R4D Congo DRC

Beyond Conflict: Reconfiguring approaches to the regional trade in minerals from Eastern DRC

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:03:00 GMT

Miscellaneous H. Mitchell and N. Garrett 2009 86 pp. This report first provided an overview and analysis of the regional trade in minerals from Eastern DRC, including a baseline assessment of its links to conflict and development dynamics. This assessment explains the on the ground realities, which are at the very heart of the authors scepticism towards the potential success of interventions in the economic domain. The assessment of the trade also provides an overview of the important poverty reduction contribution, such as the trades fiscal linkage and employment function, which it currently provides and which can be expanded with the right strategies.

Secondly, the report expands on a regional perspective of the trade and introduces how successfully the DRCs neighbours, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania, have leveraged their own mineral production and trading sectors in various ways for development. This regional assessment of the development impact, but more importantly the regional development potential of a reformed trade leads us to believe that processes of regional economic integration, which are strengthening in East Africa, provide an increasingly important analytical perspective of the trade, rather than the loot thy neighbour strategy that was seen to prevail during the past two Congolese wars.

This report aims to further advances the debate around the mineral sector in Eastern DRC. The authors urge stakeholders to take action to end the insecurity in the region and to implement strategies to maximise the mining sectors impact on poverty reduction and development through positive engagement.

NGOs and Humanitarian Reform: A Multi-Agency Project

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:35:00 GMT

Miscellaneous 2008 22 pp. This presentation introduces the UN-led humanitarian reform programme, and gives an overview of the NGOs and humanitarian reform project which seeks to engage NGOs in the overall process.

NGOs and Humanitarian Reform: Mapping Study Inception Report

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:03:00 GMT

Miscellaneous 2008 10 pp. This inception report is one of the outputs for the Mapping Study on humanitarian reform. It outlines the methodological approach to be used in the five case studies in Afghanistan, DRC, Ethiopia, Sudan and Zimbabwe and the key questions to be addressed. It is important to adopt a common approach in the case studies in order to ensure comparability across them.

NGOs and Humanitarian Reform Mapping Study: Democratic Republic of Congo Report

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:09:00 GMT

Miscellaneous Tasneem Mowjee 2009 36 pp. This report is based on a 12-day visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from the 19th to the 30th of January 2009. The report begins by outlining the elements of the context in the DRC that have direct relevance for humanitarian response. It then presents findings under the three pillars of humanitarian reform coordination, funding and leadership as well as under the project themes of partnership, accountability to beneficiaries and effect of the reforms on humanitarian response. To maintain a direct link between findings and recommendations, it presents the latter at the end of each section. It also draws out some cross-cutting conclusions and recommendations at the end.

Reforming the process of humanitarian response: involving NGOs in the debate

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:00:00 GMT

The United Nations has been leading a process of reforming the way that humanitarian aid is delivered, aimed at improving the efficiency and reach of humanitarian response for beneficiary populations. With a growing awareness of the need to better involve NGOs particularly national and local NGOs in the various aspects of reform, DFID-funded research is helping to engage NGOs in the reform process.

Review of the engagement of NGOs with the humanitarian reform process: Synthesis report

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:10:00 GMT

Miscellaneous 2009 52 pp. This report analyses the current state of global humanitarian reform efforts from an NGO perspective by synthesising a series of mapping studies carried out between November 2008 and February 2009 that looked at humanitarian reform in five different countries: Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan and Zimbabwe. Lessons from other contexts are also brought in to strengthen the analysis and provide an overview of humanitarian reform.

Many of the findings of the mapping studies are not new to those who have been following the UN-led humanitarian reform. They do, however, provide field-based evidence to support previously expressed views and emphasise the areas where improvements must be made. This report is intended both to provide a constructive, evidence-based critique of the state of reform and to set out clear recommendations and ways forward in finding solutions to the weaknesses and challenges inherent in the humanitarian community. Many of these challenges existed well before the reforms, and they still confront us today.

The research was commissioned by a consortium formed by six NGOs ActionAid, CAFOD, CARE, International Rescue Committee, Oxfam and Save the Children together with the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) as part of the three-year NGOs and Humanitarian Reform Project, funded by DfID. The project aims to strengthen local, national and international humanitarian NGO voices in influencing policy debates and field processes related to the humanitarian reform and to propose solutions so that humanitarian response can better meet the needs of affected populations. This report represents a baseline for the project.

