Subject: Re: Purpose of this list
From: John Schoeberlein (JohnSch@elcat1.osh.su)
Date: Wed May 05 1999 - 23:51:46 EDT
Dear List Members:
In reply to Nick Megoran's query on the purpose of this list, I would note
the following:
1) This list is meant to be useful to all those who are involved in
bettering the lives of people in the Ferghana Valley, and is not meant
particularly to be oriented toward the United Nations' Ferghana Valley
Development Programme, with which it is associated.
2) We are eager to share information about the FVDP with all interested
parties. We have a descriptive text of several pages which we can send out
in the form of an e-mail message, but since it is rather long, I think it
is best to send it to those who would request it, rather than willy-nilly
to the entire list.
3) As to what this list is for, this is a rather open-ended question ...
any kind of discussion or sharing of information which help us all do a
better job of addressing the problems of the region. The introductions
have already shared information about a) on-going development activities,
and b) the people who are involved in them (or who might serve as a
resource for them). In addition, I think it would be good to see:
- Descriptive information / periodic updates on programs and projects that
are going on or being planned. This will help people to see what others
are doing -- a) to avoid duplication of effort, b) to know who one can turn
to for useful experience when designing and implementing new projects, and
c) to identify potential collaborators in the implementation of projects of
common interest.
- Posting of information about conditions in different parts of the Valley.
This is a big region with a diversity of problems, and this can give a
sense of the scale and distribution of particular issues, bring to broader
attention issues that might have been overlooked to one degree or another,
and help us all get an accurate sense of what development priorities should
be.
- Discussion which clarifies the nature and causes of problems, and/or
which helps to develop approaches to resolving them. This might make
reference to the ways that analogous problems have been dealt with in other
parts of the world or the region, and bring to our attention the work
elsewhere which can serve as a useful model.
- Calls for cooperation, postings of staff positions wanting to be filled,
etc. This list can serve as a way to match resources with opportunities,
and capacity with needs.
- Postings of information about useful resources -- e.g., literature on the
problems of the region, relevant conferences, funding opportunities, etc.
In this category, I would hope only that postings are limited to what is
clearly and directly relevant to the issues of the Valley as there are many
other places where one can find postings of a more general nature. (As I
suspect that this note might evoke a flood of queries about where such
places are to be found, I would say, first, that as time allows, we will
try to compile a list in a form for ready distribution though we are
chronically short of time, and second, that if you want to suggest anything
for the list, we would be glad to receive the information).
This list of possible topics is not meant to exhaustive in any way -- as I
say, the purposes of the list are open-ended ... anything that helps build
harmony and prosperity in the Valley.
Finally, I would note that as time allows, we expect to have an archive of
this list set up, which will enable access via the World Wide Web to the
information and discussion posted to the list.
John Schoeberlein
_________________________________________________
Dr. John S. Schoeberlein
Chief Technical Advisor
U.N. Ferghana Valley Development Programme
Osh, Kyrgyzstan
E-mail: mailto:JohnSch@elcat.osh.su
Tel./Fax: +996 (3222) 5-52-24
This archive was generated by hypermail 2a22 : Sat May 29 1999 - 07:34:14 EDT