Draft:Yambutigra

ofessor E.K. Derbile holds multiple academic qualifications, including a Ph.D. in Development Studies from the University of Bonn, Germany (2010), an MSc in Development Planning and Management from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Kumasi) and the University of Dortmund, Germany (2003), a BA in Integrated Development Studies from the University for Development Studies, Tamale, and a Certificate in Development Organization Management from St. Francis Xavier University, now part of the University of British Columbia, Canada.

With over 24 years of experience in academia, Prof. Derbile has held various positions in the university system since 1999 and currently serves as a Professor of Development Planning in the Department of Planning. He has taught at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and has supervised numerous student theses, including 27 M.Phil. and 4 Ph.D. dissertations. His research focuses on environmental change, climate change vulnerability, livelihood sustainability, and local knowledge systems. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles in local and international outlets, and his work also addresses health financing and equity in healthcare services.

In addition to his academic contributions, Prof. Derbile has extensive experience in university administration. He was appointed as the inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor of his university in 2020, playing a key role in restructuring the institution, accrediting academic programs, and developing university policies. He has also been involved in establishing new faculties and schools, such as the School of Education and Lifelong Learning, the Faculty of Public Policy and Governance, and the School of Graduate Studies and Research. Currently, he is overseeing the establishment of the School of Law.

Prof. Derbile also serves as the Director of the West African Centre for Sustainable Rural Transformation (WAC-SRT), a partnership between several universities, including Simon Diedong Dombo University, the University for Development Studies, and the University of Bonn. The center, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), has been providing scholarships for postgraduate students since 2021, focusing on sustainable rural development in West Africa.

Before his role as Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Derbile was Acting Principal of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies, where he was involved in its transition to a full university. He has held various administrative roles, including Dean, Vice Dean, Department Head, and Coordinator of postgraduate programs and community outreach. He has also been instrumental in securing funding for research and institutional development projects, including his work with the Resilient Africa Network project, which involved collaboration with 20 African universities and U.S. institutions, funded by USAID.

Outside the university system, Prof. Derbile is a member of the Ghana Institute of Planners and previously served on the National Development Planning Commission, representing the Upper West Region from 2015 to 2017. He contributed to committees on infrastructure, human settlement planning, agriculture, and natural resource management. Additionally, he has led around 30 consultancy projects in areas such as gender studies, sustainability, and strategic planning for NGOs and public sector organizations. In 2013, he co-founded Endogenous Development Service (EDS), a research organization focused on poverty reduction and sustainable development in rural communities in Ghana.

REFERENCES

1.https://ubids.edu.gh/about/office-of-the-vice-chancellor/vc-profile

2.https://3news.com/news/wa-simon-diedong-dombo-university-gets-new-vice-chancellor/