Regional research on mitigation of global environmental change syndromes in West Africa and Chad. Links between health and in-creasing density of syndromes in urban and peri-urban areas.

Since 1994, the Swiss Tropical Institute (STI) - in collaboration with many local partner organisations has undertaken studies in Ouagadougou, Nouakchott and N'djamena aiming at introducing and validating new approaches in research on the interactions between the environment and the population undergoing urbanization. These studies (supported by the Special Programme "Environment and Development" of the Swiss National Science Foundation ) generated the basis for a more comprehensive understanding of urbanization and the development of long-term programme on "North-South: mitigating syndromes of global change", to start in 2002. This programme will consider the following dimensions: (1) The process of urbanisation is not only reflected in mega-cities but produces a range of different types of towns that are interrelated by a multitude of economic, social and political processes. (2) In developing countries small-scale urban agriculture is becoming more important in securing food for the urban poor. Against this background, there is a broad range of problems related to resource use, infrastructure and health, as well as in corresponding conflicts. (3) The focus on urban poverty and related problems has shifted to a perspective that focuses on the strategies, needs and vulnerability of the urban poor, including a special focus on women and children. (author's abstract)