Our Research Themes
Ten themes. One shared purpose.
Our work is organised around ten core research themes. Two of these — inclusive disaster risk reduction and climate change — are our flagship areas. They reflect the most urgent development challenges facing Southern Africa today, and they cut across everything else we do.
Why work with us
Research grounded in context. Built for impact.
Academically rigorous
Several of our researchers hold PhDs and publish in peer-reviewed journals. Our work meets the standards expected by international funders, UN agencies, and academic partners.
Deep regional knowledge
Our researchers live and work across five Southern African countries. We understand the social, economic, and political contexts in which our partners operate — not from a distance, but from the ground up.
Inclusive by design
We centre the voices of marginalised groups in all our work — including persons with disabilities, women, migrant workers, and informal economy workers. Inclusion is not an add-on. It shapes every research question we ask.
We build your capacity, not just our own
Every project is an opportunity to strengthen your team’s research and M&E skills. We transfer knowledge, share tools freely, and treat every partner as a collaborator — not just a client.