Abdulrahman Banisheyba
Researcher & Policy Practitioner
Abdulrahman Banisheyba
Researching global challenges. Connecting ideas, institutions and action.
I am an interdisciplinary researcher and policy practitioner exploring how research, international cooperation and institutional capacity can help address complex global challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. My work connects evidence with practical policy and institutional action.
ABOUT
About Me
I am a Zanzibari-born Tanzanian researcher and policy practitioner with an interdisciplinary academic background spanning Economics, International Relations, Sustainable Coastal Management and Global Studies.
My professional experience has involved working with international organisations, government institutions, research organisations, universities and civil society initiatives.
I have worked across areas including AI preparedness and policy, global governance, biosecurity, global health, the blue economy, sustainable aquaculture and research accessibility.
I am particularly interested in translating international research and successful interventions into context-specific policies, partnerships and practical institutional improvements.
An idea that shapes my work
I am interested in how successful projects, policies, institutions and social enterprises can be adapted and replicated across different geographical contexts.
Rather than assuming that an intervention should be copied exactly, I am interested in understanding what makes it work and how its underlying principles can be adapted to local needs, constraints and opportunities.
This is the philosophy behind my idea of Eutopia.
Research & Intellectual Interests
My research interests focus on the relationship between global challenges, institutional capacity and international cooperation. I am particularly interested in how countries with different levels of resources and institutional development can participate in shaping responses to emerging global risks and opportunities.
AI, Emerging Technologies & Development
How can low- and middle-income countries build institutional capacity for AI preparedness and governance? How can emerging technologies contribute to economic development while managing associated risks?
Biosecurity & Global Preparedness
How can international investment strengthen neglected national biosecurity capacities? How can international cooperation address uneven national preparedness for biological threats?
Global Governance & International Cooperation
How can multilateral institutions facilitate cooperation amid geopolitical competition? What opportunities exist for international cooperation, particularly in a world of diminishing ODAs?
Academic Research in Progress
The entries below are a research proposal and an academic research topic. They are not completed publications, and no completed publications are presented here.
Research proposal · Introduction to Global Studies
Raising the Floor of Global Biosecurity: International Investment, Uneven National Capacities and Collective Security.
Examines how international investment in neglected national biosecurity capacities could strengthen global biological security, drawing on global public goods, collective action, international spillovers and uneven development.
Academic research topic · EU–East Asia Relations
Multilateralism and Global Biosecurity: Exploring the Potential for EU–China Cooperation in an Era of Strategic Rivalry.
Explores potential EU–China cooperation on global biosecurity amid strategic rivalry, with attention to multilateralism, international institutions and international coordination.
PROJECTS
Selected Work & Contributions
AI Preparedness & Policy — Zanzibar
I contribute to AI preparedness and policy work focused initially on Zanzibar, examining national opportunities, risks, institutional capabilities and strategic priorities.
Africa Jobs Fund · AI Preparedness & Policy Lead, Zanzibar
AUGUST 2026–PRESENT · CURRENT ROLE
My work includes supporting government engagement, policy development and analysis of responsible government AI adoption.
I contributed as one of the core authors of the Zanzibar Aquaculture Development Strategy (2025–2038), a sustainability- and animal-welfare-oriented strategy signed by the Minister of Blue Economy and Fisheries.
Zanzibar Aquaculture Development Strategy (2025–2038)
Ethical Seafood Research · Research Fellow — Sustainability & Blue Economy Policy Liaison Officer to Zanzibar
My work involved research, government liaison, stakeholder engagement and policy development.
CONTRIBUTION · CO-AUTHORED STRATEGY
Wasomi Scholars
I founded Wasomi Scholars to strengthen research visibility, accessibility, continuity and impact in Zanzibar.
Founder & CEO
FEBRUARY 2023–PRESENT · CURRENT ROLE
My work involved research, government liaison, stakeholder engagement and policy development.
The initiative aims to build a centralised digital repository for university research, strengthen research capacity and create pathways connecting locally generated evidence with policy and practice.
FOCUS AREAS · SOME IN DEVELOPMENT
- Research accessibility
- Digital thesis repository
- Research mentorship and capacity building
- Research-to-impact pathways
- Institutional and university partnerships
I led advocacy for informed, timely and effective rollout of RTS,S and R21 malaria vaccines in Tanzania.
My work included government engagement, public education, network coordination and parliamentary capacity building, including a parliamentary capacity-building workshop on malaria vaccines.
Malaria Vaccine Advocacy — Tanzania
I contributed as one of the core authors of the Zanzibar Aquaculture Development Strategy (2025–2038), a sustainability- and animal-welfare-oriented strategy signed by the Minister of Blue Economy and Fisheries.
1Day Sooner · Malaria Advocacy Lead — Tanzania
JANUARY 2024–OCTOBER 2025 · COMPLETED ROLE
EXPERIENCE
Experience & Education
Roles, fellowships and internships I have held across research, policy and advocacy.
Africa Jobs Fund (AJF)
AI Preparedness & Policy Lead, Zanzibar · August 2026–Present
Wasomi Scholars
Founder & CEO · February 2023–Present
Ethical Seafood Research (ESR)
Research Fellow · June 2023–Present
Global Policy Research Group (GPRG)
Strategy Consultant, Health Progress Hub · May 2025–January 2026
1Day Sooner
Malaria Advocacy Lead, Tanzania · January 2024–October 2025
Charter Cities Institute (CCI)
Special Projects Consultant · March–July 2024
University of Minnesota
Mandela Washington Fellow · June–August 2024
Ambitious Impact (AIM) (formerly Charity Entrepreneurship)
Research Training Program Fellow · April–July 2024
ZAFIRI
Research Intern · August 2022–May 2023
Regeneration 2030
Communications Intern · February–April 2023
Impact Academy (now SteadRise)
Future Academy Fellow · October 2022–April 2023
EDUCATION
Academic Background
European Master in Global Studies (EMGS)
Erasmus Mundus scholarship · 2026–2028
Current studies at Ghent University; programme registration at Leipzig University. Planned mobility includes Fudan University and Roskilde University.
Bachelor of Natural Resources — Sustainable Coastal Management
Novia University of Applied Sciences, Finland · 2021–2025
Bachelor of Business Administration — Business Management
Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Finland · 2021
Economics Studies
Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Türkiye · 2018–2021
Bachelor of Arts — International Relations
Anadolu University, Türkiye · 2020–2021
SELECTED CERTIFICATES
Biosecurity Certificate — BlueDot Impact
December 2025 · 30-hour intensive course
The course examined the evolving biosecurity threat landscape, including AI and synthetic biology risks, prevention, detection and response measures for pandemic threats, non-pharmaceutical interventions and rapid medical countermeasures.
CONTACT
Let's Connect
I am interested in conversations and collaborations that connect research, policy and implementation.
I welcome opportunities to work with researchers, universities, governments, international organisations, funders and other partners working on complex global challenges.
AREAS OF COLLABORATION
- AI preparedness and governance.
- AI and development in low- and middle-income countries.
- Biosecurity and global preparedness.
- Global governance and international cooperation.
- Research and policy development.
- Market Shaping Mechanisms