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Dr. Susan Murphy
Associate Professor in Development Pract, Geography
Associate Professor in Development Pract, School Office - Natural Sciences

Biography

I am an Associate Professor in Development Practice and teach Gender and Development, Climate Justice, and Development Practice. My research interests are in international development ethics, policy, and practice, issues in governance and justice, human rights and climate change, and gender and social inclusion. I am the Principal Investigator of GEOFORMATIONS: the geographies of dynamic governance assemblages in development cooperation civil society spaces, funded by the European Research Council (ERC-2022-STG), and research group leader for the Climate and Environmental Justice lab, supervising masters by research and Ph.D. candidates in national and international climate and environmental justice-related projects. As part of my work, I have managed the design and delivery of 200+ international research projects in countries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and over 150+ research projects with International Development NGOs in Ireland.

Internal roles include Director of Trinity International Development Initiative (TIDI); Geography PG Coordinator; University Council Representative for STEM; College International Committee; School of Natural Sciences Research Ethics Committee, Postgraduate Teaching and Learning Committee, Athena SWAN School SAT; and College Tutor. External roles include Department of Foreign Affairs Audit Committee (2021-2024); UCC External Examiner for BSc in International Development (2019-2023); Chair of the Board of Trustees - Oxfam Ireland (2016-2023) & Board of Supervisors, Oxfam International (2018-2021); BISA Ethics and World Politics Co-conveyor (2019-2023); Scientific Committee Member, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (ICSD since 2014); Previously served on steering committees of Future Earth Ireland, COALITION 2030 & Development Studies Association of Ireland.

I complete my Ph.D. as a doctoral scholar at University College Dublin School of Politics and International Relations on the ethics of development and humanitarian action. Before this, I spent ten years working as a Manager with Accenture, leading large-scale technology infrastructure outsourcing projects across EMEAI. My research and teaching bring to bear over twenty-five years of management and professional experience, both within the University and in Industry.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Susan P. Murphy; Perpetua Urio (Eds), Gender-Inclusive Higher Education in Tanzania: Transforming Academia, 1, New York, Routledge Studies on Gender and Sexuality in Africa, 2024, 1 - 218pp Book, 2024 Other DOI

Breffka, E., Jagoe, C., Murphy, S.P. and Tsegaw, B.B.,, Restricted participation: Drivers, experiences and implications of disability stigma in Ethiopia, African Journal of Disability, 11, 2023 Journal Article, 2023 URL TARA - Full Text

9781003162926 in, editor(s)Gottfried Schweiger (Salzburg) and Clemens Sedmak (Salzburg and Notre Dame, IN) , The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy and Poverty, New York, Routledge, 2023, pp476 - 491, [Susan P. Murphy] Book Chapter, 2023 DOI

SP Murphy, Cannon, S, Walsh, L, Just Transition Frames: Recognition, representation, and distribution in Irish beef farming, Journal of Rural Studies, 94, 2022, p150 - 160 Journal Article, 2022 TARA - Full Text DOI URL

Mwakitalu, A., Murphy, S.P., Roche, J., Exploring Female Academics Underrepresentation in Senior Leadership Positions: case of Public and Private Universities in Tanzania, ICSD, International Conference in Sustainable Development, On line with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, September 2022, edited by Scientific Panel of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network , 2022, pp1 - 9 Conference Paper, 2022 URL TARA - Full Text

Susan P. Murphy, Hard borders and soft agreements: Evaluating governance within the Global Compact for Migration, Third World Quarterly, 2022, p1 - 18 Journal Article, 2022 DOI TARA - Full Text

Susan P. Murphy, The relationship between poverty and prosperity: a feminist relational account, Journal of Global Ethics, 18, (1), 2022, p82 - 99 Journal Article, 2022 TARA - Full Text DOI

Murphy, Susan P. , Climate change and political (in)action: an intergenerational epistemic divide?, Sustainable Environment, 7, (1), 2021, p1 - 13 Journal Article, 2021 DOI TARA - Full Text

