ZMT - Leibniz Zentrum für Marine Tropenforschung

New Humboldt Fellow at ZMT conducts research on sea level rise and human security in Ghana

Within the framework of the International Climate Protection Fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH), Shamira Abdulai Yakubu will investigate the impacts of sea-level rise on gender equity and human security in Fuveme, Volta Region, Ghana. She will conduct this research during a nine-month stay in Professor Martin Zimmer’s Mangrove Ecology workgroup at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT). Shamiry holds an MSc in Fisheries Science from Pukyong National University, South Korea, and works as a Principal Fisheries Officer at the Fisheries Commission in Ghana.

In Ghana, as in many other countries worldwide, coastal communities are threatened and displaced by increasing flooding events, erosion and loss of land. Sea-level rise has emerged as one of the most pressing consequences of climate change, causing severe shoreline retreat and environmental degradation, with significant implications for local livelihoods, especially fisheries and agriculture.

Of central importance is understanding how these environmental changes affect traditional gender roles and responsibilities within households, and how they influence broader dimensions of human security. More than just an environmental crisis, sea-level rise directly impacts food security, economic security, personal safety and the social well-being of coastal communities. In response, policy and research must focus on the differentiated vulnerabilities and adaptive mechanisms of all genders to foster long-term community resilience.

In order to develop effective, gender-responsive coastal management and climate adaptation strategies, it is important to follow qualitative and participatory research approaches. This, in turn, requires capturing local experiences and perceptions directly from the affected areas. In her research project, Shamira Abdulai Yakubu wants to explore these dynamics in Fuveme to provide findings that can contribute to national policy discussions on climate adaptation and resilience in Ghana.

Therefore, local experiences will be captured through interviews, focus group discussions and community engagement activities. Shamira's extensive experience in fisheries governance, including the use of modern technologies, such as Vessel Electronic Monitoring Systems to fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, will support the robust execution of this study, ensuring that scientific outcomes directly benefit vulnerable coastal communities and sustainable development.