Overview
Background
Chris is an interdisciplinary social scientist specialising in international development. Her research primarily revolves around resilience and adaptation, with a current focus on agriculture policy and implementation. With a wealth of experience from her previous roles in international development and academia, Chris brings strong expertise in monitoring and evaluation.
She has designed and led both research for development (R4D) and development projects across Cambodia, Vietnam, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Fiji. Her applied research aims to understand the processes and mechanisms of change that bridge policy and action, enhancing food security and sustainability. Currently, Chris is working on projects that emphasise agriculture policy and knowledge brokering for Environmental and Human Health (One Health) in Cambodia, building on her previous work in climate resilience, adaptation, and agrarian change in the region.
Availability
- Dr Chris Jacobson is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, Lincoln University Canterbury
- Doctor of Philosophy of Environmental Management, Lincoln University Canterbury
Research interests
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Agriculture policy and international development
Policy design and implementation to support sustainable land management, improve food and nutrition security, and support resilient livelihoods in Pacific Island Countries and Territories
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Agrarian change and resilience in international development
Understanding agrarian change dynamics and their contribution to adaptation and resilience in rural communities in SE Asia
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Monitoring and evaluation for adaptation
The use of formative and summative monitoring and evaluation for understanding program effectiveness and supporting adaptation
Research impacts
Chris Jacobson has contributed to initiatives as a researcher and development professional that has resulted in novel policy development to improve the food security and livelihoods of smallholders in SE Asia and the Pacific Islands, including:
- Current Scientific Planning Group member, Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research
- Contributor to UN Satoyama initiative on Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes
- Pacific Islands Extension Strategy, for Pacific Community (SPC)
- Sustainable land management analysis, policy, and planning in Solomon Islands including the Draft national Landuse Framework for Agriculture ( with MAL & FAO)
- Project design, management and co-ordination of agriculture and climate resilience projects for DFAT, MFAT, EU, FAO and IFAD
Chris has also researched monitoring and evaluation design to support adaptive management. Examples include:
- Local government coastal adaptation monitoring and evaluation with Sydney Coastal Councils (highly regarded by NCCARF)
- Formative resilience assessment toolkit with local government in Cambodia
- Design and update of national reserve monitoring and evaluation systems with Parks Australia, NSW Parks and Wildlife Service, Australia National Reserve System and Department of Conservation, New Zealand
Works
Search Professor Chris Jacobson’s works on UQ eSpace
2022
Journal Article
Towards adaptive coastal management law: lessons from Australia and Brazil
Frohlich, Miguel, Smith, Timothy F., Fidelman, Pedro, Baldwin, Claudia, Jacobson, Chris and Carter, R.W. (Bill) (2022). Towards adaptive coastal management law: lessons from Australia and Brazil. Ocean and Coastal Management, 219 106057, 106057. doi: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106057
2021
Other Outputs
Review of monitoring, evaluation and reporting approaches and outcomes in Parks Australia
Jacobson, Chris, Hockings, Marc, Watson, James, Head, Brian and Fidelman, Pedro (2021). Review of monitoring, evaluation and reporting approaches and outcomes in Parks Australia . Online: University of Queensland.
2013
Journal Article
Improving technical information use: what can be learnt from a manager's perspective?
Jacobson, C., Lisle, A., Carter, R. W. and Hockings, M. T. (2013). Improving technical information use: what can be learnt from a manager's perspective?. Environmental Management, 52 (1), 221-233. doi: 10.1007/s00267-013-0084-y
2011
Journal Article
Maximizing conservation evaluation utilization
Jacobson, C., Carter, R.W., Hockings, M. and Kelman, J. (2011). Maximizing conservation evaluation utilization. Evaluation, 17 (1), 53-71. doi: 10.1177/1356389010389903
2008
Conference Publication
Decision mapping as a tool for integrating evaluation information into decision making
Jacobson, Chris L., Hockings, Marc and Carter, Bi (2008). Decision mapping as a tool for integrating evaluation information into decision making. 14th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management: Linking Culture and Nature, Burlington, Vermont, USA, June 10 – 14 2008.
2008
Journal Article
The status of protected area evaluation in Australia and implications for its future
Jacobson, C., Carter, R. W. and Hockings, M. T. (2008). The status of protected area evaluation in Australia and implications for its future. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 15 (4), 202-210. doi: 10.1080/14486563.2008.9725204
2008
Conference Publication
Evaluation and making complex data sets user-friendly
Hockings, M., Jacobson, C., Kelman, J. and Wardell-Johnson, G. (2008). Evaluation and making complex data sets user-friendly. 14th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management, Burlington, Vermont, USA, 10-14 June, 2008. Burlington, Vermont: International Association for Society and Natural Resources.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Chris Jacobson is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Unplanned Human Settlements in Land Cover Change: A Case Study of The Chyulu Hills Squatters, Kenya.
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
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