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  Marriage migration from Russia
and Thailand to Norway
23 March 2009
In the new report «Someone who cares» the Fafo-researchers Guri Tyldum and Marianne Tveit describe opportunities and challenges for women who come
to Norway from Thailand and Russia through marriage. The main emphasis is on ways into, as well as ways out of, transnational marriage. The report takes up
topics such as motivation and expectations among those seeking transnational marriage, opportunities for marriage migration through networks and tourism, the role of international marriage agencies, consequences of divorce, the (lack of) willingness to return to country of origin and the women’s opportunities for starting a life on their own in Norway.  Read more and doownload the report |
Contested citizenship and Liberan civil war
March 2009
Senior researcher Morten Bøås has recently published the article « Funérailles pour un ami: des luttes de citoyennete dans la guerre civile liberienne» in l Politique Africaine, no. 112. Politique Africaine is the leading French journal on Africa research. |
Seminar on the conflict in Eastern Congo
March 2009
Recent developments and renewed international attention in Eastern Congo is the backdrop for a seminar Tuesday the 17th of March organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The seminar aims at addressing the current situation and setting issues such as sexual violence and resource extraction in a political and historical context.
Fafo-researcher Morten Bøås (pictured) will give a speach on miners, merchants and warriors. Other speakers are State secretary Håkon Guldbrandsen, director of the charity Everything is a benefit Leah Chishugi, research assistant at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, Randi Solhjell and Gérard Prunier at National Centre for Scientific Research in Paris.
The seminar is open and free of charge. It lasts 9-13 and is located in auditorium 1 at Norad (Ruseløkkveien 26). Please register by e-mail to: Karianne Quist Stig Programme |
  Lifelong learning in
Norwegian working life
24 February 2009
The learning conditions monitor
is an annual survey of the conditions for learning and skills development among adults in Norway, with particular emphasis on working life. In a sixth report the Fafo researchers Marianne Dæhlen and Torgeir Nyen present results from 2003–2008. The conditions for lifelong learning are fairly stable over the last six years, and the downward trend in course participation has been reversed the last couple of years. Read more and download the report |
Syrian youth's thoughts and perspectives on the future
9 February 2009
Fafo-researcher Laura Mitchell has conducted a survey upon Syrian university youth – what are their opportunities, choices, constraints and perspectives for the future? Building on Fafo's cooperation with Damascus University this project has supported sound, empirically-based scholarship on youth in Syria by conducting a joint survey of youth attitudes, values and opinions. The survey fieldwork was conducted amongst Damascus University students in May 2008 with students and key faculty from the Faculty of Arts. The project is financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Read more about the survey |
Military rule in post-Conté Guinea
9 February 2009
In an article published at The Nordic Africa Institute Fafo-researcher Morten Bøås discusses the implications of the coup in Guinea for peace and security in the Mano River Basin, and argues that for the time being some sort of benevolent military rule by juinor officers is the best option for peace and stability in Guinea and its immediate Mano River sub region. That is, if their promise to return the country to civil rule after a transition period is sincere. Preparing for immediate elections under the current circumstances of a high level of volatility and tension could have resulted in threats to Guinea's security, as well as the fragile stability of the region. Read the article |
Protecting whom?
