2DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, NORAGRIC

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Noragric Annual Report 2005

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, NORAGRIC

Established in 1986 as a centre at the Agricultural University of Norway (NLH), Noragric became the Department of International Environment and Development Studies at the renamed Norwegian University of Life Sciences - UMB on 1 February 2005.

Noragric’s activities include research, education and assignments, focusing particularly, but not exclusively, on developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Besides Noragric’s role as the international gateway for UMB, in 2005 Noragric also acted on behalf of the Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine (NVH) and of Norwegian Agricultural Research International (NARI), which form alliances with UMB. With more than 40 years collaboration between UMB and academic and professional institutions in Africa, Asia and South East Europe, Noragric has established a broad network of worldwide contacts.

CONTENTS

Noragric’s Professional and Academic Focus 3

Reﬂections from Rector 4

Message from the Head of Department 5

Noragric Programmes 6

Research projects and Assignments 10

Institutional Cooperation 14

Education 18

Master’s Theses in 2005 24

Information dissemination and Library 26

Financial Overview 27

Who’s Who at Noragric 28

Acronyms 30

Photo credits: K. Esser (p. 16), H. Guyo (p. 7), Ingram Image library (pp. 1, 19, 25, 31), E. Jorgensen (pp. 5, 17, 23), B. Nawab (p. 6), Univ. of Sarajevo (p. 15), J. Teurlings (pp. 9, 22, 29), UMB (pp. 13, 29), M. Vegara (p. 4).

Editor: Joanna Boddens-Hosang

Layout: Spekter Reklamebyrå as, www.spekter.com

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Development addresses relations and challenges such as global governance, accountability, transformation of the world economy, social movements, conﬂicts and peace-keeping, citizenship, rights, the role of consumers, genetic engineering, food sovereignty, etc.

Within this context, Noragric focuses on three mutually supportive programmes:

• Agricultural development and livelihood security

• Biodiversity and natural resource management

• Rights, conﬂicts and resources

Several cross-cutting themes fall under these:

policy, ecological zones (drylands, coastal zones, highlands), gender, participation, inter- and cross- disciplinarity, community development, urban/

rural relations, partnership and capacity building.

RESEARCH

Research is closely linked to the education programmes and the assignments undertaken by staff. The Research Committee (RC), led by the Head of Research, initiates and co-ordinates research activities and integrates these with education, institutional collaboration and assignments. The Research Committee plays a facilitating and coordinating role for academic prioritisation at Noragric. RC is also responsible for the PhD programme in Development Studies.

EDUCATION

The main goal of Noragric’s Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programmes is to educate

NORAGRIC’S PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC FOCUS

NORAGRIC’S VISION IS TO:

Contribute towards equitable development, sustained well- being of women and men, and sound environmental practices through collaborative activities that generate and exchange knowledge and provide education in the area of agricultural development, livelihood security and natural resource management.

students with increased awareness, analytical capacity and research-based knowledge in the ﬁelds of environment and development studies and to strengthen the institutional capacity of Noragric’s partners in the same ﬁelds.

Noragric’s Head of Education, supported by the Education Committee (EC), is responsible for the Bachelor’s- and Master’s programmes.

There is one Bachelor’s programme in Development Studies and two Master’s programmes, namely Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture/

MNRSA, and Development Studies-Poverty, Environment and Collective Action. Noragric also runs 2 web-based distance-learning courses.

PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT, INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Noragric plays an active role in national and international committees and networks, in advisory roles for the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in institutional collaboration with partners in developing countries, and in collaboration with various national and international civil society organisations. These activities ensure that the knowledge and experience that have been developed in collaboration between Noragric and its partners are put to use for the beneﬁt of development processes in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and to shorten the loop between knowledge generation and knowledge utilisation.

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We were privileged to welcome UMB’s Honorary Doctor and Nobel Peace laureate, Dr Wangari Maathai, to our university in February upon invitation by Noragric. Her presentation on “Nurturing Nature to Build a Culture of Peace” drew an enthusiastic audience of record proportions. In her presentation, Dr Maathai compared sustainable development, peace and democracy as the three legs to a milking stool: you need all three to ﬁnd a balance. “Without the responsible management of natural resources, she said, it is impossible to reach the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).” Wise words from a warm person who has been at the forefront in the ﬁght for social, economic and cultural development in Kenya and in Africa.

In April, I had the opportunity to visit some of our partner universities in South East Europe (SEE) together with our University director, pro-rector, 8 heads of departments, a student representative and the Noragric staff member who coordinates collaboration with the region, Associate Professor Mensur Vegara. The universities visited were located in Mostar (University “Dzemal Bijedic” and the University of Mostar) and in Sarajevo (three faculties at the University of Sarajevo).

UMB has a general agreement of cooperation with 16 partner institutions in this region. We were proud to hear about the results achieved at the local and international level through

institutional collaboration with UMB. A new 5-year agreement was signed which will facilitate general cooperation between our institutions within academic education and research.

In addition, our SEE partners were interested to learn more about the UMB approach to and experiences with the implementation of the Bologna Declaration – Quality Reform of Higher Education. This resulted in an invitation to participate in a 2-day workshop in Sarajevo later in November. More than 130 participants attended, representing 38 institutions from 4 countries in SEE/Western Balkan (Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia & Montenegro) and 6 participants from UMB and the Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine. Also in Sarajevo, a new 4-year institutional collaboration agreement was signed in Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine between Norway and the countries in SEE/

Western Balkan.

Near the end of the year, we were once again struck by the effects of a natural disaster on poor, rural people. This time it was the earthquake in Pakistan that left more than 87,000 people dead, more than 100,000 injured and as many as 3.5 million people homeless. UMB currently has 7 Pakistani students, 3 PhD and 4 Master’s. Noragric has had 18 Pakistani Master students since 1991. A seminar was organised to learn about the earthquake from a geological and humanitarian perspective, and to explore the possibilities of mobilizing UMB’s knowledge and experience through the institutional collaboration we have with universities in areas stricken by a natural disaster in order to exchange relevant expertise immediately following a catastrophe. The coordination of this Emergency Response Group is now in the capable hands of Dr Ingrid Nyborg, Noragric.

With Noragric as an academic department, its core funding from the university will increase. However, external

assignments using the department’s expertise in development related matters will remain one of its core competencies and will support Noragric’s function as international “ambassador”

for our university.

Knut Hove

REFLECTIONS FROM RECTOR

Rector Knut Hove at workshop in Sarajevo.