NGOs and Humanitarian Reform Project

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:44:00 GMT

Current The overall goal of the project is to increase the effectiveness of humanitarian response, by improving the way that NGOs are able to engage in pooled-funding mechanisms at the county level. NGOs, together with the UN and the Red Cross, constitute of 3 pillars of an international humanitarian response. However, the engagement of NGOs in coordination and financing reforms has faced multiple challenges and obstacles.

Improve NGO participation in coordination mechanism in 4 countries.
Improve NGO access to reformed humanitarian funding in 4 countries.
Improved participation of crisis affected people in needs assessments in 4 countries.
Good practice and lessons learnt are effectively disseminated.
Field generated knowledge impacts global policy formulation.

The recent Synthesis Report Review of the engagement of NGOs with the humanitarian reform process comprising the first phase of the project was recently presented at the Ditchley conference. The report analyses the current state of global humanitarian reform efforts from an NGO perspective by synthesizing a series of mapping studies carried out in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, DRC and Sudan between November 2008 and February 2009.

The project is now in phase 2. Humanitarian Reform Officers (HROs) have been appointed in each of the focus countries. (Sudan has been dropped from the list after international NGOs were expelled earlier this year), There are also 5 secondary countries, Haiti, Indonesia, Palestine, Mozambique and Pakistan.

African cattle to be protected from killer disease

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:00:00 GMT

The Global Alliance for Livestock Vaccines and medicines (GALVmed), a public private partnership supported by DFID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has facilitated the production of a million doses of an experimental vaccine against a tick-borne disease of cattle in Africa

Working Paper No. 54. The Congolese Elite and the Fragmented City: the struggle for the emergence of a dominant class in Kinshasa.

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:29:00 GMT

Miscellaneous W. Freund 2009 Working Paper No. 54 (series 2), London, UK; Crisis States Research Centre, 27 pp. This paper examines the current situation in the city of Kinshasa, including the position of the Congolese elite in the city and its relationship to the Congolese state. The author first looks at the history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and how its class structure has formed before going on to consider the network of Congolese cities and their relation to the political economy of the country. Beginning with a brief overview of colonial history, the author considers to what extent Kinshasa is a city being made or taken over by an indigenous elite.

Working Paper No. 53. Portrait of Kinshasa: a city on (the) edge.

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:06:00 GMT

Miscellaneous P. Kapagama and R. Waterhouse 2009 Working Paper No. 53 (series 2), London, UK; Crisis States Research Centre, 30 pp. In French. A city profile of Kinshasa in DR Congo is presented.

Trading Conflict for Development: Utilising the trade in minerals from Eastern DR Congo for development.

Thu, 21 May 2009 09:44:00 GMT

Miscellaneous N. Garrett and H. Mitchell 2009 52 pp. The report 'Trading Conflict for Development', researched and written by Nicholas Garrett and Harrison Mitchell of Resource Consulting Services and supported by funding from the UK Department for International Development, with assistance from the Crisis States Research Centre and the Conflict Research Group at University of Ghent, challenges current calls for a ban or disruption of trade in cassiterite, coltan and wolframite from Eastern DRCongo. The report urges policymakers, the private sector and other stakeholders to commit to reforming the existing trade in minerals from DR Congo rather than banning, or disrupting it.

The report suggests that military gain from the trade in Eastern DRCongo's minerals, which generated at least 4m US$ to the Congolese state in tax revenue in 2008, is not the primary cause of insecurity and violence in North Kivu. Though the report acknowledges deep-seated problems with the trade, it goes further and suggests that, in contrast, to current policy approaches, security and trade issues should be addressed separately since trade-based solutions to security issues, such as sanctions, are likely to have little effect on the perpetuation of the conflict.

DFID Supports World Malaria Day 2009

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:00:00 GMT

DFID is supporting a range of research projects alongside programmes to scale up interventions already known to be effective in the control of malaria

Crisis States Research Centre. Annual Report Oct 2007 Sept 2008

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:15:00 GMT

Miscellaneous 2009 38 pp. Progress on outputs and impact is reported.

id21 health highlights 21. Health systems.

