Indigenous Knowledge and
Development Monitor, 1993 Indigenous Knowledge and
Development Monitor, 1993
Calls for papers
Calls
for information
Calls for
research proposals
Indigenous Organizations and Development
Professors D. Michael Warren, Peter Blunt, and David Marsden are editing a book entitled Indigenous Organizations and Development. They are calling for original case studies that demonstrate clearly how indigenous systems of organization and management can contribute to the process of development. Indigenous organizations are those set up by local communities themselves as opposed to organizations set up by government, missionaries, or development agencies. Examples include traditional councils of chiefs, irrigation associations, self- help community development associations, occupational groups, ethnic associations, traditional credit unions, and social, sporting, and religious groups. Papers or expressions of interest should be sent to: Dr. D. Michael Warren, CIKARD, 318 Curtiss Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA. Fax: +1-515- 2941708.
Biological and cultural diversity: the role of indigenous agricultural experimentation in development
Sam Fujisaka (IRRI), Gordon Prain (CIP/UPWARD), and D. Michael Warren (CIKARD) are editing a book on farmers' approaches to experimentation and innovation as reactions to community- defined agricultural problems. How farmers evaluate varieties of crops in terms of positive and negative characteristics and strive to improve these varieties reflect indigenous knowledge of crop biodiversity. The capacity of farmers to carry out experiments is now recognized by a growing number of national and international agricultural research centers, a recognition that has enormous implications for cooperative research ventures based on priority problems found to be common to both farmers and agricultural researchers. The editors are calling for original case studies that demonstrate indigenous approaches to the solution of locally- defined agricultural problems as well as examples of agricultural research involving farmers and agricultural researchers working in partnership on problems identified by farmers. The success of cooperative research ventures between farmers and researchers will depend to a large extent on a favourable and equitable institutional and policy environment. Papers are also welcomed which deal with these broader themes, especially the management of and access to indigenous knowledge. Papers or expressions of interest should be sent to: Dr. D. Michael Warren, CIKARD, 318 Curtiss Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA. Fax: +1-515-2941708.
IK from the Himalayan forest
Donald A. Messerschmidt is seeking papers for a book on indigenous knowledge and indigenous knowledge systems in the Himalayan forest. Contributions are welcome from both researchers and practitioners. The articles must be based on research from the wider Himalayan region, including the Mahabharat, the Churla and the Trans-Himalaya. Authors will be asked to consider their topic from both theoretical and applied/adaptive perspectives. For further information please contact: Don Messerschmidt, IOF Project, Institute of Forestry, P.O. Box 206, Pokhara, Nepal. Tel: +977-61-21101. Fax: +977-61- 21420.
IK and development: a community perspective
Julian T. Inglis and Elizabeth Reichel are calling for papers on IK and development from a community perspective. The editors welcome case studies which document projects that were initiated, managed and carried out by indigenous peoples. Anyone interested in submitting a paper is kindly asked to contact: Julian T. Inglis, International Program on Traditional Ecological Knowledge, UNESCO Canada MAB, 99 Metcalfe Street Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1P5V8. Tel: +1-613-990 2261. Fax: +1- 613-990 8818.
Bibliography on cosmological and religious basis of IK
Anthony Willett, CIKARD associate and PhD candidate in Agricultural Education/Technology and Social Change, is compiling a bibliography on the cosmological and religious basis of indigenous knowledge. Although his own research is with special reference to Hinduism/Vedic science, he is interested also in cases of other cultural traditions and knowledge systems. He is seeking papers, textual references, or case studies which explore or illustrate the following in relation to traditional agricultural systems and natural resource management: * the role of cosmology/religious beliefs and practices as the underlying foundation for an indigenous knowledge system; * the role custodians of the traditional cosmology play in cognizing knowledge and sustaining and enlivening the knowledge system, including the use of ritual and other techniques for communing with the organizing principles and forces of Nature. * processes by which those sustaining indigenous knowledge systems can be empowered, and through which their culture can be made more influential in the national development process. Contributions should kindly be sent to: Anthony Willett, CIKARD, TSC Program, 318 Curtiss Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
In-service training programme for research/extension practitioners
The University of the Andes in Trujillo State, Venezuela, in conjunction with the National Fund for Agricultural Research (FONAIAP), has been conducting an in-service training programme designed to teach agricultural practitioners to identify, collect and utilize local farmers' agricultural knowledge. The programme offers a combination of lectures, group discussions and hands-on experience. The results so far indicate that it is possible to incorporate the study and utilization of I.K. into the daily routine of agricultural practitioners, provided their employers adapt work schedules and evaluation systems accordingly. The coordinator of the Venezuelan project, Professor Consuelo Quiroz, would like to come into contact with people who are doing this sort of training, or are planning to do so, in order to share experiences with different approaches: Prof. Consuelo Quiroz, Apartado Postal # 22, Trujillo 3102, Estado Trujillo, Venezuela. Fax: +58-72-33667.
