Geof Wood - Chair

Professor of International Development, and Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Bath.

After early fieldwork in Africa, Geof conducted extensive research in North India, Bangladesh and Pakistan over three decades, with additional work in Nepal, Afghanistan, Thailand, Venezuela and Peru. He has also conducted policy analysis and action-research with governments, NGOs and international agencies. Previous research themes have included: rural development and class formation; irrigation; social development and empowerment; microfinance; urban livelihoods; and public institutional performance.

He is currently focussed upon insecurity, welfare regimes, well-being and strategies of de-clientelisation and is:

Member of the Well-Being in Developing Countries research team at University of Bath
Advisor to Socio-Economic Security Programme, ILO, Geneva
Member of Development Studies, RAE Panel
Member of the World Bank Social Development Indicators Group
Advisor to DFID-Bangladesh on Reducing Extreme Poverty.

Geof has advised large NGOs, especially in Bangladesh over the last 25 years and served on the OXFAM Asia Committee. He is Advisor to the Rural Support Programme Network in Pakistan, as well as the Aga Khan Development Network. Additionally he is Member of the Expert Group Panel, Economic and Social Affairs Division of the UN, for 2007 World Social Situation Report. Supported by grants from: ESRC, Ford Foundation, DFID, World Bank, SIDA, CIDA, Aga Khan Foundation.