Through our projects, we contribute towards knowledge generation and development, practical solutions, and community service in different areas. We have the experience to perform the following studies and consultancies:

• Disaster risk assessments
• Disaster management planning
• Vulnerability assessment
• Environmental impact assessment
• Agricultural development planning
• Business plans for agricultural projects
• Communication and information planning
• Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation planning

2020

Water Research Commission (WRC) Project Number: K5/2711//4 (July 2017 to April 2021) - Development Of Scenarios For Future Agricultural Water Management In South Africa

This Water Resource Commission (WRC) funded project titled “DEVELOPMENT OF SCENARIOS FOR FUTURE AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA” seeks to develop practical scenarios for efficient water management and agricultural sustainability in South Africa using both qualitative and quantitative tools. The research team plan to consult all relevant stakeholders in South Africa in the agricultural and water sectors through a series of interactive and participatory workshops and two national symposia where the opportunity exists to compare notes and contribute to the development of scenarios for future agricultural water management in South Africa. Scenario development/planning is a very useful tool for analysing/modeling the potential implications of alternative strategies for increasing food production in the future. Developing strategies and formulating policies in the face of uncertainty is often very difficult and sometimes extremely complex.

Project leader: Prof Andries Jordaan

Project team members
Prof Sue Walker
Prof Anthony Turton
Dr Abiodun Ogundeji
Chantell IIbury
Gerdamarie Van Coppenhagen
Yong Sebastian Nyam (PhD candidate)
Aniebo Hagan (Master candidate)

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought

Prof Andries Jordaan, a UFS-DiMTEC research fellow was appointed as a lead author and member of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IWG) on Drought. The main aim of the IWG is to contribute to the development of an effective policy and implementation measures for addressing drought under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The members' findings and recommendations will be presented to parties for their consideration at the fifteenth session of the Conference of the Parties. In 2021, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) will publish the first Global Assessment Report (GAR) Special Report, with the focus of this edition being on drought. The GAR 2021 Special Report on Drought (GAR SR) will explicitly build on results of earlier assessments, studies and reports as starting points, assessing and synthesizing those studies and experiences, but going further by embracing new and emergent risks, the multiple interconnections that influence systemic risks, and the opportunities for the international community, nations, and communities to manage risk sensibly in an increasingly uncertain environment. Prof Andries Jordaan’s chapter provides a case study on Southern Africa. His other contributions as a lead author include assuring argumentation and coherence of their case study and represent the following elements in the Special Report:

·       An overarching emphasis on the complex nature of drought risk.
·       A multi-disciplinary approach covering a broad range of geographic regions, sectors, scales, approaches, and risk management options.
·       Emphasis on clear, practical and transferrable risk management solutions
·       Coordinate all contributions for a rich and clear Case Study.
·       Ensure that the Case Study for which they are responsible is completed promptly.
·       Implement corrective actions if the work deviates from the planned schedule or content, informing CLAs.
·       Provide leadership to Contributors.
·       Ensure, to the extent possible that their Case Study avoids contradiction or overlapping with other parts.
·       Make every effort to ensure that the content reflects the latest information available and is coherent and complementary to ongoing, relevant initiatives and activities whether international, regional, national, or sub-national.

The Intra Africa Academic Mobility Grant Project

Dr Johanes Belle is the coordinator for South Africa. Fostering Research and Intra-African Knowledge transfer through Mobility and Education (FRAME) Project, within the EU/AU sponsored Intra Africa Academic Mobility grant is worth 1, 3 million Euros for 60 months from 2020. This project will ensure cross-mobility of Master’s, Ph.D. students, and staff within the African continent. The FRAME focuses on Food, Energy, and Water nexus and the UFS departments involved are DiMTEC, Agricultural Economics and Soil, Crop, and Climate Science. The consortium of universities managing this project is made up of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Namibia), University of the Free State (South Africa), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), University of Buea (Cameroon), Hawassa University (Ethiopia) and University of Twente (Netherlands).

