Noragric, the Centre for International Environment and Development StudiesContents

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Perspectives from the NLH Rector ... 3 Message from the Director ...4 Noragric’s Professional and Academic Focus ...

Research projects and Assignments ...

Institutional Cooperation ...

Education ...

Masters’ Theses in 2002 ...

Publications ...

Information Dissemination ...

Financial Overview ...

Who’s Who at Noragric ...

Acronyms ...

Photo credits:

Editor: Joanna Boddens-Hosang Layout: Spekter Reklamebyrå as, Ås Printer: Østfold Trykkeri as

Established in 1986, Noragric is the Centre for International Environ- ment and Development Studies at the Agricultural University of Norway (NLH). 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 NLH, Noragric also acts on behalf of the Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine (NVH) and of Norwegian Agricultural Research International (NARI), which form alliances with NLH.

NORAGRIC’S VISION IS TO:

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

Noragric plays a key role in making NLH, NVH and NARI competence available for Norwegian development cooperation and international institutions. With more than 40 years collaboration between NLH and academic and professional institutions in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe, Noragric has established a broad network of worldwide contacts. As part of the University, Noragric is a non-profit academic centre and receives core funding from NLH.

Countries with institutional collaboration activities

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Noragric plays an important role as the international gateway for NLH and in realising the University’s strategic objectives of international cooperation and internationalisation in accord- ance with the government’s quality reform. As the Rector of the Agricultural University of Norway, I am indeed proud of Norag- ric being such a renowned academic and highly professional centre of international standing.

The year 2002 has been one of major organisational changes at the University. The governance system went through a substantial reform and the number of departments decreased from twelve to seven. This did not directly affect Noragric, however, as it was decided that Noragric should continue as NLH’s interdisciplinary centre for international environment and development studies, with a similar academic status as a department when it comes to research and education programmes. In addition, Noragric should continue to play a coordinating role for the University as a whole when it comes to institutional collaboration with partner institutions in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

The year 2002 was a busy year with regard to institutional collaboration. NLH/Noragric entered into 18 new institutional collaboration agreements in addition to the 15 current agreements. I had the pleasure to attend the annual meeting in relation to the collaboration with NLH’s long-term partner in Tanzania, Sokoine Agricultural University (SUA) in Morogoro.

The joint food security and household income research programme (TARP-II) includes 33 research projects where about 21 researchers from NLH, the Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine (NVH) and Norwegian Agricultural Research Inter- national (NARI) undertake joint research with researchers from SUA in order to contribute towards the overall aim of the programme. This programme is an exciting example of how research can be useful in addressing practical needs of the rural poor, in particular women, and accordingly contributes towards improving the livelihoods of the rural population. NLH as an institution, and I personally, have a strong commitment towards this kind of institutional collaboration where universities play an important role in serving the needs of the society in developing countries. This kind of approach also opens new ways of communicating with farmers and pastoralists. For example, I remember well the stimulating discussion I had with some Maasai people on how they treated cases of foot and mouth disease in their herds!

In 2002, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs established a task force to develop a new strategy for international collaboration in the field of agriculture (Bie-utvalget). Three of

Noragric’s scientific staff were members of this task force. I strongly welcome the increased emphasis that the Norwegian government is putting on agriculture in their international development collaboration. Agriculture and natural resources are also prioritised in the Norwegian government’s action plan to combat poverty in developing countries that was launched in 2002. Agriculture and rural development is of crucial importance when it comes to efforts to reduce poverty. In 2002, Noragric also developed a new strategic plan for the period 2002-2007, focusing on three overlapping programmes: agriculture development and livelihood security; biodiversity and natural resource management; and rights, conflicts, poverty and well-being.

Education is an important part of Noragric’s activities and 2002 was a challenging year regarding new initiatives and developments. In collaboration with other departments at NLH, Noragric started a new Master’s programme in Devel- opment Studies. More than 60 students applied to the programme, of which 24 were accepted in the autumn and 5 more in the spring. Noragric also has a Master’s programme in the Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agricul- ture that has been offered since 1986. For the first time, one semester of this Master’s programme was successfully region- alised to partner institutions in Nepal and Uganda. Noragric is also running a PhD programme in Development Studies with 15 PhD students enrolled. In addition, a number of MSc and PhD students are taking their degrees at different NLH departments through institutional collaboration agreements with Noragric involvement.

In 2002, NLH and NARI entered into an alliance agreement that is expected to bring an added competence and quality to international efforts in agricultural and environmental development. NARI consists of four specialized institutes based in Ås:

the Norwegian Institute of Land Inventory (NIJOS); the Norwe- gian Centre for Soil and Environmental Research (Jordforsk);

the Norwegian Crop Research Institute (Planteforsk); and the Norwegian Forest Research Institute (Skogforsk). The alliance will draw together the expertise from all partners involved and will benefit collaboration efforts not only in Norway but also internationally.

Finally, I wish Noragric a productive and successful 2003 with increased collaboration between the centre and the NLH departments, as well as with like-minded institutes in Norway and abroad.

Knut Hove

Perspectives from the NLH Rector

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It is inconceivable that the UN Millennium Goals of halving global poverty and hunger by the year 2015 can be fulfilled without a major effort to strengthen the agricultural sector and promoting sustainable use of natural resources in developing countries.

This was the clear message of the committee (Bie-utvalget) that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs established in 2002 to recom- mend how to increase Norwegian support to agricultural development in the South. Agriculture and Natural Resources are prioritised areas in the Norwegian Government’s Action Plan on the fight against poverty that was launched in 2002. What role can Noragric, being NLH’s Centre for International Environment and Development Studies focusing on agriculture, livelihoods and natural resources, play in this regard?

In 2002, Noragric went through a process of developing a new strategic plan for the period 2002-2007. In this plan, Noragric seeks to define the meaning of International Environment and Development studies. As an academic field, Development Studies today has evolved considerably since those days when it was solely concerned with modernisation and economic growth. Traditionally, development studies have focused on countries in the South. Some argue that this approach con- stitutes a form of colonialism. The “North” might as easily be the subject of development studies. Moreover, ”globalisation”

prompts us to take a fresh look at categories such as “North”

and “South” that might prevent us from understanding and ana- lysing new realities. Methodologies and findings in the field of development studies should be applicable both to small communities in Norway and to communities in Tanzania, to analyses of both poverty and well-being, and to questions of equity and economic growth as well as to sustainability and environmental conservation. Through a problem-oriented approach, emphasis is put on recognising processes of change in particular contexts. Rather than focusing on particular geographical levels, or disciplinary approaches, this perspective encourages the identification of inter-linkages in time, space and academic approaches. Several of Noragric’s current research projects include issues related to globalisation and comparisons where Norway or other OECD countries are included as cases.

