scholarly journals Economic Assessment of Solar Milling Plants as an Investment Tool: A Case of Katete District-Zambia

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-105
Author(s):  
Hastings Munyenyembe

The purpose of this study was to assess the economic impact of the solar milling plants to the local people in Katete District, Zambia. The specific objectives were to assess the performance of the solar milling plans, the effect of solar milling plants on mealie meal prices on the local market, the effect of solar milling plants on job creation in the district, and to find out challenges that co-operators are facing in managing the solar milling plants in the district for economic development, suggesting measures to be put in place to see to it that the program was sustainable. The research employed a qualitative research design, and extensive literature reviews were conducted in order to have a broader understanding of the research. The data was collected using the structured questionnaires and interview guide. The main findings of the research were that the hypothesis was rejected because there were no immediate economic benefits of the solar milling plants to the local people of Katete District. Following the results of the research, the solar milling plants were underperforming and underutilized in the district. Solar milling plants had no effect on the price of mealie meals in the district. Solar milling plants had a 40% effect on job creation in the district, and the study concluded that there were no immediate economic benefits brought about by solar milling plants in the district at the time of the study.

2020 ◽  
pp. 002076402098419
Author(s):  
Kwamina Abekah-Carter ◽  
George Ofosu Oti

Background: Homelessness among people with mental illness has grown to become a common phenomenon in many developed and developing countries. Just like in any other country, the living conditions of homeless people with mental illness in Ghana are unwholesome. Despite the increased population of these vulnerable individuals on the streets, not much is known about the perspectives of the general public towards this phenomenon in Ghana. Aim: This research was conducted to explore the perspectives of community members on homeless people with mental illness. The main study objectives were (a) to find out the impacts of the presence of persons with mental illness on the streets and (b) to ascertain the reasons accounting for homelessness among persons with mental illness. Method: Utilizing a qualitative research design, twenty community members were sampled from selected suburbs in Nsawam and interviewed with the use of a semi-structured interview guide. The audio data gathered from the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results: Majority of the participants asserted that homeless people with mental illness had no access to good food, shelter, and health care. They further stated that some homeless people with mental illness perpetrated physical and sexual violence against the residents. Moreover, the participants believed that persons with mental illness remained on the streets due to neglect by their family members, and limited access to psychiatric services. Conclusion: This paper concludes by recommending to government to make mental health services accessible and affordable to homeless persons with mental illness nationwide.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justice Mensah

Purpose Scholarly discourses regarding heritage values for sustainable heritage management abound in heritage literature but appear elitist as they tend to exclude the perspectives of the people at the lower echelons of society. The study explored the values ascribed to a global heritage monument by the people living around a global heritage site in Ghana and the implications of their perceptual values for sustainable heritage management. Design/methodology/approach This study used the qualitative design. It was guided by Costin’s heritage values, community attachment theory and values-based approach to heritage management. Data was gathered from the local people living close to the heritage site, and the staff of Museums and Monuments Board at the heritage site. Data were gathered through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews and analysed using the thematic approach and most significant stories. Findings The results revealed that the local people were aware of the economic, aesthetic, historic, symbolic and informational values of the heritage monument but showed little attachment to the monument. The main reasons for the low attachment were the limited opportunity for them to participate in the management of the monument, and the limited opportunity for direct economic benefits from the heritage asset. Research limitations/implications A comprehensive understanding of heritage monument management that reflects the perspectives and values of the local people is imperative. Practical implications United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and Ghana Museums and Monuments Board could consider a more community-inclusive heritage management framework that takes cognizance of local values and perspectives to ensure sustainable heritage management and development. Social implications The values and perspectives of the local community matter in heritage management. The heritage authorities need to engage more with the community people and educate them on the best practices regarding the sustainable management of World Heritage Sites. Originality/value This paper argues that the management of global heritage sites should not be elitist in orientation and character. It should respect the principle of community participation for inclusive development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-23
Author(s):  
Homelo Valenzuela Estoque ◽  
Reynold Culimay Padagas

