Previous| Next | Content| Main |Home 

News

The OSSREA Executive Committee Meets

The OSSREA Executive Committee met on 3 December 2004 at the OSSREA’s Conference Hall, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. At the meeting, the Executive Secretary presented a report on activities of the Organization. The Committee discussed a range of policy issues, including the preparation for the 8th OSSREA Congress. The Executive Committee selected the jury for the annual research grant competitions and gave guidelines and directives on other ongoing and planned activities of the Organization.

Sabbatical Research Grant

In 2004, the jury for the Sabbatical Research Grant Competition selected six winners, out of which the following five attended the winners’ workshop and signed grant agreements with OSSREA:

Topic: An Elusive Political Economic Peace in South Africa: Comparative Reform Insights from the Region

The winners attended the workshop organized for them from 19-22 December 2004. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss the proposed studies and to offer the grantees an opportunity to elaborate the details of their revised research proposals.

Post-Doctoral Fellowship Grant

The jury for the first Post-Doctoral Fellowship Grant programme reviewed proposals and selected six winners. The following are the winners and the topics of their studies:

1. Dr. Woldeamlak Bewket, Ethiopia

Topic: Rainwater Harvesting for Food Security in Drought-prone Areas of Highland Ethiopia: A Case Study in Wello, Ahmara Region

2. Dr. Zenele Ntombizanele Mfono, South Africa

Topic: An Analysis of the Changing Reproductive Behaviour of Rural Women in South Africa

3. Dr. Mbwesa Joyce Kanini, Kenya

Topic: Analysis of the Instructional Effectiveness of Asynchronous E-learning Environment in Kenya: A Case Study of Wedu-Soft Platform, University of Nairobi, Kenya

4. Dr. Michael Wainaina, Kenya

Topic: Towards Gender Mainstreaming in Nascent Module II Programmes in Kenya Public Universities

5. Elliott Phillemons Niboye, Tanzania

Topic: The Impacts of Changing Pastoral Strategies on Environmental Resources and Livelihoods in Lake Victoria basin.

6. Justine Burns, South Africa

Topic: Ethnic Diversity and Economic Success: An experimental study

The winners’ workshop was held from 20-21 December 2004 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Out of the six winners, four attended the winners’ workshop and signed grant agreements with OSSREA. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss the proposed studies and to give the grantees an opportunity to elaborate the details of their revised research proposals.

Senior Scholars Research Grant

The 2004 Senior Scholars Research Grant winners’ workshop was held from 6 -7 December 2004 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The winners of the grant attended the winners’ workshop where the grantees presented the details of their research proposals. Each proposal was also reviewed by various discussants.

The grant winners and their topics are the following:

1. Dr. Lukson M. Kaino, Botswana

Topic: Gender and Attitudes Towards Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Botswana Schools with Reference to the Use of Computers in Learning

2. Dr. Moges Yigezu, Ethiopia

Topic: Language Ideologies and Challenges of Multilingual/Multiscriptual Vernacular Education: The Case of Harari Region, Ethiopia

3. Prof. Edward Kembo-Sure, Kenya

Topic: Language Policy and Educational Linguistic Human Rights in Kenya

4. Dr. Kawago Agot, Kenya

Topic: Widow Inheritance and HIV infection/Transmission: Constructing Risk, Negotiating Safe Alternatives

5. Prof. Davison Monodawafa, Dr. William Muhwara and Dr. Adele Webb, Malawi

Topic: HIV/AIDS in the World of Work: A Study of the Response of the Nursing Profession in Malawi and Zambia

6. Prof. Ndalahwa Madulu and Dr. Shadrack Mwakalia, Tanzania

Topic: Indigenous Knowledge and Institutional Set-up in Wetlands Management for Sustainable Natural Resource Conservation and Food Security in the Lake Victoria Basin, Tanzania

The HIV/AIDS Challenges in Africa: Focusing on Botswana, Tanzania, uganda and Zambia

The announcement for the 2004 call for proposals was posted in February. OSSREA advertised the call in the sub-region, focusing particularly on the four case study countries. Posters and brochures were distributed to OSSREA members in the above-mentioned countries, universities, research institutions various governmental and non-governmental organisations. Advertisements were also placed in local newspapers in the study countries. In addition, the announcement was disseminated through OSSREA’s Bulletin, website and e-mail messages to selected institutions (particularly those focusing on HIV/AIDS research) and individuals. Various international organisations in Addis Ababa, such as The United Nations specialization agencies, the African Union, World Bank and embassies of the four countries in Addis Ababa were among those that received the posters and brochures. The deadline for the application was 15 July 2004.

