Jean-Benoit Falisse

Co-Director, Centre of African Studies. Senior Lecturer in African Studies and International Development

jb.falisse@ed.ac.uk

+44 (0)131 651 5534

4.04

Chrystal Macmillan Building

15a George Square

Edinburgh

EH8 9LD

Research interests

Criminal justice Global health policy Governance & Democracy Identities & Inequalities International development International Development Cluster Migration and experiences of displacement

My current research focus is on the empirical consequences of the idea of repair. I am interested in what happens in the aftermath of reparation programmes for victims of atrocity crimes. I build on three strands of research that still keep me busy: access to basic social services—health care, education, and justice—in so-called 'fragile' environments; the livelihoods of displaced people; and the political economy of health care (past funded projects here).

I am interested in the development of social science research methods, and my research has used interviews, survey data, archival research, and experiments (and often a mix thereof). My regional expertise is on the African Great Lakes Region (Burundi and DR Congo in particular). A list of the PhD projects I have supervised to completion at the University of Edinburgh is here.

Background

I stopped trying to fit into a disciplinary box some time ago; my training (degrees) is in development studies and economics, history, politics, and philosophy. Prior to joining the university, I was working for the United Nations and international NGOs in the African Great Lakes region. I have continued advising international and local organisations since.

I am the co-director of the Centre of African Studies, together with George Hamandishe Karekwaivanane. I was the inaugural director of the MSc International Development (online) and the MSc Data, Inequality and Society at the Edinburgh Futures Institute.

