Josephine Joseph Mkunda is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Innovation, Technology Management and Entrepreneurship at the School of Business Studies and Humanities, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST). Mkunda is also a PhD candidate in the Life Science and Bioengineering jointly at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and the University of Copenhagen. She holds an MSc in Agricultural Economics, specializing in Policies and Food Security, and a BSc in Food Science and Technology, both from Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania.

Before joining NM-AIST, she worked with several intergovernmental and non-government organizations including as the Regional Agricultural Inputs Trade Specialist for the East African Community (EAC), the Regional Lobbying and Advocacy Manager for the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation, and as a Commodities Manager for World Vision Tanzania. She also previously worked as a consultant to organizations such as Vi-Agroforestry and PELUM-Tanzania. Mkunda also has two research publications on The Role of National Agricultural Policies in the Regional Integration Process and the Participation of Farmer’s Organizations and the other one on the Livestock Ownership and Household Food Security. Her research interests include international trade, marketing innovation, food security, agricultural policies, climate change, and other issues that have an impact upon people at the grass roots level.