scholarly journals Megaprojects—mega failures? The politics of aspiration and the transformation of rural Kenya

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Detlef Müller-Mahn ◽  
Kennedy Mkutu ◽  
Eric Kioko
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
National Development ◽  
Infrastructure Projects ◽  
Risk Of Failure ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Development Politics ◽  
Vision 2030 ◽  
Rural Kenya ◽  
Rural Africa ◽  
Big Push

AbstractMegaprojects are returning to play a key role in the transformation of rural Africa, despite controversies over their outcome. While some view them as promising tools for a ‘big push’ of modernization, others criticize their multiple adverse effects and risk of failure. Against this backdrop, the paper revisits earlier concepts that have explained megaproject failures by referring to problems of managerial complexity and the logics of state-led development. Taking recent examples from Kenya, the paper argues for a more differentiated approach, considering the symbolic role infrastructure megaprojects play in future-oriented development politics as objects of imagination, vision, and hope. We propose to explain the outcomes of megaprojects by focusing on the ‘politics of aspiration’, which unfold at the intersection between different actors and scales. The paper gives an overview of large infrastructure projects in Kenya and places them in the context of the country´s national development agenda ‘Vision 2030′. It identifies the relevant actors and investigates how controversial aspirations, interests and foreign influences play out on the ground. The paper concludes by describing megaproject development as future making, driven by the mobilizing power of the ‘politics of aspiration’. The analysis of megaprojects should consider not only material outcomes but also their symbolic dimension for desirable futures.

Contractors’ Perspective on the Main Factors Influencing On-Site Labour Productivity: A Focus on Malaysian Infrastructure Projects

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Hanizun Hanafi ◽  
◽  
Ong Ming Zhen ◽  
Arman Abdul Razak ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
National Development ◽  
Infrastructure Projects ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Construction Firms ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Importance Index ◽  
Financial Investments ◽  
Main Factors

The overall performance of construction projects has been seemingly low and has negatively affected its efficacy in fulfilling national development agenda. Infrastructure projects are complex and riddled with numerous construction risks, and often involve large financial investments as well as several resources, particularly labour. The objective of this research paper is to identify the main factors that influence labour on construction sites of infrastructure projects. In achieving this research objective, 26 factors were extracted from literature and subsequently distributed for assessment by 355 identified respondents via a questionnaire-based survey. 63 respondents, representing a response rate of 17.75%, participated in returning completed questionnaires for further analysis. The main factors that influence on–site labour productivity were identified through the use of Relative Importance Index analysis. The three most significant factors identified were co-ordination between sub-contractors, labour skill and expertise within specific job scopes, and, availability of updated construction drawings at the project sites. Several other factors were also extracted through the analysis conducted on the garnered data. These factors will collectively be able to accord contractors a better comprehension of the influencing elements that either impinge or promote labour productivity. These findings are pertinent for construction firms in the efforts to progressively increase the level of labour productivity in the Malaysian construction sector, particularly within the parameters of infrastructure projects.

Agriculture, Diversification, and Gender in Rural Africa: What Lessons Can We Learn?

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes Andersson Djurfeldt ◽  
Fred Mawunyo Dzanku ◽  
Aida Cuthbert Isinika
Keyword(s):  
Gender Gap ◽  
Cash Income ◽  
Crop Diversification ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
The Past ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Yield Gaps ◽  
Rural Africa ◽  
And Gender ◽  
High Share

Smallholder-friendly messages, albeit not always translated into action, returned strongly to the development agenda over a decade ago. Smallholders’ livelihoods encompass social and economic realities outside agriculture, however, providing opportunities as well as challenges for the smallholder model. While smallholders continue to straddle the farm and non-farm sectors, the notion of leaving agriculture altogether appears hyperbolic, given the persistently high share of income generated from agriculture noted in the Afrint dataset. Trends over the past fifteen years can be broadly described as increasing dynamism accompanied by rising polarization. Positive trends include increased farm sizes, rising grain production, crop diversification, and increased commercialization, while negative trends include stagnation of yields, persistent yield gaps, gendered landholding inequalities, gendered agricultural asset inequalities, growing gendered commercialization inequalities, and an emerging gender gap in cash income. Regional nuances in trends reinforce the need for spatial contextualization of linkages between the farm and non-farm sectors.

scholarly journals Energy-Water-Environment Nexus and the Transition Towards a Circular Economy: The Case of Qatar

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul-Jalil Ibrahim ◽  
Nasim Shah Shirazi
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
National Development ◽  
Supply System ◽  
Water Supply System ◽  
Vision 2030