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:47:00 GMT

Miscellaneous id21 2007 IDS, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK, 2 pp. This issue contains the following short articles: Financing mental health services in low and middle income countries; Managing and financing health services during conflict in the DRC; Maternal health in sub-Saharan Africa - Tackling the skills shortage; and NGOs take on health services in Afghanistan.

Tropical forests in poverty alleviation: from household data to global-comparative analysis

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:53:00 GMT

Current Forests are important to the rural livelihoods of poor people in developing countries. But due to the paucity of quality data on rural household economies in the tropics and sub-tropics, we know very little about just how important forests are, for what specific purposes they primarily serve, and for how many people forests are vital assets. This impedes the design of effective strategies for forest-based poverty alleviation. This project aims to fill these serious empirical gaps by using a uniform methodology to gather high-quality primary household data in about 25 sites with tropics-wide coverage. The global data bank (5-6000 households) with complete annualized income information and other economic and non-economic data will be used for a global-comparative analysis of forest-poverty linkages in rural household economies. Our goal is to analyse the general importance of various forest types in different aspects of rural livelihoods, identify major causes of geographical variation, and point to tangible options for interventions that actively enhance forest-based poverty alleviation. Specifically, we will test for hypotheses related to the alleged pro-poor role of market integration and of collective forest mangement at the local level. The data will also enable tests of broader microeconomic hypotheses regarding the role of natural resources in rural livelihoods, e.g. to what extent natural resources serve as seasonal gap-fillers, as safety nets in response to shocks, and as means of accumulating assets that eventually can lift people out of poverty. The project is integrated into the Poverty and Environment Network (PEN), coordinated by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). PEN is an ongoing collaborative research effort between CIFOR, a network of PhD students, and external experts from ten universities including the University of East Anglia. PEN data collection is already advanced; we thus seek financial support over a three-year period mainly to establish a global data bank, to undertake the global-comparative data analysis, and to carry out synthesis & dissemination work. Research results will be communicated through a variety of media to the main intended beneficiaries that include academia, donors, multilaterals, and policy makers at different levels. The primary project objective is:
I. To undertake a comprehensive global-comparative analysis of the role of forests and environmental income in preventing and reducing rural poverty, built on a centrally coordinated pan-tropical data bank with high-quality primary household and village data collected though PEN (research outputs);
The secondary project objectives are:
II. To elaborate recommendations for tangible forest-poverty interventions, and feed them into national and global policy processes (policy impacts);
III. To enhance the ability of project partners in using best-practice methods for conducting income-accounting rural household surveys, and to suggest improved research methodologies for future studies of environmental incomes and rural livelihoods (capacity building and methodological innovation).

Improved treatment for sleeping sickness

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

A new combination of drugs has been successfully trailed by the DFID-funded Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative as a treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa

Supporting science journalism in Africa and the Middle East

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

A dozen new teams of science journalists from different countries across Africa and the Middle East trained through the DFID-funded SjCOOP Programme are collaborating on science related stories

HIV and AIDS in crisis regions

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:00:00 GMT

The DFID-funded PlusNews network has produced a series of in-depth reports on HIV/AIDS in crisis settings for researchers and policy makers

Research Into Use: African Innovation Challenge Fund

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:00:00 GMT

The second Research Into Use (RIU) call for proposals is for the African Innovation Challenge Fund

Power and Politics in Africa

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:16:00 GMT

Current There is growing recognition that in low-income Africa the way power is exercised needs to change if widespread poverty reduction is to be achieved. This is supported by a well established general analysis of African states. But existing knowledge is of limited practical use. It does not tell us which types of hybrid formal-informal power structures may be capable of providing "good enough governance" and which are irremediably anti-developmental. This knowledge is essential because developmental states have invariably emerged out of neopatrimonial ones, and within contemporary Africa there is significant variation in outcomes across places, times and institutional spheres. We hypothesise that there is scope for reforms that work "with the grain" of the prevailing (often corrupt) practices to mitigate their most negative consequences and harness unexpected strengths. We propose a systematic study of this issue, based on intensive case studies and linked survey work in a range of African countries. This is proposed as part of an integrated programme, combining 1) research, 2) research training, 3) organisational capacity strengthening, and 4) policy influence and policy development. The research will be carried out in a way that helps to create constituencies for the needed changes in thinking and practice

