Birdlife's World Bird Festival in Botswana

The Birdlife Botswana (BLB) celebrated World Bird Festival with more than 70 pupils and five teachers at primary schools in Mogobane and Otse Villages. These schools are located in the surrounding important Bird Area (BA). Since 1993, the World Bird Festival has been celebrated biennially by the Birdlife African Partners. It is an important event for the Birdlife Africa Partnership to raise awareness and educate the general public about birds and their cultural, economic and ecological values and these activities are planned to help people realise their connection between birds and their lives. Activities were based around IBAs and other sites valuable for biodiversity, which support major ecological systems that sustain people's lives.

Economic Diversification in Africa: A Review of Selected Countries

A study entitled Economic Diversification in Africa: A Review of Selected Countries prepared by the African Union (AU), the UN Office of the Special Advisor on Africa and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development , points out that global financial and economic crises exposed African economies’ dependence on too few export commodities and one or two sectors. It looks at how African governments can diversify their economies and begins by examining some of the major determinants of diversification and examines how the private sector plays a key role by being at the forefront of innovation, research and development and production.

Report indicates economic gains but decline in rule of law in Africa

The Ibrahim Index of African Governance has just been released a report on the discrepancies among African nations in the area of governance and economic development. In addition, the report shows that while African countries have made significant strides in economic and human development they have fallen behind in human rights and rule of law. Some of the main findings include:
•The Index shows big differences in governance among Africa’s 53 countries. The best countries (the five countries with scores over 70) are on a different plane from the worst (the 11 countries under 40). The highest scoring country, Mauritius, had a score of 82 with Somalia at the bottom with a score of 8.
•While, over 40 countries have seen some form of improvement in both Sustainable Economic Opportunity and Human Development, 35 African states have declined in the Safety and Rule of Law category and 30 have experienced a downturn in the Participation and Human Rights area.

The Wealth of Waste: The Economics of Wastewater Use in Agriculture

This water report presents an economic framework for the assessment of the use of reclaimed water in agriculture, as part of a comprehensive planning process in water resource allocation strategies to provide for a more economically efficient and sustainable water utilization. According to the report, the use of reclaimed wastewater in agriculture has been reported in around 50 countries on what amounts to 10% of the world’s irrigated land, recycling urban wastewater and using it to grow food crops can help mitigate water scarcity problems and reduce water pollution. However, the report underlines that the practice is not being as widely implemented as it should. For more on the report, visit the FAO website.

Africa Progress Report

The report starts by looking back to assess the progress Africa has made over the last five years, placing special emphasis on both the promises made and kept, as well as the various blueprints for progress agreed. It then looks ahead and identifies six priority areas for action, three for African policymakers and three for their international partners. Visit the Africa Progress Panel for the full report.

Development progress in SubSaharan Africa: Lessons from Botswana, Ghana , Mauritius and South Africa

The Sub-Saharan countries of Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius and South Africa stand out for their development progress. This paper synthesizes the common ingredients of these countries’ success, and derives lessons. It concludes that smallness, landlockedness, tropical location, distance from world markets, racism, colonialism and other challenges can be overcome through appropriate institutions, governance and good economic policies. For more, visit:

http://www.wider.unu.edu/stc/repec/pdfs/wp2010/wp2010-07.pdf

New at HOORC's Library: wildlife resources: a global account of economic use

The management and use of natural resources such as forests, grasslands, rivers and lakes were formerly considered purely in a financial context. However, there has been a consciousness of their social function and the indirect economic benefits which can be derived from them. Conservation of natural resources for sustainable consumptive as well as non consumptive uses has been recognised as a key element for maintaining economic development all over the world. Fortunately, the industrialised countries have started to apply this principle themselves and in their technical and financial aid to the developing Third world countries. This is derived from policy documents such as the World Bank Policy on Development of Wild Lands, issued in 1987. While it was previously unthinkable that any development bank would invest in the conservation of natural resources of the management of natural forests, wetlands and other wildlands for long term sustainable utilisation, this has now become a legitimate area for loan consideration. The book is available in the HOORC library.

Tourism and Economic Stimulus

This initial assessment is aimed at providing information on the response by countries worldwide to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis on tourism. This is part of UNWTO programme in the area of response to the current crisis, namely in the component of stimulus. This comprises an ongoing process of collecting, monitoring and evaluating the response actions and measures undertaken by governments to address the economic crisis. This initial assessment includes information on around 60 countries worldwide. For more, visit the UNWO website.

New at HOORC's Library: conserving and valuing ecosystem services and biodiversity

This book is a collection of chapters addressing the economic, institutional and social challenges confronting scientists and policy makers in conserving biodiversity and ecosystem critical for sustaining human well being and development. The book covers a wide range of themes and issues such as economics and valuation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, social aspects of conservation governance and protection of indigenous knowledge , climate change amongst others. Most of the chapters are products of ongoing or completed larger research projects sponsored by several national and international agencies like the World Bank, the International Food Policy Research Institute , GTZ and the International institute for Environment and Development and others. You can find the book at HOORC Library.