Globalisation and the changing context for rural development is of crucial importance when seeking to better understand and contribute towards equitable development, sustained well- being of women and men, and sound environmental practices.

What the rural poor are lacking first and foremost, are opportunities to sustain a livelihood. Noragric is involved in several research projects, studies and assignments aiming at increasing the income opportunities of the poor through agricultural development and improved management of natural resources.

One new research project started in 2002 assesses to which extent the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto

protocol can simultaneously address the challenges of climate change, sustainable development and poverty reduction. Pre- liminary results show that land-use related CDM projects might, if well designed, be a new tool for financing desertification control and poverty reduction. CDM will represent a new form of North-South collaboration that is not dependent on aid, but rather on a collaboration of mutual interests. Funds transferred from CDM projects to developing countries may in the future exceed the funds transferred through aid.

Universities, in particular in developing countries, have been widely criticized for being too academic and remote from the practical needs of the societies that they are supposed to serve.

Noragric is concerned about both the quality and relevance of its research and education activities as well as the challenge of impact and capacity building. Contributing towards capacity building is one of the major goals of Noragric’s involvement in research, education, assignments and institutional collaboration. Strengthening institutional capacity in the South to enable developing countries to define their needs, prioritise and implement their own policies and poverty reduction strategies, are of vital importance for Noragric. An on-going research project addresses poverty and conflict in Sudan and Sri Lanka. Both countries are heading towards post-conflict development phases and what is evident when it comes to sustaining the outcome of the peace talks is the lack of capacity at all levels in relation to implement agreed action to improve people’s livelihoods and well-being. To build peace from the ground up, people need to experience that improvements accompany peace. These improvements need to find their way also to rural areas where three out of four poor people live. Again, the role of agriculture is of vital importance. However, development is not necessarily peaceful. Conflicts over resources and power struggles might accompany development efforts in post-conflict situations.

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NLH/Noragric have more than 30 institutional collaboration agreements with universities in the South and in south-eastern Europe aiming at undertaking applied research of mutual inter- est for the researchers seeking, amongst others, to address practical problems faced by small farmers, pastoralists and rural people in general. Also, the interdisciplinary and problem-oriented education programmes offered by Noragric aim at capacity building and relevance for poor rural people. A newcomer in Noragric’s education portfolio in 2002 was a Mas- ters programme in Development Studies which attracted both international students as well as a great number of Norwegian students. Another exciting step in 2002 was handing over the responsibility for one semester of the Masters programme in Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture (MNRSA) to partner institutions in Nepal and Uganda. 2002 was also a very active year regarding institutional collaboration with countries in south-eastern Europe. Sixteen new agreements with institutions in this region were signed by the NLH Rector last year. The overall aim of the collaboration is to have universities play a role in post-conflict development and reconstruction.

In 2002, Noragric also formalised its collaboration with the independent research institutions at Ås (NARI) forming an alliance for development collaboration. Another event in 2002 was Nora- gric’s involvement in organising the thought-inspiring seminar The Formalisation of Property Rights in Eradicating Poverty with Dr Hernando de Soto as keynote speaker. Noragric is involved in several research activities addressing rights-based development, for example in relation to securing land rights in Africa.

Looking forward, the challenges ahead are many. At the end of 2002, 38 million people in Africa were on the edge of star- vation. In addition, the silent hungry category includes more than 700 million food insecure people. The new famines of the twenty-first century appear to be more meaningless than ever before. We have the information on when, where and why famines occur, who will be affected and for how long. We also have the resources and capacities needed to prevent famines from happening. However, we do not understand how to mobi- lise resources and capacities to create the necessary action to avoid mass starvations from occurring. Today, we tend to explain famine by pointing at structural factors such as insuf- ficient access to resources and human development opportunities; institutions, policies and legal frameworks not capturing the interests of marginal groups; exclusion, voicelessness and lack of political power-sharing at all levels. Political will, nationally and internationally, is needed to initiate and implement structural changes. Unfortunately, since political power and voicelessness are part of the structural problem, it is difficult to envisage how structural injustice could be corrected.

Ruth Haug

Noragric aims to maintain a balance of academic achieve- ments and practical approaches to development. To do so, Noragric continuously needs to develop competence and capacity, identify and address topics on the cutting edge of the development and policy agenda, collaborate with grass- root organisations, and be open to new and innovative ideas.

It is therefore important to Noragric to create and maintain a dynamic institution where there is a multicultural and cross- disciplinary environment -- both in terms of staff and areas of research and project involvement -- with links to numerous local, national and international actors.

Today’s main development issues include the globalisation and “anti-globalisation” processes. New contexts, relations and challenges are addressed, 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. Taking globalisation issues into account, Noragric focuses on three overlapping programmes:

• Agricultural development and livelihood security

• Biodiversity and natural resource management

• Rights, conflicts, poverty and well-being

Several cross-cutting themes bridge these three programmes:

policy, ecological zones (drylands, coastal zones, highlands), gender, participation, inter- and cross-disciplinarity, community development, urban/rural relations, partnership and capacity building. Each programme has a focal person who is responsible for academic coordination and for profiling of the programme.

RESEARCH

As an academic institution, independent and critical research is an important element in all Noragric’s activities. Research is closely linked to both the education programmes and the assignments undertaken by staff. The Director of Research heads the Research Committee (RC) and is responsible for research at Noragric, initiating and co-ordinating research activities and integrating research with education, institutional collaboration and assignments. The Research Committee has a facilitating and coordinating role for professional prioritisa- tion at Noragric. One member of the RC has the responsibility for ensuring the high quality of working papers and other publications. RC is also responsible for the PhD programme in Development Studies.

EDUCATION

The main goals of Noragric’s MSc and PhD programmes are to educate graduates with increased awareness, analytical

Noragric’s Professional and

Academic Focus

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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 has a Director of Education who heads the Education Committee (EC) and is responsible for the different education programmes. The education options at Noragric include two MSc programmes (Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Agriculture – MNRSA – and Development Studies-Poverty, Environment and Collective Action), web-based distance learning and continuing education courses. In addition, Noragric is also active in relation to education and development cooperation policies.

PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT, INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Noragric plays and active role in national and international committees and networks, in advisory roles for the Nor- wegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), in institutional

Noragric and NINA have collaborated with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) in Botswana for the past 5 years on the BONIC project, jointly funded by NORAD and DWNP. During this period, 7 MSc and 4 PhD students from DWNP have either completed or are in the process of complet- ing their studies.

Research projects have focused on the increasing elephant population in Botswana and how elephants affect the ecosystem. For the past decades the elephant population in Bot- swana has increased with more than 5,000 animals annually and presently the population is well above 100,000. Such an increase has created a challenge for wildlife management. A lot of attention has been given to areas changing from woodland to shrub land, particularly the disappearing riverine woodland areas. Using aerial photos, BONIC has documented that there has indeed been a dramatic decrease in woodlands since the 1960s. Although the elephant impact has generally changed the woodland both structurally and in terms of plant diversity, some species of antelope seem to have profi ted from this change.

Impala antelopes have increased from only scattered groups to densities approaching 200 animals/km² along the Chobe riverfront. During the past decades elephants have opened the woodland canopy by consuming the mature trees. This has increased the vegetative production in areas accessible for impala. While elephants consume mature trees the impalas eat seedlings. Thus, with the present impala densities there is very low recruitment of many woodland species.

These fi ndings have a number of management implications. In order to regenerate the woodlands along the riverfront a large decimation of elephant numbers is needed, since all the

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 utilisa- tion. This helps fulfil the obligation of Noragric as a part of the Agricultural University to interact with the greater society and make sure its knowledge and intellectual capacity are made available. All programme development and coordination requires active networking and strategic partnerships as well as active monitoring of policies and processes nationally and internationally. The programme development and coordination activities are headed by the Director of Programmes assisted by a group of coordinators and scientists involved in institutional collaboration programmes and coordination activities.

BONIC (BOTSWANA-NORWEGIAN INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECT)

elephants congregate along the river in the dry season. Even if the elephant population is suffi ciently decimated the high numbers of impala may still hamper regeneration through seedling consumption. Most importantly, the elephant numbers seen today are probably lower than those at the beginning of the 19^th century. During the 19^th century, however, elephants were decimated to very low levels due to ivory hunting. At the end of the 19^th century the rinderpest killed the majority of other ungulates across sub-Saharan Africa. The combination of a low number of elephants and other browsers may have caused the establish- ment of the riverine woodlands. Thus, what we see today may be a system returning to the state it was in two centuries ago.

The staff’s formal training (MSc and PhD) has been closely linked to joint project research activities, in that all the students have done their fi eld work under BONIC in Botswana. The intention is that they should not only return to DWNP with a higher degree, but also with acquired knowledge relevant to current wildlife management issues in Botswana.

Noragric contact: Stein Moe

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Noragric’s three overlapping programmes, Agricultural development and livelihood security; Biodiversity and natural resource management; and Rights, conflicts, poverty and well- being, form the basis for the research programmes, projects and assignments. Below, each programme is listed with the issues addressed. The following section lists all research projects and assignments in 2002 that are linked to each of the three programmes.

1. AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LIVELIHOOD SECURITY

One of the greatest challenges we are facing in the world today is how to assist poor people to enhance their livelihoods in a sustainable way. Agriculture is recognised as the most powerful and practical engine of rural economic growth and improved welfare for the poor. However, it not only affects the rural population. Lowered food prices and reduced migration from rural areas affect cities just as much. Globally, agricultural productivity has seen remarkable gains in productivity over the past half century. Yet this positive global picture masks major regional, national and local differences. Hunger and food insecurity persist. Whilst for developing countries as a whole per capita agricultural production increased by about 40% between 1980 and 2001, in Sub-Saharan Africa it fell by about 5%.

Noragric’s Agricultural development and livelihood security programme addresses, among others, the following issues:

• Poverty reduction, rural employment, access to markets.

- How can countries in the South add value to their agricultural output and increase agricultural productivity in order to reduce poverty and inequality?

- What are future opportunities for small-scale agriculture and rural enterprises to be successful in increasingly competitive national and international markets?

- What could be done in the many less-favoured areas in Africa that suffer from poor agro-climatic conditions and/or lack of infrastructure and market access?

• Governance, national policies, civil society.

- In what way do policies, institutions and processes affect how people use their assets in pursuit of different livelihood strategies?

- How to enhance fair and transparent systems of governance?

- What are the relevant roles of public, private and civil society sectors in agricultural development?

• Research, education, access to new technologies.

- How to create appropriate conditions and incentives to

Noragric Programmes

increase poor peoples access to new technologies and approaches to sustainable management?

- What is the role of agricultural research and technology in livelihood security and well-being? What are the bottlenecks to getting better technologies into farmer’s fields and how can these be overcome?

- What are the best practices and technology investment in African agriculture (including animal husbandry, crops, soils, and aquaculture)?

- How can the curricula in higher education for agriculture and natural resource management be adapted/

changed in order to meet society’s needs and promote sustainable development?

2. BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The majority of poor people in the South are smallholders and pastoralists. Their livelihoods depend to a large extent on the natural resource base that, accordingly, is of vital importance in seeking to reduce poverty and contribute towards increased well-being. The degradation of the natural resource base affects the poor more than others as they tend to rely on more fragile natural resources for their livelihoods. Soil is the foundation for agriculture; forests protect water sources and provide income and food; water is essential for human life and agriculture; and biodiversity is the basis for protecting human life and improving all domestic plant and animal varieties, while safeguarding food security.

The Biodiversity and natural resource management programme addresses the following issues, among others:

• Effects of natural and human infl uences on the environment.

- In what way and why do different landscapes change over time and what is the impact of these changes on people’s livelihoods?

- How will climate change affect food production, ecosystem function and farmer vulnerability in developing countries?

- What are the effects of land use change on carbon sequestration?

- How to reduce land degradation and improve water management?

- How to optimise the use of the natural resource base to meet agricultural productivity goals?

• Natural resource management in different ecosystems.

- How to protect and use specific ecosystems and asso- ciated biodiversity (national parks, wildlife reserves etc) in a sustainable way?

