Z01 Central Administrative Project

The CRC spokesperson Prof. Klagge will be the project leader for the central administrative project Z01. She gives general di­rections concerning work flows and responsibilities, is respon­sible for the management of part of the funds, and has mana­gerial oversight over the staff employed in the project.

The scientific coordinator of the CRC oversees the allocation of funds applied for in this project. In collaboration with other mem­bers of the CRC, the coordination office is responsible for the organization of workshops (kick-off, CRC retreats, conferences, summer schools), partner invitations, and related arrangements. Members of the office act on behalf, or as representatives of, the executive board concerning logistical tasks and commu­nication with service providers. Furthermore, the day-today man­agerial tasks within the CRC are handled through the office (i.e. press releases, public relations, etc.). Kick-off workshops and training sessions on methods and data analysis are planned to present the research program and rationale to participating in­stitutions, researchers, and other interested parties. To the CRC‘s own researchers these workshops provide an opportunity to present their research plans and discuss them with local counter­parts to plan joint exercises and to identify aspects where syner­gies can be achieved. Next to these, the CRC continues to con­duct workshops and retreats to take place among all members, as well as PIs and PhDs respectively to allow for in depth discussions of ongoing research, preliminary results, the joint preparation of publications and conference contributions, etc.

Although both host Universities (Bonn and Cologne) do already have structures in place to allow for the training of early career re­searchers, the CRC seeks to add to these offers by providing the­matically suited workshops and trainings (see also Z04, IRTG).

The central project Z01 is also tasked with increasing diversity in academia which includes, but is not limited to, gender equality. A key aim of the CRC is to offer equal opportunities in this highly diverse research setting. To do so, (1) the strong patriarchal bias of both social and academic structures characterizing our research con­texts in Sub-Saharan Africa will be taken into account. Moreover, (2) while hosting and collaborating with a large number of fellow academics from all over the world, it is of great significance for us to form research teams that see diversity as a distinct resource. (3) Finally, we wish to address the issue of gender equality on a more local level by specifically targeting the challenges in our German academic setting.

Reliable and lively partnerships are essential for the planned program and cooperative research activities. Together with the universities’ administrations, Z01 establishes partner-contracts and ensures eyelevel collaboration with African scholars. Furthermore, the central administration project facilitates guest communications and travel in line with the CRC’s research agenda.

Gender equality is aimed at throughout the CRC for all stages of academic qualification. Offers aiming at gender equality and the support of early career researchers (ECRs) exist at both universities. Together with the CRC’s board for gender equality and diversity, and the universities’ administrations, Z01 assists in the implementation of equal opportunity measures.

Kick-off workshops, the annual project retreat, survey meetings, as well as meetings fostering the work within projects and regional groups will enhance work flows and coherence between and within projects. Z01 supports the organization and implementation of workshops and conferences of member projects, as well as those organized by the ECRs. Furthermore, Z01 is working closely with Z04 in the planning and implementation of summer schools.

1. Organization of regular trainings and workshops for ECRs on topics related to future-making in rural Africa

2. Annual project retreats

3. Regular Jour Fixe meetings

4. CRC Public Lecture Series