‌Bongai Munguni is a joint PhD candidate with the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of Bristol (UoB). She obtained a scholarship through the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) and the African Centre of Excellence for Inequality Research through her supervisor, Professor Murray Leibbrandt. She began in 2017 and two years later, through a joint academic agreement between UCT and the UoB, and funded by a Cotutelle Scholarship, Munguni entered a joint PhD initiative: the inaugural UCT–UoB University Researchers without Borders programme.

Munguni said “for the Bristol Poverty Institute and the UoB in general, I want to say thank you for teaching the poverty courses, qualitative and philosophical courses that I took in a practical and applicable way. This area is close to my heart since it speaks more about our lifestyle in rural Mozambique. My research will enable me to help my community thereby contributing to the #BuildingTheCommunityWeWant!

Munguni’s Bristol PhD supervisors are Professor David Gordon (School for Policy Studies, and Director of the Bristol Poverty Institute) and Professor Rich Harris (School of Geographical Sciences). She added, “I also want to thank both my supervisors for their unwavering support on my thesis journey.”  

Professor Gordon said: "She is an inspiration to others and has overcome numerous obstacles to obtain the academic knowledge she needs to help her local community and the people of Mozambique." You can read more of her story here.