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- How to enhance good policies and practises of integrated coastal zone management?

- How to address dryland farming/pastoralism challenges in relation to rangeland management and different drought coping strategies?

- What are the impacts of grazing on biodiversity of rangelands?

- How to use community forest management in poverty eradication?

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

- How to facilitate that the political and legal framework as stated in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Agenda 21, the Global Plan of Action and the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources work for local communities e.g. regarding access and benefit sharing?

- How do wildlife property regimes interface with local society?

- How to incorporate local knowledge with scientific knowledge in biodiversity conservation?

- How to contribute towards capacity building e.g.

regarding knowledge, management and negotiations in relation to biotechnology and intellectual property rights?

- How to ensure fair and sustainable management of agro-biodiversity at local, national and global level?

- How to improve on-farm conservation and use of local plant genetic resources to enhance food and livelihood security of poor farmers?

3. RIGHTS, CONFLICTS, POVERTY AND WELL-BEING

The livelihoods of poor people are heavily dependent upon rights and access to natural resources as well as the quality of the resource base. Rights are related to policy, power structures and distributional issues e.g. regarding access to land, water, forest and food. Land reforms and control over resources are tricky issues, which easily trigger violent conflicts over a whole range of natural resources - not only land and food, but also timber, oil, minerals (e.g. diamonds), ivory, drugs and coastal resources. In addition to conflicts in relation to resources, several countries in the South (particularly in Africa) and countries in transition experience different kinds of political, ethical and/or religious conflicts. Another issue is how to prepare for post-conflict development. Regarding efforts towards expanding the asset base of the poor, rights- based development has been suggested. This is anchored in human rights legislation not only in relation to civil and political human rights, but also economic, social and cultural human rights.

The programme Rights, conflicts, poverty and well-being addresses the following issues, among others:

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

- How to realise rights through creating opportunities for the poor?

- How to operationalise the concept of rights-based development with focus on the right to food and to natural resources (land, water, forest, rangelands, biodiversity)?

- What are the relationships between rights, power structures and accountability?

- What are the consequences of land reforms on local people?

- How do men and women negotiate control and access to resources under changing contexts?

• Conflicts and post-conflict management

- How to manage different conflict situations (land, water, pasture, forest, shrimp-farming etc)?

- What is the relationship between national conflicts and rural poverty?

- To what degree is “development” possible in conflict situations?

- How to secure access to appropriate seed and restore local seed supply systems in post-conflict or post dis- aster situations (natural and/or man-induced)?

• Internally displaced people and forced migration - What happens when men and women become inter-

nally displaced, forced migrants in their home country?

- How to address forced migrants right to return as well as their right to stay.

- What is the relationship between forced migration and ordinary mobility?

- What are the ecological impacts of forced migration?

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EFFECT OF INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGE- MENT ON CROP PRODUCTION AND SOIL FER- TILITY IN THE CENTRAL ETHIOPIAN HIGHLANDS

High population pressure and changes in land use, coupled with inappropriate farming practices and national government policies, have resulted in the depletion of soil nutrients and a decline in food production in the Ethiopian highlands. The impact is a continuous challenge for the development of sustainable livelihoods and the survival of the local people.

This PhD study looks at the different components of locally available resources and promising technologies to tackle the problem of nutrient management at the smallholder level with minimum capital requirement.

The study was carried out in Gare Arera, in the Dendi Dis- trict of Oromiya Regional State in the Central Ethiopian highlands, which is also a benchmark site for the Noragric-funded project on Combating Nutrient Depletion in the Ethiopian Highlands. The altitude of the area is 2,200m with an average annual rainfall of 1,380 mm.

The fi eldwork started with a survey on possible opportunities for integrated nutrient management to improve the existing production level and soil fertility. Survey results indicated the potentials available to smallholder farmers for integrated soil fertility management and the high willingness of the community to participate.

More than 100 farmers were trained in the preparation and application of organic fertilizer, of which some had already started compost preparation and treatment. On a fi eld day arranged for the farmers to visit the activities in the area, some farmers demonstrated the use of compost fertilizer and the conservation of tillage crops on their own farms. Currently a local NGO is assisting the farmers with the promotion of organic fertilizers. Upon the request of the District Bureau of Agriculture, theoretical and practical training was also given to agents of the Ministry of Agriculture Development working with the farmers in the district. The District Bureau of Agriculture has incorporated compost promotion in its annual activity plan after a visit of the activities at Gare Area.

Important lessons learned during this research work included:

-There are many opportunities, resources and knowledge at the farmers’ level for integrated nutrient management in the study area (Gare Arera) and in similar agro-ecological zones in the country.

-Bestowing upon the farmers a sense of partnership is a strong instrument for adopting the practice.

-When the practice is within their capacity both technically and economically, farmers are ready to adopt it without further formal popularising of the programme.

Noragric contact: Balesh Tulema, PhD student

Research projects and Assignments

Grouped according to the three Noragric programmes

1. AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LIVELIHOOD SECURITY

Combating nutrient depletion in the Ethiopian Highlands Funded by: Norwegian Ministry of Affairs/ICRAF

Period: 1998-2003

Noragric contact: Jens Aune

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

Funded by: NORAD Period: 2000-2004

Noragric contact: Fred H. Johnsen

Identifying success factors and limitations related to female entrepreneurship in Norway and Estonia Funded by: NFR

Period: 1997-2003

Noragric contact: Aud Marit Esbensen

Effects of land use change on carbon sequestration in the acid upland agro-ecosystem of the Philippines Funded by: State Education Loan Fund/ICRAF/Noragric Period: 1999-2003

Noragric contact: Shushan Ghirmi Woldu

Effects of integrated nutrient management on crop production and soil fertility, Central Ethiopian highlands Funded by: State Education Loan Fund/ICRAF

Period: 2000-2004

Noragric contact: Balesh Tulema Bune

High altitude integrated natural resource management programme, Pakistan (AKRSP)

Funded by: NORAD Period: Phase II, 2002-2005 Noragric contact: Ingrid Nyborg

A pilot study for a formative process research project on strengthening of rural producer organisations

Funded by: NORAD Period: 2002

Noragric contact: Randi Kaarhus Team Leader: Mette Wik (NLH)

Feasibility study for potential institutional collaboration in Southern Sudan

Noragric contacts: Ivar Jørgensen, Trygve Berg

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Rural development & carbon sequestration Funded by: NFR

