Dr. Kwaku Arhin-Sam
Leiter | Friedensau Institute for Evaluation
Dozent für International Social Sciences
Dozent für International Social Sciences
Education
| 2014-2018 | PhD | Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS), Jacobs University and University of Bremen, Germany |
| 2016 | Certificate | Geographical Information Systems (GIS) & Remote Sensing, United Nations University, Legon, Ghana |
| 2010-2013 | M.A | International Social Science, Friedensau Adventist University, Germany |
| 2004–2008 | B.Ed. | Social Science, University of Cape Coast, Ghana |
Employment
| Since 2016 | Freelance Consultant for Development Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Organizational Development (Project Monitoring and Evaluations, Social and Development Policy Analysis, Project Management, Capacity Building Training) |
| 2019 | Researcher, West Africa Migration Governance (WAMIG), Arnold Bergstraesser Institute, Freiburg, Germany |
| 2014 | Scientific Research Assistant, Department for Social Anthropology, University of Bayreuth, Germany |
| 2013–2014 | Research Associate, Faculty of Social Science, Friedensau Adventist University, Germany |
| 2009–2010 | Teaching/Administrative Assistant, Faculty of Arts, University of Cape Coast, Ghana |
Professional Engagements
| Since 2018 | Founder (Non-executive Director), Centre for Return and i-Migration (CRIM), Valley View University, Techiman Campus, Ghana |
| 2017–2019 | Consultant, Friedensau International Admissions project, Friedensau Adventist University, Germany |
| 2019 | External Consultant and Evaluator, Give them a Chance Project, Petit-Guave, Haiti for ADRA Switzerland and ADRA Haiti |
| 2012a | External Evaluation Consultant: ADRA International, Haiti, 2012 Network-funded Earthquake Response, ADRA International in Haiti |
| 2012b | Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant, ADRA Ghana, Ghana, 2012 |
| 2012c | Impact assessment Consultant, ADRA Ghana Microfinance Program, Ghana |
| 2011 | Project Monitoring consultant on Sinti and Roma Community Project for ADRA Germany, ADRA Ukraine. |
Selected Publications
| Edited Books | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2019). Return Migration, Reintegration and Sense of Belonging; The Case of Skilled Ghanaian Returnees”. Nomos Publications. Baden-Baden; Germany; | |
| Peer reviewed journals/working papers | |
| Mudege, N. N., Lecoutere, E., Arhin-Sam, K., Kihoro, E., Kakwasha, K. and Manyise, T. (2025). Enhancing women’s empowerment and climate-adaptive capacities in aquaculture in climate hotspots in Zambia. CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform Working Paper #028. Nairobi, Kenya: CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform. | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. & Lambert, L. (2023). Germany’s new migration policy: What the paradigm shift means for African partner countries”. APRI Policy Analysis Series. May, 2023 | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. & Fakhry, A. (2023). Niger The Gate to the Sahel: EU-Migration Partnerships with third countries Brot für die Welt and Misereor. Countrz Briefs on EU-Migration Partnerships with third countries. April, 2021 | |
| Arhin-Sam, K., Bisong, A., Jegen, L., Mounkaila, H., & Zanker, F. (2022). The (in)formality of mobility in the ECOWAS region: The paradoxes of free movement. South African Journal of International Affairs, 29(2), 187–205. https://doi.org/10.1080/10220461.2022.2084452 | |
| Setrana, M. B., Arhin-Sam, K., Mensah, J., & Owusu Kyei, J. R. K. (2021). An Assessment of Ghana’s Policies and Institutional Framework to Promote State-led Academic Diaspora Engagement. International Journal of African Higher Education, 8(2), 65–83. https://ejournals.bc.edu/index.php/ijahe/article/view/13477 | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2021). Ghana as the EU’s Migration Partner. Actors, Interests, and Recommendations for European Policymakers” DGAP Report No. 7, April 29, 2021, 21 pp | |
| Arhin-Sam, K., (2019). The Political Economy of Migration Governance in Nigeria; Arnold Bergstraesser Institute. Freiburg | |
| Arhin-Sam, K., & Zanker, F., (2019). Nigeria at a Crossroads: The Political Stakes of Migration Governance”; MEDAM Policy Brief No. 2019/4, IfW, Kiel | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. Zanker, F., Altrogge, J., & Jegen, L., (2019) “Challenges in EU-African Migration Cooperation: West African Perspectives on Forced Return”; MEDAM Policy Brief No. 2019/4, IfW, Kiel | |
| Book Chapters | |
| Setrana, M. B., & Arhin-Sam, K. (2021). Harnessing social and political Remittances for Africa’s development: The case of skilled returnees and skilled return migrant groups in Ghana. In M. Konte, & L. M. Mbaye (Eds.), Migration, remittances, and sustainable development in Africa (pp. 138-156). London: Routledge. | |
| Peer Reviewed Technical Reports | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2025). The Feasibility of Implementing the Chemen Lavi Miyò (CLM) Project for Ultra-Poor Families in Savanette, Haiti. Feasibility Study Report. Fonkoze, Haiti. Opportunity International, Germany | |
