Dr Ceesay’s research is situated at the intersection of migration studies, international development and African politics, with a particular geographical focus on West Africa and specialist expertise on The Gambia. His work is concerned with the ways in which political, economic and social processes interact to shape migration, development trajectories, livelihoods, inequality, governance and patterns of mobility in the Global South.
A first strand of his research focuses on migration decision-making and the relationship between migration and development. This work challenges narrow economic explanations of migration and examines how migration decisions are shaped by uncertainty, aspirations, livelihoods, political and social conditions, employment opportunities, development interventions and people’s perceptions of their future. His research is particularly concerned with understanding migration as a process embedded within wider social, political and economic structures rather than simply as an individual economic choice. This agenda has included research on migration choices in The Gambia, Senegal and Guinea through the MIGCHOICE project.
A second strand examines migration, rural livelihoods and social mobility. Dr Ceesay is interested in how migration interacts with rural economies, household strategies, inequality and changing patterns of social mobility. This includes research on long-term migration trajectories and life histories, including the ways in which migration experiences influence return, reinvestment, livelihoods and subsequent mobility. His current work extends this research through comparative studies involving Senegal and Nepal, bringing together migration studies and rural development perspectives.
A third strand of research examines African politics, governance and political economy. Dr Ceesay has a longstanding interest in democratisation, democratic transitions, authoritarianism, political institutions, party systems, political participation and civil–military relations. His research in this area is particularly focused on West Africa and The Gambia and explores how political institutions and systems of governance shape social and economic change.
A fourth strand concerns political economy, inequality and development in Africa. This work considers how the distribution of political and economic power influences development outcomes, livelihoods and opportunities, and how inequalities in access to resources, employment and institutions affect people's choices and trajectories. This provides an important bridge between his research on governance and his work on migration and development.
A fifth strand focuses on diaspora engagement and migration and development policy. Dr Ceesay has undertaken research on the role of diasporas in development and has contributed to policy debates concerning diaspora engagement and national development planning in The Gambia. His research seeks to connect empirical evidence on migration and diaspora experiences with practical questions of development policy and governance.
Dr Ceesay is committed to interdisciplinary and internationally collaborative research. His work brings political science into dialogue with migration studies, development studies and related social science disciplines. He has experience of qualitative and quantitative approaches, including ethnographic research, discourse analysis, migration life histories and the study of migration decision-making. A consistent feature of his research is engagement with researchers and institutions in Africa and the wider international research community.
Regional focus
Dr Ceesay’s research has a strong West African focus, with specialist expertise on The Gambia and wider research interests spanning Senegal and neighbouring countries. His work also contributes to comparative research linking West African experiences with other regions of the Global South, including South Asia.
His long-standing engagement with The Gambia combines academic research with extensive professional and field knowledge of the country's political, social and institutional development. His comparative work seeks to situate West African migration and development experiences within wider debates about mobility, inequality, governance and political economy.
Research funding and leadership
Dr Ceesay has contributed to and led international and interdisciplinary research programmes involving academic institutions and research partners across Africa, the UK and Europe.
He was Co-Team Leader for the Gambian Work Package (WP2) of MIGCHOICE – Testing the Impact of Interventions on Migration Choices in West Africa, working with Professor Alice Bellagamba. The project examined how development interventions influence migration decision-making in The Gambia, Senegal and Guinea and investigated the relationship between migration, uncertainty, aspirations, livelihoods and development policy.
His research has also included extensive work on migration and sustainable development in The Gambia, including research on diaspora engagement, migration and development and the relationship between migration and national development planning.
Dr Ceesay’s research leadership is complemented by experience in research capacity building, policy engagement and knowledge exchange, particularly in relation to African research and development institutions.
Research themes
- Migration studies
- Migration decision-making and migration choices
- Migration and international development
- Migration, livelihoods and social mobility
- Rural livelihoods and inequality
- Diaspora engagement and transnational development
- African politics and political economy
- Democratisation and democratic transitions
- Authoritarianism and governance
- Political institutions and party systems
- Civil–military relations
- Political history of The Gambia
- Media and political communication in West Africa
- Research capacity building and institutional development in Africa
Geographic Areas of Expertise
- West Africa
- The Gambia
- Senegal
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Comparative research interests in South Asia, including Nepal
Research and Policy Engagement
Dr Ceesay’s research is characterised by a strong commitment to connecting academic scholarship with policy and public engagement. His work has involved collaboration with universities, governments, international organisations and civil society partners.
His research on migration and development is particularly concerned with the policy implications of migration decision-making research and with developing a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between development interventions and migration. His work on African politics similarly connects scholarly analysis with contemporary debates on democracy, governance, political institutions and political change.
His professional background in journalism provides an additional dimension to this engagement, enabling him to contribute to public debates on African politics, governance, migration and development through research, commentary and expert analysis.
Selected Research Projects
- MIGCHOICE – Testing the Impact of Interventions on Migration Choices in West Africa
- Co-Team Leader, Gambian Work Package (WP2):
MIGCHOICE investigates how development interventions affect migration decision-making in The Gambia, Senegal and Guinea. The research examines migration aspirations and choices in the context of uncertainty, livelihoods, development interventions and young people's perceptions of their futures. Dr Ceesay's work focuses particularly on the Gambian component of the project.
- Mapping Migration Life Histories: Scoping Study in Nepal and Senegal:
This research explores long-term migration trajectories through migration life histories, examining how economic, political and social processes shape migration decisions, migration pathways, return and subsequent mobility.
The project is particularly interested in the relationship between migration, rural livelihoods, inequality and social mobility and contributes to a longer-term understanding of migration beyond the initial decision to migrate.
Research Impact and Engagement
Dr Ceesay's research has contributed to policy and institutional debates on migration, diaspora engagement and development in The Gambia. His work seeks to ensure that research findings are accessible and relevant to policymakers, practitioners and wider publics.
His research and professional expertise have also supported engagement on African governance, democracy, political change and migration, including contributions to briefings and expert analysis for governmental and international organisations.
Sustainable Development Goals
Dr Ceesay’s research contributes particularly to:
- SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
Through research on migration, livelihoods, employment, youth and development. - SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
Through research on migration, inequality, social mobility and development. - SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Through research on democracy, governance, political institutions, authoritarianism and political participation. - SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
Through international research collaboration, research capacity building and partnerships involving universities, governments and development organisations. - SDG 1 – No Poverty
Through research examining livelihoods, migration, development and the socio-economic conditions influencing mobility and opportunity.