I am a human geographer mainly working in Ghana and other African countries. My research always involves fieldwork where socio-economic processes in local communities are viewed in context of processes on national and global scales. Research interests include gender, entrepreneurship, innovation, informal economies, market trade, food and nutrition security, small-scale fisheries, land tenure, petroleum industry, ICT development, migration, globalisation and political ecology.

Current research projects:

• SAMAKI https://www.uib.no/aktuelt/153487/kampen-om-sm%C3%A5fisken
• 2018-2022: Small Fish and Food security (SmallFishFood): Towards innovative integration of fish in African food systems to improve nutrition. The SmallFishFood project is funded by LEAP-Agri (Long term EU Africa research and innovation Partnership on food and nutrition security and sustainable Agriculture, Horizon 2020) and is led by Jeppe Kolding, Department of Biological Sciences, UiB. Together, biologists, nutritionists, anthropologists and geographers investigate the contribution of small fish species such as anchovies and sardines to the food and nutrition security of low-income groups in Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. My research focuses on the processing and marketing links of the fish value chain.
  • Nytt om prosjektet (Norwegian news, switch language for same articles in English)
    • Nytt prosjekt skal kjempe mot underernæring https://www.uib.no/matnat/117374/nytt-prosjekt-skal-kjempe-mot-underern%C3%A6ring
    • Betre utnytting av fisk som matressurs https://www.uib.no/geografi/103277/betre-utnytting-av-fisk-som-matressurs
• 2018-2023: Enclaving: Patterns of global futures in three African cities. This Research Council of Norway (FRIHUMSAM) funded project is led by Bjørn Enge Bertelsen, Department of Social Anthropology, UiB, and investigates urbanisation and multiple inequalities in three African cities: Johannesburg, Maputo and Accra. My research focuses on gender and socio-economic dynamics of households in a newly constructed high-cost residental area in the capital city of Ghana, Accra.
  • Prosjektets webside: https://www.uib.no/urbanenclavingfutures
• 2019-2022: Mapping marine resource conflicts across sub-Saharan Africa: patterns, drivers and solutions for coastal communities (MARICA). Project leader. Elizabeth Selig, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA). Funding: NORGLOBAL, The Research Council of Norway.

Development; globalisation; gender; natural resource governance; agriculture; fisheries; food security; political ecology; migration; the power of maps; qualitative methodology; research ethics; theory of science.Environment and development

 

Vitenskapelig artikkel

• Atter, Amy; Ofori, Hayford; Akonor, Paa T. et al. (2024). Enriched local convenience foods with two different small pelagic fish species increases the nutritional value without compromising taste. (ekstern lenke)
• Yekple, Edwige Enam Yawa; Overå, Ragnhild; Hidle, Knut Bjarne (2024). Living together but gates apart: aspirations and place caring practices among residents living outside a gated community in Peri-urban Accra.. (ekstern lenke)
• Rouille, Mailys Louise Marie; Overå, Ragnhild; Atter, Amy (2024). When borders close: Social networks, resilience and food security among informal cross-border fish traders on the Ghana-Togo border. (ekstern lenke)
• Agyei-Mensah, Yaw Opoku; Annan, Theophilus; Overå, Ragnhild et al. (2023). The processing, preparation, and cooking practices of small fish among poor Ghanaian households: An exploratory qualitative study. (ekstern lenke)
• Awoonor Williams, Kelvin; Overå, Ragnhild (2022). Contextualities of gender in Eritrean immigrant households: Exploring empowerment through integration in Norwegian society. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild; Atter, Amy; Amponsah, Samuel et al. (2022). Market women’s skills, constraints, and agency in supplying affordable, safe, and high-quality fish in Ghana. (ekstern lenke)
• Akonor, Paa T.; Atter, Amy; Owusu, Margaret et al. (2021). Anchovy powder enrichment in brown rice-based instant cereal: a process optimization study using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). (ekstern lenke)
• Denchie, Ernestina Ohenewaah; Ablo, Austin Dziwornu; Overå, Ragnhild (2020). Land governance and access dynamics in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana . (ekstern lenke)
• Adjei, Moses; Overå, Ragnhild (2019). Opposing discourses on the offshore coexistence of the petroleum industry and small-scale fisheries in Ghana. (ekstern lenke)
• Svarstad, Hanne; Benjaminsen, Tor A; Overå, Ragnhild (2018). Power theories in political ecology. (ekstern lenke)
• Badwi, Rosina; Ablo, Austin Dziwornu; Overå, Ragnhild (2018). The importance and limitations of social networks and social identities for labour market integration: The case of Ghanaian immigrants in Bergen. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild (2017). Local navigations in a global industry: the gendered nature of entrepreneurship in Ghana’s oil and gas service sector. (ekstern lenke)
• Boamah, Festus; Overå, Ragnhild (2016). Rethinking Livelihood Impacts of Biofuel Land Deals in Ghana. (ekstern lenke)
• Rusten, Grete; Overå, Ragnhild (2014). Local and global geographies of innovation: Structures, processes, and geographical contexts from a firm perspective. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild (2011). Modernisation narratives and small-scale fisheries in Ghana and Zambia. (ekstern lenke)
• Maddox, Bryan; Overå, Ragnhild (2009). New Technologies, New Demands and New Literacies: The Changing Literacy Practices of Fishing Communities in Bangladesh and Ghana. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild (2007). When men do women's work: structural adjustment, unemployment and changing gender relations in the informal economy of Accra, Ghana. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild (2006). Networks, Distance and Trust: Telecommunications Development and Changing Trading Practices in Ghana. (ekstern lenke)

