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.

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.

Workshop 19 May, 2009 - Transformation of an African Town
The town of Shashemene in southern Ethiopia has been going through major changes in the past 40 years. From being a modestly sized market cross-roads town it is now developing into a regional commercial centre in a rapidly modernizing economy. On Tuesday 19 May from 13.00-17.00 there will be a workshop at the Nordic Africa Institute titled Transformation of an African Town – Shesemene, Ethiopia. The workshop is organized jointly by the Nordic Africa Institute (research cluster on agrarian change) and the Swedish Interdisciplinary Research Network on Livelihoods and Natural Resource Governance. Read the invitation here.  (pdf)

   

network coordinators

Kjell Havnevik, The Nordic Africa Institute, and Atakilte Beyene, Stockholm Environment Institute.
Contact details.