Constance Awinpoka Akurugu is Associate Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies, Department of Public Policy and Management, Faculty of Public Policy and Governance, SDD University of Business and Integrated Development Studies in Wa, Ghana
The importance of Global South-North cooperation
Collaborations between research institutions and higher education in the Global South and North offer invaluable opportunities for cross-cultural learning that benefit the partners involved. This is because, in the absence of such platforms, it may prove challenging for researchers to identify shared objectives and engage in the collaborative learning and idea exchange that are currently underway. Over the years, ZEF has established a fruitful partnership with the University for Development Studies, and more recently, the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) in Wa, Ghana. This collaboration has made a significant contribution to infrastructural development, enhanced the capacity of faculty, and provided invaluable mentorship to young faculties. The West African Center for Sustainable Rural Transformation (WAC-SRT), a DAAD-funded Center of Excellence initiated and led by ZEF, provides resources and infrastructure to support the nascent SDD-UBIDS. The center’s activities are oriented towards the advancement of sustainable rural transformation in West Africa, encompassing a range of dimensions, including socio-economic, political, cultural, administrative, and technological development.
Enriching careers, creating opportunities
The collaboration with ZEF has yielded significant benefits, including the creation of opportunities for SDD-UBIDS personnel and students to pursue studies at the Center, gain international exposure and experience, and facilitate learning exchanges. In light of the scarcity of resources in our work and living environments, it is evident that without these opportunities, many faculty members and junior researchers would have encountered significant challenges in accessing world-class education. Consequently, the partnership enables senior scientists at ZEF working in northern Ghana to conduct research and gain insights by collaborating with faculty at SDD-UBIDS, which is crucial for enriching their research experience and advancing their careers. On a personal level, as a gender expert on the Interfaces project, a five-year BMBF-sponsored project, I am involved in providing technical support to the regional projects on enhancing gender responsiveness in research and implementation. This is done by facilitating the learning processes of junior and senior scientists on gender in research and implementation. This role has been highly rewarding, as it has enabled me to exert a significant influence on the research and implementation outcomes across the regional projects.
Wishes: Partnerships with African research institutes should be made a top priority
Happy 25th anniversary! I commend ZEF’s success in Africa, especially in West Africa and Ghana. I hope ZEF keeps working well and forms stronger links with other organizations in the region. I think ZEF should focus its partnerships with African research and education institutions on African knowledge and help decolonize knowledge production, making it more diverse. When ZEF is recruiting and forming partnerships, it should also think about the needs of women and girls in Africa.
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