Livestock enclosures in drylands of Sub-Saharan Africa are overlooked hotspots of N2O emissions

Abstract Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is home to approximately ¼ of the global livestock population, which in the last 60 years has increased by factors of 2.5–4 times for cattle, goats and sheep. An important resource for pastoralists, most livestock live in semi-arid and arid environments, where they roam during the day and are kept in enclosures (or bomas) during the night. Manure, although rich in nitrogen, is rarely used, and therefore accumulates in bomas over time. Here we present in-situ measurements of N2O fluxes from 46 bomas in Kenya and show that even after 40 years following abandonment, fluxes are still ~one magnitude higher than those from adjacent savanna sites. Using maps of livestock distribution, we scaled our finding to SSA and found that abandoned bomas are significant hotspots for atmospheric N2O at the continental scale, contributing ~5% of the current estimate of total anthropogenic N2O emissions for all of Africa.

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Wealth-related inequalities in demand for family planning satisfied among married and unmarried adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa

Reproductive Health ◽

10.1186/s12978-021-01076-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (S1) ◽

Author(s):

Martin K. Mutua ◽

Yohannes D. Wado ◽

Monica Malata ◽

Caroline W. Kabiru ◽

Elsie Akwara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Family Planning ◽

West Africa ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

Young Women ◽

Rate Of Change ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Demographic And Health Surveys ◽

Sexually Active ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Over Time

Abstract Background The use of modern contraception has increased in much of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, the extent to which changes have occurred across the wealth spectrum among adolescents is not well known. We examine poor-rich gaps in demand for family planning satisfied by modern methods (DFPSm) among sexually active adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) using data from national household surveys. Methods We used recent Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys to describe levels of wealth-related inequalities in DFPSm among sexually active AGYW using an asset index as an indicator of wealth. Further, we used data from countries with more than one survey conducted from 2000 to assess DFPSm trends. We fitted linear models to estimate annual average rate of change (AARC) by country. We fitted random effects regression models to estimate regional AARC in DFPSm. All analysis were stratified by marital status. Results Overall, there was significant wealth-related disparities in DFPSm in West Africa only (17.8 percentage points (pp)) among married AGYW. The disparities were significant in 5 out of 10 countries in Eastern, 2 out of 6 in Central, and 7 out of 12 in West among married AGYW and in 2 out of 6 in Central and 2 out of 9 in West Africa among unmarried AGYW. Overall, DFPSm among married AGYW increased over time in both poorest (AARC = 1.6%, p < 0.001) and richest (AARC = 1.4%, p < 0.001) households and among unmarried AGYW from poorest households (AARC = 0.8%, p = 0.045). DPFSm increased over time among married and unmarried AGYW from poorest households in Eastern (AARC = 2.4%, p < 0.001) and Southern sub-regions (AARC = 2.1%, p = 0.030) respectively. Rwanda and Liberia had the largest increases in DPFSm among married AGYW from poorest (AARC = 5.2%, p < 0.001) and richest (AARC = 5.3%, p < 0.001) households respectively. There were decreasing DFPSm trends among both married (AARC = − 1.7%, p < 0.001) and unmarried (AARC = − 4.7%, p < 0.001) AGYW from poorest households in Mozambique. Conclusion Despite rapid improvements in DFPSm among married AGYW from the poorest households in many SSA countries there have been only modest reductions in wealth-related inequalities. Significant inequalities remain, especially among married AGYW. DFPSm stalled in most sub-regions among unmarried AGYW.