WRC Project number 019/2020-00239 - Threats of extreme weather events: improving the resilience of QwaQwa to the multiple risks of climate change

Dr Johanes Belle from DiMTEC is a principal researcher in this project. This project investigates the risks factors associated with the projected impacts of expected future climate change extreme events (e.g. floods, heatwaves, and droughts) in the QwaQwa area (Upper Vaal River catchment); to develop a relevant and appropriate risk reduction and resilient strategies useful to the local authorities, water, and human health sectors, as well local communities, in this area. This project is worth 1.8 million South Africa Rand and will run for 36 months from 2020 to 2022.

Partners in this project include:

1. Centre for Environmental Management (CEM) of the UFS as the project lead
2. The Cape Peninsula University of Technology as Principal researcher
3. Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC) of the UFS as Principal Researcher
4. The Technical University of Dresden as Principal Researcher
5. Department of Zoology and Entomology of the UFS (Qwa Qwa Campus) as Principal Researcher

2019

Development of a National Drought Plan

Prof Andries Jordaan, a UFS-DiMTEC research fellow was appointed as a consultant in the development of a South African Drought Plan. His team includes UFS-DiMTEC personnel, Ms. Olivia Kunguma, and Ms. Zukiswa Poto and other experts. The purpose of this plan is to serve as a first edition plan for the management of drought in South Africa. This plan serves as a guideline for line departments and other organizations to develop detailed sector-specific and geographic-specific drought management plans. This is a 2-year project with Prof Andries Jordaan as the project leader, Ms. Zukiswa Poto as the data capturer and Ms. Olivia Kunguma heading the development of a National Drought Information and Communication System. Briefly, the project deliverables include:

·       Inception Meeting: Inception report
·       Desktop Drought Risk Assessment
·       Information Management & Communication system
·       Consultative meetings & workshops
·       Draft Drought Plan
·       Draft Contingency Plan templates
·       Capacity building & feedback
·       Final plan

Dr A Ncube - Case reports in Refugees in Towns ( RIT) project hosted by Feinstein International Center at Tufts University, USA. This is a voluntary work that is extending from my PhD research focus on international migration. Experiences of refugees and migrants in Bloemfontein as experienced by the author.

2018

Research Articles

MEKUYIE, M., JORDAAN, A. & MELKA, Y. 2018. Land-use and Land-cover Changes and their Drivers in Rangeland-dependent Pastoral Communities in the Southern Afar Region of Ethiopia. African Journal of Range and Forage Science 35(1):33-43. DOI: 10.2989/10220119.2018.1442366

JORDAAN, A., BAHTA, Y. & PHATUDI-MPHAHLELE, B. 2018. Ecological Vulnerability Indicators to Drought: Case of Communal Farmers in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Jamba: Journal for Disaster Risk Studies 11 (1). DOI: 10.4102/jamba.v11i1.591

GRAW, V., GHAZARYAN, G.,  DALL, K.,  GOMEZ, A.D., ABDEL-HAMID, A., JORDAAN, A., PIROSKA, R., POST, J., SZARZYNSKI, J., WALZ, Y., DUBOVYK, O.  2018.  Drought Dynamics and vegetation productivity in different land management systems of Eastern Cape, South Africa – A Remote Sensing Perspective.  Sustainability 9: 1 – 19. 

NCUBE, A. & JORDAAN, A.J. 2018. Analysis of African migrant Women Coping and Adaptation in South Africa: The Human and Social Livelihoods Approach. Disaster Management Southern Africa. Vol 2 Nr 4.

WALZ, Y., DALL, K., GRAW, V., VILLEGRAN-DE LEON, J.C., KUSSEL, N. JORDAAN, A.J. 2018. Understanding and reducing agricultural drought risk: Examples from South Africa and Ukraine, Policy Report No.3. Bonn: United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS).

BELLE, J.A.; COLLINS, N.; JORDAAN, A. 2018.  Managing wetlands for disaster risk reduction:  A case study of the Eastern Free State, South Africa.  Jamba:  Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 10(1) 1 – 10.  

MEKUYIE, M.; JORDAAN, A.; MELKA, Y.  2018.  Understanding resilience of pastoralists to climate change and variability in the Southern Afar Region, Ethiopia.  Climate Risk Management 1 – 11.  10.1016/j.crm.2018.02.004. 

