Some stories cannot be contained within borders. They rise from local struggles, cross continents, and return with insights that reshape both scholarship and society. Lizah Makombore’s PhD journey in ecological economics is one such story. Born in Zimbabwe, shaped by South Africa, and now researching in the United States, Lizah embodies the resilience, vision, and courage of African women in academia. Her work weaves together agroecology, policy, and community engagement, proving that research can be both rigorous and deeply human — a bridge between ancestral wisdom and sustainable futures.
A Scholar’s Purpose: More Than Numbers
Lizah Makombore’s story begins in Zimbabwe, but her ambitions and purpose transcend borders. Now based in Burlington, Vermont, the first-generation scholar is carving a path in ecological economics—a discipline that challenges traditional models of growth and highlights the social and environmental costs of economic decisions. “I always explain myself as someone primarily in academia,” Lizah says, describing her work as deeply involved in “research, data collection, analysis, and working with communities.” But beneath the academic jargon lies a deeper question that propelled her journey: How can success serve community?
Starting her academic path in statistics and economics at the University of Cape Town, Lizah’s early career took her into the financial sector. From analyzing equity and foreign exchange at Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank to a stint at Liberty Financial Holdings, she was climbing a ladder that many would aspire to. Yet something felt missing. “I had a constant reminder of what I am doing to give back,” she says. “Was I really making impactful work?” That dissonance led her to pivot into development finance, teaching, and eventually, to her current PhD studies in ecological economics. The shift was both intellectual and deeply personal. “I want to do work that speaks back to the community I came from,” she affirms.
Reframing Economics: Ecological and Social Justice
At the University of Vermont, Lizah’s doctoral research delves into what she calls “social dilemmas”—policy or market decisions that benefit the few while creating ecological or social harm for the many. “Ecological economics integrates the social and ecological aspects of the economy,” she explains, contrasting it with mainstream models that fixate on infinite market growth. “We cannot just grow the market and ignore the people and the planet it leaves behind.”
Her work is anything but abstract. Lizah is involved in three research projects that span local, regional, and global scales. One project, in partnership with the Stop Financing Factory Farming Coalition, investigates how multilateral development banks like the World Bank and African Development Bank are financing industrial livestock systems. “These systems cause pollution, labor violations, and animal welfare issues,” she says. Lizah advocates for a shift toward agroecology—supporting smallholder farmers and sustainable agricultural practices that align with both local needs and global climate goals.
Another project focuses on transforming the American suburban landscape. “We’re working with landowners to convert their lawns into foodscapes,” she says, citing ecological harm and water pollution caused by pesticide-heavy lawn culture. Here, Lizah draws inspiration from Ubuntu—an African philosophy centered on collective well-being. “How can we all do well, not just individuals?” she asks. It’s a question with profound policy implications, especially in an era of rising inequality.
The third strand of her research centers on South Africa, where she’s computing the cost of delivering an ecologically sound and nutritious diet nationwide. “What we grow and what we feed our people are misaligned,” she says, critiquing the reliance on cheap, imported genetically modified foods while healthy local produce is exported. Her findings, once published, may reframe how food security and agricultural policy are approached in developing contexts.
Research That’s Global and Local
Despite her current position in a prestigious U.S. institution, Lizah emphasizes that her perspective remains deeply rooted in her identity and lived experiences. “I always feel like a sense of place is important,” she says. Whether it’s food justice in South Africa or housing crises in Vermont, Lizah sees interconnected struggles. “These problems exist at different scales,” she explains. “But we need to zoom in to understand local context while also engaging global systems.”
Her academic vision blends rigor with activism. “At UCT, I was part of the student representative council, and that’s where my politics came alive,” she shares. “It was also where I realized how mainstream economics wasn’t speaking to the plight of people like my parents—my mom, who was once a domestic worker, and my dad, a former peasant farmer.” Those experiences taught her that Western academic models must be decolonized, critiqued, and reimagined through African lenses.
As a student board member of the International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE), Lizah contributes to shaping global academic discourse. Her role involves governance, communication strategy, and championing student participation. “We are building a global community of scholars and practitioners who believe economics must account for people and the planet,” she says.
Balancing the PhD Life
PhD life, as Lizah quickly learned, is no walk in the park. Between seminars, research deadlines, grant writing, data analysis, community engagement, and teaching responsibilities, her days are jam-packed. “I thought a PhD would be a lot of work, but it’s even more than that,” she says with a laugh. But she doesn’t complain. “We do this because it matters. Because the research we produce will influence not just debates but decisions.”
