School of Arts and Humanities

Associate Professor Kwadwo Adusei-Asante

Kwadwo is an Associate Professor in Social Science at the School of Arts and Humanities.

Current teaching

• CSV3114 - Social Research & Program Evaluation
• CSV2111 - Community Development

Background

Kwadwo is an Associate Professor of Community Studies. Within this broad field, Kwadwo researches and contributes an important voice on the theory and practice of program evaluation in the community sector; ethnography of community engagement in international and community development; social developments in Africa; and issues pertaining to culture and racism.

Kwadwo has over 20 years work experience across Australia, Ghana, and the Netherlands. Prior to joining ECU, Kwadwo worked as a Principal Policy Officer with Western Australia’s Department of Premier and Cabinet (Public Sector Commission) and as a Senior Policy Officer with the Mental Health Commission (Western Australia). Kwadwo has previously held various evaluation lead roles in several community organisations in Australia.

Since joining ECU, Kwadwo has led and managed strategic multi-site projects for several not-for-profit organisations. These projects have largely informed adaptive strategic directions, operational and business area performance on matters relating to community development, community engagement, community-led solutions, program evaluation, social impact measurements, policy analysis and systems audits.

Kwadwo has received research and community project funding of nearly AU$1.4 million, including Category 1 and Australia’s first major ARC-funded research on the political, economic and cultural effects of road infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa. Kwadwo has supervised almost ten PhD completions with a further eight current PhD students. Kwadwo is a sought-after columnist and keynote speaker and has contributed to several national debates including Western Australia’s Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on the Commissioner for Children and Young People.

Kwadwo is a recognised expert in program evaluation and currently serves as the Associate Editor of the Evaluation Journal of Australasia. Kwadwo also represents several national evaluation groups across Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific at the International Organisation for Cooperation in Evaluation.

Professional associations

• International Association for Impact Assessment (Member)
• International Australian Studies Association (Member)
• Australian Evaluation Society (Member)
• African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific (Member)
• Community-Driven Development Community of Practice Group (Member)
• International Association for Community Development (Member)

Awards and recognition

National and International awards

• 2022: Associate Editor, Evaluation Journal of Australasia
• 2022: Board Member, International Organization for Cooperation in Evaluation
• 2021: Winner, School of Arts and Humanities Engagement in Research Award
• 2021: Advisory Board Member, Africa Research & Engagement Centre, University of Western Australia
• 2019 - 2020: Consultant & Research Fellow, Ngala Community Services
• 2018: Social Change Award, Organization of African Communities, Western Australia
• 2009 - 2012: Towards aid effectiveness: contested concepts and theories. A case study of the World Bank Community-Based Rural Development Programs. Edith Cowan University Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and International Stipends.
• 2008 - 2009: Ghana’s national health insurance scheme in practice: motives for joining and modes of use in the Afram Plains, Ghana. Vrije University of Amsterdam Fellowship Program, The Netherlands.
• 2007 - 2008: Schisms among Pentecostal Churches in the Biljmer, Amsterdam. Vrije University of Amsterdam Faculty of Theology Grant, The Netherland

University and National teaching awards

• 2018: Nomination for Vice Chancellor's Award for Programs that Enhance Learning
• 2016: Nomination for Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence in Research by Early Career Research Award
• 2015: Social impact assessment of Australia’s Federal government’s proposed university deregulation policy on current and prospective country university students in Western Australia, Edith Cowan University Faculty Research Grant.

National and International research awards

• 2024/2025-African Australian Young Adults Engagement Patrols in Northbridge Entertainment Precinct- Phase II Western Australia Police Force $86,350
• 2024 - Towards better police engagement with African–Australian youth in Perth’s Northbridge entertainment precinct. Western Australia Police Force. $36,000.
• 2024 - Wanneroo Community Christmas Day Lunch. City of Wanneroo. $11,000.
• 2021 - 2022 - Roads to the Future: Infrastructure and the New Development in East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. WA Associate Deans of Research Collaboration Fund. $12,500
• 2020 - 2021 - Philosophy in the Community Classroom. UWA Law Internal Research Grants Scheme. $2,500

Research areas and interests

• Migrant/African communities
• Education in minority communities
• International & community development
• Pentecostal communities
• Program evaluation/impact assessment in the community sector

Research reports

• Adusei-Asante, K. & Gringart, E. (2024). Delivering Safety Education Programs to Young People: What  Works? A Randomised Controlled Trial of the City After Dark Program. Research Report, Constable Care, Western Australia.
• Banham, V., Adusei-Asante, K., Pelden, S., Hopkins, L. & Jau, J. (2022). Evaluation Report: Tenacious House Intake and Intervention & Continuing Care Services. Edith Cowan University/Tenacious House, Western Australia.
• Banham, V., Adusei-Asante, K., Pelden, S., Hopkins, L. & Jau, J. (2022). Evaluation Report: Continuing Care Services. Edith Cowan University/Tenacious House.
• Banham, V., Adusei-Asante, K., Pelden, S., Hopkins, L. & Jau, J. (2021). Evaluability Assessment Report. Edith Cowan University/Tenacious House, Western Australia.
• Adusei-Asante, K. (2021). Where are you really from?’ The harsh realities of Afro-Aussie life are brought to stage in Black Brass. The Conversation, Australia.
• Adusei-Asante, K. (2020). Evaluating programs in new normal times: Lessons from Constable Care, Western Australia. Australian Evaluation Society, Australia.
• Adusei-Asante, K. (2018). Peer mentoring program shows promise for preventing African youth violence. The Conversation, Australia.
• Hancock, P., Adusei, K. & Georgiou, J. (2017). Empowering Women: What Works? Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade & Australian Aid. Research Report. Canberra, Australia.
• Hancock, P., Adusei, K. & Georgiou, J. (2017). The life of former female manufacturing in Sri Lanka. Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade & Australian Aid. Policy Brief. Canberra, Australia.