Co-producing just sustainabilities: integrating local knowledge and geospatial analysis for climate-sensitive rural settlement planning in the East African Highlands

Abstract

Highland rural settlements face increasing climate-related hazards, but vulnerability is shaped not only by environmental exposure but also by livelihood dependence, place-based relationships, and governance arrangements. This study examines how local knowledge and geospatial analysis can be integrated to understand rural settlement vulnerability in Rwanda’s Western Highlands. Using a concurrent mixed-methods design, we combined household surveys (n = 280), qualitative inquiry (104 participants), and GIS-based hazard assessment. Results show that landslides, floods, and soil erosion substantially affect rural livelihoods, while perceived risks correspond with spatial patterns of hazard exposure. However, continued residence in exposed areas reflects constrained adaptation choices shaped by agricultural dependence, cultural attachment, institutional arrangements, and limited relocation alternatives. The findings demonstrate that knowledge co-production can provide a basis for socially grounded climate-sensitive planning by connecting spatial evidence with community experiences and addressing questions of risk distribution, knowledge recognition, and decision-making authority.