OSSREA's collaboration with institutions that are working to promote research and training in the social sciences in the region is on good track. The collaborating institutions are CDS (Bergen), CMI (Bergen), EPOS (Sweden), IDRC, ISS (The Netherlands), Ford Foundation and College of Social Sciences (Addis Ababa University). The area of collaboration includes the following.
5.1 Cross-Border Trade and Food Security in the Horn of Africa
During the year 2000, activities undertaken by the Cross-Border Trade and Food Security Project include the following.
· Publication of the OSSREA Development Research Report Series, no.1: The series comprised the final report of the study on "Cross-Border Livestock Trade and Food Security in Eastern and Southeastern Ethiopia Borderlands" by Tegegne Teka, Alemayehu Azeze and Ayele Gebremariam.
· Surveys in Eastern Ethiopia: Surveys were carried out to collect data for the study of Eastern Ethiopia under the Cross-Border Trade and Food Security Project. Survey areas covered borderlands of Afar and Somali Regions as well as adjacent market centers in Hararghe, Wollo and Tigray.
· Preparation of the draft research report on Cross-Border Trade and Food Security in Eastern Ethiopia
· Presentation of Research Results: The results of the Cross-Border Trade and Food Security study were presented at national and international meetings. A paper on "Market Access and Food Security in the Pastoral Areas of Ethiopia" was presented by Alemayehu Azeze at the 10th Annual Conference on the Ethiopian Economy in Nazareth, Ethiopia. Another paper on "Ethiopia's Cross-Border Trade with Kenya, Somalia and Djibouti" was presented by Tegegne Teka and Alemayehu Azeze at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the African Studies Association in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
5.2 Regional Workshop on Land Tenure Networking in Sub-Saharan Africa
A regional workshop on Land Tenure Networking in Sub-Saharan Africa was organized and hosted by OSSREA in Addis Ababa from 24-26 January 2000. It was attended by participants from eighteen African countries, namely, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Participants from donor and international support organizations included DFID, GTZ, French Cooperation, SIDA, UN-FAO, IUCN, World Bank, the IFAD Popular Coalition to Eradicate Hunger and Poverty, NRI, OXFAM, UN-ECA, CILSS and IIED. The workshop was sponsored by DFID.
The workshop assessed the networking needs; identified its mission and objectives; pointed out the necessary thematic approach and activities; and identified the structure, membership and management of the network; and suggested the immediate next steps. The corporate name LANDNET AFRICA was also adopted by this workshop. It was suggested to refer to each sub-regional component by its geographic position such as LANDNET AFRICA-East (or Southern, North, West, Horn, etc.). OSSREA was selected as an interim facilitator of the network at the regional level.
5.3 LANDNET East Africa Planning Workshop
The workshop was organized by the Resources Conflict Institute (RECONCILE) based in Nakuru, Kenya. It was held at the Kenya College of Communications Technology, Nairobi, from 15-18 August 2000.
The workshop was officially opened by Prof. Shem Migot Adholla, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Kenya. Prof. H. W. O. Okoth-Ogendo, Prof. of Public Law, University of Nairobi, made the keynote address, which focused on Networking on Land Policy Development.
The following thematic papers were presented and discussed at the workshop.
· Ms. Elizabeth Akinyi-Nzioki. Networking on Women's Land Rights in Eastern Africa
· Dr. Patricia Kameri-Mbote. Common Property Networking at the Global Level: International Association for the Study of Common Property (IASCP)
· Mr. James Kimonyo. Issues for Land Tenure Networking in Rwanda.
The workshop participants were also presented with the following progress reports.
· Secretariat of LANDNET Africa and the Horn of Africa Sub-Region, by Mr. Alemayehu Azeze
· West Africa, by Prof. Kasim Kassanga
· Southern Africa, by Mrs. Sue Mbaya
· East Africa, by Mr. Michel Ochieng Odhiambo.
H. E. Paul Harvey, Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya, officially closed the workshop. Representatives of DFID, OSSREA, KENYA, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda also made closing remarks.
5.4 Good Governance and Wider Civil Society Participation in Eastern and Southern Africa
OSSREA organised a regional conference on "Promoting good governance and wider civil society participation in Eastern and Southern Africa". It was held from 6-8 November 2000 in Addis Ababa. The conference was preceded by national workshops held in the six case study countries, namely, Botswana, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Sudan, Uganda and Zimbabwe. OSSREA sponsored four papers in each of the six countries. The papers examined the role of academia, civil service, civil society, culture, economic management, gender, institutions and media in promoting good governance and civil society participation. Financial support was obtained from the Ford Foundation.
