Dr Gamuchirai Chakona received her PhD in Environmental Science, majoring in Food Security and Nutrition from Rhodes University in 2017. She is currently a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Community Engagement Division at Rhodes University. She is conducting community-based participatory research in the Early Childhood Development (ECD) space, where her research integrates sustainability, development and practicality to foster innovative approaches that improve food security, nutrition and child development at an early age. Dr. Chakona’s research also explores food value chains, nutrition-sensitive agriculture and coping strategies for food insecurity across rural-urban contexts, emphasizing the need for holistic, sustainable solutions for vulnerable groups, including women, youths and young children. She has extensive experience working with communities in South Africa across KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and the Eastern Cape, with the overarching goal of integrating food and nutrition security into education while promoting social learning and sustainable development. She has supported multiple national and international research collaborations, and her contributions extend to partnerships with institutions such as University of the Witwatersrand, Waterloo University, University of Nottingham, Bristol University and Freiburg University, as well as organizations like the Water Research Commission (WRC) and International Water Management Institute (IWMI), South Africa.