Congratulations!Simon Muwafu successfully defended his doctoral thesis

4 February 2025

Photo: Irem Isik Cetin

We are proud to announce the successful disputation of our SICSS member Simon Muwafu.

His dissertation “Informal Governance for Urban Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Institutional Analysis of Community-Led Approaches to Nature-Based Stormwater Solutions” was supervised by Prof. Dr. Jürgen Scheffran (UHH, Institute of Geography / CLISEC) and Dr. Maria Máñez Costa (GERICS).

Simon’s work, inspired by Ostrom's collective action theory, explored decentralized governance systems that address local needs in managing complex social and ecological systems. He applied this theory to urban sustainability in Sub-Saharan African cities, focusing on assessing community governance structures for managing nature-based solutions (NBS) in urban stormwater management. His research emphasized improving stormwater management and building resilient urban environments, with a focus on enhancing the adaptability and inclusivity of NBS. Using an innovative methodological approach integrating empirical research, theoretical frameworks, and system dynamics modeling, Simon deepened the understanding of interdependencies in local NBS governance and how these systems respond to policy shifts in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on his findings, Simon developed policy-relevant frameworks and recommendations to support decentralized, community-driven NBS projects, contributing to urban sustainability and locally led adaptation research.

Simon was a member of the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon and the Institute of Geography at the University of Hamburg.

His future plans?

After completing his PhD, Simon continues at GERICS as a postdoctoral associate researcher, contributing to the IDAlert project, which develops policy-relevant indicators, decision-support tools, and early warning systems to monitor and mitigate climate-induced zoonotic disease risks across Europe, strengthening health system resilience and informing EU climate policy. His work focuses on the intersection of nature-based solutions (NBS), climate change, and public health, particularly the importance of considering health implications when implementing NBS, as these interventions can sometimes have unintended consequences. By examining this intersection, Simon aims to contribute to designing solutions that not only mitigate disease spread but also improve overall community well-being in the face of climate change.

Beyond IDAlert, Simon is dedicated to advancing climate services development, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable communities. He is passionate about integrating scientific research, indigenous knowledge, and cross-sector collaboration to create sustainable, context-specific solutions that foster locally led adaptation strategies.