Period: 2002-2004

Noragric contact: Jens Aune

Team Leader: Solveig Glomsrød (Statistics Norway) Rehabilitation of seed supply systems after disasters:

developing methods of analysis

Funded by: CARE Norway, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Period: 2002-2003

Noragric contact: Trygve Berg

Educating Change Agents in Ethiopia Funded by: NORAD

Period: 2002-2003

Noragric contacts: Sidsel Grimstad, Aregay Waktola

Analysis of options for support to a network for knowledge sharing on rural organisations in sub-Saharan Africa Funded by: NORAD

Noragric contact: Ivar Jørgensen Team Leader: Ragnar Øygard (NLH)

Study on agricultural development and poverty reduction, Tanzania

Funded by: NORAD

Noragric contact: Fred H. Johnsen Team Leader: Ragnar Øygard (NLH)

Represent NORAD at the annual meeting between NLH and Bunda College of Agriculture, Malawi

Funded by: NORAD

Noragric contact: Sidsel Grimstad

Appraisal of outgrower scheme with Paulownia Plantations, Sri Lanka

Funded by: NORAD

Noragric contact: Ivar Jørgensen

Review of Norwegian development cooperation with Madagascar

Funded by: NORAD

Strategy for strengthening the support to agricultural development in Norwegian development cooperation Funded by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Noragric contact: Ruth Haug

Evaluating of Research and Extension Services - INTA, Nicaragua

Noragric contact: Alice Ennals

Enterprise workshop for eight university leaders, EARTH University, Costa Rica

Noragric contact: Joanna Boddens-Hosang

Evaluation of the IPM/Agroforestry programme at the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), Costa Rica

Noragric Contact: Ivar Jørgensen Team Leader: Mariela C. Ramirez

Workshop on quality assurance in higher education in SADC countries

Noragric contact: Frik Sundstøl

Technical Advisory Services to the CGIAR (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research)

Funded by: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Noragric contact: Ruth Haug

Cooperation with NOVA-BOVA Programme: Baltic Nordic Network on Agricultural Economics and Business (2001-2003)

Funded by: Nordic Council of Ministers (Network Programme for Baltic Countries & North West Russia) and the Research

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THE NORWEGIAN SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE (SEE) PROGRAMME IN AGRICULTURE:

“COMPETENCE TRANSFER, INSTITUTIONAL CONTACT AND COOPERATION BETWEEN UNIVERSITY FACULTIES OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND VETERINARY MEDICINE IN SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE”

This 3-year programme, which started in 2002 and is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was set up with bilateral agreements between each partner institution, but with the main intention to facilitate regional cooperation amongst the partners.

The objectives of the SEE programme are to improve the organisation, the content and the quality of academic education and research in agriculture, veterinary medicine and forestry to meet the needs of qualifi ed people during this time of post-war rebuilding of the region, in order to reach general European levels and standards.

Six projects are dedicated to research and development in the areas of animal sciences, crop and fodder production and the use of GIS-methods in forestry and agriculture. Sup- port to the development of staff and the institutions is done by way of study stays, study material, covering costs for e.g. laboratory analysis related to M.Sc. and Ph.D. thesis work, guest lecturing and some equipment purchase. Furthermore, the programme supports professional meetings, workshops and courses for advisers, administrators and others dealing with practical agriculture. The most important activity is facilitating collegial cooperation and reconstituting networks between the partners in the SEE area. Therefore, a broad approach has been chosen with a large number of partners (16) from all SEE geographical areas and representing most of the different ethnical groups in Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, FYR Macedonia and Serbia & Montenegro.

Some results and impacts:

-19 Ph.D. and 29 M.Sc. students receive support for study stays abroad and for thesis work

-Professional training courses and workshops have been arranged, some at partner institutions

-Joint research projects and other programme activities have formed a good basis for new regional cooperation between individuals and between institutions.

-The competence level has been raised at partner institutions, both for staff and for teaching and research facilities.

-All partner institutions have received some computer hard- ware and software for utilising opportunities given by GIS systems and methods in agriculture and forestry.

-At the Faculty of Agriculture in Sarajevo a new laboratory for molecular genetics has been established and facilities are being prepared for taking part in distance learning, both of which will be utilised by people from other partner institutions.

Noragric contact: Lars Sjøflot Council of Norway

Noragric contact: Lars Sjøflot

Food Hygiene & Safety Education Network in the Baltic and Nordic Countries (2001-2003)

Funded by: Nordic Council of Ministers (Network Programme for Baltic Countries & North West Russia)

Competence transfer, institutional contact and cooperation between university faculties of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine in South Eastern Europe

Funded by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Period: 2002-2004

Noragric contact: Lars Sjøflot Team leader: Mensur Vegara

Rehabilitation of Agriculture & Agricultural Education in Kosovo (2001-2003)

Funded by: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Noragric contact: Lars Sjøflot

Updating Academic Education and Research in South- eastern Europe: Pilot project (2001-2002)

Funded by: Research Council of Norway and the Centre for International University Cooperation

Reorientation and Development of Academic Curricula in Agriculture, Bosnia Herzegovina (1999-2002)

Funded by: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nor- wegian Ministry of Culture, Education & Research

Food Production, Agriculture and Society Programme, Latvia (1999-2003)

Funded by: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Noragric contact: Lars Sjøflot

This programme consists of the following projects:

1. Norwegian-Latvian Rural Development Studies and Research Centre, Latvia (1999-2003)

a) Masters Programme in “ Economics and Agri-business’’

Project Leaders: O. Gjølberg (NLH); A. Kozlinnki (Latvia) b) Education in Food Hygiene (Safety)

Project Leaders: M. Yndestad (NVH); A. Berzins (Latvia) 2. Development of Farmer Organizations and Dairy Pro-

duction, Latvia (1999-2003)

Project Leaders: R. Bruflot (TINE); J. Zalitis (Latvia)

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3. Food Safety and Quality Control System at national, district and local level, Latvia (1999-2003)

Project Leader: D. Vetra (Latvia)

2. BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

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

Funded by: FAO Period: 2002

Noragric contacts: Trygve Berg, Gry Synnevåg Policy research on genetic resources globally Funded by: IPGRI/CGIAR/Noragric

Period: ongoing

Noragric contact: Cary Fowler

Management of agricultural biodiversity – Third world farmers’ experience with change and their coping strategies Funded by: NFR

Period: 1999-2003

Noragric contact: Frøydis Kvaløy

Market and non-market incentives for in situ conservation of agro-biodiversity in a centre of biodiversity, Ethiopia Funded by: State Education Loan Fund, Ethiopia (Biodiversity Conservation and Development Institute) and Noragric Period: 2000-2004

Noragric contact: Bayush Tsegaye

Comparative value of crop varieties adapted to varying ecosystems in Nepal

Funded by: State Education Loan Fund/IPGRI Period: 2000-2004

Noragric contact: Deepak Kumar Riijal

Marine biodiversity (Jakarta mandate) cooperation with IUCN and East African coastal institutions

Funded by: NORAD and IUCN Period: 1999-2003

Noragric contact: Ian Bryceson

Wild animals as property: yours, mine or ours?

