21. January 2026

“The choice is not whether to build roads in Sub-Saharan Africa, but where and how". Philipo Jacob Mtweve defends doctoral thesis on Road Infrastructure Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

Philipo Jacob Mtweve defends his doctoral thesis on Road Infrastructure Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Complex Interactions Between Rural Livelihoods and Biodiversity Conservation

Philipo Jacob Mtweve (ZEF ECOL) obtained his doctoral degree from the Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional and Engineering Sciences of the University of Bonn on January 21, 2026.

“The choice is not whether to build roads in Sub-Saharan Africa, but where and how. This endeavor is demanding evidence-based frameworks that integrate biodiversity conservation with rural development imperatives”, says Philipo about his doctoral research, which he concluded today with a successful defense. 

Philipo Mteve with his supervisor Lisa Biber-Freudenberger (lieft) and ZEF-ECOL director Christian Borgemeister (right)
Philipo Mteve with his supervisor Lisa Biber-Freudenberger (lieft) and ZEF-ECOL director Christian Borgemeister (right) © ZEF PR (Ricarda Mundt)
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Philipo obtained his doctoral degree from the Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional and Engineering Sciences of the University of Bonn.

Philipo's research was supervised by Professors Lisa Biber-Freudenberger (ZEF group leader LAND) and Pierre Ibisch, (Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development). His tutor was Dr.Tanja Kramm and his mentor Professor Christina Bogner 

Personal note and thanks by Philipo 

"My deepest gratitude extends to Prof. Lisa Biber-Freudenberger, whose contributions are beyond words. She came into my journey at a moment when I had nearly given up, and her arrival changed everything. She has been far more than a supervisor offering endless support that pulled me through the hardest times and transforming this experience into one of genuine joy and discovery. Her mentorship has opened doors to opportunities for learning and growth that transcend any academic qualification. Regardless of outcome, the lessons learned and the hope rekindled through her guidance represent achievements more valuable than any certificate. I am profoundly grateful for her unwavering belief in my potential and for making this PhD journey one of renewed purpose and meaningful transformation.

I owe special thanks to Dr. Silke Tönsjost (and the entire BIGS-DR team), whose countless organized trips provided practical, lifetime lessons that enriched my understanding of development research in ways no classroom ever could. These experiences remain among the most treasured aspects of my doctoral journey.

My heartfelt appreciation goes to Sabine Aengenendt-Baer, whose exceptional assistance made every administrative challenge manageable. Her help transformed complex processes into simple steps, and her support was instrumental in keeping this journey moving forward smoothly. There are many more who are behind this transformation, I do really feel their support".

Funding: LANUSYNCON project [58A-58040-08-13058300] under the lead of Lisa Biber-Freudenberger

Exploring socioeconomic and environmental impacts of road infrastructure development in Sub-Saharan Africa (2025): A systematic literature review https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101177

Impacts of road development in sub-Saharan Africa: A call for holistic perspectives in research and policy (2025) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.111913

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