2. RESEARCH GRANT COMPETITIONS

2.1 Social Science and Gender Issues Research Grant Competitions

OSSREA has continued with its activity of building the skilled manpower capacity of research and academic institutions of the region through its programme of small grants annual competitions. Accordingly, following the announcement of the Fifteenth Social Science Research Grant Competition and the Thirteenth Gender Issues Research Grant Competition, a total of 61 applications with research proposals were submitted for the former grant while a total of 70 were submitted for the latter by 30 May 2001. A profile of the applicants is provided in tables 1 and 2.

Table 1. Profile of applicants of the Fifteenth Social Science Research Grant Competition

Table 2. Profile of applicants of the Thirteenth Gender Issues Research Grant Competition

The jury for the Thirteenth Gender Issues Research Grant Competition comprised Dr. Regina G. M. Karega, Kenyatta University; Dr. Emebet Mulugeta, Addis Ababa University; and Prof. J. C. Munene, Makerere University. Prof. J. C. Munene was unable to attend the jury meeting, but he did send his comments which were considered in the final decision of the other jury members. The jury for the Fifteenth Social Science Research Grant Competition comprised Dr. A. M. Kanduza, University of Swaziland; Dr. Darge Wole, Addis Ababa University; and Dr. Mustafa Babiker, University of Khartoum. The jury for both competitions held simultaneous meetings from 24-27 July 2001 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and selected the following grantees from among the applicants for the two competitions.

2.1.1 Winners of the 15^th Social Science Research Grant Competition

· Mr. John Volk, The Environmental Impact of Urban Growth in Chipata District, Eastern Zambia. (Zambia)

· Mr. Claudious Chikozho, An Applied Study of Emerging Institutions for Water Resource Management in Zimbabwe. (Zimbabwe)

· Dr. Grephas Pancras Opata, Refugee Economy and Livelihood: A Study of the Prospects and Means towards Refugee Self-reliance in Dadaab Camp. (Kenya)

· Mr. Dawit Walelegn, Improvement of Solid Waste Management in Addis Ababa: A Participatory Approach. (Ethiopia)

· Dr. Abebe Haile Gabriel, The Dynamics of Emerging Informal Rural Land Markets in Ethiopia: Implications for Rural Livelihood Processes, Productivity and Equity. (Ethiopia)

· Mr. Elmiz Ismail Mahmoud, Towards an Efficient Use of Water in the Nile Basin Countries: A Study of Irrigation Water Charges in the Sudan. (Sudan)

· Mr. Solomon Fisseha, Local Farmers' Institutions as Social Capital: The Role and Dynamics of Local Farmers Institutions in Rural Livelihoods - the Case of Northern Shoa. (Ethiopia)

· Mr. Zewdu Belete, Willingness to Pay for Protecting Endangered National Parks: The Case of Nechisar National Park. (Ethiopia)

· Mr. Woldeamlak Bewket, Land Degradation and Farmers' Acceptance and Adoption of Conservation Technologies in Digil Watershed, Northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia. (Ethiopia)

· Ms. Sarah Naugwa, Indigenous Approaches to the HIV/ AIDS Scourge in Uganda. (Uganda)

· Mr. Alex N. Kamwaria, The Role of African Indigenous Institutions of Social Control in Ethnic Conflicts Resolution. (Kenya)

· Mr. Oanda Ibrahim Ogachi, Revitalizing Regional Collaboration in Education and Training for Economic Integration: The Case of the East African Community. (Kenya)

· Mr. William A. L. Sambo, Impact of Civil Wars on Basic Education in the Greater Lakes Region: A Case Study of Tanzania. (Tanzania)

· Mr. Marisa Lovemore, The Impact of Commercial Forest Areas on Nearby Rural Communities in the Eastern Highlands. (Zimbabwe)

2.1.2 Winners of the 13^th Gender Issues Research Grant Competition

· Ms. Trudie Mukuchamano, The Effect of HIV/ AIDS on Micro and Small Enterprises Employing Women Workers: A Case Study of Harare. (Zimbabwe)

· Ms. Mantwa Welhemina Bopape, HIV Prevention Intervention with Women in the Northern Province of South Africa. (S. Africa)

