Analyzing the contributions of transdisciplinary research to the global sustainability agenda in African cities

Author(s): Thiam, S., Aziz, F., Kushitor, S.B., Amaka‑Otchere, A. B. K., Onyima, B. N., and Odume, O. N.
Link to CST author(s): Dr. Sandra Boatemaa
Publication: Sustainability Science
Year: 2021
Full reference: Thiam, S., Aziz, F., Kushitor, S.B., Amaka‑Otchere, A. B. K., Onyima, B. N., and Odume, O. N. 2021. Analyzing the contributions of transdisciplinary research to the global sustainability agenda in African cities. Sustainability Science
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-021-01042-6

Summary

It is almost 6 years since the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted, and countries have less than 10 years to achieve the set targets. Unlike most of the world, sub-Saharan African countries have reported only minimal progress, one that the COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately disrupted. Transdisciplinary research (TDR) has been conceptualized as important for achieving sustainability goals such as the SDGs. In this paper we (i) analyze the contributions of the five TDR projects toward the achievements of the SDGs at the city level in Africa, and (ii) explore the interactions between the assessed SDGs across the five projects. The projects’ contributions towards the achievements of the SDGs were examined in three thematic areas:
(i) contexts, (ii) processes and (iii) products.