Scaling nature-based solutions for climate resilient infrastructure

Project: Access to urban green spaces and informal trade: Challenges and opportunities for Namibia street vendors
Affiliation: Department of Architecture, Planning and Construction, Namibian University of Science and Technology
ORCID: N/A
Email: tapiwa@nhag.org.na

Tapiwa Chipo Maruza specializes in informal settlement upgrading at the Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG), an NGO Trust that supports the efforts and activities of the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN). The SDFN is a community-based network of housing saving schemes dedicated to improving the living conditions of low-income households through participatory approaches. Tapiwa holds a Master’s in Architecture from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and is currently pursuing a PhD in Spatial Science at NUST.

Her doctoral research focuses on the realities of informal settlement upgrading in Windhoek, specifically exploring the challenges and opportunities of densification versus urban expansion as informal settlement upgrading strategies. With seven years of experience in housing design and sustainable neighborhood planning, Tapiwa has been deeply involved in projects that promote affordable, inclusive, and community-led urban development. She is passionate about bottom-up development, co-learning, and capacity building for both communities and local authorities, fostering collaboration to achieve long-term, sustainable solutions for informal settlement dwellers.

Tapiwa is also a published author of journal articles focusing on urban informality, and community-led upgrading and housing development. Her research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on informal settlements and their integration into formal urban planning processes. Through her work at NHAG, she continues to advocate for policies and practical solutions that improve land tenure security, service provision, and housing conditions for low-income communities in Namibia, ensuring a more inclusive and sustainable urban future.