Green Awassa: Investing in Natural and Human Capital in Ethiopia

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Green Awassa Investing in Natural and Human
Capital in Ethiopia

• A Scientific Atelier

2
Introduction to Scientific Ateliers
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Problem-Based Learning inEcological Economics

• What does an ecological economist do?
• What approach does the ecological economist take?
• How do we train the ecological economist?
• How can the ecological economist change the world?

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The ecological economistsolves problems

• Problems that are complex
• Feedbacks
• Non-linear
• Emergent properties
• Surprise
• Chaotic behavior

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The ecological economistsolves problems

• Problems not suitable for experimentation or
  repeatable scientific observation

Sample size
Ethical issues
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The ecological economistsolves problems

• Problems where data and facts
• are scarce and
• uncertain

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The ecological economistsolves problems

• and values matter

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The ecological economistsolves problems

• Problems where there is rarely a right answer

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The ecological economistsolves problems

• Problems where the stakes are high, and decisions
  are urgent.

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To solve problems, the ecological economist is
trans-disciplinary

• Abandoning academic autism
• Autism, a disorder characterized by
• Absorption in self-centered subjective mental
  activity (such as daydreams, fantasies,
  delusions, and hallucinations)
• Marked deficits in communication and social
  interaction
• Marked withdrawal from reality
• Abnormal behavior, such as . . . excessive
  attachment to certain objects

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To solve problems, the ecological economist is
trans-disciplinary

• Complementing disciplines
• Expanding role of non-scientist
• Problem defines methods

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To solve problems, the ecological economist is
trans-institutional

• Working with governments at the scale of the
  problem
• Working with non-government organizations

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To solve problems, the ecological economist works
with stakeholders
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To solve problems, the ecological economist is a
systems thinker
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To learn problem-solving, the ecological
economist works on problems
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The Scientific Atelier

• Problem based
• Post Normal Science
• Transdisciplinary
• Transinstitutional
• Self designing
• Blurs boundaries between faculty/student,
  researchers/researched

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Ethiopia Overview
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Some Basic Facts

• Human Capital
• Population 73 million
• Life expectancy lt 50
• Malnourished 46 (increasing), 47 children
  underweight
• Literacy rate 41.5
• HDI 170/171
• HIV 4.4
• agriculture and animal husbandry 80, industry
  and construction 8, government and services 12
• Built capital
• Access to improved water 22 (decreasing)
• Access to improved sanitation 6 (12 in 2000)
• GNP 110/capita

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Some Basic Facts

• Social capital
• Corruption index 137/145
• 4th highest number of imprisoned journalists (US
  6th)
• Natural capital
• Environmental issues deforestation overgrazing
  soil erosion desertification water shortages in
  some areas from water-intensive farming and poor
  management
• Small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash,
  natural gas, hydropower

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Today headlines

• Drought Sparks Food Shortage in Africa
• Eritrea Holds Talks with US Over Border Dispute

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Recent headlines

• World Briefing Africa Ethiopia Donors To
  Withhold 375 Million
• Another School Barrier for African Girls No
  Toilet
• 3.3 Billion in Debt Relief
• 20 countries
• Ethiopia's Capital, Once Promising, Finds Itself
  in Crisis
• Africa Ethiopia U.N. Fears New Ethiopia-Eritrea
  War
• Devastating Exodus of Doctors From Africa and
  Caribbean Is Found
• fewer than 2,000 physicians for a population of
  73 million, almost as many in DC
• New Strain of Wheat Rust Appears in Africa

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Awassa Childrens Project

• http//www.awassachildrensproject.org/

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Green Awassa

• Local partners
• NGOs
• Local government
• University
• Project objectives
• Reforestation
• Alternatives to firewood and charcoal
• Communication

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Course Goals

• Help Ethiopia with sustainable capital
  investments
• Help developed shared vision of project, obtain
  funding
• Help disseminate results
• Real life educational experience

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Objectives

• Prior to departure
• Study local problems, solutions that have worked
  elsewhere
• Integrate survey results if possible
• Find suitable funders for complete project,
  project components
• Letters of interest
• Leave with RFP in hand
• Create website with background information

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Objectives

• In Awassa
• Gain first hand knowledge of problems
• Help develop shared vision between local partners
• Work with local partners to produce grant
  applications
• Afterwards
• Submit grant applications
• Thesis research?
• Future workshops?

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Methods

• Determined by problem
• Shared responsibilities and contributions
• Self designing
• Open space

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Problem Overview
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Reforestation

• The right tree in the right place at the right
  time for the right reason
• Ecosystem Status and trends

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Reforestation

• Costs
• Shade house
• Planting
• Maintenance (watering and weeding until canopy
  closure)
• Benefits
• Ecosystem services local knowledge, scientific
  knowledge (examples)
• Carbon sequestration
• Markets for ecosystem services
• Potential business opportunities?

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Alternative Cooking

• Charcoal illegal
• 95 of fuel needs met by wood, dung
• Must meet local needs
• Should use local materials
• Cooking competition?
• Business opportunities?

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Communication

• Theater group
• Foundations
• Radio? (Burlington NGO)
• Video?
• Beyond Ethiopia?