A Symposium on the challenges facing the Sahelian region of Africa.
September 20th, 2014
Career Resource Center Library
Reitz Union, first floor
The Sahelian region of Africa finds itself challenged from multiple angles and across different scales. The region exhibits extremely rapid population growth, is grappling with the negative effects of climate change on extremely fragile agricultural systems, and has been swept in recent years by political instability and violence. These factors have produced unforeseen shifts in resources, livelihoods, and population movements. This symposium aims to provide an assessment of these challenges, while critically examining competing views and explanations about current trends. The purpose is to provide a sound basis from which we can better understand the region’s prospects, and identify options for action.
Program
8:00-8:30 Coffee
8:30-8:45 Welcome and Introduction
8:45-10:15 Panel 1: Population Growth and Climate Change
Malcolm Potts, UC Berkeley, OASIS Initiative
Alisha Graves, OASIS Initiative
10:45-12:15 Panel 2: The Livelihood Challenge: Farmers and Pastoralists
Matt Turner, University of Wisconsin
Leif Brottem, Grinnell College
12:15-1:15 lunch break
1:15-2:45 Panel 3: Gender and Climate
Sarah McKune, University of Florida
Arame Tall, IFPRI
3:00-4:00 Roundtable: What Agenda for Research and Action?
The symposium is sponsored by a Minerva Initiative grant, the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the United States, the UF International Center, the Office of Research, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the Center for African Studies.
For more information, please contact Dr Renata Serra (rserra@ufl.edu), Prof. Leonardo Villalon (villalon@ufl.edu), or Dr Sarah McKune (smckune@ufl.edu).