Prof. Ostrom, who has won the
Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences this year "for her analysis of
economic governance, especially the commons", is the first woman to win
the Nobel prize in this category.
The association of Prof. Shivakoti with Prof. Ostrom dates back to
1988. However it was during his post doctorate in 1992 that the
association acquired a formal shape. Prof. Shivakoti participated in a
workshop in “Political Theory and Political Analysis” at Indiana
University where Prof. Ostrom was the co director. The result was a
monogram published jointly by Prof. Shivakoti and Prof.Ostrom titled
"Institutions, Incentives, and Irrigation in Nepal”.
Prof. Shivakoti has coauthored “Asian Irrigation in Transition –
Responding to Challenges” with Prof. Ostrom, which was published by
Sage Publication in 2005. This was followed by another book in 2002,
when the Institute of Contemporary Studies published “Improving
Irrigation Governance and Management in Nepal”.
Two other joint publications include “People and Participation in
Sustainable Development: Understanding the Dynamics of Natural Resource
System” at the International Conference held at the Institute of
Agriculture and Animal Science, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal in March, 1996;
and "From Farmers' Fields to Data Fields and Back-A Synthesis of
Participatory Information System for Irrigation and Other Resources" at
an International Workshop held at the Institute of Agriculture and
Animal Science, Rampur, Nepal held in March 1994.
“Prof. Ostrom worked in many projects in Nepal involving
decentralization, finance and management of USAID projects”, Prof.
Shivakoti remarked. “We at AIT share this joyous moment and
congratulate Professor Ostrom on her deserved recognition”, he
added.
AIT's Center for Study of Rural Population and Forestry Resources
(RUPAFOR, which is the International Forestry Resources and
Institutions (IFRI) Collaborative Research Center (CRC) for Asia, was
established as a global network at Indiana University in 1993 by Prof.
Ostrom.
Professor Shivakoti and former faculty Dr. Edward Webb had received
their training at Indiana University on IFRI research methods, and both
of them have been trainers for IFRI for Asia since 2001. Several AIT
students have submitted their doctoral dissertations using IFRI
research methods.
A recent publication (2008) from the joint research by Prof. Shivakoti
and Prof. Webb which has been published by Sage Publication is titled
“Decentralization, Forests and Rural Communities: Policy Outcomes in
South and Southeast Asia”. Prof. Ostrom has contributed one theoretical
chapter in this publication, while Prof. Shivakoti and Prof. Ostrom
have jointly contributed a synthesis chapter.
Professor Elinor Ostrom (center)
with Prof. Ganesh P. Shivakoti of AIT (right) and Dr. Rama
Shivakoti.