Ms. Aifani Confidence Tahulela | Sustainable Waste Management | Best Researcher Award

Researcher | Durban University of Technology | South Africa

Dr. Aifani Confidence Tahulela is a distinguished researcher currently serving as Research Coordinator at the BRICS Research Institute, Durban University of Technology, South Africa, where she develops and leads collaborative research strategies across BRICS nations. She is pursuing her PhD at Durban University of Technology, building on her academic foundation with an MTech and BTech in Public Management (both Cum Laude) from Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and a National Diploma from the Central University of Technology. Her research focuses on sustainable waste management, circular economy development, and international cooperation on environmental governance. She has authored impactful publications, including contributions to Sustainable Waste Management: Policies and Case Studies (Springer, 2020), and recent studies in Sustainability and Taylor & Francis volumes addressing global environmental cooperation and household waste management. Dr. Tahulela’s international recognition includes multiple awards such as the Best Research Paper Award at HAMID University, Qatar (2021), BRICS Postgraduate Forum Best Paper Award (2022), Space Science PhD Award (2022), and Project Leader of the Year, BRICS (2023). She has also secured competitive scholarships from the National Research Foundation, the Department of Higher Education and Training, and the China Scholarship Council. Beyond her research, she has contributed to academic development through roles at North West University and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, organizing workshops, supervising theses, and mentoring early-career researchers. Her expertise spans both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, supported by proficiency in SPSS, NVIVO, and Atlas.ti. Dr. Tahulela also plays an active role in international academic collaboration, having organized major conferences such as the 10th World Toilet Association International Conference on Waste, Water, and Sanitation. With her strong editorial contributions and her commitment to advancing global sustainability dialogues, she continues to make significant scholarly and policy impacts in the fields of sustainable development and environmental governance.

Profile: Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

1. 1. Tahulela, A. C., & Ballard, H. H. (2019). Developing the circular economy in South Africa: Challenges and opportunities. Sustainable Waste Management: Policies and Case Studies: 7th IconSWM—ISWMAW.

2. 2. Tahulela, A. C. (2017). Effect of social norms and attitudes towards domestic waste in a selected formal settlement in the Western Cape, South Africa. Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

3. 3. Tahulela, A. C., Tshikovhi, N., & Netswera, F. (2023). BRICS and global environmental cooperation: An assessment of sustainability pathways beyond COP26. Taylor & Francis.

4. 4. Tahulela, A. C., Hashemi, S., & Lourens, M. E. (2025). Household waste disposal under structural and behavioral constraints: A multivariate analysis from Vhembe District, South Africa. Sustainability.

5. 5. Liang, X., Liang, C., Guan, J., & Tahulela, A. (2023). Emerging trends and strategic responses in quantitative empirical research on cultural novelty. Journal of Sociology and Ethnology.