Edith Malemba

A Geography PhD student, supported by the TARGET CDT, specialising in land-use decision-making in mining landscapes through GIS-based ecosystem service tools. Her work focuses on how spatial models can support more informed and responsible choices between competing land uses, including mineral extraction, agriculture, and rewilding, with particular attention to environmental, social, and economic trade-offs. She holds an MSc in Water Policy from the Pan African University Institute of Water and Energy Sciences and a BSc in Environmental Sciences from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Edith also has professional experience with the Lilongwe Water Board and Malawi’s Ministry of Water and Sanitation, where she worked on water quality monitoring, climate-resilient WASH systems, and environmental compliance. Her current research and practice sit at the intersection of environmental governance, spatial analysis, and sustainable resource use, with a growing focus on supporting responsible decision-making in mineral resource development.

Research interests include: 

• GIS based land use decision analysis, mining landscapes
• Ecosystem service delivery and management, environmental governance and policy  
• Climate change and water resources (Water, Energy, Food Nexus) including sanitation and hygiene

Enabling Policy Environment for Water Operator Partnerships in the Southern African Development Community