Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), University of Ghana
Dr. Adelina Mensah is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), University of Ghana (UG). She has a multidisciplinary background in environmental sciences, focusing on ecosystems and the human dimensions that impact their management and sustainability. With over 15 years of teaching experience with undergraduate and graduate students, Dr. Mensah has also worked extensively as a consultant and researcher with various national and international institutions and agencies. Her expertise spans a range of climate change, environmental and sustainability issues, employing transdisciplinary approaches with diverse sectors and stakeholders. Her research often examines the roles of socio-economic parameters in national climate change actions and environmental management, aiming to identify sustainable development pathways. These projects emphasize transforming knowledge into practical, sustainable applications at both local and national levels. + EDUCATION 2004 – 2009 PhD. Natural Sciences, University of Bonn (in collaboration with United Nations University – Environment and Human Security), Germany. 1997 – 1998 M.Phil. Marine Sciences and Coastal Management, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom. 1995 – 1996 M.Sc. Tropical Coastal Zone Management, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom. 1991 – 1994 B.Sc. Hons. in Zoology (major) and Botany (minor), University of Ghana, Ghana. + ACADEMIC POSITIONS HELD 2018 – present Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), University of Ghana (UG). [Sabbatical leave, 2024 – 2026] 2013 – 2018 Research Fellow, IESS, UG. 2003 – 2013 Lecturer, Department of Oceanography & Fisheries, UG. Other appointment 2009 – 2009 External Relations, Outreach and Internship/Alumni Network Programme Associate, Part time position, United Nations University – Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), Bonn, Germany + LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES UNIVERSITY OF GHANA 2022 – 2024 IESS PhD Programmes Accreditation Committee, Development of two PhD programmes - Environmental Sanitation and Sustainability Sciences, IESS. 2020 – 2024 Nestle Advisory Committee, UG member. 2016 - 2024 IESS Graduate Committee Board. 2015 - 2024 IESS Management Board. 2015 – 2018 Member of the College Research Board, College of Basic and Applied Science. 2018 – 2019 VCs Green Project Team, Communication, Marketing and Fund-Raising Sub Committee. 2013 – 2018 Chairperson, development of MPhil Sustainability Science Programme. 2010 – 2010 Committee member, Strategic Intent Paper for the University of Ghana Strategic Plan 2011-2020. 2009 – 2013 Departmental Examinations Officer, Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences (formerly Oceanography & Fisheries). 2009 – 2011 Faculty Board Member, Department of Oceanography & Fisheries. 2009 – 2011 Academic Board Member, Department of Oceanography & Fisheries. + NATIONAL 2023 – 2023 Consulting Team, Feasibility Study, Value Chain Assessment of Recyclables in The Solid Waste Stream in the Greater Accra Region. Africa Environmental Sanitation Consult (AfESC). 2019 – 2019 Lead Consultant, Environmental component facilitating the development of the draft One Health Policy, coordinated by the National Disaster Management Organisation, funded by the World Bank. 2017 – 2018 Facilitation team, Development of Environmental Management Policy of the Oil and Gas Industry, and its Implementation Plan, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI). 2017 – 2019 Facilitation team, development of National Policy on Biodiversity (NPB), and Implementation Plan, coordinated by MESTI. 2016 – 2016 Team member, Development of the 2016 State of Environment Report for Ghana, coordinated by the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency and funded by the World Bank. 2016 – 2016 Team member, Review and update of thematic section Climate Change, Environment, and the Green Economy of the draft National Infrastructure Plan: National Development Planning Commission. 