Crisis States Research Centre - Phase 2

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:59:00 GMT

Current Continuation of Phase 1 To examine and provide an understanding of processes of war, state collapse and reconstruction in fragile states, and to assess the long-term impact of international interventions in these processes. Ultimately, to advance understanding of the processes of state collapse that are at the heart of problems of insecurity and poverty. To examine and provide an understanding of processes of war, state collapse and reconstruction in fragile states and to assess the long-term impact of international interventions in these processes. Through rigorous comparative analysis of a carefully selected set of states and of cities, and sustained analysis of 'global and regional axes of conflict', to identify the symptoms of state collapse, why some fragile states collapse while others do not, and the ways that war affects future possibilities of state building. It is planned to distil the lessons learned from past experiences of state reconstruction to inform current policy thinking and planning.

Establishment of satellite ICOSAMP systems and improved migrant pest reporting network

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed Migrant pests annually plague the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, where it is estimated that the agricultural activities of about 67% of the population region are at risk from these pests. Countries affected are: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. SARCCUS (the Southern African Regional Commission for the Conservation and Utilisation of Soil), together with its related Migrant Pest Subcommittee, was disbanded in 1997 and the mandates incorporated into SADC. However, delays with the re-establishing of the Migrant Pest subcommittee meant that a serious 'gap' existed with respect to the communication and co-ordination of migrant pest management. The main migrant pests which threaten food crops in SADC are three species of locusts namely the brown locust, African migratory locust, and red locust; Red-billed Quelea birds, and a moth caterpillar - the African armyworm. As these pests are able to freely traverse political boundaries, preventive control before they become a serious problem is the major management technique. It is therefore important to know the current distribution and scale of infestation, especially in the case of armyworm where the sudden appearance, rapid development and disappearance of the insect calls for quick action. Active communication and co-operation between neighbouring countries is vitally important with regard to management and control strategies. The Information Core for Southern African Migrant Pests (ICOSAMP) project, under the leadership of ARC-PPRI in South Africa has, since its inception in January 2000, successfully addressed this problem by establishing a migrant pest information network in southern Africa. Monthly migrant pest situation reports in the form of Bulletins and maps are sent to decision makers in national Ministries of Agriculture and Plant Protection Departments, to assist them with forecasting of impending invasions or outbreaks. ICOSAMP has already contributed to cross-border communication with respect to provision of early warning of migrant pest outbreaks, and this in itself has assisted decision makers in affected countries to implement additional monitoring activities. ICOSAMP has also provided valuable data for the validation of models of two other DFID funded projects (Quelea and Brown Locust). Both of the above contribute to the alleviation of poverty by providing organisational, national, and regional decision makers with essential 'tools' to improve their forecasting abilities, and to implement timely control strategies to protect the food security in their country and the region as a whole. The expansion of the ICOSAMP system through 12 'country-specific' satellite stations in SADC, as well as improved data collection, will add value to a system that is already operating successfully. Strategies developed to improve forecasting and reduce the impact of migrant pests in semi-arid cropping systems, for benefit of poor people, and the promotion of strategies developed to improve forecasting and reduce the impact of migrant pests in semi-arid cropping systems, for benefit of poor people. Except for the handover of ownership to SADC, the other outputs will be completed by May 2005. As a result of the satellite country-systems and the related improved data input and retrieval, the goal of the project has been achieved. Up to date migrant pest distribution information has assisted decision makers in SADC to forecast impending pest invasions or outbreaks, thereby reducing the impact of migrant pests on the food security of the region. Existing ICOSAMP databases maintained and updated.
Country-specific databases programmed.

Existing ICOSAMP system upgraded.
Satellite ICOSAMP country-specific systems designed, constructed and installed for each member country.

Training provided on country-specific systems and ICOSAMP co-ordinating facilities.

Marketing of ICOSAMP via information posters and leaflets, and published articles.

Transfer of ownership of the ICOSAMP system to the SADC FANR Directorate to be incorporated into the proposed 'SADC Agricultural Information System' (AIS). Five outputs were planned for the project:
*Existing ICOSAMP databases maintained and updated;
*Satellite systems developed;
*Training provided on country systems;
*Public awareness of ICOSAMP, and
*Transfer of ownership to SADC-FANR.

