Happy Mathew Tirivangasi is an emerging researcher in political and environmental sociology who is recognized for integrating Afrocentric perspectives into his work. Afrocentric theory, which centers on African experiences, knowledge systems, and worldviews, forms the foundation of his research. This approach enables him to critically engage with African-specific issues, ensuring that African voices and solutions are represented in global discussions on pressing topics such as climate change adaptation, indigenous knowledge systems, gender dynamics, food security, disaster management, microfinance, and migration. Happy has spent much of his academic career in South Africa, where he has published over twenty peer-reviewed journal articles in esteemed journals recognized by the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). These include Sustainable Development (Wiley), International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management(Emerald), Development Southern Africa (Taylor & Francis), Scientific African (Elsevier), and Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal (Emerald). His research has made a significant impact, and he has also contributed book chapters to leading publishers such as Springer Nature, Palgrave Macmillan, and Rowman & Littlefield. Notably, some of these works, including the "Handbook of Climate Change Management" and the "African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation," have become influential in the field. In addition to his published works, Happy is currently editing two forthcoming international book volumes set for release in 2026, in collaboration with international partners from Ireland, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
He is a double scholarship winner, having been awarded the Zimbabwe Presidential Scholarship in 2011 for his undergraduate studies in South Africa and the prestigious VLIR UOS Scholarship for Advanced Master of Governance and Development at the University of Antwerp in Belgium in the 2018/19 academic year. His leadership in civic engagement was further demonstrated when he became a YALI (Young African Leaders Initiative) alumni in 2017, completing the Civic Leadership Certificate from the YALI Regional Leadership Center Southern Africa (RLC SA). He continues to contribute to the YALI program as an admission reviewer, reflecting his ongoing commitment to fostering community leadership.
In 2017, Happy was selected as one of only 12 laureates by the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) to attend the Economic Justice Institute in Maputo, Mozambique, where he focused on the intersection of climate change, inequalities, and development in Africa. His dedication to scholarly excellence has earned him several merit awards at the University of Limpopo, and his 2018 paper on climate change’s impact on food security in South Africa was recognized as the Most Highly Cited Manuscript within AOSIS’s Science, Engineering, and Technology field. Happy's research profile continues to grow. In 2020, he successfully secured a competitive publication grant from the South African National Research Foundation's Centre of Excellence in Human Development for a project titled “Evaluation of Humanitarian Strategies in the Aftermath of Climate Change-Induced Disasters in Southern Africa.” This project further showcased his expertise in addressing the complex challenges of climate change in the region.
A doctoral external examiner for the University of Pretoria, Happy also serves as a review editor for Frontiers in Human Dynamics: Environment, Politics, and Society and was invited to act as a topic editor for the 2023–2025 special issue on climate change and human health for the same journal. Publishers frequently seek his expertise, as he has been a reviewer for over 20 international journals and a book reviewer for Springer. Additionally, Happy has been a scientific steering committee member for two international conferences and has attended more than 12 international conferences to date.
Beyond his research, Happy is a skilled public speaker and workshop facilitator, adept at communicating complex ideas to both academic and non-academic audiences. He is currently pursuing his PhD at the Ģֱ (JYU), where his ongoing research aims to expand the frontiers of Afrocentric scholarship, specifically focusing on climate change adaptation and indigenous knowledge systems in Africa.
