Our programs

The Ocean Program at the Real Life Research Institute – Africa Program builds on our work on ocean, blue economy, maritime security, governance, and inclusive economic development. The program focuses on ocean and maritime activities, local, regional, and international ocean policies and law, including aspects of livelihood, coastal development, and resilience.

The program supports contemporary debates and policy action on sustainable ocean resource management, economic development, strengthening environmental protection, and enhancing the resilience of coastal and marine-dependent communities. We contribute to research that advances understanding of ocean ecosystems and ocean health, with a focus on the Gulf of Guinea and beyond.

By generating context-specific knowledge and linking African expertise with international research and policy platforms, the program positions Africa as a critical contributor to global ocean science and governance.

The Climate Adaptation & Resilience program amplifies local and indigenous voices across Africa on climate adaptation. It supports research and policy dialogue on locally grounded adaptation strategies, resilience-building, climate justice, livelihood protection, and the governance systems needed to respond to growing climate risks.

The program also examines the intersection of climate change and conflict, including how environmental stressors such as resource scarcity, displacement, and livelihood disruption can exacerbate existing tensions and undermine stability in vulnerable regions like the Sahel.

By advancing evidence-based and context-sensitive approaches, and by connecting African perspectives to broader global debates, the program contributes to stronger and more inclusive responses to climate change across the continent and beyond.

Africa is home to rapidly evolving food systems that are deeply intertwined with environmental change, natural resource governance, and shifting livelihoods. Our Food, Environment, and Natural Resources program adopts a holistic approach to food systems, recognizing that food is sourced from interconnected ecosystems, including crops, livestock, fisheries, and natural environments.

The program examines how these systems intersect with environmental sustainability, climate change, livelihoods, and governance across diverse African contexts. It supports research and policy dialogue on sustainable food production, ecosystem stewardship, mining governance, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), including how mining affects agricultural land through degradation and displacement and impacts water systems through overuse and contamination, directly shaping food production, safety, and access, and contributing to resource-based tensions and conflict dynamics.

By advancing context-specific and evidence-based approaches and linking African expertise with global policy and research platforms, the program contributes to more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems and natural resource management.