Ethiopian American Foundation (EAF)
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IN ETHIOPIA:

An interdisciplinary conference on natural resources, agriculture, human resources, institutional & economic development and reform issues

Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA

August 16 -18, 2001

http://www.wmich.edu/hcenter/ethiopiaconference.html

Preliminary Conference Program

 

2302/4 Sangren Hall

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.A.

 

SCHEDULE OF SESSIONS (Tentative)

(Registration 8:00- 5:00 P.M)

 

DAY 1: (Thursday, August 16):

AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, & FOOD SECURITY

Welcoming & Opening Remarks (8:15 –8: 30 A.M)

 

Thursday, August 16

SESSION 1: Natural Resource Management I (8:30- 10:30 A.M)

Chair: Ahmed Hussen, Professor of Economics, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI.

"Soil and Water Resource Degradation factors affecting Productivity in the Ethiopian Highland Agro-ecosystems" Paulos Dubale, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization-EARO, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

"Deforestation and Land Degradation in Ethiopian Highlands: A Strategy of Physical Recovery", Badege Bishaw, Oregon State University, Oregon, USA.

"Comparative Study of Cyanobacteria of Desert and Semi-desert Crusts of two continents: Africa (Ethiopia) and North America (U.S.A)" Melaku Mesfin & Jeffery Johansen, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio, USA.

"Deforestation, Wood Famine, and Environmental Degradation in highland ecosystems of Ethiopia: urgent need for actions" Demel Teketay, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

"Environmental Degradation and Conflict in Borkena area, Shewa"

Berhanu G. Balcha, Aalborg University, Denmark

Discussants: Demel Teketel

Ahmed Hussen

Coffee Break: 10:30 –10:45 P.M.

 

 

Thursday, August 16

SESSION 2: Natural Resource Management II (10:45 –12:45 P.M)

Chair: Rashid Hassan, Professor of Agricultural & Environmental Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa

"Determinants of Farmer Perception of the Severity and Yield Impact of Soil Erosion: Evidence from Northern Ethiopia" Berhanu Gebremedhin, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, & Scott Swinton Michigan State University.

Decision making on manure use and fallowing as a soil fertility maintenance technique in the Northern Highlands of Ethiopia: The case of Ankobar District" Senait Regassa and Werner Doppler University of Hohenheim, Germany.

"Community Resource Management: The Case of Grazing Lands in Northern Ethiopia", Berhanu Gebremedhin, ILRI, John Pender, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington D.C (IFPRI), and Girmay Tesfay, Makelle University, Ethiopia.

"Pastoralism under pressure: The transformation of Karrayu Society in Eastern Ethiopia", Ayalew Gebre, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, Netherlands.

"An economic analyis of agricultural solid waste management in Eldoret city, Kenya, East Africa", Timothy Sulo, H.K Maritim, and I.K. Rop, Moi University, Kenya.

"Technological Innovation and Managing Veristol Resources in the highlands of Ethiopia", Gezahegn Ayele, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Discussants: Suresh Babu, IFPRI,

Rashid Hassan, University of Pretoria

 

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1:00 – 2:15 P.M: Lunch Break

Keynote Lecture :" The State of Agricultural Research in Sub-saharan Africa:

Implications for Ethiopia" Gebisa Ejeta , Professor of Agronomy, Purdue University.

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Thursday, August 16

SESSION 3: Agricultural Technology & Markets ( 2:30-4:30 P.M)

Chair, Eleni Gabre-Madhin, Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington D.C.

"Modeling Peasant Agricultural Production" Abrar Suleiman, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia & The University of Nothingham, England.

"Differential Adoption of Technologies and its implications for policy choice between equity and growth" Beyene Tadesse, University of Hoheneim, Germany.

"Of Markets and Middlemen: Transforming Agricultural Markets in Ethiopia" Eleni Z. Gabre-Madhin, IFPRI, Washington D.C.

"Financing small farmer development in Ethiopia" Hailelul Getahun, Hermitage, TN.

