Jamelia Harris
Biographic Data
| ID | 3589534 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Jamelia Harris |
| GIVEN NAMES | Jamelia |
| FAMILY NAME | Harris |
| SIGNATURE | HARRIS J |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Warwick |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-8437-3386 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 13 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 8 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 13 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2020 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Digital platforms, decent work and developing countries
With the rise of platform work in developing countries, positioning this trend in the decent work agenda becomes important. This paper explores the conditions likely to be associated with measurable decent platform work. The analysis uses Fairwork as a proxy for decent work and offers indicative findings that having verifiable evidence to score fair and decent work among platform companies is correlated with the level of development, regulatory q…
Who You Know or What You Know? Job Search and Matching in the Presence of Network-Based Recruitment
This article analyses how employers and university-educated jobseekers behave when networks are overly used, and connections supersede merit in recruitment. It advances the debate by exploring the effects of networks on how the labour market for the university-educated functions, and how the normalisation of network-based recruitment affects this segment of the labour market. Using data from Sierra Leone, findings show that overuse of networks fo…
Political Patronage and the Labour Market Experience of High-Skilled Workers
This paper explores how political patronage can affect the labour market experience of high-skilled workers, and how jobseekers respond in such instances. A budding, primarily quantitative, literature has assessed corruption and labour market outcomes, but little has been written on how agents navigate corrupt practices and political patronage in the labour market. A mixed methods design is used, drawing on survey and focus group data from Sierra…
Estimating the Size of the Target Population in Data Limited Settings
Not knowing the population size is a common problem in data-limited contexts. Drawing on work in Sierra Leone, this short take outlines a four-step solution to this problem: (1) estimate the population size using expert interviews; (2) verify estimates using interviews with participants sampled; (3) triangulate using secondary data; and (4) reconfirm using focus group discussions
Opting out of public sector employment
Using primary data from Sierra Leone, this article explores the relationship between gender and occupational aspirations. Descriptive findings suggest largely similar desired occupational roles across gender; however, regression results show that the odds of females aspiring for public sector employment are half that of males. Lower ambition for public sector employment among females is associated with less favourable perceptions of public sector…
Occupational Preferences of Skilled Workers in the Presence of a Large Development Sector
Aid and the resulting development sector have expanded in developing countries in the past decades. Many studies have explored the effects of aid, but few have studied the effects of the development sector on decisions around labor supply and occupational choice. Using primary data from Sierra Leone, this article contributes to the literature by exploring how the presence of a large development sector influences the occupational preferences of sk…
Is the problem driven iterative adaptation approach (PDIA) a panacea for public financial management reform? Evidence from six African countries
This article assesses the application of the problem driven iterative adaptation (PDIA) approach to public financial management reform in six African countries. It draws on primary data collected using a mix of interviews, overt participation observations and a short survey. PDIA responds to shortcomings in orthodox approaches to reform and technical assistance in developing countries. It stresses local solutions to local problems, achieved throu…
Exploring donor-driven skills development as a channel of continued aid dependency
This article examines donor-driven skills training programmes and projects at the technical and vocational level in post-war Sierra Leone, using dependency theory as an analytical framework. Based on qualitative data collected from fieldwork in 2017, it emerges that such programmes and projects are driven by donor strategies and largely detached from local market demands, are oftentimes based on convenience and historical relationships in regions…
Using specific purpose grants to achieve developmental goals
This practice note reviews the theory of conditional grants and their use in five countries (Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and India). The note makes the case for conditional specific purpose grants based on theory and then puts forward five practical suggestions that can guide developing countries in designing specific purpose grants. These include setting clear conditions, establishing robust monitoring systems, developing sub-national c…
Value-for-money assessment of social spending in developing countries
This practice note combines key theoretical principles of value-for-money (VfM) assessment with the authors’ experiences of conducting these studies in the health and agriculture sectors in Ethiopia. It documents an innovative approach to VfM analysis in contexts where data is limited. The approach combines quantitative and qualitative methods, can be easily applied to policy-relevant questions, and is simple and easily reproducible in developing…
Exploring the desire to be an entrepreneur among university-educated youths
The developing country entrepreneur is championed as a driver of economic growth, poverty alleviation, and social development. Yet little is known about what drives entrepreneurial ambitions in developing countries. This study uses qualitative data from focus group discussions with university-educated Sierra Leonean youths to explore these issues. Findings show that very few have entrepreneurial ambitions ex ante, though a large share resort to e…
Mixed Methods Research in Developing Country Contexts
Mixed methods research in developing countries has been increasing since the turn of the century. Given this, there is need to consolidate insights for future researchers. This article contributes to the methodological literature by exploring how cultural factors and logistical challenges in developing contexts interplay with mixed methods research design and implementation. Insights are based on the author’s research experience of using mixed me…
If you can’t do teach
Mixed Methods Research in Developing Country Contexts
Mixed methods research in developing countries has been increasing since the turn of the century. Given this, there is need to consolidate insights for future researchers. This article contributes to the methodological literature by exploring how cultural factors and logistical challenges in developing contexts interplay with mixed methods research design and implementation. Insights are based on the author’s research experience of using mixed me…
