Research
My research uses causal inference methods to address agricultural, environmental, and policy challenges in developing countries, with a focus on Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Sustainable Agriculture & Deforestation
How can agricultural intensification reduce deforestation without unintended rebound effects? I study the adoption and impacts of silvopastoral systems, zero-deforestation agreements, and sustainable livestock practices in the Colombian Amazon. Using farm-level panel data and quasi-experimental designs (DiD, CSDID, event-study), my work evaluates whether productivity gains translate into genuine conservation outcomes or inadvertently incentivize further land clearing.
Impact Evaluation & Applied Econometrics
I apply rigorous causal inference methods—including difference-in-differences, randomization inference, instrumental variables, and RCT designs—to evaluate development programs and environmental policies. Current work includes a multi-country impact evaluation of Climate Information Services and Climate-Smart Agriculture across six African countries (Kenya, Mali, Ethiopia, Senegal, Ghana, Zambia), as well as research on how environmental shocks like heat exposure affect human capital outcomes.
Food Security & Rural Livelihoods
What determines food security in remote, forest-dependent communities? I study the relationship between forest access, ethnic group membership, and dietary diversity in indigenous and non-indigenous households of the Colombian and Peruvian Amazon. I also investigate how value chain mechanisms—such as coffee cupping protocols and specialty certifications—affect smallholder prices, market access, and livelihood strategies.
Policy Coherence & Peacebuilding
How coherent are post-conflict policies designed to transform rural landscapes? I analyze policy coherence within Colombia's Integrated Rural Reform (RRI) peacebuilding framework using landscape approaches. This line of research examines whether cross-sectoral policy instruments—including territorial development programs (PDETs)—are internally consistent and aligned with principles of participation, rights, and effective landscape governance in conflict-affected regions like Caquetá.