hope print community soil transdisciplinarity water … · 2020. 1. 8. · soil transdisciplinarity...

HOPE ENGAGE FOOT

PRINT COMMUNITY SOIL TRANSDISCIPLINARITY

WATER SCIENCE WITH SOCIETY TOMORROW FOOD FUTURE RESOURCE DEPLETION CLIMATE CHANGE SUN

POVERTY COLLABORATION DIFFERENCE ENGAGE INTERACT GREEN ECONOMY JOB CHANGE ENERGY SOIL DEGRADATION

COMPLEXITY ORGANIC WASTE GLOBAL POPULATION JOINT PROBLEM SOLVING ECONOMICS QUALITY OF LIFE CLEAN WATER KNOWLEDGE PARTNER INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY DEVELOPMENT

OIL COMPLETE WATER SYSTEMS ECONOMIC GROWTH ENERGY ETHIOPIA DISCOURSE CRITICAL CITIES INFRASTRUCTURE REFORM GOVERNMENT

INTERVENTION URBANISATION AFRICA CHANGE POVERTY ENGAGEMENT FARMING PRACTICES NIGERIA POLICYMAKING TECHNOLOGY DESIGN MUTUAL

LEARNING GHANA EDUCATION COMPLEXITY NEW PERSPECTIVE POLLUTION FEASIBILITY ENGAGE PRACTICE SCIENCE WITH SOCIETY

TOMORROW FUTURE CLIMATE HOPE DIFFERENCE ENGAGE INTERACTION GROWTH GUIDE SUN FOCUS SHARE PROBLEM SOLVING JOB SOCIO-TECHNICAL INNOVATION FOOD

INFRASTRUCTURE REFORM KENYA SUSTAINABILITY GREEN ECONOMY

CITIES RESEARCH TANZANIA ORGANIC WASTE DISCOURSE PARTNER GLOBAL POPULATION QUALITY OF LIFE CLEAN WATER

KNOWLEDGE PARTNER INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY ZIMBABWE OIL CHANGE WATER SOIL

REFORM FOOD SYSTEMS ECONOMIC GROWTH ENERGY CHANGE STELLENBOSCH

CRITICAL GREEN ECONOMY REFORM

transdiciplinary, sustainability, analysis, modelling & assessment HUB.

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ANRIA VAN ZYL PIETER VAN HEYNINGEN

Topic: Co-production of knowledge for the design of on-site sanitation for informal settlements in South Africa and Kenya.

Disciplinary history: BA Industrial Design, University of Nairobi, Kenya; MA Design, University of Nairobi, Kenya.

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TD PhD students.

SILENT TAURAYI

Topic: Use of soil organic amendments in vegetable production under smallholder farming systems in Southern Africa.

Disciplinary history: MPhil - Sustainable Development Planning & Management, SU (2010)

Topic: Decoupling economic growth from water consumption and degradation: A transition towards sustainable water resource management and planning.

Disciplinary history: Natural Resource Management, Land and Water Management, Sustainable Agricultural Development, Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation.

Topic: Incremental, in situ sanitation upgrading in South African informal settlements: conceptualising strategies beyond free basic service delivery.

Disciplinary history: BSc and BComm (Hons), University of KwaZulu Natal (2006)MA, Georgia State University (2008).

Topic: Embedding sustainability practices into organisations through Integrated Reporting.

Disciplinary history: BA Accounting Science, UFS; BA Hons Accounting, UFS; Certificate in Theoretical Accounting, UFS; Advanced Diploma in Auditing, UCT/UJ; MA Accounting (Computer Auditing), SU; MPhil (Environmental Management), SU; Chartered Accountant (SA)

Topic: Innovation Systems for Sustainability Transitions: Case Studies of Social, Institutional and Spatial Perspectives.

Disciplinary history: BA Political, Philosophical and Economic Studies & Public Development Management, SU; BA Hons Philosophy, SU; MA Ecological Economics, Sweden.

Topic: Institutional economics approaches and develop-mental state: a case in Northern Ethiopia (Tigray), Raya Valley ground water irrigation project.

Disciplinary history: BA Economics, Mekelle University, Ethiopia; MSc Natural Resource Economics, Mekelle University, Ethiopia.

ERNEST NTI ACHEAMPONG LAUREN TAVENER-SMITH LORRAINE AMOLLO AMBOLE

MULETA YIRGA

At Stellenbosch University’s TsamaHub, we continue our search for sustainable solutions for the sustainability challenges facing both Africa and South Africa.

This document offers an overview of the exciting research projects currently being undertaken by our PhD students. You can click on read more to read the full abstract of any one of the projects.

http://www.tsama.org.za

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Topic: Socioeconomic implications of global oil depletion for South Africa: vulnerabilities, impacts and transition to sustainability.

Disciplinary history: BA, UCT; BA Hons in Economics, UCT; MA in Economics, UCT; MPhil in Economics, Cambridge (UK); PhD in Economics – SU (2012)

Topic: Technology Assessment of Renewable Energy Sustainability in Africa

Disciplinary history: BSc Hons Agribusiness Management, Egerton University, Kenya;MSc Agricultural Economics, SU; PhD Economics / Sustainable Development, SU (2012)

SYDNEY MAVANGAHAMA

CHRISTELLE BEYERS

MAURA ANDREW

Topic: The role of wild vegetable species in household food security in maize based subsistence cropping systems.

Disciplinary history: BSc Agriculture / Agronomy, Africa University, Zimbabwe (1996);MPhil Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe (2005)

Topic: Exploring meaningful nature experience: the relevance of connectedness with nature in revitalizing transformative education for sustainability.

Disciplinary history: BA Business, Queensland University of Technology (1998); MA Environmental Science, Wageningen University & Research (2005)

Topic: Connecting capital - methods and implications of incentivising ESG Investing in South Africa

Disciplinary history: BA Social Science (Economics and Business Administration), University of Durban (1998); MPhil in Information & Knowledge Management (cum laude), SU (2005)

Topic: Critical Analysis of Institutional Options to facilitate Payments for Eco-systems Services for Land Rehabilitation (Restoration) in the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve.

Disciplinary history: BA Sociology, Economics & Geography; BA Hons and MA Human Geography, Rhodes University.

Topic: Short(er) supply chains and subjective well-being: connecting coffee drinkers and coffee farmers in Kayanza, Burundi.

Disciplinary history: BA English, Film & Media Production (Radio Specialisation), UCT (2007)BA Hons in African Studies, UCT (2008); MPhil Sustainable Development, SU (2013)

LAUREN ROSENBERG JEREMY WAKEFORD

Topic: A study of economy-wide material flow analysis to develop an empirical foundation and Learning engagement to support transitions to a green economy in South Africa.

Disciplinary history: BSc Town and Regional Planning, University of Pretoria; MPhil Sustainable Development Planning and Management, SU (2010)

Topic: Land-Use Efficiency for Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihood: The Case of Northern Ethiopia.

Disciplinary history: BA Economics, Asmara University, Eritrea; MA Regional and Local Development Studies, University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

ALEM ARAYA JOSEPHINE KAVITI MUSANGO

MATT SYLSTRA COLIN HABBERTON

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ORUPA TENDWA

Topic: Improving water quality: developing a natural toxic free nanomebrane

Disciplinary history: BSc Chemistry / Zoology, University of Nairobi; MSc Environmental Chemistry, University of Nairobi

Topic: Mitigation of Soil Degradation, and Ground Water Pollution caused by on-land disposal of Vegetable Oil mill Effluents

Disciplinary history: BSc Soil Science, University of Nsukka, Nigeria; MSc Soil Science, University of Nsukka, Nigeria

Topic: The role of cactus pear (opuntia ficus-indica) in climate change adaptation and restoration of degraded dry-lands, in Northern Ethiopia.

Disciplinary history: BSc Agriculture Science (Animal Sciences), Alemaya Agricultural University, Ethiopia; MSc Rangeland Management, University of Nairobi, Kenya

Topic: The effects of climate varia-bility on food security in Tanzania, paying attention to the effects of changing rainfall patterns on food consumption. The case of Bagamoyo District.

