Presentation of the - Appear

Strengthening RuralTransformation Competences ofHigher Education & ResearchInstitutions in the Amhara Region,Ethiopia, TRANSACTMarch 5, 2013Vienna, Austria

Presentation outline• TRANSACT project• Brief overview of the project area• Description of TRANSACT project• Achievements• Lessons learnt

The project area (Ethiopia)

Ethiopia• Has 1.1m Km 2 area• The 2 nd highly populated• Has diverse agro-ecology• 13 months sunshine• Huge water resource (122bM 3 & 26 bM 3 )• One of the 8 center ofgenetic diversity• Land of Lucy (Dinknesh)Amhara region• 35.1% of the cropland• 30.4% of the cropproduction• 28.2% of the livestockpopulation• 22.4% of the humanpopulation• 15 % of the area

4650m ASL

198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200025201510500-5-20-10-40-60-80rainfall variabilityGDP growthAg DP growth-15-20-25-30

Natural resource degradation1414

Why all these happen while theGovernment setup differentinstitutions ?• Agricultural Research Institutes (technologygeneration, demonstration & multiplication)• Universities (training & research)• Agricultural extension offices & experts

Description ofTRANSACT project

TRANSACT project• Funded: ADC• Duration: Three years (2011-2013)• Jointly proposed and implemented by• BOKU University• ARARI• BDU• UoG• Over 56 experts from partner institutions (14 X4)

Overall objective• Increase the relevance of higher education and research toreduce poverty and increase food security in the AmharaRegion, EthiopiaSpecific objective• Strengthen the transformation competences of GondarUniversity, Bahir Dar University and ARARI in research andtraining

MethodologiesDocumentation& disseminationTransactCapacitybuildingKnowledgegeneration

Develop inter- and transdisciplinary research, trainingand outreach methodologies that facilitate institutionallearning and transformation•1. Training need assessment•2. Develop and test new inter-andtransdisciplinary methodologies•3 . Prepare training manuals andteaching materials

Institutional capacity development of partnerinstitutions in education, research and outreach• 1. Curriculum development for interdisciplinary studyprogramme• 2. Develop and deliver short courses• 3.Organise cross-organisational learning and experienceexchange• 4.Develop web-based information and communicationtechnologies (ICT) for teaching, training and researchactivities

Knowledge for understanding and facilitatinginstitutional learning, rural transformation andchange• 1. Selection of 3 micro-watersheds for joint learning,researching and problem solving• 2. Conduct joint research planning (thematic area selection)• 3. Implement joint research activities• 4 . Share experiences across pilot micro-watersheds

Self-reflective learning procedures and methodologiesacross disciplines, units within and beyond partnerinstitutions for sustaining development• 1. Organise bi-annual consortium meetings,exposure and learning visits to BOKU• 2. Develop joint development oriented“transformation research” proposals• 3. Process and lesson documentation

Achievements• Knowledge gap and training needs for partnerinstitutions identified (3 journal articles published)• Three learning micro-watersheds identified and wellcharacterized by team of experts• Research thematic areas identified• Six experts joined BOKU for PhD & MSc studies• 5 consortium meetings organized to shareexperiences

Achievements• Resources of three partner institutions documentedfor experience sharing & staff exchange• Web based information exchange system developed• Documentation of lessons and processes started• Short term training offered (Scenario planningmethod)

Lessons learnt from TRANSACTproject

Rural transformation and complexity of realproblems of the society• The relevance of system thinking• The relevance of partnership and coordinated effort• Importance of considering the role of all actors (small orbig)

Availability of methods, tools & expertiseto unlock complex problems of the society• Scenario planning• Interdisciplinary research method• Transdisciplinary research method• Availability of expertise (BOKU)

Importance of partnership• To smoothly open the doors/boundaries/ of partner institutions(know available resources)• To efficiently use untapped resources and strengthen collaboration• To pool together available knowledge, skill, & experience scattered indifferent institution• To understand wholeness or relevance of one to the other efficiency• ARTPA established

Challenges of partnership• Diversity of norms among partner institutions• Boundaries/barriers/ (institutional as well as professional)• Require additional resources• Took long time to establish smooth operational system• Bringing on board all actors• etc

I Thank You!!!