Assessing Progress in Africa towards the Millennium Development Goals

This Report presents a picture that is slightly at variance with many other reports on Africa’s progress towards the targets of the MDGs. It shows that progress is being made in a number of areas such as primary enrolment, gender parity in primary education, malaria deaths, and representation of women in parliaments. If this rate of progress continues, the continent will be on course to meet a significant number of the MDGs by the target date. This will still be disappointing since the objective is to reach all the targets by 2015. Furthermore, the report shows that a critical area for progress is the health-related MDGs where progress is slowest. Interventions to accelerate progress on the health MDGs will yield significant dividend. In sum, the preconditions for accelerating progress to meet the targets of the MDGs are now largely in place, albeit constrained by inadequate resource flows and capacity in some critical areas like health capacity. http://www.uneca.org/eca_programmes/acgd/docs/Assessing%20MDGs_Report%202008.pdf

World Forestry Congress 2009

At the XIII World Forestry Congress in Buenos Aires (18-23 October 2009), delegates called for the broadest possible coalition to address the many challenges the forestry sector is facing. A final declaration, adopted by the Congress, called for immediate “multi-sector responses” to rapid global changes. “Today, the major pressures on forests are arising from outside the forest sector, such as changes in global climates, economic conditions, and population. These changes are creating impacts across multiple sectors. For example, population growth and migration to cities is creating environmental pressures on forests and farm lands. These changes are occurring more rapidly than they did in the past, creating more uncertainty and larger fluctuations - global economic changes and fuel demands and supplies are examples.The path forward lies in shifting to an integrated landscape approach for confronting these changes, working with partners outside the forest sector to develop sustainable multi-sector responses. The accelerating rate and the dimension of changes in economic, social, and environmental conditions require immediate action. For more visit the FAO site.

IMF Director on Africa and the Global Financial Turmoil

A recent World Bank research shows the global crisis is trapping up to 53 million more people in poverty in developing countries especially in Africa. The economic crisis is hitting the poor hard and the impacts are greatly felt from the market place to the Churches and within the farms. However there are assurances from the IMF that it has a plan for Africa in the face of the turmoil. For more on this visit: http://www.africafront.com/news/136/imf_director_on_africa_and_the_global_financial_turmoil.html

Global Change in African Fish Trade: Engine of Development or Threat to Local Food Security?

Today fish is recognised as the most traded food commodity in the World. However, this situation is not without its issues. On the one hand, fish trade is said to support economic growth processes in developing countries by providing an important source of cash revenue. On the other hand, fish trade is also said to lead to a decline in food security and a decrease in the availability of fish for the local population. The paper explores more thoroughly these two opposite views in the specific case of sub-Sahara Africa. National development indicators that encapsulate both economic and well being of sub-Sahara countries over the last decade and correlate them against four indicators reflecting the country-specific importance of fish trade, industrial and small-scale fisheries in the economy of Sub-Sahara Africa are considered. The statistical analysis shows that when sub-Sahara countries’ data are considered at the macro-economic level the fear that fish trade may affect negatively fish food security is not substantiated by any statistical evidences. At the same time the analysis also shows no evidence to support the claim that international fish trade contributes effectively to national economic development and/or well being. The last section of the paper discusses the various possible reasons for this apparent lack of correlation and highlights the respective flaws underlying the two opposite discourse about the role of fish trade in national development and food security. Full paper available on:
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/53/17/42142225.pdf

UNDP Annual Report 2009

As one of its mandate , the UNDP continues to support developing countries undergoing economic and financial crisis, and upholding its values stated in the Millennium Declaration. UNDP’s commitment to capacity development is spread over 166 countries, working in consultation with national governments and various local and international development partners in drawing up a plan of action for capacity development. In this way, it empowers people, governments, institutions and communities with the the tools and training required to address their own needs in a sustainable way. This demand from developing countries for capacity development support, especially in the area of developing local services increased dramatically in 2008 as countries faced the fallout from the food, fuel and financial crises. As a result, UNDP responded to requests to facilitate capacity assessments and diagnostics in 65 programme countries in 2008. For more on the report you can visit the UNDP site.

2009 Winter Course Work

Seventeen University of Botswana undergraduate students completed their work for HOORC's Winter Course this week, wrapping up six weeks of research training and fieldwork assignments with presentations of the results of their research.

This year's work showed an increased focus on environmental health with An assessment of the level of knowledge on malaria among Maun residents by Keletso Benjamin, The use of traditional knowledge to prevent livestock diseases in Toteng village, Ngamiland District by Moabiemang Gabalebatse, A case study on perceptions of Matlapana residents on the 2008 alcohol levy by Tsaone Goikantswemang, Assessing the potability of water at Xhobe watering point by Z. Kemmonye, Effluent quality assessment from Letsholathebe Hospital treatment plant by Mothusi Dikole and Impact of wetland vegetation on water quality by Aobakwe Kathleen Lubinda.

