Mr. Prosper T Mataruse

Qualifications:

Master of Science in Social Ecology - University of Zimbabwe, 2018; Bachelor of Science Honours in Sociology - University of Zimbabwe,2015

Academic Appointments:

Lecturer

Research Interests:

• Institutional aspects of natural resource governance
• social-ecological systems
• conservation agriculture
• climate change impact, adaptation and mitigation
• sustainable livelihoods.

Faculty: Social And Behavioural Sciences

Department: Community and Social Development

Research Category: Behavioral Sciences

Biography:

Prosper T. Mataruse is a PhD. Candidate and lecturer in the Department of Community and Social Development at the University of Zimbabwe. He has substantial research experience focusing on social and ecological dynamics, institutional management and governance of natural resources. His recent involvement has been in the Dynamics of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Tropical and Temperate Farming Systems (DSCATT) project. His specific focus in the project has been investigating exchanges in social and agro-ecological systems, uncovering institutional factors shaping the interaction between smallholder farmers and the ecological systems in order to create an enabling environment for effective carbon sequestering agricultural systems. Prosper has enhanced his scholarly presence through scientific publications, local, regional and international conferences on sustainable agricultural intensification, climate change and governance of the commons. With his experience in community engagement through collaborative methods, he is in a position to advance social innovation initiatives and pathways in rural communities.

Email: prospermataruse@gmail.com

Phone: +263 774 914 945

Publications:

1. Mataruse P. T., Nyikahadzoi K. & Fallot A. (2021). Social-ecologically Driven Threats to the Climate Change Mitigation Potential of Forests: A Case of Murehwa District. In K. Nyikahadzoi & L. Mhlanga (Eds). Climate Change Impact, Adaptation and Mitigation in Zimbabwe; Case Studies from Zimbabwe’s Urban and Rural Areas (pp. 41-62). Harare, Zimbabwe: Conrad Adenauer Stiftung
2. Mataruse, P.T., Nyikahadzoi, K. & Fallot, A., (2023). Smallholder farmers' perceptions of the natural and anthropogenic drivers of deforestation and forest degradation: a case study of Murehwa, Zimbabwe. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 78(3),.207-216.
3. Mataruse, P.T., Nyikahadzoi, K., Fallot, A., & Perrotton, A.,(2024). Using participatory mapping for a shared understanding of deforestation dynamics in Murehwa district, Zimbabwe. Cahiers Agricultures, 33(2),15.
4. Hove, P., Hokoza, W., Chirubvu, L., Kunaka, C., Gweru, B., & Mataruse, P.T.( 2024). Migration and Marriage Dynamics among Zimbabwean Couples: A Study of Migrant Couples and Separated Spouses. In Marriage in Contemporary Zimbabwe: Identity, community and change (pp. 212-231). Routledge.
5. Zamasiya, B., Mataruse, P.T., & Nyikahadzoi, K. (2025). Determinants of Household Food Security Among Smallholder Farmers Under Changing Climates and Contexts: A Case of the Zambezi Valley in Zimbabwe. In L. Mhlanga & S. Kusanga (Eds). Building Resilience to Climate Change in Selected Districts in Zimbabwe: Experiences from the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund Programme (pp. 41-64). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
6. Mataruse, P.T., Nyikahadzoi, K., & Fallot, A.(2025). Climate and Land Use Changes in Murehwa District: Trends and Implications for Forest Ecosystems. KU-JSTEED. 1(1),146-162.

Patented Work:

Grants & Funding (current and Past projects):

• CIRAD PhD scholarship (funded by Agropolis Foundation and Total Foundation) under the “Agricultural Intensification and Dynamics of Social Carbon Sequestration in Tropical and Temperate Agricultural Systems” project (DSCATT), [2020-2022]

Awards & Achievements:

• University of Zimbabwe, Research and Innovation Week - Second best research and presentation in the Climate Change, Environment and Smart Settlements category, [2021]
• Association of African Universities - Graduate Internship Grant, [2017]
• Fellow, Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4, 2023)

Consultancy and advisory work (current and past):

Supervision information (MPhil, DPhil, etc.):

Professional membership, Committees, Boards:

President - Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme Alumni Association
Fellow, Africa Graduate Mentorship and Coaching Programme (AGMCP Cohort 4) https://imagesinitiatives.org/agmcp/2023-agmcp-cohort/