United Nations University-FLORES

Read: Our Doctoral Researchers’ Perspectives on Bangladesh’s Urban Growth

Our doctoral researcher, Alavy from Bangladesh, who has lived and worked in Dhaka, shares her perspective on the city’s rapid urban expansion in a new piece, Surviving the City, featured in Nutshell Today. Read her reflections on the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly changing city. She shares her ideas for building a more sustainable and resilient urban future.

https://www.nutshelltoday.com/article/dhaka-wetlands-canals-governance

Publication Spotlight: An Actor-Interest-Power governance indicator framework

Our doctoral researcher Preeyaphat Chaiklang, together with Daniel Karthe, Lukas Giessen and Carsten Schusser, has published a paper on the Actor-Interest-Power (AIP) governance indicator framework, offering a structured approach to analysing governance configurations through actors, their interests, and power relations.

By operationalising the Actor-Centred Power approach, the framework enables more transparent, reproducible, and comparable governance assessments across sustainability contexts. The study demonstrates its application using mangrove forest management in Thailand and introduces six conceptual governance typologies to compare different Actor-Interest-Power configurations.

Read the full paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665972726003405?via%3Dihub

Publication Spotlight: Food, fuel, or forest?

A new study in Land Use Policy by our Doctoral Researcher, Yamikani Harry Makwinja, reveals how communities in southern Malawi navigate deeper trade-offs between survival and conservation. Co-authored by Prof. Edeltraud Guenther, Dr Patrick John O’Farrell, and Dr Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi, the paper asked:

Why do communities see deforestation as a resource nexus dilemma?

Using household interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory workshops, the study revealed that high demand for biomass energy (fuelwood & charcoal), cropland expansion, energy poverty, and land tenure insecurity are the top drivers of deforestation.
It empirically argue that deforestation is not primarily a technical challenge; it's a governance problem. Communities are not ignoring conservation, but shrinking disposable income, food production needs, energy poverty, and land tenure insecurity make forest extraction the rational choice today over long-term conservation goals for many smallholders.
Without tenure reform, technical fixes fail. Communities need: Documented land & tree rights, Women's decision-making power, Affordable energy alternatives, Enforcement that targets commercial actors, not subsistence users.
The choice isn't food OR fuel OR forest. It's reform OR degradation.

Read the full paper to learn more: https://lnkd.in/ez5TiA5J

Looking Ahead to BUGA Dresden 2033

UNU Resource Nexus recently welcomed Marcel Timmroth, the Managing Director of BUGA Dresden 2033, for an exchange on sustainability, innovation, and the future of urban development.

As Germany's National Garden Show, BUGA places people at the centre of future-oriented urban development, bringing together green spaces, innovative ideas, and sustainable solutions that enhance quality of life while generating value for society, the economy, and the environment.

We found common ground in our shared commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community impact. From the House of No Waste competition to CARE, our initiatives reflect many of the ideas that underpin BUGA’s vision for the future.

Preparing for the Future Means Being Prepared for Extreme Possibilities

How can organisations make better decisions in a world shaped by rapid environmental, technological, economic, and societal change?

At UNU Resource Nexus, colleagues recently participated in a two day Scenario Planning Extreme Training of Trainers led by Dr. Martin Gillo, former Saxon State Minister for Economic Affairs and Labour.

The workshop introduced a structured foresight methodology that challenges participants to think beyond expected futures and explore extreme scenarios, including so called "black swan" events that, while unlikely, can have significant consequences if overlooked.

Through practical exercises, facilitated discussions, and collaborative learning, participants strengthened their capacity to:

1. Explore multiple plausible futures
2. Navigate uncertainty with greater confidence
3. Facilitate foresight processes within their own teams and networks

UNU Resource Nexus Welcomes New Interns from the Global Environment Leaders Programme (GELP)

On World Youth Skills Day, which highlights the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and competencies needed to address global challenges, UNU Resource Nexus is pleased to welcome two interns from the Global Environment Leaders Programme (GELP). GELP is organised by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Republic of Korea and Korea Environment Corporation (K-eco). It is a programme aimed at fostering global experts to deal with international environmental issues such as climate change and environment related policies.

Over the next six months, they will contribute to research and capacity development activities in Dresden while further developing the skills and experience needed to become future sustainability leaders.

Hyeonae Kim has an academic background in International Studies and Geography and is passionate about analysing climate change impacts and exploring interactions between climate and other environmental resources through GIS and cartography. During her internship, she will contribute to the development and evaluation of multivariate thematic maps for the effective communication of Resource Nexus indicators under the supervision of Prof. Serena Coetzee.

Minha Jeong is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Environmental Science and has a background in forestry and electrical engineering. During her internship, she will contribute to Resource Nexus projects under the supervision of Prof. Daniel Karthe.

As part of a long-standing collaboration, UNU Resource Nexus has hosted K-eco interns for several many years, providing opportunities to engage with the Resource Nexus approach, gain practical research experience, and develop a deeper understanding of environmental resource sustainability challenges in an international and interdisciplinary setting.

Commenting on the partnership, Prof. Serena Coetzee, Head of Education and Capacity Development, said:

"Our collaboration with K-eco extends across several areas, with the internship programme serving as an important platform for knowledge exchange and professional development. We hope participants find their time at UNU Resource Nexus both enriching and inspiring, and that they carry the experiences and lessons gained here into their future work and leadership journeys."

We warmly welcome our new interns and look forward to supporting their learning and professional development over the coming months.

We are UNU Resource Nexus!

At the farewell event for outgoing Director Professor Edeltraud Guenther, attended by representatives from government, academia, the private sector, and other stakeholder groups, UNU Rector Professor Tshilidzi Marwala announced the transition of UNU-FLORES to UNU Resource Nexus. This image captures those who witnessed the announcement of our new identity.

Our new name, UNU Resource Nexus, more clearly communicates our mission and reinforces our position as the United Nations University's anchor for Resource Nexus research, education, capacity development, outreach and policy engagement.

Photo: Victor Smolinski

How Interdisciplinary Thinking Can Help Shape a More Sustainable Future

From renewable energy to the water–energy–food nexus, UNU Resource Nexus Advisory Committee Member Hasmik Barseghyan shares how interdisciplinary thinking, collaborative leadership, and systems approaches are shaping a more sustainable future.

Read here: https://cwiw.org/memberspotlight-hasmikbarseghyan/