Episode 32: How to Build a Better Innovation Ecosystem: Lessons from Botswana | Dr. Pierce Otlhogile-Gordon

March 03, 2026

Innovation is often framed as technology, startups, and global competition. But what happens when we look at innovation through the lens of place?

Drawing from Botswana’s efforts to move beyond diamonds, Dr. Pierce Otlhogile-Gordon shares how land, policy, history, and local Indigenous knowledge shape what innovation can — and can’t — achieve. Together, we explore how national ambition meets lived reality — and what other countries, regions, and cities can learn from Botswana’s approach.

Together, we explore:

How innovation is shaped by policy, history, and place
The opportunities and constraints facing emerging entrepreneurs
The tension between big development goals and everyday realities

Guest

Dr. Pierce Edward Cornelius Otlhogile-Gordon

Across discipline, industry, and geographical borders, he's guided changemakers and changemaker communities reach professional and personal goals of system change.

Each resource he's helped to build has synthesized and activated the creative impulse to build a more just, resilient, and communal global community.

He deftly navigates the disciplines of innovation practice, evaluation capacity building, systems thinking, international development, speculative futures, and more. He's guided changemakers at community and national scopes across multiple continents, in the for-profit, academic, philanthropic, and non-profit sectors. Across his vast and eclectic professional journey, his work shares one principle: to orchestrate the spread of agency and creativity across the world.

He holds a M.S. and Ph.D. from the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley, and summa cum laude B.S. degrees from the University of Michigan and Morehouse College.

Learn more: piercegordon.me/

Acknowledgements

Sponsorships

This episode is supported by the Nurubian, the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.

Support

Music Producer: Imany Lambropoulos
Podcast Host and Graphic Designer: Alexandra Lambropoulos

Stay in the loop!

If you would like to be interviewed, have an interesting idea to share for an episode, or have any feedback on the podcast, please email at hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com or DM on social media!

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Episodes 29-31: How the Trans Africa Pipeline (TAP) Can Solve the Sahel Region’s Water Crisis | Dr. Rod Tennyson & Dr. Romila Verma

August 31, 2025

What if water infrastructure could do more than deliver clean drinking water — what if it could transform economies, support food security, reduce climate migration, and unite communities across borders?

In this 3-part series, Urban Limitrophe explores the story of the TransAfrica Pipeline (TAP) — a visionary project to bring clean, desalinated water across the Sahel through a 7,000-kilometre pipeline powered by renewable energy. Through conversations with co-founders Dr. Romila Verma and Dr. Rod Tennyson, we unpack how water connects to everything: agriculture, innovation, migration, environmental justice, and community resilience.

TAP is more than a pipeline — it’s a call to imagine water systems built with care, creativity, and the future in mind.

Episode 1: How to Build a Continent-Sized Water System

How do you build a continent-sized water system?

In this episode, we explore what it takes to design a 7,000-kilometre pipeline to bring clean water across one of the driest regions in the world. Co-founders Dr. Rod Tennyson and Dr. Romila Verma share the origin story of the TransAfrica Pipeline (TAP) — a visionary infrastructure project that combines solar-powered desalination, salt recovery, and lightweight materials to deliver sustainable water access across the Sahel. From technical design to big-picture ambition, we dive into how TAP was engineered — and how it could change lives on a continental scale.

Episode 2: How Cities Can Rethink Water — With People, Planning, and Purpose

Why do some water systems work— and others fail?

Successful water infrastructure isn’t just about engineering. There’s a hidden social side — shaped by governance, culture, and power — that often determines whether systems actually work, or get built at all.

In this second episode, beyond the technical side of infrastructure to explore the social, ethical, and ecological dimensions of water access. Dr. Verma introduces her Four Pillars of Water Sustainability — science, governance, economics, and cultural connection — and we explore how these ideas can reshape how cities, towns, and regions manage water today. From sponge cities to sacred rivers, we discuss why collaboration and care are at the heart of any truly sustainable water system.

Episode 3: Why Solving Africa’s Water Crisis Matters Everywhere — and What We Can Do About It

How will water scarcity shape the future of cities, migration, and global stability?

From climate change to migration, the African water crisis is deeply connected to global challenges — and global solutions.

In the final episode of this series, we explore why water scarcity is not just a regional issue, but a global one. We unpack the legacy of extractive systems, the role of youth and local leadership, and the urgency of declaring not just a climate emergency, but a water emergency.

