Fashion Sector Outsourcing to African Countries: Taking Advantage of Low-Cost Labor?

2019 ◽  
pp. 5-35
Author(s):  
Renato Botti
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
African Countries

scholarly journals Positioning for success: building capacity in academic competencies for early-career researchers in sub-Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Merritt ◽  
H. Jack ◽  
W. Mangezi ◽  
D. Chibanda ◽  
M. Abas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Training Experience ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Early Career Researchers ◽  
Academic Competencies ◽  
Sub Saharan

Background. Capacity building is essential in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to address the gap in skills to conduct and implement research. Capacity building must not only include scientific and technical knowledge, but also broader competencies, such as writing, disseminating research and achieving work–life balance. These skills are thought to promote long-term career success for researchers in high-income countries (HICs) but the availability of such training is limited in LMICs. Methods. This paper presents the contextualisation and implementation of the Academic Competencies Series (ACES). ACES is an early-career researcher development programme adapted from a UK university. Through consultation between HIC and LMIC partners, an innovative series of 10 workshops was designed covering themes of self-development, engagement and writing skills. ACES formed part of the African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI), a multi-national LMIC-led consortium to recruit, train, support and network early-career mental health researchers from four sub-Saharan African countries. Results. Of the 10 ACES modules, three were HIC-LMIC co-led, four led by HIC facilitators with LMIC training experience and three led by external consultants from HICs. Six workshops were delivered face to face and four by webinar. Course attendance was over 90% and the delivery cost was approximately US$4500 per researcher trained. Challenges of adaptation, attendance and technical issues are described for the first round of workshops. Conclusions. This paper indicates that a skills development series for early-career researchers can be contextualised and implemented in LMIC settings, and is feasible for co-delivery with local partners at relatively low cost.

scholarly journals Modelling Faecal Sludge Dewatering Processes in Drying Beds Based on the Results from Tete, Mozambique

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8981
Author(s):  
Osvaldo Moiambo ◽  
Raúl Mutevuie ◽  
Filipa Ferreira ◽  
José Matos
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Sludge Dewatering ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Cost Treatment ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Sludge Drying ◽  
Sanitation Systems ◽  
Faecal Sludge

Currently, in sub-Saharan African countries, 65 to 100% of the urban population is served by on-site sanitation systems, typically pit latrines and septic tanks. Faecal sludge dewatering in drying beds is one of the most commonly adopted low-cost treatment technologies in developing countries due to favourable climate conditions in terms of temperature and radiation and because their operation and maintenance are simple. Nevertheless, research in tropical dry zones regarding these processes is scarce. In this paper, a mathematical model for faecal sludge dewatering in sludge drying beds (SDBs) focusing on gravity drainage and evaporation processes is presented and discussed. Experimental campaigns were carried out at a pilot site in Tete, Mozambique, to determine the model parameters. The results suggest that the model can be used to estimate, in similar situations, the dewatering process of different types of faecal sludge. The present research might be considered as a contribution to the design and operation of SDBs, supporting sludge management and allowing the estimation of drying times and optimal loading cycles, namely, the sludge thickness and final moisture content.

scholarly journals Effect of Financial Inclusion on Income Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Kipoh Mpele Esther
Keyword(s):  
Income Inequality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Sub Saharan

Aims: To analyze financial inclusion as a channel to alleviate inequality in order to provide insight into the edifice of inequality reduction. Study Design:  Dynamic panel study. Place and Duration of Study: Sub-Saharan African countries over the period 2004-2018. Methodology: Using the generalized method of moments (GMM) on a sample of 27 Sub-Saharan African countries. Results: The results show that the estimated financial inclusion index has a negative effect on income inequality. Therefore, the depth of commercial bank branches and the effective use of bank accounts reduce income inequality. Conclusion: Increase financial inclusion as well as the development of financial infrastructure and the provision of specific low-cost services tailored to low-income households.

scholarly journals A Miniature BroadBand Microstrip Antenna for LTE, Wi-Fi and WiMAX Applications

