Neil Powell is a Senior Research Fellow. Neil joined SEI in 2006.

Neil Powell’s research, training and development action is geared towards addressing intractable problems and resource dilemmas in the context of natural resource governance and management.

The approach focuses on the inefficiencies and ambiguities of policy implementation in contexts characterised by abrupt environmental change and controversy. His work promotes understanding of how structures and stakeholder agency can be best deployed to reconcile contemporary intractable issues such as climate change adaptation and integrated agro-environmental actions.

Key conceptual themes in his research are: social learning, action research, multi-stakeholder processes, intractability, dilemmas, governance, agency, livelihoods and adaptation.

Neil Powell has developed numerous high level programmes. Recent examples include: the Swedish International Agricultural Network; a multi stakeholder platform for government, civil society, private, research and education sectors); the governance and policy adaptation component within a large inter-regional EU project entitled Baltic Compass; and an international Masters Programme in Integrated Water Resource Management.

Prior to joining SEI in 2006, Neil Powell taught, supervised and undertook research as a Senior Lecturer at the Swedish Agricultural University, Uppsala. He was also responsible for Swedish water resource development cooperation in Southern Africa at the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

Neil Powell has actively worked in a number of country contexts including: Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana, Ethiopia, Brazil, India, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Baltic Countries, Russia, Australia, Sweden, Norway, Italy and France.

Education
- Ph.D. 1998, Department of Rural Development Studies, Swedish Agricultural University:
- Licentiate Phil. (Geog) 1996, School of Geography, Stockholm University.
- M.A. (Env.Stud.) 1988, University of Tasmania

Publications

• The Common Agricultural Policy Post-2013: Could Reforms Make Baltic Sea Region Farms More Sustainable? (Policy brief - 2013)

• A framework for facilitating dialogue between policy planners and local climate change adaptation professionals: Cases from Sweden, Canada and Indonesia (Journal article - 2012)

• Long-term CAP Reform Options in an Ecosystems Perspective (Pre-publication) (Research report - 2012)

• Making Sense of Accountability in Baltic Agro-Environmental Governance: The Case of Denmark's Green Growth Strategy (Journal article - 2012)

• Integrated water resource management: a platform for higher education institutions to meet complex sustainability challenges (Journal article - 2012)

• The Common Agricultural Policy post-2013: a Pathway to Regional Cohesion? (Project report - 2012)

• From Case Studies to Climate Adaptation Policy: a Framework for Dialogue Between Local Professionals and Decision Makers (Policy brief - 2011)

• A Framework for Dialogue Between Local Climate Adaptation Professionals and Policy Makers (Research report - 2011)

• Stakeholder Agency and Rural Development Policy: Articulating Co-Governance in Vietnam (Book - 2011)

• Co-governance: putting participation into practice (Book chapter - 2011)

Complete list of publications »

Projects

• Climate change adaptation and water governance: reconciling food security, renewable energy and the provision of multiple ecosystem services (CADWAGO)

  
  

• Agricultural transformations in the Greater Mekong Region

  
  

• Social and environmental costs and opportunities associated with renewable energy policy implementation: Negotiation of equitable water allocation and its implications for sustainable livelihoods

  
  

• Baltic Compass

  
  

• Social Learning in Asia

  
  

• Mangrove ecosystems, communities and conflict: developing knowledge-based approaches to reconciling multiple demands (MANGROVE)