Dr. (Mrs.) Monica Addison, a Development Planner and Agricultural Economist, works at Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. Monica has a PhD in Agricultural Economics, M.Sc. in Development Policy and Planning and B.Sc. in Agriculture (Agricultural Economics option). Monica was employed at KNUST in August 1, 2013, as an Assistant Research Fellow and has rose through the ranks to become Senior Research Fellow in August 1, 2022 and a Director of BIRD in November 1, 2023. Monica has a primary responsibility for the Bureau’s administration as well as tasked with the responsibility of designing, sourcing for grants and implementing research projects, publishing research findings, attending conferences to disseminate research findings, engaging in community services (local, national and international), teaching, mentoring and supervising student thesis.

Over the past 10 years, Monica has worked as an individual consultant as well as a team member to undertake policy relevant research through research grants projects and consultancy services in different projects for government ministries, departments and agencies as well as the donor agencies namely African Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Development Association (IDA), USAID, AfDB, USAID, World Bank, UNHCR, AGRA, just to mention a few. Monica continues to participate in both national and international conferences to contribute to the visibility of KNUST in the global landscape.

Monica has also been involved in community engagement and outreach services through consultations with KNUST surrounding communities, namely Kwamo, Fumesua and Gyenyase, as well as selected districts namely Sene East and Sekyere Afram Plains, to shape community members decisions and actions in relation to their development challenges. Monica continues to dedicate about 30% of her time to teaching, mentoring and supervising students’ project works in two academic departments of KNUST.

Prior to joining KNUST, Monica had been involved in rural development issues for more than 15 years, focusing mainly on designing and implementing gender related programmes/ projects, resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation of Programes/ projects. Monica had planned, developed and implemented several developments projects in selected regions of Ghana. Again, she has been involved in several capacity building projects and facilitated many MMA, DAs and community development workshops and training programmes. As a gender expert with strong expertise in organizational development and results-based management, Monica also provided technical support to NGOs, CBOs and government organizations to build capacity in gender equality and women's rights.

Her approach to gender equality was informed by the understanding that gender inequality is a driver and outcome of persistent poverty. When people ask: Does she have a degree in gender? She simply responds that she has a broad professional experience, but does not have a degree in gender. That said, she loves her work, and her skills and knowledge in gender have come as a result of her passion. Monica’s achievement in this field of study is partly due to the fact that she has been lucky to have had great professional mentors.

Monica has made tremendous impact in rural communities and continues to make meaningful contributions to society. Her areas of interest have always been related to addressing gender issues to minimize high incidence of poverty among the vulnerable in society, especially women, girls and the aged. Monica is passionate about gender roles, equity, equality and women’s economic empowerment. She focuses on promoting women empowerment because she believes women have been relegated to the background for far too long. She thinks gender inequality does not only affect the lives of individual people, but retards inclusive growth and development.

Sustainable development relies on ending discrimination towards women and providing equal access to opportunities for employment. Her goal and prospects about her future career are to lead and manage grant research projects that targets gender issues, climate change and food security to contribute to the research strategies of her center and KNUST, and to provide academic leadership to students working in their own research areas and contribute to their development through mentoring and coaching.