Simon Addison

Principal researcher, Climate Change; team leader, public policy for climate resilient development

Simon has over 20 years' experience supporting marginalised communities adapt to rapid social, economic and environmental change, particularly in the Greater Horn of Africa. His experience includes work with NGOs and academic institutions as a programme manager, technical adviser and researcher.

Full biography

He has led large-scale humanitarian interventions in complex situations of civil conflict and drought related emergencies, was the founding manager of the policy programme at Oxford University’s Refugee Studies Centre, and recently acted as the global technical adviser on resilience and disaster risk reduction for one of Ireland’s largest international development charities.

Expertise

Resilience building, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response management, particularly in contexts affected by drought and environmental degradation, conflict and forced migration.

Before IIED

Global resilience adviser at Trócaire.
Director of programmes in Kenya for Trócaire
National programme coordinator for Oxfam GB in Kenya
Regional programme quality Lead for Oxfam GB in the Horn, East and Central Africa
Drought management advisor for CARE in the Horn of Africa
Policy programme manager and senior researcher at the University of Oxford’s Refugee Studies Centre
Humanitarian programme coordinator for Oxfam in Uganda

Current work

Leading the design and implementation of research and policy work supporting public sector actors (governments, bilateral and multilateral partners and development finance institutions) to design and test innovative approaches to equitable and climate resilient development; design and implementation of policy, institutional and financial frameworks that scale-up investment in climate resilient initiatives at local, national and international levels.