Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC) is a product of the Department of Science and Innovation/National Research Foundation (NRF) mandated to generate and disseminate knowledge on risk and vulnerability on Global Change Grand Challenges to local municipalities and other potential users. These centres are under the stewardship of previously disadvantaged rural-based universities, providing opportunities to enhance their research capacities in the field of global change and assist local communities in responding to these changes. The centre also promote the utilisation of South Africa’s  Risk and Vulnerability Atlas (SARVA).

1. Human Capital Development (HCD) by training postgraduate students,
2. Knowledge generation through publications,
3. Knowledge dissemination to municipalities, local communities and policy makers, and
4. To feed the South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas (SARVA) with the generated information.

Food Security

• Household food security profiling
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Water Security

• Water quality assessment  and Aquaculture

Climate Change

• Disaster risk profiling
• Climate change and Agriculture
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Environmental  Management

• Land restoration and Rangeland management
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Solid Waste Management

• Household solid waste management
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Biodiversity and Conservation

• Species composition, abundance and patterns of distribution and Ecosystem management

1. Joint Research project in collaboration with the three RVSC (University of Limpopo; University of Fort Hare and Walter Sisulu University) Walter Sisulu University has a PhD and Masters student attached to the project.
   V Tsheleza (PhD): Estimating carbon fluxes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems across different land uses in
   S Ntlangula (Masters): Socio-Economic Drivers of Land-Use/Land-Cover Change along with the Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies: Implications on Water Quality

2. The RVSC in collaboration with CSIR has successful applied for Complementary SASSCAL Call for South African Researchers 2019 titled “Developing Metrics and Indicators for Understanding Adaptation Progress and Trends" The following students are attached to the project:
   M Ndiitwani (Masters): Packaging of South Africa’s climate change planning documents for reporting and communication to the UNFCCC
   E Seyisi (Masters): Developing metrics and indicators that reflect progression of climate change adaptation response: a case study of South Africa’s climate change policy landscape
   S Bekwa( Masters): Co-development of a linked-up monitoring and reporting framework for the SDGs and the Paris Agreement: A case study of the water sector

2. Cyclones and Floods research project: A mega regional research programme/project to document the impacts of cyclones and floods in southern Africa

   Collaborators: UNISA; UFH; UFH

   Development of two book chapters to be published in Springer Journal

   Dr S Ndhleve: Flooding and social inequality: the nexus of two societal ills impacting on vulnerable communities in South Africa and Malawi

   Dr H Kabiti: Impacts of cyclones on livestock production: A focus on Cyclone Idai, Kenneth and floods in South Africa 

3. Examining and understanding OR Tambo Disaster data collection and management practices

   A collaborative Project with OR Tambo District Municipality Disaster Management Centre

   Dr S Ndhleve, Dr H Kabiti and Dr MDV Nakin

4. Unpacking the determinants of live cattle prices at communal farmer auctions. A case of Matatiele, South Africa

   A collaborative community engagement project with Umzimvubu Catchment Partnership Program (UCPP). Dr H Kabiti  Dr S Ndhleve and Dr MDV Nakin 

1. Wild Coast Fishing Co-operatives. RVSC is collaborating with King Sabata Dalindyebo and Port St Johns Local Municipalities, UNISA and Yakhani Co-operative on capacity building of these-coperatives.
2. Climate smart food gardens. RVSC is collaborating with local schools in the implementation of food gardens.

3. Building climate resilience in coastal communities: Hamburg Mussel Rehabilitation and Rotational Grazing Project. RVSC is collaborating with WWF South Africa and Siyaphambili Fishing Co-operative Limited