Europe and east Africa: towards regional integration
In order to accelerate the development of areas lying across political borders in east Africa, one EU-funded project aimed at boosting cooperation with research partners beyond the region. The 'Cooperative research on east African territorial integration within globalisation' (Creating) project set out to improve research capacity and develop productive engagement among researchers in Europe and east Africa. Aimed at contributing to the greater goal of regional integration, researchers from four research institutions in Europe and one in east Africa came together to boost related activities and training in the two research communities. By focusing on resources spanning a number of eastern African political units, the Creating project also furthered public understanding of various challenges for regional integration. Activities were organised around four themes in a cross-border context: resource management and livelihood sustainability, environmental and climate change, migration and identity, and the role of small and medium cities. The networks focused on issues of development, especially in mountainous and lake land areas. All participating institutions have lengthy experience in research and higher education in the region; they were committed to joining forces to promote research, furthering understanding of the challenges of cohesion and proving the potential positive results through cooperation. The Creating project partners offered a new way of considering existing challenges and difficulties, and worked to create, develop and strengthen a social sciences and humanities research network. Activities also served to promote the aims of the Seventh Framework Programme in eastern Africa and helped identify priority areas for subsequent research that will benefit both world regions.
