The OAD is excited to welcome Azasiwe Mancwatela, who joined the team as in May 2025. Originally from Durban, Azasiwe brings a background in microeconomics research and data analysis, recently completing a Master of Commerce in Economics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Passionate about using data to tell meaningful stories, she has a keen interest in both quantitative and qualitative research, particularly where econometric models reveal deeper insights into human behaviour and societal trends. At the OAD, Azasiwe is working within the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) portfolio, where she is contributing to the assessment of impact across a range of astronomy-for-development projects. As a member of the Macroeconomic Research Unit (MRU), she contributes to ongoing economic research and brings data wrangling skills. Her interests lie at the intersection of microeconomics, behavioural science, policy, data, and inclusive development, driven by a belief in the power of research and evidence to support meaningful change.
She describes the OAD not just as an office, but as a “brilliant family” dedicated to changing the world through science and social impact. Outside of work, Azasiwe enjoys drawing, crossword puzzles, and the occasional scroll through TikTok. She is excited to grow, collaborate, and contribute to the meaningful work of the OAD.
Welcome to the team Azasiwe!!