Works within

Centre of African Studies

Book time with Jean-Benoit Falisse

Publication	Research Explorer link
Jeffery L, Lowe L, Falisse JB, Ghafoerkhan R. “How can we talk about our struggles?” Reflections on researcher wellbeing and recommendations for psychosocial support for researchers in conflict-affected areas. Conflict and Health. 2025 Nov 28;19:1-11. 83. doi: 10.1186/s13031-025-00725-6	View
Stevens DDLF, Falisse JB, Bazuzi P, Matabishi S, Marchais G. The mental health toll of conflict-induced violence on teachers: Evidence from a longitudinal survey in DRC and Niger. BMJ Public Health. 2025;3(2):1-11. Epub 2025 Nov 30. doi: 10.1136/bmjph-2025-003535	View
Reynolds A, Boateng S, Akello M, Nanyunja S, Mulondo A, Aterthon El-Amine B et al. Connected learning as collaboration and psychosocial support: A critical reflection on a bridging programme for refugees in Uganda. Journal of Interactive Media in Education. 2025;2025(1):1-14. 5. Epub 2025 Mar 6. doi: 10.5334/jime.879	View
Boeyink C, Falisse JB, Niyokwizera L, Ibrahim K. Anchors, archipelagos, and ports of departure: How resettlement shapes im/mobilities in Nyarugusu refugee camp, Tanzania. Ethnic and Racial Studies. 2025;48(12):2362-2382. Epub 2025 Mar 20. doi: 10.1080/01419870.2025.2474610	View
Marchais G, Stevens DDLF, Falisse JB, Brandt C, Matabishi S, Gupta S et al. Violence against teachers and the entanglement of schools in violent conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Comparative Education Review. 2025;69(1):39-61. Epub 2025 Apr 22. doi: 10.1086/734798	View
Spiegel SJ, Mucherera B, Idrees S, Moze F, Rajadhyaksha K, McAteer B et al. Displacement, Borders, and Unsettling Narratives: Critical Directions for Higher Education. 1st ed. Palgrave Macmillan, 2024. 144 p. (Politics of Citizenship and Migration). Epub 2024 Dec 1. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-72767-2	View
Falisse JB, Koroma S, Nyembo GB, Baba DA. Evaluation of the effects of the Reparations Ordered by the International Criminal Court and Implemented by the Trust Fund for Victims in the case of The Prosecutor against Germain Katanga. ICC / Trust Fund for Victims, 2024. 90 p.	View
Falisse JB, Huysentruyt M, Olofsgård A. Incentivizing textbooks for self-study: Experimental evidence from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Economic Journal. 2024 Nov;134(664):3262–3290. ueae039. Epub 2024 May 17. doi: 10.1093/ej/ueae039	View
Marchais G, Brandt C, Stevens DDLF, Falisse JB, Matabishi S, Marion P et al. Teachers’ well-being and resilience in the face of violence: Lessons from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Niger. In Mendenhall M, Marchais G, Sayed Y, Boothby N, editors, Education and Resilience in Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Bristol University Press. 2024. p. 99-131 doi: 10.51952/9781529234718.ch003	View
Kazamwali M, Kisanga A, Balegamire JB, Kaningini E, Falisse JB, Furaha G et al. Traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine and the provision of health care to internally displaced persons in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Frontiers in Human Dynamics. 2024 May 30;6:1-15. 1289169. doi: 10.3389/fhumd.2024.1289169	View
Akello M, Gallagher M, Nanyunja S, Mulondo A, Miranda JJ, Cole G et al. Minimal computing for the forcibly displaced in Uganda: Economies of digital use and non-use, and the right constraints. Learning, Media and Technology. 2024;49(5):811-826. Epub 2024 Sept 17. doi: 10.1080/17439884.2024.2405128	View
Akello M, Gallagher M, Nanyunja S, Mulondo A, Miranda JJ, Cole G et al. Minimal computing in refugee education in Uganda: Economies of digital use and non-use, and the right constraints. Learning, Media and Technology. 2024;49(5):811-826. Epub 2024 Sept 17. doi: 10.1080/17439884.2024.2405128	View
Falisse JB, Nkengurutse H, Ntakarutimana L. Strengthening the community governance of healthcare services in 'fragile' settings: Evidence from Burundi and South Kivu, DR Congo. PLOS Global Public Health . 2023 Aug 15;3(8):1-20. e0001697. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001697	View
Ireri EM, Mutugi MW, Falisse JB, Mwitari JM, Atambo LK. Influence of conspiracy theories and distrust of community health volunteers on adherence to COVID-19 guidelines and vaccine uptake in Kenya. PLOS global public health. 2023 Mar 27;3(3):1-19. e0001146. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001146	View
Akello M, Cole G, Gallagher M, Mulondo A, Falisse JB, Reynolds A et al. Foundations for All Toolkit. 2023. 114 p.	View
