In nearly two decades of research work, the Urban Environmental Management and Disaster Risk Reduction Study Group has had extensive collaboration with other international partners such as the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), UNDP, Habitat, WHO, KTH (Stockholm) and UNICEF among others.

These studies also draw on a wide array of research scientists ranging from environmental economists, public health experts, hydrologists/water quality and pollution experts, urban sociologists/ecologists/planners, to seismologists and earthquake hazard experts.

This mix of local scientists working with our international collaborators has provided international perspectives to the local problems of the home and neighbourhood in Ghana.

The group has also engaged in many local action-oriented research activities. This has emphasised the sharing of experiences with other local and international actors in Ghana to improve policy formulation and programme implementation in environmental health, disaster risk and poverty reduction.

In line with this, it has collaborated effectively with other local partners including the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the Ministry of Environment and Science (MES), Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Ministry of Health (MOH), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, and Community-based Organisations (CBOs).

Over the last four to five years, the study group has been working on integrated environmental health and disaster risk reduction. In this context, it specifically aims to develop capacity in the next generation of researchers and practitioners by developing courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

This is in addition to short courses for upgrading practical skills, planned as collaborative ventures with local institutions and other university partners across Africa under AURAN and PeriPeri U, with Provention and USAID support.

Research Outputs and Consultation

Although the group’s work is mainly focussed on Ghana, it has produced scholarly research outputs and publications in leading international journals, either as a collective or through individual members. This has given members of the study group a high international profile.

Notable publications include; books, journal articles and chapters in books and reports on the thematic areas of the team’s work articulated above.

Moreover, the study group both collectively and individually provides advisory services aimed at creating a better environment and reducing disaster risks in Ghana. In this regard, it has done consultancy work for the Ministry of Environment and Science especially the Environmental Protection Agency, UNICEF, WHO, UN-Habitat, and other local partners including Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

These projects have aimed at creating healthier and liveable human settlements which are also secure through strengthened capacity in disaster risk reduction.