Through the lens of the TransAfrica Pipeline, we ask: what does global responsibility look like in a time of water crisis — and what can we do to build a more secure, just, and caring future?

Guests

Dr. Rod Tennyson

Co-founder and Chair of the Board of Directors of TAP, Dr. Tennyson received his Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Toronto. He was Professor and Director of the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, with research experience in advanced materials and aerospace structures, fiber optic sensor systems and pipeline integrity. He has published 215 papers in these fields, holds six patents on sensing systems and has received many awards for his pioneering work. Dr. Tennyson directs all research and engineering aspects of the TAP project and leads negotiations with funding resources, governments and NGOs.

Learn more: Trans Africa Pipeline

Dr. Romila Verma

A founding Director of TAP, Dr. Verma is an Instructor at the School of the Environment and Department of Geography at the University of Toronto. Her teaching and research interests are in the field of global water management, environmental science and climate change impacts. She is also the founder of Water Speaks, an organization committed to advancing and translating the voice of water through research, education and action.

Learn more: Trans Africa Pipeline and Water Speaks

Shownotes

Trans Africa Pipeline
Water Speaks
Water Be Dammed
Story to Tell: Ground Zero For Anthropocene
University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies
The Green Revolution
Sponge Cities

Acknowledgements

Sponsorships

This episode is supported by the Nurubian, the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.

Support

Music Producer: Imany Lambropoulos
Podcast Host and Graphic Designer: Alexandra Lambropoulos

Stay in the loop!

If you would like to be interviewed, have an interesting idea to share for an episode, or have any feedback on the podcast, please email at hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com or DM on social media!

If you enjoy the show, please share it with your family, friends, best friend, babysitter, barber ... leave a review, or you can buy me a coffee here!

Make sure to subscribe to the newsletter and follow the podcast on Instagram to stay in the loop for upcoming episodes and opportunities to engage with guests and the show.

Episode 28: How DO Architecture Co-Designs for Dignity After Disaster | Omar Degan

July 11, 2025

What does it mean to rebuild with dignity after disaster strikes?

In this episode of Urban Limitrophe, we speak with architect Omar Degan, founder of DO Architecture and the Fragility Lab. Together, they explore how architecture can be a tool for healing, not just shelter — and how co-designing with communities leads to more just, resilient spaces in the aftermath of crisis.

Omar shares his journey designing in fragile contexts — from post-conflict housing in Somalia to consulting for the UN — and how his work challenges traditional top-down models of humanitarian aid. Instead of quick fixes, his approach centers culture, collaboration, and care.

You’ll learn how DO Architecture uses emergency design to center communities in fragile contexts, and why beauty, dignity, and belonging should never be seen as luxuries — even in disaster recovery.

Whether you're a planner, designer, changemaker, or curious listener, this conversation invites you to rethink how we rebuild, who we build for, and what’s possible when communities lead the way.

Guest: Omar Degan

Omar Degan is a professor of architecture and the Principal of Do Architecture Group, an architecture firm based between Somalia, Italy and the USA specialising in emergency architecture, post-conflict reconstruction and fragile contexts.

His firm's principle lies in designing culturally, historically and climatically relevant solutions to social problems worldwide, with a particular focus on the most fragile contexts and communities.

Omar obtained his Master in Architecture for Sustainability and Built Environment from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Polytechnic University of Turin ( Italy) where he also earned his Post-graduate degree in Emergency contexts and developing countries.

In 2022 he become an Obama Leader and in 2023 co-founded the FragilityLab, a research and non-profit organization that aims to support the process of peace and development through architecture in the most distressed areas of the world.

With a global portfolio spanning Asia, South America, and Africa, he has contributed his expertise to numerous projects worldwide. His extensive experience in the field of architecture has been instrumental in establishing an inclusive and professional architecture office.

Learn more: DO Architecture and FragilityLab

Timestamps

Forthcoming

Acknowledgements

Sponsorships

This episode is supported by the Nurubian, the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.

Support

Music Producer: Imany Lambropoulos
Podcast Host and Graphic Designer: Alexandra Lambropoulos

Stay in the loop!

If you would like to be interviewed, have an interesting idea to share for an episode, or have any feedback on the podcast, please email at hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com or DM on social media!

If you enjoy the show, please share it with your family, friends, best friend, babysitter, barber ... leave a review, or you can buy me a coffee here!

