Lorraine van Blerk
Position
- Professor of Human Geography
- University of Dundee, United Kingdom
About
Lorraine's research sits at the intersection of social and development geography with particular expertise in the Geographies of Children and Youth in the global South, notably in eastern and western Africa and particularly with communities where poverty alleviation is a core and critical issue. Has over 80 publications (4 books and over 80 papers in international peer-reviewed journals) on these topics with methodological expertise in co-produced research and knowledge exchange; qualitative and participatory methods, collaborative story mapping and has led large-scale surveys in remote rural communities.
Project management experience: Has led several related large-scale, multi-country projects including Growing up on the Streets, a 10-year co-produced research program with homeless youth in Ghana, Zimbabwe and DRC; as well as projects in eastern and southern Africa examining issues related to refugee youth transitions, rural youth food security and sustainable livelihoods, and the impacts of social cash transfers on intergenerational poverty trajectories. Recently established a new area of work within refugee communities combining remote sensing and social science to understand the displacement-environment livelihoods nexus.
Roles: Co-PI, Member of Project Management Team (PMT), co-leads WPs 2 & 6 with Dr Morel contributor to WPs 3 & 4.