Prof. Dr. Sabine Tröger
Professor emerita
In retirement from Bonn University since April 2020
August 2024 until July 2026: Visiting Professor at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta/Indonesia – DAAD Herder Professorship
Academic fields
Social Geography, Development Research & Anthropology
My research paradigm, in conjunction with the guiding principles of my lectures and training sessions for educators in didactics and pedagogy, is based on the appeal of ‘putting the human agent first.’ Driven by the humanitarian need for ‘Social Justice’, I listen to the agents, their voices. I am interested in their ideas, wishes, hopes, and concerns, wanting to understand their decisions and agency based on images, their interpretations, and reasoning. I have adopted the participatory principle of ‘handing over the stick’, initially suggested by Robert Chambers.
Focusing on the approach of theory-guided actor-oriented livelihood and vulnerability analyses, I emphasize the need for sustainability in the era of Anthropocene and during times of irreversible Societal Transformation in various cultural contexts, particularly in Southern and East Africa, as well as recently, in Southeast Asia. With this perspective, the need for ‘Transformative Justice’ has taken center stage in my academic and research-oriented concerns.
In disciplinary terms, I follow theories and perspectives in Geographic Development Research, as well as the principles and focal interests in Anthropology, and the respective approaches in ethnographic research.
Prof. Dr. Sabine Tröger
Meckenheimer Allee 166
53115 Bonn
University of Bonn
Department of Geography
Social Geography & Development Geography
Curriculum Vitae
Academic career and experience abroad.
Selected Talks
A list of selected talks.
Selected Publications
A list of selected publications.
PhD Theses
The list of completed PhD supervisions.
Teaching
The variety of undergraduate and graduate courses.
Consultancies
A list of consultant activities.
August 2024 - July 2026
DAAD Herder Professorship, 'Visiting Professor' at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM)
Yogyakarta / Indonesia
March 2002 – March 2020
Professor of Social Geography / Geographic Development Researchat the Institute for Geography, University of Bonn
Winter Term 2001/02
Acting Professor in Didactics of Geography at the Institute for Geography, University of Bayreuth
1991-1999
University Assistant (C1) at the Institute for Geography, University of Bayreuth, Department: Didactics of Geography (09/1996 – 08/1998 on parental leave)
Summer Term 1991
University teaching position (‘Lehraufträge’) at the Institute for Geography, Technical University Berlin (Preparation for Practical Training, Coaching in Schools)
1986 – 1991
Lecturer at the Institute for Geography, Technical University of Berlin, Department: Didactics of Geography
- DHV- Seminar: Digitalisierung der Lehre (Sept. 11, 2024)
- Certificate in ‘Practicing Environmental Peacebuilding – A systemic environmental approach for peace and conflict work’. Training: forum ZFD (Nov. 20-30, 2023)
- Research evaluation: since Oct. 2019 until 2021 - central member of the evaluation team in DAAD funding program: Climate Research Alumni and PostDocs in Africa / project evaluation at OeAD, Department for International Cooperation in Higher Education (Vienna, Austria) March/April 2021.
- Actor oriented analysis of processes of Societal Transformation and crises in Africa: emphasis on climate change and adaptation, food insecurity and food crisis, HIV-AIDS.
- Conflict analysis and mediation: resource conflicts/conflicts in contested arenas (forced evictions, re-allocation of land, privatization and resettlement, environmental threats/risks).
- Livelihood and vulnerability analyses: explicit emphasis on climate change adaptation and sustainability perspectives, environmental and social justice.
- Approaches in Transformative Research (PRA, PAR, inquiry as performance: video work); moderation techniques.
- Didactics: teaching & training concepts and their practical application (including design of didactical material and media development); curriculum & module development in fields of social sciences.
- Special emphasis on and experience in methodology training in qualitative empirical research.
- Experience in the field of GTZ/GIZ and BMZ (Ministry of Development and Cooperation): consultancy contracts in various regional - Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Ecuador - contexts and thematic foci.
- Special emphasis on a GTZ/GIZ-Cim (Center for International Migration) engagement in Ethiopia as advisor and department head ‘Climate Change Adaptation’ at HoAREC (Horn of Africa Regional Environment Center - University of Addis Ababa).
- Establishment of the named department at HoAREC. In this context: Initiator and head of the Climate Change Adaptation project funded by the German Embassy in pastoralists environment in the Lower Omo Valley/Ethiopia).
- Initiator and head of university cooperation initiatives with Arba Minch University (DAAD Advisory Contract: 2016-2018) and Jinka University (DAAD Fact Finding Mission: July - December 2018) Ethiopia.
