The Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), a non – governmental organisation with support from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) has launched a research network for better governance of Africa’s natural resources in Accra yesterday.
The aim of the network dubbed ‘Governance of Africa’s Resources Network (GARN)’ is to strengthen research capacity and actively promote the dissemination of research by Africans in Africa.
Launching the network, Victor Brobbey of CDD-Ghana, said despite Africa’s vast natural resource endowment, most of the current researches are conducted and developed outside Africa.
He said little in-depth primary research is carried out on the continent which, he added GARN seeks to address. “The network will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of field research and dissemination of findings.”
Additionally, GARN will conceptualise, commission and conduct policy –level research across the African continent.
He said the other African institutional partners of GARN are from Tanzania, Angola, Uganda and Ghana.
Mr. Brobbey noted that it is refreshing for CDD-Ghana, to be founding members of what promises to be one of the most important and powerful research networks in natural resource governance in Africa.
Dr. Furaha Lugoe of the Tanzanian based Economic and Social Research Foundation, believes that “the network is timely, given the urgent need for Africa to develop its own capacity to meet the Millennium Development Goals and improve the lives of all Africans.”
He called on civil society and the media to ensure that natural resource governance research is accessible and used by all stakeholders across the continent.
Ross Harrey of the South African Institute of International Affairs said the launch of the network will harness diverse research quality across the continent, therefore reducing inefficiency and create optional research for greater policy impact.