FAQ

Content

1. What is Supras?
2. What is Supras’ vision?
3. What is Supras’ strategy?
4. How is Supras organized? What about staffing and consulting?
5. What is Supras’ profile?
6. Which services do Supras provide?
7. What is the connection with CBNRM?
8. Where does Supras work?
9. I would like to work for Supras. How do I proceed?
10. I/my company would like to collaborate with Supras. How do I/we proceed?

1. What is Supras?

We provide advisory and research services in a number of areas and sectors, including: Capacity building, information and communication technologies (ICTs) and development, institutional analysis, knowledge management, livelihoods, natural resource management, networking, participatory approaches, reconstruction, social analysis (incl. social assessment and stakeholder analysis), and strategic communication. There is a focus on social and cultural aspects of natural resource management, including as regards agriculture, coastal zone management, fisheries, pastoralism, rangelands, and wetlands. Among the issues we address in NRM are: Biodiversity conservation, common property resource management (CPRs), community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), conflict management, and legal reform. It is fundamental to our way of operating to collaborate closely with all relevant stakeholders in civil society, private sector, and public sector. Supras is incorporated in Norway (see Question 4). For more information see section About.

2. What is Supras' vision?

Analysis, management, production, dissemination, and use of relevant knowledge for natural resource management, with local people, for local people and by local people, towards addressing perceived problems in the poverty-environment nexus, locally and globally.

3. What is Supras' strategy?

The strategy is an operationalization of the Vision. It is, furthermore, developed in close collaboration with the Community-Based Natural Resource Management Network (for details see below on the connection between Supras and CBNRM). Local people – that is, the beneficiaries – are the key stakeholder category to approach and get involved. The goal with the overall engagement is, on the one hand, increased participation and, on the other hand, capacity- and network-building. Underlying this engagement is a concern with sharing, inclusion, transparency and networking.

4. How is Supras organized? What about staffing and consulting?

Supras is a sole proprietorship, owned by Lars T. Soeftestad. It was registered in the Norwegian Business Register in 2000 (reg. no.: 981 533 003). Supras is maintaining a roster of independent consultants located in a number of developing countries. In addition, the more than 500 members of the Community-Based Natural Resource Management Network (CBNRM Net), located in almost 100 countries, constitute a global network of experts in natural resource management that can be called upon (see Question 9).

5. What is Supras' profile?

Supras emphasizes inter-disciplinary work and has a cross-cultural focus. Key approaches and tools include: (1) Natural resource management (NRM), (2) Culture, civil society and institutions, (3) Social analysis, (4) Networks and networking, (5) Conflicts and conflict management, (6) Information and communication technologies (ICTs), (7) Knowledge management, and (8) Strategic communication.

6. Which services do Supras provide?

The following services are offered: (1) Operational work in connection with preparation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects, (2) Training and capacity-building, (3) ICT-based networking, specifically for communities of practice, (4) Research on, inter alia, culture, ICTs and development, language and communication, networking, NRM, and strategic communication, and (5) Publishing (including newsletter and paper series, websites, and blogging).

7. What is the connection with CBNRM?

Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) is a key concern of Supras. This dates back to when Supras’s owner Lars T. Soeftestad worked for the World Bank and set up the Community-Based Natural Resource Management Network (CBNRM Net) in connection with training and capacity-building activities in NRM. The Network is now managed by “CBNRM Networking,” a Norwegian non-profit that collaborates closely with Supras (see Question 4). For more information see the websites for CBNRM Net and CBNRM Networking.

8. Where does Supras work?

Speaking specifically with reference to project-related and operational work, Supras is working in Africa, specifically West Africa and Central Africa (Francophone and Anglophone countries), in Eastern Europe, Middle East, and in South Asia.

9. I would like to work for Supras. How to I proceed?

Send us an email, write a little about yourself, and attach you most recent CV. If we come to an agreement you will be included on Supras’ Roster of consultants. For more information see page Contact.

10. I/my company would like to collaborate with Supras. How do I/we proceed?

Write to us with your ideas, and let us discuss what kind of synergies we can develop! For more information see page Contact.