· Mr. Bigabwa-Kasaija Herbert, Gender and Higher Educational Reform: A Case of Sponsorship at Makerere University, Kampala. (Uganda)

· Mr. Matagi Leon, Gender-Oriented Human Resource Management and Organizational Commitment: A Study among Women and Men in Organizations in Uganda. (Uganda)

· Mr. Turyamureeba Stanley, Sexual Harassment in Organizations: Its Social and Economic Implications in Uganda.(Uganda)

· Mr. Michael Wainaina Mwaura, An Analysis of the Training and Empowerment Programs for Female Domestic Laborers in Nairobi: Implications for Alleviation of Female Poverty. (Kenya)

· Mr. Joseph Mungai, The Influence of Androcenteric Bias on Girls' Educational Plans and Career Aspirations among Nomadic Inhabitants of Samburu District, Kenya: A Survey of Socio-Cultural Forces. (Kenya)

· Ms. Jane Onsongo, An Investigation into the Factors Affecting Women's Participation in University Management in Kenya. (Kenya)

· Ms. Louisa Njeri Ndunyu, Gender and Reproductive Health-Seeking Behavior among Youth in Vihiga District. (Kenya)

· Ms. Aregash Samuel, Achieving Gender Equity in Science Classroom Participation in Secondary Schools of Addis Ababa. (Ethiopia)

· Mrs. Aurelia Kamuzora, Assessment of Gender Problems in Business Undertakings in a Tanzanian Eco-Cultural Context. (Tanzania)

· Ms. Mulumebet Zenebe, Gender and HIV/AIDS in Addis Ababa: An Assessment of Prevention and Support Programs. (Ethiopia)

· Ms. Janet Muyoma Kilavuka, A Comparative Study of the Socioeconomic Implications of Rural Women Groups, Men Groups and Integrated Groups: A Case of Kakamega District. (Kenya)

· Mr. Abraham Alemu, Oral Narrative as an Ideological Weapon for Subordinating Women: The Case of Jimma Oromo. (Ethiopia)

· Ms. Elizabeth Buluku, Farming Practices of Small-Scale Male and Female Farmers and Household Food Security: A Case of Vihiga District. (Kenya)

2.2 Workshops for Research Competition Winners

Workshops for winners of the Fifteenth Social Science and the Thirteenth Gender Issues Research Grant Competitions were held simultaneously from 12 - 15 September 2001 at the OSSREA headquarters. As was the case in the previous winners workshops, the grantees were able to get feedback on their research proposals and further insights on the methodologies and approaches they proposed to use in their research projects. Comments and suggestions on their research proposals were provided by both their fellow grantees and members of their respective juries.

2.3 Senior Scholars Research Grant Competition

A total of 42 applications for the Senior Scholars Research Grant was received from Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. After the initial screening, a panel of judges consisting of Prof. K. K. Prah (South Africa), Prof. Jesimen T. Chipika (Zimbabwe), Prof. Archie Mafeje (South Africa), and Dr. Gunnar M. Sorbo (Norway) reviewed the proposals and selected the following candidates as winners of the 2001 Senior Scholars Research Grant.

· Dr. Victor Ngonidzashe Muzvidziwa (from Zimbabwe)

Proposal title: "Informal cross-boarder trade and regional integration in the SADC Region: Zimbabwean women's urban survival strategies"

· Dr. Mary Njeri Kinyanjui and Mr. Meleckidzedeck Khayesi (both from Kenya)

Proposal title: "Development of social capital in micro and small enterprises as a strategy for poverty alleviation in Kenya"

· Dr. Dejene Aredo (from Ethiopia)

Proposal title: "Financing regional integration programs and projects in Sub- Saharan Africa: The case of COMESA"

· Dr. Wangari Mwai and Prof. Oluoch Obura (both from Kenya)

Proposal title: "Female Imagination: A biographical dictionary of Kenyan women literary artists"

A workshop for the above-listed first winners of OSSREA's Senior Scholars Research Grant was held at the Secretariat's headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 10-11 December 2001. The objectives of the workshop were: to orient winners with OSSREA's background, objectives and activities; to discuss the terms and conditions of the grant agreement to be signed by winners; to provide winners with the feedback from the selection committee on the amendments of the research proposals; and to suggest that the research output should be of high standard. At the end of the workshop, the winners received the first installment of the research grant.