Buhle Francis
Buhle Francis
AREA OF EXPERTISE: Natural resources, livelihoods, ocean governance , gender, and climate adaptation approaching it from the social justice lens.
AFFILIATION: Centre for Integrated Post-School Education and Training, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
My research is at the at the nexus of scientific inquiry and community engagement where I specialise in the intricate dynamics of small-scale fisheries. Through a multidisciplinary approach, my research navigates the complex realms of ocean governance, social justice, policy formulation, gender dynamics, and climate resilience within these vital ecosystems. Central to my work is the illumination of challenges in the small-scale fishing sector where I shade light on often-overlooked experiences, especially those of women. My research ethos is characterised by its active and collaborative nature, fostering partnerships and dialogue to address injustices through diverse perspectives and insights.
Impact
Buhle reached out to women involved in seaweed harvesting and, with them, developed a new research project, “Grandmothers of the sea: Protecting women’s rights through art and fair benefit-sharing from seaweed harvesting in the face of climate change.” Through their seaweed harvesting practices, these women have long histories with local ecological knowledge of the ocean. – read impact story here >>
Buhle has previously been awarded PHD Student researcher of the year iin 2019, and in 2023 Buhle was awarded the Earth Scholar Award:
“Buhle Francis, is a PhD candidate at Rhodes University, South Africa, and a researcher within the One Ocean Hub Project, where she is pioneering collaborative scholar activist research within Ocean governance. She is particularly interested in justice within the gender and ocean livelihoods nexus and inclusivity in ocean decision making” – read more here >>
Making waves
Recent publicationS
Buhle Francis, Dylan McGarry (2023) ‘Grandmothers of the sea: Stories and lessons from five Xhosa ocean elders’ in Hydrofeminist Thinking With Oceans: Political and Scholarly Possibilities, Shefer, T., Bozalek, V., & Romano, N. (Eds.). (2023) (1st ed.). Routledge. Chapter12 pp.14 – Read here >>
on leadership
“By providing funding and being flexible to establish the “sewing projects” as ocean economy diversification for women; this is an innovative project I co-developed and led. It is not only an opportunity for me as a researcher to grow, but it is action-research that is responding to a need that has been identified by – a need that has not been imposed on –women. In doing so, it has created opportunities for me as a researcher to identify new research areas, but it also has supported the leadership of local women.
In addition, at the national level, I facilitate/ co-facilitate workshops with other experienced researchers. I work closely with Irna Senekai from the Centre for Integrated Post-School Education and Training at Nelson Mandela University, and Kira Erwin from Durban University of Technology, whose work has shaped and improved mine. I learn a lot also from Jackie Sunde, University of Cape Town, whose work with small-scale fishers is amazing. These collaborations would not have been possible without the Hub, that brought all these South African universities together.”
advice to fellow Early-career researCheRs
“Age must not limit early-career researchers, especially black women who are already burdened with seeking carriers at the their “prime age”. It is difficult, but there is understanding and support. All early-career researchers should get involved in the opportunities that are created by the Hub, which allow to expand knowledges, which is what we all strive to acquire.”
Artwork: Margherita Brunori