5 February 2009
The UN's policy on sexual exploitation and abuse «strongly discourages» sexual relationships between UN peacekeepers and the local population – even when both parties are consenting adults. This is a problem, according to Fafo-researcher Kathleen Jennings, who has written the report , Protecting whom? Approaches to sexual exploitation and abuse in UN peacekeeping operations. Jennings thinks the UN's policy to prevent exploitation and abuse can in some instances patronize the local population, while creating or perpetuating racial and gendered stereotypes about the people and the culture where the peacekeeping missions take place. Jennings focuses on the UN missions in Haiti and Liberia Read more and download the report |
 Fafo Seminar 27 February: Israel and Gaza: an uneasy truce
February 2009
James A. Larocco, the Director General of MFO (Multinational Force and Observers) in the Sinai,
gives a presentation at a Fafo seminar on February 27th. Larocco will discuss how to establish a stable and sustainable
ceasefire in Gaza. Which elements are necessary for a successful international monitoring
presence in Gaza and for a comprehensive peace settlement? The seminar will be held at Fafo in Borggata 2B, Oslo, it is open to the public and free of charge. The seminar lasts 11.30-12.45. Program and registration |
 Round-table discussion with Mary Robinson on CSR
4 February 2009
Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights came to Fafo on February 3rd to offer her reflections on the recent developments and future challenges in the field of business and human rights to an audience of business and governmental representatives. Currently leading Realizing rights: the Ethical Globalization Initiative, Mary Robinson has been at the forefront of growing debates on the links between human and corporate social responsibility. Other speakers were Liv Monica Stubholt, deputy minister from the Petroleum and Energy Ministry, and deputy manager of Fafo Mark Taylor. Read more about the Round-table discussion |
 
Respondent-driven sampling in a study conducted in Sierra Leone
13 January 2009
The Fafo-researchers Ingunn Bjørkhaug and Anne Hatløy have published the article «Utilization of respondent-driven sampling among a population of child workers in the diamond-mining sector of Sierra Leone» in Global Public Health, 4 (1), January 2009. This article describes the implementation of respondent driven sampling (RDS) in a study conducted in Kono District, Sierra Leone. RDS was used to identify children, under the age of 18 years old, working in the diamond sector of Sierra Leone. This includes children working directly as diamond miners as well as children working in the informal sector connected to the diamond field. The article seeks to postulate that RDS is a suitable method for a rapid approach to a population that is unidentified in size and demonstrate how RDS can reach a study population within a limited period. Global Public Health |
 
Labour Mobility and Wage Dumping
13 January 2009
The Fafo-researchers Kristin Alsos and Line Eldring have published the article «Labour Mobility and Wage Dumping: the Case of Norway» in European Journal of Industrial Relations 2008, 14 (4). The article examines wage regulation mechanisms, based on statutory provisions or on collective agreements, designed to protect migrant and posted workers from `wage dumping'. The Norwegian mixed model is compared to mechanisms in other European countries, and is also contrasted with the autonomous collective-agreement models of Denmark and Sweden. The experience gained from extension of collective agreements in Norway suggests that such mechanisms may be more generally effective as a means to protect foreign workers. More about the article |
 Bubble, Bust and More Boom
2 January 2009
Fafo-researcher Bent Sofus Tranøy has published the article «Bubble, Bust and More Boom: The Political Economy of Housing in Norway» in the journal Comparative European Politics 2008, 6. Norway has in the last 25 years experienced one housing market bubble, a severe bust in that housing market, and a new boom that may still prove to be a bubble as well. This article analyses the recommodification of the Norwegian housing market. Read abstract here |
Jobs available at The Norwegian Peacebuilding Centre
January 2009
The Norwegian Peacebuilding Centre (Noref) facilitates the integration of analytical and other forms of knowledge and expertise to peacebuilding activities and promotes the interchange of operational and scientific knowledge and expertise in the development of peacebuilding policy and practice. Noref is a foundation initiated and financed by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Fafo, in cooperation with NUPI, has been charged with establishing the centre. The centre is now recruiting: Administrative Coordinator, Senior Advisor and Senior Analyst. Read more about the positions here |
 Fafo breakfast seminar: Gaza after the invasion
January 2009
Fafo invites to a seminar on prospects for Palestinian politics January 28th 8.30-9.45. What will the political consequences of the war on Gaza be? How will it affect the relations between
Hamas and Fatah? As for Israel, its motives for waging war seem to have been diverse, but a central
aim was ostensibly to cripple Hamas. Did the Israeli state achieve this or any other of its goals in the short or long term? Fafo's Middle East researcher Jacob Høigilt (pictured) will chair the seminar, Fafo Associate Mouin Rabbani will speak along with Are Hovdenak, from PRIO. The seminar is free of charge and will be held at Fafo in Borggata 2B, Oslo. The seminar will be in English. Please register tio@fafo.no. Read more about the seminar |
 Education for all – including working and other hard-to-reach children
17 December 2008
Fafo-researcher Anne Kielland (pictured) and Furio Rosati at the UCW-Program have published the report Broadening the approach to
Education for All in connection with the Education for All (EFA) high level meeting in Oslo 16-18 December. At this meeting Ministers and leaders of international NGOs will discuss and supervise the international community's united efforts to reach the EFA goals: Free education of good quality should be available to all. In their report Kielland and Rosati present issues from the workshop Child labor and the EFA initiative in
October. Read more about and download the report |