Exploring donor-driven skills development as a channel of continued aid dependency
This article examines donor-driven skills training programmes and projects at the technical and vocational level in post-war Sierra Leone, using dependency theory as an analytical framework. Based on qualitative data collected from fieldwork in 2017, it emerges that such programmes and projects are driven by donor strategies and largely detached from local market demands, are oftentimes based on convenience and historical relationships in regions…
If you can’t do teach
Mixed Methods Research in Developing Country Contexts
Mixed methods research in developing countries has been increasing since the turn of the century. Given this, there is need to consolidate insights for future researchers. This article contributes to the methodological literature by exploring how cultural factors and logistical challenges in developing contexts interplay with mixed methods research design and implementation. Insights are based on the author’s research experience of using mixed me…
Using specific purpose grants to achieve developmental goals
This practice note reviews the theory of conditional grants and their use in five countries (Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and India). The note makes the case for conditional specific purpose grants based on theory and then puts forward five practical suggestions that can guide developing countries in designing specific purpose grants. These include setting clear conditions, establishing robust monitoring systems, developing sub-national c…
Value-for-money assessment of social spending in developing countries
This practice note combines key theoretical principles of value-for-money (VfM) assessment with the authors’ experiences of conducting these studies in the health and agriculture sectors in Ethiopia. It documents an innovative approach to VfM analysis in contexts where data is limited. The approach combines quantitative and qualitative methods, can be easily applied to policy-relevant questions, and is simple and easily reproducible in developing…
Exploring the desire to be an entrepreneur among university-educated youths
The developing country entrepreneur is championed as a driver of economic growth, poverty alleviation, and social development. Yet little is known about what drives entrepreneurial ambitions in developing countries. This study uses qualitative data from focus group discussions with university-educated Sierra Leonean youths to explore these issues. Findings show that very few have entrepreneurial ambitions ex ante, though a large share resort to e…
Opting out of public sector employment
Using primary data from Sierra Leone, this article explores the relationship between gender and occupational aspirations. Descriptive findings suggest largely similar desired occupational roles across gender; however, regression results show that the odds of females aspiring for public sector employment are half that of males. Lower ambition for public sector employment among females is associated with less favourable perceptions of public sector…
Occupational Preferences of Skilled Workers in the Presence of a Large Development Sector
Aid and the resulting development sector have expanded in developing countries in the past decades. Many studies have explored the effects of aid, but few have studied the effects of the development sector on decisions around labor supply and occupational choice. Using primary data from Sierra Leone, this article contributes to the literature by exploring how the presence of a large development sector influences the occupational preferences of sk…
Is the problem driven iterative adaptation approach (PDIA) a panacea for public financial management reform? Evidence from six African countries
This article assesses the application of the problem driven iterative adaptation (PDIA) approach to public financial management reform in six African countries. It draws on primary data collected using a mix of interviews, overt participation observations and a short survey. PDIA responds to shortcomings in orthodox approaches to reform and technical assistance in developing countries. It stresses local solutions to local problems, achieved throu…
Exploring donor-driven skills development as a channel of continued aid dependency
This article examines donor-driven skills training programmes and projects at the technical and vocational level in post-war Sierra Leone, using dependency theory as an analytical framework. Based on qualitative data collected from fieldwork in 2017, it emerges that such programmes and projects are driven by donor strategies and largely detached from local market demands, are oftentimes based on convenience and historical relationships in regions…
Political Patronage and the Labour Market Experience of High-Skilled Workers
This paper explores how political patronage can affect the labour market experience of high-skilled workers, and how jobseekers respond in such instances. A budding, primarily quantitative, literature has assessed corruption and labour market outcomes, but little has been written on how agents navigate corrupt practices and political patronage in the labour market. A mixed methods design is used, drawing on survey and focus group data from Sierra…
Estimating the Size of the Target Population in Data Limited Settings
Not knowing the population size is a common problem in data-limited contexts. Drawing on work in Sierra Leone, this short take outlines a four-step solution to this problem: (1) estimate the population size using expert interviews; (2) verify estimates using interviews with participants sampled; (3) triangulate using secondary data; and (4) reconfirm using focus group discussions
Digital platforms, decent work and developing countries
With the rise of platform work in developing countries, positioning this trend in the decent work agenda becomes important. This paper explores the conditions likely to be associated with measurable decent platform work. The analysis uses Fairwork as a proxy for decent work and offers indicative findings that having verifiable evidence to score fair and decent work among platform companies is correlated with the level of development, regulatory q…
Who You Know or What You Know? Job Search and Matching in the Presence of Network-Based Recruitment
This article analyses how employers and university-educated jobseekers behave when networks are overly used, and connections supersede merit in recruitment. It advances the debate by exploring the effects of networks on how the labour market for the university-educated functions, and how the normalisation of network-based recruitment affects this segment of the labour market. Using data from Sierra Leone, findings show that overuse of networks fo…
Economics (9 works) · Economic growth (8 works) · Sociology (8 works) · Political science (7 works) · Sierra leone (7 works) · Developing country (6 works) · Development economics (6 works) · Computer Science (4 works) · Psychology (4 works) · Business (3 works)