Economics of Animal Health and Livelihood Resilience: Rethinking Disease, Systems, and Society in Zambia

Abstract

Over the past twelve years, Dr Chisoni Mumba’s research has explored how animal health, economics, and community systems intersect to shape the wellbeing of livestock-dependent households in Zambia. This seminar presents a core idea that has emerged from this work: that the economic burden of animal disease cannot be understood through biological metrics alone but must be studied as a socio-ecological and systems-level phenomenon.   

Drawing on case studies of anthrax, pig diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and dairy health challenges, he will discuss how economic modelling, participatory approaches, and spatial systems thinking reveal deeper structural drivers, such as climate shocks, market failures, institutional gaps, and farmer decision-making pressures. These insights challenge conventional assumptions in both economics and epidemiology, and raise new interdisciplinary questions about resilience, risk, and rural development.   

He will present how societies value animal health, how evidence informs policy, and how communities adapt to health and economic uncertainty. Dr Mumba hopes this seminar will stimulate fresh thinking on the role of animal health economics within broader debates on livelihoods, sustainability, and One Health systems. 

Places are limited and so any academic colleagues or students interested in attending in person must register here for a place. 

More information about Dr Chisoni Mumba