Dissemination of outputs from a cluster of livestock production programme projects in Zimbabwe

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 ◽  
pp. 29-29
Author(s):  
T. Smith ◽  
J. F. Morton ◽  
E. Nengomasha
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Planning Stage ◽  
Training Materials ◽  
Effective Dissemination ◽  
Production Programme ◽  
Sub Saharan

During the mid to late 1990’s a cluster of Livestock Production Programme (LPP) projects, funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) was established in Zimbabwe, as a representative country of southern sub-Saharan Africa, to develop outputs to increase the livestock contribution to the alleviation of poverty. All stakeholders were involved with the projects from the planning stage and participatory on-farm research was a key feature. Several of the projects addressed one of the major constraints to livestock production in arid and semi-arid areas, dry season feeding, the animal species considered being poultry, donkeys (draught power), goats and milking cows. The benefits of these projects can only be realised through effective dissemination to relevant target groups (farmers, extension staff, which because of failing government extension services in several African countries, must include NGOs, churches and local organizations, and policy makers) and development of relevant training materials.

scholarly journals Policy makers, regulators and researchers’ perspectives on genomics research and the capacity of the National Health Research Act of 2013 to regulate genomics research in Zambia

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Oliver Mweemba ◽  
John Musuku ◽  
Tulani Francis L. Matenga ◽  
Michael Parker ◽  
Rwamahe Rutakumwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Research ◽  
Ethics Committees ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Genomics Research ◽  
History Of ◽  
Sub Saharan

Background: Health research in sub-Saharan Africa takes place against a lengthy history of exploitation and unfair collaboration. This has involved the export of samples and data from the continent for the benefit of institutions and researchers elsewhere. In this paper, we report the perspectives of people involved in conducting genomics research in Zambia and the capacity of the Health Research Act (HRA) of 2013 in regulating genomics research. Methods: We approached 14 purposively selected stakeholders involved in the development or implementation of the HRA in Zambia for in-depth interviews. These were members of research ethics committees, genomics researchers, Ministry of Health policy makers and institutional lawyers. Results: Participants reported that there are benefits in genomics research for Zambia such as diagnosing and treatment of diseases. Participants also expressed concerns, most of which were ethical in nature. Prominent concerns were on consent. Participants’ main concern was the possible misuse of samples in the future. These concerns resonated with the HRA, which prohibits the use of broad consent for the collection of samples and data for future unspecified research. The implications of this is that Zambians may not participate in any kind of health research for which the storage, sharing and re-use of data or samples is envisaged. The restrictive nature of HRA means that genomics research may be excluded from future health research collaborations, thus isolating the country from potentially beneficial health research. Some policy makers also worried the samples and data that comes from such research may be difficult to access by local scientists. Conclusion: In this article, we describe the views of Zambian policymakers on genomics research and the capacity of HRA in regulating genomics research. Our findings are relevant for the Zambian audience, and other African countries that are aiming to regulate health research, especially genomics research.

scholarly journals Globalization, Governance, and the Green Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Policy Thresholds

World Affairs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 184 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-212
Author(s):  
Simplice A. Asongu ◽  
Joseph Nnanna
Keyword(s):  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Maximum Level ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Institutional Governance ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Positive Threshold ◽  
Sub Saharan

This study assesses how globalization modulates the effect of governance on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in sub-Saharan African countries. The empirical evidence is based on Generalized Method of Moments. The minimum level (or negative threshold) of Foreign Direct Investment required for it to interact with political stability and contribute toward the green economy is 45 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), while 90 percent of GDP is the maximum level (or positive threshold) required for trade to complement “voice and accountability” in mitigating CO2 emissions. Seventy-six percent of GDP and 80 percent of GDP are, respectively, negative trade thresholds for government effectiveness and economic governance. The corresponding negative trade thresholds for the rule of law, corruption-control, and institutional governance are, respectively, 230 percent of GDP, 63.5 percent of GDP, and 106.5 percent of GDP. Actionable openness policy thresholds are provided to inform policy makers on how governance interacts with globalization to promote the green economy.

