event 03 Feb 2022 time 09:30 GMT+1

Virtual Matchmaking Event // Research Initiatives Cooperation South Africa – the Netherlands: Integrating Health Approaches and WEF-Nexus

The National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa and NWO launched a third call for proposals, entitled ‘Integrating Health Approaches and WEF-Nexus’. Nine applicants submitted research initiatives in which they shared their research questions and brief outlines of potential research proposals. This is a virtual matchmaking event for potential applicants and interested partners.

Irrigation system South Africa ID 86574340 Martin Maritz lowsize

South Africa Irrigation System @Martin Maritz

February 3, 2022 | 9:30-1pm CET

About the Event

This is a virtual matchmaking event for potential applicants and interested partners. Partners interested in an initiative can contact the applicant or send an email to southafrica-merian@nwo.nl, and will then receive a Zoom link.

Overview of Initiatives

Prosp. NL partners: Justine Blanford, University of Twente
Prosp. SA partners: Peter Nyasulu, Stellenbosch University
Main research focus: Enabling public health responses for emerging health risks in Sub-Saharan Africa through strengthening of Spatial and Data Science approaches
Keywords: Geospatial, GIS, data-infrastructure, modelling, infectious disease

Prosp. NL partners: Eline Boelee (Deltares), Reinaldo Penailillo (Deltares), Graham Jewitt (IHE Delft) and Janez Susnik (IHE Delft)
Prosp. SA partners: Aidan Senzanje, University of Kwazulu-Natal
Main research focus: Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus and health in South Africa: water-related health impacts in irrigated agriculture
Keywords: WEF nexus, health, South Africa, irrigation, COVID-19, WASH, water-related diseases

Prosp. NL partners: Klaus Mathwig (IMEC) and Marcel Zevenbergen (IMEC)
Prosp. SA partners: Palesa Diale (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) and Jean Molopo (University of Witwatersrand)
Main research focus: Development of Lab-on-a-Chip Point-of-Care (LOC POC) diagnostic solutions for viral pathogen, food and chemical rapid detection integrated to the WEF nexus.
Keywords: Diagnostic; Point-of-Care; Sensors; Nano-micro devices; One Health; Rapid detection; Microfluidics

Prosp. NL partners: Hans Hilgenkamp, University of Twente
Prosp. SA partners: Malik Maaza, UNESCO UNISA ITLABS
Main research focus: Safe and secure hydrogen technologies for sustainable local energy production, without excessive water use or competition with food production.
Keywords: Green energy, WEF nexus, Hydrogen economy, Hydrogen safety

Prosp. NL partners: Marloes Penning de Vries (University of Twente) and Tom Rientjes (University of Twente)
Prosp. SA partners: Timothy Dube, University of Western Cape
Main research focus: Water hyacinth – Use them or lose them? A tool to improve mitigation, eradication, and exploitation strategies based on long-term monitoring by satellite-borne instruments
Keywords: Water hyacinth, lakes, rivers, water quality, eutrophication, invasive species, satellite data

Prosp. NL partners: Matthias Rieger (ISS, Erasmus University Rotterdam)
Prosp. SA partners: Ronelle Burger (Stellenbosch University)
Main research focus: Child Stunting and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Evidence from Natural Experiments in South Africa
Keywords: Child stunting, natural experiments, Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus

Prosp. NL partners: -
Prosp. SA partners: Michael Rudolph (University of Johannesburg), Rendani Mbuvha (University of Witwatersrand) and Masiphula Mbongwe (Walter Sisulu University)
Main research focus: A multidisciplinary and intersectoral approach applying Agroecology in addressing the impact of COVID-19 amongst vulnerable communities in South Africa
Keywords: Agroecology, food security, water-energy-food nexus, technology, digitalisation, health disparities, South Africa

Prosp. NL partners: -
Prosp. SA partners: Kathija Yassim (University of Johannesburg) and Komala Pillay (Partners for Possibilities South Africa)
Main research focus: Leading Education for Sustainable Livelihoods: School Food Gardens as ‘Markerspaces’ for Enhancing School Feeding Schemes, Learner Well-Being and Entrepreneurship Development
Keywords: Transformational leadership, Education for Sustainable Livelihoods; Makerspaces; Learner Well Being, Entrepreneurship

Prosp. NL partners: African Studies Centre Leiden University, AERES Hogeschool (tbc)
Prosp. SA partners: University of Western Cape (tbc), Stellenbosch University (tbc), Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana (tbc)
Main research focus: Risk coping and the WEF nexus, insights from food production sites affected by COVID-19.
Keywords: Food, WEF nexus, health, risk coping, geographical contexts
(For contact details, e-mail southafrica-merian@nwo.nl)

Download

Download an extended view of all the intiatives here.

Further Information

More information is available on the initiative page.

Stay up to date!

We inform you about current projects, events, actions, publications and news!