Chidimma Frances Igboeli, PhD (née Ifeonu) is a distinguished Nigerian researcher and policy expert specializing in agricultural policy, climate resilience, and food systems. She serves as a Research Fellow at the Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre (REPRC), which is the official Nigeria center for the global Environment for Development (EfD) initiative hosted at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). Dr. Igboeli earned her PhD in Agricultural Extension with a specialization in Agricultural Communication. Her work primarily operates at the intersection of climate-smart agriculture, digital innovation, and evidence-informed policymaking, with a strong focus on embedding gender-responsive frameworks into regional development strategies.
As an active leader in pan-African development, Dr. Igboeli serves as the Co-Team Leader for the Climate Change Thematic Area under the Africa Think Tank Platform (ATTP). Her extensive project portfolio includes leading research under the Smart Villages initiative to evaluate how digital technologies and renewable energy can elevate rural livelihoods. She also collaborates closely with international institutions and government bodies, including managing projects funded by the Hewlett Foundation and the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP). Dedicated to translating complex empirical research into actionable solutions, she actively advocates for reshaping agricultural university curricula across Sub-Saharan Africa to ensure the voices of women, youth, and rural communities directly influence national policy.
