Collaborations between academia and grassroots organisations are not without tensions and power imbalances. For low-income urban communities, engaging with academics may mean enduring disqualification of their knowledge.

Systematic reflection and assessment are key to preventing or reverting this. ACRC’s research approach integrates these notions to build strong, horizontal collaborations with a diverse range of research partners including Slum Dwellers International (SDI).

In this episode, George Masimba and Teurai Nyamangara from Dialogue on Shelter – support NGO to the SDI-affiliated Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation – speak to Daniela Beltrame and Smith Ouma about their approach to working with academic institutions, knowledge generation strategies and collaboration processes within ACRC, and their ongoing work in Harare's informal settlements.

George Masimba is head of programmes at Dialogue on Shelter and is leading ACRC's city of systems, uptake and informal settlements domain work for Harare.

Teurai Nyamangara is a project officer at Dialogue on Shelter and works alongside George in coordinating informal settlements domain research in Harare.

Daniela Beltrame is a political scientist and urban planner, working on ACRC's informal settlements domain.

Smith Ouma is a postdoctoral fellow at ACRC, conducting research into informal settlements as part of our domain team.

----

Music: Brighter Days | Broke in Summer

Sounds: Zapsplat

This podcast presents the views of the speakers featured and does not necessarily represent the views of the African Cities Research Consortium as a whole.

Stay up to date with the latest publications, announcements and insights from the African Cities Research Consortium:

> Website
> E-news
> Bluesky
> LinkedIn
> YouTube
> X (Twitter)