A total of twenty-six applications were received. The proposals were reviewed by jury members who were identified by OSSREA. The reviewers focused on the merit of each proposal. They were provided with a general guideline and reviewed the relevance of the proposals to policy, and assessed originality, hypothesis, methodology, scope of literature review, researcher eligibility criteria and budget of the proposals.

The following eight winners were selected after the review:

1. Dr. Stephen M. Kapunda, Botswana

Topic: Socio-economic Impact of HIV/AIDS on Rural Small-scale Industrial Sub-Sector: The Case of Selected Villages in Botswana

2. Dr. Godisang Bridget Mookodi and Dr. Tapologo Maundeni, Botswana

Topic: Gender and HIV/AIDS: An Assessment of Male Risk and Male Sector Interventions in Botswana

3. Dr. Aldin K. Mutembei and Dr. Joviter K. Katabaro, Tanzania

Topic: Understanding the Impact of HIV/AIDS on Children: Lessons from Orphaned Children in Two Selected Regions of Tanzania

4. Dr. Honest Prosper Ngowi, Tanzania

Topic: How does HIV/AIDS Affect the Agricultural Sector in Tanzania?

5. Dr. Samula Mathias, Uganda

Topic: Needs and Coping Strategies of Female-Headed Families Affected by HIV/AIDS: A Case Study of Masaka District, Uganda

6. Dr. Augustus Nuwagaba, Uganda

Topic: HIV/AIDS in Armed Conflict Situation in Northern Uganda

7. Dr. Thomson Haamutete Kalinda and Mr. Robert Tembo, Zambia

Topic: The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Marriage Patterns, Customs and Practices in Zambia: The Case of Mansa District

8. Dr. Chosani Alick Njobvu and Dr. T. J. Ngulube, Zambia

Topic: Rural/Urban Dimensions of HIV/AIDS Mitigating Interventions in Chipata and Katete Districts of Eastern Zambia

Following the selection, a workshop for the winners was organised from 20-21 December 2004 in Addis Ababa. The objective of the workshop was to discuss the proposed studies and to offer the winners an opportunity to elaborate the details of their revised research proposals. The workshop also included discussions on contractual obligations of the concerned parties.

Capacity Building for Social and Gender Analysis in NRM Research for Development

OSSREA is coordinating a project called ‘Capacity Building for Social and Gender Analysis in NRM Research for Development’ for which the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada has provided support to OSSREA. The project has four major components:

1. Development of a conceptual framework and approach towards project implementation;

2. Availing small grants to NRM researchers in the sub-region to enable them to incorporate social and gender analysis in their on-going NRM researches;

3. Training workshops addressing gender and social analysis in NRM research; and

4. Production of training materials in gender and social analysis in NRM research.

The support by IDRC was given in February 2003 for a period of three years. To date, the following four activities have been carried out.

1. A conceptual framework and approach for project implementation was formulated through the involvement of experts in the sub-region and beyond. An inception workshop was held for this purpose from 3-6 June 2003.

2. A training workshop was held from 24 November to 6 December 2003 in which nineteen participants from the sub-region took part. The training focused on gender and social analysis in NRM research. A second workshop will be held within the year 2005.

3. Small Grants (USD$12,000) were made available for the following seven ‘natural resource management’ research projects:

3.1 Mr. John Macharia, S.K. Kimanmi, L.N. Kimenye and John D. Ramisch (Kenya)

‘Integrating Social and Gender Analysis in Evaluation of Choice for Profitability of Soil Fertility Management Technologies for Smallholder Maize Production in Kenya’ 

3.2 Ms. Irene Naigaga, Mercy Changwa and Rose Mugdde (Uganda)

‘A Gender Analysis of the Activities and Risks for Potential Exposure to Selected Contaminants among Kirinya Wetland Resource Users in Jinja District, Uganda’

3.3 Ms. Stella Musiiwa, Carmel Lue Mbizvo and Nyasha Chshakwe IUCN (Zimbabwe)

‘Equitable Access and Benefit Sharing in TBNRM. The Southern African Program for Improved Trans-boundary Natural Resources Management (TBNRM). Focusing on the Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia (ZIMOZA) TBNRM area.

