PhD defence by Beatrice Hati Gitundu

Gitundu examines specifically how grassroots organizations navigate multilevel governance to influence disaster risk management in urban ‘informal settlements’. Her research focuses on both high-profile mega crises and everyday disasters to explore the architecture of networks within which grassroots organizations intervene and the dynamics through which they negotiate their role with other stakeholders.

Gitundu examines the networking behaviours of grassroots organizations and disaster resilience outcomes in Sierra Leone, India and Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic. She then builds on her findings to analyse multilevel governance arrangements used by grassroots organizations to manage everyday fire disaster risks in the three largest ghettos in Kenya.

Doctoral Board

Chair

Professor Ruard Ganzevoort

Doctoral dissertation supervisors

Professor Peter Knorringa
Dr Jan Fransen, Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies
Dr Elsie Onsongo, Nuvoni Centre for Innovation Research

Full Doctoral Committee

Professor Diana Mitlin, University of Manchester
Professor Peter Bursens, University of Antwerp
Dr Naomi van Stapele, Movisie
Professor Jurian Edelenbos, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Professor Shuaib Lwasa, ISS