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The year 2005 was the year that Noragric left the “centre-status” and became the newest department at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. The recognition that lies in becoming a full-ﬂedged university department provided increased motivation and energy for the many challenges faced throughout the year. In August, Noragric started a new Bachelor’s programme in Development Studies with 367 applicants for 40 places. Altogether, Noragric accepted about 90 new students to its Master’s and Bachelor’s programmes in 2005. The year was also a productive one for Noragric’s PhD programme as four candidates successfully defended their PhD dissertations in international environment and development studies. One, among several, exciting new programmes and projects that started in 2005 was the institutional collaboration programme in Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine between academic institutions in Norway, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia & Montenegro using joint research as a means of reconciliation and peace building.

Globally, the earthquake in Pakistan was a catastrophe that closely touched Noragric, which had two staff members in the northern mountains of Pakistan when it struck. Luckily, they safely returned to Norway but we were saddened by the devastation resulting from the quake for the people of Pakistan who received so little support from the international community.

A very happy event that took place in 2005 was the signing of the peace agreement in Sudan. Several of Noragric’s staff have been and still are collaborating with partners in both the north and the south of the country and we welcomed the agreement, although the unsolved situation in Darfur still complicates matters. Noragric has also taken major interest

in the WTO trade negotiations that took place in Hong Kong late 2005. Although consensus was reached – which was an achievement by itself – unfortunately very little came out of the negotiations regarding improving the international trade regime in favour of most developing countries.

In Norway, a new coalition government came to power stating that Norway will not support any activities that involve liberalisation and privatisation, and that increased emphasis will be given to the UN as a main channel of Norwegian development assistance. With this in mind, the new Norwegian Minister of International Development, Erik Solheim, when visiting the president of the World Bank, Paul Wolfowitz, put some interesting questions on the development agenda that scientific staff at Noragric address: What is the ideology of the World Bank regarding privatisation and what is the experience at country level? To what extent is privatisation a World Bank paradigm that has been replaced by liberalisation and efficiency requirements? The Minister was ensured that the World Bank does not have a privatisation agenda, yet the question remains about the degree of coherence between the World Bank’s rhetoric and the politics and practices at country level. The new Norwegian government will definitely influence the direction of the development debate during the year(s) to come.

Noragric warmly welcomes more discussion and exchange of knowledge in the ﬁeld of international environment and development studies. Noragric also warmly welcomes the fact that the new minister has placed “environment”

ﬁrmly back on the development agenda.

Ruth Haug

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Ruth Haug

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NORAGRIC PROGRAMMES

Scientific staff are grouped into Noragric’s three scientific programmes according to their professional areas of expertise. Among others, the groups serve as the first screen for PhD applications; they develop strategies and plan initiatives to strengthen the scientific work in Noragric’s thematic areas; and play an advisory role for specialisation areas of the Master’s programmes. The three group leaders participate in the Research Committee.

1. AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LIVELIHOOD SECURITY

This programme addresses:

• Poverty reduction, rural employment, access to markets

• Governance, national policies, civil society

• Research, education, access to new technologies

Case study under the Agricultural Development and Livelihood Security programme

Worldwide, more than 1.2 billion people lack access to safe water and 2.4 billion do not have adequate sanitation services. It is estimated that these conditions cause more than 2 million deaths annually. Combined with poor hygiene, water and sanitation rank third among factors contributing to the global health burden. Clearly, poor water supply and sanitation aggravates poverty and impedes development. The UN has therefore set a goal of “halving the proportion of people without safe water and improved sanitation by 2015”. The task ahead is gigantic, but achievable if wisely handled. A study conducted in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan aims to understand the many factors that need to be considered in order to properly address the problem of poor water supply and inadequate sanitation. The work will provide knowledge about appropriate technical options, socio-cultural preferences and realistic policies that are needed to reach the UN Millennium Development Goals.

The study was initiated as an extension of a successful joint research project between the University of Peshawar and Noragric on industrial pollution control through a constructed wetland system in NWFP. For the water supply and sanitation project, an interdisciplinary approach was adopted in order to understand: a) cultural preferences for conventional and ecological sanitation in rural Muslim communities; b) the causes of failure of conventional sanitation models and treatment systems, and exploring suitable options and opportunities; c) the process of introducing natural treatment technology for rural domestic sewage in Machaki village; d) the impacts of pit latrines on groundwater contamination in the selected villages. And ﬁnally, for successful integration of any initiatives into the government plans and policies, the Government of Pakistan’s water Water supply and sanitation for

the people in NWFP, Pakistan

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and sanitation policies, institutions and legislation were assessed.

Obviously, water-based sanitation may not be appropriate in water-scarce areas. Bringing clean water through pipes and ﬂushing it back onto the streets or open drains with human excreta is not logical or wise. Construction of highly technical solutions for sanitation is often politically motivated, costly and is less helpful in minimizing the sufferings of the poor. Many of the well-intended, conventional wastewater treatment facilities in Pakistan have had unintended consequences. Instead of serving as sanitation facilities, they often become a nuisance and health risk for the local dwellers.

Ecological sanitation (urine-diverting latrines) in its classical form may not be acceptable to local people, especially not in Muslim communities where it may be at odds with religious and cultural taboos. Similarly, the widely used pit latrines have proven to represent a risk for groundwater contamination where the soil is permeable and the groundwater is shallow.

Therefore we must ﬁnd new and innovative ways of handling these issues. But what solutions will work best? In many cases the best solutions in the eyes of the experts are the worst options for the people. The best practice in one region may be rejected in another one. Therefore, it will be wise to follow Dr. E. E.

Schumacher’s advice to “ﬁnd out what the people are doing, and help them to do it better”.

Contacts: Ingrid Nyborg, Kjell Esser and Bahadar Nawab

2. BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

• Effects of natural and human inﬂuences on the environment

• Natural resource management in different ecosystems

• Beneﬁt sharing, “ownership”, capacity building, access to knowledge

Case study under the Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management programme

The research areas of the Biodiversity Group (BDG) include coastal waters, genetic resources and biodiversity of the dry lands. The main research activities in 2005 of the dryland team under supervision of Professor Gufu Oba comprised two PhD students, Ayana Angasa and Hassan Guyo Roba, who have been active in Boorana, southern Ethiopia, in the Marsabit and Moyale districts in northern Kenya, in central Uganda and in northeastern Tanzania. In southern Ethiopia, the research activities focused on the problems of bush cover growth and the relation to between bush cover and loss of rangeland biodiversity. The studies conducted by Ayana Angassa investigated the roles of range enclosure, age chronosequence on bush cover development, application of ﬁre to manage bush

encroachment, as well as understanding local communities’

knowledge about environmental change, particularly on changes related to forage resources. In northern Kenya, Hassan Guyo, completed studies on the integration of herder’s indigenous and ecological knowledge to investigate long-term environmental changes, comparing sub-humid and arid zones in the Marsabit District. The study developed new methods of understanding herder knowledge of landscape classiﬁcations and using the indigenous systems of classiﬁcations to conduct assessments of impacts of land use on rangeland biodiversity. In the Obbu rangelands, Moyale District, northern Kenya and in Selela in northern Tanzania, Professor Oba and his students completed long-term studies on environmental history and on the role of herder knowledge on biodiversity assessments of the grazing lands.

