Olivia Kunguma

1

Article

0

Comments
  • Senior lecturer, University of the Free State - Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (UFS-DiMTEC), University of the Free State

Dr Kunguma is a lecturer with the University of the Free State – Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (UFS-DiMTEC). She believes it is pointless to develop the best scientific knowledge and not share it with the public or non-experts. She holds a PhD in Disaster Management, where she investigated the status-quo and dynamics of establishing information management and communication systems in provincial disaster management centres and contributed to the development of a framework for establishing and maintaining the systems. Dr Kunguma also holds a Master’s Degree in Disaster Management where her master’s thesis was on exploring rural women’s perceptions and experiences concerning water shortages in their communities and how they cope and adapt to the water shortages. She also qualified with a BA and Honors degree in Integrated Marketing Communication majoring in Strategic Business Management.
She lectures in Management of Media Relations and Strategic Communication, Strategic Disaster Management, and Legal and Institutional Arrangement in Disaster Management. As a lecturer, she has graduated more than 500 Post Graduates in Disaster Management students, supervised and graduated more than 10 Masters of Disaster Management research students. Dr Kunguma is also a facilitator in some of the short learning programs offered by UFS-DiMTEC as well as an independent facilitator in Humanitarian Standards in Humanitarian Response (Sphere Project). She has so far published peer-reviewed articles in accredited journals (with an H-index of 3) and has presented her research at local and international conferences such as the World Conference on Disaster Management in Toronto, Canada. She is a registered professional member of the Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa (PrDM08), and South African Communications Association (SACOMM). The earlier mentioned activities have contributed intensely to her research skills growth, interest, and abilities in working with communities. As part of community service, Dr Kunguma has worked on several research projects. Such as the 2019-2021 review of the South African National Disaster Management Framework of 2005 commissioned by the National Disaster Management Centre, the 2021 review of the disaster management institutional arrangements and coordination modalities for the Covid-19 response at national, provincial, and local levels: March to December 2020 (level 5 to level 1), the development of the Integrated National Drought Management Plan for South Africa, where she led the development of the Drought Information Management and Communication Plan. She was also the project leader in the development of a crisis communication plan for the Frances Baard District Municipality. Dr Kunguma also implemented her 1st Art on Disasters exhibition in Durban as part of the Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa conference proceedings. This project was about instilling a culture of risk avoidance through art, a resource that the communities have access to and in abundance.

Experience

  • 2007–present
    Lecturer, University of the Free State

Education

  • 2020 
    University of the Free State, Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, PhD in Disaster Management
  • 2009 
    University of the Free State, Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, Masters in Disaster Management
  • 2007 
    University of the Free State, Communication Sciences, BA Honours Integrated Marketing Communication
  • 2005 
    University of the Free State, Communication Sciences, BA Integrated Marketing Communication (Majoring in Business Management and Marketing),

Publications

  • 2021
    Kunguma, O., ‘COVID-19 home remedies and myths becoming a hazardous health infodemic?’, Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 13(1), a1115. https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v13i1.1115,
  • 2021
    Kunguma, O., Ncube, A. & Mokhele, M.O., ‘COVID-19 disaster response: South African disaster managers’ faith in mandating legislation tested?’, Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 13(1), a1099. https:// doi.org/10.4102/jamba. v13i1.1099,
  • 2021
    Kunguma, O., Mokhele, M.O. & Coetzee, M., ‘Investigating the prevention and mitigatory role of risk communication in the COVID-19 pandemic: A case study of Bloemfontein, South Africa’, Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 13(1), a1130. https://doi. org/10.4102/jamba. v13i1.1130,
  • 2018
    Kunguma, O., Pelser, A., Tanyi, P. & Muhame, C., ‘Social and structural vulnerability as a barrier in HIV and/or AIDS communication campaigns: Perceptions of undergraduate students at a South African tertiary institution’, Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 10(1), a407. https:// doi.org/10.4102/jamba. v10i1.407,
  • 2017
    Ncube, A., Kunguma, O., Nyahwo, M. & Manombe, S. Nutritional vulnerability: An assessment of the 2010 feeding food programme in Mbire district, Zimbabwe, and its impact on pregnant women. Jamba Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 9(1),
  • 2017
    Kunguma, O. & Skinner, J. Mainstreaming media into Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, South Africa. Disaster Advances 10(7),
  • 2015
    Kunguma, O., & Ncube, A. Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases: A possible challenging Millennium Development Goal for Disaster Managers in SADC. Jamba Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 8 (2),
  • 2013
    Bhebhe, D., kunguma, O., Jordaan A., & Majonga H. A case study of the perceived socio-environmental problems caused by illegal gold mining in Gwanda District, Zimbabwe. Disaster Advances Journal 6 (10). ISSN 2278-4543,
  • 2013
    Kunguma, O & Terblanche, L. Crisis communication plan for municipalities: the case for Frances Baard district municipality. Communitas: Journal for community communication and information impact (18) SA DHET 1023-0556,

Professional Memberships

  • Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa
  • South African Communication Association

Contact Olivia for

  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision