scholarly journals Assessing the conditions of rural road networks in South Africa using visual observations and field-based manual measurements: A case study of four rural communities in Kwa-Zulu Natal

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S'phumelele Lucky Nkomo ◽  
Sumaiya Desai ◽  
Kabir Peerbhay
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Road Networks ◽  
Visual Observation ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Drainage Systems ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Surface Distress

<p>The present study used visual observation and field-based measurements to assess the physical conditions of Minor roads (R3), Collector roads (R4) and Local roads (R5) in four rural communities in Kwa-Zulu Natal Province. The function of these road classes is to provide access from homesteads to main roads that connect rural areas to towns. The aim of this study was to assess the physical conditions of unpaved road networks, with the view to understand the physical, environmental and anthropogenic factors that influence the state of rural roads. Road classes of interest were traversed and a number of surface distresses (such as potholes, rutting, erosion channels, corrugations, loose material and stoniness) were identified and assessed in order to determine the surface conditions of each road class. Thereafter, two classification methods were used to rate the severity and extent of each surface distress on each road class. Results indicate that there was more than one surface distresses identified and assessed on each road class within the selected communities. It was noted that all the road classes had moderate to severe surface distress, except for the R3 road class in Emazabekweni community. The moderate to severe surface distresses reflected problems associated with poor drainage systems and maintenance. Visual observation and field-based methods are useful tools that can aid in identifying and assessing the physical conditions of unpaved roads as well as possible environmental, physical and anthropogenic factors at interplay, especially in resource limited regions. This study recommended that road authorities should ensure that proper drainage systems should be well designed, constructed and maintained on all gravel roads in order to reduce surface deterioration associated with runoff. In addition, road authorities should be carrying out regular monitoring procedures to ensure that surface distresses are identified and resolved during their early stage of development. </p>

The magic bullet for rural development? Exploring the impacts of community telecenters in Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
pp. 026666692199750
Author(s):  
Noore Alam Siddiquee ◽  
Md Gofran Faroqi
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Magic Bullet ◽  
Government Information ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Marginalized Groups

This paper explores the impacts of Bangladesh’s Union Digital Centers (UDCs) as government information and service delivery hubs in rural areas. Drawing on user-surveys and semi-structured individual interviews it demonstrates that the UDCs have produced generally positive yet modest impacts on governance of service delivery. It shows that the UDCs are at an early stage of development, and that they offer only a limited set of services. While they helped extend ICT-enabled services to sections of population that would otherwise have missed them, the UDCs do not have much to do with rural livelihoods and empowerment of the poor and marginalized groups. These findings point to current inadequacies and pitfalls of the UDC approach to development. We argue that enhanced viability and effectiveness of the UDC experiment would warrant embedding more value-added governmental services and further strengthening of their capacity, mandate, and connectivity with government agencies at various levels, among others.

scholarly journals Social accountability of Russian agribusiness

2020 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 13034
Author(s):  
Liliya Akhmetshina ◽  
Angela Mottaeva
Keyword(s):  
Rural Development ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Social Accountability ◽  
Social Orientation ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
The Government ◽  
Corporate Social Accountability ◽  
High Level

Social accountability of Russian agribusiness is currently at an early stage of development. Socially accountable agribusiness helps reducing social tension in rural areas and acts as a reliable ally to the government in executing social programs. The purpose of this research is to proof the necessity of social accountability popularization in agribusiness entities’ operation in order to provide high level of competitive capability and stable rural development. Through the research we established limiting factors in development of social accountability in functioning of the agribusiness entities and estimated the level of social accountability among biggest agribusiness holding companies as well as its impact on rural development. As a result of the study we developed measures for expanding corporate social accountability of agribusiness and enlarging its social orientation. The motives of the socially accountable agribusiness are as followed: employee development, working efficiency growth in the company, better company image, reputation growth, stable company growth in the long term, possibility of additional investments.

