Dr Natascha Mueller-Hirth
| Biography | I am a political sociologist and currently Associate Dean for Economic, Social and Cultural Development in the School of Law and Social Sciences and Head of Sociology. My research utilises qualitative methods to examine issues around violence, development, gender, transitional justice and the environment. I am passionate about engaging non-academic communities in research and to co-create research outputs with participants. I have recently won an impact award for my work (with Sarah Pedersen and Leia Miller) on the policing of gender-based violence in remote and rural areas of Scotland (2023). My research (with Stephen Vertigans) examining the work of community-based organisations in informal settlements in Nairobi and their responses to the interconnecting and chronic crises faced by residents in such areas has produced a documentary and a co-created toolkit. |
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| Research Interests | - Violence and conflict: gender-based violence; the intersections of conflict and development; time and temporalities in transitional and post-conflict societies; peacebuilding; environmental peacebuilding; transitional justice - Development: the role of NGOs and community-based organisations in development and in civil society; community development in informal settings, governmentality approaches to the study of development - Time: The sociology of time, temporal domination and socio-temporal marginalisation Environmental change and sustainability |
| Teaching and Learning | Module co-ordinator for: - Global Development - Violence and Conflict - Sociology of Genders and Sexualities |
| Scopus Author ID | 35622574800 |
| PhD Supervision Availability | Yes |
| PhD Topics | Peace processes and transitions Post conflict societies |
Resilience and responses to interconnecting crises in informal settings
This film is part of a research project, led by Dr Natascha Mueller-Hirth (Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, Scotland) and Professor Stephen Vertigans, that examines how community-based organisations in a number of informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya, respond to the huge, interconnecting and chronic crises and everyday risks faced by residents in such areas. The kinds of crises and risks referred to here include economic inequalities, poor environmental conditions, high levels of morbidity and mortality and low levels of education, employment and healthcare, and intersect with the conditions commonly associated with informality, such as no or little access to water, sanitation and essential public services and infrastructure. It is worth noting that, globally, over 1 billion people – including close to 500 million children – live in so-called slums. At the same time, we learned from our previous research that informal settlements (and the work of community groups in them) are characterised by huge resilience, creativity, diversity and entrepreneurism. This is contrary to the more common negative and often stigmatising portrayal of such areas. The film - featuring 15 community-based organisations working on issues such as gender-based violence, youth training and entrepreneurship, support for the elderly and climate change mitigation - hopes to provide a sense of the extraordinary contributions that they are making in the transformation of lives. Participating organisations: Amani Kibera | Ethel Foundation | Feminist For Peace, Rights and Justice Centre | Global Vision Achievers | Interventions Africa | Komb Green | La Vie Foundation | MAD Sisters | Miss Koch Kenya | Mng'aro Mtaani | Nawiri Dadas | Photo Start | Polycom Girls | Rebirth of a Queen | Resonate Global Mission | Restoring Dignity Foundation | SMAP Consultancy
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Reduce inequality within and among countries
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels