Simon Gwara

We welcome Simon Gwara, a Zimbabwean PhD student from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. He is collaborating with our group from February to July 2022. He is a recipient of the ETH4D doctoral mentorship program.

Discipline of Agricultural Economics, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa Email: or

Research Interests
My PhD research focused on the demand assessment and social acceptance of sustainable agricultural soil inputs from waste-based nutrient systems such as food waste, human excreta and other organic waste material. Recovering plant nutrients from human excreta streams through circular bioeconomy initiatives could offer a solution to waste management, sanitation, environmental pollution, and agriculture. My mentorships program focuses on the sustainability assessment of the closed loop nutrient systems using methods of life cycle-based science.

Education
PhD – Agricultural Economics (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
MSc - Agricultural and Applied Economics (University of Zimbabwe)
BSc - Agricultural Economics (University of Zimbabwe)

Working Experience
• University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: RUNRES project doctoral scientist (current)
• University Of Witwatersrand, South Africa: Consultant: Engendering the National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIP) in Zimbabwe and Lesotho (3 months)
• University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Consultant: Concept Note: Proposing the Implementation of a Green Village Framework for the uMngeni Resilience Project (3 months)
• International Crops Research Institute for The Semi-Arid Tropics-ICRISAT: Research Associate Socioeconomics (3 years)
• International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre-CIMMYT Research Associate: Socioeconomics (2 years)
• Agricultural Bank of Zimbabwe-AGRIBANK Credit Analyst: (1 year 6 months)

Selected Publications
1. Gwara S*, Wale E, Odindo A, Buckley C 2021. Attitudes and Perceptions on the Agricultural Use of Human Excreta and Human Excreta Derived Materials: A Scoping Review. Agriculture 2021, 11(2), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11020153
2. Gwara S*, Wale E, Odindo A, Buckley C 2020. Why do We Know So Much and Yet So Little? A Scoping Review of Willingness to Pay for Human Excreta Derived Material in Agriculture. Sustainability 2020, 12(16), 6490; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166490
3. Gwara S*, Wale E, Odindo A 2021. Behavioural intentions of rural farmers to recycle human excreta in agriculture? Implications for research, policy, and development practice (In Press: Nature Scientific Reports)
4. Murendo, C, Nhau, B, Mazvimavi, K, Khanye, T, and Gwara S. 2018, “Farm production diversity, market participation and nutrition knowledge on household and individual dietary diversity in Zimbabwe”, Food and Nutrition Research, 62: 1276.
5. Murendo, C, Gwara, S, Mazvimavi, K, Arensen J.S. 2019. Linking crop and livestock diversification to household nutrition: Evidence from Guruve and Mt Darwin districts, Zimbabwe. World Development Perspectives 14, 100104
6. Kassie, G. T., Langyintuo, L., Erenstein, O., Maleni, D., Gwara, S. & Abate., T. 2013, "Drought Risk and Maize Production in Southern Africa," Journal of Asian Scientific Research, Asian Economic and Social Society, 3(10), 956-973.
7. Kassie, G.T., Maleni, D., Gwara, S. & Emana, B., 2013, "Efficiency of Moisture Stress Risk Coping Strategies in North-eastern Ethiopia: Application of Mean-Variance Efficiency Analysis," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, 3(8), 1018-1032.