Final Call for Papers [Eng] Acir2013

7/28/2019 Final Call for Papers [Eng] Acir2013

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CALL FOR

BACKGROUND PAPERS

2013 AFRICA CAPACITY INDICATORS REPORT

Capacity Development for Natural Resources

Management


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Call for Background Papers

ACBF African Capacity Indicators (ACI) 2013 Flagship Publication

Introduction

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) is currently seeking seasonedresearchers/scholars to write background papers for chapters of its flagship publication African Capacity indicators Report (ACIR) (to be published in 2013). ACIR is a flagshippublication of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) designed to bring to thefore the capacity development agenda in sub-Saharan Africa. It advocates for a holisticapproach to capacity building/development given the complex and dynamic nature ofchange required for development and socio-economic transformation of the continent.

ACI Objectives:a) The first objective of the ACIR 2013 is to build on the findings, lessons and momentum

generated by ACIR 2011 and 2012.This is partly to ensure follow through on the objective of

developing a database on capacity development in Africa. Accordingly, data comparable tothose collected and collated for the ACIR of the last two years will be put in place .

b) Additionally, ACIR 2013 is specifically conceptualized and designed to:i. Examine the key issues, challenges and opportunities facing countries and

cross-border Natural Resources Management (NRM) capacity development andcooperation in Africa;

ii. Map out the capacity of national governments to design and implementeffective regulatory schemes for NRM especially to avoid capital flight as wellas tax evasion by multinational corporations;

iii. Give enhanced theoretical basis to the various capacity developmentinterventions being undertaken on the continent aimed at fostering governanceof natural resources;

iv. Highlight key concerns related to the likely effectiveness and sustainability oftrans-boundary natural resources management (TBNRM) initiatives acrossAf ric a;

v. Uncover synergies and commonalities between the capacity development infragile states, capacity to transform agriculture and guarantee food security,and capacity to manage natural resources;

vi. Suggest a way forward in terms of key needs and the appropriate roles forgo vern me nts , de velo pme nt part ne rs and or ga ni za ti on s inv olved in TB NRMinitiatives;

vii. Tease-out innovative practices and policy options available to Africango vern me nts so as to eng end er mut ua ll y be nef ic ial str ate gi es wit h ext er na lpartners in the exploitation of natural resources so that countries do notinadvertentl y sign contracts that compromise the future of their citizens; and


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viii. Serve as a definitive knowledge product targeting policymakers, public-sectorofficials, private sector, and civil society.

The ACI2013, just like previous editions, will document experiential learning to expose thecritical factors in the political economy of change, which include the long-term commitment

of decision-makers and country leaders to overall development goals, as well as leadershipand risk taking at various levels to further the development agenda of the continent.

The ACI ThemeThe ACIR 2013 will focus on the theme: capacity development for natural resourcesmanagement. In the discussion, natural resources will cover renewable and non-renewableendowments with specific reference to forests, land, water, biodiversity and minerals(solid minerals and petroleum resources). Non-renewable natural resources are mineralsubstances usually discussed under the so-called extractive industries. Natural resourcesvalue rests in the amount of the material available and the demand for it. The latter isdetermined by its usefulness to production as well as supporting consumption. A

commodity is generally considered a natural resource when the primary activities associatedwith it are extraction and purification, as opposed to creation. All these resources are of vitalimportance for the societies involved in their exploitation and for a range of reasons such asbiodiversity, food and energy security as well as the production of indispensable appliancesfor sustainable human development in Africa. Their presence and the strategies they usehave huge consequences on both the economy and the political landscapes of states andterritories.

Currently, there is optimism about the good prospects for Africas development due toevents in the natural resources sector especially in mining, even if natural resource

management at different scales is often problematic. Yet the positive effects of theseevents can be dampened by the impact of the global financial and economic crisis.

Africa has remained a major player in a global resource game for a very long time. Due to itsnatural resources, it occupies a central position in the global political economy fraught withcompetition and the creation of various alliances to facilitate access to these resources. TheACIR2013 will reexamine the position of Africas natural resources in a global context andexplore what capacities will be required for effective management of these resources.

It goes without saying that Africa needs a better understanding of the NRM value-chain. TheNRM value chain has great potential for exports and employment, as well as enhanced

poverty reduction. The country capacities to assess different scenarios and concentrateefforts within prioritized value chains or clusters often make the difference between successand failure in effective management of natural resources.