Disciplinary history: BA Political Science and Public Administration, University of Dar es Salaam / Tanzania; MBA Corporate Management, Mzumbe University

Topic: Micro-insurance as a tool for climate variability: its impact on farmers’ livelihood and the environment in rural Tigray, Ethiopia

Disciplinary history: BA Economics, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia; MSc Agricultural Development, University of Copenhagen, Denmark and University of Padova, Italy

Topic: Prevalence, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of indigestible rumen foreign bodies in shoats in urban and peri -urban Nairobi.

Disciplinary history: MPhil Veterinary Pharmacology, University of Ghana

Topic: Genetic pathway and selection response to an increased fruit size in tomato (solanum species)

Disciplinary history: BSc Molecular Biology & Biotechnology; MSc Botany, University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Topic: Optical remote sensing of insects and environmentalmonitoring

Disciplinary history: Bachelor degree in Physics, Mekelle University, Ethiopia; MA Combustion Physics, Lund University, Sweden

Topic: Economic impact of floods in variable climates: the case of transportation infrastructure in Pangani Basin, Tanzania

Disciplinary history: BSc Hons, Urban and Regional Planning, University of Dar es Salaam;MSc. Engineering Management (Project Management), University of Dar es Salaam

ALEM GEBRU NUSRAT BEGUM

OBIAGELI UMEUGOCHUKWU SOLOMON ABERA BARIAGARE PASCHAL MUGABE

JEMAL TADESSE HOPE RICHARD OTSYINA STEPHEN ISSA NNUMGU

SILENT TAURAYI

PhD Topic: Use of soil organic amendments in vegetable production under smallholder farming systems in Southern AfricaSupervisor: Prof Mark Swilling, Programme Co-ordinator: Sustainable Development; School of Public Leadership; Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: Most smallholder farming systems in Southern Africa experience low agricultural productivity, leading to food and nutrition insecurity, poor livelihoods and low socio-economic development. In the case of smallholder vegetable farmers, low productivity results in a failure to meet the demand of high-value markets in terms of critical mass and quality and their produce is therefore relegated to less-valuable informal markets. Multiple factors interact to reinforce this trend, from pre-production to marketing in the value chain. These factors can be summarised as follows: pre-production: land tenure, water scarcity and irrigation infrastructure; production: poor soil fertility, pests and diseases, inferior crop varieties and high production costs; marketing: a lack of access to and the use of market information, a lack of cold-chain facilities, poor road networks and high transport costs. Smallholder farming conditions are likely to be worsened by the current trends of the depletion of the natural-resource base and of climate change and variability, which will thus further exacerbate the problem of food and nutrition security and sustainable livelihoods. In sub-Saharan Africa, smallholder soils are mainly sandy and exhibit a variety of constraints: physical soil loss from erosion, nutrient deficiency, low organic matter and soil carbon, low pH (in other words, high acidity), aluminium and iron toxicity, poor water-holding capacity and a poor response to fertiliser, leading to reduced crop productivity. Soil-fertility depletion on smallholder farms is the “fundamental biophysical root cause of declining per capita food production in Africa”. The use of locally produced organic-soil amendments to improve crop productivity and soil health in smallholder farming systems is not new, although their use in smallholder vegetable production in combination with reduced inorganic fertilisers is limited and has not been examined systematically.

Disciplinary history: MPhil Sustainable Development Planning & Management, SU (2013)Faculty/department of registration: Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences; School of Public Leadership, SU (2013)


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http://www.sustainabilityinstitute.net/academic/lecturers/item/mark-swilling

ERNEST NTI ACHAEMPONG

PhD Topic: Decoupling economic growth from water consumption and degradation: A transition towards sustainable water resource management and planningSupervisor: Prof Mark Swilling, Programme Co-ordinator: Sustainable Development; School of Public Leadership; Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: The proposed research explores the policy implications of an integrated water-resource management approach and the principles of decoupling within the context of economic growth and water use in sub-Saharan Africa.The region is faced with the challenge of redressing the economic, social and environmental imbalances in water supply and management over the past number of years. The average adult in South Africa needs roughly 1 million litres of water per annum to maintain her or his current lifestyle. Population, economic growth and climate change are regarded as the primary determinants of future water requirements and availability. The current water problems are complex and persistent because they are characterised by structural uncertainty, high stakes for a diversity of stakeholders involved and governance problems. This research engages multiple theoretical foundations of integrated water-resource management and decoupling that correspond with the multi-disciplinary nature of sustainable water-resource management. This engages more holistically with how multiple stakes may shape efficient water supply and demand productivity by fostering a broader process of learning and problem solving with co-operation between different parts of society and science in order to meet the complex challenges of society.The principles and process of transdisciplinary approaches will guide this research. Through a literature review, key expert consultation and stakeholder workshops, and case studies from Kenya and Ghana, the research will undertake an in-depth content analysis of the successes and failures (and their contributing factors) in the various water-use sectors, agencies and institutions in their bid to implement integrated water-resources management policies and strategies for water-resource decoupling in the economy and environment. The research will further attempt to design a modelling framework for the decoupling of economic growth from water uses and water pollution at the national level.

Disciplinary history: Natural Resource Management, Land and Water Management, Sustainable Agricultural Development, Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation.Faculty/department of registration: Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences; School of Public Leadership, SU (2013)


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LAUREN TAVENER-SMITH

PhD Topic: Economics of incremental infrastructure upgrading in informal settlements: A case study of sanitation upgrading in Enkanini, South Africa.Supervisor: Prof Mark Swilling, Programme Co-ordinator: Sustainable Development; School of Public Leadership; Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: Current modes of delivering free basic sanitation to the urban poor are inconsistent with the South African government’s aspirations to upgrade informal infrastructure incrementally.This research conceptualises and tests sanitation upgrading strategies that build on and support everyday upgrading undertaken by informal settlement residents. The research aims to produce knowledge to inform the implementation strategies of official upgrading responses.Given the private and collective benefits derived from sanitation improvements, neither pure state nor pure market-driven (including solutions promoting community self-help) service-delivery strategies are likely to function sustainably. The collective benefits from shared infrastructure investments necessitate subsidies but the research proposes that the benefits accruing privately constitute significant potential for leveraging household resources.This action research, set in Enkanini, an informal settlement in Stellenbosch, seeks to understand how capital subsidies for sanitation may be most effectively deployed to accommodate and amplify household contributions. Given the choice to continue using, at no cost, the communal toilets provided by the municipality, the research assesses the degree to which Enkanini residents are able and willing to pay for the servicing of shared toilets closer to their homes.Preliminary evidence, based on stated willingness-to-pay (WTP) responses in household surveys, suggests that the poor are indeed willing to contribute to operating costs, particularly when the service provider is a trained local resident. In addition, some householders are willing to invest in the cost of installing their own toilet if they are able to pay the costs off in instalments.Empirical data from a small sample pilot project (20 Enkanini households using improved toilets) will be used to calibrate stated WTP survey bids and other bids derived from a public-goods game experiment (each based on representative samples of 200 households in Enkanini). The research will integrate empirical, micro-level demand data with supply-side data based on the alternative service-delivery pilot to simulate the expected outcomes of the strategy on scales larger than those of Enkanini. Preliminary evidence from simulated data suggests that a component-sharing model (with subsidised shared infrastructure and household-funded private capital) may be optimal in terms of reducing the time period for the delivery of services, based on current subsidy schedules.

Disciplinary history: BSc and BComm (Hons), University of KwaZulu Natal (2006)MA, Georgia State University (2008).Faculty/department of registration: Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences; School of Public Leadership, SU (2012)


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LORRAINE AMOLLO AMBOLE

PhD Topic: Co-Production Of Knowledge For The Design Of On-Site Sanitation For Informal Settlements In South Africa And KenyaSupervisor: Prof Mark Swilling, Programme Co-ordinator: Sustainable Development; School of Public Leadership; Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: Proponents of co-production are calling for greater collaboration between science and society. In the global South, informal settlements in sub-Saharan Africa are particularly poorly prepared to deal with the increasing pressures of global change, often resulting in a reduced quality of life for the inhabitants of these areas. Co-design and co-production approaches may unravel these complex socio-ethical issues by bringing research closer to real-world problems.This research aims to undertake an exploratory study into the nature of co-production in the context of sanitation for informal settlements. To achieve this, two case studies of on-site sanitation systems in informal settlements will be used to investigate the co-production process as it takes place in a real-world context. In line with the transdisciplinary approach, this study is ultimately geared towards the production of both practical and scientific knowledge.

