PhD student |Political Economy Analyst | Researcher | Entrepreneur | Financial Coach | TOT
My work sits at the intersection of political economy, governance, and gender studies. I examine how economic institutions shape women's participation in formal and informal markets, and how policy can be designed to dismantle structural barriers.
Beyond the academy, I translate research into practice — advising governments, NGOs, and international organizations on evidence-based policy design, financial inclusion programs, and institutional reform.
The principles that guide every study, paper, and policy brief I produce.
Mixed-methods research combining quantitative institutional analysis with qualitative community engagement.
Converting academic findings into accessible policy briefs and actionable governance recommendations.
Drawing from political economy, development studies, feminist theory, and institutional economics.
Developing new analytical models for understanding gendered economic governance in fragile contexts.
Every research question is tied to a tangible outcome — policy change, program design, or community empowerment.
Research participants are partners, not subjects. Their voices shape the questions and the conclusions.
Research is not merely about describing the world as it is — it is about imagining the world as it could be, and providing the evidence to build it.
My research spans multiple disciplines but maintains a single through-line: understanding how institutions shape economic outcomes — and how we can redesign them for equity.
Analyzing the formal and informal rules that shape economic behavior, with a focus on institutional quality, state capacity, and regulatory frameworks in developing economies.
Investigating how economic structures, labor markets, and property rights systems differentially affect women — and how policy can correct these asymmetries.
Examining barriers to financial access and designing evidence-based interventions that improve financial capability among marginalized populations.
Studying economic growth, poverty reduction, and structural transformation — with attention to the political conditions that enable or obstruct development.
Exploring how community networks, cooperatives, and women's associations function as engines of economic resilience and political voice.
Applying rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the impact of policies and programs on target populations and unintended consequences.
A selection of peer-reviewed articles, policy briefs, working papers, and thought leadership pieces.
Journal of Development Studies — 2024
A comparative analysis of how weak institutional coherence in post-conflict settings creates gendered economic exclusion, with case studies from Somalia and South Sudan.
East African Policy Review — 2024
Evidence-based recommendations for governments and development partners on designing financial inclusion programs that address the specific constraints faced by women-led SMEs.
Feminist Economics Quarterly — 2023
Proposes a revised framework for incorporating unpaid domestic and care labor into national accounting systems, with empirical estimates for three East African countries.
Institute for Development Economics — 2023
An ethnographic and quantitative study of how women's savings cooperatives in Somalia use social capital as an alternative form of collateral, enabling credit access outside formal banking.
African Arguments — 2023
A widely-cited opinion piece arguing that governance reforms which ignore gendered power dynamics are destined to reproduce the very inequalities they claim to solve.
Public Administration & Development — 2022
Evaluates the impact of decentralization policies on health and education service delivery, finding significant heterogeneity in outcomes based on local institutional capacity.
Research that does not reach decision-makers is research wasted. My work is designed to influence policy, shape programs, and empower communities.
Institutional governance review & policy recommendations
Gender-responsive budgeting research & training
Doctoral research on political economy of fragile states
SME financing gap analysis for women entrepreneurs
I partner with institutions, governments, and organizations that need rigorous research, evidence-based policy design, and capacity building — delivered with academic depth and practical clarity.
Independent research commissions on governance, gender, and economic development. From literature reviews to full-scale institutional assessments.
One-on-one and group coaching sessions designed to build financial literacy, confidence, and independence for women entrepreneurs.
Customized workshops and training programs that cultivate leadership capacity, team cohesion, and organizational effectiveness.
Strategic advisory services for governments and institutions seeking to improve governance structures and implement evidence-based reforms.
End-to-end design and evaluation of empowerment and development programs, ensuring measurable outcomes and sustainable impact.
Keynote addresses, panel moderation, and facilitation for conferences, summits, and academic events on political economy and empowerment.
A multidisciplinary academic foundation spanning economics, finance, diplomacy, and language studies across three countries.
Fluent in four languages, enabling effective engagement across diverse communities and international platforms.
From academic peers to government officials to program participants — hear from those who have worked with and learned from my research.
“Dr. Mariam's research on women's economic exclusion in fragile states is some of the most nuanced work I have read in the field. Her ability to combine quantitative rigor with deep qualitative insight is rare and invaluable.”
“Working with Dr. Mariam on our institutional governance review was eye-opening. Her political economy analysis revealed structural issues we had missed for years. Her recommendations were precise, actionable, and evidence-based.”
“Dr. Mariam's financial coaching completely transformed how I manage my business. Her approach is both rigorous and deeply empathetic. I went from struggling with cash flow to confidently planning for expansion.”
“The leadership development workshop Dr. Mariam designed for our team was exceptional. Within months, our organizational culture shifted dramatically. Team engagement is up, and we are delivering better outcomes for the communities we serve.”
“Her policy brief on gender-responsive budgeting was adopted almost verbatim by our parliamentary committee. That is the mark of research that actually matters — it changes things.”
Whether you are looking for research partnership, coaching, or advisory services — I would love to hear from you.