Ernest Bagson is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Local Governance and City Management at Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD UBIDS), Ghana. He holds a Bachelor of Education in Science and a Master of Philosophy in Development Studies from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He also earned a PhD in Development Studies from the University of Ghana. With a multidisciplinary background, Bagson’s research interests include exploratory, and baseline mixed-methods design in the areas of youth, peace, security and development. He has published in peer-reviewed journals and presented academic papers at both local and international conferences. Bagson has received several prestigious academic awards, including the 2024 Policy Research Fellowship from the Social Science Research Council’s (SSRC’s) African Peacebuilding Network (APN), the 2021 APN Individual Research Fellowship from the SSRC, the 2021 MIASA Writing School Fellowship, and the 2017/2018 PhD Completion Fellowship from the SSRC’s Next Generation of Social Sciences in Africa. His multidisciplinary approach enables effective collaboration with partners from diverse backgrounds and contexts while upholding high standards of quality and trustworthiness.