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Name | Dr Meisie Alphinah Rasakanya |
| Highest qualification |
PhD (University of Pretoria) |
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| Position | Post-Doctoral Research Fellow | |
| Contact details | ||
| Research interests/expertise |
My research interests focus on public policy, governance, and socio-economic development in Southern Africa, with particular attention to how environmental and infrastructural challenges shape community well-being. I am broadly interested in the sustainability and resilience of essential resources and services, including water, energy, and food systems, and how these sectors interact to influence development outcomes. A significant part of my work examines water governance at local, national, and regional levels. This includes the management of shared river basins, groundwater resources, and the role of institutional and policy frameworks in promoting equitable and sustainable allocation. I am also interested in exploring the evolution of water infrastructure across historical and contemporary contexts including ancient technologies to understand how past practices inform present and future approaches to water management. My research further engages with socio-economic transitions, particularly the integration of clean energy solutions in water supply and broader development processes. This places my work within both the water–food–energy nexus and ongoing just-energy transition debates, where questions of equity, access, and governance are central. |
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| Current projects |
My current work focuses on a postdoctoral research project titled “Transboundary Water Governance and Climate Resilience in South Africa’s Shared River Basins.” This project examines the governance, institutional, and socio-political dimensions of the Limpopo and Orange–Senqu River Basins, focusing on how regional water institutions, national policies, and diplomatic processes can be strengthened to improve climate adaptation and equitable water allocation. The study seeks to generate policy-relevant insights that support South Africa and its neighbouring states in building resilient, cooperative, and sustainable water governance systems. |
Dr Meisie Rasakanya is a Development Studies scholar whose work centres on socio-economic development, rural and community development, and the pursuit of solutions that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her research focuses on strengthening water security, improving public services, and building community resilience in Southern Africa through evidence-based, context-driven approaches. She completed her PhD in 2025 at the University of Pretoria, where her study examined the improvement of existing water-supply infrastructures in rural communities, providing new insights into the environmental, technical, and socio-political factors shaping water availability and equitable access.
This work contributed to broader debates on sustainable development, institutional performance, and community well-being. Dr Rasakanya is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Thabo Mbeki School, specialising in Transboundary Water Governance and Climate Resilience in Southern Africa. Her postdoctoral project examines the geopolitics of water resources, with a focus on South Africa’s shared river basins and the institutional, policy, and climate-related challenges affecting water security at national and regional levels. She is also engaged in a collaborative scholarly initiative through the University of Johannesburg & University of Nottingham Trent writing Workshop, where her research focuses on the role of African think tanks in strengthening transboundary water governance and regional cooperation in Southern Africa.
From 2023 to 2025, Dr Rasakanya served as an Academic and Research Coordinator at the University of Pretoria, where she contributed to postgraduate training, research support, academic development, and knowledge production through her roles at the Research Commons and the Graduate Hub. Her scholarly visibility includes participation in prominent research and leadership platforms, including the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI), a programme that strengthened her leadership capabilities and community-impact orientation. In the research domain, Dr Rasakanya has presented at major academic forums, including, Africa Indigenous Knowledge Research Network (AIKRN) n 2025 and the South Association of Public Administration (SAAPAM) in 2025. Dr Rasakanya remains an active member of the Young Scholars Initiative (YSI), contributing to international scholarly exchanges on governance, development, and public policy. She is also serving as an ambassador for the stipendium-Hungaricum international scholarship at the Department of Higher Education and Training.