Databases. The ICOSAMP database now contains more than 2,500 records of migrant pest control operations undertaken in the SADC region since the inception of the database in 2001. During this project, 450 armyworm, 425 Locust, and 611 Quelea records were added to the database - a significantly higher number than in the first phase of the project (2001-2003). The ICOSAMP gazetteer contains more than 680 entries.

Satellite systems. Twelve SADC country systems (Angola, Botswana, DR of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe), one system for the IRLCO-CSA (International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa), and one Co-ordinator's system were developed. This development included the construction of country-specific GIS maps and databases, and provision of new computer hardware and software for each country collaborator. Two systems were translated into Portuguese (Angola and Mozambique), and one into French (DR of Congo). Three User Manuals, one Computer Set-up Manual, and one Co-ordinator's Manual were written. The ICOSAMP website (http://icosamp.ecoport.org) was regularly updated, and 22 ICOSAMP Monthly Bulletins were disseminated.

Training. Personalised and individual training sessions (4 days) were given to each of the country collaborators in South Africa.

Public Awareness. Provision was made in the project for the printing of migrant pest posters and leaflets for each country. However, due to the late start of the project and the intensive training sessions, this has been postponed to after the completion date of the project.

Transfer of ownership. The objective was to hand over ownership of ICOSAMP at the end of March 2005 to the SADC-FANR Directorate, now based in Botswana. However, during a visit of the co-ordinator to the SADC offices in February 2005, it was clearly evident that this will not transpire. Not only is SADC undergoing MAJOR restructuring of offices and staff, but some international donors have already withdrawn funding from SADC. This means that there is no capacity or funding to run ICOSAMP from the SADC offices in Botswana. The current co-ordinator has agreed to keep ICOSAMP 'alive' under the mantle of the ARC until such time that SADC is capable of taking ownership.

Peer to Peer Development and Support of Science Journalism in the Developing World - the Support of Science Journalism in the Developing World Programme (SjCOOP)

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Current The WFSJ is a Canadian non-profit, INGO representing science and technology journalists associations. Its members are national, regional and other international associations of science and technology journalists. It serves to further science journalism as a bridge between scientists and the public. Its goal is to improve the quality of science reporting, promote standards and support science and technology journalists worldwide.

The Support of Science Journalism in the Developing World Programme (SjCOOP) has four main objectives. They are;

The professional development of science journalists in the developing world
The establishment of national and regional associations of science journalists in developing countries
Establish the WFSJ as a support to science journalists and associations in the developing world
Establishment of relationships between scientists and the media

This peer-to-peer mentoring project was successful in mentoring and graduating 32 science journalists, creating an online course in science journalism, fostering science journalists associations in Africa and the Middle East, supporting local activities of these associations, and creating international twinning arrangements among associations. Networking and contacts among journalists were highly valued and were directly linked to: improved training; reduced feelings of isolation; enhanced opportunities for twinning of associations; the development of local initiatives; and a sense of community among science journalists.

Biochemistry of quality changes during storage and processing of tropical crops

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed The objectives of the project were to:
determine the biochemical components and enzyme activities underlying changes in quality parameters and anti nutritional factors during storage and processing of root crops.
evaluate methods for the accurate estimation of cyanogens in the cassava plant and processed products.
determine the influence of traditional and improved processing methods for cassava on the biochemical mechanisms and efficacies of cyanide detoxification. An improved technology for the preparation of cassava product extracts at field level has been developed and tested for its applications in developing countries. Using portable equipment and chemicals, extracts can be stabilised for up to 3 months yet still provide highly accurate results. The methodology has also been modified to permit the separate estimation of the three cyanogenic components of cassava, linamarin, acetone cyanohydrin and HCN, which may have differing toxicologies when consumed in cassava foods. Evaluation of traditional and new processing techniques in Cameroon, Zaire and Tanzania have been chronicled and indicate the critical importance of specific detoxification steps required. Literature reviews have been made to assess the availability of alternative cyanide methodologies which may require less expensive or sophisticated equipment and chemicals, thus permitting developing countries to establish their own analytical laboratories for cassava product screening.

