launching of the 3 phase of the - cirad...and addresses issues related to the coexistence of man and...

Launching of the 3rd

phase of the

RESEARCH

PLATFORM

-

PRODUCTION &

CONSERVATION IN

PARTNERSHIP

Press Book

Tuesday 13th of October 2015

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Research Platform - Production &Conservation Partnership

Table of Contents

Invitation of our Press Partners ...............................................................................................3 Programme / Tuesday13

th October ..........................................................................................4

Presentation of the Research Platform.....................................................................................5 In a nutshell… The RP-PCP in few questions .....................................................................5

Who are the main actors of the platform? ........................................................................5 When was the platform created? .....................................................................................5 What motivated the platform’s creation? .........................................................................5 What are the objectives of the platform? .........................................................................6 How does the platform address its objective? ..................................................................6 Where are the areas of activities? ....................................................................................7 How does the platform function? ....................................................................................7

Celebrating the 3rd

renewal of the MoU of the platform (2015-2020) ......................................9 The Achievements of the Platform ......................................................................................9

Building bridges between disciplines, institutions and countries. .....................................9 Improving the understanding of Man and Nature coexistence .........................................9 Supporting students in their curriculum ......................................................................... 10 Contributing to research and academic networks in Southern Africa ............................. 11 Creating new opportunities ........................................................................................... 11

The way forward: Launching RP-PCP Phase III (2015-2020) ........................................... 12

Introducing RP-PCP Partners................................................................................................ 13 University Of Zimbabwe .................................................................................................. 13

Centre De Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement

......................................................................................................................................... 13

National University Of Science and Technology ............................................................... 13

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ................................................................... 14

The Embassy of France in Zimbabwe ............................................................................... 14

Contacts ............................................................................................................................... 15

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Invitation of our Press Partners

His Excellency M. Laurent Delahousse is pleased to welcome today our media

partners at the French Residence for a very special event: the signature of the new

Memorandum of Understanding of the Research Platform – Production and

Conservation in Partnership (RP-PCP) and the launch of the third phase of this

project which brings together two Zimbabwean institutions, University of Zimbabwe

and the National University of Science and Technology and two French research

organizations, CIRAD and CNRS.

He is glad to introduce the Research Platform ‘Production and Conservation in

Partnership’ which the Embassy of France has been supporting since its inception. It

was established in 2007 with the purpose of contributing to sustainable development,

conservation and improved rural livelihoods in Southern Africa. To this end the

platform develops a multidisciplinary applied research framework. It focuses on “wild-

domestic interfaces”, with a special emphasis on the periphery of conservation areas,

and addresses issues related to the coexistence of Man and Nature. It imagines

innovative solutions to harmonize the coexistence of production activities and

conservation of natural resources.

Currently, the platform involves an international multidisciplinary team of more than

70 senior researchers, academics and post-graduate students from a wide range of

disciplines, including Social Sciences, Agronomy, Ecology, Geography and

Veterinary Science.

For further information, please contact Prof E. Mwenje, Chairman

([email protected]; +263 2716345;) or ; Dr M. de Garine

Wichatitsky, Coordinator ([email protected]; +263 773208023)

mailto:[email protected]


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Programme / Tuesday13th October From 11:00

Welcoming of guests by H.E. Mr. Laurent Delahousse,

Ambassador of France,

Official signature of the Memorandum of Understanding by

representatives of the Vice-chancellor of NUST, the Vice-

Chancellor of UZ, CNRS regional director, and CIRAD general

director.

Presentation of the Research Platform by Eddie Mwenje,

chairman of the Scientific Steering Committee and by Michel de

Garine-Wichatitsky, Coordinator.

Discussion with our press partners

Cocktail

5


Presentation of the Research Platform

In a nutshell… The RP-PCP in few questions

Please visit the RP-PCP website for more information: www.rp-pcp.org the RP-PCP is on twitter: @rp_pcp

Who are the main actors of the platform?

The Research Platform has at its core four main scientific partners: University of

Zimbabwe, National University of Science and Technology, CNRS and CIRAD. It is

led by an international and multidisciplinary team of more than 70 lecturers,

researchers and post graduated students. It works closely with various stakeholders

including government services (e.g. National Parks and Wildlife Management

Authority, Department of Veterinary Services), multilateral and bilateral development

partners (FAO, European Union, France) and local and international NGOs (WWF

CAMPFIRE association,...).

When was the platform created?

The first Memorandum of Understanding was signed in December 2007. But the RP-

PCP activities began in earnest in 2007, after consultations started in 2005. It

followed the signature of bilateral MoUs in 2006 between UZ and CIRAD/CNRS and

between NUST and CIRAD/CNRS. The duration of the multilateral memorandum

was initially fixed as three years (2007-2010) and it was renewed in December 2010

for four years. Yet we are today together to witness the signature of the third

renewed agreement for the period 2015-2020!

What motivated the platform’s creation?

