The Institute for Global Health and Development
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Item Climate justice and the politics of extraction in Africa: the case of Zimbabwe(Taylor and Francis Group, 2025-04-23) Nyamwanza, Admire; Bhatasara, SandraThis practice note links climate justice with the politics of extraction in Africa, using the case of lithium mining in Zimbabwe. The note emanates from a critical review of how current activities in key sectors at the centre of extractive politics in Africa, particularly mining, expose political rhetoric in as far as the move to and benefits of green transition in Africa are concerned. As the global demand for minerals important in climate change mitigation like cobalt and lithium rises, it appears the extraction patterns from colonial times are continuing and local communities directly impacted by extraction of these minerals are not meaningfully benefiting. Concerns have been raised around poor safety standards, unsafe working conditions, unfair displacement measures, environmental damage, and low wages for the workers. The practice note advances recommendations for a just green transition particularly as it involves the mining sector and implications of mining activities in Africa.Item Projecting the likely impact of COVID-19 on food and nutrition security in South Africa(HSRC, 2020-05-08) Nyamwanza, Admire; Sinyolo, SMajor global outbreaks, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), had a heavy impact on food and nutrition security in the affected countries. While the long-term effects on countries' food systems will depend largely on the unique course of COVID-19, this pandemic will be no exception.Item Understanding the current state of collaboration in the production and dissemination of adaptation knowledge in Namibia(Springer, 2020-02) Ofoegbu, Chidiebere; New, Mark; Nyamwanza, Admire; Spear, DianAdaptation to climate change is challenging in terms of managing knowledge flow among diverse actors. This paper examines the roles of key actors in Namibia in the production and dissemination of climate adaptation knowledge. The intention was to identify opportunities for enhancing collaboration among actors to facilitate knowledge flow and uptake in adaptation action. The Omusati Region was used as a case study in understanding the chain of interactions among actors from local/district to the national level vis-à-vis the production and dissemination of adaptation knowledge in Namibia. The researchers conducted key informant interviews with representatives of key organizations in the Namibian adaptation network operating in the Omusati Region. The selection of the organizations of interviewed respondents was based on a previous climate change adaptation stakeholder and influence network mapping exercise in the region. Results indicate that adaptation knowledge generation by organizations happens mainly in the context of other developmental services. Furthermore, most organizations generate their adaptation knowledge internally through their directorates of research and also through cooperation with other organizations. However, there is little or no collaboration between organizations with respect to dissemination of adaptation knowledge to intended targets. The study, therefore, recommends a more concerted effort towards improving collaboration between organizations, and with local communities in the dissemination of adaptation knowledge as a way of enhancing knowledge uptake. This will have practical implications for the improvement in the rate of knowledge uptake in adaptation actions, particularly at the local level. In this regard, the use of workshop and field day meetings show the best prospect for improving collaboration between organizations in knowledge dissemination.Item Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Development: Narratives from Post-Fast-Track Land Reform Female Farmers in Zimbabwe(Sabinet, 2021-03-01) Karuma, Praise; Bhatasara, Sandra; Nyamwanza, AdmireRural farmers in Africa, and particularly women, are engaging in various adaptation strategies within and beyond farming. In countries such as Zimbabwe, adaptation is taking place within a socioeconomic crisis context. Analysis of adaptation in this paper is pitched within this specific context in relation to sustainable development. Based on narratives of women farmers in a resettlement area that emerged out of the fast-track land reform programme of the early 2000s, the outcomes of adaptation strategies adopted by these women are examined. The paper is framed using the concept of sustainable adaptation. The study shows that adaptation is, largely, producing undesirable outcomes in terms of sustainable development. Some of the strategies are threatening biodiversity. Competition between people and livestock over natural resources is also producing undesirable outcomes. Income-generating strategies are failing to assist the women to deal with deprivation and poverty. Any policy interventions in promoting women’s adaptive capacities should therefore take note of these intersecting problems, in order to steer adaptation onto sustainable trajectories.Item Farm Production Diversification and Dietary Diversity among Subsistence Farming Households: Panel Data Evidence from South Africa(MDPI, 2021-09-15) Sinyolo, Sikhulumile; Murendo, Conrad; Nyamwanza, Admire; Sinyolo, Sithembile Amanda; Ndinda, Catherine; Nwosu, Chijioke OsinachiImproving the production of a variety of foods by subsistence farmers has been identified as a key strategy for improving dietary diversity. However, there is limited evidence in South Africa on how one’s own production is linked to dietary diversity. This study relies on nationally representative panel data to investigate the extent to which farm production diversity is correlated with dietary diversity. The data indicated a moderate level of household dietary diversity that has been on a declining trend between 2008 and 2017. The farm households produced three food groups (meat, cereals, and vegetables), suggesting more reliance on food purchases than own production. The study found a positive relationship between own production diversification and dietary diversity and that dietary diversity varied by demographics and socio-economic characteristics of households. However, production diversity was not significantly associated with the consumption of micronutrient-rich foods such as fruits or vegetables. Higher levels of education, income per capita, food