Sharon Yeukai Mada comes from Hatcliffe, a structurally disadvantaged suburb of Harare, where a significant proportion of the population suffers from chronic food insecurity and access to sufficient or even balanced food is often not guaranteed. The contradiction between this plight and the simultaneous discarding of food in her environment got her thinking at a young age - and led to the goal of contributing to the long-term fight against hunger and the promotion of sustainable food systems.
Sharon Mada completed her Bachelor's degree in Geography at the University of Zimbabwe and a Master's degree in Ecology and Nature Management at the Russian Peoples' Friendship University in Moscow. Upon her return, she initially taught at Chinhoyi University of Science & Technology before taking up a lectureship at the Catholic University of Zimbabwe in 2022. She combines her academic career with a sound educational background: she also obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education to deepen her teaching skills.
Since 2022, Sharon Mada has been doing her doctorate in agricultural economics at the Thünen Institute of the Georg-August University of Göttingen. In her dissertation, she analyzes food losses in households and street markets in Zimbabwe. Her research addresses two central sustainability goals of the United Nations: SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns). In doing so, she deliberately goes beyond existing research priorities, which have so far largely focused on data and contexts from the Global North. Her work closes an important gap in international agricultural research and creates a sound basis for poverty- and context-appropriate policy measures in Zimbabwe and comparable regions.
In addition to her academic work, Sharon Mada has been socially active for many years. In her home parish, she dedicated herself to supporting people in need. She also plays a responsible role within the KAAD network: elected to the management team of the "KAAD African Parliament" in 2023.
In 2024, Sharon Mada was awarded the KAAD Hermann Weber Scholarship for her academic work, her social commitment and her contribution to the international research landscape.
