Joseph Mohammed Soale from Damongo in northern Ghana combines ecological sustainability with social justice in his scientific and practical workHaving grown up in a region where property determines educational opportunities and social participation, he realized early on how closely the future and access to resources are linked - an experience that still shapes his research and commitment today.

After completing a KAAD-funded Master's degree in Environmental Governance at the University of Freiburg, Joseph Soale returned to Ghana and worked for several years in the field of land management and climate change adaptation, including for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and other organizations. From his work in agricultural development, he founded the company "Potter's Farms and Consult", which promotes organic farming methods and supports local producers in sustainable value creation. In addition, he initiated the "Global Sustainability Lab", a network that brings together experts from various disciplines to develop innovative responses to the challenges of climate change in West Africa.

The practical experience gained during these years led him back to academia: in 2020, he took up a teaching position at the University for Development Studies in Tamale and decided to pursue his questions about justice, resource distribution and urban development in a doctorate. With the help of a KAAD scholarship at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, he is investigating how the digitalization of land ownership and management is changing social dynamics in African cities - especially with regard to gentrification and displacement.

His scientific path stands for an attitude that understands sustainable development as a responsibility towards people and the environment. For this combination of academic excellence and social responsibility, he was awarded the KAAD Hermann Weber Scholarship in 2025.