Isaac Bayor, PhD.

Dr. Isaac Bayor is an international cooperation and policy professional with more than 15 years of experience in organizational learning, program quality, peacebuilding and policy engagement. He is Senior Manager, Learning and Engagement at Canadian Lutheran World Relief, where he leads work on organizational learning, program quality and external engagement within the organization’s international programs. His role focuses on strengthening how program evidence informs decision-making, program adaptation, policy dialogue and engagement with government and sector partners.

Earlier in his career, Isaac worked with the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, the United Nations Development Programme and CARE International in Ghana. His work included peacebuilding and conflict prevention, human security, governance, food security and community-based development. These roles gave him direct experience of how local realities, institutional systems and public policy shape development outcomes.

Isaac holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Western University, an MA in Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame, an MA in International Development Management from Ruhr University Bochum, and a BA in Development Studies from the University for Development Studies in Ghana.

His interests include public policy, governance, international development and the changing relationship between aid, trade and development finance. He is particularly interested in Canada’s engagement with African countries and in using research and data to make that relationship more visible, informed and substantive.

Isaac is Board President of the Africa–Canada Policy Innovation Lab. He helps set the organization’s research and engagement priorities, develop partnerships and guide its work on Canada–Africa policy issues.