Databases relevant for IK
The Centre for International Research and Advisory Networks (CIRAN) will soon begin conducting an inventory of existing databases which contain information relevant for the global IK network: e.g., information on research projects and expertise, profiles of institutions, local knowledge systems, and published and unpublished literature. In order to send questionnaires to the people and institutions that manage such databases, we must have their names and addresses. We therefore ask everyone who has a database or who knows of a relevant database to please send us the names and addresses of contact persons. This will help us a great deal to produce a thorough overview of current IK information and documentation systems. Please send information to: Gerard van Westrienen, Centre for International Research and Advisory Networks, P.O. Box 29777, 2502 LT The Hague, The Netherlands.
Pilot project Electronic Communication
The Centre for International Research and Advisory Networks (CIRAN) is investigating the possibilities of using electronic communication facilities within the IK network. We plan to start a pilot project with a small group of individuals and institutions. The aim is not only to facilitate communication by using Electronic Mail, but also to conduct Electronic Conferences, and to establish a Bulletin Board System for discussing specific topics and perhaps for a Question and Answer Service. Anyone who has experience with electronic communication or who has ideas and suggestions, please contact us: Gerard van Westrienen, Centre for International Research and Advisory Networks, CIRAN, P.O. Box 29777, 2502 LT The Hague, The Netherlands; E-mail: gerardw@nuffic.nl .
Network for promoting entrepreneurship
Mr. Mushtaq Mirami (Sindh, Pakistan) wishes to come into contact with research institutions and individuals who are interested in organizing an international network for entrepreneurship in the developing countries. Please contact: Mushtaq A. Mirani, Associate professor, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Mehran University Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.
Indigenous fruit trees
Veld Products Research (Gaborone, Botswana) is an NGO involved in research for the commercial utilization of indigenous resources. In particular, they are working on the development of cultivars from superior genotypes of indigenous fruit trees. Furthermore, a comprehensive survey of indigenous knowledge of all plants of socio-economic importance is planned. The co-ordinator of Veld Products Research, Frank W. Taylor, welcomes all relevant information and newsletters: Frank W. Taylor, Veld Products Research, P.O. Box 2020, Gaborone, Botswana. Fax: +267-305522.
Indigenous soil and waterconservation
The Centre for Development Cooperation Services (CDCS) of the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) in London are starting a joint research programme on indigenous soil and water conservation in Africa. The objective will be to explore whether and how indigenous soil and water conservation and water harvesting techniques can be used as a starting point for new programmes to support the better management of soils and water in Africa. The field research will be undertaken by African researchers; the strengthening of local research capacity is also an objective. The programme aims to publish 20 case studies and a state-of-the-art review, to produce a book and video film, and to support networking among researchers within Africa. If you are interested to participate in this research effort or if you want more information, please contact: Ben Haagsma, CDCS, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-20-5485030. Fax: +31-20-6462320. or: Camilla Toulmin, IIED, 3 Endsleigh Street, London, UK. Tel: +44-71-3882117. Fax: +44-71-3882826.
Netherlands-Israel Research Programme
Generating new knowledge and new ways of applying existing knowledge is a prerequisite for understanding or promoting social, economic, cultural or technical change in developing nations or in North-South relations. To contribute to this process, the Netherlands and Israeli Governments decided to launch a common research programme, The Netherlands-Israel Research Programme. The programme has the following characteristics: * the research should have clear, contemporary relevance for developing countries; * the focus of the research should be on social and cultural change, and/or on social or economic institutions; * research(multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary) must be conducted jointly by researchers from Israel and from a developing country, while Dutch participation is preferred; * projects are encouraged in which researchers from developing countries carry out the research while being supervised by senior research staff from Israel, the Netherlands and the developing country concerned; * there is a preference for research related to problems in developing countries in Africa, although developing countries on other continents are not excluded; * the projects in the programme have a maximum duration of four years, a budget ceiling of US$ 50,000 a year, and a maximum total budget of US$ 150,000. Seven themes have been selected for research. One is 'Management of rural knowledge systems', which includes indigenous knowledge. In the 1992 round, four of the nine research projects selected for funding were related to this subject. Each year research institutes will be given the opportunity to submit pre-proposals. The deadline for 1993 is 15 March. For further information please contact either the Israeli secretariat of the Netherlands-Israel Research Programme: Mrs. Miriam Bar-Lev, CINADCO, P.O.Box 7011, Tel Aviv, 61070 Israel. Fax: +972-3-6971677. or the secretariat in the Netherlands: Mr. H.J. Mastebroek, Nuffic-CIRAN, P.O. Box 29777, 2502 LT The Hague, The Netherlands. Fax: +31-70-3510513.
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