The 24 papers presented at the regional conference are the following.
Botswana
Francis. B. Nyamnjoh. Media and Good Governance in Botswana.
Gervase S. Maipose. Democratic Governance and Economic Management in Botswana.
Apollo.T. Rwomire. Good Governance and Social Welfare in Botswana.
Onalenna D. Selolwane. The Challenges of Consolidating Good Governance and Plural Politics.
Ethiopia
Kassahun Berhanu. Decentralization and Good Governance: The Ethiopian Experience.
Mehert Ayenew and Paulos Chanie. The Contribution of the Civil Service to Good Governance in Ethiopia: Challenges and Prospects.
Asnake Kefale and Dejene Aredo. Civil Society and Good Governance in Ethiopia.
Dejene Aredo and Yigremew Adal. Indigenous Institutions and Good Governance in Ethiopia.
Lesotho
Gwendoline M. Malahleh. State of the Art in Social Science at National University of Lesotho in Promoting Good Governance and Wider Civil Society Participation.
Matora Ntimo-Makara. The National University of Lesotho Staff Contribution to the Promotion of Good Governance and Civil Society through Community Service.
Itumeleng Kimane. Conceptualisation and Perceptions of the Teaching and Research Staff at the National University of Lesotho about Their Role in Promoting Good Governance and Wider Civil Society Participation.
T_oeu Petlane. Academia and the Promotion of Good Governance in Lesotho: The Role of Research at the National University of Lesotho, 1999-2000.
Sudan
Atta El Battahni. Crisis, Politics and Governance in the Sudan.
Ahmed M. Malik Abusin. Governance and Development in the Sudan; Reality and Prospects.
Mustafa Babiker. Governance and Rural Development in the Sudan.
Samia El Nagar. Governance and Civil Society: A Gender Perspective.
Uganda
Kulumba Mohammed. Interest Groups in the Democratization Process of Uganda: The Challenges of Religious Organizations 1962-2000.
Geoffrey B. Tukahebwa. Governance and the Democratization Process in Uganda under National Resistance Movement ( NRM) 1986-2000.
Aaron K. Mukwaya. Movementocracy Experiment with Special Reference to the Great Lakes Region, 1986-2000.
Emansuseto F. Byarugaba. Civil Culture and Transition to Democracy in Uganda.
Zimbabwe
Donald P. Chimanikire. State-Civil Relations and Economic Management: The Contribution of the Institute of Development Studies, University of Zimbabwe.
Eldred V. Masunungure. Political Science and Policy Studies and Their Civic Responsibilities with Special Reference to Zimbabwe and Southern Africa.
Bertha N. Chiroro. The Role of the Department of Economics and Sociology in Promoting Democratic Governance and Civil Society in Zimbabwe.
Amy S. Tsanga. A Critical Analysis of the Role of Impact of the Legal Discipline in Promoting Civil Society Participation in Governance in Zimbabwe.
5.5 African Conflicts: Their Management, Resolution and Post-Conflict Reconstruction
An international conference on "African Conflicts: Their Management, Resolution and Post-Conflict Reconstruction" was organized by OSSREA and Development Policy Management Forum (DPMF). It was held from 13th to 15th December 2000 in Addis Ababa at the United Nations Conference Center. About 90 participants attended the conference. Participants came from government agencies, diplomatic missions based in Addis Ababa, international and regional organizations, universities, and civil society organizations based in Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and USA.
The conference was financially supported by Ford Foundation, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), the Norwegian Agency for Development and Cooperation (NORAD), and the Rockefeller Foundation.
The conference was opened by H. E. Dr. Petros Olango, Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples' Representatives of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The Hon. Peter Anyang'Nyongo, Member of Parliament, Kenya, delivered the keynote address. The topic of his address was "Essential Building Blocks for Consolidating Peace and Development in Post-Conflict Countries".
The plenary session of the conference discussed the following three presentations:
· African Conflicts: Their Management, Resolution and Post-Conflict Reconstruction, by Prof. Severine Rugumamu, OAU.
· The Role of the African Military in Peace-Keeping in African Conflicts, by Dr. Adeolu Akande, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
· The Role of Civil Society in Conflict Management and Peace-Building in Africa, by Dr. Said Adejumobi, Lagos State University, Nigeria,
In addition to the above presentations, the following research reports were also distributed to the participants:
· Managing and Resolving African Conflicts: A Critical Review, by Vasu Gouden.
· Women, Governance and Conflicts in Africa, by Maria Nzomo.
· Les jeunes, ces prisonniers du jeu politique à somme nulle: De la guerre à la reconstruction nationale en Afrique, by T. K. Biyaya.
