Dr Bola Salami Issa
Dr Issa is an environmentalist with academic backgrounds and field experiences in Surveying and Geo-informatics (Bsc, A.B.U Zaria), Climate Change Risks Management (PgD. Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands) and Environmental Management (Msc. University of Glamorgan, Wales U.K). Dr Issa is about to start his PhD in Environmental Policy to work on Cumulative Environmental Risk Exposures and Impacts Assessment.
Being an academic with more than 13 years of teaching and research experience, Bola is affiliated to the Unilorin Renewable Energy Centre and the Unilorin Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Climate Change issues, Urban Mining, Carbon Footprint Evaluation, E-waste and Circular Economy, Environmental and Cumulative Impact Assessment, Sustainable Development (Socio, economic, environmental and governance dimensions), Environmental Injustice, applied spatial analysis.
Dr Julien Reboud
Dr Julien Reboud (PhD, Université Joseph Fourier/CEA, 2006) is a Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering (since 2017) at the University of Glasgow.
Through his PhD in France, his post-doctoral experience in the Institute of Microelectronics (A-STAR) in Singapore, and fellowship in Glasgow, he established a track record in developing and integrating microfluidic systems for medical diagnostics and drug discovery.
Recently, his research has focussed on the development of such platforms for low resource settings, based on ultra low cost materials (e.g. paper) and precision medicine, to detect multiple diseases in one iteration as well as identify specific organisms in the fight against drug resistance. He has developed a network of collaborators in Rwanda and Uganda, where the devices have been trialled in the field.
Julien also develops and participates in discussions and research on the societal impact of technologies, through outreach activities (responsible innovation) and support of student-led projects (e.g. FemEng in Rwanda, iGEM, Handprints).
He has significant commercialisation experience, as evidenced through his PhD prize in the French national start-up competition (2004), co-invention of an acoustic technology enabling full microfluidic integration leading to the spin-out SAW Dx Ltd (www.sawdx.com). He has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers in international journals (including PNAS, Nano Letters, ChemComm., PLOS One, Angewandte, Advanced Materials, Analytical Chemistry, Lab Chip), and 15 patent applications and two granted US patents (US8323572 and US7785890)
Samir Halliru
Samir Halliru is a lecturer in the Department of Adult Education and Community Services, Bayero University, Kano (BUK) Nigeria. Samir holds a Diploma in Public and Private Law (HUK Polytechnic), B.Ed. Adult Education and Community Development (BUK), M.ED Community Development (BUK), MSC Adult and Continuing Education (University of Glasgow, UK) and is a final year PhD Researcher at the University of Glasgow, UK.
Samir is interested in lifelong learning and community development. Samir is a member of the board of the Standing Conference on the University Teaching and Research on the Education of the Adults (SCUTREA), based in the UK, where he was selected as a member Responsible for Africa in 2015.
Aid is all very well but fair exchange and self awareness may matter more
by Dr Mia Perry
If you have £10 in your pocket and you want to do some good for the world, what is the best way to spend the money? Is it more helpful to donate to an international charity, or pay steep prices for local produce over cheaper, often more accessible products, that have been imported from Africa?
I ask myself this question frequently. My work takes me to places far removed from my home to ‘help,’ to ‘develop,’ to ‘solve problems.’ What makes me think that my good intentions, my money, my version of developed/sustainable/happy have any relevance to communities in Malawi or Uganda? How can I make choices at home that create a positive impact?
In the name of “development” and “aid” billions of pounds have been spent from the Global North on challenges materialising in the Global South: from poverty to environmental protection, from gender equality to health. Countless academics, development workers, and administrators have focused on innovation, intervention, programmes and practices on supporting development in the “developing world”.
In the name of #Development #GCRF @SF_Africa https://t.co/mjDU1uvtz1
— Molly Gilmour (@MVGilmour) April 12, 2018
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The Sustainable Futures in Africa Network (www.sustainablefuturesinafrica.com), a consortium I lead,
is a collective of researchers, educators, development workers, and communities that spans the UK (primarily the University of Glasgow) and countries across Africa (Malawi, Uganda, Botswana, and Nigeria in particular).
We work across diverse areas of expertise, sectors, and geographies to address the social, cultural, and ecological aspects of sustainable development. Together, we focus on questions about how to rethink the development research status quo for more positive future outcomes.
The flow of aid money and resources, coupled with increasing global morality and mobility is broadening pipelines between the Global North and South, yet there is an unsettling current to development trends.
In reality, the Global North (albeit an ever-decreasing section of the Global North) becomes ever more powerful and prosperous, and more resilient to climate change; while the Global South addresses an ever-decreasing area of fertile land, a growing population of people living in poverty, and an increasing threat of food security. For all of our good intentions and promises of funding and expertise, global inequalities and development challenges persist – in many areas increase.
The Sustainable Futures in Africa Network has grown out of questioning this type of development and development-related research.
The Sustainable Futures in Africa Network has grown out of questioning this type of development and development-related research. We are convinced that there are fundamental oversights in the practices, processes and natures of collaborations.
Unless we make decisive changes to the ways we collaborate, across the vastly different settings of our homes, cultures, and disciplines then substantial resources will continue to be spent at a rapid pace; but the trajectory of change and development in the world will remain consistent with that of the past 50 years. The north gets richer, the south gets poorer. Why would we expect anything different if we continue as normal?
Global challenges relating to poverty and environmental sustainability in the Global South require engagement with multiple disciplines, knowledge, and stakeholders.
The challenge goes beyond working across science, society, and culture. It encompasses working across very different perspectives and lived experiences.
We cannot genuinely support positive change or sustainability without ways to communicate and collaborate across these differences. As we do so, we find that no one alone has the solution, no one knows ‘best,’ but together we discover directions and possibilities that make sense (and often surprise) all involved.
