22 Jan 2017

Okavango Research Institute (ORI) acting director, Professor Joseph Mbaiwa has called on different stakeholders in Ngamiland to collaborate with the institute for the benefit of the district.
He said as a public research institute, they make information available for government departments, the public and other stakeholders which he said could assist to inform policies and decisions.

He made the plea during a stakeholder meeting to give an update about some of the research findings on climate change.

Prof Mbaiwa said they were much willing to provide information to all stakeholders noting that ORI had broadened its scope of research. He said currently, they research in five thermatic areas being ecosystem dynamics, ecosystem services and human well-being, sustainable tourism and climate change.

He pointed out that they were much willing to work with other stakeholders including community trusts as they assist in the formation of trusts and other projects in line with their areas of focus.

As far as funding is concerned, he revealed that they relied much on grants which constituted 60 per cent.

He said they also had direct access to government funding but noted that the largest source were donors.

He mentioned that at the moment they had been funded to the tune of P10 million by Germany through Southern Africa Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land-use (SASSCAL) project.

SASSCAL is a joint initiative of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Germany, responding to the challenges of global change and is foreseen as the regional driver for innovation and knowledge exchange to enhance adaptive land use and sustainable economic development in Southern Africa under global change conditions.

The project mission is to conduct problem-oriented research in the area of adaptation to climate and change and sustainable land management and provide evidence-based advice for all decision-makers and stakeholders to improve the livelihoods of people in the region and to contribute to the creation of an African knowledge-based society.

Other research projects the institute was fully involved include the Okavango Delta Management Plan (ODMP). ENDS