Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu, TU Dortmund/Ardhi University, Tanzania
Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu (b. 15 Jan 1989) is an Ethiopian lecturer and researcher at Ardhi University, Tanzania . He holds dual MSc degrees in Urban Management (Erasmus University) and Urban Planning (ECSU), and is currently a PhD candidate in Urban Planning and Management. His research focuses on peri-urbanization, climate vulnerability, and smallholder farmers . Girma has authored several scholarly articles and received prestigious fellowships including NUFFIC and DAAD. With a decade of academic, administrative, and field experience, he contributes actively to teaching, research, and community engagement across Africa
Publication Profile
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Professional Experience
Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu brings over a decade of diverse professional experience in academia and public service. He currently serves as a Lecturer and Researcher at Haramaya University, Ethiopia (2015–present), where he also led the School of Geography and Environmental Studies as Head in 2021. Previously, he worked as a Senior Expert in Urban Land Use and Renewal in Adama (2014–2015), and as a Sociologist with the Borena Zone Water Authority in Yabello (2010–2014). His work spans teaching, research, urban planning, and rural development engagements across sectors
🎓 Education & Academic Training
Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu is currently pursuing his PhD in Urban Planning and Management at Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. His research focuses on peri-urbanization, climate vulnerability, and the socio-economic marginality of smallholder farmers in Addis Ababa. In 2021, he completed a Higher Diploma Program in Education at Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Girma’s academic journey reflects a strong interdisciplinary foundation in urban planning, sustainability, and community development, equipping him with the skills to address complex urban-rural interface challenges across Africa
📚 Academic Qualifications
Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu holds a strong academic background in urban and social sciences. He earned his MSc in Urban Management and Development from IHS, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, Netherlands (2016–2017). He also holds an MSc in Urban Planning and Development from Ethiopian Civil Service University (2012–2014), and a BA in Sociology from Jigjiga University (2007–2010). In 2021, he completed a Certificate in the Higher Diploma Program in Education at Haramaya University. His education reflects a comprehensive blend of urban planning, development policy, and social research expertise.
🏅 Honours & Awards
Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu has been recognized with prestigious international scholarships for his academic excellence and research potential . In 2016, he was awarded the NUFFIC Scholarship under the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) to pursue his MSc in Urban Management and Development at Erasmus University, Netherlands . Later, in 2021, he received the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship (57572498) from the German Academic Exchange Service to support his PhD studies in Urban Management and Development in Tanzania. These awards reflect his commitment to addressing urbanization and sustainability challenges in developing regions
🔍 Research Focus
Mr. Girma Mulu Alemu’s research is rooted in urban planning, land governance, and rural-urban transformation. His studies focus on the socio-economic marginalization of smallholder farmers due to peri-urban expansion, land tenure insecurity, and the impacts of urban sprawl around Addis Ababa. He also explores adaptive strategies of vulnerable communities facing climate challenges in transitional zones. His work contributes significantly to understanding sustainable development, urban land policy, and community resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through qualitative and empirical analysis, Mr. Alemu bridges urban studies and social justice in development planning.
Publication Top Notes
📘 Alemu, G.M. (2017) – Impacts of condominium housing development on the property rights and tenure security of smallholder farmers in peri-urban Addis Ababa [Master’s Thesis, Erasmus University Rotterdam] – 📅 2017
📘 Alemu, G.M. & Kombe, W. (Forthcoming) – Sprawling Cities, Shrinking Farmland: Urban Expansion and Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa – 📅 Forthcoming | 📝 Submitted to International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development (Taylor & Francis)
📘 Alemu, G.M., Schramm, S., & Kombe, W. (Forthcoming) – Hustling and Bustling: Smallholder Farmers Coping Strategies in Peri-urban Addis Ababa – 📅 Forthcoming | 📝 Submitted to Habitat International (Elsevier)
📘 Alemu, G.M., Schramm, S., & Kombe, W. (Forthcoming) – Smallholder Farmers’ Socio-Economic Marginality in Peri-urban Addis Ababa – 📅 Forthcoming | 📝 Submitted to Cogent Social Sciences (Taylor & Francis)