Funded by: NLH Period: 1997-2002

Noragric contact: Cassandra Bergstrøm

Biotechnology competence building in developing countries

Funded by: NORAD Period: 2002-2003

Noragric contact: Trygve Berg Social Forestry in Malawi Funded by: NORAD Period: 2002

Noragric contact: Randi Kaarhus

Discussions on the implementation of a GEF project on indigenous vegetation in drylands, Kenya

Funded by: University of Oslo Period: 2002-2004

Noragric contact: Gufu Oba Coastal aquaculture systems Funded by: NFR

Period: 2002-2004

Noragric contact: Ian Bryceson GRID-Arendal technical support Funded by: UNEP

Noragric contact: Thor Larsen

Upper Watershed Management project, Sri Lanka

Funded by: Asian Development Bank/ Ministry of Forestry and Environment (Sri Lanka)

Period: 1998-2004

Noragric Contact: Ivar Jørgensen Project Leader: S. Larsen (Statskog)

Community Biodiversity Development and Conservation (CBDC) Programme

Funded by: NORAD, SIDA (Sweden), IDRC (Canada), DGIS (the Netherlands)

Period: 2001-2004

Noragric contact: Trygve Berg

Representing NORAD at ICIMOD board meetings, Bhutan and Germany

Funded by: NORAD

Noragric contact: Ivar Jørgensen Team Leader: Kjell Esser

Environment collaboration with Indonesia (NODE) Funded by: NORAD

Noragric contact: Ivar Jørgensen Team Leader: Shivcharn Dillion (NLH)

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Drafting Norway’s report to the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC) for the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Funded by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Noragric contact: Grete Benjaminsen Mapping Competence for Nile Initiative Funded by: NORAD

Appraisal of project document for the management of natural resource programme, Tanzania

Funded by: NORAD

Noragric contact: Ian Bryceson

Analysis of catchment forests in Tanzania In cooperation with: FORCONSULT

Funded by: Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanza- nia

Noragric contact: Espen Sjaastad

War transforms the socio-economic environments of livelihoods.

Increased personal insecurity, reduced physical mobility, dis- placement, and loss of access to resources, sources of employment, markets and social services, are among the more common effects experienced by civilians living in war zones. Large sections of people become more vulnerable and poorer due to the combined impact of these factors, yet some are able to rebuild their livelihoods in wartime, revealing the differences in capacities among households to deal with vulnerability.

These general observations are supported by the preliminary fi ndings of an ongoing study in eastern Sri Lanka, which looks at the impact of the protracted war on the livelihoods of different sections of the people in and around the village of Kommathurai in the Batticaloa district. The village and its neighbourhood were severely affected in 1990 by major clashes between the Sri Lankan army (SLA) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The violence resulted in mass displacements of the people, only to return to their homes in early 1991. The area came under the control of the SLA but 75% was controlled by the LTTE. More than 70% of the population was living in government-controlled areas where humanitarian relief and social services were most available. The district’s vast tracts of agricultural lands, forests and irrigation tanks were in the hands of the LTTE, as well as the brick kilns that provided seasonal employment for hundreds of casual workers. This dichotomy of SLA-controlled and LTTE-controlled areas had serious consequences for the livelihoods of the people until the beginning of the current ceasefi re in February 2002.

Our fi eldwork began before the ceasefi re and continued through the ceasefi re. This provided a rather unique opportunity

MAPPING VULNERABILITY, POVERTY AND RECOVERY IN CONFLICT AREAS: DYNAMICS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN EASTERN SRI LANKA

to capture the differences between the two periods in livelihood construction and other aspects of the people’s lives.

The processes of livelihood construction by the residents of Kommathurai displayed a variety of strategies depending on the social and physical location of individual households.

It was found that human security and access to resources, income earning opportunities and services such as education and healthcare had a lot to do with where a family lived in the village. Wartime restrictions and the distribution of military camps and security checkpoints, while impacting negatively overall, imposed more constraints on residents of certain localities. This contributed to further marginalisation and pauperisation of the landless residents of Orumulacholai, the most deprived section of Kommathurai even before the war, who could not migrate in search of work.

The arrival of the ceasefi re and the peace process changed the security and mobility situation for the better. However, the majority of people remained vulnerable to entitlement failures to varying degrees and dependent on poverty alleviation benefi ts six months after the commencement of the ceasefi re when the last round of fi eldwork was carried out. Orumulacholai continues to be the most marginalized part of Kommathurai.

Under the ceasefi re agreement between the government and the LTTE, the latter has become the dominant political power in the region and begun to enforce its authority. Uncertainty remains as regards the fi nal outcome of the negotiations. The effects of the war have led to mixed socio-economic consequences.