The dryland team has submitted several manuscripts to peer refereed journals. The major research ﬁndings in press are on restorations of degraded rangelands in northern Ethiopia (African Journal of Ecology), the community participation of biodiversity monitoring by herders in central Uganda (Oryx), indigenous knowledge and environmental change (Human Ecology), effects of enclosure age chronosequence on bush cover dynamics (Journal of Environmental Management), effects of sedentarisation on sub-humid zones (Journal of Environmental Management) and the Maasai herder assessments of rangelands in Eastern Tanzania (Journal of Arid Environments).

Contact: Gufu Oba

Hassan Guyo Roba and Rendille herders in joint landscape assessment, Kenya

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HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Much of UMB’s research and academic work has a direct effect on preventative and rehabilitative health.

To clarify and further develop the link to health, UMB launched it newest research programme “Health UMB”

in December 2005. The vision of the programme is that “UMB shall be recognised nationally and internationally for its academic excellence and contributions in the ﬁeld of health, particularly within the areas of food, nature, water and development.” The programme is also designed to encourage and support new thinking and new approaches where health stands central. Over the next ﬁve years, substantial resources will be invested in the programme including two new professorships, 3 professor II positions, and over 20 years of post-docs.

Health UMB will share a common academic platform.

This will be visible through a series of seminars and workshops held at the university, as well as through a common webpage. As activity increases, a publication series will be developed. In addition to this common initiative, Health UMB is designed around three programmes: Food and Health; Nature, Health and Quality of Life; and Health and Development. All three programmes are inter-disciplinary by design and together will include all eight of UMB’s departments.

It has been decided that the “Health and Development”

programme will be centered at Noragric.

The Health and Development programme is currently in a very early planning stage. The university board has suggested three areas as being central to the programme: poverty and food, agricultural policy, and water quality. Initial meetings among departmental representatives have confirmed a high level of interest and expertise with respect to the inter-relation between poverty and health, as well as to the importance of sanitation and water and issues of food safety and environmental risk. During the coming year, the group will develop a common programme that integrates ongoing and new projects in these fields. In addition, the group will define a new professor II position and two or three post-docs. Emphasis is also being put on further developing collaborative ties with old and new partners in these areas.

Noragric contact: Cassandra Bergstrøm

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RIGHTS, CONFLICTS AND RESOURCES

• Rights, opportunities and access to natural resources for the poor

• Conﬂicts and post-conﬂict management

• Internally displaced people and forced migration Case study under the Rights, Conflicts and Resources programme

Since 1997, researchers from UMB and colleagues with the Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP), a local NGO, have been working closely together with the women and men of Basho Valley to gain a better understanding of the complexities of resource management and livelihood systems in this high altitude Himalayan environment. From its inception AKRSP had focused its development activities on farmers’ ﬁelds, the areas lying below the irrigation channels that brought melted snow to this otherwise dry ‘mountain desert’. There was very little knowledge, however, of the pasture and forest areas above the channels, and in what ways these are managed and linked to farmers’ overall livelihoods.

The results of the research challenge many of the current sectoral approaches in mountain development that do not consider the complex, dynamic local resource management systems in designing policy and development activities. For example, animal production and natural pasture quality cannot be understood without considering the dynamic system of rights to pasture areas, which in turn are an integral part of the (government owned) natural forest with restrictions on use.

Gender relations in particular are in ﬂux, and government and development actors need to adjust their approaches to incorporate such changes in their programmes and policies.

The research took an interdisciplinary approach, involving practitioners from AKRSP and researchers, Master’s and PhD students from Noragric, the UMB departments of Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning (ILP), Animal and Aquacultural Sciences (IHA), and Ecology and Natural Resource Management (INA). The choice of concentrating on one valley enabled in-depth, integrated studies, where researchers from different disciplines could study the same data in the same context from different perspectives, discussing the emerging ﬁndings with AKRSP staff and villagers during common ﬁeld visits.

The research was organised around the following sub-themes:

1. Institutions and organisations in pasture and forestry management, exploring property rights and other formal and informal institutions which represent the patterns or rules for behaviour/organisations/actors within the broader institutional framework.

2. Pasture, livestock and biodiversity, examining the dynamics of high pasture management, fodder demand and fodder

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production, quality assessment for land use planning and conservation of soil and vegetation cover.

3. Farm-forestry and natural forest assessment, conducting forest and tree resources assessments, regeneration evaluation, and analysis of the supply and demand of forest products and linkages between farm-forestry practices and natural forest.

4. Farm resources, examining the linkages of resources ‘above the channel’ with ‘below the channel’ resources, which include land, crops and broader livelihood strategies.

5. Gender, resource management and livelihood security, studying the dynamics of changes in women’s and men’s use, access to and control over resources, and the effects of changes on household food security

There was also a component of information and documentation, which created a common information resource base relevant to all project sub-themes, and facilitated

the exchange of information between project counterparts in Baltistan and Norway while supporting AKRSP Baltistan’s efforts in networking for information access. The Noragric library holds a good collection of literature on Baltistan and AKRSP activities.

At least 19 researchers and students from Norway and 25 staff from AKRSP have at some point been involved in the project;

5 Master students and one PhD student from Norway and 4 Master students and one PhD student from Pakistan have to date done their research connected to the project. The second phase of the project, currently in progress, focuses on Thalley Valley of Baltistan.

Contact: Ingrid Nyborg Basho Valley, Pakistan

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RESEARCH PROJECTS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Grouped according to the three scientiﬁc Noragric programmes

1. Agricultural Development and Livelihood Security

Enhancing food production and nature management, Debub University Funded by: NUFU

Period: 2002-2006

Noragric contact: Trygve Berg

Food security and household income for small-holder farmers in Tanzania (TARP- II)

Funded by: NORAD Period: 2000-2005

Noragric contact: Fred H. Johnsen High altitude integrated natural resource management programme, Pakistan (AKRSP)

Funded by: NORAD Period: Phase II, 2002-2005 Noragric contact: Ingrid Nyborg Lungwena health, nutrition and agricultural multidisciplinary project, Malawi

Funded by: NUFU Period: 2003-2006

Noragric contact: Frik Sundstøl

Programme for Agricultural and Natural Resources Transformation for Improved Livelihood (PANTIL)

Funded by: Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania

Period: 2005-2009

Noragric contact: Lars Olav Eik Long-term institutional cooperation Directorate of Research and Postgraduate Studies (DRPGS), Tanzania

