Transcript Some Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights

Indigenous Knowledge in
Tanzania: An Overview
G.S. Shemdoe
Centre for the Development and
Transfer of Technology
COSTECH
E.Mail:
[email protected]
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Outline
1. Tanzania & Importance of IK
2. Initiatives to Promote IK
3. Case Studies
4. The Way forward
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TANZANIA
Location: in EA, between
- Longitude 290 and 410 East
- Latitude 10 and 120 South
Area: 945,000 km2
-Water: 62,000 km2
-Forest &Woodlands: 3,350 km2
Population: 34.5 million people
(2002)
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How Important is IK for Tanzania
Basis of life for farmers (agr.),
pastoralists (ethnovet.) and
currently of interest to
scientists/researchers
Backbone for diversity and food
security (nat.resource mngt.)
Main source for rural people to
ensure their livelihood
Primary health care
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Illustrations
Very few Uni. Trained medical doctors
(4per 100,000 patients) about 70,000
traditional healers who offers first line
defense for poor who are the majority
Tanzania, among the 3 countries with
largest herd of traditional livestockPastoralist possess a wealth of IK
assisting survival of the livestock
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Illustrations
Local seed varieties and the farmers’
knowledge on how to produce them are
the main source of food security in
rural areas
Arts, crafts & related aspects
Building & construction skills
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Initiatives to Promote IK in
Tanzania
National Policies
Workshops &Conferences
Tanzania Indigenous Knowledge
Database
Launching of a WB Publication on IK:
Local pathway to Global Development
FAO-LinKS Project
Formation of LINKS TRUST FUND
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Initiatives to Promote IK in
Tanzania
National Policies
• Agriculture and Livestock Policy (agroproduction, food security, water
conservation)
• Health policy (recognizes traditional
healers &birth attendants- Act. No 23 of
2002 on traditional medicines –
encourages the improvement of
traditional medicine use & control)
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Initiatives to Promote IK in
Tanzania
S&T Policy (addresses the
conservation of indigenous plants and
animals in land and sea )
Forest policy (need for traditional
healers to harvest medicinal plants in a
sustainable manner)
Environment policy (recognizes best
local practices on land utilization and
conservation)
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Initiatives to Promote IK in
Tanzania
Workshop & Conferences
• The Morogoro Workshop in 1994
• The Bagamoyo Conference in 2001
• The First Dar es Salaam Workshop in
2003
• The Second Dar es Salaam Workshop
in 2004
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Initiatives to Promote IK in
Tanzania
Outcome of the four workshops
- Realization and a common
understanding on approaches for
mainstreaming IK initiated
- Including use of professional
associations to advocate for IK.
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Initiatives to Promote IK in
Tanzania
E.g. The Bagamoyo Conference
addressed the possibilities of
– Establishing national networks and
– Creation of a platform within the
country to share ideas and
information on IK.
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Initiatives to Promote IK in
Tanzania
The
Tanzania
Database
Indigenous
Knowledge
– Part of the Tanzania Development Gateway
(www.tanzaniagateway.org)
– Provides and promotes on-line networking,
sharing, exchange and dissemination of
knowledge,
ideas
and
information
on
development matters
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Initiatives to Promote IK in
Tanzania
The Tanzania Indigenous Knowledge
Database
• The services provided:
-IK practices/cases in Tanzania
-IK publications
-Links to other relevant IK resources
-Online contributions.
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Initiatives to Promote IK in
Tanzania
Launching of WB Publication on
IK: Local Pathway to Global
development
• In 2004 His Excellency Benjamin
Mkapa, President of URT launched a
WB sponsored IK Book in Dar es
Salaam
• The launching created a lot of
awareness on IK issues
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Initiatives to Promote IK in
Tanzania
 FAO-LinKS Project
• Capacity building:
->400 researchers and extension officers trained.
-A module on L /IK, gender and biodiversity is
developed for Sokoine University of Agriculture
(SUA)
• Research:
-16 research studies, focusing on LK, seed systems
and animal genetic resources undertaken
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Initiatives to Promote IK in
Tanzania
FAO-LinKS Project
• Advocacy:
-Awareness was raised about L/IK in
numerous seminars
-A series of workshops and meetings were
held to support the creation of the TRUST
Fund
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LINKS Trust Fund
A core group including members
from TFNC, COSTECH, NIMR,
NEMC, UDSM and FAO-Links
project spearheaded the est. of the
Trust Fund
TF is in the final stages of
registration
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LINKS Trust Fund Goal
“To be a leading forum for advocating,
promoting and networking of L/IKS to
ensure continuous use and
sustainability for social economic
development”
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LINKS Trust Fund Objectives
General Objective
• To recognize and protect L/IKS as part of
general knowledge
Specific objectives
• To advocate and promote the formulation
and implementation of knowledge system
policies and IPR mechanisms
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LINKS Trust Fund Objectives
• To facilitate development of capacities to
address L/IK issues at various levels
• To ensure that the TF and L/IK is managed
in a sustainable way
• To promote collaboration and networking
locally, regionally and internationally with
partners dealing with L/IKS
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Composition of the Trustee
 Government Ministries (2)
 University(1)
 Governmental Institutions(2)
 Prominent individual with interest in L/IKS(1)
 Traditional practitioner(1)
 Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry
&Agriculture (TCCIA)(1)
 Nat. Social Security Fund (NSSF)(1)
 Individual from Zanzibar with interest in
L/IKS(1)
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Case Studies
Health sector – Tanga Aids Working
Group
Livestock sector – Ethno-veterinary
Development Programme in SimanjiroArusha
Seed
management
–Southern
Highlands
Livestock management
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Case Study 1
Tanga Aids Working Group
• An interdisciplinary NGO
• Treating
HIV/AIDS
patients
using
traditional plants
• Traditional healers working in
collaboration with government hospital
This case will be fully presented on 29th
March 2005
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Case Study 2
 Ethno-veterinary Development Programme in
Simanjiro-Arusha
• Study carried out in 20 villages documented 81
diseases recognized by the Maasai in 3 languages
(Maasai, Kiswahili & English)
• 96 plants identified for Maasai ethno-veterinary
 Objectives of the programme
• To elicit and document traditional veterinary
practices and disease coping strategies
• To support continued use of traditional practices
• Support instititutional capacity building
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Case Study 3
 Seed Management
•
Rural seed fairs
-Objectives
 Create awareness, accessibility of alternative
seeds for research inst. Seed companies and
farmers
 Complement formal and local seed systems
 Improve supply of seeds of preferred
varieties to farmers
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Case Study 3 (Contd.)
LK on use and propagation of local
varieties
• Local criteria used for variety selection
• Motivations for their growth
• Available local varieties from the informal seed
system
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Case Study 4
 L K in management of Livestock among
Pastoralists (Maasai) in Tanzania
 On-going FAO LinKS funded project in
collaboration with partner institutions
 LK used by Maasai for Breeding and Selection of
indigenous livestock in Simanjiro and Mbarali
district
 Changes in LK due to migration, and roles and
responsibilities by age and gender studied also.
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The Way Forward
Ensure smooth take off of the Trust
Fund
TF to take up and carry out activities
and utilize the capacity built by the
FAO-Links project
Utilize the knowledge imparted through
this training to incorporate IK in the
undertakings of the participants
Ensuring a good network among the
participants for information sharing
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Thank you
Asanteni Sana
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