Abstract Background Qatar’s per capita consumption of both energy and water is among the highest in the world. Documentation of methods to reduce energy and water use and its impact on the environment is crucial. A circular economy (CE) ensures that economic growth must not necessarily lead to more resource consumption. Materials and methods This study aims to discuss the CE approach with a focus on understanding the interdependencies between energy and water and their impact on the environment. The study explores the energy-water-environment nexus and how Qatar can leverage this to transition to a CE. The policy landscape and strategies related to energy and water use sectors are presented, addressing efficiencies and substitutes from a circular economic viewpoint. Results The findings show that electricity and mobility sectors(energy perspective of the CE) and agriculture and water supply system (water perspective of the CE) of the Qatari economy provide an opportunity for regeneration, virtualising, exchanging, optimising, sharing and closing loops to achieve CE growth. Conclusions The nexus between the mobility, electricity, agriculture and water supply system needs consideration for optimal policy outcome for the CE in Qatar. The study recommends a need to embark on public awareness on moving away from linear economic to the circular economic paradigm and developing a comprehensive policy on Qatar’s circular economic approach that consolidates the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2018–2022 to provide policy clarity and communication towards CE.

scholarly journals Optimized Solution for Increasing Electricity Access with Mini-Grid Technology in Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 156
Author(s):  
Chukwuma Leonard Azimoh ◽  
Charles Mbohwa
Keyword(s):  
National Development ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Grid Systems ◽  
The North ◽  
Vision 2030 ◽  
The Government ◽  
Electricity Access ◽  
Installed Capacity

Electricity challenge in Nigeria is such that only a dramatic increase in both generation and distribution capacity could leapfrog it out of the situation. Reports show that about 61% of the population have access to electricity, and those that do have are currently grappling with epileptic supply. The power network has installed capacity of about 12.5GW whereas the distribution network has capacity for about 6 GW, and often only about 4.5 GW is available to the consumers. Shortfalls are often met with private generations using diesel generators, resulting in noise and environmental pollution with the attendant health consequences. Frightfully so, the challenge is further exacerbated by the burgeoning population. Nevertheless, the government have set an ambitious target for increasing electricity access in VISION 2030 national development plan. A major milestone of this policy is the audacious ambition to increase the existing grid capacity to 30 GW, with 30% of the mix coming from low carbon technology sources. This study explores the use of available renewable energy resources at eleven locations in different regions of the country for optimal generation of energy in contribution to the Nigerian energy matrix. The study was conducted using HOMER™ and Power BI models. Four energy sources were investigated comprising of solar, wind, hydro and diesel. Our findings show that most places in the southern and middle belt parts of the country support mini-grid systems but are more receptive to grid extension, while a majority of the locations in the north are more environmentally friendly to the implementation of mini-grids. In addition, most places investigated in the south, solar technology contributes more than 80% to the energy mix, meanwhile, most northern locations despite having higher solar irradiation are better suited for wind technology with above 60% contribution to the fold.

scholarly journals Rights to Education for Poor Peoples: How The Country Protect Them?

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-42
Author(s):  
Luthfi Widyantoko
Keyword(s):  
Educational Development ◽  
National Development ◽  
Access To Education ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Right To Education ◽  
Equal Distribution ◽  
Classic Problem ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Right

This paper discusses the rights of the poor and marginalized in obtaining the right to education as one of the basic human rights. This paper is based on the condition that the urgency of educational development is one of the top priorities in the national development agenda. Educational development is very important because of its significant role in achieving progress in various fields of life: social, economic, political, and cultural. Therefore, the Government is obliged to fulfill the rights of every citizen in obtaining education services in order to improve the quality of life of the Indonesian people as mandated by the 1945 Constitution, which requires the Government to be responsible in educating the life of the nation and creating public welfare. The lack of equal distribution of education in Indonesia is a classic problem which until now there has not been any strategic steps from the government to handle it. This paper confirms that the achievement of the right to education in Indonesia has not been achieved and is motivated by several key factors, among government policies. In addition, human resources and infrastructure are also one of the causes of unequal access to education in Indonesia.

Agricultural Schemes in Namibia for Meeting Essential Needs

2018 ◽  
pp. 500-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neeta Baporikar ◽  
Konis Elungi
Keyword(s):  
National Development ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Rural Poor ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Rural Income ◽  
Development Framework ◽  
Vision 2030

Namibia has been striving to improve the rural poor quality of life through policies and schemes in line with the national development framework (Vision 2030). Sustained food production is one of the major initiatives, as it constitutes as basic livelihood activity but also augments rural income and livelihood. Apart from that, it is also a citizen's critical need. Though significant the schemes are, their contribution to household income and their role in improvement of livelihood is never taken up and exploration done. Adopting the DFID sustainable livelihood assessment framework, this chapter uses direct observations and primary data to present an assessment of the contribution of selected agricultural schemes.

scholarly journals Teaching Rural Indonesian Schools Students: Effective Strategies

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
Mia Febriana ◽  
Joko Nurkamto ◽  
Dewi Rochsantiningsih ◽  
M. Rosyidi
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Strategies ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
National Development ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Research Technology ◽  
Narrative Case Study ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
Teacher Education Graduates