Perpetua J. Urio, Susan P. Murphy, Ikupa Moses, Consolata Chua, and Immanuel Darkwa, Exploring the Gendered Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Academic Staff in Tanzania, Alliance African Partnership Perspectives, 1, (1), 2021, p61 - 71 Journal Article, 2021 TARA - Full Text URL

Thomas L. Roux, Mirjam M. Heinen, Susan P. Murphy, Conor J. Buggy,, A Unified Theoretical Framework of Learning Theories to Inform and Guide Public Health Continuing Medical Education Research and Practice, Journal of Continuing Education in Health Professionals, 2021 Journal Article, 2021 TARA - Full Text DOI

Onora O'Neill in, editor(s)Sellers, M.N.S, and Kirste, S. (eds) , Encyclopedia of the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, Dordrech, Springer , 2019, pphttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-94 , [Murphy Susan P. ] Book Chapter, 2019 DOI

Susan P. Murphy, Migration in the Age of Sustainable Development, Academic Council for United Nations Systems (ACUNS), Rome, June 2018, edited by ACUNS , 2019 Conference Paper, 2019

Global political processes and the Paris Agreement: a case of advancement or retreat of climate justice? in, editor(s)Tahseen Jaffrey , The Routledge Handbook of Climate Justice, UK, Routledge, 2019, pp71 - 82, [Susan Murphy] Book Chapter, 2019

Susan P. Murphy;Enida Friel; Grace McKiernan; Patrick Considine; Angelina De Marco; Aaron Cunningham; Molly Middlehurst, Do Results based management frameworks frustrate or facilitate effective development practice? Experiences of the Irish International Development Sector, Development in Practice, 29, (6), 2019, p697 - 707 Journal Article, 2019 TARA - Full Text DOI URL

Susan P. Murphy, Climate change, political (in)action and the intergenerational epistemic divide: the case of the emperor's new clothing?, 2019 International Conference on Sustainable Development, Columbia University New York, 24 September 2019, 2019 Conference Paper, 2019

Susan P. Murphy, Migration in the Age of Global Voluntariness, Political Studies Association of Ireland (PSAI), Limerick, Ireland, 2018 Conference Paper, 2018

Murphys, S; Shilla, D.; Chua, C.; Raphael, C.; O'Rourke, N.; Middlehurst-Schwartz, M. , Unravelling the gender bind, uncovering the heterogeneity of domination, Comparative Education, 54, (4), 2018, p1-18 Journal Article, 2018 DOI

Challenging Hidden Hegemonies: Exploring the Links Between Education, Gender Justice, and Sustainable Development Practice in, editor(s)Christine Koggel , Examining Injustice: Foundational, Structural and Epistemic Issues, 1st Edition, New York and London, Routledge, 2018, ppChapter 8 , [Mwita, E., Murphy, S.] Book Chapter, 2018 URL

Susan Murphy, Book Review, Review of Men, Masculinities and Disasters, by Elaine Enerson and Bob Pease (eds) , Gender, Place and Culture: A journal of feminist geography, 2018 Review, 2018

Susan Murphy, Book Review, Review of Gender and Peacebuilding, by Claire Duncanson , Gender, Place and Culture: A journal of feminist geography, 2017 Review, 2017 DOI

Murphy, S., Carmody, P., Okawakol, J.,, When rights collide: land grabbing, force and injustice in Uganda, Journal of Peasant Studies, 2017 Journal Article, 2017 URL DOI

Murphy, S., Mwita, E., Challenging hegemonic discourses: Exposing the cycles of gendered vulnerabilities in educational outputs as drivers of gender inequality and injustice in young adults , Ethics and Social Welfare, 2017 Journal Article, 2017 DOI URL

Susan P. Murphy, Responsibility in an interconnected world: International Assistance, Duty and Action , 1, Switzerland, Springer International Publishing, 2016, i-173pp Book, 2016 URL URL