Noragric contact: N. Shanmugaratnam

Desk Appraisal: Second Phase of the Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme in India

Noragric contact. Paul Vedeld

Mt. Elgon Regional Ecosystem Conservation Programme Funded by: NORAD

Period: 2002

Noragric contact: Paul Vedeld

Study on the emerging role of forestry as an important tool in poverty alleviation

Funded by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Period: 2002

Desk assessment of the new World Bank Forest Strategy Funded by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Period: 2002

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Evaluation of Mission Alliance, Bolivia (evaluation of rural development project)

Funded by: Norwegian Missionary Alliance Noragric contact: Alice Ennals

Team Leader: Roberto Garcia

Misitu Yetu: mid-term evaluation of a pilot project on joint forest management in peri-urban coastal forest, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Funded by: CARE Tanzania Noragric contact: Alice Ennals

Needs assessment mission, Afghanistan Funded by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Period: 2002

Noragric contact: Kjell Esser

3. RIGHTS, CONFLICTS, POVERTY AND WELL-BEING

Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) and poverty reduction – workshop, Norway

Noragric Contact. Ingrid Nyborg

Human rights and governance in South Africa’s land reform

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

Period: 1999-2004

Noragric contact: Tor Arve Benjaminsen/Sidsel Grim- stad

Triangular institutional co-operation between Ethio- pia, 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

Economic analysis of reciprocity and agricultural markets in Africa

Funded by: NFR Period: 1999-2002

Noragric contact: Espen Sjaastad FOREST CHANGE: PROPERTY RIGHTS PERCEPTIONS

AND POLICIES IN THE BALTISTAN REGION, PAKISTAN

Basho valley is one of the poorest areas in Pakistan. The natural forest in the valley is the main source of fuel and timber in the district and is vital for the livelihoods of the local population. The forest is state property; the communities have user-rights for harvesting timber, fuel and for grazing animals.

The results of the research show that the State has mismanaged the Basho forest to the extent that the local population fears total disap- pearance of the forest in the near future, threatening their livelihoods.

One important cause of mismanagement has been the absence of accountability to check the misuse of legal powers by the Government Forest Department (FD), the legal custodian of the natural forests in Pakistan.

The FD offi cial can issue permits for extraction of timber and/or fi re- wood from the forest. The permits can be formal or informal. Records are maintained for sales of formal permits but the informal permits (“chits”) are mainly hand written and are issued for the collection of dead and dry wood only. The Divisional Forest Offi cer (DFO) is obliged to issue chits after fulfi lling certain legal requirements; in practice these instructions are ignored. Therefore chits do not bear legal details like offi cial seal marks, issue dates, or the areas from where the wood is allowed to be extracted.

Although the FD offi cials have powers to issue chits to locals only, they issue permits to outsiders, including infl uential people, friends and contractors who extract both dry and living wood. Therefore, chits have played a major role in the deforestation of Basho valley. Accord- ing to the local people, by using the chits contractors have extracted 5 times more than what they were allowed, mainly living wood. Both the FD offi cials and the contractors benefi t from this system. Extraction of wood using chits has become a lucrative business. For example, the FD charges a royalty fee of Pakistani rupees (PKR) 7.5 /100 kg of dry wood, while it is sold for PKR 350 in the market. The contractors, who are mainly outsiders, thus use the chit system to make money by selling the forest. They also use this system to extract living wood, which is sold for a higher price than for dry wood.

The local poor also contribute to the deforestation under this system. They sell both wood and labour for cash. But they do not earn much and the contractors benefi t from cheap labour.

The forest in Basho has through this process been reduced to a few degraded patches. Although the communities, with the assistance of conservation agencies, persuaded the FD to put a ban on extraction by outsiders in 1996, the forest department continues issuing chits to both the local infl uential people and to outsiders.

The fi ndings of this research have important implications for our understanding of the role of formal and informal policy and regulations in the conservation and management of the forests of Pakistan. Formal regulations for extraction are often so cumbersome that stakeholders develop parallel systems that bypass offi cial channels, such as the chit system, where the extent of forest harvesting remains unchecked and unrecorded. Thus, formal written records hide the true extent of forest exploitation, and thus give a false impression of the effective- ness of forest policy. In order to address this problem, a compromise between the two systems could be considered, where formal regulations become less cumbersome and decentralized, so that they could replace the informal parallel systems.

Noragric contact: Jawad Ali, PhD student

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HUMAN RIGHTS AND LAND TENURE REFORM IN SOUTH AFRICA: POLICY, DISCOURSES AND STAKEHOLDERS

This PhD project explores the implementation of the Trans- formation of Certain Rural Areas Act 94, 1998 in Namaqua- land in the Northern Cape Province in South Africa. The Act provides for the transfer of state-owned lands to communities through a process of consultation, rights investigation and planning. By facilitating committee-work, public meetings and referenda, competent civil society organisations made newly acquired rights relevant to an issue people care strongly about. Yet many participants were frustrated with the gaps between legal rights and a reality of widespread poverty, unemployment and land scarcity. Neither munici- pal nor community ownership appeared promising options in a context where public support for rural development is dwindling. The Act did not provide or link with support for land-based enterprises and community institutions, leaving vulnerable groups, such as small stock herders and women farmers, at a particular risk. And while central government wanted to divest itself of land and financial burdens, many local politicians resisted ‘handing over’ resources they could use in patrimonial power games.

During 2002 Noragric PhD student, Poul Wisborg, was based at the Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS), University of Western Cape, and regularly visited fi eld sites in Namaqualand. His fi ndings were shared at PLAAS seminars and at an academic conference in Zimba- bwe. An experience-sharing workshop was arranged for major stakeholders, and he wrote a report on land use and human rights in a confl ict-prone area. When South Africans turn to implementing the contested Draft Communal Land Rights Bill (published in August 2002) in the former ‘homelands’ where about 13 million people live, it will be a challenge to ‘learn from Namaqualand’, i.e. achieve a thorough democratic process while assisting development so that tenure reform does not end up as a ‘democratisation of disempowerment’. This project will give insights that are relevant for rights-based policies to end the protracted inequality in land-based endow- ments and capabilities in post-colonial societies.

Noragric contact: Poul Wisborg, PhD student Yours today, mine tomorrow? Women and men’s

negotiations over resources in Baltistan Funded by: NFR, Noragric and AKRSP Period: 1996-2002

Noragric contact: Ingrid Nyborg

Forest change: Property rights perceptions and policies in the Baltistan region, Pakistan

Funded by: State Education Loan Fund and AKRSP Period: 2000-2004

Noragric contact: Jawad Ali

Farmers first: Participatory knowledge generation in Ecuador Funded by: NFR

Period: 1997-2002

Noragric contact: Elisabeth Molteberg

Human rights and land tenure reform in South Africa: a case study of policy, discourse and stakeholders Funded by: NFR and NORAD

Period: 2000-2004

Noragric contact: Poul Wisborg

Rural poverty in conflict situations in Sudan and Sri Lanka Funded by: NFR

Period: 2000-2004

Noragric contact: N. Shanmugaratnam Perceptions of landscape change Funded by: NFR

Period: 2001-2004

Noragric contact: Tor Arve Benjaminsen CO–GOVERN

Funded by: European Commission Period: 2002-2005

Noragric contact: Tor Arve Benjaminsen

The role of forest resources in poverty reduction and on policy implications for NORAD and other donors

Funded by: NORAD

Noragric contact: Ivar Jørgensen Team Leader: Arild Angelsen (NLH)

Study on poverty reduction in the drylands Funded by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Noragric contact: Gry Synnevåg

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As of 2002, Noragric has agreements with 30-40 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. An important function of Noragric is active networking and partnership. Through important contacts maintained with university partners in the South, NGOs (both in the South and North), social movements, Min- istries and other partners, Noragric also contributes towards linking NLH with the larger society.

