
Sara Gabrielsson
Senior Lecturer

Current and Past Research
My research focuses on issues linked to the social and environmental sustainability of sanitation services and delivery in urban communities of the Global South, with particular geographical focus on East Africa.
I am currently leading the research project 'Complicated Plastics - addressing taboo waste streams to promote user dignity and sustainable consumption' (2022-2025). The project focuses on the nexus of complicated plastic products and sustainable sanitation, including how taboo waste creates barriers for both sustainable and dignified menstrual health and hygiene management for women and girls, as well as causing occupational health risks to sanitation workers who provide vital sanitation services to communities in low income countries. To exemplify the ways in which these challenges play out in-situ in an urban low-income setting we study this in selected unplanned settlements of Kisumu, Kenya.
Prior to this I co-coordinated the SUSTAIN – Sustainable Sanitation in Theory and Action program (2015-2021), in partnership with the Department of Water Resources Engineering at University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. The program aimed at strengthening post-graduate training in integrated sanitation management. At the time it was the first PhD program focused on sanitation in Tanzania. Using sustainability science as a way to critically analyze the complexity of the sanitation crises in Tanzania SUSTAIN attempted to generate actionable knowledge to contribute to sustainable sanitation access and service delivery, taking into account both the environmental aspects inherent in the water and waste cycle and the differing societal values and political interests of service and resource users. The program resulted in 12 MSc and 4 PhD graduates and a dozen peer-reviewed articles in international journals.
Background
I have a BA from University of Victoria, Canada in Anthropology and Environmental Studies, a Diploma in South Asian Studies, a MSc. in International Environmental Science and a PhD in Sustainability Science from Lund University, Sweden. My doctoral thesis,Uncertain futures – Adaptive capacities to climate variability and change in the lake Victoria Basin (2012) focused on smallholder farmers in the Lake Victoria Basin and their adaptive capacities to climate variability and change. My research highlighted the efforts made by communities themselves, and particularly the more marginalized segments of these communities, to deal with global environmental changes through collective action.
In 2020 I became a Senior lecturer in Sustainability Science at Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies.
Teaching
I am a teacher and thesis supervisor in both LUMES – Lund University Master’s Program in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science and LUMID - Lund University Master's in International Development and Management.
In the LUMES programme I convene the LUMES elective course on Sustainability and Global Health. The course provides global perspectives and local examples of the connections between development, environment and health by highlighting four key emerging and persistent global health challenges;
- the unavoidable health impacts of climate change,
- the prevailing sanitation crises,
- the global dietary paradox,
- the health externalities of global manufacturing and use of electronics
Publications
Displaying of publications. Sorted by year, then title.
Inequalities in water, sanitation and hygiene : Challenges and opportunities for measurement and monitoring
Sarah Dickin, Sara Gabrielsson
(2023) Water Security, 20
Journal article reviewPolitikerna struntar i klimatforskningen : 420 forskare: Regeringens politik är katastrofal – nu måste fler svenskar kräva en omställning
Glenn Bark, Karin Gerhardt, Jeannette Eggers, Paul Glantz, Maria Wolrath Söderberg, et al.
(2023) Aftonbladet Debatt
Newspaper articlePotential use of faecal sludge derived char briquettes as an alternative cooking energy source in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Petro Mwamlima, Aloyce W. Mayo, Sara Gabrielsson, Richard Kimwaga
(2023) Hygiene and Environmental Health Advances, 7
Journal articleSveriges utsläpp måste minska nu, regeringen : 531 forskare: Annars är sveket monumentalt – ni kan inte säga att ni inte visste
Alasdair Skelton, Kimberly Nicholas, Lennart Olsson, David Alcer, Tomas Persson, et al.
(2023) Aftonbladet
Newspaper articleMaternal health leaders’ perceptions of barriers to midwife-led care in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Somalia, and Uganda
Johanna Blomgren, Sara Gabrielsson, Kerstin Erlandsson, Miriam C.A. Wagoro, Mariam Namutebi, et al.
(2023) Midwifery, 124
Journal articleDe unga gör helt rätt när de stämmer staten
Christina Moberg, Hervé Corvellec, Anders Lindroth, Manuela Isacson, Linn Nilsson, et al.
(2022) Aftonbladet
Newspaper articleNog nu, politiker – ta klimatkrisen på allvar
Karin Gerhardt, Kimberly Nicholas, Wim Carton, Anika Binte Habib, Diego Galafassi, et al.
(2022) Aftonbladet Debatt, -
Newspaper articlePotential Economic and Environmental Benefits of Faecal Sludge Derived Compost and Char Briquettes: The case of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Isabela Thomas Mkunde, Richard Kimwaga, Sara Gabrielsson
(2022) Tanzania Journal of Science, 48 p.383-393
Journal articleUsing energy justice to contextualise existing challenges of wood charcoal against faecal sludge derived briquettes as a future cooking fuel alternative in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Laura Floytrup, Sara Gabrielsson, Petro Mwamlima
(2022) International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development, 14 p.91-107
Journal articleKnowledge, attitudes and practices (Kap) on fecal sludge resource recovery and reuse in dares Salaam, Tanzania
Isabela T. Mkude, Sara Gabrielsson, Richard Kimwaga
(2021) Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 11 p.758-770
Journal articleAssessing national wash targets through a water governance lens : A case study of the sanitation and water for all partnership commitments
Leonie Schiedek, Sara Gabrielsson, Alejandro Jiménez, Ricard Giné, Virginia Roaf, et al.