Africa: Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia
Latin America: Ecuador
Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia
Languages:
English (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency), Spanish (confident in reading and understanding, limited conversation - B1),
French (B2), and Kiswahili (A2)
Pastoralist Societies in Lower Omo – Dynamics in Societal Transformation
Date: July 28, 2019
Conference: Oromo Studies Association (OSA) Conference, Addis Ababa
Lands of the Future: Governance – A Pastoralist Interpretation from the Lower Omo, Mekelle/Ethiopia
Date: Oct. 3, 2018
Conference: 20th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (ICES20) (Congress Journey funded by DAAD)
Adapting Livestock Systems to Climate Change – Examples from Ethiopia & Panelist
Date: Feb. 1, 2011
Conference: Delhi Sustainable Development Summit: Tapping Local Initiatives and Tracking Global Inertia, New Delhi, IPCC 2014 - Lead Authors Meeting on Regional Examples
‘Everything that is happening now is beyond our capacity! – Nyangatom Livelihoods under Threat’
Date: July 20, 2011
Conference: Workshop on Indigenous Peoples, Marginal Populations and Climate Change: Vulnerability, Adaptation and Traditional Knowledge, New Mexico, IPCC 2014 - Lead Authors Meeting on Regional Examples
‘Committees’, a Promising Institution in Climate Change Communication and Adaptation?
Tröger, S. (2018)
In: W. Leal et al. (eds): Handbook of Climate Change Communication: Vol. 2, Chapt. 22, pp 341-355. Springer, Climate Change Management
Failing Seasons, Ailing Societies – Climate Change and Adaptation in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa (study with 8 German students & 18 Woreda (district) DAs)
Tröger, S. (2012)
Handeln zur Ernährungssicherheit im Zeichen gesellschaftlichen Umbruchs – Untersuchungen auf dem Ufipa-Plateau im Südwesten Tansanias
Tröger, S. (2004)
Saarbrücken, Breitenbach Verlag (= Geographische Entwicklungsforschung 27) – Habilitation Thesis.
In total there are around 85 publications from Prof. Tröger published. More details can be found in her CV.
Daniel Simon (Germany) (2024): Societal Transformation – Interlinkages between digital innovation and globalized dynamics in the shadow of changing fields of power – spatialized case studies from Zambia
Edna Agyepong (Ghana) (2022): Displacement, land scarcity, and processes of societal transformation. Social constructions and dynamics in the meaning of ‘land’ around Ghana’s Bui Dam.
Aymar Godfried Koukoubou (Benin) (2021): Handeln in riskanten Umwelten – Überlebenssicherung um welchen Preis? Das Beispiel der Region Atakora in Nord Benin.
Darius Tounianuo Mwingyine (Ghana) (2019): Emergent Land Commodification and Intergenerational Land Relations in Peri-Urban Nortwestern Ghana.
Felix Guntermann (Germany) (2019): Addis Abeba Airport zwischen Globalisierung und Fragmentierung – Ein Hub in Raum und Zeit.
Steven Ataamvari Adaawen (Ghana) (2015): Narratives of Migration – Complex Answers of a Society in Transformation, Ghana.
Till Winkelmann (Germany) (2013): Risikowahrnehmung, - interpretation und -handeln im Kontext von HIV/AIDS und gesellschaftlicher Transformation. Untersuchungen im urbanen Raum von Addis Abeba/Äthiopien.
Sewmehon Demissi Tegegne (Ethiopia) (2012): Livestock Water Productivity (LWP) improvement in the mixed crop-livestock system of Ethiopian Highlands, Amhara Region: a gendered sustainable livelihood approach to target LWP interventions for rural poverty reduction.
Teaching
Selected courses (seminars and lectures, in English)
Seminars
- The ‚good tourist’ – images and interpretations on the side of the ‘visited agents’, communities, and individuals in Jogja Environments – Spring 2025
- ‘Healthy Environments in the Era of Anthropocene: Human-nature relations, when humans have become the dominant force shaping Earth’s Bio-Physical composition and processes – Spring 2025
- Globalization, Fragmentation and Transformation: Benchmarks in Geography Discourses – Master Course: Winter Term 2019/2020 (4 hours/week)
- Inequality and Development in the Age of Globalization – Dialogues between Science and Practice – Master Course: Winter Term 2014/2015
Methodology Training
- Philosophies and approaches in reflexive research in geography – Master Course: Winter Term 2019/2020
- ‘Participation’ – Methodological approaches and instruments in critical-emancipatory perspective – Master Course: Winter Term 2018/2019
- Introduction to Visual Methodologies – Master Course: Summer Term 2017
- Participation in socio-political terms and methodological operationalization perspectives: research and practice – Master Course: Winter Term 2014/2015
Field Trip
- Ethiopia (17 days) – Master Course: Summer Term 2017
Project Seminar
- Refugees facing the challenge of securing their livelihoods in Bonn: A differentiated actor analysis – Master Course: Summer Term 2019 (6 hours/week)
Consultant Activities
June 23-26, 2025
Training in Didactics combined with elements of the Participatory Approach aiming at ‘Empowerment’
Training for lecturers of: Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Diponegoro, UIN Abdurrahman, Universitas Udayana, Universitas Negeri, Universitas Brawijana, Politeknik ATK
February - June 2024
GIZ – FABRIC Consultancy
PRA capacity & Organizational Development - Training of support agents (retired Garment Workers) for active Garment Workers (90% women in highly vulnerable livelihood constellations)
September - December 2023
GIZ – FABRIC Consultancy
Introduction of and training on the PRA participatory approach – training of garment workers of the Textile Industry Cambodia – as service delivery at the WE House (Women Empowerment) via organizational and capacity development.