The Flagship will also examine the key issues and challenges facing not only in-country, butalso cross-border developments in NRM capacity in Africa, and the ongoing efforts tosupport regional cooperation and trans-boundary issues.


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ACBF is commissioning nineteen (19) background papers through this call for papers:

1. The Status of Natural Resource Management in Africa - Capacity Development Challengesand Opportunities.

Africa has always been rich in natural resources. However there has been a game

changethere has been a significant increase in the exploitation of some of theseresources for example of oil. According to the African Development Bank, only sixcountries in Africa are yet to discover oil. The rapid economic growth in countries such asChina has resulted in an increase in the demand for oil among other resources. Datasuggests that this demand is being met by an increase in oil production/exploitation inAfrica. The same increase in exploitation could be said of land, forest, water and biodiversity.African countries do share a number of characteristics and trends which can present bothopportunities and challenges. Examples of the challenges and opportunities include a highdegree of production variability, relatively low value-addition and dependency on primaryexports with low income elasticity and high price volatility, unequal distributions of rent as

well as potential for increased revenue generation. Relative to other developing regions,Africas NR sector is undercapitalized, uncompetitive, underperforming, and is dominated byforeign firms, in particular, multinational corporations (MNCs). This makes Africa unique.This call requires a general overview of the status of NRM in Africa where the state andMNCs feature prominently in the discussion on natural resources on the continent. In doingso, the paper should interrogate and highlight the capacity development challenges, lessonslearnt and opportunities on the continent particularly as they relate to NRM highlightingpossible optimal models/policies. The paper should be cast in the mould of the evolution ofAfricas NR sectors competitiveness vis--vis her international comparators; with theanalysis done partly historically throughout Africas post-independence period. The papershould, thus, survey the broad literature not only on the role of natural resources indevelopment at the global level, but also bring out some viable models for subsequentanalysis, in particular, what is going on in the sector specifically on the continent. Explicitly,this paper should offer or present an overarching theoretical framework or model forinterrogating NRM in Africa.

2. Natural Resource flows and Macroeconomic Policies What is the Current State of Affairsin Africa?

Across Africa, extractive industriesoil, forestry, miningaccount for a significant share of

output and a major share of export earnings. Rising commodity prices have boostedeconomic growth and exports in many countries. However, to ensure that natural resourcesprovide an opportunity to promote economic and social development, build skills, and closeinfrastructure gaps, several economic policy challenges must be addressed. These policychallenges extend to areas such as resource taxation, fiscal policy design, sustainability ofexternal balances, the impact of resource booms on exchange rates, and complex linkagesbetween resource and non-resource sectors. For instance, governments must try to balance


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a country's interests with those of companies charged with finding, developing, andextracting the resources. Companies must pay their fair share of taxes, and country budgetsmust cope with ups and downs in commodity prices and thus unpredictable revenues. Anumber of questions need to be answered: How fast can these countries scale up spendingwithout compromising macroeconomic stability? What are the features of appropriatelydesigned fiscal policy frameworks for those types of economies, and how can the

sustainability of external positions (such as the current account and exchange rate) beassessed? It is also extremely important that Africa learns to manage the windfall fromincreasing resource revenue in good times and dealing with spending cuts when a boomfades, the Dutch disease and international competitiveness, concerns about thecoordination of reserves and monetary policy, and have a balance between fiscaland external sustainability. Appropriate macroeconomic framework is crucial in resource-rich countries because natural resource revenue is finite and highly volatile. This raisescomplex issues of sustainability and intergenerational equity, and financial management andthe appropriate savings vehicles, including the use of Sovereign Wealth Funds. The goal ofthis call is to acquire the latest analysis and insights on macroeconomic policies and the

management of natural resource revenue in Africa, and elaborate on how these might affectthe policy dialogue with countries in the region. The call also covers tax policy,administration, and regulatory frameworks conducive to good management of naturalresources with particular focus on how to make them work within the context of weakinstitutional capacity. The paper should examine the literature and any other relevantmaterial to outline the capacity development needs and implications for African countries.Paper should also seek to map NR flows, key actors involved and any trends oftransformation.

