The University of Portsmouth is celebrating a significant achievement, securing two prestigious grants through the British Academy Challenge-Orientated Research Grant call, totalling around £400,000.
This funding highlights the University's reputation for delivering high-quality, applied research that addresses global climate challenges and demonstrates the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration across its faculties.
The British Academy Challenge-Orientated Research Grant programme supports humanities and social sciences researchers in the UK and internationally, promoting collaborative research on pressing global issues.
Among 49 awarded projects, the University of Portsmouth has the distinction of being granted two awards, focusing on environmental resilience, climate action, and gender equality in the context of climate crises.
Climate change has exacerbated drought conditions in the Horn of Africa, which has recently experienced its worst drought for 40 years. In rural communities this has led to the loss of livestock and livelihoods, rising poverty, food insecurity and conflict over resources. Donkeys, known for their drought tolerance, are essential for community resilience, facilitating access to water, food, and healthcare.
Dr Leanne Proops, Associate Professor in Animal Behaviour and Welfare
The first awarded project - led by Dr Leanne Proops, Associate Professor in Animal Behaviour and Welfare - focuses on the vital role of working donkeys in promoting drought resilience in marginalised communities in the Horn of Africa. Titled "When the Donkeys Start Dying - The People Are Next", the project responds to the British Academy's call on environmental resilience and climate action.
Dr Proops explains: "Climate change has exacerbated drought conditions in the Horn of Africa, which has recently experienced its worst drought for 40 years. In rural communities this has led to the loss of livestock and livelihoods, rising poverty, food insecurity and conflict over resources. Donkeys, known for their drought tolerance, are essential for community resilience, facilitating access to water, food, and healthcare."
The research aims to highlight the donkey's role in drought resilience and develop best practice recommendations to support communities in the horn of Africa during drought. Ultimately it is hoped this study will improve donkey welfare and the lives of equid-reliant communities.
The second project - led by Professor Tamsin Bradley, Professor of International Development Studies - investigates the women-led response to the impact of climate crises, gender inequalities, poverty, and conflict in Myanmar and Nepal. This project was awarded in response to the British Academy's call on Women and Climate Action.
This research is urgent given the ever-deteriorating climate emergency in Myanmar and Nepal, both ranked in the top five most affected countries globally. Despite the existence of female activists and networks in both contexts, little is known about how they tackle the complex and multiple crises and the resulting deepening vulnerabilities of women and girls.
Professor Tamsin Bradley, Professor of International Development Studies
Myanmar and Nepal are among the countries most affected by climate emergencies. This research will explore how female activists tackle the complex challenges posed by climate crises, conflict, and gendered inequalities. It aims to capture the voices of the most marginalised and generate vital evidence to support these activists.
Professor Bradley says: "This research is urgent given the ever-deteriorating climate emergency in Myanmar and Nepal, both ranked in the top five most affected countries globally. Despite the existence of female activists and networks in both contexts, little is known about how they tackle the complex and multiple crises and the resulting deepening vulnerabilities of women and girls."
This project will be supported by the University of Portsmouth's new Research Centre for the Advancement of Equality, Gender, and Inclusion Studies.
The British Academy Challenge-Orientated Research programme is backed by the UK Government's International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF). Managed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, this £337m fund aims to foster global research collaborations addressing key themes such as planet, health, tech, and talent.
