Call for papers and more information on the Workshop on Water Policy, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and Authoritarian Regimes in Bonn from March 24-25, 2009.

CGIAR’s biennial “King Baudouin Science Award for Outstanding Partnership"

awarded to its Program for Sustainable Agriculture in Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC).

The CGIAR Program for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC) is implemented by a consortium of partners, among them the Center for Development Research (ZEF) of the University of Bonn. Christopher Martius, a ZEF senior researcher and associate professor at Bonn University, is currently on leave for working as Head of the CAC Program’s Facilitation Unit (PFU) based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He received the prize in name of the CAC Consortium.

Based on the “Swiss Guidelines”, around 90 scientists and practitioners from more than 50 universities and institutes from Africa, Central Asia, Europe and the US discussed the chances and pitfalls of north-south research partnerships. The workshop was initiated and funded by the Volkswagen Foundation and organized by ZEF. It took place on November 13-14 2008 at ZEF in Bonn.

This book by Helmut R. Schulze, one of Germany's most prominent photographers, comprises beautiful pictures showing many facets of this war-torn country.

ZEF researcher and Afghanistan expert Conrad Schetter contributed with five articles on different topics related to the political and historical setting of Afghanistan.

The book is written in German and can be purchased via the publisher.

During a water lecture on “Implementation of hydrological monitoring systems in international river basin commissions: problems and pressing issues for developing countries” four international water experts participated in a panel discussion organized by ZEF on November 20.

Based on the “Swiss Guidelines”, around 90 scientists and practitioners from more than 50 universities and institutes from 14 countries discussed the chances and pitfalls of north-south research partnerships.

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the „Swiss Guidelines”, the Volkswagen Foundation initiated this conference on the implementation of these guidelines and other experiences in the field of research cooperation with the developing world. ZEF hosted and organized the two day conference taking place on November 13-14.

The annual UN day in Bonn Center was attracting thousands of visitors this year. ZEF contributed with an information stand on the project on sustainable land and water use in Uzbekistan. Visitors, including the mayor of Bonn, were offered Uzbek tea while having a talk with the project's researchers.

Oded Stark, a Senior Fellow at ZEF’s Department of Technological and Economic Change, is among the top five Professors of Economics in the German-speaking world. This, according to a ranking of the top 200 Economics Professors in the German-speaking countries, which was published by the “Handelsblatt” newspaper in September of this year. The ranking is based on a review of the publications output in top international refereed journals of 1,200 economists. Oded Stark was ranked number one in Austria, number two in Germany.

How can the production, marketing and certification of forest coffee contribute to the conservation of forest coffee ecosystems and biodiversity in Ethiopia? This was one of the key questions discussed among representatives from research, NGOs, coffee trade and certification at a round table event organized by the ZEF-led project on “Conservation and use of wild coffee in the rainforests of Ethiopia” (CoCE) on September 18 2008.

Celebrating the anniversary of the UN has become a proud tradition in Bonn. Since 2006, UN day has focused on the millennium development goals. This year, more than 30 organisations will demonstrate their work on MDG 7, among them ZEF with its Project on "Economic and Ecological Restructuring of Land and Water Use in the Khorezm Region (Uzbekistan)". Since Bonn boasts a wide range of actors in science and research, the event entitled "Earth is telling us about it” shall emphasize the important role of geosciences in the implementation of MDG 7.

The Faire Woche is a joint initiative of the most important stakeholders of fair traded products in Germany, annually talking place in all major towns of the country. This year, the ZEF project “Conservation and use of wild populations of Coffea arabica in the montane rainforests of Ethiopia” (CoCE) will take part at the Faire Woche by presenting insights and research findings on “Ethiopia – the cradle of coffee” to an interested public.