Background: Transitioning is a common phenomenon that happens such as in a career shift provoked by either internal or external factors. This phenomenon also occurs to nurses becoming lawyers. Considering its complexity, such transition entails a process.Purpose: This study aimed to describe and uncover the preparations, motivations, ad barriers of nurses who transitioned into nurse-lawyers in the Philippines. Methods: The study employed descriptive-qualitative research design utilizing twenty participants selected through purposive and snowball or referral sampling techniques. A semi-structured interview guide was used for the data collection using Google form. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis was utilized as the primary treatment of the transcribed data. Strict observance of ethical standards in conducting research was ensured.Results: The study found out several themes and subcategories from the thematic analysis conducted. These included (1) “pre-planning emotive expressions”; (2) “motivations of career shift”; (3) “support mechanisms to afford career shift”; (4) “barriers to career shift”; (5) “the interconnectedness of law and nursing”; and (6) “impacts of the career shift.” Conclusion: Generally, the career shift of the nurse-lawyers presented significant themes pertinent to their preparations, motivations, and barriers in becoming lawyers. Apparently, these are all primordial in the career transition of the nurse-lawyers. Essentially, the study provides preliminary findings that may become springboard in the construction of a grounded theory that would explicate the transition of the nurse-lawyers as a phenomenon uniting and expanding nursing and the practice of law as complementary sciences.


The main objective of the study is to evaluate the practice and progress of the activities of green banking in the way of sustainable development of Bangladesh. Green banking is regarded as sustainable banking, which has a role to safeguard the planet from environmental degradation, with an aim of ensuring sustainable development. It comprises the choices that take sustainability into account. Sustainable development is an expansion that comes across the requirements of the present situation without overlooking the capacity of future situations to meet the necessities. Bangladesh is in need of proper adaptation and utilization of green banking for its sustainable development. The present study is conceptual and analytical in nature based on the secondary data with an extensive literature survey along with scanning the annual and quarterly reports of Bangladesh Bank on green banking during the 2011-2019 fiscal years. The secondary sources of data are internet and commercial banks websites, Bangladesh Bank (BB) websites and literature reviews, etc. The collected data are analyzed and interpreted in the light of the practice and progress of activities of green banking in Bangladesh from a global perspective. The study shows that banking in Bangladesh is in the diversification phase passing through the intensification and foundation phases. It is progressing steadily. They have a lot more scope to contribute to the diversification of green finance in the way of sustainable development of Bangladesh. Rigorous, effective, and coherent efforts from banks in this regard are the demands of the day.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mabel Lim ◽  
Stefanos Xenarios

Abstract The urban conglomeration has accentuated the role of urban greenery as a determinant factor for sustainable living, especially in highly dense cities. The country of Singapore has consistently attempted to develop and rehabilitate urban greenery by attempting to align the green space policy with the pursuit of better life quality. In this study, we assess the benefits arising from the rehabilitated Bishan-Ang Mo Kio (AMK) Park in north Singapore and the effects on economic welfare. The Bishan-AMK Park was initially constructed in the late 70 s as a drainage area for the avoidance of flooding incidents. In 2012, a pilot project was introduced to create a blue-green infrastructure (BGI) space for the provision of drainage and flood prevention but also for recreational and environmental improvement in the area. Yet, the benefits emerging from BGI are not well explored and still underestimated. To this extent, we evaluate selected services related to recreational, socio-cultural and tourism-related values by indicating the economic benefits from the introduction of BGI in condensed urban environments like Singapore. The findings indicate that the benefits deriving from the selected services could be within the range of US$100 million to US$220 million with a mean value of US$160 million per year by substantially contributing to human well-being. The assessment of environmental services can raise the awareness of residents and local authorities on the contribution of urban greenery to livelihoods and economic development in Singapore and similar densely populated areas.


