Professor Elsbeth Robson DPhil MA BSc FRGS SFHEA ML
Professor of Human Geography
Summary
I am a social scientist who trained as a human and development geographer. My research and teaching interests focus on social inequality, ethics and social justice; particularly with respect to women, children and young people.
My research embraces qualitative, participatory and quantitative research methods. Geographically my research has concentrated on countries in sub-Saharan Africa for most of my career. More recently I have expanded my research scope to consider impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I have previously worked at the University of Hull and Keele University.
In academic publishing I co-edited a number of books, authored many articles and have served as co-editor for the journal Children's Geographies.
About
I am a social scientist who trained as a human and development geographer. My research and teaching interests relate to social inequality, ethics and social justice, particularly with respect to women and children/youth.
My research embraces qualitative, participatory and quantitative research methods. Geographically my research for most of my career has concentrated on sub-Saharan Africa and the global South. Since the COVID-19 pandemic my research interests have broadened to embrace the impacts of the pandemic and the turn to nature.
I completed my undergraduate degree in Geography at Durham University, followed by a DPhil at Oxford University on Hausa women traders in Northern Nigeria and later an MA in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education undertaken while a Lecturer in Development Studies at Keele University.
Prior to joining Sheffield Hallam as a Transforming Lives Fellow I was Reader in Human Geography at the University of Hull. At earlier points in my career I been affiliated with Durham University, Liverpool University and Brunel University. In Africa I have had honorary positions at the University of Malawi and Ahmadhu Bello University, Nigeria. I have enjoyed brief sojourns as a visiting scholar at the University of Zimbabwe, Gothenborg University (Sweden), University of Oulu (Finland) and Leiden University (Netherlands).
I have served as co-editor for the journal Children's Geographies and the founding chair of the Research, Evaluation and Ethics committee for Save the Children UK.
I have been a Fellow (previously member) of the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) for over 30 years and served on several research groups relating to gender, women, children, youth, justice and developing areas.
Teaching
Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences
College of Social Sciences and Arts
Geography
MSc Environmental Management
MSc Geographical Information Systems
MSc Independent Projects
Research
- Social and Economic Research Institute
REIMAGINE: Recognising and supporting informal mhealth in Africa through grassroots interventions, Medical Research Council [MR/Y015614/1]
Living with Death: Learning from COVID, Research Cluster, University of Hull
Building an evidence base to support and enhance community health workers' (informal) use of mobile phones in Ghana, Malawi and Ethiopia, Medical Research Council [MR/R003963/1] https://app.dimensions.ai/details/grant/grant.7443507
Social cash transfers, generational relations and youth poverty trajectories in rural Lesotho and Malawi, Economic and Social Research Council [ES/M009076/1] https://app.dimensions.ai/details/grant/grant.3957002
The impact of mobile phones on young people's lives and life chances in sub-Saharan Africa: a three country study to inform policy and practice, Economic and Social Research Council [ES/J018082/1]
https://app.dimensions.ai/details/grant/grant.2780148
Averting 'New Variant Famine' in Southern Africa: building food-secure livelihoods with AIDS-affected young people, Economic and Social Research Council [ES/E013635/1]
https://app.dimensions.ai/details/grant/grant.2767237
Children, transport and mobility in sub-Saharan Africa: developing a child-centred evidence base to improve policy and change thinking across Africa, Economic and Social Research Council [ES/D002745/1]
https://app.dimensions.ai/details/grant/grant.2782889
University of Durham, UK
University of Cape Coast, Ghana
University of Malawi
University of Gondar, Ethiopia
National University of Lesotho
Brunel University, UK
Dundee University, UK
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Publications
Journal articles
Pewa, M., Robson, E., & Deutz, P. (2025). A feminist political ecology of household waste management in an urban township, South Africa. South African Geographical Journal. http://doi.org/10.1080/03736245.2025.2496264