Vitenskapelig foredrag

• Pille-Schneider, Louis-Emmanuel; Overå, Ragnhild; Sundnes, Frode (2022). In the same storm but not in the same boat. Fisheries management, scalar politics, and blue (in)justice within and beyond the Joal-Fadiouth marine protected areas, Senegal. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild (2022). Life in the urban enclave: Aspirations, detachment, and differentiated outcomes of living in a private city. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild (2022). Privat byutvikling og urbane enklaver i Afrika . (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild (2020). Living the dream in a cool Place: Gender and spatial relations among enclave pioneers in Accra. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild (2011). Motivations, challenges and performances of local entrepreneurship in the emergent oil city Takoradi, Ghana. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild (2011). Modernization narratives and the sustainability of small-scale fisheries in Ghana and Zambia. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild (2011). Local entrepreneurship in the context of the emerging oil and gas industry in Takoradi, Ghana. (ekstern lenke)

Vitenskapelig oversiktsartikkel/review

• Ahern, Molly B.; Thilsted, Shakuntala Haraksingh; Kjellevold, Marian et al. (2021). Locally-procured fish is essential in school feeding programmes in sub-Saharan Africa. (ekstern lenke)
• Hasselberg, Astrid Elise; Aakre, Inger; Scholtens, Joeri et al. (2020). Fish for food and nutrition security in Ghana: Challenges and opportunities. (ekstern lenke)
• Ablo, Austin Dziwornu; Overå, Ragnhild (2015). Networks, trust and capital mobilisation: Challenges of embedded local entrepreneurial strategies in Ghana's oil and gas industry. (ekstern lenke)

