Headshot of Professor David Monk

Dr. David Monk

Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Humanities, Gulu University, Uganda

A pivotal scholar-practitioner focused on Epistemic Justice and decolonizing knowledge through Community-Based Participatory Research in post-conflict Northern Uganda.

Dr. Monk is a distinguished academic whose work is deeply embedded in the Global South. His career is characterized by bridging the gap between university scholarship and grassroots community needs. His PhD from the University of Victoria explored informal learning within grassroots activism for social and environmental justice.

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Leadership in Engaged Scholarship (K4C Africa)

Dr. Monk plays a central leadership role in establishing and building capacity for ethical, community-engaged research across the African continent:

  • Serves as Co-coordinator for the UNESCO Knowledge for Change (K4C) African Centre for Training in Community Based Participatory Research, established in 2024.
  • Leads the "Gold Star Mentor Training Program," equipping academic and community leaders with the skills to teach and facilitate CBPR.
  • The "Wang Oo" (Campfire) Speaker Series at Gulu University, which he drives, adapts traditional Acholi cultural formats to integrate Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) into the university's curriculum and research agendas.

Academic and Professional Highlights

Dr. Monk's expertise is built on a robust foundation of academic achievement and extensive, hands-on industry experience:

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, focusing on innovative solutions in water governance.
  • Over 25 years of senior leadership experience in the South African water sector, specializing in research, innovation, and strategic implementation.
  • Successfully led and delivered over 200 large-scale projects in water resource management, climate change adaptation, and sustainable infrastructure development.

Key International Research Initiatives

Dr. Monk's research is unified by the principle of Applied Epistemic Justice, challenging Eurocentric knowledge hierarchies and validating diverse forms of local knowledge.

He is a critical interlocutor in major international projects, translating local realities into global academic discourse:

  • VET Africa 4.0 Collective: A core contributor to this GCRF-funded project, arguing for a transformative "social skills ecosystem" perspective on Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Africa that champions informal, youth-led learning.
  • DRIVE Project (Disabled Refugees Included and Visible in Education): Served as the Ugandan Co-Investigator for this British Academy-funded study, focusing on intersectional justice and the educational rights of disabled refugees in Northern Uganda.
  • UNESCO Chair in Lifelong Learning Youth and Work: Serves as a Special Advisor, providing a formal channel for his research on vocational education and informal learning to inform international UNESCO policy.

Academic and Community Integration

Dr. Monk maintains formal international affiliations to ensure his work's global reach, while his primary role keeps him locally accountable:

  • Primary Appointment: Lecturer at Gulu University, Uganda, and instructor in the Master's program at the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies.
  • International Affiliations: Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham (UK) and Affiliate Faculty at the University of Victoria (Canada).
  • Civil Society: Serves as a Board Member for several NGOs in Gulu, providing a critical, non-academic accountability mechanism for his work.

Dr. Monk’s career provides a powerful, practicable model for how academic scholarship can be ethically and effectively co-created with communities to address profound social injustices. His keynote will offer a critical look at how universities can truly embody the transformative power of engaged scholarship.

Scholarship in Action: Decolonizing Knowledge

Dr. Monk’s academic work actively challenges traditional research paradigms. He is a passionate advocate for decolonizing knowledge and creating inclusive platforms for dialogue. A powerful example of this is his leadership on the “Wang Oo” (campfire) speaker series at Gulu University, an initiative that integrates traditional Acholi knowledge-sharing practices directly into the academic space.

His commitment to the Scholarship of Engagement extends far beyond university walls. To ensure his work remains grounded and impactful, he also sits on the board of several Gulu-based NGOs focused on social empowerment and sustainable development, providing strategic guidance and forging vital links between academic research and grassroots community action.