3. Governance of Natural Resources Management in Africa: Contemporary PerspectivesThe fact that natural resources traverse national boundaries leads to challenges for thegovernance of these resources. Minerals/oil deposits, forests and water bodies aresometimes shared between countries and/or within disputed border areas. Examples are: oiloff the coast of Ghana and Cte d'Ivoire, oil and gas in Africas Great Lakes and oil sharedbetween Sudan and South Sudan, and the Congo Basin rainforests. Water bodies often formboundaries between countries as well as serve as conduits for the transport of tradedresources. In the case of trans-boundary/shared resources, states need to learn how tocooperate and put in place international governance structures. These dynamics shapepolicy-related research, including: regional economic communities (like SADC and ECOWAS)resource-related policies, including legal harmonization, treaty/protocol ratification and

implementation by member countries; ecosystem-based approaches (like the BenguelaCurrent Commission or the Congo Basin Forest Partnership); broader studies of bilateral andregional cooperation and conflict. Similarly, good governance and transparency in themanagement of natural resources is essential for accountability and getting the most fromthe exploitation of a countrys resource endowment to allow for greater social inclusion andstability. The call expects author/s to thoroughly explore national and transnationalgovernance issues - including equitable distribution of wealth - around NRM and theircapacity development implications for African countries to ensure that extractive natural


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resources turn out to be a blessing as opposed to a curse. The discussion should speak tothe politically endorsed AU policy frameworks, particularly the Capacity DevelopmentStrategic Framework (CDSF) and its cornerstones, as well as the AU Mining Vision and ActionPlan. Again, given the pivotal role of the private sector whether local or global (capital ortechnology) in the exploitation/development of natural resources, the paper should focuson what role the private sector can play in ensuring that natural resources are better

managed (e.g. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies; Principles of Free Prior andInformed Consent (FPIC); voluntary/non-voluntary regulation; publish what you pay (PWYP)and the role of community-based NRM). The paper should also touch on social inequities,disparate health outcomes and management implications in resource rich environments.

4. Natural Resources, International Cooperation and Trade Regulation in AfricaWhen natural resources are traded across boundaries, there are a host of trade-relatedissues that need to be addressed. Resource flows can be formal or informal, legal or illegal,sustainable or unsustainable, equitable or inequitable. Each of these trade trends has

different implications for those concerned. For example, supply chain analyses could showwhere value is or can be added. Indeed, many international initiatives (including governanceones) also focus on trade-related aspects, including certification schemes (KimberleyProcess, Forest Stewardship Council certification). Some initiatives focus on the homecountries (where resources are located), some on the host (where companies are registerede.g. Wall Street Reform Act). Many focus on both (e.g. Extractive Industries TransparencyInitiative (EITI), Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade and the related VoluntaryPartnership Agreements) or on ensuring responsible chains of custody (e.g. Dodd Frank Acton conflict minerals, Lacey Act Amendment on forestry). Capacity building for trading innatural resources is thus crucial. The call requires author/s to interrogate internationalregulation of trade in natural resources and present concrete capacity developmentrecommendations relevant to African countries. The call will also need to map the capacityof extractive sector regulators. Questions include, but not limited to: how can regulators beprovided with funding, infrastructure, technical skills and more importantly technology, tokeep up with increasingly sophisticated extractive industry operations need to be answered.How do states manage natural resource driven macroeconomic volatility in the short runamidst a turbulent global economic environment? Should development aid in the sector betargeted towards empowering local regulators? And what are the moral and politicaldilemmas? The paper should further highlight, amongst others, whether and to what extent,regulations respond to the salient characteristics of Africas natural resources sectors.


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environmentally friendly choices more adoptable. These schemes come with their own setsof opportunities and challenges. What capacities should countries have to develop savvyand strategic leadership broadly and in the area of NRM in particular? This call papers isintended to advance our understanding of the current state of affairs, tease-out the keyissues and challenges, and map the way forward around strategic choices that countries aremaking in the effort to manage their natural resources. In so doing, the paper needs to

articulate the capacities individual, institutional and enabling environment required tomake current African leaders effective in making the necessary choices in NRM and guidethe overall development trajectory of the continent. What are the leadership issues aroundNRM and their capacity development implications for African countries?