Funded by: Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania

Period: 2005-2009

Noragric contact: Lars Olav Eik

Review of Norwegian support to FIFAMANOR

Funded by: NORAD Period: 2005

Noragric contact: Jens B. Aune Evaluation of the agricultural sector, Malawi

Noragric contact: Kjell Esser

Evaluation and appraisal of Norwegian support to the Asian Institute of Technology

Funded by: NORAD Period: 2005-2006 Noragric contact: Pål Vedeld Internal assessment of agricultural science and technology for development, World Bank

Funded by: NORAD Period: 2005-2006 Noragric contact: Stein Bie

Mid-term review of Norwegian support to ICIMOD 2002-2007

Noragric contact: Stein Bie Mid-term review IPM, Nepal Funded by: NORAD Period: 2005-2006

Noragric contact: Bishal Sitaula Project appraisal Mount Elgon Funded by: NORAD

Period: 2005

Noragric contact: Pål Vedeld

National Hydropower Plan Study, stage II Funded by: Electricity Vietnam

Period: 2005

Noragric contact: Kjell Esser

Pre-project on carbon-sequestration, Nicaragua

Funded by: Konsensus as Period: 2005-2006

Noragric contact: Jens B. Aune Drylands Coordination Group/DCG (framework agreement)

Funded by: Development Fund Period: 2005-2008

Noragric contact: Jens B. Aune Rural development & carbon sequestration

Funded by: NFR Period: 2002-2005

Noragric contact: Jens Aune Team Leader: Solveig Glomsrød (Statistics Norway)

Scientiﬁc advisory services to the CGIAR Funded by: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Period: ongoing

Noragric contact: Ruth Haug Competence transfer, institutional contact and cooperation between

university faculties of agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine in South Eastern Europe

Funded by: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Period: 2001-2006

Noragric contact: Mensur Vegara Institutional collaboration between academic institutions in agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine in Norway and Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia & Montenegro - West Balkan

Period: 2005-2010

Noragric contact: Mensur Vegara

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Pilot project “Institutional collaboration between academic institutions in agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine in Norway and Bosnia &

Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia &

Montenegro”

Period: 2004-2005

Noragric contact: Mensur Vegara Follow-up evaluation of “Agroventure Ukraina” project, Ukraine

Period: 2004-2005

Noragric contact: Lars Sjøﬂot (professor emeritus)

2. Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management

Evaluation of DFID’s Ten Renewable Natural Resources Programme Funded by: DFID

Period: October 2004 - June 2005 Noragric contact: Trygve Berg

Gender, biodiversity and local knowledge systems (LiNKS) for food security in Southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique)

Funded by: FAO Period: 2002-2005

Noragric contact: Ingrid Nyborg Scientiﬁc advisory services for Arctic Seed Depository on Svalbard Funded by: Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Period: 2004-2005

Noragric contact: Cary Fowler Review of Environment Programme, Tanzania

Noragric contact: Ian Bryceson Tilapia and biodiversity Funded by: NORAD Period: 2005

Noragric contact: Ian Bryceson

Workshop institutional development, Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) Funded by: NORAD

Period: 2005

Noragric contact: Thor S. Larsen Reindeer and sheep: research project on optimal dual species management Funded by: University of Oslo Period: 2003-2006

Noragric contact: Stein Moe GEF indigenous vegetation project Funded by: GEF

Period: 2004-2006 Noragric contact: Gufu Oba Community participation in the implementation of the global environment conventions and poverty alleviation

Funded by: NFR Period: 2004-2006 Noragric contact: Gufu Oba GRID-Arendal technical support Funded by: UNEP

Period: Ongoing

Noragric contact: Thor Larsen Sustainable management of natural resources in watersheds, Nepal Period: 2003-2007

Funded by: NUFU

SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING FROM MFA FOR NEW SOUTH EAST EUROPE PROGRAMME The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is funding a 4-year Norwegian South East Europe (SEE) programme in agriculture, “Competence transfer and institutional contact and co-operation between faculties of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine in South Eastern Europe”. MFA has asked Noragric/UMB to facilitate and implement the project on behalf of several partners in SEE and in Norway. Institutional strengthening will be a main objective, i.e. to improve the organisation, content and quality of academic education, research and support services in faculties of agriculture, veterinary medicine and forestry in order to meet national needs in the ongoing reconstruction after the regional wars. The programme will be funded on an annual basis according to approved annual activity plans, estimated at almost NOK 5 million per year.

Contact: Mensur Vegara

Noragric contact: Bishal Sitaula Agricultural intensiﬁcation impacts on soil, water, socio-economic development, Nepal

Noragric contact: Bishal Sitaula 3. Rights, Conflicts and Resources Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) and poverty reduction - Phase II Funded by: NORAD

Period: 2003-2005

Noragric contact: Ingrid Nyborg Assessment of Norwegian Church Aid’s future focus in Mozambique

Funded by: Norwegian Church Aid Period: 2005

Noragric contact: Randi Kaarhus CO–GOVERN

Funded by: European Commission Period: 2002-2005

Noragric contact: Tor Arve Benjaminsen

“Transforming landscapes of poverty”

conference

Funded by: NORAD/NFU Period: 2005

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Noragric Annual Report 2005 OPTIONS FOR COOPERATION WITH ZAMBIA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY (ZAWA) ON CAPACITY BUILDING, RESEARCH AND MONITORING AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Zambian Government’s development priorities are agriculture, tourism and mining.

Tourism, including safari hunting, currently only contributes 1.9% to Zambia’s GDP. The potential is, however, promising because more than 30% of Zambia’s land are protected areas due to the country’s unique and diverse nature and wildlife which is very attractive, and because tourism is a fast growing industry that already is a cornerstone in many African countries’

economies.

Norway has provided extensive support to natural resource management in Zambia for very many years, and mainly via the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA). ZAWA is, however, a weak institution that lacks resources, capacity and trained staff. The Norwegian Embassy in Lusaka and NORAD have therefore encouraged institutional cooperation between ZAWA and Norway with the overall objective to strengthen ZAWA. Three Norwegian institutions have been identiﬁed, i.e.

the Directorate for Nature Conservation (DN), UMB/ Noragric and the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA). DN will be the Norwegian lead institution in future collaboration.

Several researchers at Noragric and other UMB departments have much expertise and experience that is relevant for cooperation with ZAWA. Noragric has been involved in programmes on capacity building and institutional strengthening in Africa and elsewhere, and has formalised its cooperation with many institutions in the South.

Although ZAWA is primarily a wildlife management authority and not a research institution, there is nevertheless an urgent need for in-house expertise on wildlife ecology and management issues. Integrated management of natural resources, sustainable use and local empowerment via co-management and community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) is of key importance for Zambia and a major challenge for ZAWA. These topics have always been a prio- rity area for Noragric in its research, education and assignments for very many clients over many years. Combining research prioritised by ZAWA with education and training, be it tailored short courses for key staff, or formal Master and PhD education, commonly add beneﬁts.

