We are proud to highlight the recent achievements of PhD researcher Beatrice Hati Gitundu, whose paper “Polymorphic grassroots networks and implications for disaster resilience” was published in the latest special issue of Environment and Urbanization (Vol. 37 No. 1, April 2025), focused on Urban Reform Coalitions. Her work has earned her the Best Societal Impact Award 2024, a well-deserved recognition of her deep commitment to societal transformation through engaged research.
In this timely and thought-provoking article, Hati explores how grassroots organizations (GROs) affiliated with Slum Dwellers International (SDI) mobilize in the face of disaster. Drawing on case studies from Kenya, Sierra Leone, and India, she shows how GROs form polymorphic networks—flexible, multi-level, and adaptive coalitions that respond effectively to crises while also building the foundations for long-term resilience. These networks rely on both established connections and emergent linkages, and they highlight the critical role of local governments in co-producing sustainable recovery pathways.
The article contributes to a broader conversation within the Urban Reform Coalitions issue, edited by Diana Mitlin (IIED, University of Manchester) and Ezana Haddis Weldeghebrael (FCDO Research Commissioning Centre). The issue brings together nine papers that reflect on how reform coalitions—including grassroots movements, NGOs, and academics—negotiate shared understandings of urban futures across diverse contexts, from Cape Town to Mumbai and Freetown to Lagos. The authors are not just observers, but often deeply embedded in the coalitions they study.
Hati’s work stands out for its methodological innovation and impact on the ground. Through participatory methods such as storytelling, theatre, and fire drills, she has helped build trust between communities, firefighters, and authorities in Kenya’s informal settlements. Her initiatives have led to tangible results, including:
- The formation of local fire safety networks;
- The launch of Kenya’s first Community Fire Safety Week;
- Stronger recognition for street-level responders in public and academic discourse.
Her paper calls for more epistemically just and reciprocal partnerships—an approach that resonates deeply with the values of the LDE Global initiative, which champions engaged, co-created research between LDE universities and partners in the Global South.
Congratulations, Beatrice, on this exceptional achievement and your inspiring contribution to disaster resilience and community empowerment.