"Smallholder coffee production and marketing in Ethiopia under market liberalization:

A case study" Hayyalu Shiferaw, Institute of Social Studies, The Netherlands.

Discussants: Bedassa Tadesse, WMU. Eleni G. Madhin, IFPRI

Coffee Break: 4:30 – 4:45 P.M

 

Thursday, August 16

SESSION 4: Agriculture and Food Security (4:45-6:45 P.M)

Chair: Tesfaye Teklu, Adjunct Professor of Economics, Western Michigan University

"Food Security and Vulnerability in Rural Ethiopia" Alemayehu Lirenso, University of Phoenix, Northern California Campus, California, USA.

"Causes of Food Security in Oromiya Zone of Amhara Regional State: Farmer’s View" Degefa Tolossa, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway.

"Giving to the poor? Targeting of Food aid in rural Ethiopia", T.S. Jayne, John Strauss, Takashi Yamano, & Daniel Molla, Michigan State University..

"The Effects of food aid and household composition in Child farm labor supply in rural Ethiopia" Takashi Yamano, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.

Discussants: Imru Assefa, Tesfaye Teklu

DINNER (7 00 – 8:15 P.M)

 

Thursday, August 16

SESSION 5: Roundtable: Key Research Issues in Natural Resources & Agriculture (8:30-10:00 P.M)

Chair: Gebisa Ejeta, Professor of Agronomy, Purdue University

Tesfaye Zegeye, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO)

Eleni Gabre-Medhin, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Paulos Dubale, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization

Badege Bishaw, Oregon State University

Rashid Hassan, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Suresh Babu, International Food Policy Research Institute

Tesfaye Teklu, Western Michigan University

Demel Teketay, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization

Berhanu G.Medhin, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Senait Regassa, University of Hoheneim, Germany

Reporters: Sisay Asefa, Bedassa Tadesse, Western Michigan University

 

DAY 2 : Friday, August 17

Human Resources, Economic Development & Technology Issues

 

SESSION 6: Human Resource Development I: Education & Population (8:30-10:30 A.M)

Chair: Teshome Wagaw, Professor of Higher Education, The University of Michigan

" Women’s Education in Ethiopia" Alem Habtu, Queens College, CUNY, NY.

"Human Resource Investment Strategies in Japan and Ethiopia: A Comparative Perspective" Getachew Felleke, Miyazaki International College, Miyazaki, Japan.

"Determinants of Fertility and Population in Ethiopia" Bedassa Tadesse and Sisay Asefa, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI.

"Participation of Ethiopian Women in Education and Development", Sewnet Mamo, Universitaet Klagenfurt, Institut fur Social Psycholgie, Austria.

"The Impact of Ethnic Divide, Language, and Education Policies on the Development of Contemporary Ethiopia" Teshome Wagaw, The University of Michigan.

"Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s Leaders: Are we Neglecting the Agents of Change?"

Asegedech Hailemariam, Eastern Illinois University

Discussants: Assegedech Hailemariam, Ayalew Kanno

Coffee Break: 10:30 –10:45

 

Friday, August 17

SESSION 7: Human Resource Development II: Education & Health Issues: (10:45-12:45 P.M.)

Chair, Tsehai G.Tsadik, RN. Veteran’s Administration Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan

"Social Sector Development in Ethiopia: Education and Health Issues" Meskerem Shiferaw, Ethiopian Social Relief and Development Fund, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

" Health and Sanitation in Gondar: The History of the Public Health and Training Center, 1950-90" Solomon Getahun, Michigan State University

" Obstacles, Controversies, and Prospects Surrounding Child Abuse Management in Addis Ababa" Getnet Tadele, Amsterdam School of Social Science Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

"Promoting Child Protection through Community resources: Care Arrangements for Ethiopian Aid Orphans" Steven Varnis, Kalamazoo Community Mental Health Services.

"HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia: The Epidemic and Social, Economic and Demographic Impacts"

Helmut Kloos, University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.