7. Rationalizing Natural Resources Extraction and Usage in Africa: Where Are We?When one speaks of ensuring that Africa benefits maximally and equitably from its naturalresources, one most often refers to the financial benefits that accrue from these resources.Financial decisions have to be made with respect to valuation of the resources, capital

required for commercial exploitation, various tax regimes, and types of contracts to beissued when the project gets underway. The Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative(EITI) compares the money declared as paid to governments by companies and that whichgovernments declare as received from companies thus creating a framework for monitoringthe flow of natural resource rents. Transparency is crucial for all stages of the valuation andextraction process. Different financial decisions by different actors should be made availableto stakeholders to enhance governance and maximize the impact of the sector on overalldevelopment. The call should address the aforementioned issues. The author/s should alsoexplore the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in the exploitation ofresources applied in Latin American and whether this is relevant to/for Africa. How cancountries enhance diversification with beneficiation? What capacities are required? It is

worth noting that investments to build institutional capacity to equip local communities andgovernments with the skills to manage resources in a sustainable and productive manner arekey to ensuring that decentralization, or any such initiative, works. This call is, therefore,aimed at examining the current practices in the extraction and usage of natural resources inAfrica, the causes of any abuse or bad practice and the necessary interventions that canaddress the varying challenges. The paper should map out the strategic capacities requiredto negotiate contracts that allow for better flows of investments benefits in the NR sector;and explore sustainable models for managing revenue (especially of windfalls arising fromunexpected price spikes). The paper should also speak to the inevitability or otherwise ofstate ownership of natural resources and resource-rich land, and explore alternatives (at a

country-level) to resource/land ownership property-rights and common pool resourceswithin countries. Specific attention should be given to the policies and capacity challengesposed by internal conflict over resources extraction and revenue sharing (e.g. conflict overoil exploitation in the Niger Delta), and the roles of local, regional, and nationalgovernments; private companies; and civil society.


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8. The Status of Financing Vehicles in NRM in AfricaBecause of the shallow financial markets of many African economies, it is difficult to investdirectly in African-specific portfolios within the natural resources sector. Many of the fundsavailable such as the Investec Pan-Africa Fund may be offshore. There is need to deepen theAfrican fund market and encourage private investors to acquire African instruments withintheir portfolios. What would be the roles of banks, non-bank financial institutions and credit

rating agencies in the development of financial instruments? How can the currencymismatch in this area be closed? What are the roles for public-private partnerships (PPPs)?What capacity/ies should the various stakeholders (CSOs, government and private sector)develop to have the right financing mechanisms for the exploitation of natural resources inAfrica? The call for papers requires an examination of the nature of financing in the sectorand its implication for sustainable NRM in Africa. Issues for consideration include, (but notexclusive to), government budgets, overseas development assistance, micro-credits as wellas the emergence of new players such as China, India and Brazil. Are PPPs possible routesfor funding the NR sector especially in the development of necessary infrastructure? Whatother funding modalities can be devised and what are the capacity building implications for

the NR sector?

9. Refocusing Public Investment in NRM as the Engine of African GrowthIt is relatively well documented in the extant literature that land, water, forests, andbiodiversity are public goods (to which access is nonrival and nonexcludable) or commonpool goods (to which access is nonexcludable but rival). In fact, investment in "developing"these natural resources may shift the status of the resources to that of a private good withexclusive claims over access and usage, negatively impacting poor people by affecting theiraccess to these assets. Equally, as investment benefits accrue only in the medium to longterm, it may be difficult to persuade private resource users to undertake NRM investments.

Success may depend on (1) appropriately valuing these resources with incentives forconserving and maximizing their productivity and (2) developing markets and appropriatepricing mechanisms that reflect the true value of the resource, incorporating externalityvalues. As already noted, natural resource revenue has the potential to augment the fiscalspace in many African countries, creating the potential for public investment to be theengine of growth and poverty reduction. But in the past, scaling up public investment hasoften led to disappointing results due to rent seeking and misappropriation of funds. Thereare real needs to enhance public investment efficiency and remove the potential constraintson effective financial management in the natural resources sector. Traditionally, NRMinvestments are generally focused on conservation and sustainable use of resources, with

institutional strategies emphasizing local management, equitable access, and provision ofalternative livelihood options. Due to the environmental externalities associated with NRMdecisions, investments are increasingly considered from an eco-regional perspective andanalyzed in terms of ecological, economic, and social systems. This call, thus, aims to map-out the role of public sector investments in the transformation of NRM practices in Africadrawing on lessons learnt and the emerging discourse. Specifically, we are interested in anin-depth analysis of the issues to unequivocally ascertain the function of various investment


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modalities as pragmatic approaches to transforming the African NRM landscape to fostersustainability.