scholarly journals Rural Development in a Function of Local Economic Development: Case Study of Municipality of Krushevo

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 162
Author(s):  
Nikolche Jankulovski ◽  
Emiliana Silva ◽  
Katerina Bojkovska ◽  
Angjelka Jankulovska
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Rural Development ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Business Climate ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
The Republic ◽  
National Programs

<p>The local economic development is a process in which the local authorities and partners from the business sector and the non-governmental sector work together to improve the business climate. Through positive financial results conditions for economic growth are created and the employment opportunities are increased. Most of the municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia are still at an early stage of development of the idea of local economic development, due to fact that the preparation of the municipal strategies and action plans are the only activities carried out in this direction so far.</p><p>The National Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development for the period 2009-2013 stresses tourism and agriculture as priority areas for development of the country and analyzes the situation and the range of responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management. Parallel, the national programs facilitating agriculture and rural development in Macedonia in favor of global trends for creation of sustainability in rural regions through the development of agriculture and additional activities for families living or returning to rural areas (villages). The rural development through the few authentic examples in Macedonia already shows the first interest although the contours of the branch are not defined yet.</p>The rural development is able to a greater extent to meet the needs of the modern man that the urban environment is not able to satisfy. To clarify what can be these unmet needs and to answer the question of interest due to demand for this type of tourism, it is necessary to analyze contained rural tourism.

scholarly journals The Road to the Highlands:  The Socioeconomic Impacts of the Roads Into and Around the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak, Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Kris Moore
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Road Networks ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
The Road

<p>There is an ongoing debate over whether the construction and upgrading of roads in remote rural areas is beneficial for the communities that reside within them. The majority of studies carried out thus far have indicated that the introduction of rural roads may assist in alleviating poverty. However, studies commonly do not consider social measures of well-being and resilience (such as education, health care, and the maintenance of cultural identity and way of life), despite the fact that these are increasingly recognised to be important alongside economic measures. This thesis examined the perceptions of the Kelabit community on the social and economic impacts of the construction and upgrading of the road networks into and around the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak, Malaysia. This study is based on a qualitative participatory research design. It gathered data through the use of semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and a literature review (including government documents). In total, 48 community members and eight government employees were interviewed. Results corroborate the findings in or similar research elsewhere, such as the construction of roads has both positive and negative impacts, including the increased mobility of people and goods, increased access to off-farm employment, the increased availability of undesired products and the facilitation of environmental damage. However this study notes some different conclusions from previous work, and finds there was no observed change in enrolment, dropout rates or absenteeism at the highland schools; no increases in exported produce for sale in the urban centres; creation of tension between community groups; and a notable lack of increase of migration in two of the three rural study sites. Moreover, this study revealed that there has been a diverse range of impacts experienced by the Kelabit community in relation to the construction and upgrading of the road network into and around the Kelabit Highlands. The study also found significant local differences of opinion regarding the various impacts of the roads. Differences in opinion at a community level were based on the degree of interaction with the roads, as well as the degree to which groups relied on the roads for mobility. This study shows that there is no consensus amongst the Kelabit community on whether the roads should remain and on whether further development of the road networks into and around the Kelabit Highlands should continue. What can be concluded from this study is that there is still no ‘one size fits all’ strategy to developing rural communities. Using roads to develop rural communities’ can result in a number of community members benefiting, a number of them losing and the rest receiving no evident change. Consequently, at what point do the benefits to some out way the harm to others for the development project to be considered a positive for the community? The debate therefore continues over whether the construction and upgrading of roads in remote rural areas is beneficial for the communities that reside within them.</p>

scholarly journals The Road to the Highlands:  The Socioeconomic Impacts of the Roads Into and Around the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak, Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Kris Moore
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Road Networks ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
The Road

<p>There is an ongoing debate over whether the construction and upgrading of roads in remote rural areas is beneficial for the communities that reside within them. The majority of studies carried out thus far have indicated that the introduction of rural roads may assist in alleviating poverty. However, studies commonly do not consider social measures of well-being and resilience (such as education, health care, and the maintenance of cultural identity and way of life), despite the fact that these are increasingly recognised to be important alongside economic measures. This thesis examined the perceptions of the Kelabit community on the social and economic impacts of the construction and upgrading of the road networks into and around the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak, Malaysia. This study is based on a qualitative participatory research design. It gathered data through the use of semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and a literature review (including government documents). In total, 48 community members and eight government employees were interviewed. Results corroborate the findings in or similar research elsewhere, such as the construction of roads has both positive and negative impacts, including the increased mobility of people and goods, increased access to off-farm employment, the increased availability of undesired products and the facilitation of environmental damage. However this study notes some different conclusions from previous work, and finds there was no observed change in enrolment, dropout rates or absenteeism at the highland schools; no increases in exported produce for sale in the urban centres; creation of tension between community groups; and a notable lack of increase of migration in two of the three rural study sites. Moreover, this study revealed that there has been a diverse range of impacts experienced by the Kelabit community in relation to the construction and upgrading of the road network into and around the Kelabit Highlands. The study also found significant local differences of opinion regarding the various impacts of the roads. Differences in opinion at a community level were based on the degree of interaction with the roads, as well as the degree to which groups relied on the roads for mobility. This study shows that there is no consensus amongst the Kelabit community on whether the roads should remain and on whether further development of the road networks into and around the Kelabit Highlands should continue. What can be concluded from this study is that there is still no ‘one size fits all’ strategy to developing rural communities. Using roads to develop rural communities’ can result in a number of community members benefiting, a number of them losing and the rest receiving no evident change. Consequently, at what point do the benefits to some out way the harm to others for the development project to be considered a positive for the community? The debate therefore continues over whether the construction and upgrading of roads in remote rural areas is beneficial for the communities that reside within them.</p>

scholarly journals What Hampers Implementation of Integrated Landscape Approaches in Rural Landscapes?

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 99-115
Author(s):  
Dorith A. Vermunt ◽  
Pita A. Verweij ◽  
René W. Verburg
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Landscape Management ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Rural Landscapes ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Conflicting Objectives

Abstract Purpose of Review In rural areas, frameworks of integrated landscape approaches are increasingly being used to reconcile conflicting objectives of stakeholders and sectors, such as agriculture and conservation. In accommodating multiple land uses, social, economic, and environmental trade-offs need to be balanced. Different social processes underly integrated landscape approaches. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the barriers described in peer-reviewed case studies to better understand what hampers the implementation of integrated landscape approaches. To this purpose, we conducted a systematic literature study. We clustered the barriers into the following barriers groups: (1) participation problems, (2) interaction problems, (3) resource problems, and (4) institutional problems, and analyzed how these barriers hindered implementation of the following key landscape processes: planning and visioning, developing and implementing practices, establishing good governance, and monitoring and evaluation. Recent Findings We analyzed barriers described in 56 peer-reviewed papers that document 76 cases of integrated landscape approaches in 35 countries worldwide. Main stakeholder problems were related to absence of specific stakeholder groups, varying levels of engagement, or lack of stakeholder experience and skills. Interaction problems included a lack of communication, collaboration, or coordination, a lack of agreement due to different stakeholder visions, and power relations. Institutional problems were related to incompatible (national) policies and institutional structures hindering integration, and resource problems included limited availability of financial resources and a lack of data. These barriers hampered the implementation of the key processes needed to transition towards integrated landscape approaches in different ways. This paper provides an overview of the main barriers found for each landscape process. Summary Rural landscapes are often characterized by a variety of stakeholders and land use sectors, such as agriculture and natural resource conservation. Landscape approaches aim to integrate different goals such as conservation, production, and livelihoods simultaneously, but their implementation appears to be challenging. In this study, we take stock of the barriers described in the literature and analyze how different types of challenges related to stakeholder engagement, interaction between stakeholders, resources, and institutions hinder implementation of landscape approaches. According to this analysis, we demonstrate why particular problems pose challenges to the implementation of specific elements of landscape approaches. Few barriers were related to testing and implementing sustainable business practices since business stakeholders were often not involved. Most approaches were still in an early stage of development. The continuity of approaches is mostly not secured and calls for better institutionalization of landscape approaches. The set of identified barriers and their relations to key processes can be used as a diagnostic tool to enhance learning and improve the performance of landscape approaches in the transition towards integrated landscape management.

