James Maker Atem

James Maker Atem is a political analyst and consultant specializing in Africa, with experience advancing policy-relevant research at the intersection of geopolitics, international law, climate security, and peacebuilding. He is the Founder of Climate Justice & Peace Nexus, a social enterprise dedicated to advancing climate justice, environmental protection, and peacebuilding through research, policy innovation, and community-centered solutions.

He is a graduate of Columbia University and has served in advisory capacities with the United Nations, including consultations on refugee protection, resettlement, and complementary pathways. He has also participated in high-level policy forums at United Nations Headquarters, including conferences on the protection of civilians in the context of UN peace operations, notably UNMISS.

James’s scholarship has been published in leading international affairs journals, including the Journal of International Affairs (JIA) and the Yale Journal of International Affairs (YJIA). His work addresses the climate–conflict–migration nexus, international legal responses to environmental insecurity, and transboundary resource governance, contributing to global policy discourse among academics, practitioners, and decision-makers.

He is currently writing a book examining how international law and diplomacy address transboundary water conflicts, with a focus on cases such as the Nile Basin. The work situates water law within broader frameworks of environmental protection, diplomacy, and sustainable peacebuilding.

At GéoPoly Global, James contributes substantive research and analytical expertise on Africa, with a particular focus on Sub-Saharan African security dynamics, international relations, and policy analysis. In addition to his analytical role, he serves as a Peer Reviewer, assessing the rigor, originality, and policy relevance of analytical and policy work related to Africa, reflecting his subject-matter authority and professional standing.

He is located in New York and speaks English, Arabic, and Kiswahili.