2014 – 2014 Facilitation team member for series of stakeholder validation workshops for the National Climate Change Policy Strategy Document by Donor Agencies, Members of Parliament, Civil Society Organisations, Private Sector, March – April, 2014, Erata Hotel, Accra. + INTERNATIONAL 2023 – 2024 Consultant, Assessment of Climate Resilience in the Cocoa and Horticulture Sectors for The Netherlands Embassy, SouthSouthNorth Projects (Africa) NPC. 2022 – 2024 Lead author, Nexus Assessment Chapter 4 – Policy and socio-political options across the nexus, Eighth Session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Plenary (IPBES 8). 2020 – 2022 Consultant, Technical review of the CDKN “What’s in it for Africa?” brief and synthesis of two IPCC Special Reports for the SouthSouthNorth Projects (Africa). 2020 – 2020 Consultant, DRR/M Training Needs Assessment for District Disaster Management Committees and Community-Based Organizations (CBOS) in Ghana, for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). 2019 – 2019 Facilitator, Moderation and reporting on final stakeholder workshop of the Promoting Integrated Climate Risk Management and Transfer (ICRM) for GIZ. 2017 – 2018 Lead author, Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Regional Assessment for Africa, Chapter 3: Status, trends and future dynamics of biodiversity and ecosystems underpinning nature’s contributions to people. 2016 – 2020 Chapter author, Chapter 7: Oceans and coasts, Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6): Healthy planet, healthy people, UNEP. 2015 – 2016 Co-author, Water chapter of the Africa Regional Assessment as part of the Sixth Global Environment Outlook (GEO6) document, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 2012 – 2012 Consultant, Development of the Africa Adaptation Programme Exit Strategy, for the Africa Adaptation Programme and UNDP. + RECENT LARGE MULTI-NATIONAL CONSORTIA PROJECTS MANAGED 2024 – present Deputy Director, Operations, and Research Team Member, The Africa Climate Collaborative, University of Ghana, in partnership with Cambridge University of Cambridge, Makerere University, University of Cape Town and Mastercard Foundation (2024 - 2032). 2024 – 2027 Country lead, The Indigenous Peoples Observatory Network (IPON): The Climate-Food-Health Nexus, Funded by New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF). 2024 – 2028 Country lead, Supporting Policy Regulations and Interventions to Negate aggravated Global diarrheal disease due to future climate Shocks (SPRINGS), Funded by European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). 2024 – 2027 Country lead, Advancing knowledge for Long-term Benefits and climate Adaptation ThRough hOlistic climate Services and nature-based Solutions (ALBATROSS) Project, Funded by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). 2021 – 2026 Research team member, Building Capacity to Crosslink Coastal Pollution with Climate Change (BC5) Project, Funded by Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED II). 2020 – 2023 Principal Investigator, tranSforming InsTitutions to Advance women leadeRS in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (SISTARS): Lessons from Ghana and Kenya Project, Funded by IDRC Canada 2020 – 2022 Country lead, The COVID Observatories: Monitoring the interaction of pandemics, climate risks, and food systems among the worlds most disadvantaged communities (Covid Observatories Project), Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). 2020 – 2021 Country lead, Integrated Deprived Area Mapping System (IDEAMAPS) Network, Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). 2020 – 2023 Country lead, Transforming Social Inequalities through Inclusive Climate Action (TSITICA) Project, Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). 