Steppes in Sync - Синхронні степи in Ukrainian
is an international initiative that focuses on providing creative policy advice and business solutions to the companies and governments of the majority world nations, as well as international agencies, with a focus on cultural exchange and cooperation.
Operating at the crossroads of creativity and sustainable development, we currently work in such regions as Southern Africa and Eastern Europe. In particular, we are involved in Ukraine and Zimbabwe and research cultural prospects of their relationship with Central Asia and the Far East – especially, China and Japan.
One of the key issues in bringing creative minds from distant regions of the planet (Steppes in our terminology) is sustainable transportation. Despite Africa’s size and population, it accounts for only 2% of the world air transport industry. Annual passenger numbers were estimated at 40 million – only 1/8 of the world total.
We believe in the success of these ways to sync Steppes: cultural diplomacy, fair, trade, hospitality and sustainability.
Statistical data from UNESCO indicate that the entire African continent is home to only 2.3 per cent of world’s researchers (professionals who are engaged in the conception or creation of new knowledge, products, processes, methods and systems). To sync Steppes, a fair amount of theoretical knowledge and creative experience is needed in such fields as branding (destination, place, nation, national, global) and geosemiotics.
On average, Africa has only 169 researchers per one million inhabitants. Apart from having the lowest density of researchers in the world, investment in research and development in Africa stands at 0.9 %. Excluding South Africa, intensity in R&D in Sub-Saharan Africa is merely 0.3 %.
Scarce research and general information is reflected in lack or underdevelopment of international relations such as South-South cooperation. “For instance, if we could have a better understanding of the situation in Libya and give relevant risk evaluation reports, much loss would have been avoided,” Wei Jianguo, director of the Chinese Society for African Studies, said in relation to the 2011 civil war in Libya.
International development agencies also need more exposure to their development initiatives. While trying to reach out to the Japanese public, JICA has also used the occasion of its restructuring in 2008 to rebrand itself to global audiences. In the past two years, JICA has advertised itself and its activities in European publications and wooed western reporters in hopes of making more headlines. Compared to American and British aid agencies, these promotional activities are still quite modest and need more media.
