Becky has been a researcher at IDS since 2012. Her work currently explores themes of social assistance capacities, targeting and politics, across both development and humanitarian domains. Drawing on academic and consultancy experience on various topics related to aid effectiveness, Becky’s current work is informed by her broader interest in political and social inclusion and norm change, and a consistent focus throughout her research career on better understanding the political economy of the global aid system.
In 2024 she continues as a Research Officer on the FCDO-funded Better Assistance in Crises (BASIC) Research Programme, which is examining why, how and when to use social protection approaches in different crisis contexts, to deliver more effective social assistance so that vulnerable people cope better with crises and meet their basic needs. She is also working on a study exploring the conflict sensitivity of the 2023 crisis response in Sudan for Irish Aid, building on previous research on conflict-sensitive social protection in the Horn of Africa.
She recently worked for the Knowledge, Evidence and Learning for Development Programme (K4D) and the GSDRC helpdesks on inclusion, humanitarian response, conflict, governance, and social development issues, providing support to FCDO (formerly DFID), DFAT and EC advisors. In 2024 she will continue to support the successor Knowledge for Development and Diplomacy programme.