Disciplinary history: BA Industrial Design, University of Nairobi, Kenya.MA Design, University of Nairobi, Kenya.Faculty/department of registration: Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences; School of Public Leadership, SU (2013)


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ANRIA VAN ZYL

PhD Topic: Embedding sustainability practices into organisations through Integrated ReportingSupervisor: Prof Mark Swilling, Programme Co-ordinator: Sustainable Development; School of Public Leadership; Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: Growing evidence of resource constraints, climate change, ecosystem degradation, loss of biodiversity and socio-economic inequality is prompting the larger stakeholder communities to place increased demands on corporations to report more clearly on their long-term strategies to ensure the sustainability of their businesses.During this research, five South African companies that have adopted integrated reporting will be subjected to a critical review of their corporate social-responsibility practices and the information systems used to collect and disseminate sustainability-related information. The integrated reporting process will be viewed as a vehicle for institutional learning, knowledge creation and sharing and will encompass the entire information and knowledge-management system of the organisations.

The aim of this research is to help the companies develop practical solutions to address the weaknesses and problems in their unique integrated reporting processes. Additionally, the research aims to use the findings of the five case studies to develop an integrated reporting methodology that is relevant for the South African context and that will enable organisations to embed sustainability practices and corporate social responsibility into their business activities more successfully by providing practical steps, processes and performance indicators.

Disciplinary history: Bachelor in Accounting Science, University of the Free State; Honours Bachelor of Accounting, University of the Free State; Certificate in Theoretical Accounting, University of the Free State; Advanced Diploma in Auditing, University of Cape Town/University of Johannesburg; Master of Accounting (Computer Auditing), SU; MPhil (Environmental Management), SU

Professional Qualifications:Chartered Accountant (SA)

Faculty/department of registration: Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences; School of Public Leadership, SU (2013)


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PIETER VAN HEYNINGEN

PhD Topic: Innovation Systems for Sustainability Transitions: Case Studies of Social, Institutional and Spatial PerspectivesSupervisor: Prof Alan Brent, Professor - Sustainable Development Programme, School of Public Leadership (SPL) of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Associate Director: Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES), which is based in the Faculty of Engineering, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: This research focuses on understanding the social complexity of transition processes in spaces and places from an innovation-systems perspective. Innovation systems provide a useful analytical framework to assess the strengths and weaknesses in the economy but, more importantly, also provide insight into innovation processes and opportunities for transitions as socio-technical systems change. This work contributes to transitions literature in that it reinforces the new economic-geographic perspective on transitions. In other words, why do certain places, spaces or territories have greater capacity and capability for transition towards sustainability than others? The idea is that specific geographic places have inherent capabilities, strengths and resources embedded within them as historical socio-institutional processes that provide advantages for innovation and transition processes above others. This may also be true for the North-South argument, power, geo-politics, access to resources and so forth. In other words, it is not simply about implementing new technological innovations to afford transitions but also about abilities, capabilities and capacity for transition to sustainability from a socio-institutional and economic-geographic perspective. Network spaces or relative proximity are pertinent social institutions that provide the often-required capability for transitions. Most often, these networks making up relative proximity are linked to the physical identity of places, such as cities, towns, economic districts, universities, entrepreneurial or technological spaces, industries or regional economies. This is because the agglomeration effect of skills, resources and stronger institutions also play out within physical places that are not only more capable in deploying their resources for innovative transitions but also serve as attractors of new capabilities and resources required for transitions.Furthermore, this research contributes to the understanding that innovation processes are central to transition processes but reveals the obsession with technological fixes within primarily Eurocentric literature. The two case studies of Stellenbosch in South Africa and Styria/Graz in Austria provide the real-world context within which the author is able to test an intricate argument around the importance of acknowledging social and socio-cognitive institutional factors that are built in relative and absolute proximity. This research argues that, if transitions are to occur more rapidly, which is required if sustainability and the targets of the Millennium Development Goals are to be achieved, then these socio-institutional factors need to be given weighting equal to those of technological fixes in transitions and innovation-systems literature.The Stellenbosch Innovation District is an ongoing project that is a spin-off from the author’s PhD research work.

Disciplinary history: BA Political, Philosophical and Economic Studies & Public Development Management (SU); BA Honours Philosophy (SU); Masters in Ecological Economics (Sweden)Faculty/department of registration: Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences; School of Public Leadership, SU (2012)


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http://www.crses.sun.ac.za/home-people.php

MULETA YIRGA

PhD Topic: Institutional economics approaches and Developmental State: A case in Northern Ethiopia (Tigray), Raya Valley Ground water Irrigation ProjectSupervisor: Prof Mark Swilling, Programme Co-ordinator: Sustainable Development; School of Public Leadership; Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: Institutions are a set of formal and informal rules of conduct that facilitate coordination or govern relationships between individuals or groups in the economy and the state. Institutions have an influence on the characteristics and outcomes of economic performance, efficiency, economic growth and development. Neo-classical and neo-liberal economic analysis assumes that markets are efficient and characterised by full information and full rationality. However, in the real world, markets are inefficient and characterised by asymmetric and high transaction costs. Developing countries face formidable market failures and institutional inadequacies that create vicious circles and poverty traps that can adequately be addressed only by an activist state. Even if a developmental state were concerned solely with accelerating growth, it would have to build the high social capital that is vital for its endeavours.The economic and political renaissance of Africa is an issue that continues to preoccupy both Africans and non-Africans alike. Although various methods of achieving an African renaissance have been proposed, most of the proposals are variations on the dominant neo-liberal paradigm of development. This paradigm, however, is incapable of bringing about economic transformation in Africa. A fundamental paradigm shift is therefore required to bring about economic transformation in developing countries, including those in Africa. It is a developmental-state paradigm that remains an indispensable approach for transformation in the 21st century.The neo-liberal paradigm suggests a non-activist and non-interventionist state as well as a night-watchman state (where the state protects property rights and enforces contracts) and assumes that this is conducive to economic growth. Historical practice, however, has shown that state intervention has been critical in the development process. There are arguments for developmental states and the realisation, simultaneously, of growth and of democracy in these states. There are indeed successful developmental states that are both developmental and democratic at the same time but there are also developmental states that are achieving development but that are not yet achieving democracy. The activities of such developmental states are consistent with the interests of the peasants and with their socio-economic transformation into a democratic force.

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MULETA YIRGA

This study will focus on the role of institutional environments and arrangements in creating conducive environments for developmental states in the realisation of economic development and growth and of simultaneously building a democratic process. The primary question of this study will therefore be the following: Can developmental states achieve economic growth, democracy and decentralisation and, if so, how? The general aim of the study will be to assess how institutional environments and arrangements support developmental states in bringing about economic growth and building democratic processes and decentralisation. To achieve the overall objective, the study will undertake a transdisciplinary research approach through engaging different stakeholders at different levels, accompanied with detailed case studies at community level. The contribution of this research will be to develop an alternative approach to how developmental states can achieve cooperation between market and non-market actors and co-ownership of infrastructure at community level.

