Case Studies

2020 ◽  
pp. 148-174
Author(s):  
James Leigland
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Multilateral Development Banks ◽  
Development Finance ◽  
Conventional Management ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Management Contract ◽  
Management Contracts

This chapter presents a series of short case studies of the best-known management contracts for water and electricity services in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The studies attempt to identify projects that successfully met the expectations of a wide variety of key stakeholders. But the review finds very few contracts that have achieved this standard of success. Why have governments, particularly in Africa, been so willing to sign these kinds of contracts, despite their consistently poor performance? Why has that performance not appreciably improved after almost three decades of experimentation? Why do donors, development finance institutions (DFIs), and multilateral development banks (MDBs) continue to promote these mechanisms? What lessons have been learned about the pre-conditions necessary for the conventional management contract model to meet expectations? The case studies in this chapter explore these questions and attempt to identify the factors that make such contracts successful.

scholarly journals Mapping 20 Years of Urban Expansion in 45 Urban Areas of Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 525
Author(s):  
Yann Forget ◽  
Michal Shimoni ◽  
Marius Gilbert ◽  
Catherine Linard
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Expansion ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Annual Growth Rate ◽  
Urban Dynamics ◽  
Mapping Approach ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

By 2050, half of the net increase in the world’s population is expected to reside in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), driving high urbanization rates and drastic land cover changes. However, the data-scarce environment of SSA limits our understanding of the urban dynamics in the region. In this context, Earth Observation (EO) is an opportunity to gather accurate and up-to-date spatial information on urban extents. During the last decade, the adoption of open-access policies by major EO programs (CBERS, Landsat, Sentinel) has allowed the production of several global high resolution (10–30 m) maps of human settlements. However, mapping accuracies in SSA are usually lower, limited by the lack of reference datasets to support the training and the validation of the classification models. Here we propose a mapping approach based on multi-sensor satellite imagery (Landsat, Sentinel-1, Envisat, ERS) and volunteered geographic information (OpenStreetMap) to solve the challenges of urban remote sensing in SSA. The proposed mapping approach is assessed in 17 case studies for an average F1-score of 0.93, and applied in 45 urban areas of SSA to produce a dataset of urban expansion from 1995 to 2015. Across the case studies, built-up areas averaged a compound annual growth rate of 5.5% between 1995 and 2015. The comparison with local population dynamics reveals the heterogeneity of urban dynamics in SSA. Overall, population densities in built-up areas are decreasing. However, the impact of population growth on urban expansion differs depending on the size of the urban area and its income class.

Smart Cities in Sub-Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
pp. 83-99
Author(s):  
Innocent Chirisa ◽  
Abraham Rajab Matamanda
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Smart City ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Scholarly Work ◽  
Critical Engagement ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Good Cause

The aim of this chapter is to interrogate and diagnose the concept of smart cities as it has been applied to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in a bid to decrypt the opportunities and challenges characterizing its manifestation in space and actuality. The chapter is a product of the critical engagement of scholarly work that compares the best practices in the development and promotion of the smart city concept against those practices that are antithetical and retrogressive in light of this good cause. To crystallize the realities, the chapter makes use of case studies that speak to these contrasting experiences. Case studies in SSA reveal differential practices with South Africa emerging as a country doing very well relative to others in the region. Some cities, especially the small and intermediate ones, fail to break even in terms of the revenue collections. This is partly because they have failed to attract investment in the form of industries or retain them because of politically induced instabilities.

scholarly journals False-negative malaria rapid diagnostic test results and their impact on community-based malaria surveys in sub-Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. e001582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver J Watson ◽  
Kelsey Marie Sumner ◽  
Mark Janko ◽  
Varun Goel ◽  
Peter Winskill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Probability Of Detection ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Lower Transmission ◽  
Demographic Patterns

Surveillance and diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria relies predominantly on rapid diagnostic tests (RDT). However, false-negative (FN) RDT results are known to occur for a variety of reasons, including operator error, poor storage conditions, pfhrp2/3 gene deletions, poor performance of specific RDT brands and lots, and low-parasite density infections. We used RDT and microscopy results from 85 000 children enrolled in Demographic Health Surveys and Malaria Indicator Surveys from 2009 to 2015 across 19 countries to explore the distribution of and risk factors for FN-RDTs in sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria’s impact is greatest. We sought to (1) identify spatial and demographic patterns of FN-RDT results, defined as a negative RDT but positive gold standard microscopy test, and (2) estimate the percentage of infections missed within community-based malaria surveys due to FN-RDT results. Across all studies, 19.9% (95% CI 19.0% to 20.9%) of microscopy-positive subjects were negative by RDT. The distribution of FN-RDT results was spatially heterogeneous. The variance in FN-RDT results was best explained by the prevalence of malaria, with an increase in FN-RDT results observed at lower transmission intensities, among younger subjects, and in urban areas. The observed proportion of FN-RDT results was not predicted by differences in RDT brand or lot performance alone. These findings characterise how the probability of detection by RDTs varies in different transmission settings and emphasise the need for careful interpretation of prevalence estimates based on surveys employing RDTs alone. Further studies are needed to characterise the cost-effectiveness of improved malaria diagnostics (eg, PCR or highly sensitive RDTs) in community-based surveys, especially in regions of low transmission intensity or high urbanicity.