Together with colleagues at UMB and other relevant institutions, Thor S. Larsen will be Nora- gric’s focal point for cooperation with ZAWA on co-management and CBNRM.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE GROUP ESTABLISHED

To give due attention to the Pakistan earthquake and its aftermath, UMB/Noragric organised a seminar for staff and students on 16 November. The seminar included a geological explanation on the severity of the earthquake, and the effects of the quake on poor local communities having lost their home and sources of income. Four staff from UMB (2 from Noragric) were in Pakistan during the quake. The outcome of the seminar, upon recommendation by rector, was to further explore the possibilities of an academic “emergency response group” (ERG), mobilizing UMB’s knowledge and experience and making it accessible to e.g. policymakers in Norway and/or educational and development institutions in affected areas. By using UMB’s institutional collaboration with universities in areas stricken by a natural disaster, relevant expertise could be exchanged immediately following a catastrophe. UMB also faces a challenge in assisting its staff that may be in the ﬁeld at the time of such disasters, including areas of political unrest.

The ERG consists of representatives with relevant expertise from four university departments (Noragric, IMT, IPM, and ILP) and is coordinated by Ingrid Nyborg, Noragric. The group’s mandate is to coordinate UMB’s proficiency and, through its national and international networks, collaborate with (mostly local) institutions in situations when natural disasters occur, using local knowledge and skills. In 2006, a workshop is planned to pinpoint the specific scientific areas that UMB is particularly adept to address.

Contact: Ingrid Nyborg Contact: Tor Arve Benjaminsen

Appraisal of the de Soto programme, Tanzania Funded by: NORAD Period: 2005

Contact: Randi Kaarhus

Changing land rights study, Malawi Funded by: NORAD

Period: 2005-2006 Contact: Randi Kaarhus

Decentralisation in the agricultural sector, Malawi

Funded by: NORAD Period: 2005-2006 Contact: Randi Kaarhus Review of land tenure study, southern Sudan

Funded by: Norwegian Peoples Aid Period: 2005

Contact: N. Shanmugaratnam Land reform and poverty in Namaqualand, South Africa Funded by: NFR

Period: 2003-2005

Noragric contact: Espen Sjaastad Human rights and governance in South Africa’s land and agrarian reform

Funded by: University of Oslo, through the Institute of Human Rights

Period: 2005-2006

Noragric contact: Espen Sjaastad Land, water and poverty in Southern Africa: Breaking with the past Funded by: NFR

Period: 2005

Noragric contact: Bill Derman Triangular institutional co-operation between Ethiopia, India and Norway:

Fostering South-South links in the management of natural resources in semi-arid areas (including CPR study)

Funding by: NORAD Period: 1997-ongoing

Noragric contact: Bishal Sitaula

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Noragric has agreements with more than 30 partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Most of these are with universities; some are with civil society organisations, research foundations and public institutions. The programmes include joint research and education activities as well as support to institutional development. Contacts with university partners in the South, NGOs (both in the South and North), ministries and others, also contribute towards linking UMB with the international society.

The major institutional collaboration programmes for

Noragric/UMB active in 2005 are linked to the universities and institutions listed below.

Africa:

Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS), University of Western Cape, South Africa

University of Malawi/Bunda College of Agriculture, Malawi Debub University, Ethiopia

Mekelle University, Ethiopia Egerton University, Kenya Asia:

Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara, Nepal Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), Northern Territory in Pakistan

University of Peshawar, Pakistan University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka Eastern University, Sri Lanka South Eastern Europe:

Albania: Agricultural University of Tirana Bosnia & Herzegovina:

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Banja Luka Faculty of Forestry, University of Banja Luka Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mostar

Faculty of Agriculture, University “Dzemal Bijedic” of Mostar Faculty of Agriculture, University of Sarajevo

Faculty of Forestry, University of Sarajevo

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo Croatia: Faculty of Agriculture, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek

Kosovo: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Prishtina

Macedonia: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius of Skopje

Serbia and Montenegro:

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad Institute of Biotechnology, University of Montenegro Multi-country:

REST, Relief Society of Tigray, Sadguru, a Gujarat-based NGO, Ethiopia/India

Triangular Institutional Cooperation between Ethiopia, India and Norway

Peacecorps (NORAD-funded VSD – volunteers for sustainable development - programme)

NETWORKING AND ALLIANCES These include:

• Drylands Coordination Group (DCG): framework agreement with the NGO-driven forum that exchanges practical experience and knowledge on food security and natural resource management in the drylands of Africa.

www.drylands-group.org

• Environmental Assistance Centre: Noragric is one of seven centres with an advisory function for NORAD and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Under the agreement, Noragric cooperates mostly with the Ministry of the Environment, the Directorate for Nature Management, and the Institute of Marine Research. http://environment.norad.no

• NARI institutes (Norwegian Agricultural Research International): cooperation with the Norwegian Institute of Land Inventory-NIJOS and the Norwegian Forest Research Institute-Skogforsk continues under the ongoing agreement of cooperation signed between UMB and NARI. www.nari.no

• The Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine (NVH):

collaboration in some current programmes as well as developed proposals and networking for future programmes.

www.veths.no

• UNEP Grid-Arendal: ongoing cooperation, mainly scientiﬁc advisory services. www.grida.no

INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION

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Voices from our partners

COLLABORATION BETWEEN KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY (KU), NEPAL, AND NORAGRIC/UMB

UMB and KU have been involved in on-going collaborative research over the past 2 years in the area of agricultural intensification impacts on socio-economic conditions and environment in the Middle Mountains Region of the central Nepal Himalayas. The research aims to evaluate the effects of recently increased agricultural intensification, in the form of increased number of crops per annual cropping cycle, and the associated increased use of agrochemicals on soil, water, socio-cultural and economic aspects of rural communities in mid-hill watersheds. The project, currently in its third year, has produced 4 Master’s theses and one PhD degree work in progress. Thus far, 3 scientific papers have been published, 3 more are in press, and another 2-3 are in preparation.

Preliminary findings indicate that, while agricultural intensification is inevitable and not necessarily undesirable, the present practices being adopted by farmers in peri-urban and rural areas with easy access to urban markets may not be sustainable due to heavy reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides. The conse- quent impacts on the ecosystem and human health are likely to be detrimental. Although some privileged farming households may benefit economically from such intensified production, the majority of small-holder and marginal farmers are likely to be left out of the mainstream, hence widening the disparity among well-to-do and poor households.