3.4 Ms Chimwemwe Mhango-Mawaya and Meya P. Kalindekafe (Malawi)

‘Gender Analysis and Access, Control, and Use of Natural resources in Southern Malawi: The Case of Areas Surrounding Lisungwi, Mwanza and Mkulumadzi Rivers’

3.5 Dr. Justus Rutaisire, Consolata Kabensa, John K. Okechi, and Pricilla N. Boera (Uganda)

‘A Gender Perspective for Dissemination of Breeding Technologies and Production of Wetland Clariid Fishes in Lake Victoria Basin, East Africa’.

3.6 Mr. Isaac Chinyanta Ntambo (Zambia)

‘The Social, Economic and Environmental Consequences of Wetlands Management and Governance: A Case Study of Kutuba Dambo, Zambia’.

3.7 Mr. Girma Abera Jibat, Mathewos Belisa and Hailu Gudeta (Ethiopia)

‘Investigating the Role Of Gender and Social Analysis in Participatory Potato Technology Promotion and the Related Natural Resources Management in Selected Districts of West Oromiya, Ethiopia’

The researchers are expected to integrate social and gender analysis in their on going ‘natural resource management research’ projects. The funds were made available to the researchers about five months ago. The first report is expected by the end of September 2005.

4. Information management experts have been commissioned to prepare a user-friendly interactive teaching/learning pack. The information to be included in the training material was collected from major information sources in Great Britain with the support of a consultant, who herself is an expert in gender and social analysis in NRM. The material is expected to be ready in about two months time. It will be on CD-ROM and distributed widely for use by NRM researchers in the OSSREA region and beyond.

A second project, ‘Poverty Reduction through Irrigation and Smallholder Markets’ came to an end in July 2004. The project was implemented in collaboration with the International Development enterprises (IDE), an international NGO whose headquarters is located in the USDA. The project lasted for eleven months.

A Regional Concluding Workshop on Dryland Husbandry Project

The objective of this regional concluding workshop is to bring together the key participants of the Dryland Husbandry Project (DHP) in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda to discuss the eight years achievements of the project and to map out future activities. Agro-pastoralists, government experts, NGOs and OSSREA staff participated in the workshop. The workshop followed the national concluding workshops that were held in the above four countries. It was held in Ghion Hotel, Addis Abeba from 24-26 July 2004. About thirty-five participants took part in the workshop.

The Regional Project Co-ordinator of DHP, Dr. Tegegne Teka, introduced the workshop. Dr. Alfred Nhema, the Executive Secretary of OSSREA made a Welcome Address. Ato Gurmu Dabi on behalf of the Minister of State of Agriculture and Rural Development in Ethiopia, Dr. Tekalegne Mamo, made the Opening Address. Pastoralists and agro-pastoralists from Ethiopia and Uganda representing people at the grassroots reflected on the achievements of the project. Both underlined that the project has benefited people. It has built capacity in a sustainable way and has helped in the improvement of the quality of life of the pastoralist and agro-pastoralist and asked for the continuation of the project in a bigger and stronger way. Dr. Nhema, the Executive Secretary of OSSREA, thanked the focal universities, ministries and NGOs in the four countries, the leadership and community members of the project and Sida/SAREC for funding the project. Dr. Regina Karega, the President of OSSREA, had a discussion with the workshop participants. She gave her encouraging words about the project and made her observations on the positive contributions that the project has made to those in the dryland areas in eastern Africa.

Participants noted that DHP has proved successful in the four countries. Participants, therefore, agreed to network, exchange ideas and experience, exchange visits, hold annual meetings and continue contact through electronic mail. DHP members unanimously agreed to create a network called: 'Eastern Africa Dryland Husbandry Network'. Moreover, the Sudan DHP team proposed to call the first meeting of the Network to discuss land and land holding issues in the pastoral and agro-pastoral areas in the Sudan in particular, and in the dryland areas of eastern Africa in general. A seven-member committee was nominated by the workshop to run the network.

The field trip to the Afar Pastoral area in general and to Buri Afar community in Amibara District in particular exposed DHP participants to semi-arid area, to the environment, the vegetation and the dryland landscape in Ethiopia. Also, recognition of service was made to those in the leadership of DHP at the country level. Chairmen of National Steering Committees, National Co-ordinators and Project Managers were awarded certificates and gifts with DHP and OSSREA signs engraved. A Minister from Uganda was awarded a certificate for giving the Executive Leadership for DHP in his country. Finally, the Regional Co-ordinator, Dr. Teka, thanked the DHP family for the nine years of co-operation, commitment, and interest they showed for the project and for the achievements at the grassroots level.

Back| Next | Content| Top| Main