Americas

Uruguay

• Development of a Training Program in Sustainable Agriculture
• Sustainability of Uruguay's Coastal Zone

Sustainability of Uruguay's Coastal Zone

Project purpose: The project aims to enhance the capacity of the Universidad de la República to support Uruguay's efforts to effectively manage its coastal areas through the development of a graduate program in integrated coastal zone management and through the enhancement of its abilities to work with government, communities and other stakeholders involved in addressing coastal zone management issues.

Key results to date: A plan to create a master of integrated coastal management was unveiled in 2006 at a two-day conference in Montevideo involving more than 100 people. A web-based discussion site was set up to facilitate discussions leading up to a curriculum-development workshop in June 2006. The participation by representatives from four universities in three neighbouring countries in these preliminary discussions augured well for the regional aspects of this initiative. The project team developed a process to engage individuals in six Uruguayan coastal communities and harness their coordinating and facilitating capacities on an ongoing basis. The master's program was launched in August 2007; this involved three workshops and a visit to Halifax by 10 Uruguayans, which gave Canadians and Uruguayans the opportunity to discuss many different matters related to the finalization of the curriculum.

Development of a Training Program in Sustainable Agriculture

Project purpose: The project aimed to strengthen the capacity of Colombia's Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander (UFPS) to develop new courses in sustainable agriculture and rural development that address the issues facing rural farmers. The project also sought to strengthen the capacity of the Universidad de la República in Uruguay in sustainable agriculture and rural development.

Key results to date: Curricula for the one-year specialization program in sustainable agriculture and the five-year agro-environmental engineering program have been developed. In May 2002, the accreditation board for university programs in Colombia approved the one-year specialization program with courses beginning that September. Faculty training and improved library resources at partner universities in Colombia and Uruguay support the improved capacity of both universities to deliver courses in sustainable and organic agriculture. Two students from Uruguay have completed their master's studies at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. Improved South-South cooperation in sustainable agriculture has resulted as faculty members from universities in Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil participated in workshops and peer review of the newly developed specialization program at the lead Colombian university.