Dr Stewart Ngandu
Stewart Ngandu is a Chief Research Manager in the Equitable Education & Economies division at the Human Sciences Research Council. He is also a Principal Investigator on the multi-year DSI-HSRC Internship Programme, a R120 million rand internship intervention targeted at unemployed graduates.
Dr. Ngandu's academic journey began with a Master's Science Degree in Economics from the University of Zimbabwe, where he held a BIOSS International Masters Scholarship. He also earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours in Economics from the University of Zimbabwe. He completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) specialising in Public Policy from the University of Pretoria's School of Public Management and Administration, supported by a PASGR Carnegie Corporation of New York Doctoral Scholarship and a National Research Fund Doctoral Scholarship. This educational foundation has supported a career dedicated to understanding the intricate dynamics of the South Africa's socio-economic development issues.
With over 18 years of experience, Dr. Ngandu's research spans various areas, including employment, school-to-work transitions, labor economics, skills development, social protection, poverty, inequality, public policy research and evaluation and the economics of mineral-driven economies. His research interests lie particularly at the crossroads of economics with a bias towards labor economics and skills development, focusing on youth labor market transitions, employment outcomes of development interventions, and post-school education and training. His expertise also covers public policy evaluation, particularly impact and outcomes assessments, and the use of evidence in policy-making, contributing significantly to national policy formulation and implementation.
Dr. Ngandu's notable research-to-policy impact achievements include serving as the Principal Investigator for the development of the 2017-2027 Tourism Human Resource Development Strategy, which is currently being implemented, and as an expert panel member redesigning South Africa's largest active labor market anti-poverty intervention, the Expanded Public Works Programme 2019-2024. His commitment to knowledge dissemination is evident in his peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapter contributions, and editorial roles, including serving as a Co-editor for the South Africa Social Security Review (Volumes 1 and 2) and the South Africa close out report for the Millennium Development Goals. Dr. Ngandu's success in securing well over R124 million in research funding underscores his contribution to research with significant policy and practical implications.