The platform was created to institutionalise and strengthen the links between the four

institutions, which had existed on the ground for more than ten years. Besides, this

partnership created new opportunities for collaborations and stimulated research

activities in Zimbabwe during a difficult period, thus contributing to reduce the brain

drain of senior researchers and students.

It takes part to the efforts for understanding the interactions between Man and Nature

and building research-fed development policies. This focus is particularly strategic for

6


Zimbabwe as the country has numerous public and private conservation areas, and

the recent establishments of Transfrontier Conservation Areas with neighbouring

countries raises new questions, which needs to be addressed.

What are the objectives of the platform?

According to the MoU of the RP-PCP “the general objective of the platform is to

contribute to sustainable development, conservation and improved rural livelihoods in

Southern Africa through strengthening national research capacities, multidisciplinary

approaches and institutional partnerships with a focus on protected and neighbouring

production areas”. The research framework is guided by the desire to better

understand and improve the management of the human/domestic/wildlife interfaces.

How does the platform address its objective?

The RP-PCP promotes applied research in four broad thematic areas: Animal Health

and Environment, Ecology, Conservation and Agriculture and Natural Resources

Governance and Institutions. It concretely: i) supports selected research projects

submitted by post-graduate students, funded by calls for proposal and organizes their

supervision and their involvement in a multidisciplinary and international team; ii)

contributes to research and development projects and expertises carried out in

Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries; iii) promote collective responses to call for

proposals by RP-PCP partners ; iv) organises training workshops, communications

with stakeholders and contributes to capacity building.

7


Where are the areas of activities?

The platform has selected 3 priority areas of activities, which include the main Trans

Frontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) involving Zimbabwe and neighboring countries.

- Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools TFCA (with Mozambique and Zambia);

- Kavango-Zambezi TFCA (with Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia);

- Great Limpopo TFCA (with South Africa and Mozambique)

How does the platform function?

The platform is led by two bodies co-managed by the RP-PCP partners. The

Advisory Board provides strategic orientation and ensures that linkages exist

between all partners. It is composed of the heads of the four scientific partners and

the Ambassador of France and meets formally once a year. The second body is the

Scientific Committee, which determines the priority research topics, ensures the

integration of the four thematic areas and selects the projects for funding. It brings

together three times a year the chairman, the coordinators, theme and project

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leaders, student representatives and other partner representatives. From now on, it

will also include "associate partners" willing to join the RP-PCP. After 2 years as

associate partners, they will have the opportunity to become full member of the RP-

PCP.

Organization chart of the platform

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Celebrating the 3rd renewal of the MoU of the platform (2015-2020)

Eight years after its inception (December 2007), the renewal of the MoU in 2010 and

its extension in 2013 and 2014, it is now time to celebrate the anniversary of the

research platform ‘Production and Conservation in Partnership’ and to acknowledge

its achievements.

The Achievements of the Platform

Building bridges between disciplines, institutions and countries.

Since 2007 the platform has brought together 70 senior researchers and 91

postgraduate students (http://www.rp-pcp.org/students). They are from Zimbabwe

(62), France (18), Botswana (4), Belgium (1), Mozambique (1), South Africa (2),

Spain (1), The Netherlands (1), and Zambia (1) attached to many different Faculties,

specialised in Social Sciences, Agronomy, Ecology, Geography or Veterinary

Science. But they all work together as a team and feed the momentum and the

dynamism of the platform.

Improving the understanding of Man and Nature coexistence

10


Analysis of data collected during field studies by RP-PCP students and researchers

have improved the scientific knowledge on ecological, social and pathological

dynamics at the human-livestock-wildlife interface. Members of the RP-PCP team

have contributed to many scientific publications:

- 70 articles, most of them in international scientific journals

- 18 book chapters including an edited book (see picture)

- More than a 100 oral and poster presentations at regional and international

conferences

Supporting students in their curriculum

Between 2007 and 2015, the RP-PCP has supported and hosted the activities of 91

post-graduate PhD, MPhil and MSc students, registered in more than 15 universities.

Thirty of these graduate students have already graduated, 32 are starting this year

and the remaining are on-going students. Given the current rate of graduating

11


research students in Zimbabwe, this would represent a very significant contribution at

the country level. In addition, a number of these Zimbabwean students are currently

employed by Government agencies (Department of Veterinary Services, National

Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Agritex, DR&SS), and the platform thus

contributes directly to capacity building.

Contributing to research and academic networks in Southern Africa

Senior members of the RP-PCP are involved in several collaborative initiatives with

other research and academic groups and networks operating in Southern Africa.

These include the AHEAD initiative, coordinated by SANParks. The RP-PCP and

AHEAD organized a joint TFCA conference in May 2014 in Hwange National Park

with more than 140 participants (http://www.rp-pcp.org/news/rp-pcp-ahead-

conference). Long-term collaborations have been established through various

projects with SADC universities in South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia and Botswana.