Disciplinary history: BA in Economics, Mekelle University, Ethiopia; MSc. in Natural Resource Economics, Mekelle University, EthiopiaFaculty/department of registration: Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences; School of Public Leadership, SU (2013)


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MAURA ANDREW

PhD Topic: Critical Analysis of Institutional Options to facilitate Payments for Ecosystems Services for Land Rehabilitation (Restoration) in the Baviaanskloof Mega-ReserveSupervisor: Prof Mark Swilling, Programme Co-ordinator: Sustainable Development; School of Public Leadership; Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: Government and non-government organisations in South Africa with interests in conservation are advocating payments or rewards to land managers in priority upper catchments who adopt restoration, conservation and sustainable land uses. The improved water flows generated by these activities provide opportunities for Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) in respect of downstream water users, which could provide land managers with the financial resources to transition to sustainable land uses in the long term.Such proposals, however, have not been well received by the Department of Water Affairs, which, since 1998, has become the legal owner of all water in South Africa. The reason for this is that rewarding privileged (mostly white and wealthy) private-land and water-entitlement holders for restoration runs contrary to the policy of redistributing water-use entitlements to other more productive and disadvantaged sectors and of curbing water use by all water users in stressed catchments to accommodate ecological and social reserves. This is a particular problem in heavily utilised catchments, such as those in the Algoa water-management area, where water demand already outstrips supply and where supply is severely affected by droughts and floods. There are also concerns about the potential impact of climate change on these water systems.

This study will investigate the use of a cap-and-trade system to reduce and redistribute water-use rights and the linking of this to a PES scheme for landscape restoration, which has the potential of increasing the water available for redistribution and of encouraging marginal landowners and managers to reduce their water use and transition to sustainable agricultural land uses. These market mechanisms will also be compared to other policy options. Using socio-economic and spatial data on three catchments in the Algoa water-management area, which supplies 70% of the water requirements for the city of Port Elizabeth, this study will undertake choice experiments, stakeholder engagement, and water and restoration auction experiments to investigate the potential of these regulated market mechanisms to reduce and redistribute water-use entitlements and, at the same time, increase the volume and security of water supply within these river systems through restoration activities in the upper-catchment areas. This study will highlight the value of linking PES and water cap-and-trade market mechanisms – the carrot and the stick – to ensure the effective and sustainable use of water and land resources.

Disciplinary history: BA Sociology, Economics & Geography, Rhodes UniversityBA Hons Geography, Rhodes University; MA Human Geography, Rhodes UniversityFaculty/department of registration: Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences; School of Public Leadership, SU (2013)


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LAUREN ROSENBERG

PhD Topic: Short(er) supply chains and subjective well-being: Connecting coffee drinkers and coffee farmers in Kayanza, BurundiSupervisor: Prof Mark Swilling, Programme Co-ordinator: Sustainable Development; School of Public Leadership; Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: Coffee is the second-largest global commodity export after oil, estimated to be consumed regularly by more than 40% of the world’s population. Small-scale farming households grow the majority of coffee, which is grown almost exclusively in the coffee belt, the geo-climatic region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, an area consisting largely of Global South nations. Typically, coffee exports are arranged into long supply (value) chains with very low levels of value addition available to producers at the beginning of the value chain. This is changing rapidly, however, as more direct trade-value chains are being configured because of the increased demand for better-quality coffee (speciality coffee) and the improved sustainability of the social and environmental aspects of production. In Burundi, coffee production accounts for over 70% of total export revenue. As one of the poorest nations in the world, Burundi is profoundly shaped by post-war recovery efforts in a macro-economic landscape of virtually no industrialisation and coffee production is thus an indispensable component of development.

The aims of this research wrap themselves around two thematic poles of exploration: Is it possible to shorten the coffee supply chain in Burundi? And what is the relationship between these processes and the subjective well-being of producers at household level?

Disciplinary history: BA English, Film & Media Production (Radio Specialisation), UCT (2007)BA Hons in African Studies, UCT (2008); MPhil Sustainable Development, SU (2013)Faculty/department of registration: Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences; School of Public Leadership, SU (2013)


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JEREMY WAKEFORD

PhD Topic: Socioeconomic implications of global oil depletion for South Africa: Vulnerabilities, impacts and transition to sustainabilitySupervisor: Prof Mark Swilling, Programme Co-ordinator: Sustainable Development; School of Public Leadership; Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: Oil is the quintessential resource in the modern industrial economy. It accounts for a third of world primary energy, fuels 95% of global transport systems, sustains a highly mechanised agribusiness and food-distribution industry, and provides feedstock for a staggering array of petrochemical products. Historically, global economic growth has been closely coupled with the consumption of energy in general and oil in particular. Yet oil is a finite resource subject to depletion, which has profound implications for the long-term sustainability of industrial civilisation. This dissertation addresses a serious dearth of attention given to this vital subject within South African energy, economic and policy discourses. The overarching aims are to understand the implications of global oil depletion for socio-economic welfare in South Africa and to propose viable strategies and policies for mitigating and adapting to potential negative impacts. A comparative evaluation of three fields of study found that neoclassical economics is limited by its monistic and reductionist approach and its failure to incorporate energy adequately into its key theoretical models, whereas ecological economics and the socio-ecological systems approach together provide an appropriate, holistic lens for analysing the role of energy in socio-economic systems. In this view, energy is the master resource: it is a prerequisite for economic activity and societal complexity.A review of the literature on global oil depletion finds that a peak and decline in world oil production appears imminent, while world oil exports most likely peaked in 2005. Moreover, the energy return on (energy) investment (EROI) for global oil production is also on a declining trend. The world oil peak thus marks the end of the era of cheap and abundant oil. Increasing oil scarcity will likely be reflected in oil prices following a rising trend with heightened volatility.While there are many potential substitutes for oil, all have significant limitations, most have lower EROI than oil and it may take decades to scale them up sufficiently. Many aspects of the South African socio-economic system are either directly or indirectly dependent on petroleum fuels, while structural features of the economy and of society render them vulnerable to external shocks. Historical evidence and empirical models suggest that oil price and supply shocks will have debilitating socio-economic impacts. Under business-as-usual policies and behaviours, future oil scarcity will likely lead, at best, to a gradual contraction in the economy with rising unemployment and inflation and, at worst, to the systemic collapse of interconnected critical infrastructure systems.



JEREMY WAKEFORD

A comprehensive range of mitigation measures is proposed, including accelerated investments in renewable energy and electrified mass transport, agro-ecological farming, the greening of the economy, monetary-system reform and rationing schemes to protect the most vulnerable members of society. Together, these measures can build resilience to shocks and gradually decouple economic activity from petroleum consumption. A successful societal transition from a fossil fuel-based industrial regime to a sustainable socio-economic regime requires purposive government intervention, the promotion of sustainability-oriented innovations in technology and institutions, and the political will to surmount obstacles, such as powerful vested interests and socio-technical lock-in.

Disciplinary history: BA, UCT; BA Hons in Economics, UCT; MA in Economics, UCT; MPhil in Economics, Cambridge (UK); PhD in Economics, SU (2012)Faculty/department of registration: Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences; School of Public Leadership, SU (2013)


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CHRISTELLE BEYERS

PhD Topic: A Study of Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis to Develop an Empirical Foundation and Learning Engagement to Support Transitions to a Green Economy in South AfricaSupervisor: Prof Mark Swilling, Programme Co-ordinator: Sustainable Development; School of Public Leadership; Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: Global environmental problems tend to be associated with the nature and scale of resource flows, resource use and waste disposal. However, in contrast to other regions of the world, there is no comprehensive, comparative and quantitative study on the trends, patterns and composition of resource use in Africa. One methodology that quantifies resource flows at national level is the Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA). The EW-MFA is a Eurostat-recognised methodology and already widely used in Europe but not at all in Africa.This transdisciplinary study proposes to build an EW-MFA for South Africa. As such, the EW-MFA for South Africa will aim to provide an aggregate overview, in tonnes, of annual materials inputs and outputs of the economy that includes the physical amounts of imports and exports. This empirical data will provide a basis from which material flow-based indicators and policy implications can be derived.The main emphasis of the proposed research will focus on the role of the EW-MFA to provide an empirical basis and a learning engagement and to catalyse shifts towards Green Economy (GE) ideals in South Africa.The study will explore the use of the EW-MFA in South Africa, compare work done by the Vienna Institute for Social Ecology and adapt a context-specific MFA – and related learning engagement – for South Africa. It will result in one of the first EW-MFAs for Africa and directly address South Africa’s ability to respond to GE and sustainability goals.

Disciplinary history: BSc Town and Regional Planning, University of Pretoria; MPhil Sustainable Development Planning and Management, SU (2010)Faculty/department of registration: Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences; School of Public Leadership, SU (2013)


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ALEM ARAYA

PhD Topic: Land-Use Efficiency for Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihood: The Case of Northern EthiopiaSupervisor: Dr Josephine Musango, Senior Lecturer: School of Public Leadership (SPL)/ TsamaHub; Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: In Ethiopia, agriculture, with its poor performance, is the source of livelihood for more than 80% of the population. Land degradation, together with other environmental problems, however, is impelling this sector into the predicament of unsustainability and abysmally low productivity. Currently, the average yield in the average holding size of less than a hectare is 12q/ha only. Consequently, a significant proportion of the rural population is facing food insecurity and poverty. Moreover, the already high land degradation and its consequences are exacerbated by population growth, climate variability and limited land-management practices by farmers.The present land use is unsustainable for various biophysical and socio-economic reasons. Basically, because of a lack of capacity and motivation, the use of improved inputs by poor farmers is limited. More specifically, farmers may not be willing or may be unable to apply improved technologies due to a lack of knowledge and of access to assets, technology, services and facilities, due to uncertainty about returns etc. These, in turn, are conditioned by factors such as land quality, climate variability, land-tenure insecurity and unhelpful policies.In attaining economic and environmental objectives, policies can therefore be used as instrument to dis/encourage the practices of farmers. Although huge efforts have been made for decades, the debilitating livelihood conditions of farm households and the multidimensional problems of unsustainable land use cannot come to an end. Policies therefore need the support of research that integrates biophysical and socio-economic factors and that interactively produces economic and environmental outcomes.This study accordingly intends to investigate the economic and environmental outcomes of the decisions of farm households under the above constraints in Northern Ethiopia. It will therefore evaluate the impacts of alternative policies and technologies on the livelihoods of farm households and sustainable land use.

Disciplinary history: BA Economics, Asmara University, Eritrea; MA Regional and Local Development Studies, University of Addis Ababa, EthiopiaFaculty/department of registration: Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences; School of Public Leadership, SU (2013)


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http://www.tsama.org.za/

JOSEPHINE KAVITI MUSANGO

PhD Topic: Technology Assessment of Renewable Energy Sustainability in AfricaSupervisor: Prof Alan Brent, Professor - Sustainable Development Programme, School of Public Leadership (SPL) of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Associate Director: Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES), which is based in the Faculty of Engineering, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: Technology assessment has changed in nature over the last four decades. It has changed from an analytical tool for technology evaluation, which depends heavily on quantitative and qualitative modelling methodologies, to a strategic-planning tool for policy-making concerning acceptable new technologies, which depends on participative policy-problem analysis. The goal of technology assessment today is to generate policy options for the solutions of organisational and societal problems, which, at the operational level, utilise new technologies that are publicly acceptable; that is, viable policy options.Energy-technology assessment for sustainability is inherently a complex and dynamic process that requires a holistic and transdisciplinary approach. In the South African context specifically, there is no formal or coherent approach to energy-technology assessment from a sustainability perspective. Without a formal comprehensive or well-integrated technology-assessment approach to evaluate the sustainability of any technology, policy-makers, technology designers and decision-makers are faced with the difficulty of making reasoned decisions about appropriate technology options.This study developed a framework that incorporates a technology-assessment approach, namely system dynamics, within the broader scope of technology development for sustainability. The framework, termed the Systems Approach to Technology Sustainability Assessment (SATSA), integrates three key elements: technology development, sustainable development and a dynamic systems approach. The study also provides a guiding process of applying the framework to energy-technology assessment theory and practice within the context of sustainable development. Biodiesel, a cleaner-burning replacement fuel argued potentially to contribute to sustainable development, is used for the demonstration. Biodiesel development entails the complex interactions of actors such as technology developers, government at different levels, communities and the natural environment. Different actions or responses in the greater system might, however, hinder or undermine the positive effects of such a development.Based on the SATSA framework, a Bioenergy Technology Sustainability Assessment (BIOTSA) model was developed. The BIOTSA model was used to test the outcomes of the selected sustainability indicators of a proposed biodiesel-production development in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. In addition, some policy scenarios were tested to compare how they assist in improving the selected indicators. The BIOTSA model results are useful in comparing dynamic consequences resulting from a proposed biodiesel-production development and the respective policies and decisions that may arise from such a development.


http://www.crses.sun.ac.za/home-people.php

JOSEPHINE KAVITI MUSANGO

The testing and validation of the BIOTSA model were carried out based on structural validity, behavioural validity and expert opinion. Potential policy-scenario outcomes and their implications in respect of the selected sustainability indicators were also tested. The opinions of the selected stakeholders indicated that the BIOTSA model was useful in providing an understanding of the potential impacts of the biodiesel development on selected sustainability indicators in the Eastern Cape. The SATSA framework can thus be applied to assess the sustainability of other renewable-energy technologies. In addition, system dynamics provide a useful and feasible dynamic systems approach for the assessment of energy-technology sustainability.Finally, the model-building process and transdisciplinary nature of this study enabled the identification of the potential problems that could arise during the biodiesel-production development. In addition, gaps in data and knowledge were identified and the recommendation for future work in this field is highlighted. Nevertheless, the findings of the BIOTSA model could inform policy and decision-making in biodiesel-production development in South Africa. The development of similar models for other renewable energy-development efforts is thus recommended. Current efforts to facilitate the large-scale roll-out of concentrated solar thermal technologies in Southern Africa, for example, would require the development of a Solar Thermal Technology Sustainability Assessment model.

Disciplinary history: BSc Hons Agribusiness Management, Egerton University, Kenya;MSc Agricultural Economics, SU; PhD Economics / Sustainable Development, SU (2012)Faculty/department of registration: Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences; School of Public Leadership, SU (2013)


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SYDNEY MAVENGAHAMA

PhD Topic: The role of wild vegetable species in household food security in maize based subsistence cropping systemsSupervisor: Dr Willem de Clercq, Researcher: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: Wild vegetables (WVs) are an important source of food in the maize-based subsistence-farming sector of rural South Africa. Their main role is as relish, as they are used as an accompaniment for staple cereal-based diets. They are generally reported to be rich in micronutrients and, although they may be consumed in small quantities, they influence the intake of cereal staples, manage hunger and play a central role in household food security for the poorer rural groups. Mixing several WV species in one meal contributes to dietary diversity in terms of more vegetable types and choice of relish; for some very poor families, WVs are even substitutes for some food crops. The seasonal occurrence of these vegetables, however, leaves many families without a food source during the off-season. WVs increase agro-biodiversity at the household level, which helps to buffer the accumulation and multiplication of pests and diseases and provides important cover for soil. Further research on agronomic, social and economic dimensions is required.

Disciplinary history: BSc Agriculture / Agronomy, Africa University, Zimbabwe (1996);MPhil Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe (2005)Faculty/department of registration: Faculty of AgriSciences, Dept. of Soil Science (2010)


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http://academic.sun.ac.za/soil/staff_de_clerc.html

MATT ZYLSTRA

PhD Topic: Exploring meaningful nature experience: the relevance of connectedness with nature in revitalizing transformative education for sustainabilitySupervisor: Prof Karen Esler, Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: The call for humans to reconnect with nature resounds through sustainability-minded literature. However, little attention has been devoted to understanding what connectedness with nature is, what it does and how it can be achieved as perquisite for environmentally responsible behaviour (ERB).This transdisciplinary study examines the relationship between meaningful nature experiences (MNEs) and an individual’s connectedness with nature (CWN). MNEs are understood to be powerful non-ordinary experiences with/in nature that are particularly profound, important, affective and difficult to describe.Employing mixed-methods research comprising phenomenological analysis alongside conventional quantitative and qualitative analysis, this study investigates the essential themes unique to MNEs, covering ‘inner’ (personal) variables and ‘outer’ (situational) variables as well as textual (the ‘what’) and structural (the ‘how’) descriptions of the experiences. Analyses find the perception and feeling of connectedness to be associated with – and often to be a defining feature of – MNEs. Results suggest that MNEs are perceived as instrumental in changing perceptions, supporting psychological well-being and motivating ERB.The study explores how the proliferation of non-native flora and fauna (invasive alien species [IAS]) impacts upon MNEs and how, through metaphor or experiential learning, encounters with IAS may also evoke MNEs, with subsequent insights and reflections inviting changes in perception.The overall results call for an educational renaissance in terms of effectively incorporating themes of CWN and MNEs into curricula, alongside conventional principles of the natural and social sciences. The type of education influences how MNEs are perceived or interpreted or whether they are recognised at all. Educators should be equipped with an understanding of the relevant theoretical concepts and practices to co-create opportunities that allow for transformative learning to unfold.

