Biography
Dr. Lydia Chikumbi is an economist, academic, and policy researcher with over ten years of experience in teaching, research, and economic policy consultancy. She holds a PhD in Economics and a Master's degree in Economics, specialising in Development Economics. Her research interests span environmental, development, and financial economics, with a focus on climate change, natural resource valuation, and sustainable development.
She is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of Zambia (UNZA), where she engages in teaching, research, curriculum development, and student supervision. Previously, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa, researching Africa's green economy transition and climate change adaptation.
Dr. Chikumbi has undertaken research and policy consultancy for international organisations, including UNDP, WFP, IDRC, AfDB, The Nature Conservancy, and BirdLife International. Her expertise includes economic policy analysis, environmental valuation, and institutional capacity assessments.
She also has private-sector experience with Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) and Mitsubishi Motors. Her professional work focuses on advancing evidence-based policymaking, inclusive economic growth, and environmental sustainability in Zambia and across Africa.
Publications
- Chikumbi, L., Scasny, M., Muchapondwa, E and Thiam, D. (2021). Premium price for natural preservatives in wine. A discrete choice experiment. Journal of Wine Economic Policy
- Chikumbi, L., Muchapondwa, E., and Thiam, D. (2020). Volatility linkages between Energy and Wine Prices in South Africa, EfD DP 20-07
- Chikumbi, L. and Scasny, M. (2021). Does 'Price Framing' in Discrete Choice Experiments influence empirical estimates in Environmental Valuation? The case study for the South African wine, AAWE & ERSA
Quantitative research methods
- Regional policy reviews for low-carbon transitions (IDRC).
- Economic valuation of Great Lakes fisheries (TNC).
- Training programs on natural capital for African financial institutions (AfDB).
- Assessing the economic impacts of illegal wildlife trade (VukaNow).