scholarly journals Celebrity humanitarianism and international development an analysis of Oprah, Bono, and Angelina Jolie in Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal Petrie
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Oprah Winfrey ◽  
The Gift ◽  
Angelina Jolie ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Positive Results

Sub-Saharan Africa has become a popular destination for Hollywood celebritites to embark on humanitarian missions, in attempt to combat the problems of poverty, AIDS, and underdevelopment in Africa. However, celebrity humanitarians take for granted that development giving is an altruistic enterprise that can only bring about positive results for the communities and peoples involved. Using three celebrity case studies, I will show how humanitarian giving can result in unforeseen consequences, even when the gift of development is given with altruistic intentions. The celebrities analyzed in this thesis including Oprah Winfrey, Paul (Bono) Hewson, and Angelina Jolie, each adopt Western consumerist strategies that are incompatible with the diverse values and worldviews found in Africa. In addition, development giving provides an unsustainable solution for a collective global future, and is not exempt from forms of inequality, dependency, domination, and exploitation that privilege the Western subject through dehumanizing others.

scholarly journals From Development and Grand Corruption to Governance

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 12-28
Author(s):  
Scott MacWilliam ◽  
Mike Rafferty
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Development Policy ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
The State ◽  
Economic Resources ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Global Issue ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Social Wealth

In development policy circles, corruption has become a pressing global issue. Yet the contemporary relationship between corruption and development is complex and contested. For many, corruption robs people of economic resources and social wealth, and denudes the state of important capacities. That is, corruption prevents or blocks development. For others, corruption often occurs in the process of development as the form in which a class of developers accumulates wealth. That is, corruption is a phase of development. This article explores the contested relationship through two case studies: in Sub-Saharan Africa; and in the former Soviet Union. The article also links contemporary debates about corruption and development with earlier thinking about capitalist progress and development.

scholarly journals Scaling up interventions for depression in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from Zimbabwe

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Chibanda ◽  
R. Verhey ◽  
E. Munetsi ◽  
S. Rusakaniko ◽  
F. Cowan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Workers ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
District Health ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Extensive Consultation ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Hiv Programs

BackgroundThere is a dearth of information on how to scale-up evidence-based psychological interventions, particularly within the context of existing HIV programs. This paper describes a strategy for the scale-up of an intervention delivered by lay health workers (LHWs) to 60 primary health care facilities in Zimbabwe.MethodsA mixed methods approach was utilized as follows: (1) needs assessment using a semi-structured questionnaire to obtain information from nurses (n = 48) and focus group discussions with District Health Promoters (n = 12) to identify key priority areas; (2) skills assessment to identify core competencies and current gaps of LHWs (n = 300) employed in the 60 clinics; (3) consultation workshops (n = 2) with key stakeholders to determine referral pathways; and (4) in-depth interviews and consultations to determine funding mechanisms for the scale-up.ResultsFive cross-cutting issues were identified as critical and needing to be addressed for a successful scale-up. These included: the lack of training in mental health, unavailability of psychiatric drugs, depleted clinical staff levels, unavailability of time for counseling, and poor and unreliable referral systems for people suffering with depression. Consensus was reached by stakeholders on supervision and support structure to address the cross-cutting issues described above and funding was successfully secured for the scale-up.ConclusionKey requirements for success included early buy-in from key stakeholders, extensive consultation at each point of the scale-up journey, financial support both locally and externally, and a coherent sustainability plan endorsed by both government and private sectors.

scholarly journals Sustainable genomic research for food security in sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sethlina Naa Dodua Aryee ◽  
Dennis Owusu-Adjei ◽  
Richard Osei-Amponsah ◽  
Benjamin Skinner ◽  
Emmanuel Sowatey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Genomic Research ◽  
Laboratory Research ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Sub Saharan

AbstractAlthough traditional selective breeding has had a tremendous impact on both livestock and crop production in Africa, this has not kept pace with the high demand for animal and plant products on account of increasing urbanization, improved livelihoods and a rapidly growing human population. These challenges justify the need for more innovative and sustainable ways of improving animal and crop production to meet this demand. Over the last two decades the potential of genomics as a key tool to achieve improvement in desirable phenotypic traits has revolutionized the field of applied animal and plant biology. However, well informed use of such techniques has yet to be fully exploited within the context of local resources and capacity-building. The objective of this review is to highlight the rich agricultural biodiversity of sub-Saharan Africa, the potential of genomics in their sustainable use for food security, the challenges of genomic research and the strategies that can be adopted to overcome them in the implementation of agricultural genomic research in Africa. The lack of state-of-the-art laboratory research facilities, skilled human resources, poor funding and non-availability of scientific research resources, paucity of collaborative links between African researchers and a lack of engagement between key stakeholders in the agricultural value chain were identified as major barriers that affect agricultural genomic research in Africa. Finally, the recommended strategies to overcome these challenges will guide policy-makers, researchers, development partners and key stakeholders in the smooth advancement of sustainable agricultural genomic research for improved food security in Africa.

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