Research and consulting

Research

Our direct engagement with beekeepers, practitioners and scientists through our network and research projects underpins our expertise. We work hard to continually add to the evidence base for the role of bees in development: researching the merits of different approaches is an important strand of our work. Research into, and evidence for, sustainable beekeeping practices is undertaken in partnership with academic institutions and NGOs.

Visit our Beekeeping Resource Centre for a wide-range of research articles

Bees for Development Consulting

The breadth of our expertise and experience makes us leaders in the apiculture and development sector. Our consultancy team provides high quality, independent and professional consultancy services to UN organisations, Governments, NGOs, aid agencies and the private sector.

We offer consultancy service within the following areas of expertise:

• Programme and project design and management – development, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and complex projects with beekeeping or trade in bee products as a central theme
• Institutional and organisational development – to help networks, beekeeping associations, producer organisations and rural enterprises to work effectively to achieve their objectives
• Training and capacity building – conducting training, designing manuals, and training trainers, to ensure the spread and application of appropriate beekeeping knowledge
• Market analysis and participatory approaches – market mapping studies and sector analyses to identify how rural beekeepers can gain access to the opportunities created by a significant market demand in bee products
• Technology assessment and feasibility studies – evaluating the appropriateness of beekeeping in a range of environments and contexts, and providing technical advice: we focus on simple and sustainable methods building on indigenous skills and materials.
• Residue monitoring plans – we can facilitate the process for honey exporting countries to achieve EU third country status, thus gaining access to EU markets for honey.

 

Bees for Development conducting research near Sheka Biosphere Reserve, Ethiopia in March 2016

Contact us to discuss your requirements

 

Recent consultancy assignments:

• 2016 Research into the impact of honey and beeswax trade on sustainable forest management in Ethiopia - The Body Shop
• 2015 Advising on beekeeping for economic development in Eritrea - UN FAO
• 2014 Value chain study of honey and beeswax trade in South West Ethiopia - University of Huddersfield
• 2013 Evaluation of four year apiculture development project in the Hindu Kush - International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
• 2012  Scoping visit to Mbale, Uganda, advising on developing beekeeping training interventions for farmers using low-cost beehives - Mbale treeplanting project and Welsh Assembly Government
• 2011 Technical Assistance to Caribbean beekeepers and clusters - CDE Project CAR/1007/R01/FO
• 2010  Support to increase quality and recognition of East Africa private sector apiculture production - ProInvest Project EAF/6199
• 2009  Export of honey from South Caucasus countries Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to the EU - GTZ Project Private Sector Development in South Caucasus Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH