UNU-FLORES: Key research topics identified for Maputo Twin Institute

The 2nd International Scoping Workshop on the establishment of the United Nations University Institute on Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) and its Twin Institute in Mozambique took place 24-25 October 2011 in Maputo, Mozambique. Different key stakeholders discussed research topics for the envisioned Twin Institute in Maputo and identified key topics to be dealt with by both the Dresden and Maputo twinning partners. 

Workshop overview

The workshop succeeded in bringing together key stakeholders from UNU, Dresden University of Technology (TUD), the Ministry of Science and Technology of Mozambiqe (MCT), the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) and further universities from the region as well as from international organizations and international experts. The purpose of the workshop was:

• to define the initial programme of research and teaching of the envisioned twin institute of UNU-FLORES in Mozambique
• to elaborate on conceptual and structural aspects of MSc and PhD programmes, to be undertaken in collaboration with African partners
• to define ways of cooperation between the twining partners in Dresden and Maputo

In addition, the initiative of establishing a Twin Institute of UNU-FLORES in Maputo was introduced to a wider public during the 12th WaterNet Symposium, which took place in Maputo, 26-28 October 2011.

Research topics for Twin Institute in Maputo

Future research topics of the UNU-FLORES Maputo Twin could be structured into five thematic areas:

• integrated water resources management
• waste management and sanitation
• soil and land management
• systems and flux analysis
• water economics and governance

Among these areas, the first three are to be seen as a triangle of interrelated resources; systems and flux analysis provides the tools to evaluate options and scenarios, while water economics and governance is a cross-cutting area.

This structure emerged from an extensive list of topics collected, but is strikingly similar to thematic areas identified earlier for the Dresden Twin.

Important topics for joint research projects of both twins (and further partners) could be “integrative resources management of informal settlements” and “risk management of extreme events”.