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 5238
Author(s):  
Zakaria Er-reguig ◽  
Hassan Ammor
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element Method ◽  
Microstrip Antenna ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Ground Plane ◽  
South American ◽  
Integration Technique ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Simulation Process ◽  
Radiating Element ◽  
Compact Microstrip Antenna

A Compact microstrip antenna with rectangular slotted radiating element has been developed. Four slots have been introduced on the radiating element with the use of a partial ground plane and a wideband response has been obtained. The bandwidth of the proposed antenna is 1.7 GHz with a percentage bandwidth of 71%. A low-cost dielectric (FR4_EPOXY) has been considered in the development of the proposed antenna. The obtained frequency band is from 1.9 GHz to 3.6 GHz. To investigate the robustness of our modelled antenna the simulation process has been carried out using two different solvers (Finite Element Method and Finite Integration Technique). In addition, the designed antenna was realized and these results were compared with those of the simulation. The proposed antenna is suitable for many LTE bands {1, 3, 7… 38, 40} broadly deployed in European, South American, Asian, and African countries, Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz), and WiMAX technology (3.5 GHz).

scholarly journals History of Controlled Environment Horticulture: Greenhouses

HortScience ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-246
Author(s):  
Krishna Nemali
Keyword(s):  
High Efficiency ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Rigid Plastic ◽  
Intensive Farming

Modern greenhouses are intensive farming systems designed to achieve high efficiency and productivity. Plants are produced year-round in greenhouses by maintaining the environment at or near optimum levels regardless of extreme weather conditions. Many scientific discoveries and technological advancements that happened in the past two centuries paved the way for current state-of-the-art greenhouses. These include, but are not limited to, advancements in climate-specific structural designs and glazing materials, and temperature control, artificial lighting, and hydroponic production systems. Greenhouse structures can be broadly grouped into four distinct designs, including tall Venlo greenhouses of the Netherlands, passive solar greenhouses of China, low-cost Parral greenhouses of the Mediterranean region, and gutter-connected polyethylene houses of India and African countries. These designs were developed to suit local climatic conditions and maximize the return on investment. Although glass and rigid plastic options are available for glazing, the development of low-cost and lightweight plastic glazing materials (e.g., polyethylene) enabled widespread growth of the greenhouse industry in the developing world. For temperate regions, supplemental lighting technology is crucial for year-round production. This heavily relies on advancements in electro-lighting during the 19th and 20th centuries. The development of hydroponic production systems for the controlled delivery of nutrients further enhanced crop productivity. This article addresses important historical events, scientific discoveries, and technological improvements related to advancements in these areas.

scholarly journals Technologies, challenges and perspectives of biogas production within an agricultural context. The case of China and Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rufis Fregue Tiegam Tagne ◽  
Xiaobin Dong ◽  
Solomon G. Anagho ◽  
Serena Kaiser ◽  
Sergio Ulgiati
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Waste Production ◽  
Effective Technology ◽  
Biogas Plants ◽  
Biochemical Mechanisms

AbstractThe use of fossil fuels in modern economies has been a success because of the low cost of fossil resources. However, the depletion of fossil reserves, the increase in waste production and global warming concerns have led to increased research on the production of biofuels from renewable resources. Waste production is steadily increasing in quantity and constantly changing in quality, creating enormous risks for the environment and, consequently, for the health of the population. This situation is much more worrying in developing countries, in particular because of the considerable delay in the field of the conversion and recovery of biomaterials, due to their difficulty in approaching the problem in a way that fits their context. The composition of such wastes and residues, rich in organic matter, allows their conversion via biochemical mechanisms, thus constituting an effective solution to address the environmental problems of their disposal. Anaerobic digestion remains a valuable and effective technology for transforming these biomaterials into biogas. The present review focuses on technologies, challenges and areas of application of biogas, especially in China and some African countries, in order to promote the large-scale use of biogas for electricity generation and biofuels. Results point out that China is more used to this technology, while African countries still rely on traditional and less advanced technologies, thus hampering the potential derived from the large availability of biomaterials. Both realities, however, share similar backgrounds about the dimension of the biogas plants and their non-commercial purposes, even if China is recently shifting toward the adoption of a different model. These considerations are used in the article to open an interesting new scenario of political alternatives which may provide a way out from poverty and economic dependence, within the framework of a wider circularity.

