Bahir Dar University, Institute of Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Studies 

 

University of Juba, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource Management

and 

University of Hargeisa, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Science

 

 

Joint Regional Master Program (MSC) in Disaster Risk Management and Food Systems Resilience (FSR) 

  1. Background of the Joint Regional Master (JRM) program 

 

The Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, South Sudan, North Sudan, Somali, Somaliland, Eriteria and Djibouti) is found to be vulnerable for a wide range of natural and human made risks. The frequently occurred natural risks are Climatic related (e.g. drought, flood and hailstorms), Geologic (e.g. earthquake, volcanic eruptions and landslides) and Biological (e.g. human epidemics, crop pests and animal epidemics). Human made risks are environmental (e.g. pollution, degradation, deforestation and desertification), technological (car accident, terrorism, radio activism and others), social (conflict, unrest, war and others), Urban and wild fires and others.

The recurrent   occurrence of various risks in the Horn of Africa leads to more vulnerability and surviving communities in less resilient food systems. Capacity to effectively prevent, mitigate, prepare for and respond to disaster risks triggered by these  hazards and to build resilience food systems require knowledge, skills, motivation and resources that includes training, education, policy support and systemic  accountability. 

A consortium of educational institutions in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somaliland and The Netherlands identified the key issues in the Horn of Africa related to disaster risk management, food and nutrition security and food system resilience.   With the Nuffic support of the government of the Kingdom of The Netherlands this Joint Regional Master Program (JRM) in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Food Systems Resilience (FSR) was instituted.  This JRM addresses the professionalization and capacity development challenges of the curriculum development in the sector.  The consortium is made of Bahir Dar University (Ethiopia), University of Juba (South Sudan),  University of  Hargeisa (Somaliland), Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands) and Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (The Netherlands) and agreed on the name of the joint regional master program, its modules and the courses to be addressed in the program.

  1. Rational of the JRM program

The program is developed in response to the ongoing need in the horn of Africa to improve Disaster Risk Management through building disaster resilient communities through strengthening capacity to prevent, plan and respond to disasters) and to   build Food Systems Resilience as fundament for sustainable development. 

The dynamism of the DRM and FSR issues at regional and global level can be found in the various global and regional agreements like the Sendai Framework for DRR (2015 – 2030), SD Goals (2015-2030), the Paris Agreement 2015, the urban resilience agendas, and the Africa Agenda (2063).

Using multi-disciplinary approach, the program seeks to produce competent professionals who are equipped with both academic and practical knowledge and skills in managing all the phases of the DRM cycle and build Food Systems Resilience in the Horn of Africa as required by the work field.

3. Goal of the JRM Program

 

The overall goal of this program is to produce high quality graduates acquainted with knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable them to effectively contribute to Disaster Risk Management and building Food Systems Resilience in the Horn of Africa as required by the work field

4. Objectives of the JRM program

 

The JRM Program seeks to; 

 

  • Produce a qualified graduates with the required knowledge and skills for improved  Disaster Risk Management and build Food Systems Resilience in the Horn of Africa
  • Foster an informed and critical attitude with graduates towards theoretical and applied aspects of Disaster Risk Management and Food Systems Resilience.
  • Develop knowledge and skills of graduates required to improve Disaster Risk Management practices, livelihoods and food and nutrition security status of the society in a sustainable manner.
  • Produce graduates who are able to facilitate Disaster Risk Management mainstreaming into various academic, research and development sector activities.
  • Produce qualified graduates with effective coordination, communication and facilitation knowledge, skills and attitudes related to Disaster Risk Management, Food Systems Resilience 
  • Produce qualified graduates with effective coordination, communication and facilitation of knowledge and skills related to Disaster Risk Management and Food Systems Resilience 

 

 

5. Competencies of DRM and FSR Graduates

 

  1. To apply tools and concepts in analysing complex challenges in Disaster Risk Management and Food System Resilience for improved food and Nutrition security outcomes, considering sustainability, stakeholder- and systems-perspectives. 
  2. To analyse the policies, strategic- and institutional-frameworks of Disaster Risk Management and Food Systems Resilience actors for improved outcomes in a dynamic context.
  3. To design processes of change, from an inclusive perspective, for improved Disaster Risk Management and Food Systems Resilience that underpins improved Food and Nutrition Security outcomes.
  4. To design and conduct applied research in the context of crisis/disaster studies (with a focus on improved FNS outcomes). 
  5. To develop reflective professionalism on Disaster Risk Management, Food Systems Resilience and Food and Nutrition Security.
  6. To develop strategies and interventions for improved DRM and FSR that underpins better FNS outcomes.
  7. To communicate with various sector stakeholders and contribute to learning