Discussants: Carl Robson, G.M. Mesfin, Pharmacia, Jember Bekele, The University of Michigan Medical Center.

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Lunch Break: 1:00 – 2:15 P.M

Keynote Lunch Address: "Financial Sector Reforms in Emerging African Economies: Lessons for Ethiopia" (Lemma W. Senbet, William Meyer Professor of Finance, The University of Maryland-College Park)

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Friday, August 17

SESSION 8: Private Sector Development & Economic Reform (2:30-4:30 P.M.)

Chair: Asrat Tessema, Professor of Finance, Eastern Michigan University

"The Macroeconomics of Foreign Aid to Ethiopia: Internal Balance and Fiscal Response-An Alternative Framework" Getnet Alemu, Institute of Social Studies, The Netherlands.

"Economic Reforms and Structural Change in Ethiopia since 1991: An Enquiry"

Prabhakar Reddy Tada, National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderbad, India.

"Exports, Liberalization and Economic Growth in Sub-saharan Africa" Seid Hassan, Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky.

"Foreign Direct Investment in Africa: Implications for Ethiopia" Adugna Lemi & Sisay Asefa, Western Michigan University

"The Impact of Globalization on the Sustainable Development of African Economies" Livingstone Musoro, Africa University, Zimbabwe.

Discussants: Michael Mamo, Selashe Kebede, Asrat Tessema

Coffee Break: 4:30-4:45 P.M.

 

Friday, August 17

SESSION 9: Technology for Development : (4:45-6:45 P.M.)

Chair: Amde Amde, Professor of Civil Engineering,University of Maryland-College Park

"The Impact of Government Policies on the Development of ITC in Ethiopia" Dawit Bekele, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

"Distance Education Initiatives for Ethiopia" Abebe Kebede, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC.

"Distributed Energy Generation Technology for Developing Countries" Yared Mengistu, General Motors Powertrain, Wixom, Michigan & Ms.Haeran Fisseha, Netfish Corporation, Santa Clara, California.

"Expanding Ethiopian Telecommunication Services" Besrat Shewangizaw, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

"Possibilities and Constraints for Small Hydropower Development in Ethiopia" Zelalem Hailu, Dresden University of Technology, Germany.

Discussants: Abraham Engeda, Michigan State University

Amde Amde, University of Maryland

 

Dinner & Social Gathering with Ethiopian Food (7:00-11:00 P.M)

 

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DAY 3: Saturday, August 18

THE INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT: Challenges & Opportunities

(Registration 9:00 –5:00 P.M.)

SESSION 10: Institutions, Organizations, & Civil Society (10:00 – 12:30P.M)

Chair: Teshome Abebe, Professor of Economics, Eastern Illinois University

"From Marxism-Leninism to Ethnicity: The Sideslips of Ethiopian Elitism"

Messay Kebede, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH.

"Beaurocratic Neutrality and Ethnic Federalism: Implications for Ethiopia"

Berhanu Mengistu & Elizabeth Vogel, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA.

"NGO-Government Relations in Ethiopia: Challenges and Opportunities" Kebede Asrat, Christian Relief and Development Association (CRRDA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

"An Alternative Approach to National Development" Daniel Kendie, Henderson University, Arkansas.

"Improving Aid to Africa" Paul Clemens, Western Michigan University

Discussants: Sisay Asefa, Hailu Abatena, Teshome Tadesse, Teshome Abebe

Lunch Break: 12:30 - 2:00 P.M

  

Saturday, August 18

SESSION 11: The State of the Ethiopian State: (2:00-5:00 P.M)

Chair: Assefa Mehretu, Professor of Geography, Michigan State University

"Nationalism as a Contingent Event: Some Reflections on the Ethio-Eriterean Experience" Mesfin Araya, CUNY, New York.

"Reflections on Development in Ethiopia" Paul Henze, The Rand Corporation, Washington D.C.

"The EPRDF and the Crisis of the Ethiopian State" Aregawi Berhe, African Studies Centre, Leiden University.

