On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Dr. Gloriose, an invited associate professor, will give a lecture at Hiroshima University. Title is "Environmental Justice and Women Empowerment in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda Case Study on Kitabi Women Handcrafts Cooperative".

Dr. Ebede Ndi, a native of Cameroon, will give a lecture at our center on the occasion of his stay in Japan. We look forward to welcoming those who are interested in doing business in Africa. ◆Title: How to win trust when doing business in Africa ◆Abstract: Africa has become an irreversible center for business opportunities in this century and the next. However, lack of trust, fear of the unknown and the related uncertainty to succeed in this new "gold rush" adventure still dominate the minds of many Asian business leaders. The shortage of proper equipment, training, and knowledge of African business culture prevents them from prioritizing their investment in this emerging large market. Regardless of your preferred business interests, building trust and overcoming psychological barrier is of paramount importance when doing business in Africa. This seminar will equip you with the required conceptual and practical tools and techniques in building trust with your African business partner when you finally decide to make a safe and profitable investment move. ◆Lecturer(Short Bio):Dr. Ebede Ndi is the founder of the Conceptual Institute, a think tank committed to doing research on African studies. He holds a Ph.D. in East-West psychology from the San Francisco-based California Institute of Integral Studies, where he taught courses on African-centered psychology and studies, research methods, and academic writing. In 2016, he moved to Taipei, Taiwan, where he now resides and where he gave workshops on cross-cultural communication at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, offered workshops at the National Taiwan Normal University, and taught courses on marketing, business English, and cross-cultural business communication at the National Taipei University of Technology. In January 2024, he was invited to offer a foundational workshop training at the Nanyang Technological University and the Singapore Business Federation's Center for African Studies in Singapore, where he received a universal ovation and recognition for the quality of the training. As a scholar, he believes that knowledge has no boundary, and learning has no end. https://www.ntu.edu.sg/cas/news-events/news/details/how-to-win-trust-when-doing-business-in-africa ◆Date&Time：Monday 3 June, 2024 5:40p.m.～7:10p.m.（JST）/ 8:40a.m.～10:10a.m.（GMT） ◆Venue：Onsite Room207（2F Research and lecture bldg.,TUFS）＆ Online（Zoom Meeting） ◆Language:English ◆Admission fee：FREE 【Please pre-register in advence from here 】Or Use QR Code. Registration deadline: June 2, 2024 (Sun) * Registration will be closed when capacity is reached. Zoom information will be sent to your registered e-mail address by the morning of the seminar. ◆Co-organized by Kanto Branch of the Japan Association for African Studies

The 89th ASC seminar, the first seminar of 2024, will be lectured by Dr. Gloriose Umuziranenge, who has been invited to our center as a Visiting Associate Professor. She will talk about her research in Nyungwe National Park. We hope you will join us. ◆Title: "Human-Wildlife Conflicts and the Compensation Scheme around Protected areas of Rwanda. The case of Nyungwe National Park. " ◆Lecturer： Dr.Gloriose Umuziranenge（Senior lecturer /Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS), Protestant University of Rwanda (PUR)、Visiting associate professor(African Studies Center-TUFS） ◆ Abstract： In African countries human-wildlife conflicts such as crop-raiding by wild animals are common concerns for conservationists and surrounding populations. At different levels, these challenges hinder the achievement of conservation goals and the tolerance of wild animals by local people. The aims of the study are to assess: (1) the community perceptions on human-wildlife conflicts and (2) to assess the community' perceptions about the compensation scheme. A qualitative approach was adopted. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews from a sample size of 20 respondents which comprises of the representatives of the park management, key stakeholders including local communities who experienced crop raiding and conservation NGOs. The data were analysed using content analysis. The findings indicate that communities are affected by crop raiding which cause socio-economic and livelihood losses, food insecurity and injury. The findings also indicate that communities are not satisfied with the compensation scheme because of difficult requirements, complicated compensation procedures, rejection of compensation claims, undervalued payment and irregular compensation as well as delay of payments that cause the victims of crop raiding abandon compensation claims. The findings call for an improvement of the compensation scheme. 【Key words: #Human-wildlife conflict, #Crop raiding, #Compensation scheme】 Some Pictures of Nyungwe National Park and Crop Raiding in local community's farms. Pic1. Nyungwe National Park Pic 2: Crop raiding in community's farm Pic 3: Crop raiding ◆Date&Time：Thursday May 23, 2024 17:40～19:10（JST）/ 8:40～10:10（GMT） ◆Venue：【Onsite】Room100（Research&lecture bldg.,TUFS）＆ 【Online】（Zoom） ◆Language：English ◆Admission fee：FREE 【Please register in advance from here.】Or please use the QR code. Capacity: 50 people in person, 300 people online Registration deadline: May 22, 2024 (Mon.) * Registration will be closed when capacity is reached. Zoom information will be sent to your registered e-mail address by the morning of the seminar. ◆Co-organized by Kanto Branch of the Japan Association for African Studies

In the spring of 2024, TUFS welcomed three new students from Africa. Today we held a Welcome OpenLunch for three exchange students who arrived in Japan from African countries this April and were welcomed as exchange students. Our Visiting Associate Professor, Gloriose UMUZIRANENGE also joined us. They are Peggy and Mupelwa from University of Zambia (UNZA), Verdiane from University of Yaoundé I (UY1). UY1 and TUFS has concluded MOU last May. This is the first time TUFS has been able to accept exchange student from the UY1.Welcome Verdiane!! Peggy and Mupelwa will stay at TUFS for one semester until July 2024. Verdiane will stay at TUFS for two semesters until February 2025. Please check the " IAFP Accepting" page for their self introduction. Also we will announce the information on the Center's website as it becomes available.