Swedish research network on Livelihoods and Natural Resources

The Swedish research network on Livelihoods and Natural Resources is based at the Nordic Africa Institute. The network has received a grant for the period 2008-10 from Sida/SAREC. A detailed description of the network is available under "Project description" in the left menu.

Seminar series 2011

"Challenging concepts"

The Swedish Interdiscplinary Research Network for Livelihood and Natural Resource Governance, SERN, in cooperation with the Rural and agrarian research cluster at NAI, will under 2011 run the seminar series, "Challenging concepts" at the Library of the Nordic Africa Institute.

March 14, Poverty, Mats Hårsmar, Global research cluster, NAI
April 6, Land grabbing. Kjell Havnevik, Rural and agrarian research cluster, NAI.
May 11, Empowerment, Rosalind Eyben, Institute of Development Studies, England
September 21, Livelihood, Deobrah Bryceson, University of Glasgow.
October 19, Power, Lars Rudebeck, Center for Sustainable Development, University of Uppsala.
November 9, Displacement, Amanda Hammar, Centre for Africa Studies, University of Copenhagen.
December 14, Food Security, Kjell Havnevik, Rural and agrarian research cluster, NAI

Seminar and panel discussion in Stockholm 19 May

The Perils of Peak Phosphorous: Geopolitics, Food Security, Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights: Implications for Western Sahara

Human Rights and Relevant Legal Aspects in Western Sahara (pdf). Cecilia Asklöf, The Swedish Parliament.

International Law and the Exploitation of Natural Resources in Western Sahara. Powerpoint presentation from the seminar (ppt).

The seminar was organized jointly by Stockholm Environment Institute, Swedish International Agricultural Network Initiative, the Nordic Africa Institute, Riksdagens tvärpolitiska nätverk för Västsahara, International Commission of Jurists and VästsaharaAktionen.

Seminar announcement (pdf).

Seminar summary

Seminar held on March 18, 2010

A summary of the seminar "The Aräqé Dilemma: The Socioeconomics of Local Alcohol Production, Marketing, and Consumption in Ethiopia" held on March 18 2010, at the Stockholm University (pdf).

By: Yeraswork Admassie, PhD
The Department of Sociology, Addis Ababa University , Ethiopia

The seminar was a collaboration between the Swedish Interdisciplinary Research Newtwork and The Centre for Gender Studies, Stockholm University.

Biofuel and Africa – some important issues and knowledge gaps

The recent and dramatic global economic crisis coupled with the drop in oil prices may reduce the pressure on Africa as provider of alternative biofuel energy for rich countries. Read an analysis of the African biofuel challenge by NAI Senior Researcher Kjell Havnevik.

Seminar on May 20 shed new light on SEKAB’s* plans for large scale biofuel production in Rufiji district

In light of recent biofuels development in Sub-Saharan Africa a seminar was organised on May 20 to discuss aspects of SEKAB’s plans for large scale biofuel production in Rufiji District, Tanzania, and the conditions for development and poverty reduction. New information was presented on the location of SEKAB’s plantation that provided for a more realistic and concrete discussion about sustainability, land and poverty issues. The seminar was organized by the Nordic Africa Institute, Stockholm University, World Wide Fund for Nature in Sweden and the Swedish interdisciplinary research network on livelihoods and natural resource governance in Africa (funded by Sida/Sarec). Participants were mainly from universities and civil society whereas important stakeholders such as Sida, Swedish Foreign Ministry and other ministry representatives, politicians, SEKAB did not attend.

The biofuel issue in Tanzania has also been raised by a member of the Swedish Parliament, Bodil Ceballos (MP) whose question to parliament related to SEKABs activities and plans in the country was answered by the Minister for Development Cooperation, Gunilla Carlsson, on May 25.

The links provide access to the presentations to the seminar by Kjell Havnevik, NAI, Peter Roberntz, WWF, Sweden, and Tobias Edman, Metria, Karin Holmgren and Mats Widgren, Stockholm University and Lars Johansson, independent film maker, and a comprehensive report from the discussion of the seminar prepared by Maria Widengård.

Notes (pdf)

Slides (pdf)

*The SEKAB Group is one of Europe’s leading ethanol producers.