July 2022
DAAD cooperation: member of the evaluating team in DAAD funding programs ClimapAfrica & Leadership program
2019 - 2021
member of evaluating team in DAAD funding program: Climate Research Alumni and PostDocs in Africa - climapAfrica (esp. WASCAL & SASSCAL)
July - Dec 2018
DAAD University Cooperation, here: Fact Finding Mission; Project Head, Cooperation with Jinka University / Ethiopia, Regional focus: Lower Omo Valley, Project Partners: Prof. Dr. Gebre Yntiso (President), Dr. Dikaso Gojamme (Vice President)
July 2016 - June 2018
DAAD ‘Hochschulberatervertrag’ (University Advisor Contract) – Arba Minch University (coop. project on Curriculum Development & Coaching in the field of social sciences with Arba Minch University / Ethiopia)
December 2007 - November 2008
GTZ/APE (African Parks Ethiopia) consultancy on: Backstopping of communication and mediation process and training of field staff (moderators, facilitators from ethnic communities);
May - October 2007
GTZ/APF (African Parks Ethiopia) consultancy: “Development of a concept for conflict mediation and participatory planning, communication and coordination” in the context of the land right conflict Omo-National-Park/ south Ethiopia.
Since 2007
Consultant for DFG (German Research Foundation): evaluation of research applications
March 2006
Consultant for the allocation of studentships for the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
November 2004
Consultant for the allocation of studentships for the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
April - May 2004
Overview on the socio-cultural Dimension of the concept of ‘Sustainability’ according to Rio 1992 (consultancy by ‘Staatsinstitut für Schulqualität und Bildungsforschung (ISB) – together with Prof. Dr. Theo Rauch / FU Berlin
1998
Consultant for the GTZ-project „Sociopolitical Counseling in Malawi” - 4th until 15th of May 1998: Training and instructions for 18 students of sociology from the Netherlands and Malawi for their field work with participatory research methodology (esp.PRA).
1993 - 1994
Consultant / Trainer for the GTZ-IFSP (Integrated Food Security Program) in Sumbawanga/ Tanzania. Terms: Conception and evaluation of Target-Group PRA-Approach, training and coaching of field staff, revision and adaptation of conceptual approach
1992 - 1997
Research fellow of the project „Identity in Africa“ sponsored by the German Research Foundation (DFG) in Bayreuth. Fieldwork: 3 years all together. The research-data was analyzed in the context of the Habilitation-Thesis.
1989
2 months fieldwork within the context of the GTZ-Project for “Bilingual Teaching at Primary Schools” in the Paramo (highland) of Ecuador (EBI), Consultancy of the Ministry for Development Cooperation (BMZ) of the German Government. Terms: Development and design of teaching material on development cooperation to be used in German schools.
1988
3,5 months fieldwork in 2 GTZ-Projects in Zimbabwe (CARD) and Zambia (IRDP). Consultancy for GTZ. Terms: Development and design of teaching material on development cooperation to be used in German schools.
Short Curricumlum Vitae of Prof. Sabine Tröger
If you need more information on the academic career, research and publications of Prof. Dr. Tröger, you can download her CV here.
Links
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sabine-Troeger-2
- https://www.geographie.uni-bonn.de/de/forschung/arbeitsgruppen/prof-dr-sabine-troeger#CuVi
- https://www.geographie.uni-bonn.de/de/forschung/arbeitsgruppen/prof-dr-sabine-troeger#SeTa
- https://www.geographie.uni-bonn.de/de/forschung/arbeitsgruppen/prof-dr-sabine-troeger#SePu
- https://www.geographie.uni-bonn.de/de/forschung/arbeitsgruppen/prof-dr-sabine-troeger#PhD
- https://www.geographie.uni-bonn.de/de/forschung/arbeitsgruppen/prof-dr-sabine-troeger#Te
- https://www.geographie.uni-bonn.de/de/forschung/arbeitsgruppen/prof-dr-sabine-troeger#CoAc
- https://www.geographie.uni-bonn.de/de/forschung/medien_forschung/troeger/cv-sabine-troeger-28-07-2025.pdf