Research projects 16

The EUCAM project assesses European security and development policies towards Central Asia and improves the contribution of European programmes to development and welfare in the region. EUCAM aims to: - Scrutinise European policies towards Central Asia - Enhance knowledge of Europe's engagement with Central Asia - Expand the network of experts and institutions from European countries and Central Asian states - Provide a forum to debate on European-Central Asian relations

Team

Fryer Paul, Virkkunen Joni, Elmira Satybaldieva

  • Head of research Heikki Roininen
  • Language n/a

Edible insects as food for humans is fast gaining global recognition as a key driver to underpin developmental efforts for addressing the interrelated challenges of food security, poverty, nutrition and climate change. However, technologies to ensure sustainable supply of edible insects to meet the increasing demand are not available. This project is aimed to develop a sustainable technology for mass rearing a highly popular and valuable grasshopper (Ruspolia differens) in eastern Africa based on ecological and biological knowhow, and to roll out the knowledge and skills to local communities.

Team

Heikki Roininen, Anu Valtonen, Geoffrey Malinga, Philip Nyeko, Vilma Lehtovaara, Robert Opoke, Karlmax Rutaro, Riitta Julkunen-Tiitto, Tommi Nyman, Okia A. Clement, Francis Omujal, Stefan T. Jaronski, Paul Vantomme

To support and strengthen the capacity of Hamelmalo Agricultural College (HAC) so that it can contribute to increasing agriculture productivity and enhancing environmental sustainability, through their education mission by meeting ecological, economic and social needs and by building of new multidisciplinary partnerships and networks and strengthening of the existing ones.

Team

Mohamed Elfadl, Semere Amlesom, Juha Helenius, Mike Starr, Markku Larjavaara

  • Head of research Sara Lindeman
  • Language n/a

The world needs hands on solutions to wicked problems such as climate change, resource scarcity and poverty, and we need to nd the pathways that enable such solutions to emerge. To maintain competitiveness in the future, Finland needs to improve it’s capacity to innovate and collaborate in new ways, to provide holistic and sustainable solutions to global challenges, both in emerging markets as well as disruptive new approaches to service provision in Europe. New global studies frugal and reverse innovations in complex global systems.

Team

Minna Halme, Teija Lehtonen, Jarkko Levänen, Helena Sandman, Emma Nkonoki, Tatu Lyytinen, Anne Hyvärinen, Sini Numminen, Sini Suomalainen, Marleen Wierenga, Marko Keskinen, Peter Lund, Olli Varis

  • Head of research Jenni Latikka
  • Language n/a

The main goal of this project is to upgrade the Department of Hydro-Met Services, so that the Bhutanese National Weather Service can be strengthened and thus substantially increase its forecast skills, contributing to the positive economic development of the country, help in reduction of poverty and improved handling of natural catastrophes in times of climate change.

Team

  • Head of research Jukka Pirttilä
  • Language n/a

The project builds a tax-benefit microsimulation model for Ghana and it is a part of the bigger SOUTHMOD work, see https://www.wider.unu.edu/project/southmod-simulating-tax-and-benefit-policies-development.

Team

Robert Osei, Kwabena Adu-Ababio

This research focuses on FBOs (World Vision, Fida International and Free Pentecostal Church of Tanzania) and their development projects by employing the capability approach and examining how the faith base influences assessments of valued functionings as aspects of good life, capabilities, and freedoms. Research is based on fieldwork in several regions in Tanzania.

Team

Bringing together advanced mobile voice-based technology, service providers and rural people of India in a tailored ecosystem is a unique project both in scale and in approach. Our project – RuralVoice – focuses on the development and deployment of voice-based services in agriculture, healthcare, education, entertainment and banking for the 220 million illiterate and underprivileged Indians that reside in the rural area. In our Indo-Finnish project consortium we are also building sustainable development and inclusive business opportunities for service- and technology companies both in India and in Europe. Keywords: Sustainable development, India, base of the pyramid, frugal innovations, voice-based services, illiterate people, mobile applications, participation, collaboration, localisation

Team

Mikko Ruohonen, Markku Turunen, Juhani Linna, Sumita Sharma, Nicholas Mavengere, Gururaj Mahajan, Jaakko Hakulinen, Pekka Kallioniemi, Vivek Kumar, Himadri Das (India), Amit Nanavati (India), Nitendra Rajput (India)

  • Head of research Jyrki Luukkanen
  • Language n/a

The ICI-CAMBODIA project aimed to increase the capacity and substance knowledge of local teaching and researcher staff at ITC in the field of renewable energy education and energy efficiency. The university level education in renewable energy in Cambodia is lacking human and equipment resources, yet the capacity of ITC, the leading university providing such education, is inadequate to respond to the national needs. The project objective was to support a new group of local experts to promote social and environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation in national energy planning.

Team

Jyrki Luukkanen (FFRC), Venla Kinnunen (FFRC), Jari Kaivo-Oja (FFRC), Mika Korkeakoski (FFRC), Romny Om (ITC), Davin Uy (ITC), Phol Norith (ITC), Yrjö Majanne (TUT), Juha Leppänen (Tamlink Ltd.), Suvisanna Mustonen (TUT)

  • Head of research Jyrki Luukkanen
  • Language n/a

The COOL project aimed to identify capacity development needs, provide practical policy recommendations and analyse the role of these initiatives in Finnish development policy, while keeping in mind the targets of sustainability, poverty reduction and equity. As it is likely that both global and national climate funding will increase in the future, it was important to analyse the impacts and obstacles of these, and means to improve implementation. The project included five case studies and data collection trips in Laos and Cambodia in 2010 and 2011, and two disseminating workshops, one in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and another one in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Also a final dissemination event was held in Finland to report the concluding outputs of the project.

Team

Jyrki Luukkanen, Mira Käkönen, Visa Tuominen, Otto Bruun, Kamilla Karhunmaa, Hanna Kaisti, Douangta Buaphavong, Sithong Thongmanivong, Try Thuon, Ponlok Tin