UBC Adventures in Africa

UBC and Lake Victoria Region Local Authorities Co-operation (LVRLAC) will continue the co-operation for one more year. The Swedish International Development Co-operation (SIDA) has allocated 560 000 EUR for phase two until the end of 2003.

The overall aim of the engagement in East Africa for SIDA is connected to the environmental situation in the lake and poverty alleviation. The aim of this project is that LVRLAC shall be a well functioning and well rooted network organisation of local authorities in the Lake Victoria Region, based on democratic principles and with political as well as project oriented activities.

One important tool to achieve these aims is a functioning secretariat. The secretariat shall not be considered as an aim in itself, but as a tool.

UBC has employed Mr Christian Rietz to be stationed at the LVRLAC secretariat for a period of one year. Earlier he worked at the BSSSC secretariat in Copenhagen and in the Copenhagen City Hall with Oresund Region Co-operation issues.

The project is an umbrella project, containing several sub-projects. The sub-projects are:

• AFunctional LVRLAC Secretariat. The project includes investment in equipment and renovation of the LVRLAC secretariat premises.
• Creating Functioning Internal Communications. Computers and Internet connections for about 10 LVRLAC member cities, plus LVRLAC Home-page and internal e-mail information channels.
• LVRLAC Women's Network Support for creation of a LVRLAC Women's Network in co-operation with UBC Women's network. Ms Hjordis Hoglund is the UBC project leader.
• Environmental Pedagogic Centers.
  The project will create two Environmnetal Pedagogic Centers during phase two. UBC Project leader is the co-chairman of the UBC Commission on Environment, Mr. Guldbrand Skjonberg of Nacka, Sweden.
• The City Council Exchange Program involves exchange of city councillors from Kolding, Kalmar and Tallinn from our region and three cities in the Lake Victoria Region. The final result will be a booklet.
• LFA Workshop for sub-project leaders, LVRLAC Standing Commission leaders and the LVRLAC Secretariat
  In addition to the sub-projects, there is a need for supporting activities to be funded by SIDA
• UBC Technical Support Officer to be placed at the LVRLAC Secretaiat for a period of 1 year
• UBC Support for Project Co ordination and Economic Handling
• Project Support Provided by External

Consultants in order to allow municipal employees from UBC cities to engage in this project.

The second phase started October 1^st, and we have already Christian Rietz as the UBC man in Entebbe.

by Juhan Janusson
Project Co-ordinator