Makerere University was on Monday, 5th November 2018 admitted to Environment for Development (EfD) Initiative Network in Hanoi Vietnam . EfD is Sida funded network undertaking policy research, training and outreach in the areas of environmental and natural resource economics. The Secretariat is based at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
Prior to the new admissions, the network had 12 Centres most of them university-based; and located in different continents (South America, Asia, Africa and Europe). The network has now increased to 15 Centres after admitting Makerere University, University of Ghana and University of Nsukka in Nigeria.
The School of Economics, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) under the leadership of Prof. Edward Bbaale and the School of Agricultural Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) under the leadership of Prof. Johnny Mugisha submitted a proposal to establish an EfD Centre at Makerere University. Since October 2017, the proposal has undergone various stages of vetting including assessing the suitability of research infrastructure and human resource at the University.
The Assessors visited Makerere in September 2018 and interacted with top management, Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT), Principals of CAES and CoBAMS, academic staff and key stakeholders in government and private sector.
The EfD-Mak Centre will deliver high quality research, graduate training support, and policy engagement in solving environmental and resource economics challenges. The Center will work with the relevant government departments, the private sector and civil society to drive research and policy action that are underpinned by issues regarding environmental management and sustainable development.
Prof. Bbaale and Prof. Mugisha thank the University Top Management, Director DRGT-Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Principal CAES-Prof. Bernard Bashaasha, Principal CoBAMS-Dr. Eria Hisali, academic staff, and stakeholders outside Makerere University for all the support that has led to this great achievement.
Writeup by Prof. Johnny Mugisha & Prof. Edward Bbaale