Highlights on a UNESCO/Sida project to assess the environmental and health challenges of mining activities in Sub-Saharan Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toteu S. Félix
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Development Cooperation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

<p>Mining is an important pillar of economic growth of many African countries. However, problems arising from this activity pose serious challenges, which most of these countries have difficulties to address properly because of poor environmental governance as highlighted in the Africa Mining Vision. Many African countries also lack a precise inventory and assessment of environmental impacts of abandoned and derelict mines. As a consequence, there is an urgent need to evaluate the true extent of the detrimental effects of metal and metalloid pollutants and their impact on human and animal health, as well as on ecosystems. Between 2013 and 2017 and thanks to a Partnership Programme between UNESCO and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), a network of over 100 Earth scientists from 29 Africa assessed the impacts of mining activities in sub-Saharan Africa. The project intended to provide crucial scientific knowledge that will contribute to understanding the factors that control cycling of pollutants from mine sites (abandoned or active) to soils, water and vegetation and the impact on the food chain. We anticipate that the results of the project will be used to improve the environmental norms in individual countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the efficiency of governments in addressing the challenges related to the adverse effects of mining activities. The preliminary results of the project have recently been published as a Special Issue in the Journal of Geochemical Exploration. During the presentation, we intend to highlight few examples where mining activities alone or in interaction geological background are contributing to threat the ecosystem and health of neighbouring communities. We will also draw the lessons learnt from the implementation of this continental-scale project.</p>

scholarly journals Demographic Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa: From Grassroots to Ivory Towers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelvin Melkizedeck Leshabari
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Transition ◽  
Japanese Population ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Statistical Tools ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Philosophical Basis ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Homogenous Population

The concept of demographic transition has been evident to European, North American and Japanese population since the early 1960’s. It loosely followed natural patterns that were postulated as far back as 1795. However, scientists and policy makers, still erroneously consider demographic transition to be absent in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this chapter is to uncover the hidden truth behind population censa in sub-Sahara African countries using Statistical tools. The chapter analyses philosophical basis of sub-Saharan Africa demographic dividends from 1960 to 2000. It then cautiously highlights how demographic transition is emerging in sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, it endeavours to highlight how different African countries are in different stages of demographic transition. The chapter also contrasts some of the prevalent misconceptions about Africans, especially the delusional idea of Africans as a homogenous population group on genetic basis. Lastly, it offers solution, to the current demographic chaos, and their relationship to future matured demographic transition in sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals Currently important animal disease management issues in sub-Saharan Africa : policy and trade issues

2009 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G.R. Thomson
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
International Markets ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Sub Saharan

The present international approach to management of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) is based on the assumption that most can be eradicated ; consequently, that is the usual objective adopted by international organizations concerned with animal health. However, for sub-Saharan Africa and southern Africa more particularly, eradication of most TADs is impossible for the foreseeable future for a variety of technical, financial and logistical reasons. Compounding this, the present basis for access to international markets for products derived from animals requires that the area of origin (country or zone) is free from trade-influencing TADs. The ongoing development of transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs), extending across huge areas of southern Africa, therefore presents a development conundrum because it makes creation of geographic areas free from TADs more difficult and brings development based on wildlife conservation on the one hand and that based on livestock production on the other into sharp conflict. Sub-Saharan Africa is consequently confronted by a complex problem that contributes significantly to retarded rural development which, in turn, impedes poverty alleviation. In southern Africa specifically, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) presents the greatest problem in relation to access to international markets for animal products. However, it is argued that this problem could be overcome by a combination between (1) implementation of a commodity-based approach to trade in products derived from animals and (2) amendment of the international standards for FMD specifically (i.e. the FMD chapter in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health [OIE]) so that occurrence of SAT serotype viruses in free-living African buffalo need not necessarily mean exclusion of areas where buffalo occur from international markets for animal products. This would overcome a presently intractable constraint to market access for southern African countries and enable conservation and livestock production to be more effectively integrated, to the benefit of both.

scholarly journals Use It Sustainably or Lose It! The Land Stakes in SDGs for Sub-Saharan Africa

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheikh Mbow
Keyword(s):  
Learning System ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Transformative Action ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Internal Policy ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Knowledge Intensive

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) failed to meet most Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require knowledge-intensive actions that weigh development goals against sustainability options with several possibilities in various contexts. Land resources are the mainstay for most African communities and the basis of achievement of most SDGs. The “transformation imperative” in Africa will only take place in a differentiated set of resource management and use. The baselines in African countries are rather low in terms of internal policy and economic functions. The objective of this paper is to instate ideas on ways to achieve the SDGs through a new transformative design based on a collective capacity of diverse actors to access a range of land-based practices. We should selectively adapt, adopt, or consolidate various land innovations by targeting place and time where various practices have worked or can work in a range of ecologies; what seems to work over the short-term but reduces risks for the long-term; and what the implications are for wealth, food production, livelihoods, climate change, resilience, and development. This requires a greater capacity to apply what is known about transformative action but also set a collaborative learning system to influence policy-makers and action-takers to support sustainable transformation.

