Hey There!
I'm Abel Mavura
Researcher
Systems Thinker
Social Entrepreneur
Designing inclusive futures for cities & communities.
I am fascinated by how people create order, opportunity, and belonging in complex environments.
My work spans migration, architecture, digital technologies, education, and systems thinking, examining how communities adapt and thrive despite uncertainty. From grassroots initiatives in Zimbabwe to research at the University of Cambridge, I explore the connections between people, place, and possibility.
Margaret Mead Memorial Award, 2025
About Me
My Story and Expertise
I work at the intersection of systems thinking, social justice, and participatory methodologies — bridging architecture, urban design, and development studies to explore how migration, informality, and social justice shape the built environment.
As founder of Marvel Act Youth Organisation (MAYO), I empower marginalized communities through advocacy, education, and technology for social change. I've consulted for UN agencies, ActionAid, CIVICUS, IREX, and Girls Not Brides.
Notable Works
Books
– A motivational guide to personal growth, goal-setting, and collective empowerment.
– A reflective narrative on resilience, perseverance, and social transformation.
– A novel exploring themes of migration, identity, and community solidarity.
Books Chapters
– Explores systems-based approaches to resilience and sustainability across African contexts.
– Examines how individual and collective agency drive social transformation and inclusive development.
Academic Papers and Conferences
Performing Resilience: Masculinity and Solidarity Among Young Male Migrants in Paris’ Informal Housing (2025)
📍 Gender and Development Conference 2025, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom – June 2025
Systems Thinking for Migration and Urban Resilience (Forthcoming, 2025)
📍 International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS) Annual Conference 2025, United Kingdom– July 2025
Living on the Edge: Work and Survival Among Young Migrants in Urban Spaces (2025)
📍 British Sociological Association (BSA) Work, Employment & Society Conference, University of Manchester, United Kingdom – September 2025
Beyond COVID-19: Harnessing Emerging Scientific Innovations for Multisector Advancement – Food Security, Food Sovereignty, Agro-Based Research, and Climate Change (2021)
📍 Joint SASA–CSIR Conference, Accra, Ghana – 2021
Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Development and Migration Governance (2021)
📍 Sciences Po University, Paris, France – 2021
Art for Social Change
Presented a talk and exhibited creative work on migration and social inclusion, highlighting storytelling as a tool for advocacy.
Policy and Advocacy
Authored briefs presented at international forums including ISSS and other global development platforms, promoting evidence-based policy for migrant rights and urban inclusion.
Awards and Recognitions
– International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS), 2025
– Outstanding Achievement in the Academic Field, 2025
– Men As Role Models Award, Canadian Embassy & Shamwari YeMwanasikana, 2022
Academic Background
Recognitions & Awards
– International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS), 2025
– Outstanding Achievement in the Academic Field, 2025
– Men As Role Models Award, Canadian Embassy & Shamwari YeMwanasikana, 2022
Work With Me
Collaboration, creativity & shared purpose.
Available for keynote speaking, research collaboration, policy consultation, and mentorship. Let's design holistic, inclusive solutions together.