Drylands Transform has had its annual meeting in Moroto, Uganda and participants valued highly to meet physically with the whole project team again. Since I was not there myself, I asked two of my colleagues, Margeret (PhD student from University of Nairobi, Kenya) and Kuule (PhD student from Makerere University, Uganda) to give some insights from the meeting.
First I wanted to know how it was to meet everyone, and of course especially the PhD colleagues and the supervisors. Margeret was happy and said:
"The annual meeting was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the rest of the Drylands Transform project team, especially the other PhD students and my supervisors. The atmosphere was collaborative and supportive, and there were plenty of opportunities to discuss our research, share ideas, and learn from each other."
Further, Margeret also expressed gratitude for meeting other research fellows and the locally invited guests, who played crucial roles in guiding in the different areas and topics of the research work, and creating a conducive environment for academic growth. For Kuule, the meeting was of paramount importance since it brought all the project members and students to physically meet after a yearlong session on online platforms only. He adds:
"The meeting was a very good platform for me as a PhD student to meet with my supervisors and together internalize and share ideas on the progress of my research and the next steps. The input and knowledge sharing on both specific and cross-cutting issues from both the project members and the invited participants from Napak and Moroto district local government and non-governmental organisations was a good eye opener on such issues and missing links for PhD research and my supervisors."
Both of them also realized things related to their own research that can help them move forward. Kuule's research is on social conflicts in the Karamoja border region. He saw the need to streamline his study with clear definitions on terms of social conflicts as well as clearly bringing out the interconnectedness in the different forms of social conflicts as well their driving forces in the work.
Margeret is working with different fodder grass experiments and she saw the need for continuous progress on data analysis, developing manuscripts and working closely with our supervisors to finish on time. She also emphasized the need for students to support each other, especially during the planned seminar sessions when presenting their work, by giving comments to help improve.
Local government officials were invited to the meeting and field trips were made to give feedback to communities. Both Kuule and Margeret clearly saw the importance of continued engagement of both the local governments and local communities in the planning process of the project. Including local communities and other stakeholders in the research process has been a cornerstone for the acceptance and smooth implementation of Drylands Transform project interventions. Margeret said:
"It was very interesting to learn and see that the communities are embracing kitchen gardening and the project has brought back some seeds like Dolichos lablab which communities used to have sometimes back and were lost."
She thought that provision of seeds is key for further adoption of kitchen gardens and to support the communities around the Livestock Café.
Kuule, who is more working with conflicts, learnt from Margerets experiments of the various fodder technologies (such as pasture sowing and integration of grasses with legumes) being used in the Drylands Transform project demonstration areas (Livestock cafes) during the field trip.
Margeret explaining the treatments in one of the plots. Photo: Margeret Nyaga
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The whole team visited the local cultural centre to better understand the local context and culture where the work is being done. Photo: Alice Turinawe
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During the visit at the cultural centre, the team got familiar with some different local food products. Photo: Aida Bargues Tobella
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People gathered under a tree to hear the progress of the project and to discuss challenges and share information. Photo: Horacio Gonda
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Margeret was excited to continue her work with Drylands transform project and advancing her academic and research skills, and making a positive impact on sustainable development in dryland areas.
"The prospect of continued learning, professional growth, and collective achievements with the team is what motivates me as I move forward in my PhD journey", she says.
Margeret is planning to publish two papers in peer reviewed journals by the end of 2024 and she is confident that her research work will contribute to the development of sustainable rangeland restoration and management options for the future.
Kuule was also looking forward to finalizing his PhD research on social conflicts within the Karamoja border region of northeastern Uganda and north-western Kenya to enable the Drylands Transform project develop policy recommendations and action plans for long-lasting social conflict resolution in the area. This aligns with the overarching goal of Drylands Transform project that aims at enhancing pathways towards achieving the sustainable development goals in the drylands of the Karamoja cluster by developing holistic action plans for reducing shocks, crises and building nutritional resilience.
Finally, both of them feel the support from each other and the other PhD students which is very rewarding.
"We shared our experiences and challenges. I am confident that we will continue to support each other throughout our PhD journeys", finalizes Margeret.
Drylands Transform (DT) is a research project led by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in partnership with an interdisciplinary team from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Linnaeus University, Makerere University, Umeå University, University of Gothenburg, University of Nairobi, and World Agroforestry (ICRAF).
Ingrid Öborn, Professor
Department of Crop Production Ecology, SLU
ingrid.oborn@slu.se, +4618671274, +46703703705