Disciplinary history: Bachelor of Business - Major: Marketing; Minor: International Business, Queensland University of Technology (1998); Diploma Module: Environmental Policy in an International Context, Open University Netherlands (2004); MA Environmental Science - Major: Environmental Systems Analysis / Integrated Ecosystem Assessment; Minors: Environmental Policy; and Fisheries & Aquaculture, Wageningen university & Research (2005)Faculty/department of registration: Faculty of AgriSciences, Dept. of Conservation Ecology & Entomology (2010)


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http://www.cons-ent.com/karen-esler.php

COLIN HABBERTON

PhD Topic: Connecting Capital - Methods and Implications of Incentivising ESG Investing in South AfricaSupervisor: Prof Bruce Watson, Department of Information Science, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: In alignment with international trends, financial instruments focused on sustainability are slowly emerging in South Africa, facilitating the flow of capital connected to investments and offering measurable impact from an environmental, social, governance (ESG) and financial perspective. In terms of the increasingly pressing needs of the planet and its people, the role and practice of investor decision-making regarding these ESG criteria in South Africa require further enquiry.This research will investigate if and how investor decisions ultimately contribute to non-financial outcomes and to what extent current incentive frameworks and the systems that support them act as catalysts in the process. The purpose of the research will be to contribute new knowledge to understanding the current incentives driving ESG-oriented institutional investor decision-making in South Africa. Furthermore, the research is intended to provide a body of academic evidence to encourage further research and practical interventions to guide institutional investors, as key agents, towards investment decision-making that factors in the impact and long-term effects of those decisions with regard to ESG indicators and outcomes. The resultant descriptions, analyses and recommendations relating to the incentive frameworks surrounding ESG investing will aim to offer academics and practitioners a new perspective to consider how and why decisions regarding the flow and allocation of capital are made. It is envisaged that the insights derived from further interrogation and the application of the incentive frameworks described in this study might encourage and support the growing academic and commercial interest and activity of this investment paradigm in supporting social and environmental sustainability.

Disciplinary history: Bachelor of Social Science (Economics and Business Administration), University of Durban, Natal (1998); MPhil in Information & Knowledge Management (cum laude), SU (2005)Faculty/department of registration: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Dept. of Information Technology (2013)


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http://www.informatics.sun.ac.za/index.php?page=staff&name=bruce

ORUPA TENDWA

PhD Topic: Economic Impact Of Floods In Variable Climates: The Case of Transportation Infrastructure in Pangani Basin, TanzaniaSupervisor: Prof Stephan Krygsman, Department of Logistics, Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: Historical flood events in Tanzania have involved the country in sensitive activities that have substantially affected economic performance and undermined poverty-reduction efforts.This study will evaluate the impacts of historical floods and their consequences on transport infrastructure in the Pangani basin in north-eastern Tanzania to fill the information gaps that currently persist. Such information is necessary to put an efficient and/or effective infrastructure in place that is resilient to extreme climate events.A case-study strategy will be employed where the Pangani basin will be studied in-depth to understand the phenomenon under investigation. Quantitative, qualitative and spatial information will be collected using varying techniques and historical-flood information will be collected from a number of sources involving a wide range of stakeholders from different departments from various ministries. Vulnerability mapping showing flood extent and infrastructure affected by historical and possible future floods will be accomplished using habitat and village mapping with knowledgeable people in the community, a geo-information system and remote sensing. A linear regression model will be used to project future floods. Based on secondary information combined “with and without” analysis will be used to assess the economic cost of damaged infrastructure from flood events. The impact will then be compared with the gross domestic product per capital indicator of a region. Finally, a cost-benefit analysis will be employed in the assessment of the economic viability and practical feasibility of historical adaptation measures. Complementary analysis procedures will be employed in the study: descriptive statistics for quantitative data and content analysis for qualitative data.The findings from this study could be used as a decision-making tool to assist those setting strategies to put roads in place that are resilient to climate change as a measure to address the funding shortfall in roads maintenance. A guide for the community and scientific society will also be published as an empirical reference.

Disciplinary history: BSc Hons, Urban and Regional Planning, University of Dar es Salaam;MSc. Engineering Management (Project Management), University of Dar es SalaamFaculty/department of registration: Faculty of Economics & Management SciencesDept. of Logistics, SU (2013)


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http://sun025.sun.ac.za/portal/page/portal/Economic_Management Sciences/Tuisblad/Departemente/Logistiek/Tuisblad/Personeel/Akademiese Personeel/SC Krygsman

ALEM GEBRU

PhD Topic: Optical remote sensing of insects and environmental MonitoringSupervisor: Prof Eric Rhower, Department of Physics / Laser Physics Institute, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University. Abstract: The proposed PhD project will have two phases. The first phase of the project will focus on developing an optical remote-sensing technique for insect-monitoring applications. Remote sensing is the extraction of information from a distance without making physical contact with the object under investigation. This can be a passive or an active technique depending on the way that the information is collected. The use of natural radiation (sunlight) as the illumination source is an example of a passive technique; laser techniques, such as LIDaR and radar, can be considered as examples of active remote sensing Optical remote sensing, which will be implemented in this project, entails both passive and active monitoring.Sweep netting and trapping are examples of the most commonly used techniques to study insects. However, it is impossible to determine the flight direction, speed, distance and life stages of insects using these techniques. It is also difficult to answer questions like what the activities of insects during the day or night are, what the prey-predator relationship is and what the flight situation compared with the direction of the wind is. Other techniques, such as radar, have also been used for such applications but these are very costly and it is difficult to implement them in small-scale research.The main goal of this project will be to introduce less-expensive techniques that can do a similar job. To achieve this, it will be important to develop a low-price and efficient optical remote-sensing technique. The author is currently involved in a project entailing the development of an optical remote-sensing technique for insect-monitoring purposes. This project will continue as part of the author’s PhD project and will be co-supervised by Lund University, Sweden. The second phase will focus on the development of laser techniques for environmental applications. The aim of this will basically be to assess the capabilities of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for organic-pollutant monitoring, specifically polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These cause severe health problems when inhaled or ingested. These pollutants also decrease the productivity of resources. This could lead to unsustainable resource utilisation, which would endanger the future.To mitigate this kind of problem, effective environmental-monitoring techniques, such as SERS, play a key role. These techniques combine knowledge of nanotechnology and laser physics to create a new knowledge system for environmental application. The signal collected using SERS provides a fingerprint of individual molecules. Its high sensitivity, specificity and value as a tool for analysing a mixture makes SERS a robust technique. Monitoring pollutants via this method needs a relatively simple experimental procedure and reasonably affordable instrumentation compared with other techniques. Air and water monitoring via a SERS technique showed great potential in achieving accurate information of environmental situations. This project will be performed in collaboration with a research group from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Disciplinary history: BA in Physics, Mekelle University, Ethiopia; MA Combustion Physics, Lund University, SwedenFaculty/department of registration: Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, Laser Research Institute (LRI), SU (2013)


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http://www.laser-research.co.za/People/Rohwer, Erich/rohwer_e.htm

