and reflecting on policy insights from contributions. Follow-up research included special journal issues and projects on food security policies, inequality, and risks to farm households. Networks like AGRODEP helped widely disseminate the call for chapters.

1. Professor of Economics & Head Department of Economics and
Development Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
Brown Bag Session Presentation on Edited Book Project
Evans Osabuohien

2. #2023 AGRODEP CONFERENCE
Outline
The Idea
The edited books
Their Coverage
Crucial Lessons Learnt
Follow-up Research
Appreciation

3. #2023 AGRODEP CONFERENCE
The Edited Books
2023
2022 Emerald

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The Idea
• Incubated at the heat of COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
• We started thinking on doing something with two other
fellows in our centre (CEPDeR- Centre for Economic Policy &
Development Research).
• We started jointing down the points.
• Approached a publisher (Routledge)
• They wanted something more concrete (chapters,
contributors).
• Then we conceptualised the Call for contributions.

5. #2023 AGRODEP CONFERENCE
The Process & the Surprise
•The call went out widely
•Thanks to AGRODEP network, it was one of the platforms
for the dissemination.
•We got well over 90 chapter proposals!
•It was great news but also a challenge.
•Then the need to have two books.
•Also the slow response from Routledge made us
approached another publisher (Emerald Publishing Ltd)

6. #2023 AGRODEP CONFERENCE
The Coverage of Book 1
65 Contributors (Authors)
With affiliations across the
African continent & Diaspora.
Chapters & Sections
22 Chapters apart from the
Introduction & Conclusion
Five Sections
https://www.emerald.com/insight/public
ation/doi/10.1108/9781801176866

7. #2023 AGRODEP CONFERENCE
The Coverage of Book 2
36 Contributors (Authors)
With affiliations across the
African continent & Diaspora.
Contents
18 chapters plus Introduction
& Conclusion
Four main sections
https://www.routledge.com/Socioeconomic-Shocks-and-Africas-Development-Agenda-Lessons-and-
Policy/Osabuohien-Odularu-Ufua-Osabohien/p/book/9781032076935#

8. #2023 AGRODEP CONFERENCE
Lessons Learnt (1)
Challenges are opportunities for action.
Collaboration is better than competition
as researchers.
Starting is fundamental
Idea shared is idea conceptualised and
realised.

9. #2023 AGRODEP CONFERENCE
Lessons Learnt (2)
Crucial fallouts from the 1st Book underscores the need for
improved resilience, productive capabilities across sectors,
strong value chain development and strategic delivery.
 The 2nd book reflects on COVID-19 and associated events
influencing the shifts towards the need for new policy
directions in Africa.
The chapters offer valuable insights into how the global
pandemic affects socioeconomic outcomes such as poverty,
supply chains, employment, income, welfare and livelihood,
and human capital development.
A variety of policy interventions and reflections on to mitigate
future shocks are articulated.

10. #2023 AGRODEP CONFERENCE
Follow-up Research (1)
Special Issues
1. Policies for fostering Food Security (Elsevier,
Heliyon) ongoing
(https://www.cell.com/heliyon/special-issues/policies-fostering-food-security)
2. Socioeconomic Shocks, Inequality and Food
Systems in the Global South (Taylor & Francis,
Contemporary Social Science), Completed recently
(https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rsoc21/17/2)

11. #2023 AGRODEP CONFERENCE
Follow-up Research (2)
Research Projects
1. “Assessing the Effect of Digital and Flexible Payment
Options on the Uptake of Health Insurance by the
Nigerian Informal Sector”, funded by J-PAL Africa under
its Digital Identification & Finance Initiative in Africa
(DigiFI) ongoing
2. ‘Agricultural Risks, Pandemics, and Farm-Household
Welfare and Diversification Strategies’, funded by UNU-
WIDER under its Social Protection, Taxation & Crises,
Completed recently

12. #2023 AGRODEP CONFERENCE
Appreciation
•My co-editors
•Our respective institutions
•Contributors/authors
•Reviewers
•Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) –
Research Linkage Programme
•Networks (including AGRODEP) that helped in
widely circulating the call.

13. THANK YOU
Evans S. Osabuohien (pecos4eva@gmail.com
evans.osabuohien@covenantuniversity.edu.ng)
https://evansosabuohien.com/