Development

Resilience focuses on development issues helping to reach the Millennium Development Goals. Important is that we understand that currently a big share of development policy and research is directed at reducing risks and vulnerabilities which actually decreases the resilience of human-natural systems instead of raising it. Implied are projects that aim at reducing poverty in the short run (quick fixes) but that do not help or are counterproductive in the long run. We believe in long-term commitment and holistic development planning, where local people’s priorities are put up front.
We focus on the development issues not by pointing at isolated drivers like: bad governance, lack of social capital, urban bias, or unfavorable geographic conditions. We focus on generating a more profound, integrative perspective on the interlinkages between agricultural development, social capital, governance and natural resource quality. To help grasping these complex interdisciplinary issues we make use of participatory action research and different computer models to elaborate, test and explore alternative options for development.

Creative interactive learning for better health

July 2009- July 2010
Creative interactive learning methods are highly promising in tackling major problems regarding health, social and economic welfare and environmental issues. Resilience and partners are starting a project that aims to prevent AIDS by developing interactive online education for young adults in Nepal. Nepalese youth will help in creating appropriate material. The material will be spread to their peers over the internet and can be accessed via the increasing number of cyber cafes in Nepal. Partners: Riti Herman Mosterd en Sobit (?} {!) .

Deciphering the unsustainability spiral in Subsaharan Africa

March 2008 and running
The research focuses on the use of agent based modelling techniques for unravelling the unsustainability spiral in Africa south of the Sahara. The research is financed by the Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS ) of the Netherlands, in cooperation with the Sustainable Development and Food Security Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre. Powerpoint  , scientific article in INDECS

Long-term global availability of food – continued abundance or new scarcity? 2004-2006
Resilience contributes to the North-South project: ‘Long-term global availability of food’. Resilience members provided background information for the expert meetings and compiled the final report that was presented at a Seminar in January 2006 in Wageningen. Main issues at stake are: natural resource degradation, novel food production techniques and competing claims.
A scientific article was be published in May 2008 ( draft),. Background report Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4 References

Terra Preta: Ancient technology as a tool for sustainable management of tropical soils
April 2005 — December 2006
Deciphering ancient technology for sustainable management of Tropical soils. Resilience set up a large scale research programme for Wageningen University and studied nutrient balances in these ancient manmade soils of inconceivable fertility. Resilience wrote a book chapter on Terra Preta.

Read more in our publications & presentations

Koning et al, 2008
Hofwegen et al, 2007
Becx & van Hofwegen, 2006
Becx et al, 2006

People @ Resilience Development

Gertjan Becx
Joep van den Broek
Guido van Hofwegen
Riti Herman-Mosterd