Enhancing Living Climate Change Evidence for a Sustainable Future

We believe effective environmental policy must balance diverse values with “living evidence.” By integrating conventional research, expertise, administrative data, and community knowledge and lived experiences, we foster outcomes rooted in equity, justice, and long-term sustainability.

Through rigorous co-created research and deep stakeholder engagement, SEED empowers decision-makers to build transparent, accountable pathways toward a resilient environment. Join us in transforming insights into impact for a sustainable tomorrow.

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From Insight to Impact: Synthesising Evidence for Sustainable Futures

To drive real impact, we must understand the “why” behind policy decisions. Supported by the British Academy, our project explores how evidence shapes environmental strategy in the UK, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

We are diving deep into policy documents and engaging directly with decision-makers to identify the drivers of climate action. By analysing context, stakeholder involvement, and “change mechanisms,” we aim to bridge the gap between evidence production and real-world implementation.

Our mission is to build smarter, more inclusive climate strategies by connecting the dots between rigorous research and effective policy.

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Breath of Life: The Southern Africa Clean Air Alliance (SACAA)

Southern Africa faces a critical challenge: high child mortality linked to air pollution. Supported by the Academy of Medical Sciences (UK), our evidence network bridges the gap between environmental evidence and life-saving interventions.

Our focus areas include:

Vital Research: Advancing and sharing crucial data on child health and air pollution.

Equitable Partnerships: Bridging Global North and South researchers to co-develop guidelines.

Policy Collaboration: Connecting academic minds with policy experts for impactful projects.

Meet Our Team

Our multidisciplinary team of ‘Pracademics’ combines international expertise in evidence synthesis, climate strategy, and sustainable development to bridge the gap between research and environmental policy.

Dr. Fiona Campbell

Principal Investigator

Senior Lecturer in Evidence Synthesis, Newcastle University (UK). With over 20 years of experience, she is a leading expert in evidence synthesis. Her distinguished career includes conducting and publishing high-impact reviews for major global health organisations, including WHO, NICE, HTA, and the Cochrane Collaboration.

Prof Nedson Pophiwa

Professor in Development Studies at the University of Johannesburg: An expert in evidence-informed policymaking and has also published in relation to climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in Africa.

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SEED Blog: Insights from the Frontlines of Policy & Science

Stay informed about our latest research, project milestones, and insights into environmental policy across Southern Africa and beyond.

Dr. Katie Thomson

Post-doctoral researcher, Newcastle University (UK): She has expertise in both climate change and evidence-synthesis.

Dr. Ronald Munatsi

Post-doctoral Researcher, Zimbabwe Evidence Informed Policy Network (ZeipNET): His research and practice experience focuses on individual, institutional and systemic level capacity development, aiming to enhance evidence-informed decision-making processes and has implemented projects supported by international development partners including FCDO and WHO.

Jane Doe

Research Assistant

Our Core Values

Our commitment to rigour, transparency, and collaboration ensures that our evidence synthesis provides a trusted foundation for environmental policy.

Rigour & Quality: We utilize systematic, reproducible methods and risk-of-bias assessments to ensure every finding is scientifically sound.
Collaboration & Inclusivity: We integrate diverse perspectives by engaging policymakers, practitioners, and communities to enhance real-world relevance.
Integrity & Objectivity: We uphold strict ethical standards, minimizing bias and maintaining full transparency in our reporting.
Impact & Accessibility: We translate complex research into accessible insights, ensuring evidence effectively informs and transforms environmental practice.