Climate, Water and Food Nexus

The Future Africa Research Chair in Climate, Water and Food Nexus brings researchers across disciplines together to tackle the links between climate change, water security and food security in Africa. Today’s challenges are increasingly interconnected, and climate change, water security, sustainable food systems, environmental sustainability and human health cannot be understood in isolation. Climate change is placing increasing pressure on these systems through droughts, floods, heatwaves and wildfires, with effects extending to agricultural production, food and nutrition security, household incomes, health and livelihoods.

Using a nexus approach, the Research Chair focuses on understanding how different systems connect and how challenges in one system can transfer to another. Understanding these connections can help researchers and decision-makers identify potential trade-offs and avoid creating new problems while addressing existing ones.

The Research Chair brings researchers from across disciplines into projects from the outset, allowing different areas of expertise to inform research questions, methods and possible solutions. This creates opportunities for collaboration among researchers, policymakers, government, civil society, industry and other stakeholders. The work builds on efforts already underway at the University of Pretoria (UP) to strengthen nexus thinking and sustainability transitions and supports Thrive UP 2038, particularly its emphasis on transdisciplinary research, collaboration and societal impact.

Led by Professor Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, whose research focuses on climate change, food and nutrition security, water security and sustainable development, the five-year Research Chair will strengthen collaboration across disciplines and sectors. It will also support postgraduate development, research leadership and strategic partnerships, while contributing to the development of the next generation of researchers.