Photo: UN; Marco Dormino

UNIVERSITY-CIVIL SOCIETY

COLLABORATION IN

POST-CONFLICT AND DISASTER

SITUATIONS THREE CASES, THREE PERSPECTIVES

Dr. Ignacio Armillas, Visiting Scholar Ms. Christine Potter, Cornell University

Mr. Seth Eden, Cornell University Mr. Chris Bragdon, Executive Director BILD

New Sector of Collaboration

Characteristics of public service universities

Commitment to public interest

Research, teaching and public service

Breadth and depth approach to education

Lessons learned as a visiting scholar at Cornell University

Accessibility of intellectual resources

Collaboration across disciplines

Breadth of experience represented in the student body

Exploring a new array of resources at today’s institutions

Creative engagement of Informational Communication and Technology (ICT)

Global networks

Accessing latent potential

Collaboration with NGO

University to university linkage

Individual to individual network

REBUILDING

NEIGHBORHOODS IN

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI

Presented by Christine Potter, Cornell University

Cornell – GHESKIO Partnership

12 January 2010 earthquake

Within 24 hours 5,000 refugees—needing food, water, shelter, and medical treatment—had moved onto GHESKIO’s grounds

Cornell-GHESKIO partnership

Cornell’s Medical School would assist with health needs

Wanted a comprehensive approach to the overall situation

Enlisted graduate-level, pro-bono consulting team (10 nationalities; 15 individuals) to support GHESKIO

Critical Issues

Extremely high neighborhood density/occupancy

Uncertain land tenure

Magnitude of problem overwhelming the capacity of

Haitian government

Decision Making

Land Tenure

Density

Strategy

TargetDisplaced and Disadvantaged

Urban Poor

Relocate Residents

Redevelop Neighborhood

Multi-Story Single-Story

Retrofit Community

Allocate Plots

Multi-Disciplinary Approach

Accommodate the maximum number of people

Install basic infrastructure (water, sanitation, electricity)

Coordinate provisions for social services and employment

Retrofit Example

Original Camp

GHESKIO

Redevelopment

Example

Core Units: Improving Public Health

Neighborhood Redevelopment Foundation

Consultancy Products

Emergency resource manuals within

three weeks after earthquake

Neighborhood Redevelopment Strategy

Concept note

Implementation schedule

Interactive funding resource database

Haiti-based organization and individuals

Briefings to potential program partners

Strategy for raw materials sourcing

Mobilization of external resources

Going Forward

Validation of strategy in Port-au-Prince

this summer

Building network of engagement on the

ground

Fundraising for planning

phase

Building partners at

University for

future curriculum

Contribution to Post-Disaster Redevelopment

Diverse student body

Integrated multi-disciplinary expertise/knowledge/skills

Provided cultural validation

Access to resources

Optimized library resources, faculty contributions, engineers and

architects

Bang for the buck

Approached challenges with adaptability and flexibility

Delivered comprehensive program development

ERADICATING HUNGER AND

POVERTY, REBUILDING THE

AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY IN

SOUTHERN SUDAN

Presented by Seth Eden, Cornell University

Cornell Global Solutions

25 Graduate students

City and Regional Planning, Public Administration, Food Science, Public Health, and Industrial and Labor Relations

Speaks 30 languages

Represents 13 nationalities

Held former contracts with over 60 major governmental and non-governmental development firms

Have worked in over 27 countries

Led by a Professor with over three decades of international development experience

Committed to economic and social advancement through creative and interdisciplinary consulting

http://cornellglobalsolutions.com

Rebuilding the Agricultural Economy in

Southern Sudan

Agricultural Research and Extension Program for the Catholic University of Sudan

Wau, Southern Sudan

Newly established university in 2008

Core values drawing from the local context:

Gender equality; sustainability and regeneration; participatory; integrative; holistic and inclusive; cultural integrity; and pro-poor

Wau: Agricultural campus

Juba: Main campus

Challenges That Need to be Addressed in

Rebuilding Agriculture in Southern Sudan

Political tension

Poverty

Low literacy rates

Agriculture

Rain-fed & subsistence

Traditional crops and foods

Female farmers

Smallholders

Lack of market system

Bridging the University-Community Divide

Integrated Approach

Agricultural

knowledgeCurriculum

Extension and

research

Curriculum Development

Core program components

Field based learning

Community involvement

Practical research

Program enhancement modules

Post-harvest storage

Geospatial Information Systems/Global

Positioning Systems & other technology

Participatory extension training

Consultancy Products

Program design

Briefings to university officials

Interactive budget

Program enhancement modules

Funding database

Implementation schedule

Going Forward

Facilitated computers being donated

Developed a GIS laboratory proposal

Drafted a Terms of reference for the Bussere Research Center

Established a Faculty exchange between both universities

Developed an ongoing Cornell & Catholic University of Sudan

partnership

Contribution to Post-Disaster Redevelopment

Diverse student body

Integrates multiple perspectives

Stimulates creative thinking

Approaches development through youthful enthusiasm and focused

idealism

Access to resources

University-to-university collaboration

Utilizes the material and intellectual resources at Cornell

Bang for the buck

Embodies low investment costs for a quality project

REBUILDING COMMUNITY IN

POST-CONFLICT BOSNIA

Presented by Christopher Bragdon Executive Director - BILD

BILD-Bosnia Initiatives for Local Development

Tuzla, Bosnia and

Herzegovina

1992 – 1995 Bosnian war

110,000 people killed

1.8 million people displaced

Destruction of communities and cultural heritage

Population separated according to ethnicity

Post-War Bosnia

Rebuilding community

Endemic poverty

Ethnic tension

Rebuilding education system

Lack of marketable skills training

Segregated schools

BILD’s response

Integrated skills training program

Collaboration with Cornell

Tuzla Summer Institute

Why was the BILD—Cornell Collaboration

Successful?

Experience

Local Solutions

Project Ideas

Relationships

Empirical Studies

Applied Theory

Brain Power

Exchange

Project Proposals

Conceptual Tools

Credibility

Confidence

Sponsors

Funding

New Projects

Social Capital

BILD Cornell Outcome Results

BILD – Cornell Collaboration (2008-Present)

March 2008: Mufti Husein Kavazovicvisits Cornell University

July 2008 : Feasibility study in Tuzla Bosnia

Sept. - Dec. 2008 :

Project development

at Cornell University

July 2009: Opening of TSI

Tuzla Summer Institute:

A Multi-ethnic Professional Training Program

Practical Skills

University education

Professional careers

Civic engagement

Multiculturalism

Multicultural participants

International faculty

Mutual respect

Mutual understanding

Tuzla Summer Institute Opening Day: July 6, 2009

Tuzla Summer Institute:

A Four Week Intensive Educational Program

Diverse, multicultural group of over 150 participants

High school students

University students

Business professionals

Teachers

International Faculty

Tuzla Summer Institute:

A Four Week Intensive Educational Program

Business management

Information technology

English as a Second Language

ESL teacher training

Civic leadership

Going Forward

Expanding the curriculum

Enhancing internship component

Ongoing engagement with professional graduate students

Strengthening linkages with supporting institutions

Contribution to Post-Disaster Redevelopment

Diverse student body

Access to resources

Partners

Funding

Bang for the buck

Project Proposals

Increased capacity

Mesi Merci

Hvala Lijepo

Thank You

For more information contact:

Prof. Alice Pell, Vice Provost for International Relations

Cornell University

115 Day Hall, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA

Email: ap19@cornell.edu Telephone: +001 607.255.7993