Murphy, S., O'Rourke, N., Middlehurst, M., Shila, D., Raphael, C.,, Unravelling the gender bind, uncovering the heterogeneity of domination, International Conference on Sustainable Development Practice Proceedings, International Conference on Sustainable Development Practice , Columbia University, New York, September 2016, edited by 2016 , 2016 Conference Paper, 2016

Susan P. Murphy, Emiliana Mwita, Challenging hidden hegemonies: Exploring the links between education, gender justice, and sustainable development practice , International Association of Development Ethics, Carleton University, Ottawa, July 2016, edited by Eric Palmer , 2016 Conference Paper, 2016

Murphy, S., Kiernan, G., Considine, P., Middlehurst, M., Cunningham, A., DeMarco, A., Friel, E. , Results based frameworks and achieving the SDGs through professional development, International Conference on Sustainable Development Practice Proceedings, International Conference on Sustainable Development Practice, Columbia University, New York, September 2016, 2016 Conference Paper, 2016

Murphy, S., Glass Ceilings and Iron Bars: Women, Gender, and Poverty in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, Global Justice: Theory, Practice and Rhetoric , 8, 2015, p74 - 96 Journal Article, 2015 TARA - Full Text DOI URL

Murphy, S., Carmody, P., Okawakol, J.,, When rights collide: land grabbing, force and injustice in Uganda, International Conference on Sustainable Development, Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, September 2015, edited by UN SDSN , 2015 Conference Paper, 2015

The dynamics of poverty and the sequencing of global social protection in, Rodrigo Medeiros & Larry Swatuk (editors). , Sustainable Development Practice: Advancing Evidence-Based Solutions for the Post-2015 Agenda. Proceedings of of the 2013 International Conference on Sustainable Development Practice/, Columbia University, New York, 2014, pp96 - 107, [Murphy, S., Walsh, P.P.] Book Chapter, 2014

Susan Murphy, Innovation through regulation: Incentivising the transition to sustainability, Advancing Evidence-Based Solutions for the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda, International Conference on Sustainable Development Practice, Columbia University, New York City, United States of America, 17-18 September 2014, 2014 Conference Paper, 2014

Susan Murphy & Christina Raphael, Gender in Development Practice - the Global Perspective, Africa 2015 and Beyond: The future of gender studies, research, and services, Uganda, November 2014, 2014 Conference Paper, 2014

Murphy, S., Walsh, P.P., Social Protection Beyond the Bottom Billion, The Economic and Social Review, 45, (2), 2014, p261 - 284 Journal Article, 2014

Susan Murphy, Unlocking the beauty of the imperfect duty to aid: Sen's idea of the duty of assistance, Journal of Global Ethics, 10, (3), 2014, p369 - 383 Journal Article, 2014 DOI URL

Murphy, S., Walsh, P.P. , The Challenges and Opportunities Presented by Trade Partnerships between Africa and Ireland, Irish Studies in International Affairs, 24, 2013, p1 - 21 Journal Article, 2013 DOI

Boot N., Fawzi A, King K., Murphy, S., Ringholz, H., Yambasu, K., , Making Sanitation gains sustainable: The case for Sanitation Marketing in rural African Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) projects , International Conference on Sustainable Development Practice, Columbia University, New York, 6-7 September, 2013, edited by Medeiros, R., Swatuk, L. , 2013 Conference Paper, 2013

Fairness in, editor(s)Deen Chatterjee , The Encyclopaedia of Global Justice, US, Springer Publications, 2012, pp336 - 339, [Susan Murphy] Book Chapter, 2012 DOI

Special obligations in, editor(s)Deen Chatterjee , The Encyclopaedia of Global Justice, US, Springer Publications, 2012, [Susan Murphy] Book Chapter, 2012 DOI

International humanitarian assistance in, editor(s)Deen Chatterjee , The Encyclopaedia of Global Justice, US, Springer Publications, 2012, pp558 - 564, [Susan Murphy] Book Chapter, 2012 DOI