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Contrasting Monetary and Multidimensional Poverty Measures in a Low-Income Sub-Saharan African Country

Social Indicators Research ◽

10.1007/s11205-020-02382-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 151 (2) ◽

pp. 547-574 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lukas Salecker ◽

Anar K. Ahmadov ◽

Leyla Karimli

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Low Income ◽

Multidimensional Poverty ◽

Poverty Measurement ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Analytical Strategy ◽

Poverty Risk ◽

Two Measures ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Over Time

AbstractDespite significant progress in poverty measurement, few studies have undertaken an in-depth comparison of monetary and multidimensional measures in the context of low-income countries and fewer still in Sub-Saharan Africa. Yet the differences can be particularly consequential in these settings. We address this gap by applying a distinct analytical strategy to the case of Rwanda. Using data from two waves of the Rwandan Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey, we combine comparing poverty rates cross-sectionally and over time, examining the overlaps and differences in the two measures, investigating poverty rates within population sub-groups, and estimating several statistical models to assess the differences between the two measures in identifying poverty risk factors. We find that using a monetary measure alone does not capture high incidence of multidimensional poverty in both waves, that it is possible to be multidimensional poor without being monetary poor, and that using a monetary measure alone overlooks significant change in multidimensional poverty over time. The two measures also differ in which poverty risk factors they put emphasis on. Relying only on monetary measures in low-income sub-Saharan Africa can send inaccurate signals to policymakers regarding the optimal design of social policies as well as monitoring their effectiveness.

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Closing maize yield gaps in sub-Saharan Africa will boost soil N2O emissions

Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability ◽

10.1016/j.cosust.2020.08.018 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 95-105 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sonja Leitner ◽

David E Pelster ◽

Christian Werner ◽

Lutz Merbold ◽

Elizabeth M Baggs ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Maize Yield ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

N2o Emissions ◽

Yield Gaps ◽

Sub Saharan

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The relative importance and stability of disease burden causes over time: summarizing regional trends on disease burden for 290 causes over 28 years

Population Health Metrics ◽

10.1186/s12963-021-00257-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Henry Dyson ◽

Raf Van Gestel ◽

Eddy van Doorslaer

Keyword(s):

Disease Burden ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Regional Trends ◽

Disability Adjusted Life ◽

Life Years ◽

Causes Of Disease ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Disease Study ◽

Over Time

Abstract Background Since the Global Burden of Disease study (GBD) has become more comprehensive, data for hundreds of causes of disease burden, measured using Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), have become increasingly available for almost every part of the world. However, undergoing any systematic comparative analysis of the trends can be challenging given the quantity of data that must be presented. Methods We use the GBD data to describe trends in cause-specific DALY rates for eight regions. We quantify the extent to which the importance of ‘major’ DALY causes changes relative to ‘minor’ DALY causes over time by decomposing changes in the Gini coefficient into ‘proportionality’ and ‘reranking’ indices. Results The fall in regional DALY rates since 1990 has been accompanied by generally positive proportionality indices and reranking indices of negligible magnitude. However, the rate at which DALY rates have been falling has slowed and, at the same time, proportionality indices have tended towards zero. These findings are clearest where the focus is exclusively upon non-communicable diseases. Notably, large and positive proportionality indices are recorded for sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade. Conclusion The positive proportionality indices show that disease burden has become less concentrated around the leading causes over time, and this trend has become less prominent as the DALY rate decline has slowed. The recent decline in disease burden in sub-Saharan Africa is disproportionally driven by improvements in DALY rates for HIV/AIDS, as well as for malaria, diarrheal diseases, and lower respiratory infections.

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A Strategy for Technology Development for Semi-Arid Sub-Saharan Africa

Outlook on Agriculture ◽

10.1177/003072709802700305 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 157-161

Author(s):

John H. Sanders ◽

Barry I. Shapiro ◽

Sunder Ramaswamy

Keyword(s):

Development Strategy ◽

Water Availability ◽

New Technologies ◽

Technology Development ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Inorganic Fertilizers ◽

Strategy Evaluation ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Semi Arid

This article proposes a strategy for agricultural technology development for semi-arid West Africa. The strategy evaluation consists of two aspects: a) a review of the successes in the region; and b) analysis with mathematical programming of the potential impacts and constraints to various new technologies tested in the region. The technology development strategy indicates how further productivity gains can be made by responding to the two principal constraints of water availability and soil fertility. These constraints must be simultaneously resolved but the strategy needs to be adapted for different soil characteristics and economic environments. The major emphasis is on the importance of the rapid introduction of inorganic fertilizers combined with techniques to increase water availability; organic and inorganic fertilizers need to be considered complements in the semi-arid regions. Farmers are already introducing labour intensive variations of these techniques in the most degraded regions. The policy concern is to encourage government policymakers to put a high priority on fertilizer and increase the availability of inorganic fertilizer while research efforts continue to develop improved methods for complementary use of organic fertilizer.

