DAAD funded Alumni Programme in Mexico "Agroforestry as public policy for biodiversity conservation and food sovereignty"

Project Description

The initiative includes two alumni seminars to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration. The first alumni seminar, scheduled for August 2024 and hosted by Dr. Víctor Daniel Ávila Akerberg working for the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMex) and COMECyT, will bring together scientists and practitioners from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, along with federal government staff and NGOs. Through plenary talks, oral contributions, thematic excursions, and workshops, participants will discuss experiences and evidence regarding the application of agroforestry as a public policy for promoting biodiversity conservation and food sovereignty. The seminar will include a thematic excursion to observe projects under the "Sembrando Vida" agroforestry program in Puebla and Veracruz, allowing participants to assess progress, identify areas for improvement, and share knowledge with countries in Central America and the Caribbean, where the program is also being implemented. Expert panels and workshops led by Germany-Alumni specializing in relevant disciplines will enrich the discussions and facilitate long-term networking.

The second alumni seminar, hosted by Dr. Thorsten Krömer, Dra. Rosaura Citlalli López Binnqüist and Dr. Jorge Antonio Gómez Díaz from the Universidad Veracruzana (UV) in March 2025, will have a specific focus on biodiversity conservation and social-environmental studies in Mesoamerica. The seminar will feature plenary talks, thematic excursions, and a joint writing workshop aimed at strengthening collaboration and networking among scientists and practicioners. Early career researchers (with interest in working in Mexico) will be invited to participate in proposal writing related to biodiversity conservation, agroecology, agroforestry, and food sovereignty. Expert panels comprising leaders and renowned speakers from relevant disciplines will provide a platform for in depth discussions and further enhance the proposal and policy brief writing process.

Both alumni seminars will be complemented by a series of virtual exchanges, including online talks and short workshops organized by the partner institutions between June 2024 and October 2025. These virtual sessions will offer a regular meeting point to introduce the participants to the project, and involve them actively with their topics and interests in international collaboration. Participants will receive guidance on proposal and policy brief writing, funding pportunities, FAIR data management planning, and publishing. This virtual exchange will also facilitate the agenda planning and administrative preparation of the seminars in 2024 and 2025.