KU ﬁnds the collaboration extremely fruitful. This was further strengthened by new initiatives in the Teacher Training Programme and the visit of Noragric’s Head of Department, professor Ruth Haug, in November, and last but not least, active contribution from Dr. Bishal Sitaula. Many thanks to Noragric and UMB!

Dr. Roshan Man Bajracharya, Associate Professor, Kathmandu University (main contact)

Dr. Subodh Sharma, Associate Professor, Kathmandu University Noragric contact: Bishal Sitaula

COLLABORATION BETWEEN FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE, UNIVERSITY OF SARAJEVO, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA, AND NORAGRIC/UMB

As one of the 16 partners in the Norwegian South Eastern Europe (SEE) programme in agriculture, we have progressively reaped the beneﬁts from this partnership since its establishment in 2002. The programme contributed considerably to the reconstruction of our faculty, which was totally destroyed during the war. In the period between 2002-2005 there were numerous activities in which the faculty has participated with other partners through the “Balkans Programme in Agriculture”.

The year 2005 was very rich in activities. In concert with other partners the faculty did a recapitulation of the results of three

years of work on six separate programmes and developed future models of cooperation. Several high visibility and very useful meetings were organized on the level of scientiﬁc-research teams, faculty delegations and university delegations, including:

1. Visit of the UMB rector. The delegation from Norway that included the rector and deans, visited our faculty on 11 April.

During the visit various issues were discussed, including the implementation of the “Balkans Programme in Agriculture”

and further possibilities of future cooperation. A general agreement of cooperation between our faculty and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) was signed.

2. From 9-10 November a workshop on the Norwegian approach to the Bologna implementation was organised in Sarajevo by our university and UMB. As this is the ﬁrst year that we are applying the Bologna principles the support and assistance provided by our Norwegian partners will be very beneﬁcial in future endeavours. The workshop was also used to consider and discuss future cooperation on 9 nominated projects.

3. In cooperation with our Norwegian partners, a regional workshop was organised at our university. All contributors of the 9 new projects to be implemented in the period from 2006 to 2009 participated in the workshop, which was also used to revise project budgets and consider future activities.

4. In 2005, under the Fellowship programme, 3 PhD students and 2 Master’s students visited and worked at academic institutions in Norway.

We sincerely hope that in the future our faculty will continue and expand the cooperation with UMB and other Norwegian institutions. Our country still needs external support and we hope that we can count on continued support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has ﬁnanced the SEE programme so far.

Faculty of Agriculture, Sarajevo contact: Professor Dr. Selim Škalji Noragric contact: Mensur Vegara

Staff at Faculty of Agriculture, University of Sarajevo

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COLLABORATION BETWEEN BUNDA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, UNIVERSITY OF MALAWI AND NORAGRIC/UMB

Bunda College of Agriculture has had collaboration with Noragric since 1999. With NORAD support under the Phase II agreement – including the extension period from July 2004 to September 2005 - some of the research and academic development activities that took place between Noragric/UMB and Bunda College included:

a) Staff training: UMB continued assisting two students at the PhD level and an additional two on a related NUFU project in order to improve capacity and skills of staff.

b) Competence and capacity for agricultural development in Malawi: Noragric’s Dr. Randi Kaarhus was involved in conducting a baseline overview of institutions involved in knowledge generation, training and extension in agriculture and natural resources management. This study provided Malawi with information that now contributes in the new phase to improved communication, linkages and cooperation among Malawian institutions and between Malawian institutions and external partners, particularly UMB. The study was published as Noragric Report No. 22.

c) Poverty Reduction Strategies and Relevant Participatory Learning Processes in agricultural higher education: Malawi was one of the case studies conducted by Prof. Frik Sundstøl in 2004 to assess how universities and faculties respond to the strategies in terms of teaching, training and research content. It was published as Noragric Report No. 21.

d) Planning of the new phase of NORAD support: The planning of the new phase started in 2003 with participation of Prof.

Frik Sundstøl in the development of a project document for the new phase called MAROP (Malawi Agricultural Research and Outreach Programme). Following further consultations with NORAD, Dr. Kjell Esser, together with Prof. James Banda, Bunda Programmes Coordinator, visited the DFID- funded Natural Resources Systems Programme and the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) in the U.K., Norway and ASARECA in Uganda in June 2004. The purpose of the visit was to learn from institutions that are running similar programmes to what was being proposed for the new phase in a document called “Poverty Reduction in Malawi Using Research and Outreach, PRIMARO”. This visit assisted in shaping the implementation strategy of the new phase that culminated in two programmes: the Bunda College Capacity Building Programme and the Agricultural Research and Development Fund Programme (ARDEF). The ARDEF programme is being governed and managed in partnership with national stakeholders and UMB.

e) Opportunities for Norwegian support to agricultural development in Malawi: Dr. Kjell Esser and his colleagues

Dr Ragnar Øygard, Dr Catherine Chibwana and Dr. Malcom Blackie conducted a study with the view of outlining opportunities for Norwegian support to agricultural development in Malawi to contribute to the reduction, and ultimately elimination, of poverty which is the goal of the ARDEF programme (Noragric Report No. 27). It is believed that if the implementation strategy of ARDEF succeeds due to its proper planning, the Norwegian Government will scale up support to achieve the goal of poverty reduction through agricultural development.

Concluding Remarks

The involvement and participation of Norwegian partners at Noragric/UMB has assisted a lot in the area of building capacity of Malawians in terms of training at the PhD level, but also in imparting skills in developing strategies for national programmes geared to solving national problems. This cooperation will be strengthened during the next phase where close and extensive consultations between the two sides will contribute more to the success of the Bunda College Capacity Building Programme and ARDEF for the mutual beneﬁt of the two institutions and countries.

Contact at Bunda College of Agriculture:

Prof. James Banda, Programmes Coordinator Contact at Noragric: Poul Wisborg

Prof. James Banda and Dr Kjell Esser

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VISITORS DURING 2005

Dr. Mamadou D. Doumbia, Soil Scientist, and Dr Abou Berthe, Farming System specialist, research scientists at the Institut d’Economie Rurale of Mali spent 2 months at Noragric as visiting scientists (22 November 2005 - 19 January 2006).

The purpose of this sabbatical period was to draft publications and research/

development proposals from 6 years of collaboration on Integrated Plant Nutrient Management in Mali. During their stay, Drs. Doumbia and Berthe worked together with Noragric staff to write, totally or partially, 8 publication drafts and 2 draft proposals.

Drs. Berthe and Doumbia appreciated Noragric as an excellent institution, both technically and socially. Keep up the good job!

