John Tennyson Afele

Faculty Biography

John’s research investigates the complex interplay between tree crops, rural livelihoods, and human–environment interactions within a rapidly changing climate. His work integrates biophysical and socio-economic research approaches with advanced spatial data acquisition techniques, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Through these interdisciplinary competencies, he contributes meaningfully to sustainable agricultural development, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and evidence-based rural development planning. His expertise spans Nature-based Solutions, Agroforestry, Agroecology, and Natural Resources Management.He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management, where his foundational research examined the influence of planting depth on nodulation in multipurpose tree species (MPTs). Building on this foundation, his Master’s research assessed cocoa carbon sequestration potential and yield performance under varying shade regimes across Ghana’s diverse agroecological landscapes. This work was undertaken with support from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) under the prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Program. His doctoral studies, conducted within the DANIDA-funded Climate Smart Cocoa Agroforestry Project (CLIMCARG), explored alternative livelihood pathways as climate adaptation mechanisms among cocoa-growing communities in Ghana. John collaborates extensively with local and international partners engaged in agriculture, climate resilience, and natural resource governance. Through these collaborations, he works to enhance the resilience and well-being of rural farming communities by generating data-driven insights that inform policy formulation, sustainable land-use strategies, and climate-smart rural transformation initiatives.