scholarly journals The role and impact of Local Action Groups in Rural Development of Kosovo. Nol Krasniqi

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nol Krasniqi
Keyword(s):  
Rural Development ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Main Tool ◽  
Local Action ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Action Groups

This research aims to present and analyze Local Action Groups and their role in Kosovo. Improving national wealth and reducing migration, especially from rural areas, is one of the biggest challenges. The LEADER program is considered to be a very successful rural development initiative of the European Union. Hence, this study examined the role of Local Action Groups as a main tool in implementing the LEADER approach. Focus was placed on how they work in Kosovo, their structure and organization, projects implemented, operation and characteristics of LAGs in Kosovo in the context of seven features of LEADER. The research concentrates on four municipalities where LAGs were examined, and the role of international organizations in training them. Descriptive statistics methods were used for the analysis. The study found that the LEADER approach in Kosovo is implemented more in theory and less in practice. Since they have been created, Local Action Groups in Kosovo have remained at an early stage of development. They need support from policymakers and international organizations.

The Application of UX Research in New Energy Vehicle Innovation

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Menghan TAO ◽  
Ning XIAO ◽  
Xingfu ZHAO ◽  
Wenbin LIU
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
The Other ◽  
Innovative Product ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
New Energy ◽  
New Energy Vehicle ◽  
The One ◽  
New Energy Vehicles ◽  
Degree Of Innovation

New energy vehicles(NEV) as a new thing for sustainable development, in China, on the one hand has faced the rapid expansion of the market; the other hand, for the new NEV users, the current NEVs cannot keep up with the degree of innovation. This paper demonstrates the reasons for the existence of this systematic challenge, and puts forward the method of UX research which is different from the traditional petrol vehicles research in the early stage of development, which studies from the user's essence level, to form the innovative product programs which meet the needs of users and being real attractive.

TURNING FARMERS INTO SOCIAL FARMER ENTREPRENEURS FOR DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Remus Runcan
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Healthy Environment ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Rural Development Programme ◽  
Rural And Urban

According to Romania’s National Rural Development Programme, the socio-economic situation of the rural environment has a large number of weaknesses – among which low access to financial resources for small entrepreneurs and new business initiatives in rural areas and poorly developed entrepreneurial culture, characterized by a lack of basic managerial knowledge – but also a large number of opportunities – among which access of the rural population to lifelong learning and entrepreneurial skills development programmes and entrepreneurs’ access to financial instruments. The population in rural areas depends mainly on agricultural activities which give them subsistence living conditions. The gap between rural and urban areas is due to low income levels and employment rates, hence the need to obtain additional income for the population employed in subsistence and semi-subsistence farming, especially in the context of the depopulation trend. At the same time, the need to stimulate entrepreneurship in rural areas is high and is at a resonance with the need to increase the potential of rural communities from the perspective of landscape, culture, traditional activities and local resources. A solution could be to turn vegetal and / or animal farms into social farms – farms on which people with disabilities (but also adolescents and young people with anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide, and alexithymia issues) might find a “foster” family, bed and meals in a natural, healthy environment, and share the farm’s activities with the farmer and the farmer’s family: “committing to a regular day / days and times for a mutually agreed period involves complying with any required health and safety practices (including use of protective clothing and equipment), engaging socially with the farm family members and other people working on and around the farm, and taking on tasks which would include working on the land, taking care of animals, or helping out with maintenance and other physical work”

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