International symposium: “Water and sustainable development: actors, challenges and international cooperation”

The results of different research studies carried out at the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, and in different countries (North Africa, Subsaharian Africa,and also in the countryside just inland from Nice), prompt to compare the different approaches relating to the hydraulic question with a special attention to the social and institutional changes which affect our societies. This is why the contributions to this symposium are likely to propose models of management where the ecological, socio-economical and political factors are taken in their closest interaction, warranting a good and sustainable management of this resource.

The workshops of this symposium will deal with the different aspects of this question.

AXIS 1 - WATER RESOURCES AND CHALLENGES OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND
􀀹 What are the water resources of the Mediterranean countries? Are we moving towards a predictable catastrophe? Quantitative data and qualitative approaches of scarcity

􀀹 Water appropriation and conflict : the different local and national strategies for production and reproduction of the territory.

WORKSHOP 2 – THE USE OF WATER: AGRICULTURAL HYDRAULICS AND URBAN HYDRAULICS
􀀹 Irrigated agriculture: dynamics and institutional problems? What future for the hydraulic societies against the population growth, increased scarcity of the resources and desertification?
􀀹 Access to drinking water and drainage by the disadvantaged population: experiences and projects.
􀀹 From water right to right for water : semantic shift or source of a new social and political conflict?

WORKSHOP 3 – TRAINING AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
􀀹 Aid and cooperation for water: evaluation, training and achievements.
􀀹 Role of the NGOs in the politics of training and support of the migrants and local actors of water.

This symposium is under the scientific direction of Jean Yves Boursier and Toufik Ftaïta, teachers and researchers in ethnology at the Nice Sophia Antipolis University, and members of the laboratory: CIRCLES EA 3159 : « Centre Interdisciplinaire, Récits, Cultures, Langues et Sociétés »

An abstract of 1500 characters including spaces presenting your paper should be sent by email for evaluation by the scientific committee before august 15, 2007. The participants will receive written notification and the modalities for expense payments.

Participation to this symposium is free, but prior registration is necessary to allow the organiser a better assistance to the participants (transportation, lodging and catering).

Registration Form