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University Network for Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa (UNEDRA)
Objectives
UNeDRA's main aim is to forge interaction amongst universities in Africa with
interest in teaching on disaster risk reduction, through information sharing, capacity building and
collaborative research. Some of the main objectives are to:
- Share experiences on course activities that have already been initiated;
- Identify Universities that have interest in developing such courses;
- Learn about African initiatives on Disaster Management Training;
- Learn about African programmes on the use of Disaster Geo-Information Management;
- Make an inventory of the requirements for support for setting up educational courses
on Disaster Geo-Information Management.
Activities in 2007
Activities in 2006
Activities in 2005
UNeDRA coordination
The coordination of the UNeDRA network would be taken up by the following persons:
- Coordinator: Wilbur Ottichilo.
Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), Nairobi, Kenya.
E-mail: wottichilo@rcmrd.org
- Secretariat: Mlenge Fanuel Mgendi.
Disaster Management Training Centre (DMTC), University College of Lands and Architectural Studies (UCLAS), Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
E-mail: mlenge@yahoo.com,
mlenge@uclas.ac.tz
- Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Contact person: Yazidhi Bamutaze.
E-mail: bamutaze@arts.mak.ac.ug
- ITC contact person. Contact person: Tsehaie Woldai.
President African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE)
E-mail: woldai@itc.nl
List of participating organizations
The following Universities form part of the UNEDRA network.
- University of Uyo, Department of Geography, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Nigeria.
Contact person: Joseeph Udoh
- Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.
Contact person: Dr M. T. Usman
- University College of Lands and Architectural Studies (UCLAS), Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Contact person: Mlenge Fanuel Mgendi
- University of Dakar, Department of Geography, Senegal.
Contact person: Aliou Mamadou DIA
- Kenyatta University, Department of Geography.
Contact persons: Dr. Joy Obando (Geography Department),
Dr. Simon Onywere (Env. Planning and Development)
- Bindura University of Science Education, Bindura, Zimbabwe.
Contact person: Wisemen Chingombe
- Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
Contact persons: Ernest M.M.Marwa ,
Andrew Mwalilino
- Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.
Contact persons: Dr. Benjamin N Mwasi,
Mr. Thomas Esipila
- Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe.
Contact person: Charles Paradzayi
- Makerere University, Department of Geography, Kampala Uganda.
Contact person: Yazidhi Bamutaze
Interested organizations can approach the UNeDRA secretariat, in order to join the network.
Aspects of collaboration
Below, an overview is given of the fields of collaboration as were discussed in the workshops in Kampala
(2005) and Kenya (2006)
Information sharing
- Inter university Geoinformation network data centre.
- Establishment of SAI on Geology organisation for Natural Disaster Reduction in Easter Africa.
- Database creation for natural disaster for sub-Sahara Africa.
- Joint short courses (3 weeks) at 2 levels. 1. lecturer / technician. 2. student "summer" school,
these can be practical oriented with useful practicals such as maps (hazard).
- Regular knowledge & data exchange and annual meetings to evaluate the quality of the work.
- Training, exchange and sharing of data from different environments, research and easy communication.
- Setting up web community where ideas for research, future network activities, training opportunities,
workshops etc. can be posted.
- Sharing of information on disaster management.
Joint courses
- Holding seminars, conferences, workshops and detailed training in each of the disasters experiences
in Africa in form of refresher courses.
- Development of a common curriculum, student and staff exchange, collaborative research, periodic
workshops/seminars to facilitate exchange of ideas and data sharing, web based database and electronic
discussion.
- Capacity building for people in the network to operate efficiently, joint cross border (regional)
projects "flooding and drought" seem to be common elements, a common curriculum by setting up links to
relevant institutes.
- Training and Refresher Courses, Geo-information awareness among the general public, but specifically
to students, university lectures. Information sharing.
- Curriculum development, joint short courses, establishment of research managed by university research
committees, annual scientific conferences.
Joint research
- Collaborative research assessment using geo-information. If not collaborative then at least sharing
the output so others can learn.
- Prepare joint university academic programs, to undertake integrated research activities within the
network.
- To develop a network central point where all research findings with respect to disaster reduction
can be submitted among the member institution.
- Collaborative research in disaster management, greater cooperation with the government.
- PhD research with supervisor from other UNEDRA partners.
Communication
For easy communication and discussion of further ideas, the following email group has been set-up:
UNeDRA@yahoogroups.com
If you would like to subscribe to this group:
- visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UNeDRA/join
-OR-
- send an email to UNeDRA-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
When you are subscribed to this group, you can post mail to: UNeDRA@yahoogroups.com
Documents
- Report workshop and training course Kampala, 2005
- Report workshop and training course Nairobi, 2006
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