2020 – 2025 Project management and research team member, Coastal Community Resilience to Climate Change and Diarrhoea (C2R-CD) Project, Funded by Danida. 2019 – 2020 Principal Investigator, Digital Agricultural Services to Improve the Livelihoods of communities (DigitAL) project, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. 2019 – 2022 Principal Investigator, Partnerships for Resilience through Innovation and Integrated Management of Emergencies and Disasters (PRIMED), Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), 2019 – 2022 Country focal point, CLIENT II RAIN Sustainable Technologies and Services for climate change adaptation in settlement areas threatened by floods and droughts in Ghana, funded by Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany 2019 – 2021 Principal Investigator, Planning for Drought (P4D) project, under the AfriAlliance Action Group, funded by the Water Environment and Business for Development, SL. 2019 – 2022 Country lead, Mapping marine resource conflicts across sub-Saharan Africa: patterns, drivers and solutions for coastal communities, MARICA Project, led and coordinated by the Norwegian Institution for Water Research (NIVA), Funded by Research Council of Norway. 2018 – 2019 Country lead, Development Strategy for Urban Sustainability in Africa on the Basis of SDGs Interlinkage Analysis (USiA) project, in partnership with University of Malawi, Malawi and University of Cape Town, South Africa, implemented by the University of Tokyo, Funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). 2018 – 2020 Country lead, Standardizing City-Level Data-Gathering towards Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11 in Africa (SCiLeD) project, in collaboration with the University of Lagos, Nigeria, Funded by International Council for Science (ICSU), the Network of African Science Academies (NASAV) and the International Social Science Council (ISSC) + TEACHING AND TRAINING 2018 – 2024 Graduate Students Coordinator, responsible for an average of 150 graduate students annually across the four IESS graduate programmes: Environmental Science (PhD and MPhil), Sustainability Science (MPhil) and Environmental Sanitation (MPhil). 2018 – present Facilitator, Presentation Skills Module, University of Ghana Pan African Doctoral Academy Schools, run bi-annually in January and June and average of 18 students per cohort. 2016 – 2024 Teaching, MPhil. and PhD. students in Environmental Management; Water Resources Management; Water Governance for Sustainability; Sustainability Principles and Practices; Climate Change and Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation. 2016 – present Supervision, >40 MPhil and >20 PhD students 2003 – 2018 Teaching, Undergraduate and MPhil students in Coastal Ecosystems of West Africa; Freshwater Ecology; Global Climate Change; Limnology; Marine and Coastal Environment; Marine Pollution. 2003 – 2018 Supervision, 10 BSc students + SELECTED PUBLICATIONS Journal articles Lawson, E. T., Asabil, B., Salifu, A. Z., Alare, R. S., Ayivor, J. S., & Mensah, A. (2025). Climate-related information sources and the adaptation decisions of women crop farmers in the Guinea Savannah Zone of Ghana. African Geographical Review, 1–20. Bezerra, J.C. et al. (2025). Addressing Food Insecurity Through Community Kitchens During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study from the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Urban Science 9(2), Arko, T., Mensah, A.M., Adomako, J., Denton, F., & Obani, P. (2024). The Multifaceted Socio-ecological Impacts of Charcoal Production on the Afram Plains, Ghana. Trees, Forests and People, 100586, Chicmana-Zapata, V., et al. (2024). Justice implications of health and food security policies for Indigenous peoples facing COVID-19: a qualitative study and policy analysis in Peru (Vol 38, pg ii36, 2023). Health Policy and Planning, 39 (4), 445 – 445. Agyeman Boafo, Y., Ohemeng, F.N.A., Ayivor, J., Ayitiah, J.A., Yirenya-Tawiah, D., Mensah, A., Datsa, C., Annang, T., & Adom, L. (2024). Unraveling diarrheal disease knowledge, understanding, and management practices among climate change vulnerable coastal communities in Ghana. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1352275, Mattah, M.M., Mattah, P. A., Mensah, A., Babannawo, D., Brempong, E., Mensah, J., Appeaning Addo, K. (2023). Assessment of social factors that promote the vulnerability of communities to coastal hazards in the Volta estuary in Ghana. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 95, 103896. Zavaleta-Cortijo, C., Ford, J.D., et al. (2023). Indigenous knowledge, community resilience, and health emergency preparedness, The Lancet Planetary Health, 7 (8), E641-E643. Galappaththi, E. K., et al. (2023). Policy responses to COVID-19 in Sri Lanka and the consideration of Indigenous peoples. Environmental Science & Policy 144, 110 – 123. Tebboth, M.G.L., Singh, C., Spear, D., Mensah, A.M., & Ansah, P. (2023). Everyday mobility and changing livelihood trajectories: implications for vulnerability and adaptation in dryland regions. Ecology and Society, 28(1), ISSN 1708-3087. Osae, R., Nukpezah, D., Darko, D.A., Koranteng, S.S., & Mensah, A. (2023). Accumulation of heavy metals and human health risk assessment of vegetable consumption from a farm within the Korle lagoon catchment. Heliyon 9, e16005. Ford, J.D., Zavaleta-Cortijo, C., et al. (2022). Interactions between climate and COVID-19, The Lancet Planetary Health, 6(10), e825-e833. Alare, R.S., Lawson, E.T., Mensah, A., Yevide, A., & Adiku, P. (2022). Assessing nuanced social networks and its implication for climate change adaptation in northwestern Ghana, World Development Perspectives, 25, 100390. Osae, R., Nukpezah, D., Darko, D.A. & Mensah, A. (2023). Heavy metal mobility, bioavailability, and potential toxicity in sediments of the Korle lagoon in Ghana. International Journal of Environmental Studies. Archer, E., Dziba, L.E., Mulongoy, K.J., Maoela, M.A., Walters, M., Biggs, R., Cormier Salem, M-C., DeClerck, F., Diaw, M.C., Dunham, A.E., Failler, P., Gordon, C., Harhash, K.A., Kasisi, R., Kizito, F., Nyingi, W.D., Oguge, N., Osman-Elasha, B., Stringer, L.C., Tito de Morais, L., Assogbadjo, A., Egoh, B.N., Halmy, M.W., Heubach, K., Mensah, A., Pereira, L. & Sitas, N. (2021) Biodiversity and ecosystem services on the African continent – What is changing, and what are our options?, Environmental Development, 37, 100558. Somanje, A.N., Mohan, G., Lopes, J., Mensah, A., Gordon, C., Zhou, X., Moinuddin, M., Saito, O., and Takeuchi, K. (2020) Challenges and Potential Solutions for Sustainable Urban-Rural Linkages in a Ghanaian Context, Sustainability, 12(2), 507. Mensah, A., Sanful, P., Agyeman, Y., Trolle, D., Nunoo, F., and Asase, A. (2019) Sustainable ecosystem services of Lake Bosumtwi, Ghana – implications for livelihoods and food security, Nature & Faune, 32(2), 58-61. Ziervogel, G, Satyai, P., Basu, R., Mensah, A., Singh, C., Hegga, S., and Abu, T.Z. (2019) Vertical integration for climate change adaptation in the water sector: lessons from decentralisation in Africa and India, Regional Environmental Change 19(8), 2729-2743. Abass, R., Mensah, A.M., & Fosu-Mensah, B.Y. (2018) The role of formal and informal institutions in smallholder agricultural adaptation: The case study of Lawra and Nandom Districts, Ghana, West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 26 (SI), 56-72. Few, R., Morchain, D., Spear, D., Mensah, A., & Bendapudi, R. (2017) Transformation, adaptation, and development: relating concepts to practice, Palgrave Communications, 3. doi: 10.1057/palcomms.2017.92 Ahmed, A., Lawson, E.T., Mensah, A., Gordon, C., & Padgham, J. (2016). Adaptation to climate change or non-climatic stressors in semi-arid regions? Evidence of gender differentiation in three agrarian districts of Ghana, Environmental Development. + Book Chapters