UNU- FLORES 36d ago

Our doctoral researcher, Yamikani Makwinja from Malawi, recently completed a paper entitled A Global Systematic Review of Resource Nexus and Nature-Positive Sustainable Development: An Invitation to a New Research Agenda together with Dr. Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi, Dr. Patrick John O’Farrell, & Prof. Edeltraud Guenther. The research focuses on land cover dynamics in Southern Africa. Why is this important? The way we use land, whether for farming or for cities, is directly linked to our water, energy, and food systems. It is all connected. This research examines how changes in land use, such as deforestation for agriculture, affect not only forests but also water availability, food security, and our efforts to address climate change. It is about seeing the whole picture, not just one piece. This is the value of the #ResourceNexus approach. A key takeaway from the review is that while many studies examine resources such as water and energy, they often overlook one of the most important elements: people. The paper shows that only 17 percent of studies include social and cultural dimensions, the people and communities connected to these systems. This represents a critical gap. Yamikani is supervised by Prof. Edeltraud Guenther; Dr. Patrick O'Farrell and Dr. Jude Kimengsi. Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2025.2554480