· Resolution of the Somali Conflict: "Top-Down" National Reconciliation Versus Local Level Resolution Process, by Ahmed Yusuf Farah.
· Critical Comparative Analysis of the Process of Resolving the Conflict in the Sudan, by Akolda M. Tier.
· Politicized Ethnic Conflict in Kenya: A Periodic Phenomenon, by Walter O. Oyugi.
· Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution in Burundi, by Joseph Gahama.
· A Critical Analysis of Demobilization Program in Uganda, by Nathan M. Byamukama.
Three group discussion sessions were held on the following themes.
· Theme 1: Preventing and Managing Internal Conflicts
· Theme 2: Strategies and Effective Policies for Resolving Internal Conflicts
· Theme 3: The Post-Conflict Phase: Strategies and Policies for Consolidating Peace, Social Reconstruction and Economic Development.
The conference was officially closed by H.E. Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, Secretary General of the OAU.
5.6 Planning Meeting for Senior Scholars Research Grant and Distinguished Visiting Scholars Programs
A planning meeting was held from 2nd - 4th August 2000 to identify and approve: (i) research themes for the Senior Scholars Program, (ii) the selection criteria and the board members for the two programs, and (iii) budget items for Senior Scholars program.
Participants of the planning meeting include the following:
· Prof. K. K. Prah, Director, CASAS
· Prof. Abdalla Bujra, Director, Development Policy Management Forum
· Prof. M.A. Mohammed Salih, Institute of Social Studies
· Prof. John J. Okumu, Moi University
· Prof. John O. Shiundu, Maseno University
· Prof. Ahmed Hassan El Jack, University of Khartoum
· Prof. Bahru Zewde, Resident Vice-President of OSSREA
· Prof. Abdel Ghaffar M Ahmed, Executive Secretary of OSSREA
· Dr. Tegegne Teka, DHP Regional Project Coordinator, OSSREA
· Mr. Enemanachew Yimamu, Program Officer, OSSREA, and
· Mr. Alemayehu Azeze, Program Officer, OSSREA.
5.7 Distinguished Visiting Scholars Program
it was initially expected that a jury would review the proposals of the applicants for this program. However, the jury suggested that this program needed a fundamental revision in the approach being followed. The jury further stressed that maximum care should be taken in the implementation of this program for the sake of the reputation of the Program and the integrity of the institution. The jury recommended that the board that would be established for the Senior Scholars Research Award Program should work out the details using the following criteria:
· An excellent track record of academic publications;
· Contribution to knowledge;
· Long outstanding service in academia;
· Seniority; and
· Wider regional/ Pan-African experience.
5.8 The IDRC-Funded PlaW Project
OSSREA has been provided funding for a project titled "Capacity Building, Evaluation and Social Analysis in Natural Resources Management". The primary objective of the project is for OSSREA to assist in improving the quality of delivery of projects funded by IDRC through its "People, Land and Water (PlaW) Program". This is to be accomplished through the review of project proposals submitted to the IDRC, monitoring and evaluation of research projects and assisting in training of project staff in participatory research, socioeconomic approaches and gender issues as well as inter- and multi-disciplinary approaches to various problems. These activities are being undertaken through close collaboration with IDRC program officers and upon their request.
The activities were categorized into milestones, marking the project implementation process. There are five milestones in the process; last year's report covered milestone one, while the present report covers milestones two and three.
The activities carried out within the year are the following.
· The PlaW program Coordinator participated in an IDRC meeting which was held in Syria where all those involved in the PlaW program participated. The main purpose of the meeting was to review progress in the Program Initiative (PI) during the year and to plan the next three years' work based on accomplishments so far, recent PI evaluation, new directives and wider options for PlaW work. IDRC personnel from EARO, WARO, and MERO, as well as the head office (Ottawa), attended the meeting.
· The preparatory phases for the training workshops that were held at the headquarters of OSSREA on 28th August and 8th September 2000 were managed by the Coordinator.
· The Coordinator was given an assignment by IDRC (MERO) to assist the (Assessment of Water Users Associations in Egypt) project team in the analysis on the dynamics of collective action and social organization as well as on the gender aspects of water management in the rural areas and in the qualitative orientation of the methodology used.
· The Coordinator provided support in the monitoring and evaluation of a research project titled "Socioeconomic, Agricultural and Environmental Implications of Qat Production/Consumption in Yemen". The project is being implemented by the Environmental Protection Council of Yemen. The assignment was carried out from 7th - 19th November 2000.