Members of the RP-PCP are also involved in technical groups related to TFCAs

(GLTP-Veterinary subcommittee, Zimbabwe TFCA Conservation and Veterinary

Subcommittee) and agricultural productions (Livestock working group and

Conservation Agriculture working group, coordinated by FAO).

Creating new opportunities

The platform has created new opportunities for collaborations between the four

partners and with other research groups as well. The formal partnership increased

the visibility of the individual partners and allowed their involvement in different

networks. The platform is currently involved in various projects coordinated by one of

the partner institutions including EU-DREAM coordinated by CIRAD (http://www.rp-

pcp.org/projects/on-going/dream), EU-GeosAf coordinated by CIRAD in Botswana,

Mozambique and Zimbabwe (http://www.rp-pcp.org/projects/on-going/geosaf), FSP-

RenCaRe coordinated by Cirad (http://www.rp-pcp.org/projects/on-going/rencare- or

the ANR SAVARID coordinated by CNRS (http://www.rp-pcp.org/projects/on-

going/savarid). Furthermore, the platform as an international and multidisciplinary

framework can participate to international call for proposals.

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The way forward: Launching RP-PCP Phase III (2015-2020)

The end of the second phase and the renewal of the agreement offer a good

occasion to adapt the functioning and organisation of the research platform to its new

challenges. The main changes brought by this new MoU are:

1. To open the group to new “Associate partners”

2. To regionalise the platform with increase linkages with neighbouring SADC

Universities, and further to other international Universities

3. To transform the Steering Committee into a Scientific Committee focusing on

the scientific animation of the platform and leaving the steering to project

coordinators.

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Introducing RP-PCP Partners

University Of Zimbabwe

UZ is a Zimbabwean academic institution, which promotes academic

freedom, upholds universal values and fulfils its tasks with a sense of

social responsibility. In its teaching, research and community service

programmes, the University strives to contribute to the solution of the

problems faced by the country, the region, and the world at large and

offers an intellectual home to everyone who has the interest and the ability to

participate in its programmes. www.uz.ac.zw

Centre De Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement

CIRAD is a French institute playing a leading role in world agricultural research, rural

development and technology transfer to small-scale farmers and to agro-industry. By

streamlining its structures, its management and mode of operation, CIRAD has

equipped itself to occupy a strategic position in the world system of development

oriented agricultural research and training and to prepare for the future in a rapidly

changing research environment. CIRAD has been operating in Africa for decades

mainly in the Central and the Western regions, but it has considerably extended its

activity in Southern Africa region, and notably in Zimbabwe, for the past 10 years.

www.cirad.fr

National University Of Science and Technology

NUST is a Zimbabwean academic institution, which promotes

academic freedom, upholds universal values and fulfils its tasks with

a sense of social responsibility. In its teaching, research and

community service programmes, the University strives to contribute to

the solution of the problems faced by the country, the region, and the world at large

and offers an intellectual home to everyone who has the interest and the ability to

participate in its programmes. www.nust.ac.zw

http://www.uz.ac.zw/

http://www.cirad.fr/

http://www.nust.ac.zw/

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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

CNRS is a French research organization involved in all fields of

knowledge, with the following main missions:

- To evaluate and carry out all research capable of advancing

knowledge and bringing social, cultural, and economic benefits for society

- To contribute to the application and promotion of research results

- To support research training

CNRS encourages collaboration between specialists from different disciplines thus

opening up new fields of enquiry to meet social and economic needs. Its

“Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development” scientific department (EDD)

is an example of such a cross approach among disciplines to face new challenges,

and is strongly involved in different research programmes in sub-Saharan Africa.

www.cnrs.fr

The Embassy of France in Zimbabwe

The Government of the Republic of France and

the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe

signed a convention in Harare on March 1986,

17th, in order to implement the scientific and

technical cooperation between the two

governments. The Embassy of France has supported the research platform since its

inception. Besides the Ambassador of France is the chairman of the advisory board.

www.ambafrance-zw.org

http://www.cnrs.fr/

http://www.ambafrance-zw.org/

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Contacts

Chairman of Scientific Committee (SSC):

- Professor Eddie Mwenje (PhD, MBA, BSc Hons)

Bindura University of Science Education

P.Bag 1020 Bindura Zimbabwe

+263 2716345/+263 712644920

[email protected]; [email protected]

Secretary Co-ordinators of SSC:

- Dr Alexandre Caron (PhD, DVM, MSc)

Senior Researcher

CIRAD, UR AGIRs

Faculdade de Veterinária - Universidade Eduardo Mondlane

Av. de Moçambique Km. 1,5 - Caixa Postal 257

Maputo 01009, Moçambique Cell: + (258) 84 464 06 39

[email protected]

- Dr Prisca Mugabe (PhD, MSc, BSc)

Department of Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe,

PO Box MP167 Mount Pleasant

Harare, Zimbabwe

+263 4 303211 extn 15513/15509/+263 712 406 946;

[email protected]

Embassy of France

3, Princess Drive - Harare

Tel : (+263 4) 776 313 or 776 118

[email protected]

http//ambafrance-zw.org






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