Blogs

By David Akodi, Africa Innovation Institute, Kampala

The Vital Signs monitoring system has been collecting and integrating agricultural, environmental  and livelihoods data in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ghana; to provide decision support tools to policy makers, businesses and farmers to influence development in a way that protects the environment, while also improving human wellbeing.

By Madeleine Nyiratuza

By Monica Nooon and Tabby Njung'e

On May 18, 2018, CI's Vital Signs organized a stakeholder workshop in Addis Ababa, to understand baseline data needs for sustainable agriculture, livelihoods and biodiversity conservation in Ethiopia. The workshop brought together various stakeholders from development, research and government institutions to discuss existing datasets on agriculture, livelihoods and conservation in Ethiopia, gaps on existing data and availability of sources and quality of these data. 

Closing Date: 17th May 2018
Location: Rwanda
Electronic Submission: vitalsignsrfp[at]conservation.org
 

In March, 2018, Vital Signs in collaboration with Strong Roots Congo organized a stakeholder workshop in Bukavu, DRC. The workshop brought together various stakeholders to understand baseline data needs for sustainable agriculture, livelihoods and biodiversity conservation .This work is funded by The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The data assessment once completed, will be used to inform programs and the government on sustainable farmer livelihood interventions in DRC as part of the Packard.

In March 2018, the Vital Signs team working with Conservation International-Liberia and the Global Program Support conducted a forest monitoring trainining session for the Frontline conservationists (FCs) of East Nimba Nature Reserve(ENNR). This was in support of the CI-Liberia landscape level approach to conservation in the ENNR which not only addresses biodiversity issues but also the complexities of the interactions among local economies, agriculture and ecosystem services.

In March, 2018 the 2nd cohort UPTAKE fellowship ended with the fellows’ showcase at the UPTAKE HQ in Chicago. The showcase involved presentations from eight data science fellows. Vital Signs was represented by the Vital Signs’ Africa Field Director; Dr. Peter Alele.

In February 12th to 16th, Conservation International, Coastal Ocean Research and Development(CORDIO) working with the Kenya’s National Environmental Management Authority, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Resource Institute, and Tanzania’s Fisheries Education and Training Agency held two workshops in the context of the Indian Ocean Commission funded project “Asse

On December 20th, 2017, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Secretariat approved the implementation of the medium sized project entitled “Strengthening National Capacity in Kenya to Meet the Transparency Requirements of the Paris Agreement and Supporting the Coordination of National, Regional and Global Transparency-related Activities in Kenya.”

  By Dr.Peter Alele as part of the Beyond.Uptake Fellowship

Soil fertility refers to the ability of a soil to sustain agricultural plant growth, to provide plant habitat and result in sustained and consistent yields of high quality. One indicator of soil fertility is C:N ratio –the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio.