DRECA

Developing Research Capacity among African Scientists: DRECA

Launched in January 2010, this is a 3-year collaborative project that will strengthen the scientific capacity and outputs of African institutions and research biologists. Over the next three years, the Tropical Biology Association and its partners will deliver tailor-made training workshops in fundraising, scientific proposal writing, research design and publishing results.

Participants in the workshops will be selected through an open application process and will be early career scientists. Follow-up support after the workshops will ensure that new skills are put into practice and a mentoring network is established.

The project will make an important contribution to Africa's Consolidated Science and Technology Plan of Action, one of whose goals is to ensure that Africa contributes to the global pool of scientific knowledge.

 
DRECA is project funded by the EU's ACP Science and Technology Programme; A Programme of the ACP Group of States, with the financial assistance of the European Union. Contract no. FED/2009/218783

 

2012 workshops series— designing research projects in the field

The workshops in 2012 aim to fill the skills gaps that African institutions have identified in the sound design of scientific research projects relevant to the management of natural resources. They will teach African scientists skills in how to frame research questions, select and design appropriate methods, manage and analyse data as well as how to interpret and present results.

Participants will enhance their skills in designing research projects from setting objectives, choosing methods and interpreting data. Being practical in design, these workshops will strive to assist African environmental scientists to improve their research so that they can produce publishable results and become more effective in their work. In addition they will gain skills on designing research methods and protocols, statistical analysis of data and presentation of results.

Details of workshops to be held in this series:
Dates Country Host institutions Workshop Status
28 Feb-2 Mar 2012 Kenya

Nature Kenya

National Museums of Kenya

Click here for workshop details

Applications closed
21- 24 April 2012 Uganda Makerere University

Click here for workshop details

Closing date: 15th March 2012
To be announced Ghana University of Ghana, Legon

Workshop details to be posted soon.
To be announced Nigeria Nigerian Conservation Foundation

Workshop details to be posted soon.

Click here for information on how to apply.

Past DRECA workshops

2011 workshops series— communicating and disseminating research results

The workshops in 2011 built on the experience and expertise of the previous workshops in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. They were designed to enhance the capacity of conservation managers working for local government institutions, non-governmental organisations etc. to fundraise, prepare good scientific and quality popular material, and communicate their work effectively.

The workshops equipped participants with skills in preparing quality papers for publication in journals and other media where research results can be easily accessed by the wider community. Teaching was based on practical exercises mainly using participants’ own work. Talks and case studies were used to illustrate steps in structuring scientific papers and how the publication process works. View the workshop reports below:
• Ruiru, Kenya: 8– 11 Mar 2011 [View report]
• Kampala, Uganda: 28 Jun– 1 Jul 2011 [View report]
• Kumasi, Ghana: 26– 29 Jul 2011 [View report]
• Ibadan, Nigeria : 23– 26 Aug 2011 [View report]
Seventy-two conservation scientists, researchers and managers working for government, research and academic institution, NGOs, etc in Africa were trained.

2010 workshops series— developing successful research proposals

The workshops were designed to enhance the capacity of participants to fundraise for priority research. The workshops took place in:
• Royal Suites Hotel, Kampala, Uganda: 22– 25 Jun 2010 [View report]
• Kenya Institute of Education, Nairobi, Kenya: 20– 23 Jul 2010 [View report]
• Catholic Redemptorist Centre, Ibadan, Nigeria: 31 Aug– 3 Sep 2010 [View report]
• Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana: 6– 9 Sep 2010 [View report]
Seventy-six conservation scientists, researchers and managers working for government, research and academic institution, NGOs, etc in Africa were trained. Click workshop titles above to view workshop reports.

How to apply for DRECA workshops

Each workshop is hosted by partners in the participating countries and targets active conservation scientists and researchers who are nationals of the host country and working for:

Workshop announcements will provide application details including workshop dates and venue. If a workshop has been announced in your country (see above) and you qualify, please download the application form.

NOTES for applications

1) Only complete applications forms will be accepted.
2) Send your complete applications to the workshop host institutions in your country. Do not send application to the Tropical Biology Association.
3) The host institution is responsible for selection of participants and all workshop logistics.
4) Any queries should be directed to the contact persons listed below.

DRECA host institutions and contacts

Ghana
Host institution: University of Ghana
Contact person: Dr. Erasmus Owusu
Email: Dreca-Gh
Nigeria
Host institution: Nigerian Conservation Foundation
Contact person: Mrs. Funmi Tsewinor
Email: Dreca-Ng
Kenya
Host institution: Nature Kenya (the EANHS)
Host institution: Zoology Section, National Museums of Kenya
Contact person: Ms. Agatha Nthenge
Email: Dreca-Ke		 Uganda
Host institution: Faculty of Forest and Nature Conservation, Makerere University
Host institution: Dept of Zoology, Makerere University
Contact person: Dr. Efitre Jackson
Email: Dreca-Ug

Please check out the TBA workshop portfolio for details of our previous workshops.

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