"The elite and the quest for peace, democracy, and development in Ethiopia: Lessons to be learnt", Merrera Gudina, Addis Ababa University & Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, Netherlands.

"Ethiopia, the TPLF and Roots of the 2001 Political Tremor" Paulos Milkias, Concordia University

"Recent Macroeconomic Performance: Implications for Agricultural Sector" Alemayehu Geda, The Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research, Nairobi, Kenya. (presented by Tesfaye Teklu, Western Michigan University)

Discussants: Paul Henze, Harold Marcus, Daniel Teferra, Getachew Begashaw, Seid Hassan

Coffee Break (5:00-5:15 P.M)

 

Saturday, August 18

SESSION 12: Roundtable:"The Diaspora and the Development of Ethiopia: Challenges & Opportunities for the 21st Century" ( 5:30 –7:30 P.M)

Chair: Sisay Asefa, Western Michigan University

"The Ethiopian Diaspora: A Preliminary Survey" Solomon Getahun, Michigan State University

The Ethiopian Scientific Society, Amde Amde, University of Maryland-College Park

Addis Ababa University International Alumni Network, Abebe Kebede, Coordinator

Association for Higher Education and Development (AHEAD), Temesghen Hailu, President

Ethiopian American Foundation (EAF), Assefa Mehretu, Executive Director

Ethiopian Community of Chicago (ECC), Yitayih Zelalem, President

Addis Tewlid Ethiopian Magazine, Yared Mussie, Editor-In-Chief

Discussants: Aynalem Tebeje, AHEAD, Wongelawit Teferra, Pfizer

Raporteurs: Wongelawit Tefera, Yohannes Abebe

 

Conference Banquet Dinner & Music Entertainment at the Radisson Hotel/Kalamazoo Center (8:00 –2:00 P.M)

 

A Summary of Daily Schedule (tentative)

 

DAY 1 (Thursday, August 16)

8:00-5:00 P.M Registration

8:15-8:30 A.M: Welcoming & Opening Remarks

8:30 – 10:30 A.M. Session 1: Natural Resource Management I

10:30-10:45 A.M. Morning Coffee Break

10:45 – 12:45 P.M. Session 2: Natural Resource Management II

1:00 – 2:15 P.M. Keynote Lunch address: "The State of Agricultural Research in Sub-saharan Africa: Implications for Ethiopia"

2:30 –4:30 P.M. Session 3: Agricultural Technology and Markets

4:30 –4:45 P.M. Afternoon Coffee Break

4:45 –6:45 P.M . Session 4: Agriculture and Food Security

7:00 – 8:15 P.M. Dinner

8:30- 10:00 P.M. Session 5: Roundtable: Key Research Issues in Natural Resources & Agriculture

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DAY 2: Friday, August 17

8:00-5:00 P.M. Registration

8:30 –10:30 A.M. Session 6: Human Resource Development I: Education, gender & population issues

10:30-10:45 A.M. Morning Coffee Break

10:45 –12:45 P.M. Session 7: Human Resource Development II: Health & Education

1:00 – 2:15 P.M. Keynote lunch address: "Financial Sector Reforms in Emerging African Economies: Lessons for Ethiopia"

2:30 – 4:30 P.M. Session 8: Private Sector Economic Development & Reform

4:30 –4:45 P.M. Afternoon Coffee Break

4:45 –6:45 P.M. Session 9: Technology for Development

7:00 – 11:00 P.M. Dinner/Social Gathering with Ethiopian Food

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DAY 3: Saturday, August 18

9:00 – 5:00 P.M. Registration

10:00 –12:30 P.M: Session 10: Institutions, Organizations & Civil Society

12:30 –2:00 P.M: Lunch Break

2:00 –5:00 P.M: Session 11: The State of the Ethiopian State

5:00 –5:15 P.M. Coffee Break

5:30 –7:30 P.M. Roundtable: The Diaspora and the Development of Ethiopia: Challenges & Opportunities

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8:00 – 2:00 P.M. Conference Banquet & Music Entertainment

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