About ASSET Research

About ASSET Research

ASSET Research is an African-initiated and led research and development (R&D) platform, but with a strong international flavour as represented in its membership. We believe that Africa's solutions have to be home-grown, but that international cooperation and lessons from the various international experiences are invaluable. Africa, however, can also offer the world a unique development model and a suite of learning experiences in economic development.

ASSET Research is

  • An NGO and Public Benefit Organisation
  • A fundamental research and capacity-building vehicle
  • An interdisciplinary research platform involving a range of institutions
  • Focusing on the economy/ecology interface
  • Working through and in collaboration with other like-minded institutions and individuals
  • Privately owned and managed with administration and support staff

ASSET Research innovates and builds capacity in the subject area of environmental and resource economics and related fields. We do this by focusing on the economy/ecology interface through the facilitation of research and development in focus areas, as well as the supervision of MSc and PhD students and the management of interns and cadets. We also provide technical and scientific support towards sustainable economic and ecological policies, frameworks and models. Through all our projects, we contribute to the alleviation of poverty and unemployment, and the lack of food, water and energy security amidst conditions of increasing urbanisation, resource-use intensification and environmental degradation.

ASSET Research is concerned not with economic growth, and cold and dry socioeconomic statistics, but pays attention to the quality of growth and development, and honours the dignity of all human beings. We seek justice in the face of corruption, rampant markets, irresponsibility and disrespect for human life and the environment. We are inspired by the resilience of the people living on the land in the African continent and Madagascar, and, through our research programmes, seek to unleash these formidable forces in a way that will improve the well-being of the largest possible number of hungry, poor, and deprived people.

ASSET Research is an economy/ecology think-tank that will internalise the importance of natural assets such as water, energy, biodiversity and fertile land in the search for alternative development paths. ASSET Research performs action-orientated research where the objective is to conceptualise, formulate, define, test and communicate new options and solutions for Africa's unique set of challenges.

  • ASSET Research's specific research areas are:
  • Fresh water supply, delivery and quality
  • Energy, climate and air quality
  • Coastal and marine resources
  • Biodiversity and land use
  • Food production and security
  • Natural capital and the macro-economy
  • Ecosystem health and resilience
  • Development with care for people and environment
  • Science-policy interactions

The research and student development that ASSET Research undertakes provide technical and scientific support towards sustainable economic and ecological policies, frameworks and models. These contribute to the alleviation of poverty, unemployment, the lack of food, water and energy security amidst conditions of increasing urbanisation and rural degradation.

ASSET Research recognises:

  • the important role of prudent natural resources management in search of an alternative economic development trajectory;
  • the need to develop and built capacity in the environmental an resource economic and related fields and do so through students;
  • that Africa requires home-grown solutions; and
  • the need to place students in work and learning environments that benefits institution and student alike.

ASSET Research will

  • Collaborate before we compete;
  • Work through and in collaboration with other like-minded institutions and individuals;
  • Honour and respect all forms of life;
  • Seek lasting solutions in every challenge;
  • Promote sustainable economic development and not growth per se;
  • Pay attention to the quality of growth and development, and honour the dignity of all human beings; and
  • Seek justice in the face of corruption, rampant markets, irresponsibility and disrespect for human life and the environment.