Water Lecture: "Water, Culture and Development: Perspectives from West Africa”
July 13, 2011 | 17:00 h - 18:30 h
We would like to cordially invite you for our next Water Lecture on Wednesday, July 13:
“Water, Culture and Development: Perspectives from West Africa”
Speakers:Emmanuel Akpabio: Acknowledging local ecological knowledge: The dilemma of modern development initiatives in Nigeria.
Irit Eguavoen: The other water market – anthropological perspectives on local drinking water categorization and commodification in Ghana.
Wolfram Laube: Water, culture and development: Perspectives from Ghana and beyond.
Time and place: Wednesday, July 13, 2011
5.00 - 6.30 p.m.
at ZEF (right conference room)
The Water Lecture series is a joint series organized by the Center for Development Research (ZEF), the UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development (UNW-DPC), the United Nations University (UNU) in Bonn, and the Global Water System Project (GWSP).
Short information on the water lecture:
Dwelling on long-standing research experience in Ghana and Nigeria, the three scientists from the Center for Development Research (ZEF) will reflect on the topic of water, culture and development, give insights from their field experience, draw conclusions and want to discuss with the audience if and how water culture and water development should or could be linked more closely.
We are looking forward to seeing you at ZEF on July 13.
With best regards
Alma van der Veen
Background information on the water lecture:
Water, Culture and Development: Perspectives from West Africa
Water is a central theme in many of the world cultures. Water resources in their different forms are part of founding myths of societies, attract spiritual beliefs and are surrounded by local knowledge, norms, values, as well as clear regulations and even taboos that determine the way in which water is treated, distributed, shared or protected. Like in the realm of custom, tradition and religion, water has attracted widespread attention in the world of development. The creation of hydraulic infrastructure, the provision of safe drinking water supplies and sanitation, but also water management and the environmental protection of water resources are issues that have been the focus of development organizations and projects long before the World-Water Decade of 1990s, and are currently at the heart of many of the Millennium Development Goals of the UN.
While local culture, belief, values and norms are regularly referred to in water policy documents, water programs and projects often do not take stock of, document and engage with local water knowledge and culture. The implementation of water sector programs is thus often accompanied by unanticipated dynamics, such as conflicts, boycotts and local disengagement, which may be problematic for project implementation but may also disrupt the local cultural and social fabric.
Dwelling on long-standing research experience in Ghana and Nigeria three scientists from the centre for Development Research (ZEF), Dr. Emmanuel Akpabio, Dr. Irit Eguavoen and Dr. Wolfram Laube, will reflect on the topic of water, culture and development, give insights from their field experience, draw conclusions and want to discuss with the audience if and how water culture and water development should or could be linked more closely.
Contact:
Press and Public Relations
Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung/
Center for Development Research (ZEF)
University of Bonn
Walter-Flex-Strasse 3
53113 BONN