Dr. Mamadou D. Doumbia ([email protected]) Dr. Abou Berthe ([email protected])

Institut d’Economie Rurale Bamako, Mali

Two Seasons at Noragric

My association with Noragric goes back to the early ‘90s when the then College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources Management started training young Ethiopians in dryland agriculture and embarked on action-oriented research in agriculture and natural resources. Through funds obtained from NORAD both institutions entered into collaboration in curriculum development, staff training, infrastructure development and research. The modest start has now reached a substantial second phase of partnership that is built on trust and conﬁdence that also saw the establishment of Mekelle University.

Partnership with Noragric did not stop there; it opened opportunities for links and networking with other notable national and international universities. Links forged with Debub University in Ethiopia are focused on staff exchange and joint research. The link with EARTH University, Costa Rica, enabled Mekelle University to develop curricula that manifests on student-centered approaches to education and entrepreneurship in agricultural training.

As part of my sabbatical leave that started at the University of Berne in Switzerland, I chose to complete the leave at Noragric to enable me to interact more with the academic and research staff who are doing research in Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular. Noragric clearly provided the intellectual discourse necessary for visiting scholars engaged in academics and research in an atmosphere of international ﬂavour. I was able to meet and interact with visiting researchers not only from Africa, but also from Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America. It helped a lot in articulating current thoughts on land management.

A very important aspect of my stay at Noragric in writing the text book on “New Approaches to Sustainable Land Management” for agricultural students in Ethiopia that made it interesting and durable was the all-round support I got from everybody at all levels. I will be missing the Friday discussions and the wonderful cakes that go with it!

Dr Mitiku Haile Mekelle University

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PHD PROGRAMME IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

Noragric offers a PhD programme in Development Studies that is closely linked to the three overlapping scientiﬁc programmes, Agricultural development and livelihood security; Biodiversity and natural resource management; and Rights, conﬂicts and resources.

The programme places particular emphasis on Development Studies in relation to agriculture and the environment. It follows UMB’s criteria and requirements for PhD studies and is undertaken in collaboration with other university departments.

PhD defences in 2005

In 2005, four PhD candidates successfully defended their dissertations. These were Balesh Tulema Bune (Ethiopia), Cassandra Bergstøm (USA), Darley Jose Kjosavik (India) and Dismas Mwaseba (Tanzania). The titles of their dissertations are listed in the overviev on pages 20-21. Balesh returned to her native Ethiopia and is researcher at the Holetta Agricultural Research Center, Cassandra became UMB’s coordinator for the Health and Development group (see page 7), Darley is engaged in teaching in the Master’s and Bachelor’s programmes during 2006, and Dismas returned to Tanzania where he is Senior Lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension, Sokoine University of Agriculture. Congratulations to all!

BACHELOR’S AND MASTER’S PROGRAMMES Noragric offers one Bachelor’s programme (Development Studies) and two Master’s programmes (Development Studies, and Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture). The programmes combine social sciences and natural sciences in the analysis of human development and the environment. The education programmes beneﬁt from a diverse student body. About 35 nations are represented in the classroom, facilitating the exchange of a range of perspectives on environment and development.

The education programmes are managed by the Head of Education, assisted by three Programme Coordinators and two Study Coordinators. The Education Committee overviews operations and provides strategic advice for the management.

Bachelor’s programme

Development Studies is an interdisciplinary ﬁeld. Academic depth will therefore be obtained through insight into different and often overlapping disciplines. The programme provides

basic knowledge in several disciplines (social anthropology and other social sciences, ecology, and economics) and applies these subjects to interdisciplinary, concrete problems. Much of the teaching is conducted in English.

Prerequisite knowledge in mathematics (2MX) and chemistry (2KJ) is not required for enrolment, but may be recommended for certain electives. Students have a great deal of freedom to choose courses that ﬁt their career plans, such as:

• resource access and conﬂicts

• climate and pollution

• poverty, aid and equity

In addition, students are offered the opportunity to study one semester at a university in Africa, Asia, Europe, or America.

In 2005, 367 applications were received for the 40 student seats in the Bachelor’s programme in Development Studies.

Master’s programmes

The programmes consist of two years of academic work. The ﬁrst year provides a theoretical basis for the research work; the second year is dedicated to advanced courses, ﬁeld research and thesis writing. Both programmes maintained high application rates in 2005.

Both programmes were evaluated by an international evaluation committee appointed by the UMB administration during 2005. The evaluation report provided valuable recommendations regarding further improvements of the programmes. In December, Noragric submitted a report to the administration describing proposed steps to implement improvements.

Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture (MNRSA)

Master students explore relationships between development and the environment, focusing on the importance of natural resource management as a means of poverty reduction and sustainable development in rural areas. With this education, graduates should be able to promote integrated and innovative solutions to complex issues, fostering action and change to overcome economic, social and physical vulnerability of destitute people. Twenty-two students were accepted to the MNRSA programme in 2005.

EDUCATION

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In 2005, the number of mandatory courses was reduced and the number of electives was increased correspondingly to give students greater freedom in designing individual study programmes. This change was greatly appreciated by students.

Development Studies (DS)

This programme gives students a broad understanding of social science perspectives of development, as well as more specialised knowledge of technological, biological, economic and social science approaches to innovation, income generation and sustainable resource management.

The core courses provide knowledge in development theory, poverty, environment and collective action. In addition,

students can choose courses in conﬂict and development, eco-technology, water and sanitation in developing countries, social anthropology, ecology, tropical biology, development economics, agricultural production systems, management of natural resources and environment, gender and development, and rural development. Twenty-nine students were accepted to the DS programme in 2005.

Students spend two months at one of Noragric’s partner institutions in the South during the second year of studies.

Most students conduct their ﬁeld research for their thesis in a developing country.

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Topic/Student Supervisor Funding source

Bush encroachment as a process of landscape change in the Borana rangelands of Southern Ethiopia: Ecological and management assessments.

Ayana Angassa Abdeta

Gufu Oba State Educational Loan Fund/NUFU

Forest change in Baltistan region in Northern Areas of Pakistan:

Perceptions, property rights and policies. Jawad Ali

Tor Arve

Benjaminsen/Ingrid Nyborg

State Educational Loan Fund/AKRSP

Claiming reindeer in Norway: Toward a theory of the dynamics of regime formation and change. Cassandra Bergstrøm (defended in August)

Cary Fowler/Tom Burns

Norwegian University of Life Sciences Impacts of agricultural intensiﬁcation on socio-economic conditions and

implications for soil and water quality in Kavre district, Nepal. Bed Mani Dahal

Bishal Sitaula/Ingrid Nyborg

NORAD

Environment and poverty linkages and local perceptions of poverty and poverty alleviations among Boorana pastoralists in Southern Ethiopia. Boku Tache Dida

Espen Sjaastad/Leif O.

