Affiliations and Partnerships
Research Fellows at the Centre are affiliated to the Ghana Institute of Planners (GIP), Ghana Institute of Surveyors (GIS), Ghana Institute of Architecture (GIA), Ghana Institute of Construction (GIOC) and the Ghana Geographers Association (GGA), Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS), and Chartered Institute of Housing (UK)
CSS has collaborated with both local and International institutions including the World Bank, Department of International Development (DFID), International Water Management Institute (IMWI), GIZ, Institute for Local Government and several Metropolitan, Municipals and District Assemblies (MMDAs) at both national and sub-national levels.
African Urban Research Initiative Network
The CSS is a founding member of the African Urban Research Initiative (AURI), currently a network of 21 progressive academic urban research centres in Africa, seeking to promote of an African Urban Research Advocacy. The objective of the AURI is to develop an African research think tank on urban research in Africa and create an advocacy for African governments to align the urban agenda using cites and urbanisation as an anchor for development in the global south. The Headquarters of the AURI is situated in the African Centre of Cities, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Department of Planning, KNUST
In 2013 the Centre designed and sought approval to run an MPhil programme in Urban Management Studies. Approval was given for the department to run the programme in 2014, in conjunction with the Department of Planning (KNUST). Within the past six years, over 30 candidates have graduated and are various positions helping to shape Urban Management in Ghana and abroad.
Department of Civil and Geo Engineering, KNUST
Since 2018 the Centre has collaborated with the Department of Civil and Geo Engineering to design an MPhil and PhD programme to train professionals who will be well versed in the research and practice of disaster risk assessment, response and recovery towards an integrated disaster prevention, management and resilience in urban Ghana and beyond. Approval has been given and the MPhil and PhD programme will soon be rolled out.
Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA)
In February 2019, CSS in collaboration with NELGA organised the 5-day NELGA scholarship holders meeting and research development workshop (New Year School) for the scholarship programme of DAAD and KNUST. The aim of the workshop was to provide a platform to present and discuss theory, research design, methodological approaches and specific tools in social sciences while also sharpening communication and presentation skills of graduate students.
Drawing on its flood research experience, the Centre is currently providing leadership in collaborating with five West African Universities on a 60, 000 Euro grant under the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) project, in furthering flood research on infrastructure development in flood plains in the sub-region.
SHEATE Project
Sheathe is a DANIDA-funded research collaboration between Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana and Aarhus University in Denmark. Sheathe focuses on research work relating to xenobiotic substances and heavy metals which serves as a threat to the health, ecosystem and development. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to a more sustainable management of natural resources, both in the extraction of natural resources such as gold, and in the management of soil, water and air through pollution prevention and control. Prof. King supervised 2 out of the 6 PhD candidates for this project.
- Management of Artisanal Small-scale Mining in Ghana: An Assessment of Knowledge, Formalisation and Receptivity to Alternatives, by Rejoice Selorm Wireko-Gyebi
- Local Knowledge and Urban Planning Response to the Health and Environmental Risks of Informal Electronic Waste Recycling in Ghana, by Michael Osei Asibey
Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Prof. Divine Ahadzie is currently the KNUST contact on the flood Induced Malaria Interdisciplinary Initiation Project as part of the KNUST/Technical University of Munich (TUM) Global Incentive Scheme Award. “In this context, a malaria research initiative is being conducted at the TUM Chair of Hydrology and River Basin Management, aiming to build a wider partnership between TUM, KNUST, the University of Tübingen, Stellenbosch University, and the Centre of Medical Research Lambaréné. The goal of the joint project is to develop a mathematical model for the whole life cycle of malaria induced by hydrological events” (KNUST/TUM Partnership Report). Prof. Ahadzie is also collaborating with Prof. Dr. Jorge Leondro of TUM in co-supervising master’s thesis on flood resilience modelling of Accra: Currently three master’s thesis have been completed:
- Flood Resilience Modelling of Accra, Ghana’s Transportation Network
- Risks of infection following exposure to floodwater contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms: a case study for cholera in Accra, Ghana.
- Flood Resilience Modelling of Accra, Ghana