UDSM Prof. Noe re-appointed to the Danish Consultative Research Committee
By Special Correspondent, CMU
The University of Dar es Salaam don, Professor Christine Noe, has been re-appointed a member of the Consultative Research Committee for Development Research (FFU) that advises the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark regarding Danida’s support to development research.
A statement by the Danida Fellowship Centre which was released on 28 January, 2025 states that Prof. Noe will again join the newly formed Committee after serving previously in two terms, 2021-2022 and 2022-2024, respectively.
The Committee, which is appointed by the Danish Minister for Development, is composed of distinguished global researchers as well as a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor-Research at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Prof. Nelson Boniface congratulated Prof. Christine Noe on her re-appointment to the Committee, highlighting the significance of this recognition in advancing UDSM’s research and innovation agenda.
“This prestigious re-appointment is a testament to Prof. Christine Noe’s outstanding contribution to research and academic excellence. Her continued involvement in the Danish Consultative Research Committee is not only a personal achievement but also a strategic opportunity to strengthen UDSM’s global research collaborations and boost our innovation drive,” said Prof. Boniface.
The Consultative Research Committee for Development Research is responsible for assessing research funding proposals and advising the Ministry in matters regarding the awards of the competitive funds for development research projects, as well as quality assurance of the research projects”, reads the Danida Fellowship Centre statement.
Improving research collaborations
UDSM Prof. Noe, a Geography guru, and the Principal of the College of Social Sciences (CoSS), is very pleased with this appointment and optimistic that it will continue with its key mission to help improve the collaborations between the University of Dar es Salaam and Danida.
“I was appointed in 2021 to fill a gap in the previous committee. I was again appointed in this position in 2022 to serve until last year 2024. My re-appointment in the new committee is crucial for continuity of collaborations”, said Prof. Noe.
She added that, “however, I joined the committee at the time when Denmark ended its diplomatic mission in the country causing reduction in research funds and development support to Tanzania. This makes most of our higher learning institutions ineligible for funding, with some exceptions for only a few of them”, said Prof. Noe.
Prof. Noe now now will serve in the committee from 2025 to 2027, together with other distinguished scholars globally namely Professor Lotte Meinert (Aarhus University), who is the committee chairperson and Professor John Rand (University of Copenhagen) asdeputy chairperson.
Other members include Prof. John Christensen (Sustainable Development Center, Yonsei University, South Korea); Senior researcher, Dr. Helene Maria Kyed (Danish Institute for International Studies-DIIS); Prof. Anja Kaarina Nygren (University of Helsinki); and Prof. Ola Westengen (Norwegian University of Life Sciences-Noragric).
Others in the list include Prof. Frauke Urban (Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan); Clinical Specialist, MD, George Abongomera (University of Basel); Prof. Victoria Blanes-Vidal (University of Southern Denmark); and Tove Degnbol, Head of Department, at the Office for Evaluation, Quality and Learning – which is responsible for the Danida funded research support, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.