As I give, donate, or purchase to create positive change, I am making a difference to others and also to myself. I am accountable for the giving, but also for the impact of the giving. I am mindful of the consequences of my donation or contribution; conscious that I do not want to contribute to the same systems of global inequality that I am trying to alleviate.
So, I choose to spend my £10... in exchange for a product or cause that I am engaged with and understand. This might look like a fair-trade purchase from a market in my neighbourhood instead of a cheaper version at the large chain supermarket, or choosing to purchase a locally produced or second-hand shirt rather than the cheaper new one from a brand-name company who source labour and materials from resource-poor countries such as Bangladesh. Positive influence in the world must be based on fair exchange and self-awareness, not simply good intention or aid.
For More Information:
https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/mia-perry-aid-is-all-very-well-but-fair-exchange-and-self-awareness-may-matter-more-1-4718285
ECOaction
SFA partner Reagan Kandole founded a Waste Management Education Project “ECOaction” where he engages the youth and the community in handling waste
We’re a registered environmental, non-profit organization, currently located and operating within in Banda, one of Kampala’s slum areas. Since 2011 we support disadvantaged youths and women from this area, through multiple activities, aiming to build sustainable livelihoods as well as new and additional income opportunities.
Over the last seven years, our main beneficiaries and partners have been a group of garbage collectors, who lived in the Banda area. This community consists of 106 individuals, mainly single mothers and children, who collect and sort garbage, like plastic bottles or scrap metal, for saleable items. For specific activities, the group was always joined by several other, unemployed youths from the area. Some of the activities carried out have been: engaging in urban farming (kitchen gardens and poultry); briquette making from biodegradable waste; composting; greenhouse construction; construction of children’s playgrounds; building bathroom shelters out of plastic bottles; public art installations; school libraries or conduction of waste management workshops.
The outcomes, especially given the very few available resources, have been impressive and have led to a significant improvement of the livelihoods of the involved people and their environments. Unfortunately our community was then suddenly displaced in 2017, as the landlord decided to develop the land and evicted everybody within a week of notice. Since then the community members are dispersed and live under extremely vulnerable situations.
But this unforeseen event also gave us, as a very young organization, the chance to evaluate and review our structures and processes. To learn from the experiences we’ve made and to identify the necessary steps to sustainably implement the concept of Zero Waste and make it available to everybody. Because our vision includes, but yet goes far beyond, the improvement of individual livelihoods. Our goal is to create an environmental movement in Uganda which promotes the benefits of an eco-friendly society beyond trash, and where empowered and responsible citizens live in harmony with their environment.
Vision Statement:
An empowered and responsible society where citizens live in harmony with their environment, while sustainably creating new job opportunities for the most marginalized urban youth and women through innovation in waste management
Mission Statement:
Creating an environmental movement in Uganda which promotes the benefits of an eco-friendly society beyond trash through capacity development, community empowerment, innovation and partnerships across sectors.
For more information and for more colourful and creative photos check out the ECOaction
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ECOaction-52417579767297
- Follow Reagan on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kandole_reagan/
https://www.facebook.com/524175797672978/videos/1711759998914546/
Art and Development walking hand in hand
by Stewart Paul
I was fortunate to be amongst those who helped organize and participate at the workshop on “Exploring the role of Arts in Development Projects” held in Lilongwe at the beautiful Child Legacy International premises on 17th of January this year. As part of the Sustainable Futures in Africa (SFA) network, this workshop was amongst the many activities done in Uganda, Malawi, Botswana and Nigeria where SFA members are based. For Malawi, I felt it was high time that artists and development practitioners work together on sustainability issues. This will help them to think out-of-the-box and come up with new and creative ideas to solve sustainability challenges. As part of Abundance, I attended the workshop with Abundance’s Director, Ruth Mumba and felt that it was very well organized and participants appreciated this endeavor. Initially, we had no clue what the workshop outcomes would be as it was such a novel concept. But after the workshop ended and when we reflected on it, we have realized that it was indeed an enriching experience.
Elson Kambalu, a visual artist who is also a film-maker introduced the workshop and talked about the need for artists and other partners in the development sector to work together and he explained his plan to produce a documentary of the workshop for the next SFA meeting which was to be held in Lagos, Nigeria. The ice-breaker session was interesting and Sharon Kalima got the participants to play games and get to know each other. I had a chance to present about the SFA network and share some views from the SFA meeting I attended in Botswana last year.
Helen Todd of Arts and Global Health Center Africa (ArtGlo) introduced the World Café method of participants working together and developing ideas. We all sat in mixed groups of artists, development practitioners and academicians and brainstormed on sustainability topics and how arts can play a role in such work. Some of the ideas that emanated were that Government should incorporate arts into basic education, introduce more art trainings and provide funds to artists. Organizations must include art through engaging creativity of artists into development projects, we felt.
One challenge discussed was that of how art could solve ecological and social challenges Malawi faces. Solutions aired by participants were many including composing traffic jingles for civic education, imparting knowledge through art on cultural heritage and importance of ecological sites, documenting cultural art and disseminating it through libraries, etc. Overall, participants agreed that artists must be included right from inception of any project, after all art is close to people and people can relate to art. We must promote arts as a platform for discussion of development issues. Local songs, dramas and creative messages can help advocate for sustainability issues such as promotion of renewable energy.
Ruth Mumba got a chance to present about Abundance’s work and Helen Todd presented about how ArtGlo had successfully incorporated art into development projects in Malawi. The participants were treated to a tour of the Child Legacy International premises which is a sustainably-built center. On our way back to our homes, we all felt that we made new friends and learnt a lot. I hope this is just a starting point and a lot of projects can be generated from the ideas generated from this workshop.