Make sure to subscribe to the newsletter and follow the podcast on Instagram to stay in the loop for upcoming episodes and opportunities to engage with guests and the show.

What's New in Season 2 of Urban Limitrophe?

July 09, 2025

Bold ideas. Real places. Powerful stories.

What do you build when the systems around you fall short?

That’s the question guiding Season 2 of Urban Limitrophe — a podcast about the people and places reshaping how we live together. This season, we journey across continents, through cities, and into communities — from Botswana to Nova Scotia, Tunisia to Togo, Greece to Côte d’Ivoire — to explore how everyday people are building more just, creative, and caring urban futures.

From continental water pipelines to post-conflict recovery, from food justice to Community Land Trusts (CLTs), Season 2 dives into the ideas and actions transforming cities across Africa and the diaspora.

We speak with architects, artists, activists, and changemakers — people who are not just imagining what could be, but building it with what they have. They’re growing food in crowded cities. Reclaiming land stolen from Black communities. Designing places of healing after crisis. And reminding us that innovation doesn’t always come in the form of shiny new tech — sometimes, it looks like trust, tradition, or a new way of gathering.

Why a New Season?

Season 2 marks a new chapter for Urban Limitrophe. It’s still rooted in thoughtful storytelling and grounded research — but it’s reaching wider, listening deeper, and connecting across borders more intentionally.

This season was made possible thanks to the support of The Nurubian and the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto — and the incredible voices who joined us along the way.

What to Expect

Stories from cities and communities across Africa and the diaspora
Conversations on innovation, land, housing, heritage, climate, cycling, and more
Thoughtful interviews with planners, scholars, creatives, and community leaders
Audio episodes available on all major platforms — and on the airwaves via MET Radio 1280AM in Toronto as part of our new segment, the Urbanist Radio Hour.
Two new episodes in French!

Listen to the Season 2 Trailer

Ready for a preview of what’s ahead?

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Here’s to bold ideas, real places, and powerful stories — now and always.

And don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss an episode.

Episode 27: How Civic Action Shapes Cities and What to Avoid When Building Megacities From Scratch | Dafe Oputu

November 30, 2024

The built environment is a reflection of political decisions. The officials you elect shape the environment around you. So, what happens if people don’t participate in the voting process?

In this episode, we delve into the critical intersection of civic action and urban development with our insightful guest, Dafe Oputu. We’ll explore the urban landscapes of Accra, Ghana; Cotonou, Benin; and Lagos, Nigeria, examining how trust and accountability in municipal governance shape these cities. We’ll discuss different cities' strategies to encourage public participation and civic action, and why voting is crucial for building better cities. Together we also unpack Africa's obsession with megacities, like Akon City and Eko Atlantic (and how to avoid creating ghost cities).

Key insights from the episode include:

The importance of public participation and voting in shaping urban environments
How colonial legacies continue to influence municipal governance structures today, presenting both opportunities and challenges.
The strategies different cities are using to encourage public participation and civic action
The implications of governance and public participation when attempting to build cities from scratch
The concept of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and their impact within the African context

Guest: Dafe Oputu

Dafe Oputu is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto's Department of Political Science, specialising in democratisation and urban politics in West Africa. He is also the digital media coordinator for the Elite Africa Project, a research project highlighting African agency and leadership.

Learn more: Twitter and LinkedIn

Timestamps

Forthcoming

Show Notes

Akon City
Diamniado City
Eko Atlantic
Elite Africa Project
Episode 21: How the Charter Cities Institute Promotes Inclusive and Adaptable Planning for Sustainable New Cities
New Cairo
The Blank Slate Fantasy: The Promise and Pitfalls of International Charter Cities
Zombiescapes Africa's Megacity Addiction

Acknowledgements

Sponsorships

This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning.

Support

Music Producer: Imany Lambropoulos
Podcast Host and Graphic Designer: Alexandra Lambropoulos

Stay in the loop!

If you would like to be interviewed, have an interesting idea to share for an episode, or have any feedback on the podcast, please email at hello[at]urbanlimitrophe.com or DM on social media!

If you enjoy the show, please share it with your family, friends, Architect, Athropologist, Acrobat ... leave a review, or you can buy me a coffee here!

Make sure to subscribe to the newsletter and follow the podcast on Instagram to stay in the loop for upcoming episodes and opportunities to engage with guests and the show.