Research

SHEFS-SA Key Research Questions

In what way is health affected by the impacts of CC on food systems?
How can CC resilience be built into food systems of exposed & vulnerable populations?
What are health benefits/risks of policy interventions to achieve climate resilience in food systems?
What are leverage points in the food system to generate health benefits and reduce CC risks?

Shift in understanding of best options and most effective leverage points in food systems for improved health and environmental benefits across governance scales.
Evidence-based, tested, and scalable innovations (e.g. decision support tools, circular economy solutions, socio-technicalinnovations, community-based adaptation, scenario planning) that enable improved responses to CC-driven threats to food security, food safety, nutrition, and health, including mental health.
Evidence and strategies to inform and support a just transition to climate-smart, sustainable, and equitable food systems and their health outcomes.
Sustainable and well-capacitated transdisciplinary CoP in CC and Health as they pertain to food systems, with Early Career Researchers trained as future leaders in Climate and Health.

Southern African food systems and communities are healthy and resilient to climate risks.

Undertake transdisciplinary research within the SHEFS Framework to shift understanding of complex climate change (CC) challenges for health, as mediated by food systems, within particular contexts, translated into scalable solutions and policy recommendations with high impact.
Develop a transdisciplinary Community of Practice (CoP), led by the Global South, that contextualises and applies systems thinking within an expanded climate-sensitive SHEFS Framework to improve food security, food safety, nutrition, and health, including mental health.
Develop a Global South-led cohort programme to train emerging scholars and practitioners in transdisciplinary research approaches at the intersection of Climate and Health.