Elizaphan James Oburu Rao is a scientist working under the livelihoods, gender and impact program at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). An agricultural economist by training, Rao has worked across East Africa implementing livestock research in development projects in collaboration with development partners and government agencies. Rao’s work focusses on adoption and innovation pathways of development interventions - technologies and institutional innovations, aimed at livelihood improvements. Rao has been leading monitoring learning and evaluation activities in the Tanzania Dairy Value Chain under the current Livestock and Fish Collaborative Research Program (CRP). He holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from University of Goettingen, an Msc in Agricultural Economics from University of Hohenheim, an Msc in International Cooperation Policy from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and a Bsc in Agricultural Economics from Egerton University.