(2021) Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 11 p.805-813
Journal articleFaecal sludge containment characteristics and their implications on safe desludging in unplanned settlements of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Amour Seleman, Sara Gabrielsson, Richard Kimwaga
(2021) Journal of Environmental Management, 295
Journal articleReframing the challenges and opportunities for improved sanitation services in eastern Africa through Sustainability Science
Sara Gabrielsson, Angela Huston, Susan Gaskin
(2020) Sustainability Science in Africa II: Insights from Eastern and Southern Africa., 2
Book chapterDrivers of unhygienic desludging practices in unplanned settlements of dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Amour Seleman, Sara Gabrielsson, Tolly S.A. Mbwette, Richard Kimwaga
(2020) Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 10 p.512-526
Journal articleReviewing the potential and constraints of modified technology options for faecal sludge management in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Amour Seleman, Tolly Mbwette, Sara Gabrielsson, Richard Kimwaga
(2019) Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology, 38 p.245-259
Journal articleThe Potentials Faecal Sludge Treatment using Local Conditioners in Tanzania: A Review
Doglas Benjamin, Aloyce Mayo, Sara Gabrielsson, Richard Kimwaga
(2019) Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology, 38 p.230-244
Journal article review171 forskare: ”Vi vuxna bör också klimatprotestera”
Per Adman, Mats Alvesson, Elina Andersson, Mimmi Maria Barmark, Ebba Brink, et al.
(2019) Dagens nyheter (DN debatt)
Newspaper articleLinking the Water-Food-Energy Nexus to Sanitation: will it save and improve lives?
Sara Gabrielsson, Jamie Myers, Vasna Ramasar
(2019) Water, Sustainable Development and the Nexus: Response to Climate Change.
Book chapterMaterial Flow Analysis as a Decision Supporting tool for Faecal Sludge Resource Recovery: Mathematical formulation and quantification.
Isabela Mdkude, Tolly Mbwette, Sara Gabrielsson, Richard Kimwaga
(2019) Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology, 38 p.97-115
Journal article reviewPotential Use of High Rate Algae Ponds for Resource Recovery in the Water-Food-Energy Nexus for Tanzania : A Review
Mary Kayombo, Aloyce Mayo, Richard Kimwaga, Sara Gabrielsson
(2019) Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology, 38 p.130-151
Journal article reviewImplementation Challenges for Community Health Clubs in Rwanda
Nelson Ekane, Sarah Dickin, Sara Gabrielsson, Ntakarutimana Amans, Nadine Rujeni
(2019)
OtherClimate Change Adaptation and Gender Inequality: Insights from Rural Vietnam
Josephine Ylipaa, Sara Gabrielsson, Anne Jerneck
(2019) Sustainability, 11
Journal articleTowards Sustainable Menstrual Health Management in Africa
Sara Gabrielsson
(2019)
Conference - otherGender matters: adaptive capacities to climate variability and change in the Lake Victoria Basin.
Sara Gabrielsson
(2015) Climate Change Adaptation and Development - Transforming Paradigms and Practices , p.99-113
Book chapterWidows: agents of change in a climate of water uncertainty
Sara Gabrielsson, Vasna Ramasar
(2013) Journal of Cleaner Production, 60 p.34-42
Journal articleWater and sanitation in practice- a critical integration gap
Sara Gabrielsson
(2013)
Conference - otherLiving without buffers-illustrating climate vulnerability in the Lake Victoria basin
Sara Gabrielsson, Sara Brogaard, Anne Jerneck
(2013) Sustainability Science, 8 p.143-157
Journal articleUncertain Futures : Adaptive capacities to climate variability and change in the Lake Victoria Basin
Sara Gabrielsson
(2012) Lund Dissertations in Sustainability Science, 3
Dissertation'Because of poverty, we had to come together': collective action for improved food security in rural Kenya and Uganda
Elina Andersson, Sara Gabrielsson
(2012) International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 10 p.245-262
Journal articleSeasonal pattern of climate vulnerability and adaptation in the Lake Victoria basin – Identifying needs and opportunities using a multi-stakeholder approach. The American Association for the Advancement of Science, Annual Conference, San Diego
Sara Gabrielsson, Sara Brogaard, Johanna Alkan Olsson
(2010)
Conference paper: abstractScaling up social capital - A prerequisite for community based adaptation in the Lake Victoria basin?
Sara Brogaard, Sara Gabrielsson
(2010)
Conference paper: abstract
Short biography
Sara Gabrielsson is an Associate senior lecturer in Sustainability science at Lund University. Sara’s primary research focus is on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and sustainable development in Africa. Sara’s vision isto facilitate the interaction between academia and sanitation practitioners to enable the spread of sustainable WASH from theory to action.
Impact and communication
Policy work
Policy brief: Toward Sustainable Menstrual Health Managemant in Tanzania (PDF)
Capacity building
Media
Menskopp bidrar till bättre skolgång för tjejer i Tanzania, Sveriges radio, 2018
Menskopp hjälper unga kvinnor i Tanzania få en bättre skolgång, SVT nyheter, 2018
Kära världen, låt oss prata mera om mens!, Debattartikel i Dagens Arena, 2018
Menstrual cups could help girls attend school in Tanzania, Lunduniversity.lu.se, 2018
Menskopp bidrar till bättre skolgång för tjejer i Tanzania, lu.se, 2018
Videos
"Breaking the Silence" - A film about the challenges with Menstrual Health Management in rural Tanzania