scholarly journals Study of Massive Floating Solar Panels over Lake Nasser

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Moustafa Elshafei ◽  
Abdelrahman Ibrahim ◽  
Amr Helmy ◽  
Mostafa Abdallah ◽  
Amgad Eldeib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Electric Energy ◽  
Green Energy ◽  
Maintenance Cost ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
The North ◽  
Lake Nasser ◽  
The World

Recently, the technology of floating photovoltaic panels has demonstrated several advantages over land installations, including faster deployment, less maintenance cost, and higher efficiency. Lake Nasser is the second largest man-made freshwater lake in the world with a surface area of almost 5000 square km. Being in one of the hottest areas in the world, evaporation of water causes loss of very precious and scarce resources: freshwater. Fortunately, the lake is also located in a very rich area in solar energy. This paper presents a study to utilize Lake Nasser’s surface for massive production of solar energy, while significantly reducing the loss of water by evaporation from the lake surface. The project has the potential to be one of the largest producers of low-cost clean electric energy in the world for Europe and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, especially with the ongoing efforts to connect the North African countries with the European super power grid. The study shows that the first phase of the project is expected to deliver about 16% of European need of electricity and save about 3 billion m3 of freshwater. The subsequent phases will provide low-cost green energy to replace the combustible fuels in Europe by 2045, while saving up to 10-12 billion m3 of freshwater lost by evaporation from Lake Nasser.

scholarly journals An Evaluation of the Zambia Sentinel Surveillance System, 2011-2017

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
paul simusika ◽  
Stefano Tempia ◽  
Edward Chentulo ◽  
Lauren Polansky ◽  
Mazyanga Mazaba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Quality ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
External Funds

Abstract Background Over the past decade, influenza surveillance has been established in several African countries including Zambia. However, information on the on data quality and reliability of established influenza surveillance systems in Africa are limited. Such information would enable countries to assess the performance of their surveillance systems, identify shortfalls for improvement and provide evidence of data reliability for policy making and public health interventions. Methods We used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to evaluate the performance of the influenza surveillance system (ISS) in Zambia during 2011-2017 using 9 attributes: (i) data quality and completeness, (ii) timeliness, (iii) representativeness, (iv) flexibility, (v) simplicity, (vi) acceptability, (vii) stability, (viii) utility, and (ix) sustainability. Each attribute was evaluated using pre-defined indicators. For each indicator we obtained the proportion (expressed as percentage) of the outcome of interest over the total. A scale from 1 to 3 was used to provide a score for each attribute as follows: <60% (as obtained in the calculation above) scored 1 (weak performance); 60-79% scored 2 (moderate performance); ≥80% scored 3 (good performance). An overall score for each attribute and the ISS was obtained by averaging the scores of all evaluated attributes. Results The overall mean score for the ISS in Zambia was 2.6. Key strengths of the system were the quality of data generated (score: 2.9), its flexibility (score: 3.0) especially to monitor viral pathogens other than influenza viruses, its simplicity (score: 2.8), acceptability (score: 3.0) and stability (score: 2.6) over the review period and its relatively low cost ($310,000 per annum). Identified weaknesses related mainly to geographic representativeness (score: 2.0), timeliness (score: 2.5), especially in shipment of samples from remote sites, and sustainability (score: 1.0) in the absence of external funds. Conclusions The system performed moderately well in our evaluation. Key improvements would include improvements in the timeliness of samples shipments and geographical coverage. However, these improvements would result in increased cost and logistical complexity. The ISSS in Zambia is largely reliant on external funds and the acceptability of maintaining the surveillance system through national funds would require evaluation.

scholarly journals An Evaluation of the Zambia Influenza Sentinel Surveillance System, 2011-2017

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
paul simusika ◽  
Stefano Tempia ◽  
Edward Chentulo ◽  
Lauren Polansky ◽  
Mazyanga Mazaba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Quality ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
External Funds