10.Microeconomic Policy as an Important Instrument for NRM in AfricaIt is important to consider the behavior of individual consumers, firms and industries and

how that may influence natural resource management. Micro-level dynamics influence howindividuals, households, and firms make decisions to allocate limited resources, typically inmarkets where products of natural resources are being bought and sold affecting the supplyand demand for these products and services as well as their prices. It thus critical in NRM toanalyze market mechanisms that establish relative prices amongst goods and services andthe allocation of otherwise limited/depletable natural resources amongst many alternativeuses. Countries need to appreciate market failure in the natural resources sector, wheremarkets fail to produce efficient results, as well as describing the theoretical conditionsneeded to enhance efficiency in the sector. Micro-level behavior influences trans-boundaryfactors such as in forest, water and biodiversity management thus requiring attention.

Micro-issues also underpin the macroeconomic factors. Clearly, appropriate incentives arekey to NRM program success. Direct income benefits accrue to the NR producers, men andwomen, who adopt new management practices, and government incentive systems canbenefit others. Even so, this strategy may still leave many others who do not benefit fromNRM programs and who consequently may be tempted or forced to overexploit naturalresources. To reduce such pressures on natural resources, investments are often needed toprovide alternative income opportunities within the sector, by intensifying productionsystems and expanding processing and marketing opportunities, or through education,business development services, and microfinance programs, which may or may not be linkedto natural resource use. Indeed, the paper should pay particular attention to role to beplayed by small-scale producers as the dynamics influencing their engagement in the NR

sector is different from those of large scale operators. What are the micro-issues aroundNRM and their capacity development implications for African countries?

11. Who Gets a Fair-share: The Role of Political Economy in NRMPower and politics are central to the understanding of many NRM issues, as naturalresources, a major source of wealth, tend to be at the center of many governance issues andconflicts among communities and countries. Any change in access will almost certainlycreate "losers" and winners more often than not the powerful, who have strongincentives and ability to resist change, or the poor, who are powerless and lose access to a

resource. Efficient, equitable, and sustainable NRM is often difficult for this politicaleconomy reason, and governments must balance competing demands for use of resourcesand conflicts among the various parties. Negotiating skills for community groups as well ascountries are essential to broker agreements and facilitate decision making by users. Formany NRM programs, however, the sustainability of these local/national/regionalinstitutions has been a problem, because they become inactive once a project ends. Indeed,relatively strong commodity prices in recent years combined with declining external financial


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support for low-income countries has many policy makers in resource-rich countries askinghow government can get its fair share of resource wealth. There is need to explore the roleof the public sector in managing natural resources: public versus private ownership; sharingof risks and rewards between government and private-sector investors; and the experienceof managing the interests of the state and multinational enterprises. What kinds ofcapacities should countries develop to allow for a positive role of the state in natural

resources management? What capacities should be developed at the local levels in NRM?The call expects author/s to explore the political economy issues around NRM and theircapacity development implications for African countries. What does it take to enhance thevoices and participation of the marginalized in NRM? The discussion should explicitlyinterrogate global economic and geopolitical changes and their effects on Africas naturalresources, with particular attention to characteristics of the current era (e.g. role of China,BRICS, etc vrs Cold war era; emergence of democratically elected leaders as opposed toauthoritarian regimes of the past, the emergence of strong civil societies groups, etc.).

12.

Setting the Regulatory Framework for NRM in Africa: What Needs to be Done?There is need to create African capacity areas such as auditing, monitoring, regulating andimproving resource exploitation regimes and developing the resource sector linkages withthe domestic economy. Development contracts must ensure a skills transfer dimension in alllease/license agreements as well as in resources governance capacity. Given the limited skillsin these areas in Africa, countries could consider the pooling of resources through crossborder resources infrastructure regulation (transport authorities, power pools, watercatchment bodies, etc.), possible joint management of cross-border resource occurrencesand the creation of a regional capacity within the regional economic communities (RECs).Countries could also assent to continental and international resources monitoring andoversight mechanism such as the African Unions APRM, the EITI and the Kimberley Process.

