Institute of Geography

Group Portrait

Dr. James Natia Adam

PhD

On-Going Project

My PhD studies seeked to question mainstream views on decentralization, public intervention supposed to be carried out at a level where it can most effectively address issues of local or regional relevance. The goal was to analyze the connection between decentralization processes, local decision-making and implications on use and access rights to land. Specifically, the project aimed to: connect a debate on state restructuring with resource use patterns, mediated through tenure arrangement; understand the complex links between modern state institutions and customary power; and connect these broad processes of state reorganization with sustainability and environmental justice. Institutional economics was used to complement a political science (in particular policy analysis) approach to analyze the effects of changes on access and use of land. This study adapted the institutional resource regime framework to describe the diverse configurations of regimes, both theoretically and empirically, and to predict their effect on the sustainability of resources in Ghana.

Education Background

09/2018-01/2022 University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

PhD. in Urban and Regional Planning & Development
08/2012-08/2015 University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

MPhil. in Peace and Development Studies
07/2010-07/2012 University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

MPhil. in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
09/2004-07/2008 University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

BA. in Integrated Development Studies

Relevant Work Experience

04/2018-06/2018 Provided technical support to Canadian Feed the Children & Association of Church Based Development Project on ‘Beyond The Resilient and Sustainable Livelihoods Transformation Project, what next?’
05/2017-09/2017 Provided technical support to German Development Cooperation (GIZ) on ‘Integrated Mechanisms for Climate Risk Management and Transfer in Volta and Northern Region of Ghana’
07/2016-11/2016 Provided technical support to WaterAid Ghana on ‘How are the decentralized sub-structures working in the Zebilla District of Upper East Region of Ghana?’
05/2016-06/2016 Provided technical support to Positive Planet on ‘Soya value chain analysis in Ghana’.
04/2016-05/2016 Provided technical support to CARE International Ghana on ‘Linking Initiatives, Stakeholders and Knowledge to Achieve Gender-Sensitive Livelihood Security – LINKAGES in Upper West Region of Ghana’
11/2015-03/2016 Provided technical support to German Development Cooperation (GIZ) on ‘Feasibility study on drying, treatment and storage facility directed to the Techiman maize market in Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana’
09/2015-11/2015 Provided technical support to Hiefer International on ‘Experiential learning trajectories and processes of passing on the gift’ in Ghana.
05/2015-06/2015 Provided technical support to CARE International Ghana on ‘Gender and women empowerment – West African Water, Sanitation, Hygiene programme in Upper West region of Ghana’.
09/2014-10/2014 Provided technical support to Youth Alive on ‘Youth access to reproductive and sexual service and participation in health care delivery in Ghana’
03/2014-05/2014 Provided technical support to Trax Ghana on ‘Climate change adaptation, food security and orange flesh sweet potato value chain analysis in Upper East Region of Ghana.
04/2014 Provided technical support to Oxfarm on ‘Enhancing livelihoods through climate change adaptation learning project – ELCAP in Northern Ghana’
01/2014-02/2014 Provided technical support to CARE International Ghana on ‘West African Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Food security and Tomatoes value chain analysis in Upper West Region of Ghana’.
07/2013-12/2013 Provided technical support to German Development Cooperation (GIZ) on ‘Reducing climate-related yield losses and agricultural sector policy on adapting land-use systems to climate change’.

Research Interests

  • Governance and land resource management
  • Property rights regimes
  • Land use planning policy
  • Roles of traditional and social actors in decision-making
  • Agriculture and food security
  • Ethics and land grabbing in Sub-Sahara Africa

Publications

Adam, J. N., Adams, T., Gerber, J.-D. (2021). The Politics of Decentralization: Competition in Land Administration and Management in Ghana. Land, 10(9), p. 948. MDPI 10.3390/land10090948

Adam, J. N., Adams, T., Gerber, J.-D. Haller, T. (2021). Decentralization for Increased Sustainability in Natural Resource Management? Two Cautionary Cases from Ghana. Sustainability, 13(12), p. 6885. MDPI 10.3390/su13126885

Adam, J. N., Freeman, C. K., &Dassah, Z. E. (2017). Access to dry season water and small ruminant market integration in the Nadowli District of Upper West Region of Ghana. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Vol. 9(7), pp. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.5897/JAERD2017.0913

Adam, J. N., Al-hassan, S., & Akolgo, D. A. (2016). Small scale irrigation and rural poverty reduction in the Upper East Region of Ghana. African Journal of Science and Research, 5(2), pp. 38-42. http://ajsr.rstpublishers.com/

Adam, J. N., Wekem, D. A., & Dassah, Z. E. (2016). Entry and participation barriers in dry season irrigation farming: Evidence from Tono and Vea irrigation schemes. American Journal of Innovative Research and Applied Sciences, 3(2), pp. 462-469.

Adam, J. N., & Dassah, Z. E. (2016). Integrating traditional authorities and local government actors for decision making: Evidence from the West Gonja District in Northern Region of Ghana. Saarbruken, Germany: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing.

Adam, J. N., & Al-hassan, S. (2015). Gender, ICT and teaching and learning in Ghana. International Journal of Development and Education using ICT, 11(2), pp. 113-125.

Adam, J. N. (2009). Assessing the impact of microfinance on gari processors: A theory of household analysis in the West Gonja District. PentVars Business Journal, 7(1), pp. 44-51.

Skills and Competencies

  • Basic and applied research skills
  • Excellent communication skills (English)
  • Facilitation skills and trainer for development practitioners
  • Participatory monitoring and evaluation of multi-sectoral projects skills  
  • Problem identification and needs assessments skills (e.g., PRA, PLA, PTD)
  • Data processing skills (Atlas, SPSS, Eviews,)