Improved methodologies are available for the preparation of sample extracts and for the accurate determination of the cyanogens in cassava foods. Improved techniques have been developed and tested so as to facilitate efficient detoxification of cassava foods in those areas where the crop has been recently introduced or is marketed differently. New methods of analysis suitable for application as a screening indice in cassava breeding programmes are to be developed

Studies on the distribution and identification of bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) in Africa

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed The objectives of the project were:
To identify the strains of Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV) occurring in Phaseolus growing areas of Africa and to investigate their ecology
To investigate the pathogenic variability of these strains and to preserve the strains for future use in resistance breeding programmes
To produce a map of strain distribution in Africa
To select and provide the most appropriate strains for use in BCMV resistance breeding programmes in different African locations
To develop new serological procedures for identifying and distinguishing different BCMV strains in the field and in the laboratory
To study the importance of legume weeds species in the ecology and epidemiology of BCMV. The project was completed on time and within the budget. Knowledge of the distribution of different strains of BCMV in Africa.

A diagnostic assay for BCMV. Phaseolus beans and other legume potential hosts of BCMV in Uganda, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Ethiopia, Morocco, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zaire, Burundi and Kenya were surveyed, and samples received from other countries. Both necrotic (serotype A) and non-necrotic (serotype B) strains were identified: necrotic (including a temperature dependent) strains were widespread except in Ethiopia

non-necrotic strains occurred infrequently except in Ethiopia.

All typed strains have been preserved at HRI

many have been sent to African national breeding programmes.

Ployclonal antisera to five strains have been developed and a viobacterial agglutination test developed for field use. New information on host range, particularly in African legume weeds, has been obtained.

Functional diversity of Phaseolus bean mixture in East Africa

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed Phaseolus vulgaris beans are a major food crop in East Africa. Beans are widely grown as varietal mixtures by resource-poor farmers in traditional systems in East Africa for harvest security. The wider objective of this project is to increase bean production of resource-poor farmers in traditional Phaseolus bean mixture farming systems in East Africa through development of improved strategies for management of diseases while maintaining varietal diversity.
The immediate objectives are:
To generate basic knowledge of inherent levels of disease reaction to important pathogens at the component and sub-component level in Phaseolus bean mixtures in traditional production systems in East Africa
To quantify the effect of seasonal reconstitution of selected bean mixtures by 1-3 farmers on the frequency of resistance genes
To quantify the inherent contribution of mixtures to disease control under field conditions in East Africa
To supplement mixtures with missing resistances and quantify the contribution to disease control and increased yield
To develop improved methodology for characterisation of pathogens under glasshouse conditions where this is lacking. The project outputs were successfuly achieved. However, complete asessment of the project impact will be easier at the end of the next phase of the restructured project, as it continues within the CPP until 30/03/1998. For example, the elucidation of the inheritance patterns of the newly identified resistance genes to provide genetic data allowing the rational exploitation of resistance sources in breeding programmes, which was initiated during this part of the project, will be completed within the next phase of the project. Characterised farmer mixture components and subcomponents with known sources of resistance to major bean pathogens for use by national and regional breeding programmes.

Development of new methodology for glasshouse characterisation.

Formation of a reference collection if key isolates of major pathogens. Ten bean mixtures were collected from the Southern Highlands of Tanzania in 1991 and characterised morphologically, agronomically and for level of indigenous knowledge. Three representative mixtures were selected for intensive study on the basis of the diversity present (seed size, shape and colour), comprising 300 subcomponents. Single seeds of each subcomponent were multiplied to produce genetically uniform stocks for disease evaluation, allowing both within and between component reaction to be quantified.

All subcomponents were tested for disease reaction against nine races of halo-blight, four isolates of anthracnose, two isolates of angular leaf spot and several strains of bean common mosaic virus. Screening for resistance to common bacterial blight is in progress.

Isolates of key pathogens were collected and tested, so that representative, fully pathogenic isolates from appropriate geographical areas could be used for disease screening.