Hajdu, F., van Blerk, L., Ansell, N., Hemsteede, R., Mwathunga, E., Hlabana, T., & Robson, E. (2024). Livelihood Trajectories of Rural Young People in Southern Africa: Stuck in Loops? Development and Change, 55 (3), 465-492. http://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12826
Hadfield-Hill, S., Finn, M., Dudman, J., Ergler, C., Freeman, C., Hayes, T.A., ... Walker, L. (2023). Expanding the scope of ethical research with and for children and young people – six viewpoints on crisis, cross-cultural working and reciprocity. Children's Geographies. http://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2023.2259331
Ansell, N., Mwathunga, E., Hajdu, F., Robson, E., Hlabana, T., van Blerk, L., & Hemsteede, R. (2023). Ethical Principles, Social Harm and the Economic Relations of Research: Negotiating Ethics Committee Requirements and Community Expectations in Ethnographic Research in Rural Malawi. Qualitative Inquiry, 29 (6), 725-736. http://doi.org/10.1177/10778004221124631
Lazaro, M.C., Walker, L., & Robson, E. (2023). Invisible in Plain Sight? Grandfathers Caring for Orphaned Grandchildren in Rural Malawi. African Studies, 82 (1), 43-66. http://doi.org/10.1080/00020184.2023.2212616
Mariwah, S., Machistey Abane, A., Asiedu Owusu, S., Kasim, A., Robson, E., Castelli, M., & Hampshire, K. (2022). Formalising 'informal' mHealth in Ghana: Opportunities and challenges for Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Global public health, 17 (5), 768-781. http://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2021.1874467
Abane, A.M., Mariwah, S., Owusu, S.A., Kasim, A., Robson, E., & Hampshire, K. (2021). Mobile phone use and the welfare of community health nurses in Ghana: An analysis of unintended costs. World development perspectives, 23. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.wdp.2021.100317
Hampshire, K., Mwase-Vuma, T., Alemu, K., Abane, A., Munthali, A., Awoke, T., ... Kasim, A. (2021). Informal mhealth at scale in Africa: Opportunities and challenges. World development, 140. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105257
Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Abane, A., Munthali, A., Robson, E., De Lannoy, A., ... Owusu, S. (2020). Mobile phones, gender, and female empowerment in sub-Saharan Africa: studies with African youth. Information Technology for Development, 26 (1), 180-193. http://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2019.1622500
Ansell, N., Hajdu, F., van Blerk, L., & Robson, E. (2019). Fears for the future: the incommensurability of securitisation and in/securities among southern African youth. Social & Cultural Geography, 20 (4), 507-533. http://doi.org/10.1080/14649365.2017.1344871
Robson, E. (2018). Ethics committees, journal publication and research with children. Children's Geographies, 16 (5), 473-480. http://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2017.1392481
Ansell, N., Hajdu, F., van Blerk, L., & Robson, E. (2018). “My happiest time” or “my saddest time”? The spatial and generational construction of marriage among youth in rural Malawi and Lesotho. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 43 (2), 184-199. http://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12211
Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Abane, A., Munthali, A., Robson, E., Tanle, A., ... Bango, A. (2018). Connecting with home, keeping in touch: physical and virtual mobility across stretched families in sub-Saharan Africa. Africa, 88 (2), 404-424. http://doi.org/10.1017/s0001972017000973
Porter, G., Hampshire, K., de Lannoy, A., Bango, A., Munthali, A., Robson, E., ... Owusu, S. (2018). Youth Livelihoods in the Cellphone Era: Perspectives from Urban Africa. Journal of International Development, 30 (4), 539-558. http://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3340
Hampshire, K., Porter, G., Mariwah, S., Munthali, A., Robson, E., Owusu, S.A., ... Milner, J. (2017). Who bears the cost of 'informal mhealth'? Health-workers' mobile phone practices and associated political-moral economies of care in Ghana and Malawi. Health policy and planning, 32 (1), 34-42. http://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czw095
Ansell, N., Hajdu, F., van Blerk, L., & Robson, E. (2016). AIDS-affected young people’s access to livelihood assets: Exploring ‘new variant famine’ in rural southern Africa. Journal of Rural Studies, 46, 23-34. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.05.008
Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Milner, J., Munthali, A., Robson, E., de Lannoy, A., ... Abane, A. (2016). Mobile Phones and Education in Sub‐Saharan Africa: From Youth Practice to Public Policy. Journal of International Development, 28 (1), 22-39. http://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3116
Hampshire, K., Porter, G., Owusu, S.A., Mariwah, S., Abane, A., Robson, E., ... Milner, J. (2015). Informal m-health: How are young people using mobile phones to bridge healthcare gaps in Sub-Saharan Africa? Social science & medicine (1982), 142, 90-99. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.07.033
Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Abane, A., Munthali, A., Robson, E., Bango, A., ... Milner, J. (2015). Intergenerational relations and the power of the cell phone: Perspectives on young people’s phone usage in sub-Saharan Africa. Geoforum, 64, 37-46. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2015.06.002
Hampshire, K., Porter, G., Agblorti, S., Robson, E., Munthali, A., & Abane, A. (2015). CONTEXT MATTERS: FOSTERING, ORPHANHOOD AND SCHOOLING IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. Journal of biosocial science, 47 (2), 141-164. http://doi.org/10.1017/s0021932014000169
Ansell, N., Hajdu, F., van Blerk, L., & Robson, E. (2014). Reconceptualising temporality in young lives: exploring young people's current and future livelihoods in
Browne, K., Norcup, J., Robson, E., & Sharp, J. (2013). What's in a Name? Removing Women from the Women and Geography Study Group. Area, 45 (1), 7-8. http://doi.org/10.1111/area.12007
Robson, E., Horton, J., & Kraftl, P. (2013). Children's Geographies: reflecting on our first ten years. Children's Geographies, 11 (1), 1-6. http://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2012.752665
Hajdu, F., Ansell, N., Robson, E., & van Blerk, L. (2013). Rural young people's opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship in globalised southern Africa: the limitations of targeting policies. International Development Planning Review, 35 (2), 155-174. http://doi.org/10.3828/idpr.2013.11
E. Robson, E.R., G. Porter, G.P., K. Hampshire, K.H., & A. Munthali, A.M. (2013). Heavy loads: children's burdens of water carrying in Malawi. Waterlines, 32 (1), 23-35. http://doi.org/10.3362/1756-3488.2013.003
Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Abane, A., Munthali, A., Robson, E., Mashiri, M., ... Dube, S. (2012). Child Porterage and Africa’s Transport Gap: Evidence from Ghana, Malawi and South Africa. World Development, 40 (10), 2136-2154. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.05.004
Ansell, N., Robson, E., Hajdu, F., & van Blerk, L. (2012). Learning from young people about their lives: using participatory methods to research the impacts of AIDS in southern Africa. Children's Geographies, 10 (2), 169-186. http://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2012.667918
Hampshire, K., Porter, G., Owusu, S., Mariwah, S., Abane, A., Robson, E., ... Bourdillon, M. (2012). Taking the long view: temporal considerations in the ethics of children's research activity and knowledge production. Children's Geographies, 10 (2), 219-232. http://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2012.667921
Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Abane, A., Munthali, A., Robson, E., Mashiri, M., & Tanle, A. (2012). Youth, mobility and mobile phones in Africa: findings from a three-country study. Information Technology for Development, 18 (2), 145-162. http://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2011.643210
Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Munthali, A., & Robson, E. (2011). Mobility, surveillance and control of children and young people in the everyday: perspectives from sub-Saharan Africa. Surveillance & Society, 9 (1/2), 114-131. http://doi.org/10.24908/ss.v9i1/2.4110
HAJDU, F., ANSELL, N., ROBSON, E., VAN BLERK, L., & CHIPETA, L. (2011). Income-generating activities for young people in southern Africa: Exploring AIDS and other constraints. The Geographical Journal, 177 (3), 251-263. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4959.2010.00381.x
Ansell, N., van Blerk, L., Hajdu, F., & Robson, E. (2011). Spaces, Times, and Critical Moments: A Relational Time–Space Analysis of the Impacts of AIDS on Rural Youth in Malawi and Lesotho. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 43 (3), 525-544. http://doi.org/10.1068/a4363
Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Abane, A., Tanle, A., Munthali, A., Robson, E., ... Maponya, G. (2011). Young people's transport and mobility in sub-Saharan Africa: The gendered journey to school. Documents D Analisi Geografica, 57 (1), 61-79.
Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Abane, A., Robson, E., Munthali, A., Mashiri, M., & Tanle, A. (2010). Moving young lives: Mobility, immobility and inter-generational tensions in urban Africa. Geoforum, 41 (5), 796-804. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2010.05.001
Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Bourdillon, M., Robson, E., Munthali, A., Abane, A., & Mashiri, M. (2010). Children as research collaborators: issues and reflections from a mobility study in sub-Saharan Africa. American journal of community psychology, 46 (1-2), 215-227. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-010-9317-x
Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Abane, A., Munthali, A., Robson, E., Mashiri, M., & Maponya, G. (2010). Where dogs, ghosts and lions roam: learning from mobile ethnographies on the journey from school. Children's Geographies, 8 (2), 91-105. http://doi.org/10.1080/14733281003691343
Robson, E., Porter, G., Hampshire, K., & Bourdillon, M. (2009). ‘Doing it right?’: working with young researchers in Malawi to investigate children, transport and mobility. Children's Geographies, 7 (4), 467-480. http://doi.org/10.1080/14733280903234535
Ansell, N., Robson, E., Hajdu, F., van Blerk, L., & Chipeta, L. (2009). The new variant famine hypothesis. Progress in Development Studies, 9 (3), 187-207. http://doi.org/10.1177/146499340800900302
Robson, E., & Chipeta, L. (2007). Listening to Geographers from the Global South. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 31 (3), 345-352. http://doi.org/10.1080/03098260701574649
Robson, E. (2006). The ‘Kitchen’ as Women's Space in Rural Hausaland, Northern Nigeria. Gender, Place & Culture, 13 (6), 669-676. http://doi.org/10.1080/09663690601019869
Robson, E., Ansell, N., Huber, U.S., Gould, W.T.S., & van Blerk, L. (2006). Young caregivers in the context of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub‐Saharan Africa. Population, Space and Place, 12 (2), 93-111. http://doi.org/10.1002/psp.392
Robson, E. (2004). Children at work in rural northern Nigeria: patterns of age, space and gender. Journal of Rural Studies, 20 (2), 193-210. http://doi.org/10.1016/s0743-0167(03)00047-0
Robson, E. (2004). Hidden Child Workers: Young Carers in Zimbabwe. Antipode, 36 (2), 227-248. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8330.2004.00404.x
ROBSON, E. (2003). The Interview Hurdle to Postgraduate Studies and the Job Market. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 27 (3), 349-354. http://doi.org/10.1080/0309826032000145106
Mashamba, A., & Robson, E. (2002). Youth reproductive health services in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Health & place, 8 (4), 273-283. http://doi.org/10.1016/s1353-8292(02)00007-2
Robson, E. (2002). Introduction. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 26 (3), 309-311. http://doi.org/10.1080/0309826022000019882
Robson, E. (2002). 'An Unbelievable Academic and Personal Experience': Issues around teaching undergraduate field courses in Africa. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 26 (3), 327-344. http://doi.org/10.1080/0309826022000019909
Robson, E. (2001). Interviews Worth the Tears? Exploring Dilemmas of Research with Young Carers in Zimbabwe. Ethics, Place & Environment, 4 (2), 135-142. http://doi.org/10.1080/713665943
Robson, E. (2000). Wife Seclusion and the Spatial Praxis of Gender Ideology in Nigerian Hausaland. Gender, Place & Culture, 7 (2), 179-199. http://doi.org/10.1080/713668870
Robson, E. (2000). Invisible carers: young people in Zimbabwe's home‐based healthcare. Area, 32 (1), 59-69. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4762.2000.tb00115.x
Robson, E. (1996). 13. Working girls and boys: Children's contributions to household survival in West Africa. Geography, 81 (353), 403-407.
Robson, E. (1992). The ERASMUS experience: a student's story. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 16 (1), 94-98. http://doi.org/10.1080/03098269208709171
Conference papers
Crowther, L., Slatter, R., Robson, E., & Johnson, M. (2024). O-09 Whose homes are reflected in homelike hospice architecture and design in England? Parallel session 3.1 – Reflections by design: practice and opportunity, A4.2-A4. http://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2024-hunc.9
Crowther, L., Slatter, R., Robson, E., & Johnson, M. (2024). P-26 ‘This isn’t anybody’s home’: the views of hospice users on the suitability of homelike hospice design. Poster Presentations, A19.2-A20. http://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2024-hunc.47
Book chapters
Robson, E. (2025). Reflection from the Field: Being Trans-friendly - things for fieldtrip leaders to consider. In Hammett, D., & Holmes, N. (Eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Field Research. (pp. 171-173). London: Routledge: http://doi.org/10.4324/9781003404903-27
Cline-Cole, R., & Robson, E. (2016). Conclusion: West African futures? In West African Worlds Paths Through Socio Economic Change Livelihoods and Development. (pp. 281-286).
Robson, E. (2016). Portraying West Africa's children: Moral panics, imagined geographies and globalisation. In West African Worlds Paths Through Socio Economic Change Livelihoods and Development. (pp. 65-85).
Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Abane, A., Robson, E., Munthali, A., Mashiri, M., ... Dube, S. (2012). Perspectives on young people's daily mobility, transport and service access in sub-Saharan Africa. In Mobilities New Perspectives on Transport and Society. (pp. 65-90).
Ansell, N., Hajdu, F., Robson, E., Van Blerk, L., & Marandet, E. (2012). Youth policy, neoliberalism and transnational governmentality: A case study of lesotho and Malawi. In Critical Geographies of Childhood and Youth Contemporary Policy and Practice. (pp. 43-59).
