Technology and International Development

Program Description

The mission of the Technology and International Development Program is to encourage the participation of University of Victoria faculty in international development projects dealing with global issues of governance, security and sustainability, and to provide technical services and assistance to members of the University community engaged in the implementation of international development projects.

Southern Oceans Education and Development Project (SOED)

Technology and International Development is the lead organization in a tri-lateral community development project which improves the capacity of Mozambique to educate and promote marine sciences. This project is in partnership with Eduardo Mondlane University (Mozambique), Ministry of Fisheries (Mozambique), Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil), and State Extension Agency EPAGRI (Brazil).

Go to the SOED website

Coastal Community Development in Northeastern Brazil - Gente da Mar

This project is a partnership of the World Fisheries Trust (WFT) (Canada), Special Secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Brazil), State Extension Agency, Bahia Pesca (Brazil), Federal University of Bahia (Brazil), Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, (Brazil), Larvi Aquaculture Ltda. (Brazil), Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil), Vancouver Island University, and the University of Manitoba. The Coastal Community Development in Northeastern Brazil – Gente da Mar endeavour is a bilateral cooperation project between Brazil and Canada that will contribute significantly to the construction of better living conditions, working opportunities, health, and equity for the least privileged in small coastal communities of northeastern Brazil. This is being accomplished by introducing clam, oyster, and mussel (bivalve) mariculture which also improves sustainability of local resources. The bilateral cooperation permits the transfer of Canadian technology and know-how on the community-based culture of clams and oysters, community co-management of clam and oyster fisheries resources, and processing and depuration procedures to ensure healthy and safe products for consumption and sale. The project has strong environmental and socio-economic implications, as it builds income-generating opportunities in isolated coastal communities where other opportunities are very few.

Brazilian Mariculture Linkage Program

The BMLP, supported by a Tier One grant from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), is assisting Brazilian coastal communities through a program of university capacity building, extension training and community participation in marine aquaculture. Mariculture programs have been developed at five Brazilian universities in partnership with three Canadian Universities. Community mariculture activities combined with environmental protection, sanitation and public health programs are resulting in sustainable socio-economic improvements in artisanal fishing villages.

Go to the Brazilian Mariculture Linkage Program website

Building Capacity to Manage Aquaculture in Thailand

This program, established as CIDA Tier Two project in 2001, is a collaboration of the University of Victoria Department of Geography and the University of Burapha, Thailand. A major goal of the project is to enhance local expertise in aquaculture site evaluation, planning and monitoring. Institutional capacity building will target the identified critical human resource needs in the areas of environmental impact assessment, geomatics (GIS and remote sensing), and social impact assessment. Community awareness and needs assessment activities will be undertaken to help facilitate the involvement of local stakeholders in the management of coastal aquaculture.

Go to the Building Capacity to Manage Aquaculture in Thailand website