for information:
Conflict resolution
CIKARD, in cooperation with ARCIK and KENRIK, is conducting a project entitled 'Training and
exchange program for conflict management, for educators and practitioners from West and East
Africa'. The project is being carried out between September 1994 and October 1995 and is funded by
the United States Information Agency (USAID). ARCIK and KENRIK are making inventories of
indigenous approaches to conflict resolution from the level of the nuclear and extended family up
through the level of communities and inter-ethnic relations. They are focusing initially on ethnic
groups in Nigeria and Kenya. CIKARD is interested in identifying indigenous approaches to conflict
resolution, and in obtaining published and unpublished documents that will go into a global database
on this topic. This database will be maintained by CIKARD's documentation unit. Anyone who is
interested in the topic area is invited and encouraged to contribute case studies on indigenous
knowledge of conflict resolution in East and West Africa. The studies can be brief. The organizers
are collecting case studies of conflicts that have been resolved or are being managed to the satisfaction
of the parties involved. Ongoing, unresolved conflicts are also interesting if the reasons are given why
the dispute has not been resolved. A set of guidelines for preparing a case study is available on
request. Please send your information to CIKARD/USIA Africa Grant, Iowa State University, 318
Curtiss Hall, Ames, Iowa 50010, USA. Fax: +1-515-294 6058. E-mail: s2.dmw@isumvs.bitnet
Health systems
John Alexander is committed to applying indigenous knowledge--in particular regarding health
systems--in order to improve society. His research is aimed at defining an indigenous model of
economics which eschews exploitation of human and non-human resources. Anyone interested in
exchanging ideas and insights is kindly requested to contact:
John Alexander, Red building, Tailors Lane, Chawni, Nagpur 440013, India.
Information in French
Since 1987, the CEDID (Centre de Documentation et d'Information sur le Développement) at
ORSTOM has maintained a database on women in developing countries. To expand this database
CEDID is now compiling information on organizations, periodicals and networks around the world
which offer scientific or educational information on women/gender issues and development. It will
present these up-to-date references in a book in French that is to be published next year. This
reference work will also contain a selected bibliography on lessons learnt from integrating women into
development programmes. There is a serious lack of information about, and references to, women's
indigenous knowledge and indigenous women's knowledge. The editorial staff would welcome any
names and addresses of indigenous women's groups, and references to development research, projects
and/or education that involve women's indigenous knowledge. Please send your review or bulletin
(preferably in French) to:
Corinne Cécilia, CEDID-ORSTOM, Project Documentaire 'Femmes du Tiers-Monde', 213
rue La Fayette, 75010 Paris, France. Tel: +33-1-48037613. Fax: +33-1-48030829.
Pest problems
As an attempt to revive many of the practices by which rural communities traditionally stopped pests
from damaging their crops, a programme of research has been launched. Information about traditional
pest control practices will be gathered. A selection of these practices will then be tested by subjecting
them to field and laboratory evaluations. The means for applying practices found to hold potential will
eventually be delivered to farming communities, where local people will dispense the necessary
materials. The result will be to reduce the costs of crop production while at the same time keeping the
environment safe. Any information on traditional practices for agricultural pest control is welcome.
Please send your information to:
Dr P. Narayanasamy, Professor of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University,
Annamalainagar 608002, Tamilnadu, India.
for papers:
Contest for articles on Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
The Plant Protection Improvement Programme (PPIP) announces its first contest for articles on
Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The article can cover any aspect of the integrated management of
any pest, whether insect or vertebrate, disease or weed. The message of IPM, simply put, is that
different cultural and biological methods should be combined in order to keep pest levels below the
levels that cause economic damage. When pesticides are used, they should be as low-toxic and
environmentally friendly as possible, and should be applied as sparingly as economic thresholds will
allow. IPM is gaining wider and wider acceptance internationally. Country after country, in Africa
and elsewhere, is adopting IPM as official policy for plant protection. Nevertheless, the professionals
working 'in the field' to advise farmers on behalf of government, cooperatives or NGOs, often do not
know what Integrated Pest Management is and what it can mean to them. The purpose of the contest
is therefore to disseminate concrete knowledge about IPM, and to encourage people to put forward
examples of how IPM can be put into practice in small-scale farming in East and Southern Africa.
The contest is open to Africans working in countries in East and Southern Africa. The length of the
article should not exceed 5000 words, excluding a summary, tables and figure legends. Illustrations
are welcome. PPIP shall be given copyright to prize-winning articles, and will use them as it finds
suitable, either submitting them for publication or distributing them in another manner. Major changes
or abbreviations will be made only with the author's consent. A winner can choose a cash prize 1st
prize: US$ 1000 2nd prize: US$ 600 3rd prize: US$ 300 or: a special opportunity: a set of journals.
PPIP has been fortunate to acquire a number of complete volumes of the following important journals
of biology and plant pathology: Plant Disease 1980-1990. Annals of Applied
Biology 1979-1991. Plant Pathology 1983-1989. The deadline for submitting
articles is 1 February 1995. If possible, please send manuscripts on diskette (PC or Mac), with a
printout. Give also: full name(s) of author(s), with their position, address, and telefax. Indicate the
desired prize (cash or journal - for the latter, list the journal titles in order of preference).
Manuscripts not receiving awards will be returned. More information can be obtained from the
address to which articles should be sent:
Plant Protection Improvement Programme, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box
7044, S-75007 Upsala, Sweden. Tel: +46-18-672516. Fax: +46-18-672890. E-mail:
johan.morner@vos.slu.se
Indigenous Knowledge Linkages
Indigenous Knowledge Linkages is an electronic guide to data and information on indigenous
knowledge. It is currently being developed by CIESIN Information Cooperative, in cooperation with
CIKARD, CIRAN, LEAD and other indigenous knowledge resource centres. IK Linkages will
provide access to information on: indigenous knowledge reports, research papers on indigenous
knowledge, online data on indigenous knowledge, databases and datasets on indigenous knowledge,
Internet resources on indigenous knowledge, current development programmes on indigenous
knowledge, and bibliographies on indigenous knowledge. IK linkages will be available through
Internet mechanisms such as World Wide Web, Gopher, and electronic mail. Hard copies will be
provided on request to those who do not have access to Internet. Please send any relevant information
to:
Dr B. Rajasekaran, CIESIN, 2250 Pierce Road, University Center, MI 48710, USA. Tel: +1-
517-797 2749. Fax: +1-517-797 2700. E-mail: Raja@ciesin.org