During 1993 and 1994 extensive field trials were conducted at Selian Research Institute, Arusha, Tanzania to assess disease development in mixtures grown under simulated farmer's conditions. In the first year of field experiments two experiments, each comprising of 100 plots, were conducted,one a control plot and the other inoculated with a local isolate of angular leaf spot. In 1994, the angular leaf spot experiment was repeated whilst the second experiment was inoculated with a local race 5 isolate of halo-blight. Bean mixtures were planted in the same proportions as they were collected from the farmer and individual plant assessments were made for both disease incidence and severity for all diseases present. A smaller variety trial was also conducted to investigate the field reaction of mixture components to halo-blight, common bacterial blight, anthracnose and angular leaf spot. In 1995 this experiment was extended to include comparisons with commercial bean cultivars at two different sites in northern Tanzania.

Uganda: Germplasm evaluation project (HOLDBACK FUNDS)

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed The wider objectives of the project are:
To identify of elite genotypes for potential release to farmers in Uganda and subsequently the whole Great Lakes countries (Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Zaire)
To preserve a genebank of banana/plantain cultivars vulnerable to extinction and those with breeding potential.
The immediate objectives are:
To evaluate resistance/tolerance to Black Sigatoka, Fusarium wilt and other pathogens infecting the plant
To evaluate resistance/tolerance to weevil/nematode pests
To evaluate yield and plant growth characteristics
To evaluate nutrient requirements
To evaluate post-harvest qualities and food palatability
To evaluate farmer participation in cultivar evaluation and selection
To characterise management packages and socio-economic aspects. Several of the imported cultivars are acceptable to farmers and serve all the purposes for which bananas are traditionally used. FHIA-0I was acceptable as a cooking banana which can also be eaten as dessert and squeezed to provide juice. The results indicate that this cultivar is resistant to black Sigatoka, Fusarium wilt and banana weevil, and is tolerant of banana nematodes. All FHIA-01 hybrids appear to be more drought tolerant than the local bananas. FHIA-01 was identified as an ideal food security crop in the areas often hit by drought in Uganda. Farmers have already shown a lot of interest in the cultivar. The KARI banana programme has received orders for over 300,000 plants from areas where the cultivars are tested. More orders are expected, but the multiplication of planting materials is proving to be a major constraint.

It is anticipated that, with the continued importation and evaluation of more cultivars, better material than FHIA-01 will be identified. FHIA-01 does not produce higher yields than the local checks in areas where black Sigatoka is absent. All cultivars rated as acceptable by the post harvest test panels were recommended to exporters for trial shipments in the region and overseas.

R4D Congo DRC

Beyond Conflict: Reconfiguring approaches to the regional trade in minerals from Eastern DRC

NGOs and Humanitarian Reform: A Multi-Agency Project

NGOs and Humanitarian Reform: Mapping Study Inception Report

NGOs and Humanitarian Reform Mapping Study: Democratic Republic of Congo Report

Reforming the process of humanitarian response: involving NGOs in the debate

Review of the engagement of NGOs with the humanitarian reform process: Synthesis report

NGOs and Humanitarian Reform Project

African cattle to be protected from killer disease

Working Paper No. 54. The Congolese Elite and the Fragmented City: the struggle for the emergence of a dominant class in Kinshasa.

Working Paper No. 53. Portrait of Kinshasa: a city on (the) edge.

Trading Conflict for Development: Utilising the trade in minerals from Eastern DR Congo for development.

DFID Supports World Malaria Day 2009

Crisis States Research Centre. Annual Report Oct 2007  Sept 2008

id21 health highlights 21. Health systems.

Tropical forests in poverty alleviation: from household data to global-comparative analysis

Improved treatment for sleeping sickness

Supporting science journalism in Africa and the Middle East

HIV and AIDS in crisis regions

Research Into Use: African Innovation Challenge Fund

Power and Politics in Africa

Crisis States Research Centre - Phase 2

Establishment of satellite ICOSAMP systems and improved migrant pest reporting network

Peer to Peer Development and Support of Science Journalism in the Developing World - the Support of Science Journalism in the Developing World Programme (SjCOOP)

Biochemistry of quality changes during storage and processing of tropical crops

Studies on the distribution and identification of bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) in Africa

Functional diversity of Phaseolus bean mixture in East Africa

Uganda: Germplasm evaluation project (HOLDBACK FUNDS)

Crisis States Research Centre. Annual Report Oct 2007 Sept 2008