OSSREA
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Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and
Southern Africa
(OSSREA)
(OSSREA)
- Headquarters
- Geographic Reach
- Focus
- History
- Membership
- Mission
- Operational Objectives
- Phases of Development
- MAJOR ACTIVITIES
- Publications
- Conferences and Workshops
- Documentation Centre
- Governance Organs
- Network Channels
- Funding
- Address
Headquarters
- Housed in a new three-story building.
- Located in Main Campus of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
Geographic Reach
- Currently covers 14 Eastern & Southern African countries, namely, Botswana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
- Constitutional mandate extends to 18 countries of the region.
Focus
- Social science research network.
History
- Established in April 1980 in Nazreth, Ethiopia.
- Initially concentrated in Eastern Africa; later extended to Southern Africa.
Membership
- Social scientists in 14 Eastern & Southern African countries.
- Full membership: open to individuals, academic & research institutions, government agencies & NGOs based in the region.
- Associate membership: open to those based outside the region or Africa.
Mission
- To develop & promote the emergence of a distinctive African tradition in the study of, research & training in, the social sciences.
Operational Objectives
- Encouraging study of & research in the social sciences in the region;
- Promoting collaborative research & exchange of information between social scientists within & outside the region;
- Strengthening research capacity in national institutions of the region;
- Promoting dialogue and cooperation between social science researchers, development practitioners & policy-makers in the region;
Phases of Development
Ph-1: Assessing state of the art in the Social Sciences;
- Ph-2: Building research capacity of academic and research institutions in the region;
- Ph-3: Utilizing & retaining capacity built.
MAJOR ACTIVITIES
Research Grant Awards
1.1 Young Scholars Research Competition Award
- Two small-grant annual competitions in Social Science subjects and on Gender Issues.
- Winners selected by Jury on scholarly merit & policy relevance of candidates' proposals.
- Eligibility: attachment to a national research institution & holding at least M.A. degree.
1.2 Senior Scholars Research Competition Award
- Obj-1: to retain capacity built in programs designed for young scholars;
- Obj-2: to provide senior scholars with relatively better opportunity to do high-level research.
2. Research Methodology Institute
- Located at headquarters of OSSREA.
- Aim: to build capacity of research & teaching institutions in the region.
- Conducts training in social science research methodology.
Program for Distinguished Visiting Scholars
- Aim: to give recognition to the contribution and calibre of African social scientists.
4. Environmental Forum
- Research program encompassing three projects:
- Environmental Strategies, Policies, Laws and Regulations;
- Environmental Education/ Awareness in Eastern and Southern Africa;
- Indigenous Knowledge in Resource Management.
5. Research Collaboration
- Collaborative research programs/projects involving national institutions, donor agencies & research organizations in the North.
5.1 Dryland Husbandry Project (DHP)
- Brings together stakeholders in pastoral development;
- Identifies & develops strategies for addressing the crisis of African drylands;
- Covers Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda & Sudan.
5.2 African Drylands Project
- Aims: to improve networking among scholars in the region, to expedite the writing up of the research results & to facilitate an exchange program.
- Coverage: research activities in Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania & Uganda.
5.3 Broadening Access & Strengthening Input Market Systems (BASIS)
- Ownership: part of the BASIS research support program, USA.
- OSSREA's role: collaborating in implementation of the program in the Horn of Africa.
5.4 IDRC/ OSSREA Collaboration
- Focus: IDRC-funded research projects in Africa & the Middle East under the People, Land & Water Program (PLaW).
- OSSREA's role: providing technical assistance for the monitoring and evaluation of PLaW projects.
Publications
- Bi-annual journal: Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review
- Triennial newsletter: The OSSREA Newsletter
- Research Report Series: Gender Issues, Social Science, DHP, Environmental Forum
- Abstracts & bibliographies
- Books & monographs.
- Digital Publication: OSSREA On CD - a new CD-ROM (Yr. 2001) containing over fifty research documents produced by OSSREA.
Conferences and Workshops
- Triennial congress & 3-4 regional annual conferences & workshops.
- National workshops regularly organized by OSSREA Chapters.
Documentation Centre
- Providing library services with computerized database.
- Eligible users: members, researchers, teachers & graduate students.
- Location: at OSSREA headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Governance Organs
- Triennial Congress: Supreme organ that reviews OSSREA's activities, sets new directions & goals, formulates general policy & elects an Executive Committee.
- Executive Committee: Oversees OSSREA's activities until next Congress.
- Executive Secretary: manages day-to-day activities of Secretariat, secures funds & executes decisions of superior organs.
Network Channels
- National Chapters: represent member countries, enhance local participation & promote OSSREA goals & objectives.
- Liaison Officers: coordinate activities of national chapters and serve as contact points between the Secretariat and the local chapters.
Funding
- Donation from bilateral aid agencies, private foundations, membership fees, and revenues from sales of publications.
Address
P.O. Box 31971
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel. 251-1-551163/553281
Fax: 251-1-551399
E-mail: ossrea@telecom.net.et
Web: http://www.ossrea.org