THE ARKLETON TRUST

THE FUNDS

David Moore

Bernard Conyers

John Higgs

CONTACT

THE TRUST

[Please read the Call for Applications first]

Background Information

Rationale Behind this Theme

Despite the present importance of agriculture in poorer regions and countries the Trust has long argued that the development of rural areas everywhere - and especially the poorer people living in them - depends on more and better jobs, income being found outside traditional primary production, and significant improvements in the quality of life. Clean water, reliable energy, better health and health care, better and wider education and training, better governance, more resources and effective use of existing resources all impact on this quality of life. Typically, rural people draw their livelihoods from several different activities and sources, many of which are linked with the environment and natural resources. One or more of these livelihoods can be threatened by climate changes and in some cases by the impacts of emissions control mechanisms. On the other hand, these same changes may in some cases offer new livelihood opportunities.

The science of climate change is being well researched and the likely physical impacts of both natural trends and the impacts of human activities (especially emissions of CO₂ and other 'greenhouse gases'), although subject to uncertainties, are now fairly widely accepted. The physical impacts include temperature rises, less - or more - precipitation, drought or flooding, glacial and polar cap ice-melt, increased frequency of storms and floods, sea level rises, etc with combinations and consequences which vary from place to place. Many countries have jointly or individually established institutes, committees and policies which mainly concern the physical aspects and science of climate change.

Despite this, and the evident fact that in many cases it is rural peoples who are often most exposed to the physical impacts, the economic and social impacts on rural areas are less well researched. Moreover the preparedness of rural communities to cope with, and adjust to, those consequences is, with a few notable exceptions, hardly researched at all. At this level, it must be recognised that rural communities themselves have important experience and local knowledge to contribute to the issues of preparedness, coping, adjustment and recovery.

In addition to the impacts of climate change itself, it is beginning to be evident that the emissions control mechanisms arising out of the Kyoto protocols are having a considerable impact on at least some rural communities. Preliminary indications are that such impacts are set to intensify in the future, possibly rapidly. The three mechanisms, including trading in 'carbon credits' and bi-lateral agreements for carbon emissions offsets, are 'top-down' and are resulting for example in activities like large scale wind-farm developments, bio-fuels projects, and mono-cultural forests promoted by large multinationals or governments, and often highly contested by rural communities who suffer prospects of severe dislocation. On the other hand, since rural communities are often where renewable energy resources and 'carbon sinks' are concentrated, they could (and sometimes do) stand to gain considerably from new opportunities in these areas. The question then is how they can best position themselves (and be helped by policies to so position themselves) in these respects. These are questions and issues which seem to be almost totally devoid of useful and reliable research and 'good practice' lessons at the level of local rural communities.

Applications

The application must be concise and clear, written in English and typed where possible: It must be no longer than FIVE PAGES IN TOTAL.

Please make your application using the following headings:

1. Curriculum Vitae:
   1. Personal data: your name, address, telephone, fax and e-mail numbers age, sex.
   2. Education and Career: Schools and qualifications obtained. University and qualifications obtained. Any other training institutions attended and qualifications obtained. A BRIEF history of your career/employment to date.
   3. Hobbies and leisure interests, including travel.
2. Report on most recent activities:
   Outline here your current activities and achievements you personally have made.
3. The Proposal:
   Summarise your proposal in one short opening paragraph. Outline your proposal under the following headings - aims and objectives, timetable and draft itinerary. It is important to give as much information as possible in the proposal as it will not be possible to meet applicants, and therefore the Committee's only means of assessment is the written application. Remember to show how your proposal meets with the objectives of The Arkleton Trust Fellowship.
4. Budget:
   This is important and all items should be briefly justified.Please include any contributions from other funding sources, or from your own or your employers resources, which you expect to obtain for the project.
5. References:
   Please supply the names and addresses of two referees known to you personally or professionally who will support your application. References will be taken up on short-listed applicants only but it is very important that we can contact them easily either by fax or by e-mail.

Please make your applications to: The Arkleton Trust, The Old Golf House, Rectory Road, Streatley, Berks RG8 9QA, England or email: arkleton@enstoneuk.demon.co.uk