The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s SARChI Chair in Sustainable Rural Livelihoods is a nationally recognized research institution driving transformative knowledge production in South Africa’s rural landscapes. As a lead partner in the uMzimvubu Catchment Partnership (UCP), the Chair has played a pivotal role in generating evidence-based insights that inform watershed governance, communal restoration, and inclusive development. Through multi-year collaborations with local actors, NGOs, and government stakeholders, the Chair has produced a robust portfolio of research focused on climate resilience, youth facilitation, water governance, and institutional accountability. It also anchors the Catchment Research and Knowledge Hub, a growing repository of field-tested tools, policy briefs, and academic publications that support decision-making across the uMzimvubu landscape and beyond. Policy briefs, research reports as well as publications related to the uMzimvubu Catchment area can be found below:
Author(s): Mubangizi, BC. 2025
Title: Institutional Resilience and Recovery from Disasters and Pandemics in Rural South Africa
Summary: This report explores how rural institutions, including those in Umzimvubu, responded to and recovered from crises like COVID-19. It highlights adaptive governance, local coordination, and the importance of community-led resilience strategies.
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Author(s): S. Matela, N. McLeod, B.C. Mubangizi, K. Zunckel, S. Randera-Rees, M. Kuse, T. Kuali
Title: Policy Recommendations for Effective Localised Cooperative Governance Towards Enhanced Catchment Management
Summary: Offers practical strategies for strengthening cooperative governance in catchment areas. The report emphasizes stakeholder alignment and localized decision-making, with direct relevance to Umzimvubu’s restoration framework.
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Author(s): Loza, L; Chueu, K; Cindi, D; Gola, N.P.; Mubangizi, BC and Ntshotsho, P.
Title: Promoting the Adaptive Capacity of Rural Communities to Climate Change Through Holistic Catchment Management
Summary: Focused on groundwater-dependent communities, this brief presents integrated catchment planning as a tool for climate resilience. Umzimvubu is featured as a key case study in adaptive management.
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Author(s): Ojogiwa, O. T., & Mubangizi, B
Title: Exploring the Intricate Landscape of Food Security: Lessons from Selected Rural Communities
Summary: Investigates food security challenges in communal rural settings, highlighting how catchment-based systems like Umzimvubu can support sustainable nutrition and local resilience.
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Author(s): Okem, A.E., Mubangizi, B., Adekanla, N., & John, S.F.
Title: Nurturing Rural Resilience: Coping Strategies and Collaborative Initiatives in South Africa’s COVID-19 Response
Summary: Captures community-led responses to the pandemic, showcasing how rural areas—including Umzimvubu—mobilized local networks and institutional support to navigate crisis conditions.
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Author(s): B.C. Mubangizi, A. Okem, S. John, I. Barry, L. Ngubane, N. Adekanla, J. Nyawo, S. Matela, N. Ngejane, L. Mahlaka, M. Mbedla
Title: Understanding the Interplay Among Vulnerabilities, Livelihoods, and Institutional Dynamics in the Context of COVID-19
Summary: A case-based analysis of rural vulnerability and institutional response, with Umzimvubu featured as a site of complex livelihood transitions and policy engagement during the pandemic.
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Author(s): Mbele, S. & Betty C. Mubangizi
Title: Water Governance in Rural Communities: Challenges and Recommendations for Sustainable Livelihoods
Summary: This study explores governance gaps in rural water systems and offers recommendations for inclusive, sustainable management. Umzimvubu’s catchment dynamics serve as a central reference point.
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Author(s): B.C. Mubangizi & J.C. Mubangizi
Title: COVID-19, Rural Livelihoods and Human Rights: A South African Perspective
Summary: This article explores how the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures impacted rural livelihoods and exposed human rights vulnerabilities in South Africa. Drawing on case studies from Matatiele and Mbizana municipalities, it highlights the intersection of socio-economic rights, service delivery gaps, and institutional resilience. The paper applies both the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and a Human Rights-Based Approach to propose inclusive, rights-driven recovery strategies.
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