| Arhin-Sam, K., Spiegler, T. (2024). CampusSurvey 2024: Friedensau Adventist University. Friedensau, Germany | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2024). Protection and Recovery of Homeless in Serbia. Technical Report. ADRA Switzerland / Serbia | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2024). Assessing the impact of the Chemen Lavi Miyò (CLM) on Extremely Poor households. Evaluation Report. Fonkoze Haiti, Opportunity International, Germany | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2023). Barriers to Higher Secondary Education in Europe: A case study of Germany, Portugal, and Romania. Technical Paper. ADRA Europe | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2023). An Assessment of the ADRA Food Distribution Shop in Buerglen, Switzerland.. Evaluation Report. ADRA Switzerland | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2023). Assessing the effectiveness of the Multi-national ADRA-ECF sponsorship programme in Madagascar, Pakistan, and Nepal. Technical Evaluation Report. ADRA Netherlands | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2022). The Viability of the Chemen Lavi Miyò (Clm) Project in Verrettes Commune, Haiti. Fonkoze Haiti, Opportunity International, Germany | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2022). An Assessment of the Inter-European Division’s LeadLab Programme. Evaluation Report. EUD-SDA. Switzerland. | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2022). Gender and Aquaculture in Climate-Hotspots in Zambia. Technical Impact Report WorldFish Zambia | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2022). Regional Strategy and Performance Evaluation of the ADRA Europe. Technical Report. ADRA Europe, Brussels | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2022. Aquaculture Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Zambia. Evaluation Report. WorldFish Zambia | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2021). Strategy Development and planning for the Kronsberg Life Tower e.V. Strategy Report. KLT, Hannover Germany | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2021). Strengthening Equity, Access and Quality in Education in Sahel (SEAQE Sahel) in Mali and Niger, Final Evaluation Report. ADRA Norway | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2021). The Feasibility of St. John Bosco Institute of Technology (Jobitech) Kubwa, Abuja, Nigeria. Feasibility Study Report, Salesians of St. John Bosco, Nigeria | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2021). The Feasibility of Chemen Lavi Miyò (CLM) Project in Eastern Savanette, Haiti. Feasibility Study Report, Opportunity International, Germany | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2020). Online Teaching and Learning during Covid-19 Pandemic. Technical Report; Friedensau Adventist University | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2020). Statelessness Reduction and Community sensitization in Thailand. Technical Evaluation Report; ADRA Switzerland | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2019). Give Them a Chance: Education for Restavek Children in Haiti. Technical Evaluation Report; ADRA Switzerland. | |
OTHER PUBLICATION | |
| Arhin-Sam, K. (2021). Emerging developments from the EU's Draft Action Plan for Nigeria", Migration Control.Info Blog; November 2021 https://migration-control.info/emerging-developments-from-the-eus-draft-action-plan-for-nigeria/ | |
LANGUAGES:English : Advanced German: Intermediate French: Beginner Arabic: Beginner. Fanti/Twi: Advanced | |
COMPUTING SKILLS:Microsoft Office Suit, MAXQDA, Nvivo, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (Advanced) and R (Beginner) | |
REFEREES: | |
| Prof. Ulrike Schultz - "> | |
| Prof. Thomas Spiegler - "> | |
| Prof. Mary Setrana - |
Research projects (Academic)
| Dates | Role | Description | Funder |
| Ongoing | Principal Investigator | Assessing the socio-political, economic, and demographic situation and resources in the Jerichower Land, Municipality of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany | Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth |
| Ongoing | Principal Researcher | Assessing the lived experiences of immigrants in Germany | - |
| 2023 | Lead Researcher | Analysing Germany’s new migration policy and its implications for African countries | Funded by the African Research Institute, Germany |
| 2023 | Principal Researcher | Examining the EU-migration partnership with Niger | Funded by Brot für die Welt and Misereor |
| 2021 | Principal Researcher | Assessing the actors and interests in the Ghana–EU migration partnership | Funded by the German Council for Foreign Relations |
| 2020–2021 | Principal Investigator | Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on academic and student life in Friedensau | Funded by Friedensau Adventist University |
| 2020 | Principal Investigator | Analysing the emerging developments from the EU’s migration action plan for Nigeria | Funded by Migration Control.info |
| 2019–2020 | Principal Investigator | The political economy of migration governance in Nigeria | Funded by the Mercator Dialogue on Asylum and Migration (MEDAM) |
| 2019–2020 | Co-Researcher | West Africa Migration Governance (WAMIG) | Funded by the Mercator Dialogue on Asylum and Migration (MEDAM) |
| 2019 | Co-Investigator | Assessing the West African perspectives on challenges in EU-Africa migration cooperation | Funded by the Mercator Dialogue on Asylum and Migration (MEDAM) |
| 2014–2018 | Principal Researcher | Return migration, belonging and reintegration of skilled return Ghanaians from Europe and North America | German Government Excellence Initiative |
Presentations
- Migration Governance and The Politics Of Shaming; Nigeria And Irregular Migration, at Governing Migration outside ‘Fortress Europe’ conference at University of Cambridge, 16–17 September 2019.