Wild-Wood E, Way Y, Baba A, Kangamina S, Falisse JB, Grant L et al. Perceptions of COVID-19 in faith communities in DR Congo. Journal of Eastern African Studies. 2023;17(1-2):79-100. Epub 2023 Jul 21. doi: 10.1080/17531055.2023.2235659	View
Falisse JB, Brandt C, Mukengere Basengezi J, Gupta S, Kanyerhera D, Marion P et al. La mise en œuvre de la gratuité de l’enseignement primaire en contexte de crise: COVID-19 et réforme de l’enseignement au Sud Kivu, République Démocratique du Congo . Journal on Education in Emergencies. 2022 Dec 7;8(3):50-79. doi: 10.33682/bkqx-7vwb	View
Kangamina S, Falisse JB, Baba A, Grant L, Pearson N, Way Y et al. Conflict, epidemic and faith communities: Church-state relations during the fight against Covid-19 in north-eastern DR Congo. Conflict and Health. 2022 Nov 9;16:1-8. 56. doi: 10.1186/s13031-022-00488-4	View
Chaara I, Falisse JB, Moriceau J. Does legal aid improve access to justice in ‘fragile’ settings? Evidence from Burundi. Journal of Peace Research. 2022 Nov;59(6):810-827. Epub 2022 Apr 1. doi: 10.1177/00223433211055633	View
Baba A, Grant L, Pearson N, Wild-wood E, Falisse J, Way Y et al. Engaging faith communities in public health messaging in response to COVID-19: Lessons learnt from the pandemic in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo. Frontiers in public health. 2022 Sept 13;10. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.916062	View
Falisse JB, Mpanya A, Surur EI, Kingsley P, Mwamba-Miaka E, Palmer J. Health work and skills in the last mile of disease elimination: Experiences from sleeping sickness health workers in South Sudan and DR Congo. Global public health. 2022 Jun 24. Epub 2022 Jun 24. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2022.2092175	View
Falisse JB, Mpanya A. Clinical trials as disease control? The political economy of sleeping sickness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1996-2016). Social Science & Medicine. 2022 Apr;299:114882. Epub 2022 Mar 8. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114882	View
Falisse JB, McAteer B. Visualising policy responses during health emergencies. Learning from the COVID-19 policy trackers. Convergence. 2022 Mar 21;28(1):35-51. Epub 2021 Dec 9. doi: 10.1177/13548565211048972	View
Falisse JB, Leszczynska N. Do anti-corruption messages improve public service delivery? Insights from a lab-in-the-field experiment in Burundi. The Journal of Development Studies. 2022 Jan 15;58(1):96-114. Epub 2021 Sept 7. doi: 10.1080/00220388.2021.1969010	View
Boeyink C, Ali-Salad MA, Baruti EW, Bile AS, Falisse JB, Kazamwali LM et al. Pathways to care: IDPs seeking health support and justice for sexual and gender-based violence through social connections in Garowe and Kismayo, Somalia and South Kivu, DRC. Journal of Migration and Health. 2022;6:100129. Epub 2022 Sept 5. doi: 10.1016/j.jmh.2022.100129	View
Boeyink C, Falisse JB. Class in camps or the camped class? The making and reshaping of socio-economic inequalities in the refugee camps of north-western Tanzania. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. 2022;48(20):4885-4904. Epub 2022 Oct 12. doi: 10.1080/1369183X.2022.2123434	View
Al Dahdah M, Falisse JB, Lurton G. Ignorance et santé globale: Stratégies et acteurs de la réponse à la Covid-19 dans des pays dits des Suds . Revue d'Anthropologie des Connaissances. 2021 Dec 2;15(4).	View
Reinders S, Dekker M, Falisse JB. Inequalities in higher education in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A scoping review of the literature. Development Policy Review. 2021 Sept;39(5):865-889. Epub 2020 Nov 25. doi: 10.1111/dpr.12535	View
Falisse JB, Nkengurutse H. Citizens committees and local elites: Elite capture, captured elites, and absent elites in health facility committees. European Journal of Development Research. 2021 Aug 23. Epub 2021 Aug 23. doi: 10.1057/s41287-021-00443-8	View
Falisse JB, Macdonald R, Molony T, Nugent P. Why have so many African leaders died of COVID-19? BMJ Global Health. 2021 May 17;6(5):1-6. e005587. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005587	View
Panman A, Madison I, Kimacha N, Falisse JB. Saving up for a rainy day? Savings groups and resilience to flooding in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Urban Forum. 2021 Apr 29. Epub 2021 Apr 29. doi: 10.1007/s12132-021-09424-w	View
Wood AK, Symons K, Falisse JB, Gray H, Mkony A. Can lecture capture contribute to the development of a community of inquiry in online learning? Distance Education. 2021 Feb 1;42(1):126-144. doi: 10.1080/01587919.2020.1869521	View