NUSRAT BEGUM

PhD Topic: Improving Water Quality: Developing a Natural Toxic Free NanomebraneSupervisor: Prof Bert Klumperman, Department of Chemistry & Polymer Science, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: As the human population escalates within the next century, conservation will not be sufficient, as water quality will be compromised due to increased demand from municipal and industrial users competing for limited freshwater resources. As a result, there will be a reduction in adequate water resources. Currently, 1.1 billion people in rural, peri-urban and urban areas are deprived of sustainable access to safe drinking water and any water source is therefore used despite its quality. Water contamination has led to a lack of safe drinking water globally, affecting more than one billion people in developing countries.Water can be treated by municipalities before it is distributed to piping systems and treatment can be carried out from households. There are several methods of improving water quality at point-of-use (POU), such as boiling, the use of disinfectants and filtration.Filtration removes contaminants in the water that is drunk but the pores of filters are large enough to allow bacteria, viruses, salt, and industrial and agricultural contaminants through. However, pore sizes can be reduced to nanoscale and membranes can easily filter out smaller contaminants. There are four main types of membrane filtration systems, one being the nanomembrane, which is achieved through nanotechnology, a technology that is adding magic to conventional science, redefining the basic chemistry that is learnt in high school and that is taught at tertiary level. It is said to be the answer to numerous endless problems facing developing countries in respect of energy, health, water and food security, to name but a few. It is the answer to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and creating a sustainable bright future.A nanomembrane resulting from this research will enable purification to take place prior to the use of the water. Treating water at POU is an ideal method that can save millions of lives, enabling particularly the poor urban community to have access to safe drinking water on its doorstep, since the majority of contamination occurs during handling, transport and storage, as opposed to obtaining water directly from source.

Disciplinary history: BSc Chemistry / Zoology, University of Nairobi; MSc Environmental Chemistry, University of NairobiFaculty/department of registration: Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, SU (2013)


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http://academic.sun.ac.za/chemistry/academic_bklumperman.asp


OBIAGELI UMEUGOCHUKWU

PhD Topic: Mitigation of Soil Degradation, and Ground Water Pollution caused by on-land disposal of Vegetable Oil mill EffluentsSupervisor: Prof Andrei Rozanov, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University.

Abstract: Vegetable-oil mill effluents are wastewaters generated from oil mills (such as olive-oil mill wastewaters and palm-oil mill effluents) during the extraction of oil. These effluents are produced in such large quantities that their disposal is causing great environmental pollution and is of serious concern to researchers. Research has revealed that these effluents are composed of heterogeneous (metabolisable carbon-source and toxin-inhibiting) compounds. Their nutrients are good enough for restoring degraded soils and enhancing crop yield but the complex organic pollutants in them contradict their potential. Their polluting effects are felt in the soil years after their application because of their slow biodegradable rate, for example, and they have the potential to affect groundwater. These effluents are also very good sources for fertilisers, biofuel and bio-energy. At high rates of application, however, they not only inhibit or reduce crop yield but also contaminate soil with organotoxins and pollute groundwater, resulting in large-scale land degradation. The effluents contain 3.5 to 15% organic matter, 0.5 to 2% mineral salts, 83 to 95% water and 11.5% phenols. Unfortunately, the phenols in oil fruits all go to the effluents during the extraction process and then cause problems in the soil; only 1% is retained in the oil extracted. The main objective of this research is to understand the complexity of the interaction between effluent and soil and to explore both in situ and ex situ options for pollution prevention and the remediation of polluted land. In exploring these options for the treatment of these effluents, many researchers have used mechanisms to destroy the phenol and other organic pollutants (such as oil, fat and grease), while others have tried to eliminate them from the effluent, although none have been efficient. This research focuses on using a column experiment to identify physical (solute transport, adsorption rates, soil-pore clogging) and chemical (dissolved organic carbon, electrical conductivity, ionic substitution, cations and anions in the solution) degradation caused by the effluents. The filtration of the effluents using sandy soil, ultisol, biochar, and biochar mixed with ultisol is also a strategy to reduce contaminants in the effluents. The study intends to explore a biochar amendment strategy to restore polluted soil. Biochar was selected because it has a recalcitrant effect on soil and on the effluents. The effluents have the ability to degrade soil for a considerable period but biochar will outlast this in remediating the soil. One of the most generated waste products in oil-mill industries is the palm-kernel shell. This is one of the materials that is intended to be used for the biochar preparations. Its other potential uses are not many and it can therefore be reused; it is also readily available to local farmers. The intention is furthermore to use pinewood biochar for olive-oil wastewater treatment. The anaerobic-digestion option of treating wastewater will also be explored. Local farmers will be advised on the quantity of effluent and biochar that should be used for a particular type of soil for sustained agricultural production using vegetable-mill effluent.

Disciplinary history: BSc Soil Science, University of Nsukka, Nigeria; MSc Soil Science, University of Nsukka, NigeriaFaculty/department of registration: Faculty of AgriSciences, Department of Soil Science, SU (2013)

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http://academic.sun.ac.za/soil/staff_rozanov.html

SOLOMON ABERA BARIAGABRE

PhD Topic: The Role Of Cactus Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) in Climate Change Adaptation and Restoration of Degraded Dry-lands, in Northern Ethiopia.Supervisor: Prof K. Asante Isaack. Prof of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Ghana

Abstract: This research project was developed with the objective of evaluating and documenting the economic and ecological role of cactus pear in climate-change adaptation and in the restoration of degraded dry-lands in Northern Ethiopia, located in the tropics. It is designed to document the perceptions and traditional practices of the local community in respect of the management, uses and utilisation of the cactus-pear plant, to identify its role as a source of food, feed and income to the dry-land inhabitants, to identify the key environmental variables that determine its distribution and density and to measure the floristic association of cactus pear with the native vegetation species. It will also identify the role of cactus pear in habitat restoration, mainly in the physical and chemical properties modification of soil. A sample survey will be conducted to gather data that pertain to the traditional knowledge and perception of farmers about the spread, establishment, use, utilisation, management and phenology of the plant. During the survey research, a total of 270 households from three potential cactus-growing districts will be interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data collected through the questionnaires will be supplemented by information that will be obtained from 27 focus-group discussions, key-informant interviews and personal observation. The data will be substantiated by cross-questioning and field checks at the time of the survey. Data collected from the survey will be summarised and described using descriptive statistics. Two watersheds will be selected, based on their cactus-vegetation cover, for the measurement of vegetation, soil and environmental variables. In each watershed, two parallel-line transects of 1 000 m in length will be laid down. The spacing between the transects will be 75 m to 100 m. Twenty quadrat plots with a size of 10 m x 10 m each will be systematically distributed along each transect for vegetation-parameter data collection. In each 10 m x 10 m major plot, two subplots with a size of 1 m x 1 m and with spacing of 4 m to 8 m will be established (one under the cactus canopy and one on an adjacent open area) to collect soil samples and to measure environmental variables. Data on vegetation, soil and environmental variables will be collected from a total of 80 plots. These will be analysed using SPSS software and significant differences will be tested at a 5% level of probability. The working hypotheses of this research project are as follows: 1) Cactus-pear expansion has no negative effect on the composition and diversity of native vegetation species; 2) cactus pear has no effect on the physical and chemical properties of soil; and 3) different environmental variables have no impact on the spatial distribution and density of cactus pear in the study area.The outputs of this research project will be important to policy makers, environmentalists, ecologists, development workers, non-governmental organisations and farmers. To disseminate the results of the research, the findings will be synthesised and submitted to international journals, and papers will be presented at international conferences and workshops. A total of US$15 000 will be requested to accomplish the intended research project. The research project will be completed within a 36-month period.Disciplinary history: BSc Animal Sciences, Alemaya Agricultural University, Ethiopia; MSc Rangeland Management, University of Nairobi, KenyaFaculty/department of registration: Institute of Environmental and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana (2013)


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http://www.ug.edu.gh/botany/

PASCHAL MUGABE

PhD Topic: The effects of climate variability on food security in Tanzania, paying attention to the effects of changing rainfall patterns on food consumption. The case of Bagamoyo DistrictSupervisor: Prof Kwadwo Ofori, Prof of Crop Science. Faculty of Agriculture and Consumer, Sciences, University of Ghana

Abstract: In the wake of the continuing debate on the effects of climate change on the well-being of households, this study considers the impact of short-term weather variations (rainfall variability), as an indicator of climate change, on the food consumption (as an element of food security) of rural households in Bagamoyo district, Tanzania. The description of the research as a requirement for the study will lead to the award of Doctoral Philosophy in Environmental Science at the University of Ghana under the Trans-disciplinary Training for Resource Efficiency and Climate Change Adaptation in Africa project.Climate change is a complex biophysical process. It is therefore not possible to predict precise future climate conditions but the scientific consensus is that global land and sea temperatures are increasing under the influence of greenhouse gases and that they will continue to increase, regardless of human intervention, for at least the next two decades. Vulnerability to environmental changes occurs due to variation in frequency, due to the duration of those changes or due to people being constrained economically, socially or politically from responding adequately to those changes.This document is an interim product that is intended to guide early thinking on the work. The products that eventually emerge from the process may ultimately differ in both scope and content from considerations described herein.