Manger

The Research Council of Norway

Perceptions of landscape, environment and land reform among stock farmers. A case study from Namaqualand, South Africa. Eirin Hongslo

Tor Arve Benjaminsen Norwegian University of Life Sciences Land tenure, common property resources and local participation in tourism

development (Mozambique). Hanne Haaland

Kjersti Larsen The Research Council of Norway

Market and non-market incentives for in situ conservation in a centre of diversity: the case of durum wheat landraces from Eastern Shewa, Ethiopia.

Bayush Tsegaye

Trygve Berg/Bekele Sheferaw

State Educational Loan Fund /Inst.

of Biodiversity Conservation and Research of Ethiopia Changing property rights and the indigenous communities: Land and

livelihoods in Highland Kerala (India). Darley Jose Kjosavik (defended in December)

N. Shanmugaratnam Other sources

Management of agricultural biodiversity – Third world farmers’ experience with change and their coping strategies (India). Frøydis Kvaløy

Trygve Berg/Randi Kaarhus

Impact of agricultural research: a study of on-farm development effects of agricultural research in Eastern and Southern Highland Zones of Tanzania in the period 1980-1990. Dismas Mwaseba (defended in December)

Fred H. Johnsen/

Randi Kaarhus

State Educational Loan Fund/TARP II

Farmers ﬁrst: Participatory knowledge generation in Ecuador. Elisabeth Molteberg

Randi Kaarhus The Research Council of Norway

OVERVIEW OF DOCTORAL STUDENTS AT NORAGRIC IN 2005

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Technical and social adaptation of natural systems for sanitation and wastewater treatment in North West Frontier Province, Pakistan. Bahadar Nawab

Kjell Esser/Ingrid Nyborg/Petter Jenssen

State Educational Loan Fund

Forest based carbon sequestration: Contribution of the private, public and civil societies to poverty alleviation and management of forest resources in Uganda. Charlotte Nakakaawa

Pål Vedeld/Jens Aune State Educational Loan Fund/ Makerere Univiversity

On-farm conservation and use of local crop diversity: Adaptations of rice and taro landraces in different crop ecosystems in Nepal. Deepak Kumar Rijal

Trygve Berg/Åsmund Bjørnstad

State Educational Loan Fund/IPGRI

Integration of ecological and indigenous knowledge assessments of long term environmental changes in and around settlements in two arid and sub humid rangeland sites in Northern Kenya. Hassan Guyo Roba

Gufu Oba The Research Council

of Norway

Politics, property rights and production in Arsi and East Shewa Zones, Ethiopia (1941-2004). Hussein Jemma Sheymo

Tor A. Benjaminsen/

Espen Sjaastad/S.

Pausewang

Addis Abeba University

Conﬂict management over contested forest resources: The case of Munesa Shahemene Forest Industry Enterprise, Ethiopia. Abebe Seifu Welde Tsadik

Pål Vedeld Agricultural University of Sweden

Effects of integrated nutrient management on crop production and soil fertility in the Central Ethiopian highlands. Balesh Tulema Bune (defended in June)

Jens Aune/Fred H.

Johnsen

State Educational Loan Fund/ICRAF

Sustainable soil conservation and land management options in Pokhera Kola Watershed Middle Mountain of Central Nepal. Krishna Raj Tiwari (transferred to Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences in 2006)

Bishal Sitaula/Ingrid Nyborg

NUFU

Household livelihood adaptation in a high population density area in Ethiopia: The case of Wolaita Zone. Ayele Tessema Jufare

N. Shanmugaratnam NORAD

Transgressing economic boundaries: Gender, commodiﬁcation and social change in Zanzibar. Hege Wallevik

Kjersti Larsen/Ian Bryceson

Human rights and land tenure reform in South Africa: a case study of policy, discourse and stakeholders. Poul Wisborg

Tor Arve Benjaminsen The Research Council of Norway

Effects of land use change on carbon sequestration in the acid upland agroecosystem of the Philippines. Shushan Ghirmai Woldu

Jens Aune/Gufu Oba State Educational Loan Fund

Topic/Student Supervisor Funding source

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Professor Cary Fowler, former Head of Research, took a leave of absence from Noragric in August 2005 to become Executive Secretary of the Global Crop Diversity Trust. The Trust is a new institution, organized under international law with ofﬁces at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN and the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute in Rome. Some 20 donors have contributed funds to the Trust, with Norway being one of the major supporters.

The mission of the Trust is to ensure the conservation of distinct and valuable plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The Trust is assembling funds, which will be invested, with the income from the investments used to ﬁnance conservation activities in gene banks around the globe. The conservation of plant genetic resources for the international community will ensure that plant breeders continue to have the biological materials they need and will contribute to efforts to build food security and respond to climate change, as well as reductions in supplies of water and energy.

Noragric has long had an interest in plant genetic resources.

Staff have researched the global and local dimensions of genetic resources management and conservation, have examined seed relief and restoration programmes, and have worked on a variety of legal and policy aspects related to genetic resources.

The work of the Trust will be of interest to Noragric’s research work and teaching in this area.

Prof. Fowler’s position with the Trust involves supervising an international staff, fundraising and overall management of the Trust’s endowment fund (the Trust has raised approximately USD 60 million), as well as guiding the Trust’s scientiﬁc work to design and help create a more efﬁcient and effective system for conserving plant genetic resources.

Dr Gry Synnevåg, former Head of Education, left Noragric in 2004 for a 2-year leave of absence to work for Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) in Afghanistan where she now heads the NCA country ofﬁce in Kabul. NCA collaborates with 15 Afghan NGOs and is carrying out emergency and development projects in different provinces in Afghanistan. The main objective is to improve livelihoods for the rural poor, small-scale farmers, returnees, female-headed households and the disabled in remote areas.

NCA’s main areas of activity are water resource management and decentralized renewable energy projects. Water programmes focus on women, sanitation and hygiene education. Agricultural and educational development, including peace education and establishment of peace councils, training of health workers and poverty reduction through income generating activities and small-scale enterprise development are other focus areas. At the national level NCA works with Afghan women groups on advocacy for women’s rights and reduced gender based violence.

The challenges lie close to the core themes of Noragric’s

academic and research focus areas. By contributing her expertise to NCA in Afghanistan, Gry will assist in the much-needed rebuilding efforts of the country and return to Noragric with experiences that, in return, will benefit students interested to learn more about conflict and post-conflict management, poverty reduction, natural resource management, and civil society.

There is also a great potential for using UMB’s competence in institutional capacity building to support the rebuilding of higher education in Afghanistan and to undertake research to support the reconstruction and development efforts of the country.

Collaboration has already started between Noragric and NCA to carry out a livelihood survey in one of the most remote and poorest provinces of Afghanistan.

”WHERE HAVE THEY GONE (AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING)?

Gry Synnevåg in Afghanistan