In addition to her academic duties, Lizah is a fellow of the Leadership for the Ecozoic program, an initiative grounded in imagining a future where humans and nature coexist in harmony. “The idea of the ecozoic is one where humans and non-humans live in mutually beneficial ways,” she explains. It’s a vision that underpins all her work, from food systems to land use to community well-being.
The Power of the African Voice
When asked about the significance of African voices in global conversations on development, climate, and the economy, Lizah’s response is immediate and passionate: “The need for African voices is very much amplified.” Her experience at international development spaces such as the World Bank Spring Meetings and a plenary session in Oslo, Norway, underscores this. “When I stood up to speak about transformative agroecology, more African representatives followed with their support,” she recalls. “We need subsidies to shift from industrial, export-driven agriculture to food systems that actually nourish our people.”
From climate justice to food sovereignty, Lizah believes Africans bring essential, yet often overlooked, perspectives to the table. “I always push to amplify traditional ecological knowledge in my work,” she says, noting the influence of Ubuntu and the continent’s deep-rooted philosophies. “These perspectives may be divergent, but they are equally powerful.”
Carrying Her People With Her
Navigating elite academic and policy spaces—often as one of the few or only Black women in the room—can be isolating. But Lizah is not deterred. “I carry everyone who’s come with me—my high school teachers in Zimbabwe, my lecturers at UCT,” she shares. “I may be the only one people can see, but I’m not alone. I stand on heritage and history.”
Her source of confidence? A deep awareness of her ancestors’ sacrifices and a profound belief in her own contribution. “Ubuntu reminds me that even a small contribution matters. I always remind myself why I’m in these spaces and what the goal is.”
A Legacy of Belief and Belonging
When asked about the legacy she hopes to leave for young African scholars, Lizah doesn’t hesitate. “I want my work to speak to the message that we are enough. We’ve been told our ways are inferior, but if we believe in ourselves, we’ll see that we already have the solutions.”
Her dream is for African youth to reclaim their philosophies—like Ubuntu—and imagine futures where cities are built in harmony with both people and nature. “You can never call yourself a success if it’s only you. We rise together.”
She also emphasizes the importance of embracing decolonial thought—not just in academia but in lived experience. “I talk about decolonizing our food systems, our education systems, even how we view ourselves. It’s about putting away that colonial mindset and taking up space with pride.”
Lessons Learned on the PhD Journey
Lizah’s PhD journey has been one of growth, sacrifice, and revelation. When reflecting on what she wishes she had known at the beginning, her answer is heartfelt: “I wish someone had told me to keep doing my work with joy—even when it gets hard.”
She also speaks candidly about the unexpected emotional toll on her children after relocating for her studies. “My kids have experienced rejection because of their skin color and being African. I was prepared for the racial tensions—I’ve lived them—but they weren’t. I wish I’d had more advice on how to prepare them.”
Grounded in Resilience
If Lizah’s life were a book, she says the title would be “Grounded in Resilience.” It’s a fitting name for a story that weaves together hardship and triumph, isolation and community, silence and voice. “I’ve gone through contradictions, even loss. But I come out of it refined, like gold.”
In a world that often undervalues African knowledge and leadership, Lizah Makombore stands as a reminder that there is wisdom in the soil, strength in history, and brilliance in believing you belong.
And if she weren’t doing research? “I’d be running a preschool or cooking in a Chisanyama,” she laughs. “I love children. I love feeding people. Those are my other dreams.”
For the Next Generation of African Scholars
Lizah’s message to aspiring African scholars—especially young women—is clear and empowering: “You have what it takes.” Reflecting on her journey from UCT to Vermont, she emphasizes that African institutions provide a strong foundation. “Our training is rigorous, and our lived experiences are a form of knowledge,” she insists. “Growing up in a township, I knew what a diverse economy looked like—formal stores, spaza shops, and street vendors all coexisting. That’s economic knowledge rooted in reality.”
Though she has no intention of going into politics, Lizah is passionate about informing policy. “We have great policies in South Africa. The challenge is implementation,” she says. For her, academia isn’t an ivory tower—it’s a platform to drive transformation, grounded in evidence and empathy.
🎧Listen to the full conversation
In this episode of In Conversation: My World of Work, Lizah Makombore discusses her academic journey, her switch from finance to ecological economics, and how her work in sustainable development aims to create systems that are just, inclusive, and ecologically sound.