Mensah, A. M., Karanja, F. N., Tagoe, C. A., Bobie, A. O., Wrigley-Asante, C., Boateng, R., ... & Mugo, B. M. Advancing Women in STEM Leadership: Policy Analysis with Insights from Water-related Sectors in Ghana and Kenya. Dismantling Gender Barriers in STEM. Mensah, A.M. & Gordon, C., (2020), Strategic partnerships between universities and non-academic institutions for sustainability and innovation: Insights from the University of Ghana, Sustainability Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa I: Continental Perspectives and Insights from Western and Central Africa, In: Gasparatos, A., et al. Sustainability Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa I. Science for Sustainable Societies. Springer, Singapore. Codjoe, S.C. et al. (2020). The Volta Delta, Ghana: Challenges in an African Setting, In: Nicholls, R.J., Adger, W.N., Hutton, C.W., & Hanson, S.E. ( Eds.) Deltas in the Anthropocene (pp. 79 - 102), Palgrave Macmillan, Switzerland. Tompkins, E.L., Vincent, K., Suckall, N., Rahman, R., Ghosh, T., Mensah, A., Anderson, K., Chapman, A., Prati, G., Hutton, C.W., Day, S. & Price, V. (2020). Adapting to change: People and Policies, In: Nicholls, R.J., Adger, W.N., Hutton, C.W., & Hanson, S.E. (Eds.) Deltas in the Anthropocene (pp. 201 – 222), Palgrave Macmillan, Switzerland. Baker, E., Mensah, A., Rice, J., Grellier, J., & Alkhatlan, A. A. (2019). Oceans and coasts - Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6): Healthy planet, healthy people Chapter 7. Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6): Healthy Planet, Healthy People. Shaibu, M.T., Alhassan, S.I. Avornyo, F.K., Lawson, E.T., Mensah, A., & Gordon, C. (2018), Chapter 10: Perceptions and determinant of the adoption of indigenous strategies for adaptation to climate change: Evidence from smallholder livestock farmers in North-West Ghana. In Kuwornu, J.K.M. (Ed.) Climate Change and Sub-Saharan Africa: The Vulnerability and Adaptation of Food Supply Chain Actors (pp. 223-240), Vernon Press, Delaware. Saito, O., Boafo, Y.A., Kranjac-Berisavljevic, G., Yeboah, R.W.N., Mensah, A., & Gordon, C. (2018) Internationalization and Localization of the Ghana Model: In Osamu Saito, O., Kranjac-Berisavljevic, G., Takeuchi, K., & Gyasi, E.A. (Eds.) Lessons Learned, Opportunities for Upscaling, and Future Directions. Strategies for Building Resilience against Climate and Ecosystem Changes in Sub-Saharan Africa (pp 333-343). Springer, Singapore. Tanner, T., Mensah, A., Lawson, E.T., Gordon, C., Godfrey-Wood, R., & Cannon, T. (2017). A Political Economy of Artisanal Fisheries and Climate Change in Ghana, In Nunan, F. (Ed.), Making Climate Compatible Development Happen (223-241), Routledge: London and New York Mensah, A. & Gordon, C. (2016). Water pollution in River Basins: River Basin 3-Volta, In UNEP, A Snapshot of the World’s Water Quality: Towards a Global Assessment (pp. 59-62), United Nations Environment Programme: Nairobi. Borchardt, D., Gordon, C., Alcamo, J., Dannisøe, J. G., Müller, & Mensah, A. (2016). Solutions to the Water Quality Challenge: A Preliminary Review, In UNEP, A Snapshot of the World’s Water Quality: Towards a Global Assessment (pp. 81-93), United Nations Environment Programme: Nairobi. Abiye, T., Mensah, A., Pietersen, K., Businge, M., & Nyalugwe, K. (2016). Water, In UNEP, GEO6 Regional Assessment for Africa (pp. 52-72), United Nations Environment Programme: Nairobi. Gordon, C., Mensah, A.M. & Nikiema, J. (2016). Water Quality and Public Health, In Williams, T.O., Mul, M.L., Biney, C.A., Smakhtin, V. (Eds.), Volta River Basin: Water for Food, Economic Growth and Environment (pp. 214-227), Routledge: London. Mensah, A.M., Wiafe, G., Niane, M., Agyekum, K.A, Foli, B.A., Azumah, D.M.Y, Williams, I., Boakye, A.A., & Adiku, P.Y. (2016) Strategic Communication Plan: Monitoring for Environment and Security in Africa (FED/2014/331697). Publishers Digibooks Ghana Ltd: Accra, 129 pp.
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