Tourism studies included The contribution of culture to sustainable tourism at Khwai Village in the Okavango Delta, Botswana by Gorata Maokanyane, Investigating the state of convention tourism in Maun : case of hotels and lodges by Phemelo Oabona and Impacts of accommodation facilities on the livelihoods of local people : case of Khwai River Lodge and Khwai Village by Dimpho Malebogo Matlhola.

Studies of the ecology of vegetation and soil in the Okavango included A comparative assessment of soil fertility on arable farming practices in Shorobe village by Onalenna Petros, The influence of ungulates grazing on nutrient status of the soil and vegetation around University of Botswana Maun Campus, Sexaxa by Chawata Moitlhobogi and A LANDSAT TM data based monitoring of pre-fire and post-fire vegetation recovery and dynamics at Xakao, Okavango Delta (2000-2004) by Kaone Rakhudu.

Economic studies included The impact of flood inflow of the Boteti River on livelihoods activities in Xhobe settlement by Tshimologo Andrias, Social dynamics of participating in labour intensive public works (LIPWP) program in Maun by Kesaobaka Molebatsi and Water demand in a rural set up: the case of Boro Village by Itumeleng P. Oageng.

Senatla Gobopaone made a case study in Sankuyo of The role of taboos and totems in conservation of animals and vegetation while Baitshepi Mashabe produced an Assessment of livestock predation by carnivores and households adaptation in Shorobe. Natural resources governance was addressed by Dominic Tshiamiso in his study, Assessment of Tubu community's perceptions towards joint management system of natural resources management.

You can find the students' reports in HOORC's Library.

UNDP RFP: National Strategy for Poverty Reduction

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has published a request for proposal for a consultancy to review poverty-environment linkages in Botswana's National Strategy for Poverty Reduction (NSPR). The NSPR, approved by Presidential Directive in 2003, makes limited reference to environmental issues. While programmatic activities such as support for community based natural resources management (CBNRM) and rain fed crop production do address some poverty-environment linkages, many other environmental dimensions closely linked to poverty are not covered, including access to, and use of, other key resources such as energy and water key environmental services such as waste management and clean water and sanitation. The issue of climate change is not currently addressed in the NSPR. This consultancy is intended as a step towards filling these policy gaps.

Deadline for submission of proposals is 22 July 2009. You can read the advertisement and the entire RFP online.

New at HOORC's Library: The global environment, natural resources, and economic growth

The global environment, natural resources and economic growth by Alfed Greiner and Willi Semmler takes at an in depth look at the effects of the global growth on the environment and on the climate. The book is divided into three parts: Part 1 deals with the environment and growth, Part II looks at the global climate change, and Part III evaluates the use and overuse of renewable and nonrenewable resources in the context of a variety of different growth models. You can find the book in HOORC's Library.

Economic outlook on Africa 2009

According to the Economic Report on Africa 2009, economic growth in Africa slowed to 5.1% in 2008, down from 6.0% in 2007. Despite the deceleration, growth remained strong in view of the the global economic slowdown as a result of the global financial turmoil. For countries like Botswana, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania, factors like improved governance, institutional environments, long term planning and monitoring have boosted opportunities for private sector development and growth. As a region, Southern Africa's economic performance slowed from 6.2% in 2007 to 4.2% in 2008. Angola maintained the highest growth rate in the subregion in 2008 with 12.9%, followed by Malawi (6.6%); Botswana (6.5%); Mozambique (6.2%); Zambia (5.9%) and Namibia (3.5%). For more information on development and economic challenges in Africa, you can visit the UNECA website.

Ugandan wetlands and poverty

A new report by the World Resources Institute provides a detailed examination of the links between ecosystem services and the location of poor communities and presents practical lessons for policy-makers in Uganda. Mapping a Better Future: How Spatial Analysis Can Benefit Wetlands and Reduce Poverty in Uganda combines information from a wetlands database with pioneering poverty location maps developed by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. The new maps and accompanying analyses will help policy-makers classify wetlands by their main uses, conditions, and poverty profile and identify areas with the greatest need of pro-poor wetland management interventions. The information generated can also be fed into national poverty reduction strategies and resource management plans. You can find the resource online (5.4 megabyte download).

Botswana economic situation

From Botswana economic report – April 2009, Capital Securities

HOORC Senior GIS Technician Masego Dhilwayo has alerted us to the latest economic report from Botswana company Capital Securities:

"As the impact of the credit crunch is beginning to show clearly, in Botswana the economic multipliers are so great that as diamond mining slides, the entire economy slides with it.
The graphs show clearly the dilemma for this export-led economy of 1.7m people. Imports are rising as diamond and copper-nickel exports decline. Non-diamond exports are up – they were 36% of the total over 2008 - but half of that was copper nickel. This is too slow a rate and improvement is unlikely in the present international and regional economic climate."


You can find the report online.