Falisse JB, Ingelaere B. Entre mort sociale et résilience: Les communautés victimes et victorieuses des violences sexuelles. In De Keyser V, Taxil B, Blavier A, editors, Bâtir un futur pour les femmes et les enfants victimes de violence sexuelle dans les conflits : Une responsabilité internationale. Liège: Palgrave Macmillan. 2021	View
Falisse JB, Ntakarutimana L. When information is not power: Community-elected health facility committees and health facility performance indicators. Social Science & Medicine. 2020 Nov;265:113331. Epub 2020 Aug 28. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113331	View
Falisse JB. Beyond the travelling model? Strategic usage and hybridisation of performance-based financing (PBF) in health in Burundi. Politique Africaine. 2020 May 14;156(4):83-100. doi: 10.3917/polaf.156.0083	View
Falisse JB. Au-delà du modèle voyageur ? Usage stratégique et hybridation du financement basé sur la performance (FBP) dans la santé au Burundi. Politique Africaine. 2020 Apr 20;156(4):83-100. doi: 10.3917/polaf.156.0083	View
Falisse JB, Mwamba-Miaka E, Mpanya A. Whose elimination? Frontline workers' perspectives on the elimination of the Human African Trypanosomiasis and its anticipated consequences. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2020 Jan 1;5(1). doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed5010006	View
Falisse JB, Nkengurutse H. From FM radio stations to Internet 2.0 overnight: information, participation and social media in post-failed coup Burundi. In Dwyer M, Molony T, editors, Social Media and Politics in Africa: Democracy, Censorship and Security. 1 ed. London: Zed Press. 2019	View
Falisse JB. “Playing for Change, Singing for Peace”?: Music, Dance, and Peace in the African Great Lakes Region. Arts and International Affairs. 2019 Feb 28;3.3-4.1. doi: 10.18278/aia.3.3.4.1.5	View
Falisse JB, Masino S, Ngenzebuhoro R. Indigenous Medicine and Biomedical Health Care in Fragile Settings: Insights from Burundi. Health Policy and Planning. 2018 May;33(4):483–493. czy002. Epub 2018 Feb 14. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czy002	View
Bertone MP, Falisse JB, Russo G, Witter S. Context matters (but how and why?) A hypothesis-led literature review of performance based financing in fragile and conflict-affected health systems. PLoS ONE. 2018 Apr 3;1-27. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195301	View
Falisse JB, Ndayishimiye J, Kamenyero V, Bossuyt M. Performance-based financing in the context of selective free health-care: an evaluation of its effects on the use of primary health-care services in Burundi using routine data. Health Policy and Planning. 2015 Dec;30(10):1251-60. Epub 2014 Dec 20. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czu132	View
Falisse JB, Niyonkuru RC. Social engineering for reintegration: Peace villages for the ‘uprooted’ returnees in Burundi. Journal of Refugee Studies. 2015 Sept 30;28(3):388-411. Epub 2015 Apr 15. doi: 10.1093/jrs/fev002	View
Witter S, Falisse JB, Bertone MP, Alonso-Garbayo A, Martins JS, Salehi AS et al. State-building and human resources for health in fragile and conflict-affected states: exploring the linkages. Human Resources for Health. 2015 May 15;13:33. doi: 10.1186/s12960-015-0023-5	View
Falisse JB, Niyonkuru RC. Peace villages for repatriates to Burundi. Forced Migration Review. 2013 May;43:14-17.	View
Falisse JB, Meessen B, Ndayishimiye J, Bossuyt M. Community participation and voice mechanisms under performance-based financing schemes in Burundi. Tropical Medicine and International Health. 2012 Apr 19;17(5):674-682. Epub 2012 Apr 9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2012.02973.x	View
Falisse JB. Artsen Zonder Grenzen België als apolitieke organisatie: MSF Belgium as apolitical organization (1985-1988). Brood Rozen: Tijdschrift voor de geschiedenis van sociale Bewegingen. 2011;16(4):26-53.	View
De Cannière E, Falisse JB, Gillet C, Vermeyen D. Camilo Torres Restrepo (1929-1966), le 'curé-guérillero'. Essai sur la construction des figures de héros et de martyrs’. In Sappia C, editor, A l’Image d’Oscar Romero. Héros, Prophètes et Martyrs d’Amérique Latine. Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium: Academia Press. 2009. p. 195-220	View
Falisse JB. Entrepreneurs humanitaires: Médecins sans frontières Belgique, genèse d’une ONG atypique, 1980-1987. Cahiers d'Histoire du Temps Présent (now Journal of Belgian History). 2009;2009(21):11-54.	View

Jean-benoit Falisse's Research Explorer profile