Bio:  Shadrack Nii Yarboi Yartey is a doctoral student in the Department of Agricultural Leadership and Community Education at Virginia Tech. His work centers on a line of inquiry spanning development communication, policy advocacy, and community transformation, with a growing emphasis on agriculture communication and the role of strategic advocacy in shaping agricultural and food policy outcomes in Africa.

An experienced development communication professional and trained journalist with more than a decade of practice, Shadrack specializes in policy advocacy, digital communication, and capacity building, bringing both practitioner expertise and scholarly inquiry to his research and engagement. Prior to his doctoral studies at Virginia Tech, he served as Lead for Communication, Programs, and Advocacy at CUTS International in Accra, where he led high-profile policy campaigns and public-private dialogues on issues ranging from climate action and agricultural policy to trade and investment, consumer protection, and public health. In this role, he worked closely with state institutions, international development organizations, and civil society actors to ensure that policy worked for Ghanaian communities.

His project portfolio includes initiatives funded by the World Bank, the World Economic Forum (WEF), Bloomberg Philanthropies, the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), and the British High Commission in Accra. Notably, his advocacy for Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme helped secure coverage for childhood cancer, demonstrating the tangible community impact of strategic communication and policy engagement.

Shadrack holds an M.A. in Development Communication with Distinction from the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UNIMAC-GIJ), Ghana, and a B.A. in Communication Studies with a Journalism major from the Ghana Institute of Journalism. He is a GETFund Scholar and a recipient of the Outstanding Employee Award from CUTS International (2019).

At the intersection of food systems, communication, and community transformation, Shadrack is committed to leveraging storytelling, advocacy, and participatory approaches to amplify the voices of smallholder farmers, SMEs, and underserved communities navigating the complexities of food policy and sustainable development. His current research explores how communication strategies can drive social change and build resilient food systems communities.

Research Interests:

  • Communication for development and social change
  • Food policy and community transformation
  • Storytelling and participatory research methods
  • Climate and environmental action & policy
  • Food systems resilience
  • Digital communication and media strategies for policy impact

Education:

  • Ph.D. Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech (in progress)
  • M.A. Development Communication (Distinction), UNIMAC-GIJ, Ghana, 2022
  • B.A. Communication Studies (Journalism), Ghana Institute of Journalism, 2015.