Common codes could also be adopted. For example, UEMOA adopted in 2003 a CommonMining Code (Code Miniere Communautaire), a unified legal framework for mineralsexploration and mining in the REC. Unsupportive NRM policy and regulatory environments(particularly subsidies, taxes, and property rights), together with poor infrastructure(affecting access to markets) often discourage sustainable long-term investments bydistorting incentive systems and increasing uncertainty and conflict. However, relationshipsbetween policy and incentive structures and product prices are complex than usuallyperceived by policy makers and development practitioners. Producers compete for naturalresources with other users such as industry and municipalities, whose needs increase withpopulation growth and increasing affluence. In these circumstances, in a complex and

uncertain decision-making environment, choices generally involve tradeoffs amongsustainable resource use and other objectives. Resource preservation and sustainabilityobjectives are frequently at odds with production objectives, and while conservation anddevelopment goals can be complementary, they can also be in conflict. This call for papers,thus, aims to examine the nature and role of regulatory policies/framework for sustainablenatural resource development in Africa drawing on lessons learnt and the emergingdiscourse. Specifically, ACBF is interested in an in-depth analysis of the issues to


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unequivocally ascertain the function of regulation as pragmatic approaches to transformingthe African NRM landscape to foster sustainability, with specific emphasis on sustainableextraction and usage of NR; as well as strengthen local capacities to enable them tocompete effectively in domestic, regional, and global markets. What should be the role ofthe private sector and other non-state actors? What would be the capacity building issuesthat need consideration?

13. Structural Transformation and Natural Resource Management in AfricaResource-rich African countries need to restructure their economies and seek sources ofgrowth that are less reliant on a few sectors. This includes industrialization and growing ofthe manufacturing sector, particularly first and second stage manufacturing, but alsodiversification beyond dependence on commodities. The issue of diversification/transformation of such economies is a huge and intractable problem in Africa andelsewhere, especially where the economy is dominated by natural resources. Countries likeBotswana have tried with very limited success. Elsewhere, e.g. Canada, Australia, Russia,

serious challenges remain. The options for undertaking such transformation are key policyissues that depend on smart analysis and capacity to negotiate contracts that supportproduct processing and value addition across selected value chains. The ACIR2013 builds onfindings from the previous reports to seek synergies between fragility, agricultural andextractive industry sources of growth and also develop arguments or presents viablescenarios on how to best manage the value chains in extractive industries for an effectivestructural transformation/economic diversification of the economies. Clearly, a sound legalframework for local, national and regional institutions is necessary to enable them (theinstitutions and stakeholders) to enter into contractual agreements, collect fees, levysanctions, access loans for investments, and own and manage property to enhance value-chain development. Investments must also strengthen resource use, access, and ownership

rights, including, as appropriate, intellectual property rights. This call requires an expositionof the necessary value-chain activities to enhance NRM in Africa paying attention to all stepsacross-the-stream. The paper should also explore the structural transformation issues todrive NRM and their capacity development implications for African countries. The papershould explicitly look into the question: do natural resources intrinsically impede economicdiversification? Under what conditions can resource rich economies diversify, and how canthese conditions be created in Africa? Are there lessons of experience for others to adapt?

14.Climate change, environmental degradation and the quest for natural resources use: themiracle and the mirage

It is often argued that there is a trade-off between environmental degradation and rapidgrowth for countries at low levels of development. In an environment of restricted externalfinancing for development, where there is pressure on governments to expand the fiscalspace, increasing domestic revenue from extraction of natural resources is always anattractive option for many developing nations. Increasingly the global demand for land and


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water is creating increased tension among competing needs at the local, national, regionallevels across Africa. The rising demand for water, food and energy competes for productiveland; and in some areas has triggered tensions and conflicts as well as destruction ofbiodiversity. This call for paper seeks to answer the following questions: how can Africamanage its natural resources within the international normative discourse of climate changeand green growth? What level of fossil fuel emission is equitable for African states, and

what environmental management policies are most feasible, given the asymmetry in statecapacities? What policy options are required to handle transboundary natural resourcesmanagement issues? The paper will need to examine the capacity of African states indevelopment of adaptation policy/strategies. In doing so, the paper must explore Africascapacity to tap into new/alternative natural resources which are quite vital but do notseem to feature prominently in current discourse on natural resources management inAfrica (i.e. solar, wind, geothermal, etc.) as sources of energy. Author/s need to address theabove issues building on existing frameworks and efforts (e.g. Africa Mining Vision and theCDSF cornerstones for the capacity dimensions); while mapping new capacity pathways forAfrica to negotiate the revised landscape?