Chapters in Books

JORDAAN, A.J., SAKULSKI, D., MAYBUYE, C., MAYUMBE, F. 2018. Measuring Drought Resilience Through Community Capitals, in Zommers, Z & Alverson, K. (eds) Resilience: The Science of Adaptation to Climate Change. ELSEVIER. ISBN 9780128118917. eISBN 9780128118924.

Conference Contributions

GRAW, V., GHAZARYAN, G., SCHREIER, J., GONZALES, J., ABDEL-HAMED, A., WALZ, Y., DALL, K., POST, J., JORDAAN, A, & DUBOVYK, O. 2018. Timing is Everything – Drought classification for Risk Assessment. 2018 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing symposium, Conference: IGARSS. DOI: 10.1109/IGARSS.2018.8517584

Unpublished Contributions

JORDAAN, A.J. 2018        Disaster Risk Reduction through climate Change Adaptation. 12^th International Environmental Legislation, Safety Engineering and Disaster Management (ELSEDIMA) Conference: Disaster Risk Reduction for Sustainable Societies, Cluj Napoca, Romania. 17-18 May 2018.

JORDAAN, A.J. 2018.       Disaster Management in South Africa: Status Report. 33^rd  Annual Conference, Disaster Management Institute of South Africa (DMISA). Kempton Park, South Africa. 18-20 September 2018.

JORDAAN, A.J. 2018. Early Warnings in Disaster Risk Reduction. BRICS Scientific Symposium, Nelspruit, South Africa. 19 June 2018.

2017

 

Jordaan, A.J. (Editor)Vulnerability, Adaptation to and Coping with Drought: The Case of Commercial and Subsistence Rain Fed Farming in the Eastern Cape
WRC Drought Report Vol I

Jordaan, A.J. (Editor)
Vulnerability, Adaptation to and Coping with Drought: The Case of Commercial and Subsistence Rain Fed Farming in the Eastern Cape
WRC Drought Report Vol II

Jordaan, A.J.  (Ed). 2017.
Vulnerability, Adaptation to and C­oping with Drought: The Case of Commercial and Subsistence Rain Fed Farming in the Eastern Cape; Vol I & II, WRC Report Nr TT 716/2/17. ISBN 978-1-4312-0885-2. Pretoria.

2016

Ekurhuleni Municipality informal settlements Vulnerability/capacity assessment Frameworks

Dr Tlou Daisy Raphela, a UFS-DiMTEC lecturer was appointed as a sub-contractor, consulting for Oxfam- South Africa to analyse data for the development of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality informal settlements Vulnerability/capacity assessment Frameworks. The main aim of the data analysis was to gauge and investigate the holistic vulnerability and capacity of the informal settlement community of the Municipality; and for Oxfam to develop the framework from the analysed data.

Research Outputs

Bahta, Y.T., Jordaan, A.J., Myambo, F.  2016.  Communal farmer’s perception of drought in South Africa:  policy implication for drought risk reduction.  International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 20: 39 – 50.  Elsevier. 

Hlalele, B.M.  2016.  A probabilistic approach to drought frequency in Mafube Local Municipality, South Africa.  Research Journal of Pharmaceutical Biological & Chemical Sciences, 7(6): 3008. 

Lukic, T., Bozic, S., Sakulski, D., Babic-Kekez, S., Bibic, L.I., Besermenji, S., Bura, M., Dubovina, Z., Davidovic, D., Dolinaj, D.  2016.  Achieving competencies with grammar school students through utilization of selected didactical principals in traditional and active teaching geography class case study: “Hydrography of Serbia”.  Geographica Pannonica, 20(4):  254 – 264.  

Mashebe, P., Jordaan, A.J., Zulu, A., Kanuimba, A.  2016.  The impact of flooding on the livelihood of people living in the Luhonono Area in the Zambezi Region, Namibia.  British Journal of Environmental Sciences, 4(2): 1 – 9. 

Muyambo, F., Jordaan, A.J. & Restas, A. 2017. Possibilities of Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) in Developing Countries. Vedelem Tudomany: Katasztrofavedenmi online Tudomanyos Folyoirat. Hungary

Ncube, A., Jordaan, A.J., Mabela, B.M.  2016.  Assessing the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding cholera preparedness and preetion in Ga-Mampuru village, Limpopo, South Africa.  Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 8(2). Art.# 164, 9 pages.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v8i2.164.