· OSSREA managed a social science research methodology training workshop on behalf of the IDRC-based agreement entered into between the two parties, IDRC-EARO and OSSREA, respectively. There were 19 trainees from 12 countries. The training was considered very successful by many, including trainees and partners.
· OSSREA is organizing a similar training workshop in Yemen, to be held in April 2001. However, all the trainees will come from within Yemen. The dates for the training have been fixed and a budget is made available also.
· The West African IDRC Office, WERO, has requested OSSREA to organize a similar training workshop for French-speaking West African IDRC partners. This initiative is in its preliminary phase of preparation.
· OSSREA has identified more than a dozen gender experts to facilitate EARO's gender related activities. It is also in the process of identifying social scientists that are required to carry out socioeconomic studies as they relate to the water hyacinth problem in countries that border Lake Victoria. OSSREA's liaison officers are expected assist in identifying social scientists for the purpose.
5.9 The Research Methodology Institute
OSSREA held a training workshop on Social Science Research Methodology from 23rd to 27th October 2000 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The training workshop focused on sharpening and equipping African researchers with sufficient skills vital for the development of credible research.
The participants were selected on the bases of their application and curriculum vitae. OSSREA's selection committee reviewed the 156 applicants' qualification, experience, competence and age, and selected twenty eight participants from various countries.
The themes for the training were drawn from the Manual for Social Science Research Methodology developed by OSSREA's Research Methodology Institute. The themes covered in the training were the following:
· Applied and theoretical social science research
· Preparation of research proposal
· Gender issues in social science research
· Application of social science research methods in the field of gender planning
· Participatory action research methods.
5.10 Dryland Husbandry Project
DHP activities undertaken during the year include the following:
· The Regional Coordinator, Dr. Tegegne Teka, visited DHP Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda. The Coordinator held discussions with members of the National Steering Committee and the Field Management Committee in each country.
· A draft evaluation manual for the regional Dryland Husbandry Project was prepared by Prof. Abdillahi Aboud, Egerton University, Kenya; Mr. Delius Asiimwe, Makerere Institute of Social Research, Makerere University, Uganda; and Dr. Mustafa Babiker, Development Studies and Research Center, University of Khartoum, Sudan. It is intended to be used by those in the DHP and other internal/external evaluators. Feedback was also collected from DHP country projects. The draft evaluation manual was prepared in June 2000 and is available to users.
· Research reports of DHP-Uganda have been edited for publication.
· Prof. Aud Talle, member of SAREC Research Board, and Dr. Eva. Ohlsson, Desk Officer at Sida/SAREC, discussed the Regional Dryland Husbandry Project (DHP/OSSREA) with Prof. Abdel Ghaffar M. Ahmed and Dr. Tegegne Teka. The two officers were conducting an internal evaluation for Sida/SAREC. This preliminary visit is meant to pave the way for a larger external evaluation team that will be sent by Sida/SAREC to look into DHP before the end of the year, i.e., June 2001. The guests were at OSSREA's office on the 14th and 15th of September 2000.
· The Sixth Regional Workshop of DHP was held in Kassala, Sudan, from 16 - 19 October 2000. The theme of the regional workshop was Dryland Husbandry Project: Impacts and Sustainability. Research reports from the participating countries, namely, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda were presented at the workshop. H. E. Sayed Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid, Governor of Kassala State, opened the workshop. Prof. Hashim Mohammed El Hadi, Chairman of the National Steering Committee of DHP-Sudan, made a welcome address. Opening remarks were also made by Prof. Abdel Ghaffar M. Ahmed, the OSSREA Executive Secretary; Dr. Tegegne Teka, the Regional Project Coordinator of DHP; and Mr. Mats Lundberg, representative of Environmental Policy and Society (EPOS), Linköping University, Sweden; as well as representatives of Kassala State Pastoralist Union and Kassala State Minister of Agriculture, Animal Resources and Irrigation.
· During this period, the Regional Advisory Committee of the Dryland Husbandry Project held its meeting in Kassala. Participants of this meeting included the OSSREA Executive Secretary, the Regional Project Coordinator of DHP, the representative of EPOS, and National Coordinators of DHP-Ethiopia, DHP-Kenya, DHP- Sudan and DHP-Uganda.
· In November 2000, a national DHP workshop was organised by the University of Mekelle in the Afar Region of Ethiopia. Prof. Abdel Ghaffar M. Ahmed, the OSSREA Executive Secretary, participated in this workshop, which was held at the field level to facilitate the participation of the local committee members. Both the regional workshop held in Sudan and the national workshop held in Ethiopia demonstrated the positive impact of the DHP on the local communities as well as the enthusiasm of the researchers and employees of relevant government departments working jointly for the success of the project.
