People

Dr. Eric Yankson

All People

  • Role in Center:

    Advanced Researcher

  • Discipline:

    Urban and Regional Planning

  • University:

    Namibia University of Science and Technology

  • Country:

    Namibia

  • Contact Details:

    • Mailing address: Department of Architecture and Spatial Planning, Private Bag 13388, Windhoek, Namibia
    • Phone number: +264 612 072 407
    • Email address: eyankson@nust.na

  • Social Media Links:

Biography: Dr. Eric Yankson is a Senior Lecturer and the Associate Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Natural Resources and Spatial Sciences at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. He was previously a research fellow and an instructor at the University of Louisville in the United States, where he obtained his PhD in Urban and Public Affairs. His research interests encompass the political economy of urban planning and development, particularly in the Global South. His work focuses on the global-local nexus and participatory planning roles in configuring metropolitan governments’ policy choices. Dr. Yankson also evaluates local economic development and applies spatial analysis to examine the interlinkages between sustainable development, public health, land use, and transportation planning.

Selected Publications:

  • Yankson, E. (2021: forthcoming): Land governance as a restitutive mechanism for asserting ownership and tenure rights in a postcolonial context: insights from Namibia and Ghana. In The complexities of land tenure and land reform in Africa. Good Governance Africa.

  • Yankson, E. (2021: forthcoming): Sustainable awareness: actions and possibilities to achieve the SDG7. In Encyclopaedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer.

  • Yankson, E. and Guriras E. (2021: forthcoming): Political economy of participatory spatial planning. In Encyclopaedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer.

  • Yankson, E. (2020): Arusha, Tanzania. City reports on international law. Asser Institute.

  • Yankson, E. (2019): Public participation, service delivery and transparency in the governance of Windhoek, Namibia. City Futures IV Conference of the European Urban Research Association (EURA) and Urban Affairs Association (UAA) in Dublin, Ireland.

  • Yankson, E. (2017): Sustainability as an innovative planning paradigm in Namibia: case study evaluation. Institutional Research Week of the Namibia University of Science and Technology.

  • Yankson, E. (2015): Globalisation and local factors in cities: an examination. Conference of the Urban Affairs Association in Miami, Florida.

  • Yankson, E. (2014): Globalisation, inter-local cooperation and urban governance: a comparative case study analysis. Conference of the Urban Affairs Association in San Antonio, Texas.

  • Yankson, E. (2013): The ecological paradigms in urban development: implications for sustainability. Conference of Urban and Metropolitan Universities in Louisville, Kentucky.

  • Yankson, E. (2012): Analysing regional development policy: a comparative case study approach. Annual Meeting of the Indiana Political Science Association in Evansville, Indiana.

Areas of Expertise:

  • Regional and Urban Governance
  • Economic Development, Political Economy and Public Policy
  • Globalisation, Geopolitics and International Development
  • Land Use and Transportation Planning
  • Sustainable Development and Applied Spatial Analysis

Current Position(s):

  • January 2020 to December 2023 – Associate Dean for Research and Innovation (Faculty of Natural Resources and Spatial Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology)
  • May 2019 to date – Senior Lecturer (Department of Architecture and Spatial Planning, Namibia University of Science and Technology)

Past Position(s)

  • Research Coordinator, Undergraduate Programme Coordinator and Lecturer (Department of Architecture and Spatial Planning, Namibia University of Science and Technology) – April 2017 to January 2020
  •  Instructor (Sullivan College of Technology and Design) – September 2015 to June 2016
  •  Graduate Fellow, Research Assistant and Instructor (Department of Urban and Public Affairs, University of Louisville) – August 2011 to July 2015
  • Teaching Assistant (Department of Geography, University of Alabama) – January 2009 to May 2011

Prizes & Awards:

  • Honouree, Graduate Students’ Dean’s Receptions – University of Louisville (April 24, 2015 and April 22, 2014)
  • Honouree, Graduate Students’ Celebration of Excellence in Diversity Event – University of Louisville (April 24, 2015)
  • Graduate Fellow, Department of Urban and Public Affairs – University of Louisville (August 2011 to June 2013)
  • Member, Golden Key International Honour Society (September 2013 to date)

Memberships & Networks:

  • Chairperson, Faculty Research and Publications Committee
  • Chairperson, Faculty Higher Degrees Committee
  • Member, Faculty Management Team
  • Member, Institutional Research and Publications Committee
  • Member, Institutional Higher Degrees Committee