Niemand, A., Jordaan, A.J. & Minnaar, H.  2015.  Some international perspectives on legislation for the management of human induced safety risks. Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 8(2), doi:10.4102/jamba.v8i2.170. 

Sakulski, D., Lukic, T., Basarin, B., Buggle, B., Markovic, S., Tomovic, V., Popov-Raljic, J., Hambach, U., Milivoj, G., Milanovic, M., Tomic, N., Jovanovic, M., Zorn, M., Kalkan, K.   2016.  A Joined rock magnetic and colorimetric perspective on the Middle Pleistocene climate recorded in Dukatar pedocomplex S5.  1^st Edition, Loess2M modelling & Mapping Abstract Book, Serbia, Novi Sad:  Futura, Petrovaradin.  (pp. 21 – 22) 978-86-7031-408-5.

Conference presentations

 

Jordaan, A.J. 2016. Drought Risk Reduction: Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape. 2016 Symposium. South African National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage. Goudini, Western Cape, South Africa. 11 – 12 October 2016.

Jordaan, A.J. Bahta, Y. & Sakulski, D. 2016. Index insurance and drought loss functions: Wool farming, South Africa. 7^th International Conference on Integrated Disaster Risk Management. Isfahan, Iran. 1 – 3 October 2016.

Jordaan, A.J., Sakulski, D., Mashimbye, C. & Muyambo, F. 2016. Analysing Drought Resilience Through the Community Capitals Framework: Case Study; Eastern Cape, South Africa. 6^th International Conference on Building Resilience: Building Resilience to Address the Unexpected. Auckland, New Zealand. 7-9 September 2016.

Jordaan, A.J., Proctor, M. & Jordaan, A.D. 2016. Wild Fire Risk Assessment and Management Plan for the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. AFAC16 Conference: Mitigation, Response, Recovery: Getting the balance Right. Brisbane, Australia. 30 August 2016 – 1 September 2016.

Jordaan, A.J. 2015. Global Resilience through Smart Scientific Solutions 30^th Annual Conference, Disaster Management Institute of South Africa (DMISA). Hartenbosch, South Africa. September 2015.

Jordaan, A.J. & Sakulski, D. 2016. Drought Index Insurance for the Livestock Sector: We Need to Find a Way. Agriculture Insurance and Support Conference. Johannesburg, South Africa. 24-25 August 2016.

Jordaan, A.J. 2016. When is a Dry Period a Drought: Drought Not the Same for All Farmers. African Drought Conference: Enhancing Resilience to drought Events on the African Continent. Windhoek, Namibia. 15-19 August 2016.

Jordaan, A.J. 2016. Population movement, xenophobia and food security. Symposium on population movement. University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. 2 June 2016.

Jordaan, A.J., Sakulski, D.M., Muyambo, F. & Mashibye. 2016. Drought not only the result of climate variability. International Conference; Environmental Legislation, Safety Engineering and Disaster Management. ELSEDIMA 11^th Edition. Cluj Napoca, Romania. 26 – 27 May 2016.

Jordaan, A.J. 2016. Complex Emergencies and Future Challenges for Command and Control. International Conference; Environmental Legislation, Safety Engineering and Disaster Management. ELSEDIMA 11^th Edition. Cluj Napoca, Romania. 26 – 27 May 2016.

2015

 

Jordaan, A.J.; Muyambo, F.; Mlenga, D. 2015. Indicator Selection for Drought vulnerability and Resilience. Research report as part of research project: Vulnerability, adaptation and coping with drought: The case of commercial and subsistence rain fed farmers in the Eastern Cape. WRC project 2280. Pretoria, South Africa.

Research Articles

• BELLE,J.A.; HLALELE, M.B.  2015.  Vulnerability assessment of Agricultural drought hazard:  A case of Koti Se-Phola Community council, Thabana Morena, Mafekeng District in Lesotho.  Journal of Geography & Natural Disasters.doi:10.4172/2167-0587.100000143.

