Enhancing equity and resilience in an interconnected world
This working group, comprising researchers and practitioners, employed a ‘metacoupling’ framework to analyse the intricate dimensions of (in)equity within three Southern African case studies linked to export horticultural value chains and transboundary fisheries. Understanding how resources are accessed and distributed in a place, for instance, is often seen as mainly influenced by local laws, norms, and governance decisions, but external factors such as global market dynamics can have a significant influence as well. The concept of ‘metacoupling’ addresses the interconnections and interdependencies of social-ecological systems across multiple scales, including local, adjacent, and global levels. This helps to understand complex relationships and reveals sources of power that can create inequalities by limiting access to resources and opportunities. The working group’s approach shed light on the power dynamics and disparities embedded in the value chains of agricultural commodities and fisheries traded between local and global systems. By emphasising cross-scale connections, the working group aimed to unveil critical intervention points for fostering resilience and equity, empowering local actors within an increasingly interconnected global landscape.
Working group members
- Nadia Sitas, Centre for Sustainability Transitions, Stellenbosch University, South Africa and SouthSouthNorth, South Africa
- Odirilwe Selomane, Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria, South Africa
- Catherine Pringle, Centre for Sustainability Transitions, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
- Lutendo Mugwedi, Department of Geography & Environmental Sciences, University of Venda, South Africa
- Britta Hackenberg, Namibia Nature Foundation, Namibia
- Willem Malherbe, Centre for Sustainability Transitions, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
