ASSET, which stands for Africa’s Search for Sound Economic Trajectories, is an interdisciplinary and multi-institutional not-for-profit NGO and public benefit organisation, focusing on collaborative research and capacity-building with regard to the economy/environment interface in sub-Saharan Africa.  ASSET Research is lead by Prof. James Blignaut (james@jabenzi.co.za), Prof. Martin de Wit (martin@sustainableoptions.co.za) and Dr. James Aronson (ja3853@aol.com).  For more information, click here (PDF - 600KB).  As a public benefit organisation (PBO number 930 025 218) all income received are tax exempt, and all donations and bequests made in favour of ASSET are exempt from any donation tax and estate duty.

See also our new website!  http://www.assetresearch.org.za/

ASSET Research is an African-initiated and led research and development (R&D) platform, but with a strong international flavour as represented in its membership.  We believe that Africa’s solutions have to be home-grown, but that international co-operation and lessons from the various international experiences are invaluable.  Africa, however, can offer the world a unique development model and a suite of learning experiences in economic development.    

ASSET Research is not a consultancy since capacity building, innovation, liaison, and primary research are all core values and not artificial add-ons. 

ASSET Research distinguishes itself as not being a governmental research agency and independence, honouring freedom of thought and expression are intrinsic values.

ASSET Research distinguishes itself as not being an institution of higher learning, but as a catalyst of knowledge between the subject matters of economy and ecology, acknowledging that challenges in these two complex, dynamic and overlapping systems can only be addressed in an integrated way.

While ASSET Research distinguishes itself as noted above, it collaborates before it competes.  ASSET Research respects the power in networking and the respective niche markets of all the aforementioned institutions, yet ASSET Research endeavours to fill the gaps between them. 

This research and capacity-building programme combines and capitalises on the collective knowledge and experience from regional and international researchers and practitioners in the social and natural sciences to seek new solutions, new mindsets and new directions custom-made for the interlinked economic, environmental and social conditions of sub-Saharan Africa.  New models of socio-economic development are sought and tested based on the over-arching goals of restoration and rehabilitation of degraded and outmoded systems, and the restoration of healthy – i.e. economically, culturally and ecologically – sound trajectories for development and growth.  While the research programme seeks to combine collective knowledge of a broad range of learned individuals and institutions, the programme will also be a centre of learning for scholars within an eclectic, trans-national, and trans-disciplinary capacity-building programme. 

ASSET is novel as it applies a multi and trans-disciplinary approach to economic development questions, placing the values of care, justice, prudent management and balance at the heart of all research.  It does not dogmatically prescribe economic growth, but pays attention to the quality of growth and development.  It does not focus on aggregate cold and dry socio-economic statistics only, but rather honours the dignity of all human beings.  It seeks justice in the face of corruption, rampant markets, irresponsibility and disrespect for human life and the environment.  It is inspired by the resilience of the people living on the land in the African continent and Madagascar, and seeks to unleash these formidable forces in a way that will improve the well-being of the largest possible number of hungry, poor, and deprived people. 

Current active projects involve the assessment of the uptake of in-field rainwater harvesting by communities to improve their livelihoods and the investigation as to the link between the restoration of natural capital and the flow of ecosystem goods and services and how that improves livelihoods.

For more information, contact James Blignaut (james@jabenzi.co.za)