- ‘Conceptualising Sense of Belonging’ paper presented at the third CEGRAD, UCC Summer School on the Engendered Politics of Place and Belonging Pempamsie Hotel, Cape Coast 16th – 27th July 2018.
- ‘Return Migration and Qualitative Research’ paper presented at the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB) Summer School on Good Work in Academia, Berlin, 28th May – 1st June, 2018.
- ‘Interrogating Citizenship and Perceptions: Ghana’s Movers and Stayers Paradox’ paper presented at the International Migration Conference, Centre for Migration Studies, Legon, Ghana, 26th – 27th October 2017.
- ‘Return Migration and Post-return Perceptions’ paper presented at African Studies Association of Africa (ASAA) Conference, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, 12th – 14th October 2017.
- ‘Returnees and Land Conflicts in Ghana” paper presented at the second CEGRAD, UCC Summer School on Intersectional Perspectives on Pastoralism, Migration and Displacement, Cape Coast 24th July– 4th August 2017.
- Panel on Land commodification, Land tenure and Gender in Africa at the 7th European Conference on African Studies (ECAS) 2017 with the theme: Urban Africa - Urban Africans: New encounters of the rural and the urban, Centre for African Studies Basel, Switzerland 29th June – 1st July, 2017. Panel Chair.
- Curriculum review workshop for the M.A. in International Social Science, Theologische Hochschule Friendensau, Germany. Resource Person, 24th March –4th April 2017.
- ‘Trajectories of Return: Returnees in The Eyes of Others’ paper presented at the German Sociological Congress under the section: Entwicklungssoziologie und Sozialanthropologie Offene Gesellschaften? Lebenswelten von Flüchtlingen im Globalen Süden, University of Bamberg, Germany, 27th – 29th September 2016.
- Cape Coast Harmattan School on Re-Activating Gender-Sensitive Research on Land: Land Commoditization, Land Tenure and Gender in Africa, held at the Sasakawa Conference Centre, UCC, Cape Coast, Ghana, February to March 2016. Facilitator.
- Summer School on Doing and Communicating Qualitative Research, participation and presentation of research methods, Kingston University London, United Kingdom, 4th – 8th July 2016; Participant.
- ‘From Integration to Reintegration; A Conceptual Framing’ dissertation presentation at the Innovative Learning Week, Firbush Retreat for PhD Researchers, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, 15th – 17th February 2016.
- ‘Conceptualizing Reintegration and Sense of Belonging; An Analytical Model for Return Migration’ paper presented at the International Conference on Labour Migration and Industrial Citizenship: Albanians on the Move – Citizenship, Identity and Development, University of New York Tirana, Albania, 23rd – 25th June 2015.
Teaching
| Since 2013 | Adjunct lecturer, School of Social Sciences, Friedensau Adventist University M.A Courses: Development Economics Social Research Methods Migration and Refugee studies Working Approaches in Humanitarian Aid Science and Innovation management Interdisciplinary Analysis of Development Cooperation |
| 2017–2018 Winter semester | Co-Lecturer, University of Bremen, Germany B.A. Course Sociology in English |
| 2017–2018 Winter semester | Co-Lecturer, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany B.A. Course Academic and Professional Skills, A University-wide Foundation Course |
| 2008–2010 | Teaching Assistant B.Ed/BCom Dstance education Course Management Information Systems (MIS) |
Professional Memberships
| Since 2017 | Member: African Studies Association of Africa |
| Since 2017 | Member: African Migration, Mobility, and Displacement (AMODI) |
| Since 2017 | Member: Africa-Europe Group for Interdisciplinary Studies (AEGIS) |
| Since 2017 | Co-Editor, AKEZ Working Papers |
