The Praxis
Room
The Griot in Action
Here, you will find both the foundations of my work and the ways it can be put into action. You are welcome to explore what has been done and what we might do together.
Dimensions of
my Praxis
My work spans research, education, community practice, writing, and consulting, and is always grounded in African-feminist thought and shaped by care, context, and collaboration.
Research &
Scholarship
Over a decade of research across master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral levels, with peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Comparative Education, Critical African Studies, and International Journal of Educational Development. I have been a lead on a $30,000 national situational analysis on adolescent feminist activism, and co-investigator on multiple projects, including EU-funded AFRIUNI ( with a £27,000 budget personally managed). My research bridges Global North and Global South theory and centres non-extractive, participatory methods.
Education & Facilitation
I have teaching experience spanning UK and African higher education contexts — from peer tutoring while at UCL Institute of Education to lecturing in Gender Studies at the University of Buea and supervising postgraduate research at the University of the Free State.
I have designed and taught compulsory gender curricula, facilitated annual research colloquia, and delivered numerous civil society trainings. I am also a recognised Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK).
Community & Youth Development Practive
I am the founder and pioneer Executive Coordinator of Better Breed Cameroon (2011–2023), leading an average of four youth development projects annually for over a decade. Directly impacted 3,500+ young people nationwide through writing contests (9 editions), national reading caravans, employability boot camps, civic initiatives, and partnerships with 27 companies for the inaugural Cameroon Career Fair
Writing & Knowledge Translation
I am an author of peer-reviewed academic work, creative fiction, essays, and poetry since 2010. Published in international journals and anthologies, including the 2011 Caine Prize for African Writing Anthology. I have been a regular socio-political commentator for platforms such as This is Africa and Africa is A Country. My writing has garnered recognition as part of a new crop of African writers and as a 2025 Miles Moreland Fellowship recipient. I am also adept at translating complex academic research into accessible public thought across blogs, reports, and digital storytelling, winning the University of the Free States’ 3-Minute Thesis award in 2020
Consulting &
Advisory Work
Since 2021, I have either led or contributed to consultancy engagements with the likes of the African Women’s Development Fund, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the Global Fund for Women, Plan International (as Gender Specialist for Education Cannot Wait), and others. My advisory capacity has been beneficial to the realisation of projects across conceptualisation, implementation, and evaluation.
Let’s Work together
My work moves between scholarship, mentorship, institutional strengthening, and public thought. I partner with individuals, universities, foundations, and civil society organisations seeking rigorous, grounded, and transformative engagement.
Here are the ways I can support your work irrespective of what group you belong to.
1 Research, Mentorship & Academic Development
My work moves between scholarship, mentorship, institutional strengthening, and public thought. I partner with individuals, universities, foundations, and civil society organisations seeking rigorous, grounded, and transformative engagement.
Here are the ways I can support your work irrespective of what group you belong to.
- Research design and methodology development
- Participatory and non-extractive research frameworks
- Proposal and grant writing support
- Academic writing and publication strategy
- Peer review and manuscript feedback
- Graduate school and scholarship applications
- Long-term academic and career mapping
- Research supervision packages
Whether you are developing a doctoral proposal, preparing a journal article, or leading a funded research project, I offer rigorous, context-sensitive guidance.
2 Public Intellectual Engagement & Thought Leadership
For academic institutions, literary festivals, research networks, foundations, media outlets, and civil society platforms, I can be engaged for:
- Keynote addresses and guest lectures
- Public commentary on gender, education, youth, and African higher education
- Moderating and facilitating civic dialogues
- Writing commissioned essays and op-eds
- Designing and hosting public salons or intellectual forums
- Translating research findings into accessible public-facing outputs
My work bridges academic rigour and public conversation. I speak across classrooms, conferences, and civic spaces, ensuring that complex ideas travel beyond the university.
3 Curriculum, Training & Institutional Development
- Curriculum review and decolonisation support
- Gender mainstreaming and strategy development
- Design of learning modules and training programmes
- Staff capacity-building workshops
- Development of institutional policies
- Facilitation of research colloquia and knowledge events
4 Gender & Programme Consultancy
For foundations, development agencies, and civil society organisations, I provide:
- Gender analysis and programme assessment
- Development of gender-transformative strategies
- Situational analysis research
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Participatory budgeting and research management
- Advocacy briefs and strategic documentation.
5 Youth & Organisational Strategy
- Gender analysis and programme assessment
- Financial sustainability planning
- Youth engagement frameworks
- Event and programme design
- Partnership development and impact storytelling
Whether you are seeking:
Rigorous research support, thoughtful mentorship, a speaker who bridges scholarship and public life, a gender specialist grounded in African contexts, a strategic partner for institutional growth
Endorsements of My Praxis
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with students, colleagues, senior academics, civil society partners, and international organisations. Here is what some of them have said about my work.
I can speak confidently to Monique’s moral integrity and work ethic, two qualities she has carried consistently from her early years as a youth expert to her work today as a respected researcher and thought leader. You get the best of her intellectual rigour and analytical depth, combined with a rare humility and deep respect for the people and communities she works with.
Strategic Programming and Innovation Lead, IPPF Africa Region
Monique is an exceptional researcher and storyteller. Whether academic analysis, advocacy research, or personal essays, her work carries a transformative commitment shaped by African feminist ethics and sustained by profound empathy.
Founder, Eyala and CEO of African Women’s Development Fund
I engaged Dr. Monique Kwachou in late 2025 for research coaching, and her work exceeded my expectations. During our sessions, she asked highly pertinent questions that brought immense clarity to my project, allowing me to refine my approach and planning effectively. Her professionalism shone through in the perfectly written session notes she provided after each meeting, ensuring that no detail was ever missed or forgotten. What truly set her apart, however, was her deep commitment—she took on the project as if it were her own, fully aligning with my line of thinking and truly understanding the context. This dedication allowed her to provide incredibly impactful and relevant guidance. Ultimately, I was more than satisfied with the results and the outstanding service Dr. Monique provided.
FCCA, MA Financial Consultant
Monique’s passion for Youth development is unquinchable. From a very early age, I have known how committed she is to that course. Her perfect intersection of both being a creative, artist and academic makes her an all rounder in the field . Her keen eye for detail especially in analysis is something remarkable . She tries to reach out to both policy makers and young people from her own self inspiration of being someone who struggled to find her place and now seeks to offer this platform to other young people via different initiatives.
Policy Advisor- Bread for the World, Germany
Work
With
This Griot
A hosted space for thought, memory and public life
© 2026 Monique Kwachou