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1. A farming systems approach to improving draft animal power in sub-Saharan Africa; Participatory technology development for animal traction: experiences from a semi-arid area of Kenya; Socio-economic aspects of animal power: a diagnostic study in Zimbabwe

Meeting the Challenges of Animal Traction ◽

10.3362/9781780445458.001 ◽

1999 ◽

pp. 9-32

Author(s):

Forbes Muvirimi ◽

Jim Ellis-Jones ◽

David Mellis ◽

Harriet Matsaert ◽

Boniface Mwaniki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systems Approach ◽

Technology Development ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Arid Area ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Diagnostic Study ◽

Animal Power ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Participatory Technology Development ◽

Semi Arid

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Countering Violent Extremism in Sub-Saharan Africa: What Policy Makers Need to Know

World Affairs ◽

10.1177/0043820019862270 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 182 (3) ◽

pp. 256-272 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Robin A. Hardy

Keyword(s):

Financial Support ◽

Muslim World ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Risk Assessments ◽

Boko Haram ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Counter Terrorism ◽

Violent Extremism ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Over Time

This essay addresses recurring and growing inaccurate reports from political officials as well as counter-terrorism analysts and journalists that the Sahara-Sahel group Boko Haram is a defeated entity. Notwithstanding concerted efforts to rout the movement, Boko Haram and its network of jihadists have expanded. Crucial misunderstandings surrounding what fostered and sustains the phenomenon—as well as a general naivety regarding the organization’s flexibility to adapt to attract combatants, financial support, and weaponry beyond Nigeria’s borders—have made performing basic adequate risk assessments overwhelmingly challenging. Policy makers and CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) practitioners would be wise to recognize that not only has Boko Haram morphed but its growing affiliates also terrorize increased territory. The threat of militant Islam in the Sahara-Sahel, therefore, has not been contained as some would have us believe. Rather, Muslim extremism has become entangled and more complex not only in Africa but across the Muslim world. When jihadists in one territory have taken a beating, surviving fighters have simply relocated to other geographies accompanied by connections for capital and munitions. In this way, Boko Haram—the fulcrum of violent Islam in the Sahara-Sahel—has become, over time, an international jihadist actor.

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Investigating persistent measles dynamics in Niger and associations with rainfall

Journal of The Royal Society Interface ◽

10.1098/rsif.2020.0480 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (169) ◽

pp. 20200480

Author(s):

Alexandre Blake ◽

Ali Djibo ◽

Ousmane Guindo ◽

Nita Bharti

Keyword(s):

Spatial Clustering ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Environmental Drivers ◽

Transmission Mechanisms ◽

Immunization Strategies ◽

Annual Periodicity ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Low Coverage ◽

Over Time

Measles is a major cause of child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Current immunization strategies achieve low coverage in areas where transmission drivers differ substantially from those in high-income countries. A better understanding of measles transmission in areas with measles persistence will increase vaccination coverage and reduce ongoing transmission. We analysed weekly reported measles cases at the district level in Niger from 1995 to 2004 to identify underlying transmission mechanisms. We identified dominant periodicities and the associated spatial clustering patterns. We also investigated associations between reported measles cases and environmental drivers associated with human activities, particularly rainfall. The annual and 2–3-year periodicities dominated the reporting data spectrum. The annual periodicity was strong with contiguous spatial clustering, consistent with the latitudinal gradient of population density, and stable over time. The 2–3-year periodicities were weaker, unstable over time and had spatially fragmented clustering. The rainy season was associated with a lower risk of measles case reporting. The annual periodicity likely reflects seasonal agricultural labour migration, whereas the 2–3-year periodicity potentially results from multiple mechanisms such as reintroductions and vaccine coverage heterogeneity. Our findings suggest that improving vaccine coverage in seasonally mobile populations could reduce strong measles seasonality in Niger and across similar settings.

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