expenditure, and geographic location were some of the key drivers of dietary diversity among subsistence households. The findings suggest that encouraging subsistence farming households to produce various crop and animal species can be an effective strategy to improve dietary diversity among poor households in South Africa.Item Women informal food traders during COVID-19: A South African case study(Taylor & Francis Group, 2022-07-01) Sinyolo, Sikhulumile; Jacobs, Peter; Nyamwanza, Admire; Maila, MatumeVaried roles of informal food traders, ranging from localised distribution of foods to provision of jobs, became more accentuated in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. While women might be the majority of informal food traders, they are more likely than men to suffer a heavier burden of the adverse outcomes, due to structural, social, institutional and administrative biases. This article draws from a survey of 840 informal food traders in South Africa to investigate the extent to which the impacts of COVID-19, and the government assistance measures, were gendered. Adopting a gendered lens and analysing the data using descriptive statistics, the findings show that the informal food traders experienced significant disruptions, which led to business closures, fewer customers, reduced supplies, and increased operating costs. Further, the study found that the informal enterprises operated by women experienced higher impacts than those owned by men. The analysis also shows that while access to COVID-19-related assistance from either state or non-state actors was generally limited, women had the least access to it. The findings of the study indicate that women experienced the worst economic effects of the pandemic, yet received the least assistance. This highlights the need to improve the gender sensitivity of interventions. The role of informal food traders and women in the country’s agri-food system needs to be acknowledged and harnessed. It is crucial that an updated information management system be established, that is not only inclusive of informal food traders, but that specific focus should be exerted in identifying those enterprises operated by marginalised actors, such as women.Item Climate Injustice and the Role of Climate Justice Movements in Africa: The Case of Zimbabwe(Brill, 2022-10-07) Bhatasara, Sandra; Nyamwanza, AdmireItem Linking Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Nutrition Outcomes: A Conceptual Framework(SAGE Publications, 2022-02-24) Macheka, Lesley; Mudiwa, Tatenda; Chopera, Prosper; Nyamwanza, Admire; Jacobs, PeterBackground: The relationship between climate adaptation strategies and nutrition security is poorly understood and often unclear. Although several adaptation strategies have been implemented to mitigate the impact of climate change, there is still a lack of conclusive evidence or studies on the interrelationships between adopted climate change adaptation strategies and nutrition outcomes. Objective: This study aimed to develop a conceptual framework that links climate change, adaptation strategies and nutrition and to show the indicators that can be used to assess the impact of climate adaptation strategies on nutrition. Methodology: The proposed conceptual framework was developed through a literature review. Results: A generic conceptual framework that could be used to assess the impact of adopted climate change adaptation strategies on nutrition outcomes was developed. The framework consists of 5 key elements: agro-food system, context characteristics, adaptation strategies, climatic shocks and stress, and system output. The principles used in designing the conceptual framework include systems approach, contingency theory, and system output. Conclusion: The developed framework offers a channel to evaluate adopted climate change adaptation strategies and their impact on nutrition outcomes. Such a conceptual framework can also be used in selecting and identifying more suitable climate adaptation strategies given specific contextual environments.Item Assessing Psychosocial Health Impacts of Climate Adaptation: A Critical Review(SAGE Publications, 2023-05-25) Miller, Mary E.; Nwosu, Chijioke O.; Nyamwanza, Admire; Jacobs, Peter T.The urgency of dealing with risks associated with climate change and the need for effective response measures to their impacts are increasing daily the world over. Literature abounds regarding the impacts of climate change on physical, psychosocial, and other health outcomes. In contrast, little research exists on the health impacts of response measures to climate change. This critical review seeks to contribute towards closing this gap through a synthesis of current literature on the psychosocial health outcomes of climate adaptation actions. Our results found both positive and negative outcomes associated with psychosocial health that may result from climate adaptation actions. We propose the utilization of well-developed conceptual frameworks and evaluation tools in assessment and analysis of these outcomes. Ultimately, there is need to expand similar and related areas of research more broadly and on psychosocial effects, specifically.Item Advancing a transformative human development approach to climate resilience through local innovation in South Africa(Taylor and Francis Group, 2023-02-04) Nyamwanza, Admire; Jacobs, Peter; Nyezi, KaraboClimate change continues to exacerbate social and economic development challenges in local communities the world over. This paper advances a human development approach to climate resilience innovations, showing how local innovation initiatives can be conduits for increased equity, agency, efficiency and sustainability vis-à-vis effective responses to climate impacts. Based on a scoping review of literature (journal articles, books, theses, occasional papers etc.), and through a discussion of four case studies focused on technological and institutional innovations in selected rural South African communities, a major finding is that local innovation initiatives vis-à-vis livelihoods are laden with opportunities for improved social, economic and ecological well-being. Appreciating and supporting these local innovations will open up viable and transformative pathways towards effectively responding to the impacts of climate change and variability. The paper contributes to an interdisciplinary integration of innovation and climate change research by exploring climate resilience through a transformative human development lens.