Dr. Joseph Kulwa Katobesi is a Lecturer of Economics at Moshi Co-operative University (MoCU), Tanzania. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing, China, and a Master’s in Economics from Chonnam National University, South Korea.
Since September 2026, he has served as Head of the Department of Extension and Outreach under the Institute of Co-operative Continuing Education (ICCE), MoCU. In this leadership role, he coordinates and facilitates extension, outreach, capacity-building, and community-oriented programmes that connect the University’s expertise with the needs of government institutions, co-operatives, member-based organisations, and other stakeholders. He previously served as Assistant Regional Programme Coordinator (A-REPCO) from April 2021 to August 2022 and as Programme Coordinator of the Master’s in Project Planning and Management (PPM) from 2021 to 2022.
His professional expertise includes quantitative and qualitative research, econometric modelling, policy analysis, strategic planning, public finance, project planning and management, and monitoring and evaluation. At MoCU, he teaches, conducts research, provides consultancy, and supports extension and community outreach, offering technical and analytical support to government institutions, co-operative and member-based organisations, and development-oriented initiatives. His research interests span energy economics, total factor productivity, environmental sustainability, green finance, and development economics, with particular emphasis on energy transitions, renewable energy, fossil-fuel dependence, productivity, and sustainable development.
Before joining academia, Dr. Katobesi served for over a decade as an Economist at Kishapu District Council, Tanzania (2009–2020). During this period, he gained extensive practical experience in economic planning, public finance, strategic planning, investment planning, budgeting, project monitoring and evaluation, and local government development processes. He also contributed to the preparation of strategic plans, Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks (MTEFs), investment profiles, and local government financial and development reports.
His career combines academic research, applied economic analysis, policy practice, consultancy, university administration, and community engagement. Through this blend of scholarly and practical experience, Dr. Katobesi contributes to evidence-based approaches aimed at promoting sustainable, inclusive, and productivity-enhancing development in Tanzania, Africa, and beyond.