Susan Murphy, The promise and the problem of the duty of assistance, Tanner Lectures in Human Rights, Utah, USA, 2012, 2012 Conference Paper, 2012

The principle of beneficence in, editor(s)Deen Chatterjee , The Encyclopaedia of Global Justice, US, Springer Publications, 2012, pp65 - 68, [Susan Murphy] Book Chapter, 2012 DOI

Luck Egalitarianism in, editor(s)Deen Chatterjee , The Encyclopaedia of Global Justice, US, Springer Publications, 2012, pp665 - 667, [Susan Murphy] Book Chapter, 2012 DOI

The concept of complex emergencies in, editor(s)Deen Chatterjee , The Encyclopaedia of Global Justice, US, Springer Publications, 2012, pp174 - 176, [Susan Murphy] Book Chapter, 2012 DOI

Susan Murphy, Review of Dealing Fairly with Developing Country Debt. , by Christian Barry, Barry Herman and Lydia Tomitova (eds). , Political Studies Review, 8, 2010, p103-104 Review, 2010

Susan Murphy, Review of The Politics of Truth. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008, by John Summers , Political Studies Review, 8, 2010 Review, 2010

Susan Murphy, Review of Multicultural Odysseys, by Will Kymlicka , Millennium - Journal of International Studies, (39), 2010 Review, 2010

Susan Murphy, Review of The Bottom Billion. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007, by Paul Collier , Millennium - Journal of International Studies, 38, 2009, p491-492 Review, 2009

All 46 peer-reviewed publications

Research Expertise

Description

My research is concerned with ethical governance in times of change. Although there are competing and contested understandings, theories, and world views of development, all forms of development entail change. Some forms of change are designed, planned, controlled, monitored, evaluated, and adapted. Other forms of change are unplanned, the result of unintended consequences and outcomes, and sometimes, unwanted. The study of ethical governance concerns the examination of how development is designed, planned, implemented, monitored, evaluated, and overseen. It is concerned with how responsibility and accountability for outputs, outcomes, and impacts are attributed and allocated, to whom, and for what reasons. It requires consideration of who and what is included in these activities, and who and what is excluded. Whose voices are heard and not heard in decision-making processes, and why? It explores power dynamics in governing development practice, and how power is or should be balanced across the range of agents, agencies, and communities affected by development activities. In 2023, my project GEOFORMATIONS: the geographies of dynamic governance assemblages in development cooperation civil society spaces was selected for funding by the European Research Council (ERC) under the ERC-2022-STG competition. GEOFORMATIONS will provide radical new insights into the governance geographies of place-based development cooperation practices that can be used to transform international development cooperation governance theory, policy, and practice. As a collaborative, engaged researcher I run interdisciplinary projects related to development with PhD scholars (x10) and researchers in education, economics, clinical speech and language studies, and business. Committed to transdisciplinary research, I also co-design and co-deliver research projects with a number of key development agencies and organisations. In 2021 I established the Climate Justice and Development Research Group. My team of funded PhD (x3) and MRes (x1) scholars examine the multivariant relations between climate action planning, climate change, sociocultural relationships, and situated power dynamics through a restorative development lens.

Recognition

Awards and Honours

European Research Council Starter Grant (2022) GEOFORMATIONS 2023-2028

Gender Awareness and Transformation through Education: An institutional collaboration between Dar es Salaam University College of Education and Trinity College Dublin. Funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Irish Aid 2018-2023

Excellence in Supervision of Research Students Award, Faculty of STEM 2022

European Research Council Starter Grant (stage two interview) 2017

Nominated - Teaching Excellence Award 2024

MAjo, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin 2018

External Examiner, UCC BSc International Development 2019-2023

CEU Teaching Award - Nominee 2017

Provost Teaching Award - Nominee 2015

Adjunct Lecturer, School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin 2014-2019

Visiting Researcher, REPOA, Dar Es Salaam Tanzania 2014

Global Citizen - Nominee 2018

Aurora Women in Leadership Foundation: Role Model 2017/2019