Networks connected with IFS
Many of the issues and problems that IFS grantees are dealing with transcend
their normal working environment and even national boundaries. Such common
challenges can bring people and stakeholders from very diverse backgrounds
together. Drawing on the diversity, networks can break isolation, facilitate
interchange of experiences and information, ignite productive discussion and
mobilize joint resources.
IFS acts as both enabler of existing and emerging networks and convener of
new ones. Seed money, co-operative and administrative assistance and funding
to workshops, training courses, exchange visits and fellowship programmes
are a few examples of IFS participation in this context. With some of the
networks mentioned below our involvement is in the initial stages.
AFASSA
Co-ordination of Networks for research on Biological Resources in Africa,
Asia and South America
http://www.afassa.org
AFASSA was set up as a result of an international symposium on natural product
research held in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1999. The participating scientists
from Africa, Asia and South America decided to make use of their existing and
active national and regional networks as base for intercontinental collaboration.
Members to date are:
| ALNAP | African Laboratory of Natural Products http://portal.ics.trieste.it/MAPs/ALNAP.aspx |
|
| ANRAP | Asian Network of Research on Anti-diabetic Plants | |
| LANBIO | Latin American Network for Research
on Bioactive Natural Compounds http://abulafia.ciencias.uchile.cl/lanbio/ |
|
| NABSA | Network for Analytical and Bio-assay
Services in Africa http://www.nabsaonline.org/ |
|
| NAPRECA | Natural Products Research Network
for Eastern and Central Africa http://www.napreca.net/ |
|
| SARBIO | Southern African Regional Co-operation in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology |
AFASSA and IFS have an agreement on provision of advisory services in the evaluation of IFS supported natural products research projects.
ANCAP
African Network for the Chemical Analysis of Pesticides
http://www.ancap.org/
ANCAP was initiated in 2001 under IFS auspices. Member countries are to date Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Coordinator:
Dr Michael A Kishimba,
Chemistry Department, Dar es Salaam University,
PO Box 35061, Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania.
e-mail: kishimba@chem.udsm.ac.tz
Telephone +255-22-2410500/8 ext 2113
Fax +255-22-2410038
NABSA
Network for Analytical and Bio-assay Services in Africa
http://www.nabsaonline.org/
NABSA, founded in 1992, is a network of laboratories with the objective of "promoting closer cooperation among African scientists and institutions in order to reduce undue dependence on the North and to enhance the growth of science in Africa by mutual assistance, sharing and effective utilization of available facilities in the continent."
IFS and NABSA work together on the issue of maintaining proper function of scientific equipment.
To date, the network consists of the Chemistry departments at three (3) East African universities: Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, University of Nairobi, Kenya and University of Botswana. These NABSA-centers offer African scientists assistance with analytical and bioassay services, research visits, symposia, library search on natural products literature, etc.
Contact information can be found on the NABSA website: http://www.nabsaonline.org/
NAPRECA
Natural Products Research Network for Eastern and Central Africa
http://www.napreca.net/
NAPRECA was initiated in 1984. Among the founding African scientists were several IFS grantees. In 1987, NAPRECA became affiliated to UNESCO as one of UNESCO's network programmes. IFS continues to provide funding for specific projects.
NAPRECA members are mainly chemists, but also biologists and pharmacologists, working on the chemistry, botany, biological activities and economic exploitation of natural products. The NAPRECA headquarters is located in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and there are local branches in nine (9) countries (Botswana, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe).
Contact information can be found on the NAPRECA website: http://www.napreca.net/
NITUB
Network of Instrument Technical Personnel and User Scientists of Bangladesh
http://www.nitub.org/
NITUB was formed in 1994 with seed money from IFS. The main objective of NITUB is to improve the competence of scientists and technical personnel to operate, maintain, and repair scientific instruments. NITUB maintains an inventory of scientific instruments at Bangladeshi institutions, and aims to create a stock of spare parts.
For more information, contact the NITUB Secretariat and the General Secretary
of NITUB Prof Altaf Hussain at the Department of Chemistry, University of
Dhaka, Bangladesh
e-mail: nitub@bangla.net
Telephone: +880-2-505846
Fax:+880-2-865583
NITUN
Network of Instrument Technical Personnel and User Scientists of Nepal
NITUN was initiated in 1995 with support from NITUB (see above) and IFS.
Contact person:
Dr Mangala Manandhar,
Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University,
Kirtipur, Kathmandu
e-mail: K_mani@npl.healthnet.corg
Telephone: +977-2-13277/137
Fax: +977-1-226964/225446
NUSESA
Network of Users of Scientific Equipment in Southern and Eastern Africa
NUSESA was initiated in 1989 with the aim to provide a forum for information and discussion on issues related to the purchase, use, and maintenance of scientific equipment in southern Africa. IFS passed on the co-ordination and administration of NUSESA activities when the NUSESA Secretariat was established in 1996 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Since NUSESA has secured funding from government agencies, IFS-NUSESA joint collaboration has evolved to policy-making and consultation.
Local NUSESA chapters have been set up in 16 countries (Botswana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia & Zimbabwe).
The NUSESA Secretariat is located at University of Western Cape in South
Africa.
Contact person:
Dzengo Mzengeza
NUSESA Secretariat
PO Box 255
Kasselsvei 7533
Republic of South Africa
email: info@nusesa.org
Telephone: +27-11-9592474
Fax: +27-11-9592266
WANNPRES
Western Africa Network of Natural Products Research Scientists
WANNPRES was established in 2002 by COSTED (Committee on Science and Technology in Developing Countries) on the initiative of a group of scientists from universities and research institutes in West Africa. The objective with WANNPRES activities is to enhance research and capacity building in the conservation and effective use of natural resources in Africa. IFS involvement dates back to the founding assembly.
The WANNPRES Secretariat is located at the Department of Chemistry at the
University of Ghana.
Contact person:
Prof Marian E Addy
Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana,
PO Box LG 448, Legon,
Ghana
e-mail: costed@ghana.com or wannpres@ug.edu.gh
Telephone: +233-21-511380 or +233-20-813-5867
Fax: +233-21-512063
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