Drought Research Network For Southern Africa (DRENSA)
More than 15 million people in Southern Africa face starvation due to severe
drought that destroyed crops and animals in the last farming season. Due to
global climatic changes, drought shall become a recurrent feature that threatens
food production in the region. While we welcome food aid, the region should move
beyond humanitarian relief to a more strategic reality to produce food in times
of drought. We are concerned that the current international donor response while
commendable is benign on building sustainable scientific capacity against
drought.
The Drought Research Network for Southern Africa (DRENSA) has been formed as
a long-range local cooperative scientific response to the crisis.
Vision
Re-inspire food production in a region prone to drought.
Mission
Develop strategic scientific capacity for novel and sustainable efforts to
increase food production in the face of drought.
Objectives
- Increase regional and national scientific capacity in order to undertake
research and development in drought-related issues
- Weave linkages and network scientists, policy makers, national governments,
regional bodies, cooperating partners and other players in order to synergise
long-term efforts against drought
- Undertake training, advisory services, information sharing and socio-economic/
environmental assessments related to the multifaceted problem of drought
To join the Network, contact
Kazhila Chinsembu
University of Namibia, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology
Private Bag 13301, Windhoek, Namibia.
Tel: 264-61-206 3426;
Fax: 264-61-206 3791;
Email: kchinsembu@unam.na
Membership to DRENSA is free and open to all professionals as issues of
drought are often inter-linked and cross-cutting.
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