The level of activity varies over time, and also varies according to the success in obtaining funding for joint programmes.

The sources of funding are, amongst others, NORAD, the Research Council of Norway, multilateral institutions etc. The programmes of cooperation include joint research activities, support to education and training as well as support to institutional development. In several of the programmes, support to PhD education is included. The general purpose of most of the agreements is joint research and education programmes, capacity development and institutional improvements.

A more equal partnership is sought whenever contracts are renewed in order to move away from a typical client/service- provider relationship. Noragric believes that more equal scientific partnerships will be more sustainable and rewarding in the long run.

The total budget for institutional collaboration in 2002 was around NOK 9 million. Active agreements in 2002 have been with:

In Africa:

• Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania

• Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

• Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) in South Africa

• Bunda College of Agriculture, Malawi

• Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Botswana

• University of Dar es Salaam, Department of Marine Biol- ogy, Tanzania

• University of Fort Hare, Deptartment of Agriculture, South Africa

• Desert Research Foundation, Namibia

• Asmara University, College of Agriculture and Aquatic Studies (CAAS), Eritrea

• Mekelle University and Debub University, Ethiopia

• The International Centre for Research on Agro-Forestry (ICRAF), Ethiopia

Multi-country:

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

• Triangular Institutional Cooperation between Ethiopia, India and Norway

• Peacecorps In Asia:

• Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara, Nepal

• Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), Northern Territory in Pakistan

• Hanoi Agricultural University and National Institute of Animal Husbandry, Vietnam

In South Eastern Europe:

• Competence transfer and institutional contact and cooperation between faculties of Agriculture, Forestry and Veteri- nary Medicine in South Eastern Europe (SEE), 2002-2004 - Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Serbia - Faculty of Agriculture, University of Banja Luka, Bosnia

& Herzegovina

- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Montenegro, Montenegro

- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mostar, Bosnia &

Herzegovina

- Faculty of Agriculture, University “Dzemal Bijedic” of Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina

- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Serbia - Faculty of Agriculture, Josip Juraj Strossmayer Univer-

sity of Osijek, Croatia

- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia &

Herzegovina

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- Faculty of Agriculture, University of S. Cyril and Metho- dius of Skopje, Macedonia

- Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, Serbia - Faculty of Forestry, University of Banja Luka, Bosnia &

Herzegovina

- Faculty of Forestry, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia &

Herzegovina

- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia

- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Prishtina, Kosovo - Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania

- Food production, agriculture and society (FPAS), Latvia, 1999-2003.

In Central America:

• EARTH University, Costa Rica NETWORKING AND ALLIANCES

Noragric actively collaborates with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and the Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) in the NODE partnership (Norwegian Consortium for Develop- ment and Environment). Information on the partnership can be found on http.//www.node.org. The co-operation with the NARI institutes (the Norwegian Institute of Land Inventory-NIJOS;

the Norwegian Centre for Soil and Environmental Research- Jordforsk; the Norwegian Crop Research Institute-Planteforsk;

and the Norwegian Forest Research Institute-Skogforsk) has also developed during 2002 after the signing of an agreement of cooperation between NLH and NARI. The cooperation with NVH is likely to increase in the coming years as a more substantial effort to collaborate is being considered in presenting an alliance in the NVH strategy process.

Through the Environmental Assistance agreement, Noragric cooperates with some of the other Environment Assistance Centres, mostly with the Ministry of the Environment, the Direc- torate for Nature Management, and the Institute of Marine Research. See www.environment.norad.no.

Apart from this, there is extensive contact between NLH/

Noragric and other universities and research organisations linked to specific research programmes (see the section on Research projects and Assignments).

Noragric’s collaboration with a network of NGOs in the Dry- lands Coordination Group (DCG) links important networks in Norway and in some African countries, and ensures active ties with the reality of development oriented NGOs and their challenges in the field. See: www.drylands-group.no.

INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION WITH UNIVERSITIES IN ETHIOPIA

Noragric has collaborated with Awassa College of Agri- culture since 1989, with funding from NUFU since 1993. In 2002 one phase was completed and a new phase (2002- 2006) started. In 1994 the institution, together with Mekelle University College, received a NORAD grant for strengthening its infrastructure. This was followed up with a longer-term NORAD grant for institutional collaboration. During 2002, a proposal for a new phase of NORAD collaboration with both universities was negotiated and submitted. This phase of the collaboration is expected to start in 2003.

During the years of collaboration, Awassa College has risen from the status of a junior college to a core faculty of a new university: Debub (South) University. Mekelle University College of Dryland Agriculture (in the north of the country) was founded early in the 1990s and has also become the Faculty of Agriculture in a new university, Mekelle University.

This comes as part of major government investments in higher education, including four new regional universities.

The collaboration emphasises institution building including library, laboratories, computers, offi ce equipment and other facilities. However, competence building at scientifi c and technical levels, and collaborative research are the main components and these involved important participation of NLH departments. During 2002, PhD students from Debub and Mekelle universities were registered at the NLH departments of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Plant Science (and the Norwegian Crop Research Institute), Animal Sci- ence, Food Science, Economics, Soil and Water Sciences, and Biology and Nature Management. Three PhD-candidates fi nished in 2002. If the new phase of the NORAD project is approved the total number of PhD-candidates will increase in 2003 and 2004.

Most of the PhD-programmes have utilised quota sti- pends and thereby released more funds for collaborative research. This collaboration depends on strong involvement of many NLH departments and NLH professors, and is expected to yield an increasing number of internationally published articles by Ethiopian and Norwegian scientists.

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