15.Natural Resource Management and Africas Academic/Scientific Community Where arewe?

If Africa is to maximize the benefits of its vast natural resource wealth, it needs itsintellectual capital to be actively engaged in the NRM value-chain. After all, in todays rapidlychanging and fast globalizing world, knowledge and ones intellectual capital are criticalassets that determine competitiveness and drive development. It is therefore imperative toaddress the question of the existence and quality of links and working relationshipsbetween the academic/scientific community (e.g. universities, research community, think-tanks) and NRM in Africa. This call is for a paper that critically examines the nexus betweenAfricas scientific/academic communities and NRM. In doing so, the paper will need to

answer the following questions: To what extent are governments, industry and relatedcommunities applying science-based evidence in making NRM policies, strategies andoperations? What local capacities exist to satisfy this requirement? Is there a capacity gaphere, and how can it be addressed? How best can the scientific/academic community,including the African disporan scientific/academic community engage the key NRMstakeholders on the continent to development the sector in a sustainable and meaningfulway? And how and what capacities are vital for Africas academic/scientific community tolink up vertically with the big actors (e.g. MNCs) at different stages of the NRM value chain?


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16.Criminality in the Natural Resource Management Value/Supply ChainManaging natural resources is challenging. A number of countries with large endowments ofvaluable natural resources do no better, and often do worse, than less endowed countries.This recurrent fact has been called the natural resource curse or the paradox of plenty(UNDP, 2011:1). Across Africa, the exploitation and role of renewable (land, forests, water)and non-renewable natural resources oil, gas and minerals such as copper, gold, coal etc.

has occurred within a context of blatant exploitation, corruption and criminality resultingin geo-political, social and armed conflict; and marginalization of vulnerable communities. Arecent UNODC (2010) Report Crime and instability: case studies on transitional threats highlights the challenge of organized crime and instability in Central Africa. The Report,amongst others, highlights the growing link between the participation of criminal elementsin the NRM value chain and the absence or destruction of state capacity for critical functionssuch as trade, finance, customs administration, law enforcement, etc. It also links thesecriminal activities to very high levels of government. This development has implications forAfrican countries and the continent. Accordingly, this call sets out to map the issue ofcriminality and NRM highlighting what key capacities are required to protect NRM value

chains from criminal activities, including those sanctioned by the state! The paper shouldexplicitly draw on country case-studies to highlight the problem in both the renewable andnon-renewable NR spheres. Specific capacity requirements need to be mapped out andpolicy recommendations aimed at stemming this cancer explicitly articulated.

17.Transboundary Natural Resources Management: What Policies and Strategic Capacitiesare Vitalfor Africas Riparian States?

Growing and mobile populations, climate change and a rapidly developing continent hasrecently brought a renewed attention and focus on Africas water resources with anincreased call from stakeholders for the promotion of an enhanced coordination and

environmental sustainable water resource management, while addressing legitimate socio-economic needs of the riparian states. Experts have flagged countries within the Nile,Limpopo, Niger, Congo, Okavango and Lake Victoria basins as being critical to TBNRM of thecontinents water bodies. Indeed, it is argued that central to the challenges currently facingAfricas natural resources; perhaps none is more pressing, yet often overlooked, as thethreat to the continent's supply of clean fresh water. According to UNDP, potential 'watertensions' are likely in areas where rivers and lakes are shared by more than one country.However, other scholars posit that the aforementioned potential tensions are but a fallacyof composition, arguing that in practical terms the water situation in Africa is a problem ofmanagement. This position has recently been bolstered by the find of huge untapped

underground fresh water reservoirs across Africa. This call thus requires a criticalinterrogation of the above issue, drawing on evidence-based examples/country case-studiesto tease-out and recommend appropriate policy options, strategies and institutional steps.In doing so, the paper will need to explicitly map out the key strategic capacities required atthe institutional, national and regional levels. The paper should also explore the value orotherwise of transboundary diagnostic analysis (TDA) as a tool to capacitate countriesaddressing TBNRM of water.


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18.Debating the green economy in Africa: what are the capacity development issues and policydirections for considerations?