Disciplinary history: BA Political Science and Public Administration, University of Dar es Salaam / Tanzania; MBA Corporate Management, Mzumbe UniversityFaculty/department of registration: Environmental Science, Institute of Environmental and Water Sanitation Studies (IESS), University of Ghana (2013)


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http://www.ug.edu.gh/cacs/page8.html

JEMAL TADESSE

PhD Topic: Micro-insurance as a Tool for Climate Variability: Its Impact on Farmers’ Livelihood and the Environment in Rural Tigray, EthiopiaSupervisor: Prof Onah Felix Ezema and Dr Munpuibeyi William Fonta, Prof of Economics. Faculty of Social Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)

Abstract: Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the majority of the population in Ethiopia. It is still, however, largely in the subsistence stage, which is a very risky and uncertain venture. In addition, climate variability is becoming more frequent and a real threat to the farming activities of the peasants.Given the malign effects of uninsured risk, innovations that reduce the adverse consequences of shocks would seem to hold welfare benefits. Among such innovations is the provision of insurance to poor farmers, index-based insurance being at the centre of agricultural insurance. One variant of index-based insurance – the Horn of Africa Risk Transfer for Adaptation – is being implemented in rural Tigray, Ethiopia. Despite its implementation for some years, however, no attempt has been made to evaluate what the project has yielded for the beneficiaries of the programme.This study is thus aimed at filling this gap. Moreover, the study also aims to investigate the challenges of the project and thereby to offer possible solutions that would help to sustain the project. To this end, a stratified random sample of 500 households, both participants and non-participants of the project, will be interviewed. Focused group discussions will also be held with both treatment and control groups, experts and key stakeholders, while key-informant interviews will be conducted with experts at different levels of the project. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis will be implemented to process the information gathered. Participants of the project will be evaluated in terms of technology adoption, decision making and livelihood outcomes against the non-participants of the project. To this end, propensity score matching will be implemented to identify and clarify the impacts of the project on pre-selected impact indicators of the project.

Disciplinary history: BA Economics, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia; MSc Agricultural Development, University of Copenhagen, Denmark and University of Padova, Padova, ItalyFaculty/department of registration: Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2013)


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http://unn.edu.ng/department/economics

HOPE RICHARD OTSYINA

PhD Topic: Prevalence, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis And Management Of Indigestible Rumen Foreign Bodies In Shoats In Urban And Peri-Urban NairobiSupervisor: Dr Mwangi James A Nguhiu, Dr of Veterinary Medicine. Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract: Sheep and goats (also referred to as shoats) form an important economic and ecological niche in agricultural systems throughout developing countries. Their contribution to household food security, poverty reduction and overall livelihoods is significant and cannot be overemphasised. However, the productivity and reproduction of these animals are greatly undermined by disease conditions, leading to premature culling and mortality incidences and negatively impacting on the livelihoods of smallholder low-income households, especially those in peri-urban areas, as this contributes to decreased production and productivity.One condition that has been gaining prominence in recent times in small-ruminant production is rumen impaction owing to the accumulation of non-biodegradable foreign material, especially waste plastic bags in the rumen. This condition is economically important because it causes severe losses in production and high mortality rates. Furthermore, many of the cases go unrecognised.Rural-urban migration, triggered by effects of climate change, both rising standards of living and worsening poverty levels, accompanied by rapid natural population growth, have resulted in the increased generation of solid waste in most cities in Africa. This has led to the extensive littering of urban and peri-urban areas with plastic-bag waste, including in pastures and grazing areas in close proximity to urban centres. As grazing land becomes increasingly more polluted with plastic, rope, hair, wool and metals due to the worsening effects of climate change, it may be predicted that indigestible foreign bodies would be a growing problem for scavenging sheep and goats and other grazing animals in the urban and peri-urban areas of developing countries (Mohammed, 2004), where collection, disposal and management continue to be a major challenge.

Disciplinary history: MPhil Veterinary Pharmacology, University of GhanaFaculty/department of registration: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya (2013)


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http://profiles.uonbi.ac.ke/jmnguhia/

http://vet-medicine.uonbi.ac.ke/

STEPHEN ISSA NNUNGU

PhD Topic: Genetic Pathway And Selection Response To An Increased Fruit Size In Tomato (Solanum Species)Supervisor: Prof Michael. I. Uguru, Department of Science, Faculty of Agriculture University of Nigeria

Abstract: Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are an important horticultural crop and the second-most consumed vegetable after potatoes. As a major agricultural enterprise, tomato production employs people on farms and in processing industries, and provides smallholder farmers with a higher income per hectare than most staple crops. Tomatoes also play a key role in human health as a source of micronutrients and vitamins A and C. They furthermore contain lycopene, an anti-oxidant known to reduce the incidence of heart and age-related diseases and cancer. Tomatoes are grown in most countries worldwide. Production in tropical and subtropical areas, however, is limited by high temperature and humidity. High humidity and rainfall limit the yield and quality of crops, as they cause a proliferation in tomato diseases, such as damping off, fusarium wilt, bacterial wilt, leaf curl and leaf spot The selection of cultivars or the breeding of tomato lines tolerant to high humidity is therefore necessary to increase tomato production in high-rainfall zones.The wild tomato, Solanum pimpinellifolium, is tolerant to high humidity, disease and abiotic stress and is capable of producing up to 743 tiny fruits per plant The fruits are very small, however, and are generally unacceptable to urban and local markets. Crosses between the commercially acceptable but poorly adapted cultivars, including Roma VF, Tropica and Nsukka local, and the wild tomato variety have produced promising genotypes endowed with prolific fruiting potentials. Successive evaluations of the progenies at different filial generations, from F1 to F12, have shown reliable evidence of increased fruit yield, particularly in terms of the number of fruit) and increased disease resistance. The average fruit size, however, is still not acceptable to the local market. Large fruit size is a desirable horticultural characteristic in tomato improvement and an important feature in crop breeding. Fruit size is quantitatively inherited and large members of QTLs have been identified in the tomatoes that are associated with fruit development, size, shape, colour, ripening and organoleptic quality and yield. The inheritance studies of tomato fruits have concentrated the genes for profused fruiting in tomatoes under rainfall conditions. The main challenge would be to enlarge fruit size to exploit the prolific fruiting in the interspecific hybrids to advantage. This would necessitate further crosses between the hybrids with exotic breeds with large in-bred tomato lines and a selection from the segregating population.This study therefore aims at generating novel tomato lines with acceptable fruit size for the humid zones of tropical and subtropical regions. The experiments expected to be done are the development and evaluation of populations, crosses between advanced tomato hybrids and large fruited in-bred tomatoes, fruit-development analysis and molecular-marker analysis.

Disciplinary history: BSc Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; MSc Botany, University of Dar Es Salaam, TanzaniaFaculty/department of registration: Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Crop Science University Of Nigeria, Nsukka (2013)


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http://www.unn.edu.ng/profile/uguru-michael-i-professor

http://unn.edu.ng/department/crop-science

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