Abstract Background Over the past decade, influenza surveillance has been established in several African countries including Zambia. However, information on the on data quality and reliability of established influenza surveillance systems in Africa are limited. Such information would enable countries to assess the performance of their surveillance systems, identify shortfalls for improvement and provide evidence of data reliability for policy making and public health interventions. Methods We used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to evaluate the performance of the influenza surveillance system (ISS) in Zambia during 2011-2017 using 9 attributes: (i) data quality and completeness, (ii) timeliness, (iii) representativeness, (iv) flexibility, (v) simplicity, (vi) acceptability, (vii) stability, (viii) utility, and (ix) sustainability. Each attribute was evaluated using pre-defined indicators. For each indicator we obtained the proportion (expressed as percentage) of the outcome of interest over the total. A scale from 1 to 3 was used to provide a score for each attribute as follows: <60% (as obtained in the calculation above) scored 1 (weak performance); 60-79% scored 2 (moderate performance); ≥80% scored 3 (good performance). An overall score for each attribute and the ISS was obtained by averaging the scores of all evaluated attributes. Results The overall mean score for the ISS in Zambia was 2.6. Key strengths of the system were the quality of data generated (score: 2.9), its flexibility (score: 3.0) especially to monitor viral pathogens other than influenza viruses, its simplicity (score: 2.8), acceptability (score: 3.0) and stability (score: 2.6) over the review period and its relatively low cost ($310,000 per annum). Identified weaknesses related mainly to geographic representativeness (score: 2.0), timeliness (score: 2.5), especially in shipment of samples from remote sites, and sustainability (score: 1.0) in the absence of external funds. Conclusions The system performed moderately well in our evaluation. Key improvements would include improvements in the timeliness of samples shipments and geographical coverage. However, these improvements would result in increased cost and logistical complexity. The ISSS in Zambia is largely reliant on external funds and the acceptability of maintaining the surveillance system through national funds would require evaluation.

scholarly journals Microplastic pollution in African countries’ water systems: a review on findings, applied methods, characteristics, impacts, and managements

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadele Assefa Aragaw
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Water System ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
List Type ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Pollution Research

Abstract Owed to their simplicity, flexibility, lightweight, and low cost, plastics have become highly demanded in Africa as well as worldwide. However, the management of plastic wastes, particularly in African countries, is inadequate and most of the plastic debris is gatewayed into the water bodies. Nowadays, environmentalists, organizations, and governments are aware of microplastic pollution in the marine and terrestrial environment. Thus, addressing a compressive literature review in one referenced paper, as they draw up the articles, is essential to propose new research directions, to synthesize the existing theories among the existing studies. The abundance of microplastics is variable depending on the sampling and identification techniques. In this review, the available publications on microplastic pollution in African countries’ water systems were retrieved. Investigations found that microplastic pollution levels in the studied water bodies were reported in high concentrations. It was observed that different sampling and analytical methods were applied for the detection of microplastics, and suggestions were raised at it may affect the reliability of the results. Most of the detected and quantified microplastics were confirmed as they are from secondary sources. Most of the microplastic pollution research was conducted dominantly in South Africa, and secondly Nigeria, although other countries should also start conducting in their water systems. Surface water and sediment samples were dominantly carried out, but are limited with biota samples; hence, the risk assessment of microplastics is not yet determined. Some of the African countries have regulations on the prevention of macroplastic wastes, but the implementations are unsuccessful and most have not yet been established resulting in a threat of microplastics pollution. Thus, the research priorities on microplastic detection should be identified, and the African countries’ governments should be more proactive in eradicating macroplastic, which ends up as microplastics, pollutions in the water environments. Graphic abstract Article Highlights Researches on microplastic pollution in African countries water system is limited . A high microplastics abundance is found in African countries water system. Sampling methods and used analytical techniques for microplastic detection were included. Harmonized standard methods for microplastic pollution research should be established. Combined analytical tools at once should be adopted to detect reliable microplastics.

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