Prof. Paul J. Goldsmith, Ph.D

Anthropologist

Researcher

Author on African Studies

Hello, I’m Prof. Paul J. Goldsmith, Ph.D Anthropologist Author on African Studies Researcher

Anthropology and Development Studies Professor Based in Meru, Kenya.

With over 30 years of academic, research, and consultancy experience, I specialize in climate change adaptation, governance, conflict management, and African studies. As a Visiting Professor at Meru University of Science & Technology, I bring deep expertise in bridging research, teaching, and policy to address critical challenges facing communities in Africa and beyond.

35+

Years of
Experience

80+

Research & Consultancy
Projects Completed

5+

International Grants
& Awards

Resume

Experience

2023 - Present

Visiting Professor

Meru University of Science & Technology, Meru, Kenya

Teaching and research in Anthropology and Development Studies, focusing on governance, resource management, and cultural resilience.

2010 - Present

Research & Policy Consultant

Independent / Various Agencies

Lead consultant for projects with UNDP, USAID, World Bank, and DFID on governance, livelihoods, peacebuilding, and environmental policy in East Africa.

2016 – 2018

Senior Advisor – Governance & Conflict Management

USAID / Pact Kenya

Supported conflict-sensitive development initiatives and local peacebuilding frameworks across arid and semi-arid regions.

2006 – 2012

Lead Researcher – Drylands & Resource Management

Centre for Research and Development, Nairobi

Directed multi-country studies on climate change adaptation, dryland economies, and pastoral livelihoods.

2000 – 2015

Lecturer / Visiting Fellow

University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, & Other Institutions

Delivered lectures, supervised graduate research, and developed interdisciplinary programs in political anthropology and rural development.

1990 – 2005

Senior Anthropologist & Development Advisor

Horn of Africa Development Network

Conducted ethnographic and policy studies on pastoral societies, governance systems, and resilience mechanisms.

Research & Publications

2017

Miraa Is Unstoppable:The Case for Sorting out Kenya’s Convoluted Catha Edulis Agro-Industry

Examines Kenya’s miraa economy as an evolving cultural and agro-industrial system.

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2017

Nyimbo Yatoka Ngomani: Rise and Fall of the Swahili Coast

Explores the historical trajectory and cultural resilience of Kenya’s Swahili Coast.

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2017

Enter Cambridge Analytica; Public Asks, Kabila Gani?

Analyzes the rise of data-driven political campaigns and their influence on Kenyan democracy.

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2017

High and Low or Light and Dark: The Illumination of Northern Kenya and the New Digital Divide

Explores infrastructure, inequality, and the evolving digital landscape in Northern Kenya.

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Education

1994

Ph.D. in Anthropology

University of Florida, Gainesville, USA

Doctoral research focused on development anthropology, governance, and social transformation in African contexts.

1987

M.A. in Anthropology

University of Florida, Gainesville, USA

Graduate studies in social anthropology with emphasis on African societies, rural livelihoods, and cultural systems.

1987

Certificate in Tropical Agriculture

University of Florida, Gainesville, USA

Specialized certificate program on tropical agricultural systems and sustainable land management.

1979

B.A. in Anthropology

University of Nairobi, Kenya

Undergraduate degree emphasizing African cultural heritage, social organization, and ethnographic fieldwork.

Consultancy Projects

2016 – 2018

Governance and Conflict Management

USAID / Pact Kenya

Advised on local governance systems, resilience frameworks, and conflict-sensitive programming.

2014 – 2016

Climate Change Adaptation and Dryland Livelihoods

UNDP / World Bank

Led multi-country studies on climate adaptation and sustainable resource management in arid zones.

2012 – 2014

Livelihoods and Policy Frameworks in Arid Lands

DFID Kenya

Conducted participatory research on development policy and economic resilience.

2008 – 2011

Community Resource Mapping & Environmental Governance

IUCN Eastern Africa

Supported community-based natural resource management initiatives.

My Articles & Publications

February 18, 2018 Big Fat African Weddings: Commercialisation of Traditional Culture, and Its Consequences

Prof. Goldsmith examines how the institution of marriage in parts of Africa—particularly Kenya—is being transformed by globalization, consumer culture, and…