New MA programme in Drylands Policy and Climate Change Adaptation

Breaking the cycle of impoverishment of vulnerable communities in the drylands of Africa is the ultimate goal of this new MA. This is of particular urgency not only because the geographical location of the drylands puts them on the front-line of global climate change, but also because of the acute lack of understanding policy-makers have of the dynamics of drylands livelihood systems.

Commencing Sept 2011, the MA is being offered by Kimmage Development Studies Centre ( www.kimmagedsc.ie ), based in Dublin, Ireland, in collaboration with Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania (www.suanet.ac.tz), with support from Mekelle University, Ethiopia; The University of Nairobi, Kenya, and the International Institute of Environment and Development, UK.

This unique programme is targeted at present and future policy makers, development practitioners and staff within international agencies, especially those whose work is concerned with supporting dryland communities.

Participants attend the first semester in Kimmage DSC and the second in Sokoine University. They have an additional 7 months to undertake research in a drylands area, with the support of one or more of the partner institutes of the consortium, and to complete a final dissertation.

Courses offered include:

Political Economy of Development
Drylands Policy
Economics and Governance
Sociology of Development
Climate Change and Development
Research Methods
Project Cycle Management
Drylands Systems
Conflict Management
Natural Resource Management
It should be noted that validation of this MA in Drylands award by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council of Ireland (www.hetac.ie) is currently in process, to be completed before the programme commences.