Dr Jacob Mwathi Mati is Senior Lecturer (Sociology) in the School of Humanities, Sol Plaatje University, Kimberley, South Africa. His professional experience spans over 20 years of work in academia (as researcher, lecturer, and head of academic departments/units), civil society (as researcher and program manager in multi-country research projects) and consultancies. His research experience includes the development and management of local, country level and multi-country research projects in Africa, Asia, Pacific, and globally.