Dorte’s work focuses on rural and urban livelihoods in West Africa within the fields of anthropology, feminist theories of household economy and post-structuralism. Her thematic focus centres on gendered relations of production and reproduction with particular focus on rural households, precarious livelihoods, intra-household behaviour and decision-making processes.

Since 2004 she has been researching young people’s work, education and migration with the aim of unpacking family relations, gender dynamics and informal labour market interfaces. Substantial experience in mixed methods and multi-sited research with adolescents and youth, with particular focus on their work situations and experience and on rural-urban and international migration. Sustained interest in grasping how policy regimes impact on the poor and in sharing evidence-based insights with a wide range of audiences.