Crowdsourcing Covid-19 signals in sub-Saharan Africa: Leveraging digital contributor networks for participatory surveillance of Covid-19 symptoms and deaths (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngozi A Erondu ◽  
Sagal A Ali ◽  
Mohamed Ali ◽  
Schadrac C Agbla
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Local Networks ◽  
The World ◽  
Sub Saharan

BACKGROUND In sub-Saharan Africa, underreporting of cases and deaths has been attributed to various factors including, weak disease surveillance, low health-seeking behaviour of flu like symptoms, and stigma of Covid-19. There is evidence that SARS-CoV-2 spread mimics transmission patterns of other countries across the world. Since the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way research can be conducted and in light of restrictions on travel and risks to in-person data collection, innovative approaches to collecting data must be considered. Nearly 50% of Africa’s population is a unique mobile subscriber and it is one of the fastest growing smart-phone marketplaces in the world; hence, mobile phone platforms should be considered to monitor Covid-19 trends in the community. OBJECTIVE We demonstrate the use of digital contributor platforms to survey individuals about cases of flu-like symptoms and instances of unexplained deaths in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. METHODS Rapid cross-sectional survey of individuals with severe flu and pneumonia symptoms and unexplained deaths in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia and Zimbabwe RESULTS Using a non-health specific information platform, we found COVID-19 signals in five African countries, specifically: •Across countries, nearly half of the respondents (n=739) knew someone who had severe flu or pneumonia symptoms in recent months. •One in three respondents from Somalia and one in five from Zimbabwe respondents said they knew more than five people recently displaying flu and/or pneumonia symptoms. •In Somalia there were signals that a large number of people might be dying outside of health facilities, specifically in their homes or in IDP or refugee camps. CONCLUSIONS Existing digital contributor platforms with local networks are a non-traditional data source that can provide information from the community to supplement traditional government surveillance systems and academic surveys. We demonstrate that using these distributor networks to for community surveys can provide periodic information on rumours but could also be used to capture local sentiment to inform public health decision-making; for example, these insights could be useful to inform strategies to increase confidence in Covid19 vaccine. As Covid-19 continues to spread somewhat silently across sub-Saharan Africa, regional and national public health entities should consider expanding event-based surveillance sources to include these systems.

Managing African Urbanization in the Context of Environmental Change

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuaib Lwasa
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Governance ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Urbanization Rate ◽  
Development And Management

Africa’s urbanization rate has increased steadily over the past three decades and is reported to be faster than in any other region in the world . It is estimated that by 2030, over half of the African population will be living in urban areas . But the nature of Africa’s urbanization and subsequent form of cities is yet to be critically analyzed in the context of city authorities’ readiness to address the challenges . Evidence is also suggesting that urbanization in African countries is increasingly associated with the high economic growth that has been observed in the last two decades . Both underlying and proximate drivers are responsible for the urbanization, and these include population dynamics, economic growth, legislative designation, increasing densities in rural centers, as well as the growth of mega cities such as Lagos, Cairo and Kinshasa, that are extending to form urban corridors . With the opportunities of urbanization in Sub–Saharan Africa, there are also challenges in the development and management of these cities . Those challenges include provision of social services, sustainable economic development, housing development, urban governance, spatial development guidance and environmental management, climate change adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk reduction . The challenge involves dealing with the development and infrastructure deficit, in addition to required adaption to and mitigation of climate change . This paper examines the current state of urban management in Africa .

Monetary Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Monetary Policy ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Policy Regimes ◽  
Export Prices ◽  
Policy Work ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Policy Guidance

Having broadly stabilized inflation over the past two decades, many policymakers in sub-Saharan Africa are now asking more of their monetary policy frameworks. They are looking to avoid policy misalignments and respond appropriately to both domestic and external shocks, including swings in fiscal policy and spikes in food and export prices. In many cases they are finding current regimes—often characterized as ‘money targeting’—lacking, with opaque and sometimes inconsistent objectives, inadequate transmission of policy to the economy, and difficulties in responding to supply shocks. At the same time, little existing research on monetary policy is targeted to low-income countries. What do we know about the empirics of monetary transmission in low-income countries? (How) Does monetary policy work in countries characterized by a huge share of food in consumption, underdeveloped financial markets, and opaque policy regimes? (How) Can we use methods largely derived in advanced countries to answer these questions? And (how) can we use the results to guide policymakers? This book draws on years of research and practice at the IMF and in central banks from the region to shed empirical and theoretical light on these questions and to provide practical tools and policy guidance. A key feature of the book is the application of dynamic general equilibrium models, suitably adapted to reflect key features of low-income countries, for the analysis of monetary policy in sub-Saharan African countries.

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