• NCUBE, A.; JORDAAN, A.J.; MABELA, B.M.  2015.  Assessing the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding cholera preparedness and prevention in Ga-Mampuru village, Limpopo, South Africa.  Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 8(2), doi:10.4102/jamba.v8i2.164. 

• NIEMAND, A.; JORDAAN, A.J.; MINNAAR, H.  2015.  Some international perspectives on legislation for the management of human induced safety risks. Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 8(2), doi:10.4102/jamba.v8i2.170. 

Chapters in Books:

• JORDAAN, A.J. 2015. Drought Risk not the Result of Climate Change: Case Studies from Africa. Chapter in special edition from UNCCD on land degradation and drought management. To be published for COP 21 in Paris, November 2015.
  

Conferences:

• SHAVABA, S & JORDAAN, A.J. 2015. Perceptions, responses and views on drought impact amongst land reform beneficiaries in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Dealing With Disasters Annual Conference. Northumbria University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK. September 2015
• JORDAAN, A.J. 2015. Global Resilience through Smart Scientific Solutions 30^th Annual Conference, Disaster Management Institute of South Africa (DMISA). Hartenbosch, South Africa. September 2015.

• JORDAAN, A.J. 2015. Drought in the Northern Cape: Climate Change or not? Agri Northern Cape 36^th Annual Conference. Kimberley, South Africa. August 2015.
• JORDAAN, A.J. 2015. Is Drought to Blame for Food Insecurity in Karamoja, Uganda. Social Indicators for Drought Risk. 6^th Annual Conference, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. Split, Craotia. June 2015.
• JORDAAN, A.J. Drought indicator Selection: Case Studies from Africa. Dresden NEXUS Conference, DNS 2015. United Nations Institute for Fluxes and Resources (UNFLORES), Dresden, Germany. March 2015.

• JORDAAN, A.J. 2015. Keynote address: Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa: Case of Development or Poor Governance. Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa. March, 2015.

2014

Bussink, C.; Jordaan, A.J.; Armstrong, L.J.; Liu, L.; Ranera, F.; Wei, W.; Hagenlocher, M.; Yesuf, G.; Dwyer, N.  2014. Technical advisory report on the use of space based information for disaster risk reduction and response in Kenia. United Nations Space Based Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction and Response (UNSPIDER) Technical Advisory Mission to Kenia. Report submitted to National Disaster Operations Centre, Office of the Presidency, Government of Kenia. Niarobi, Kenia. Ghana.

Drought Risk Assessment: Is Drought the Cause of Chronic Food Insecurity in Karamoja, Uganda. Drought Risk assessment report submitted at request from the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Kampala, Uganda.

Jordaan, A.J.; Mdungela, M.; Fadeyi, T.; Phatudi-Mphalele, R.B.; Muyambo, F. 2014.
Vulnerability and Resilience of Communal Farmers. Report as part of research project: Vulnerability, adaptation and coping with drought: The case of commercial and subsistence rain fed farmers in the Eastern Cape. WRC project 2280. Pretoria, South Africa.

P.Csarant, L.; Jordaan, A.J.; Anderson, L.J.; Macharia, D.; Siwela, B.; Muck, M.; Sibanze, P.  2014.
Technical advisory report on the use of space based information for disaster risk reduction and response in Zambia. United Nations Space Based Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction and Response (UNSPIDER) Technical Advisory Mission to Zambia. Report submitted to National Disaster Operations Centre, Office of the Presidency, Government of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.

Jordaan, A.J.; Mdungela, M.; Fadeyi, T.; Phatudi-Mphahlele, R.B.; Muyambo, F. 2014. 
Coping Capacity and Adaptation Assessment. Report as part of research project: Vulnerability, adaptation and coping with drought: The case of commercial and subsistence rain fed farmers in the Eastern Cape. WRC project 2280. Pretoria, South Africa.

Jordaan, A.J.; Sakulski, D.M. 2014. Drought Hazard Assessment. Report as part of research project: Vulnerability, adaptation and coping with drought: The case of commercial and subsistence rain fed farmers in the Eastern Cape. WRC project 2280. Pretoria, South Africa.