Department of
Built Environment
Shaping Sustainable Cities and Communities
Urbanisation is rapidly transforming Malawi, and the demand for skilled professionals in Land Management, Urban Planning and Sustainable Development has never been greater. Established in 2006 in response to the National Land Policy (2002), the Department of Built Environment is at the forefront of training experts who drive responsible land administration and urban development.
With over 100 graduates contributing to the public and private sectors, our department plays a critical role in land reform, infrastructure planning, and sustainable city development. As Malawi implements Vision 2063 and the Malawi Secondary Cities Plan, our graduates are shaping the future of inclusive, resilient, and well-managed urban spaces.
Through a dynamic curriculum informed by industry stakeholders and national priorities, we equip students with cutting-edge knowledge and practical skills to enhance land governance, urban resilience, and sustainable infrastructure development.
Explore our programmes
Explore our diverse range of programmes designed to equip students with industry-relevant skills and knowledge. Our curriculum blends theory with practical experience to prepare you for success.
Latest News and Updates
Stay informed with the latest developments, research breakthroughs, and events from our department. From industry collaborations to academic milestones, explore how we’re making an impact.
Meet Our Team
At the heart of our success is a dynamic and diverse team of dedicated professionals committed to excellence in teaching, research, and innovation. Our faculty and staff bring a wealth of expertise and industry experience, fostering an environment where knowledge meets practice. Whether guiding students, pioneering groundbreaking research, or shaping industry partnerships, our team works collaboratively to drive academic excellence and real-world impact.
Research, Outreach and Publications
Our department and research teams actively publish in peer-reviewed journals, contributing valuable insights to the fields of ICT, Cybersecurity and Data Science. These publications reflect our commitment to academic excellence and our drive to address pressing global challenges.
Bauer, W.,Titz, A. & Manda, M.C. (2024) ‘Tracing the urbanisation of risk in Malawi: A multilevel analysis’, Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 16 (1), a1668.https://doi.org/104102/jamba.v16i1.1668
UN-Habitat (2020). Breaking Cycles of Risk Accumulation in African Cities”. United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). Nairobi HS Number: HS/059/19E ISBN Number (Volume): 978-92-1-132851-6. un_report_2019_ebook_high_res.pdf (unhabitat.org)
Brown, D, Manda, M and Mwalyambwile, T (2024). “Lilongwe: City report”. ACRC Working Paper 2024-13. Manchester: African Cities Research Consortium, The University of Manchester. Available online: www.african-cities.org ISBN: 978-1-915163-12-7
Pelling, M.; Barcena, A; Leck, H; Adelekan, I.; Dodman, D.; Issaka, H.; Johnson, C.; Manda, M.; Mberu, B.; Nwokocha, E.; Osuteye, E. and Boubacar, S. (2021). ‘Uncertain pasts and risk sensitive futures in sub-Saharan urban transformation,’ in: Keith, M; Aruska, A ; Santos, de S and Parnell, S (Eds) African Cities and Collaborative Futures . Manchester, University Manchester Press. pp. 53-72. ISBN: 9781526155368
Allen, A., Koroma, B., Manda, M., Osuteye, E. and Lambert, R. (2019), “Urban risk readdressed: Bridging resilience-seeking practices in African Cities”, in: Burayid, M.A., Allen, A., Twigg, J. and Wamsler, C. (Eds), The Routledge Handbook of Urban Resilience, London: Routledge.pp.331-348. ISBN: 9780429506666
Manda, M. (2014), “Bicycle taxis in Mzuzu City: a business venture misunderstood”, in Duminy, J. et al (Eds.), Planning and the case study method in Africa, Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, pp. 102-128.
Bauer, W., Titz, A. & Manda, M., 2024, ‘Tracing the urbanisation of risk in Malawi: A multilevel analysis’, Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 16(1), a1668. https://doi.org/10.4102/ jamba.v16i1.1668
Mwalwimba, I.K., Manda, M. & Ngongondo, C. (2024). ‘Measuring vulnerability to assess household resilience to flood risks in Karonga district, Malawi.’ Natural Hazards . https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-024-06416-4
Chingamtolo, C. & Mtafu, M. (2024) ‘Constraints to property taxation in Malawi’, Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance, (29).
