Dr Thato Setambule is a Social Scientist. She has a PhD in Sociology from the University of Pretoria, South Africa where she was a recipient of the Andrew E. Mellon Foundation Scholarship. Dr Setambule also holds a Master of Arts in Development Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Environmental Science. Moreover, she has more than a decade of professional work experience, including over seven years of experience specific to research work in various fields. She has also worked as a Student Assistant in the Department of Marketing for the Faculty of Humanities, a Health Promotion Assistant (Health and Wellness Centre), a Peer Counsellor (Careers and Counselling Unit), a Peer Orientator (Student Welfare Department), and a Teaching Assistant/Tutor for both undergraduates and Honours students. Her research interests span the interconnected areas of but are not limited to youth development and empowerment, livelihoods, food security, unemployment, employment, climate change and variability, potable water scarcity, social protection, social inequality, sustainable development policies, literacy development, HIV and AIDS, and migration. Below is a list of her publications in the areas of youth, social protection, and water scarcity. She is also busy with upcoming publications.

• Baduza, S., Howson, K., Setambule, T., & Khumalo, T. (2025). The Pitfalls of poverty targeting: Systemic exclusion from a South African social assistance transfer (Blog). https://iej.org.za/the-pitfalls-of-poverty-targeting-systemic-exclusion-from-a-south-african-social-assistance-transfer/
• Howson, K., Baduza, S., Setambule, T., & Khumalo, T. (2025). Systemic exclusion from a South African social assistance transfer: Drivers, impacts and who is most at risk. Paris: Agence française de développement.
• Setambule, T. (2022). “Lived Experiences of Unemployed Graduate Youth in Botswana”. Commonwealth Youth and Development, 20(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-6549/10736.
• Mokomane, Z., Enworo, O. C., & Setambule, T. (2021). The Role of Indigenous Social Protection Systems in the Sustainable Development of Contemporary African Communities. In W. Leal Filho, R. Pretorius, & L. O. de Sousa (Eds.), Sustainable Development in Africa (pp. 75-89). Switzerland: Springer.
• Diraditsile, K., Maphula, P. & Setambule, T. (2019). The terrain and prospects for involving youth in African social policy decision-making: Botswana’s experience. Journal of Social Development in Africa, 34(1), 7-24.
• Mmopelwa, G., Towongo, M. F., Setambule, T., & Mashabila, F. (2018). Water Scarcity and Household Coping Strategies in Maun, Botswana. In J. G. Maphanyane, R. B. M. Mapeo, & M. O. Akinola (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Geospatial Science and Technologies (pp. 128-137). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

Mmopelwa, G., Towongo, M. F., Setambule, T., & Mashabila, F. (2018). Water Scarcity and Household Coping Strategies in Maun, Botswana. In J. G. Maphanyane, R. B. M. Mapeo, & M. O. Akinola (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Geospatial Science and Technologies (pp. 128-137). Hershey PA: IGI Global.