ifda dossier 74 - Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation

South West Asian Ocean: a Directory of activists
Cedrcfi (Centre de documentation, de
rccherches et dc formation indianoccani-
ques*) has just published a directory of
institutions/organisations and individuals in
the islands of the South West Indian Ocean
- Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion
and Seychelles - concerned with the issues
of region;il cooperation, geopolitics and
development & environment.
The directory was produced in the context
of the Issue-Based Indian Ocean Network
(IBION) which aims to develop policy-
oriented research and ensure information
sharing. It is the first of its type in the
region and gives an ide;i of the potential
partners and their actixities.
114 institutionslassociations and individuals
have been listed. Over and above the
information available on the objectives and
adi.iresscs of these institutions. the entries
contain various useful information on past
:ind present activities, future projects,
pedagogical materials and resources avail-
able ctc. Each country is the subject of a
cartographic, historical, polilicai and ccono-
niic presentation. Two indexes, one alphahe-
tical and one sulijectwisc, have been com-
piled to Sacilitate the use of the directory.
Cedrefi
Founded in July 1981, Cedrefi is registered
with the Registrar of Associations as a nonprofit
making NGO working in the fields of
docun~entation, rescarch and training with
special focus on the islands and archipclagos
of the South West Indian Ocean.
This focus on the Indian Ocean region
results 1'i'oni a recognition ol' our common
history and a firm belief that the various
countries of the South West Indian Ocean
* See Ii'DA Dossier 62, p78
cannot develop unless they work in close
association with one another.
Aims and objectives
1. Documentation. - Collect or locate existing
information relevant to the region.
2. Research. - Undertake research on socioeconomic
and socio-cultural issues pcrtaining
to the islands of the region.
3. Training. - Provide guidance to potential
action-research workers by involving them
in Cedrefi's projects.
4. Sen'ice. - To initiatelsupport dcvelopmcnt
projects in collaboration withlfor grassroots
groups.
Issue-Rased Indian Ocean Network
(IBION)
'I'liis is a network of institutions and in-
dividuals concerned with the current and
emerging geopolitical, development and
environment issues in the Indian Ocean
region. Its purposes is to advance knowledge
and action around those issues through
poliq-orientedresearchjnformation-sharing
and consciousness-raising activities. To faci-
litate the promotion and coordination of the
network's activities, the Indian Ocean
Region has been sub-divided into six sub-
regions and Cedrefi is the focal point for
the Western Indian Ocean (Islands) sub-
region.
Activities
Completed projects. - Feasibility study on
economic activities for women in the Iow-
income groups (1983); Preliminary survey
on the factors affecting the potential of
small sugar-cane planters in the process of
agricultural diversification (1985); Evalua-
tion of research potential and strategy in
Mauritius (1986).
(Cedrefi, POB 91, Rose //ill, Mauritius)