Martin’s research explores transboundary climate risks and how they could be addressed for enhanced climate and disaster resilience. He investigates how these risks are (or not) dealt with as well as the barriers and opportunities for innovative adaptation governance approaches.

Martin’s experience mainly draws from studying, managing and implementing projects on a wide range of thematic areas including governance, gender and youth development, security and conflict management, climate and disaster risk, and natural resource management in Africa, Europe and Asia. Prior to starting his PhD research, he held research roles at the Stockholm Environment Institute’s Asia Centre in Bangkok (Thailand) and Africa Centre in Nairobi (Kenya), where his research was focused on Transforming Development and Disaster Risk. He also worked for the ADRC Institute where he led research projects mainly on social and ecological transitions, climate information services, decentralised climate finance, and energy efficiency in several African countries including Kenya, South Africa and Morocco. But Martin also worked as an independent researcher and consultant for many international research and development NGOs and think tanks on projects supported by agencies such as the UK DfID, USAID, SIDA, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI) Christian Aid, Heinrich Böll Foundation, and the Ford Foundation among others.

Martin was a Commonwealth Scholar at King’s College London from where he attained his MSc (Distinction) in Disasters, Adaptation and Development from King’s College London, and holds a BSc (First Class Honours) in Disaster Mitigation and Sustainable Development from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.

See Martin's profile pages:
Grantham Institute
Academia
ResearchGate

Conference papers/working papers/publications:

• Swartling, Å.S., Munene, M.B., Griffiths, H., Thomalla, F., and Pelling, M. (Forthcoming). The Role of Adaptive Governance in Achieving Disaster Resilient Sustainable Development. SEI Working Paper. Stockholm Environment Institute. Stockholm, Sweden.
• Munene, M.B., Swartling, Å.S., and Thomalla, F. (2018). The Sendai Framework: A catalyst for the transformation of disaster risk reduction through adaptive governance? International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. Available here. 
• Munene, M.B., Muliro, M., Niyiragira, Y., and Kubasu, L.N. (2017). Social and Ecological Transformation in South Africa: Country Analysis. Heinrich Böll Foundation. Rabat, Morocco.
• Munene, M.B. (2017). Decentralised Climate Finance and Information Services in Kenya: Imperatives for Localised Adaptation. Christian Aid. London, UK.
• Munene, M.B., Swartling, Å.S., and Thomalla, F. (2016). The Sendai Framework: A catalyst for the transformation of disaster risk reduction through adaptive governance? SEI Discussion Brief. Stockholm Environment Institute. Stockholm, Sweden. Available here.
• Munene, M. B. (2015). Urban Resilience in Kenya: Civil Society’s Role and Interaction with Climate and Risk Science under Devolution. King’s College London. London, UK.
• Kubasu L. N. and Munene, M. B. (2012). “Armed pastoralists in North Rift Valley – a shift towards Reintegration, Demobilization and Disarmament,” Horn of Africa Bulletin, Volume 24, No. 1, January-February 2012. Life & Peace Institute. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• Munene, M.B. et al. (2011). The Benefits and Challenges of Bicycle Transport in Kakamega Municipality, Kenya. Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. Kakamega, Kenya

Languages 

English C2 – Proficient user
Swahili C2 – Proficient user
Spanish A1– Basic user
Kimeru C2– Proficient user
Kikuyu C1– Proficient user

Supervisors

Prof Declan Conway
Dr Swenja Surminski