Andrea, K.; Tembo, M. and Manda, M. (2023), ‘Community Awareness of dental fluorosis as health risk associated with fluoride in improved groundwater sources in Mangochi district.’ Journal of Water and Health. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2023.210
Bwanali, W. and Manda, M. (2023), “The correlation between social resilience and flooding in low-income communities: a case of Mzuzu City, Malawi”, International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-09-2022-0093
Andrea, K; Manda, M and Tembo, M. (2023). ‘Tariff setting for the sustainability of communal water points in Mangochi District in Malawi,’ Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development (2023) 13 (9): 625–634. https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2023.183
Mwalwimba, I.K., Manda, M. & Ngongondo, C. (2024) Flood vulnerability assessment in rural and urban informal settlements: case study of Karonga District and Lilongwe City in Malawi. Natural Hazards. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-024-06601-5
Munthali, C. Manda, M. and Bwanali, W. (2021) Assessment of Socio-Economic Vulnerability to Flooding in Mweniyumba Neighbourhood, Karonga Township Environment Pollution and Climate Change, Vol 5 No 3. pp.1-13
Gondwe, J & Manda, M. (2021). “Localizing children’s play spaces through the child friendly city lens: Reframing tools for children’s inclusivity in Mzuzu City, Malawi,” Journal of Inclusive Cities and the Built Environment, Vol1 No.1 pp.81-89
Dodman, D., Adelekan, I., Brown, D., Hayley, L., Manda, M., Mberu, B., Pelling, M., Rusca, M., Satterthwaite, D. and Taylor, F. (2018), “A Spectrum of Methods for a Spectrum of Risk: Generating Evidence to Understand and Reduce Urban Risk in Sub‐Saharan Africa”, Area, Vol. 51, pp. 586 – 594. doi.org/10.1111/area.12510
Hayley, L., Pelling, M., Adelekan, I., Dodman, D., Issaka, H., Johnson, C., Manda, M., Mberu, B., Nwokocha, E., Osuteye, E. and Boubacar, S. (2018), “Towards Risk-Sensitive and Transformative Urban Development in Sub Saharan Africa”, Sustainability, Vol 10 No 2645, pp.1-21. doi:10.3390/su10082645
Wanda, E; Manda, M; Kushe,J.;Msiska, O.; Mphande,C.;Kamlomo, D, and Kaunda, J (2017). ‘Using Citizen Science Approach to monitor water, sanitation and hygiene Related Risks in Karonga Town, Malawi,’ African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, Vol.11 No 6, pp. 304-323. doi.org/10.5897/AJEST2017.2308
Gondwe, J; Manda, M. & Kamlomo, D (2017) ‘Discriminatory land use planning and flood risk Management in Karonga Town, Malawi’ International Journal of Human Sciences, Vol 14 No. 4 pp 1-13 https://www.j-humansciences.com/ojs/index.php/IJHS/article/view/4706/2334
Manda, M. and Wanda, E. (2017), “Understanding the nature and scale of risks in Karonga, Malawi”, Environment and Urbanization, Vol. 29 No. 1, pp.15-32.
Manda, M. (2016). ‘Growth Centres as a strategy for Rural Development, ‘in LDF Discussions on Local Economic Development in Malawi: Compendium of Studies, Lilongwe, LDFTT
Manda, M. and Matidza, I. (2017), “Tracer study of Mzuzu University Land Management Students, 2010-2015”, Education and Society in Southern Africa, Vol. 3 No 3, pp.45-67.
Blair, N. and Manda, M. (2016), “A partnership-based model for embedding employability in urban planning education”, Urban, Planning and Transport Research, Vol. 4 No. 1, pp.46-63.
Adelekan, I., Johnson, C., Manda, M., Matyas, D., Mberu, B., Parnell, S., Pelling, M., Satterthwaite, D. and Vivekananda, J. (2015), “Disaster risk and its reduction: an agenda for urban Africa”, International Development Planning Review, Vol. 37 No. 1, pp.33-43
Manda, M. (2014), “Where there is no local government: addressing disaster risk reduction in a small town: case of Karonga in Malawi”, Environment & Urbanization, Vol. 26 No. 2, pp. 1-14.
Manda, M (2013), “Reflections on planning education in Malawi”, Education and Society in Southern Africa, Vol. 1 No.1, pp 58-74.
Osuteye, E., Johnson, C., Brown, D., Manda, M. and Gondwe, J., (2016), August. Governance of urban development and its influence on risks in Karonga Town. RGS-IBG Annual International Conference.
GNDR (2018). Views from the Frontline Handbook for National Coordinating Organisations. Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR). London, UK
Malawi Government (2015). Training Manual for Disaster Risk Management, Department of Disaster Management Affairs
Allen, A., Lambert, R., Manda, M. and Osuteye, E. in collaboration with Hamilton, A. (technical platform assemblage) and Bwanali, B, Manda, F., Gondwe, J. and Gondwe, M. (coordination community-led data collection) (2018) ReMapRisk Karonga. Online platform produced for Urban Africa Risk Knowledge (Urban ARK) [https://www.urbanark.org/] ESRC/DFID Grant No. ES/L008777/1.
Service
Committed to Excellence and Service: Empowering the Community and Beyond.
Perfection
Driven by Perfection: Nurturing Exceptional Talents and Achievements.
Self Reliance
Building Self-Reliance, Unleashing Potential: Empowering Individuals to Shape Their Own Future.