Research on human settlements and sustainable urban development in Africa is set to benefit from a new collaboration between the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).

Dr Jennilee Kohima, a Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Planning and Construction at NUST, has begun a two-month research fellowship at KNUST’s Centre for Settlement Studies.

The fellowship is part of the Fostering Research and Intra-African Knowledge Transfer through Mobility and Education (FRAME) Staff Mobility Programme.

Her work is being supervised by Professor Sylvana Rudith King of the College of Art, Education and the Built Environment.

The fellowship is on collaborative research, institutional partnership, and knowledge exchange between both universities.

Dr Kohima’s research background covers urban informality, housing, governance, tenure security, participatory planning, and climate change adaptation.

With a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and a Master’s in Land Management and Land Tenure, she has more than 15 years of experience in Namibia and South Africa across academia, government, and development sectors.

The Centre for Settlement Studies is also known for its multidisciplinary work on urban and rural settlement challenges in Ghana and across Africa.

Its focus on applied research and policy engagement aligns with NUST’s approach to planning and land management education.

Both institutions are members of continental research networks such as the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa, which supports collaboration in land governance and spatial development.

During her fellowship, Dr Kohima will join ongoing projects at the Centre, contribute to joint research papers, and participate in workshops that link theory and practice in settlement planning.

The activities is to promote staff and student exchanges, enhance academic networks, and encourage knowledge transfer between researchers and practitioners.

The partnership also seeks to support the development of inclusive and sustainable human settlements through shared learning and co-authored research outputs.

It will explore issues affecting urban growth, land use management, and planning education in rapidly changing African cities.

The initiative is expected to open opportunities for future cooperation in teaching, curriculum development, and innovation in the built environment disciplines.

Dr Kohima’s stay is another phase in the FRAME Programme’s goal of connecting African institutions through academic mobility.

The fellowship builds on ongoing efforts to create a network of researchers addressing housing, land management, and urban resilience across the continent.

By the end of her research stay, KNUST and NUST plan to outline areas for long-term collaboration, including field studies, student mentoring, and cross-institutional publications.