“Building Indonesia from the periphery by strengthening the regions and villages within the framework of a unitary state” is the third agenda of Nawacita (Nine priorities of national development agenda). This commitment reflects the current Indonesian government's concerns that prioritize development in the disadvantaged, outermost, and frontier regions (3T). It is implemented in various programs, one of which is the SM-3T program enacted by the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education of Indonesia. The SM-3T, which stands for Sarjana Mendidik di daerah Terdepan, Terluar, dan Tertinggal (Graduates Educating in the Disadvantaged, Outermost, and Frontier Regions), is a year program for teacher education graduates to teach in rural areas of Indonesia. This study aims to investigate teaching strategies used by SM-3T teachers in rural Indonesian schools. This research employs a narrative case study. The techniques of data collection comprise questionnaire and in-depth interview. This study can extend the existing knowledge about ELT in rural Indonesian schools, especially teaching strategies, and to improve teachers’ professionalism as they could experience conditions in rural Indonesian schools which are different from the conditions in urban schools.

scholarly journals PAKISTAN AND URBAN AGEING SCENARIO

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (06) ◽  
pp. 752-761
Author(s):  
Abid Ghafoor Chaudhry ◽  
Aftab Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Study Design ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
National Level ◽  
National Development ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Organic Process

Ageing is exactly the organic process of growing older and showing the effectsof increasing age. The state of Pakistan is caught in the complicated web of various socioeconomicand political problems. In such scenario, efforts to voice the rights of elderly seema bit surprising and out-of-priority box. Objective: The paper attempts to serve as an eyeopenerfor the policy makers both in public and private sectors to interrelate the factors deemedimperative for taking concrete steps to redress the menace arising out of ignoring ageingand dropping it from the national development agenda. Materials and Methods: Structuredinterview schedule was developed to collect information on Older Persons’ health, economicand psychological status. In this regard, an extensive questionnaire was designed and pretestedvigorously. Study Design: This paper is extracted out of the base-line exploratory study.Setting: Rawalpindi city. Period: Oct 2013 to Dec 2013. Results: 69.3% OPs reported variousdiseases, 19.7% respondents never visited the doctor. 25.1% respondents’ last visit to thedoctor was between six months to more than a year. 15.3% visited the doctor for a medicaltreatment. Older persons with no permanent income made them more vulnerable to suffervarious illnesses. Conclusions: Pakistan is not an aged-friendly country that even lacks a policyat national level for the welfare rights of older persons.

Mainstreaming national adaptation programmes of action into national development plans in Lesotho

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (03) ◽  
pp. 299-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Gwimbi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Policy ◽  
National Development ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Vision 2020 ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Change Policy ◽  
Development Plans

Purpose The concept of National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) is advocated at international, regional and national levels. The concept is thought to foster sustainability of livelihoods against impacts of climate change. This paper analyses the mainstreaming of NAPA into national development plans in Lesotho as accentuated by policies and programmes. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is broadly qualitative and reviews policies and projects on agriculture and food security, environment, forestry, water and irrigation aimed at sustaining rural livelihoods. Data from relevant government documents, commissioned studies’ reports, literature and key stakeholders are used. Findings Although the mainstreaming entry point for NAPA is identified in the country’s Vision 2020 and National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) 2012/13-2016/17, financial, technical, human and other resources are inadequate to ensure its effective implementation. There is little evidence of NAPA mainstreaming into development plans by the line ministries of finance and economic development other than donor-funded projects. Absence of climate change policy influence means NAPA is not well-factored into the national development agenda, as mainstreaming is difficult without appropriate policies. Most projects with effect on climate change impact abatement originate from specific sectors and are disconnected from each other. Originality/value Based on the findings, ways to leverage NAPA via mainstreaming are discussed. It is concluded that NAPA mainstreaming offers a promising avenue for initiating and promoting sustainable livelihoods in Lesotho. The study demonstrates the applicability of the presented sustainable livelihood framework.

scholarly journals Electronic Waste in Bangladesh: Evaluating the Situation, Legislation and Policy and Way Forward With Strategy and Approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahbub Alam ◽  
Khalid Md. Bahauddin
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Electronic Waste ◽  
National Policy ◽  
National Development ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Critical Issues

Abstract Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest-growing pollution problems worldwide given the presence if a variety of toxic substances which can contaminate the environment and threaten human health, if disposal protocols are not meticulously managed. In Bangladesh almost 2.7 million metric tons of e-waste generated per year. Of this amount only 20 to 30 percent is recycled and the rest of the waste is released in to landfills, rivers, drains lakes, canals, open spaces which are very hazardous for the health and environment. Since Bangladesh is in the stream of rapid technological advancement, it is seldom to take necessary steps to avoid the future jeopardized situation because of e-waste. The current practices of e-waste management in Bangladesh suffer from a number of drawbacks like the difficulty in inventorisation, unhealthy conditions of informal recycling, inadequate legislation and policy, poor awareness and reluctance on part of the corporate to address the critical issues. The paper highlights the associated issues and strategies to address this emerging problem, analyses the policy and its gaps. Therefore, this paper also suggest that e-waste policy development may require a more customized approach where, instead of addressing e-waste in isolation, it should be addressed as part of the national development agenda that integrates green economy assessment and strategic environmental assessment as part of national policy planning. Finally this work also suggests some alternative strategies and approaches to overcome the challenges of e-waste.

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