The notion of green economy has a long history in academia especially in environmentaleconomics. A key issue raised is that the current market-based price system results inresource allocation in the economy that is biased against the environment and relatedassets. Environmental assets and services, are either undervalued or not valued, resulting in

inefficient consumption of natural resources as well as environmental degradation. Similarly,the costs of pollution, for example, are generally not paid by the polluters but aretransferred to the public. With climate change, the problem is expected to be exacerbatedfor Africa. Therefore, correcting the price system would lead to more favorableenvironmental outcomes. A number of developments have emerged in the policy arena withdifferent initiatives such as: environmental tax reform, green growth, green jobs,green stimulus and global green new deal. These initiatives involve individual countries,UN organizations (e.g. UNEP, ILO), and other intergovernmental organizations such as theWorld Bank. Indeed, the usefulness and appropriateness of a green economy as a paradigmfor furthering sustainable development in Africa is hotly debated by all concerned withdevelopment. Opinions expressed tend to reflect strongly differing viewpoints. A point onwhich everyone seems to agree is that prices faced by producers and consumers in theglobal economy, and in Africa in particular, do not reflect environmental and social costsadequately. Among the divisive issues, is the place of markets in/as a solution to currentunsustainable trends in natural resource consumption, pollution and use of the globalcommons. Whether the set of institutions under which the current global economy operatescan be reformed to deliver more sustainable outcomes for Africa is also the object of a widerange of opinions. This call expects the author/s to shed more light on the current academicand policy debates. In particular, the paper should provide insights to the followingquestions: under what constraints will a green economy have to take place if Africa isserious about addressing the effects of climate change? What can experience of past

technological change teach the continent about the feasibility of a green economytransition? What and how can institutions (in a broad sense) foster more sustainable humandevelopment outcomes? What types of financial instruments should be mobilized topromote greener economies in Africa? What are the opportunities for Africa in its attempt todevelop a green economy? What capacities are needed to take advantage of availableresources for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)? The paper should overall provide anunderstanding of the social and private environmental costs and benefits of NRM in Africa.

19. The role of NRM in biodiversity conservationEconomic growth and limitations in integrating environmental concerns into developmentplanning have put increasing pressure on biodiversity across Africa. Threats to biodiversityare often posed not by a new, poorly understood technology or process, but by theexpansion or intensification of well-understood activities such as harvesting of wild species,clearing forests or over exploitation of fish stocks. To this end, threats often derive frommultiple rather than singular sources, with different courses of action each raising potentialrisks pastoralists, unregulated logging, mining operations, etc. These activities and more


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have intensified the challenge especially in the face of climate change, global warming andland grabs. This call, therefore, seeks to examine and map out national and regional policyissues and potential capacities required to enhance sustainable biodiversity conservation.The paper will need to examine the strategic capacities, experiences, costs andconsequences of systematically gathering continually updated information (through GISsystems) on biodiversity. The paper should also address the causes and challenges of NRM

in biodiversity conversation. The role of community-based natural resource management inbiodiversity conversation needs to be critically mapped with country case-studies. The paperwill also speak to the precautionary principle and its merits or otherwise for Africasbiodiversity conservation.


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Guidance to Interested persons

Each paper should explicitly define the concepts, contextualize the issues, review the extantliterature on the subject, critically interrogate the key issues, and provide empirical evidencein support of all arguments and conclusions. Authors will need to draw on a myriad ofAfrican case studies from different parts of the continent to cover the variety of existingscenarios and to support their conclusions and policy recommendations.

Selected authors will work from home and receive a fee of US$10,000 per paper. The finalpaper should be 8,000 - 10,000 words (max) in length, excluding figures, plates, andreferences.

Required qualifications: Researchers/academics and/or development practitioners with an advanced

academic degree and/or working experience in the social sciences, resourcesmanagement, agriculture, public policy, development statistics, economics,agricultural economics, development studies or a related field;

Demonstrated research/academic experience in area/related area of call;

Demonstrated publication record in area/related area of call; Ability to write fluently in English or French

To apply, please submit a CV (listing publications) and a 2-3-page outline (1.5 spacing; 12 cpifont size) of your proposed paper to ACBF . The submission should make reference to thespecific call number to which you are applying. Send all submissions to the attention of Ms.Phumuzile Khumalo([email protected]) latest by 3rd August, 2012.

Your communication should explicitly make reference to the ACIR2013 Call for Papers and

state clearly which Call # the submission is for.

Only successful applicants will be contacted.

Knowledge and Learning DepartmentAfrican Capacity Building Foundation

Harare, ZimbabweJune 2012
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

Documents

Final Call for Papers [Eng] Acir2013