Robson, E. (2009). Children's bodies: Working and caring in sub-Saharan Africa. In Contested Bodies of Childhood and Youth. (pp. 148-162). http://doi.org/10.1057/9780230274747
Robson, E., Panelli, R., & Punch, S. (2007). Conclusions and future directions for studying young rural lives. In Global Perspectives on Rural Childhood and Youth Young Rural Lives. (pp. 219-288). http://doi.org/10.4324/9780203942222
Panelli, R., Punch, S., & Robson, E. (2007). From difference to dialogue conceptualizing global perspectives on rural childhood and youth. In Global Perspectives on Rural Childhood and Youth Young Rural Lives. (pp. 1-13). http://doi.org/10.4324/9780203942222
Robson, E., Bell, S., & Klocker, N. (2007). Conceptualizing agency in the lives and actions of rural young people. In Global Perspectives on Rural Childhood and Youth Young Rural Lives. (pp. 135-148). http://doi.org/10.4324/9780203942222
Panelli, R., Punch, S., & Robson, E. (2007). Preface. In Panelli, R., Punch, S., & Robson, E. (Eds.) Global Perspectives on Rural Childhood and Youth: Young Rural Lives. (pp. xv-xvi). Routledge
Panelli, R., Punch, S., & Robson, E. (2007). Preface. In Panelli, R., Punch, S., & Robson, E. (Eds.) Global Perspectives on Rural Childhood and Youth: Young Rural Lives. (pp. xv-xvi). Routledge
Robson, E., & Ansell, N. (2004). Young carers in southern Africa: Exploring stories from Zimbabwean secondary school students. In Children S Geographies Playing Living Learning. (pp. 150-166).
Books
Panelli, R., Punch, S., & Robson, E. (Eds.). (2007). Global Perspectives on Rural Childhood and Youth: young rural lives. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203942222
Cline-Cole, R., & Robson, E. (2005). West African Worlds: Paths Through Socio-Economic Change, Livelihoods and Development. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315847795
Other activities
Editorial board member, Children's Geographies journal
Member of the Save the Children UK SEAD
Postgraduate supervision
CURRENT PHD STUDENTS:
Faraja Kirubi (C4 ESRC studentship 2025-2028) 'Co-producing inclusive leadership for social connectedness and resiliance: A participatory study with Maasai communities in Northern Tanzania'
Lucia Crowther (Wellcome Trust Doctoral Studentship 2021-2025) 'Exploring 'the domestic' in contemporary hospice architecture: A critical examination of the architecture and design of in-patient palliative care facilities in England'
Saira Mian (University of Hull studentship 2022-2025) 'Mapping geographical intersectional inequalities in deathscapes and topographies of bereavement'
Emmanuel Mawuli Abalo (ESRC WRDTP studentship 1+3 2021-2025) 'The governance and politics of plastic waste management in Ghana'
Thandie Hlabana (Leverhulme Centre for Water Cultures scholarship 2022-2026) 'Gendered survival: Women and water crises in Southern Africa'
COMPLETED PHD SUPERVISEES
Dr Mavuto Banda 2025 (University of Hull studentship 2020-2024) 'Evaluating the impact of child labour bans for Malawi's Southern Region tea and tobacco communities' (now Research Assistant, Youth Aspire Connect, Hull and WildLearning Specialist, WildTeam UK)
Dr Mbali Pewa 2020 (Commonwealth Scholarship 2015 - 2019) ‘Household Waste Management in a South African Township' (now Researcher, University of Stirling)
Dr Bronia Cross 2019 (University of Hull studentship 2014 - 2017) ‘The historical geographies of European Childhood in Colonial Africa: Children's lives in Nyasaland 1889-1964’ (now civil servant, FCDO).
Dr Kalliopi Kaparounaki 2019 (University of Hull studentship 2014 - 2017) ‘Caregiving children in Malawi: Children's work within families affected by illness and disability' (now Lecturer in Social Work, Dundee University).
Dr Mayeso Lazaro 2018 (University of Hull studentship 2015 -2018) ‘Grandfathers caring for orphaned grandchildren in rural Southern Malawi: Invisible in plain sight?' (now Lecturer in Human Ecology, University of Malawi).
Prof Nicola Ansell 1999 (Wingate scholarship) ‘Southern African secondary schools: places of empowerment for rural girls? Cases from Lesotho and Zimbabwe' (now Professor in Human Geography, Brunel University).