| NEW Conference
:
October 11-13,2010 Luxor, Egypt. |
I. VERVIEW
Egypt
is currently facing a number of problems that hinder its economic and social
development. The major problem is the rapid population increase that outpaces
growth rates attempted under various development plans and efforts. The
concentration of an overall population which is estimated today at over 66
million, in the narrow strip of the Nile valley the Delta makes Egypt one of the
most densely populated areas in the world. Coupled with this is the considerably
limited size of the cultivated land in Egypt.
Rapid urbanization and Desertification
have together eroded the size of the agricultural land in Egypt, for which
efforts of land reclamation can only marginally compensate.
Furthermore,
programs to safeguard the environment are compatible with the boarder national
objective of achieving better standards of living for present and future
generations, and represent an investment in human capital that offsets
government expenditures on treatment of illnesses caused by a polluted
surrounding environment.
Within
this context, there is a pressing need to identify the factors that adversely
affect Social and Industerial agricultural
development in Egypt. Efforts
and resources should be directed towards
implementing comprehensive and sustainable
development projects in the desert regions and border governorates,
given their potential for land reclamation and absorbing increasingly urbanized
population.
Moreover,
the importance of agriculture as a prime factor reinforcing the settling and
establishment of communities and generating employment opportunities to meet
population increase cannot be overlooked. As such agricultural development and
land reclamation concerns should be at the core of all development efforts, if
the desired returns to the significant size
of investments, currently being channeled within the government's policy of
development of the South Valley, are to be achieved.
Recognizing
the important role of universities and academic institutions in forgoing
effective partnership with government agencies to address the different economic
and social problems, Assiut University has established a "Center for
Studies and Research for South Valley Development". The establishment
of this center is justified in view of the
need for long-term
planning of development programs. These
programs are commensurate with population growth rates expected over the coming five
decades, as well as commitment to improve the living conditions of the present
generation.
Furthermore, to ensure the role of Assiut
university in the development of South Egypt.
II.
OBJECTIVES OF THE CENTER
The Center represents a "think tank" or a forum for intellectuals and
academies engaged in active collaboration with the government and private ector
in planning and designing comprehensive and sustainable
development programs.
The Center will appraise national programs and projects
aimed at the evelopment of Southern Egypt, with emphasis on the national project
for the development of the New Valley, including the digging of a new canal, the
reclamation of over one million feddans and
concerned urbanization programs. The
Center will be involved in the design of the implementation process and put
forth solutions to foreseen risks and provide for corrective action to problems
encountered during implementation.
The C'enter will focus on human development initiatives, particularly in education, training and skills retraining, in order to enhance performance and to better cope with modern technology and adapt it to local needs and requirements.
•
The Center will also conduct studies and research to assess the impact of
deferent natural phenomena on the human habitat, including agricultural and
natural resources, and identify means to preserve these resources and deal with
adverse effects of such phenomena . Emphasis
will be placed on the identifying human activities with a negative impact on the
surrounding environment and monitoring their impact in an effort to control it.
•
Emphasis will be placed on activities and research relating to population
studies and urban planning,institutional and regulatory frameworks that
encourage migration to new cities and facilitate the social integration and
establishment of new communities.
•
Vice - President for Post-graduate Studies and Research - Vice-Chairman.
•
Vice - President for Community Services and Environmental affairs.
•
Director of the Center.
•
Three members, -who may be key person
nominated on an individual
basis or representatives
of their
respective organizations dealing with south Egypt's Developments.
•
Four from the university of staff members with good experience in the
Development of South Egypt.
The
council will meet at least once every three months and its main responsibilities
will be:
1.
To develop the overall strategy and framework for project implementation.
2.
Follow-up on project implementation.
3.
Ensure smooth implementation of the project by taking corrected action - as
required.
4.
Approve regular and annual progress monitoring and evaluation reports presented
by the different research teams.
5.
Develop the remuneration structure for the committee members and the research
teams.
6.Approve disbursements as per expenditures presented by the Principal investigator, in accordance with the agreed upon budget items.
7.
Present proposals and suggestions concerning the Center structure and operation.
IV .
STRUCTURE OF THE CENTER
The Center will include the following units
* Natural resources unit
•
Water
•
Soil
•
Mineral resources
•
New and renewable energy
•
Biodiversity
* Human resources unit
•
Population studies
•
Education research
•
Training
•
Tourism
*
Health unit
•
Human health
•
Veterinary health
Environment unit
•
Environmental pollution and protection
•
Environmental hazards
* Land use and urban planning
unit
•
Land use
•
Urban planning
*Management information, documentation and
GIS
unit
•
Data bank/ Information technology and
management
•
GIS, documentation and publishing
* Economic, legal and legislation unit
•
Economic studies
•
Legal and legislation studies
Correspondance:
Center for Studies And Research for
South Valley Development
Assiut
University, Assiut, Eygpt
71515.
Fax :
088-312564
Tel :
088-323000. EX-415
"