Author(s):  
Shanshan Zhao ◽  
Aemal J. Khattak ◽  
Eric C. Thompson

This research addressed two questions: “Are roundabouts on rural high-speed roadways safer than two-way stop controlled (TWSC) intersections?” and “What economic benefits can be expected from converting TWSC intersections to roundabouts in terms of safety improvement?” Crash and traffic data on four TWSC intersections that were converted to roundabouts in Kansas were analyzed using the empirical Bayes before-after evaluation method and crash costs were applied to evaluate economic benefits. Analysis showed that fatal, non-fatal, and property-damage-only crashes were reduced by 100%, 76.47%, and 35.49%, respectively. The annual monetary value from this reduction was between $1.0—$1.6 million in 2014 dollars.


2006 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bae Amanjee ◽  
F Crous ◽  
A Crafford

The role of entrepreneurship within the context of an emerging economy has been well documented. Specifically within the South African context, the concept of entrepreneurship has been embraced by most industry sectors particularly for its resultant job creation and associated economic benefits. To date, psychologists have attempted to understand and define the factors that predispose individuals to embark on entrepreneurial careers, focusing primarily on the personality characteristics of entrepreneurs. However, entrepreneurial research from a cognitive psychological framework has been limited. Specifically, the impact of schemata on the success of the entrepreneur has received little exposure. A study was conducted to examine the presence and type of schemata inherent in successful entrepreneurs. The findings indicate that successful entrepreneurs display varied manifestations of adaptive schemata.


Author(s):  
Siyabulela Mkabile ◽  
Leslie Swartz

Background: Intellectual disability is more common in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. Stigma and discrimination have contributed to barriers to people with intellectual disability accessing healthcare. As part of a larger study on caregiving of children with intellectual disability in urban Cape Town, South Africa, we interviewed a sub-group of families who had never used the intellectual disability services available to them, or who had stopped using them. Methods: We employed a qualitative research design and conducted semi-structured interviews to explore the views and perspectives of parents and caregivers of children with intellectual disability who are not using specialised hospital services. We developed an interview guide to help explore caregivers’ and parents’ views. Results: Results revealed that caregivers and parents of children with intellectual disability did not use the intellectual disability service due to financial difficulties, fragile care networks and opportunity costs, community stigma and lack of safety, lack of faith in services and powerlessness at effecting changes and self-stigmatisation. Conclusion: Current findings highlight a need for increased intervention at community level and collaboration with community-based projects to facilitate access to services, and engagement with broader issues of social exclusion.


Author(s):  
Jaime Bonache ◽  
Marion Festing

The explicit consideration of Research Paradigms in International Human Resource Management, the title of this Special Issue, helps us in analysing and systematising the field to show how research in international human resource management is typically conducted, what preferred perspectives prevail and which approaches have been rather neglected so far. In this introduction, we map the field, and after defining the contours of international human resource management, we use the distinction between positivism and interpretivism to outline implications for the goals of international human resource management studies and associated ontological and epistemological assumptions. Next, we analyse research methods, ways to construct research questions, researchers’ roles, sampling procedures, data collection techniques, key theoretical contributions, focus on context in theory construction, quality indicators of data analysis and evaluation criteria in each of the two key research paradigms when studying international human resource management issues. In so doing, we offer a framework for the contributions made to this Special Issue, including literature reviews focusing on the systematisation of international human resource management research, using various paradigm lenses and specific methods. We sincerely hope that the notions, typologies and contributions included in this Special Issue, all based on extensive literature reviews, will help advance research in international human resource management.


2013 ◽  
Vol 368-370 ◽  
pp. 1289-1295
Author(s):  
Ren Jun ◽  
Peng Wang ◽  
Xiang Yang Jiang

The Paper, based on the theory of technical and economic assessment, puts forward to make financial assessment (on net present value, payback time, risk-benefit ratio, etc.) as the economic control index in accordance with the ideology of entire life cycle during the energy-saving reconstruction of public buildings. Then the Paper makes analysis on cost-benefit ratio of energy-saving reconstruction measures taken on various parts and equipment of outer protective structure, finds out approaches to energy-saving reconstruction with high efficiency, and finally adopts the method of sensitivity analysis on individual energy-saving reconstruction measures to further optimize reconstruction plan, thus improving economic benefits of energy saving.


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