Mastergradsoppgave

• Alstad, Anna Dybwad; Overå, Ragnhild (2018). The Gendering of a Farming System. A study of the relationship between gender and agricultural production in Ghana.. (ekstern lenke)
• Adjei, Moses; Overå, Ragnhild (2017). GOVERNING THE OCEAN SPACE FOR THE COEXISTENCE OF FISHERY AND PETROLEUM INDUSTRY IN GHANA’S WESTERN REGION.. (ekstern lenke)
• Nes, Petter Inge; Overå, Ragnhild (2017). Mobile Phones and Innovations. An Empirical Description of Farmers´ Utilizations of the Mobile Phone in Upper East Region, Ghana.. (ekstern lenke)
• Denchie, Ernestina Ohenewaah; Overå, Ragnhild (2016). LAND GOVERNANCE AND COMPETITION FOR SPACE IN GHANA’S EMERGING OIL CITY, SEKONDI-TAKORADI.. (ekstern lenke)
• Badwi, Rosina; Overå, Ragnhild (2016). INTEGRATION OF GHANAIAN IMMIGRANTS IN BERGEN’S LABOUR MARKET.. (ekstern lenke)
• Dowokpor, Victoria; Overå, Ragnhild (2015). Impacts of the oil and gas industry on the livelihoods of men and women working in the firsheries: A study of Shama, Ghana.. (ekstern lenke)
• Amiteye, Joanna; Overå, Ragnhild (2015). The Proposed Re-development of the Takoradi Market Circle and its likely Implications for Market Traders’ Access to Trading Space.. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild; Reddy, Dashakti (2014). Managing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Liberia: Exploring the syncretisation of Western and traditional approaches.. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild; Kofi Asamoah, Vincent (2014). Ghana’s Emerging Oil and Gas Industry: Livelihood Impacts of the Ghana Gas processing Plant at Atuabo in Western Region, Ghana.. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild; Fagerlid Oduro, Beth Cathrine (2014). Irregular and Incomplete Primary School Attendance in Rural Ghana. A case-study of late enrolment and early drop-out in the Eastern Region.. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild; N. Darko, Akua (2014). Health advocacy and practice: Exploring the influence of social structures in the health related lifestyles of adults in the Asokwa community in Kumasi, Ghana.. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild; Joanna Trier, Nicola (2014). The Role of Norad’s Oil for Development Programme in Environmental Management in Ghana.. (ekstern lenke)
• Ayirewuje, Dickson; Overå, Ragnhild (2013). Housing in the era of black gold: A study of access to housing in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, Ghana. (ekstern lenke)
• Ablo, Austin Dziwornu; Overå, Ragnhild (2012). MANNING THE RIGS: A STUDY OF OFFSHORE EMPLOYMENT IN GHANA’S OIL INDUSTRY. (ekstern lenke)
• Diana, Owusua; Overå, Ragnhild (2012). Gender and Informality in the Construction Industry in Ghana’s Oil City Takoradi. (ekstern lenke)
• Razak, Abu; Overå, Ragnhild (2011). Processes and Effects of Land Sales on Local Livelihoods in Communities located near the Oil Industry in the Western Region of Ghana. (ekstern lenke)
• Zaami, Marama; Overå, Ragnhild (2010). GENDERED STRATEGIES AMONG MIGRANTS FROM NORTHERN GHANA IN ACCRA: A CASE STUDY OF MADINA. (ekstern lenke)
• Lindblom, Henrik Ødegård; Overå, Ragnhild (2010). Tilgang til vann gjennom det uformelle vannforsyningssystemet i Luanda, Angola. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild; Boamah, Festus (2010). Competition between biofuel and food? The case of a jatropha biodiesel project and its effects on food security in the affected communities in Northern Ghana. (ekstern lenke)
• Dylewska, Agnieszka Barbara; Overå, Ragnhild (2009). The Impact of Tourism on Socio-Economic Development in Busua in the Western Region og Ghana. (ekstern lenke)
• Owusu, Patrick Kuranchie; Overå, Ragnhild (2009). RESOURCE MANGAGEMENT IN THE ANLOEWE MIGRANT FISHING COMMUNITY ABAKAM IN THE CENTRAL REGION, GHANA. (ekstern lenke)
• Freduah, George; Overå, Ragnhild (2008). Poverty mitigation and Wealth creation through artisanal fisheries in Dzemeni area at Volta Lake, Ghana. (ekstern lenke)
• Ansah-Koi, Naa Ansaa; Overå, Ragnhild (2008). IBI TSE YIE ( SOME PEOPLE ARE BETTER OFF):RE-DISTRIBUTION MECHANISMS IN THE COASTAL TOWN MOREE, GHANA. (ekstern lenke)
• Brayie Agyemang, Emmanuel; Overå, Ragnhild (2008). MIGRATION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR RURAL LIVELIHOODS: A CASE STUDY OF KWAMANG IN ASHANTI. (ekstern lenke)
• Musoke Semakula, Henry; Overå, Ragnhild (2008). Consequences of the reduction in the water levels of Lake Victoria on poor people’s livelihood in Rwanjaba lakeshore community, Uganda. (ekstern lenke)
• Knatterud Wold, Lisa; Overå, Ragnhild (2007). Gender relations and household livelihood security in Lake Kariba fishing communities, Zambia. (ekstern lenke)
• Dæhlen, Marte; Overå, Ragnhild (2007). Fattige fiskere: Fanget eller frigjort av eget fiskegarn? En studie av fiskeribistand og fattigdomsforebygging i Kasafal -India. (ekstern lenke)

Doktorgradsavhandling

• Cabrera, Astrid Maria; Overå, Ragnhild (2017). Matsikkerhet i Aasiaat, Grønland. En studie av interaksjoner mellom matpreferanser, klimaendringer og globaliseringsprosesser.. (ekstern lenke)
• Ablo, Austin Dziwornu; Overå, Ragnhild (2016). From local content to local participation? Exploring entrepreneurship in Ghana’s oil and gas industry. (ekstern lenke)
• Boamah, Festus; Overå, Ragnhild (2015). Biofuels and land politics:Connecting the disconnects in the debate about livelihood impacts ofjatropha biofuel land deals in Ghana. (ekstern lenke)

Leder

• Benjaminsen, Tor A; Overå, Ragnhild (2011). Introduction to special issue : environmental governance in the South - discourses/science/policies. (ekstern lenke)

Vitenskapelig Kapittel/Artikkel/Konferanseartikkel

• Overå, Ragnhild (2008). Mobile Traders and Mobile Phones in Ghana. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild (2005). When Sisters Become Competitors: Coastal Women's Innovative Utilization of Trawler By-Catch in Ghana. (ekstern lenke)

Rapport

• Overå, Ragnhild (2005). 'Money has no name': unemployment, informalisation and gender in Accra, Ghana. (ekstern lenke)
• Overå, Ragnhild (1995). Interpretation of other life worlds: An essay on the construction of gendered world versions. Paper in scientific theory for the Dr.polit. degree, The Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Bergen. (ekstern lenke)

Se en full oversikt over publikasjoner i Cristin

Gender

Entrepreneurship

Small-scale African fisheries      

Natural resource management                    

Agricultural markets

Informal economies

Main fieldworks: Ghana and Zambia