scholarly journals Access to improved sanitation facilities in low-income informal settlements of East African cities

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Okurut ◽  
R. N. Kulabako ◽  
P. Abbott ◽  
J. M. Adogo ◽  
J. Chenoweth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
East African ◽  
Basic Sanitation ◽  
Improved Sanitation ◽  
Joint Monitoring ◽  
Sub Saharan

Throughout Africa, the population in urban areas is increasing rapidly, often exceeding the capacity and the resources of the cities and towns to accommodate the people. In sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of urban dwellers live in informal settlements served by inadequate sanitation facilities. These settlements present unique challenges to the provision of sustainable and hygienic sanitation, and there is insufficient information on access to improved facilities. This paper reports findings of a study undertaken in low-income informal settlements using a mixed methods approach to assess access to sanitation and identify the barriers to household uptake of improved sanitation facilities. More than half of the respondents (59.7%) reported using sanitation facilities that are included in the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme definition of improved sanitation. However, a high proportion of these facilities did not provide access to basic sanitation. Less than 5% of all the respondents did not report problems related to sustainable access to basic sanitation. The findings highlight the urgent need to develop specific and strategic interventions for each low-income informal settlement, to upscale the sustainable access and use of improved sanitation in urban centres.

scholarly journals The acceptance of covid-19 vaccines in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from 6 national phone surveys

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelton Kanyanda ◽  
Yannick Markhof ◽  
Philip Wollburg ◽  
Alberto Zezza
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Representative Sampling ◽  
Sub Saharan

Introduction Recent debates surrounding the lagging covid-19 vaccination campaigns in low-income countries center around vaccine supply and financing. Yet, relatively little is known about attitudes towards covid-19 vaccines in these countries and in Africa in particular. In this paper, we provide cross-country comparable estimates of the willingness to accept a covid-19 vaccine in six Sub-Saharan African countries. Methods We use data from six national high-frequency phone surveys from countries representing 38% of the Sub-Saharan African population (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, and Uganda). Samples are drawn from large, nationally representative sampling frames providing a rich set of demographic and socio-economic characteristics by which we disaggregate our analysis. Using a set of re-calibrated survey weights, our analysis adjusts for the selection biases common in remote surveys. Results Acceptance rates in the six Sub-Saharan African countries studied are generally high, with at least four in five people willing to be vaccinated in all but one country. Vaccine acceptance ranges from nearly universal in Ethiopia (97.9%, 97.2% to 98.6%) to below what would likely be required for herd immunity in Mali (64.5%, 61.3% to 67.8%). We find little evidence for systematic differences in vaccine hesitancy by sex or age but some clusters of hesitancy in urban areas, among the better educated, and in richer households. Safety concerns about the vaccine in general and its side effects emerge as the primary reservations toward a covid-19 vaccine across countries. Conclusions Our findings suggest that limited supply, not inadequate demand, likely presents the key bottleneck to reaching high covid-19 vaccine coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa. To turn intent into effective demand, targeted communication campaigns bolstering confidence in the safety of approved vaccines and reducing concerns about side effects will be crucial to safeguard the swift progression of vaccine rollout in one of the world's poorest regions.

scholarly journals Towards an automated monitoring of human settlements in South Africa using high resolution SPOT satellite imagery

2015 ◽  
Vol XL-7/W3 ◽  
pp. 1389-1394 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Kemper ◽  
N. Mudau ◽  
P. Mangara ◽  
M. Pesaresi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Satellite Imagery ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Image Features ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Image Feature ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Spot 5

Urban areas in sub-Saharan Africa are growing at an unprecedented pace. Much of this growth is taking place in informal settlements. In South Africa more than 10% of the population live in urban informal settlements. South Africa has established a National Informal Settlement Development Programme (NUSP) to respond to these challenges. This programme is designed to support the National Department of Human Settlement (NDHS) in its implementation of the Upgrading Informal Settlements Programme (UISP) with the objective of eventually upgrading all informal settlements in the country. Currently, the NDHS does not have access to an updated national dataset captured at the same scale using source data that can be used to understand the status of informal settlements in the country. <br><br> This pilot study is developing a fully automated workflow for the wall-to-wall processing of SPOT-5 satellite imagery of South Africa. The workflow includes an automatic image information extraction based on multiscale textural and morphological image features extraction. The advanced image feature compression and optimization together with innovative learning and classification techniques allow a processing of the SPOT-5 images using the Landsat-based National Land Cover (NLC) of South Africa from the year 2000 as low-resolution thematic reference layers as. The workflow was tested on 42 SPOT scenes based on a stratified sampling. The derived building information was validated against a visually interpreted building point data set and produced an accuracy of 97 per cent. Given this positive result, is planned to process the most recent wall-to-wall coverage as well as the archived imagery available since 2007 in the near future.

Playing by the rules? New institutionalism, path dependency and informal settlements in Sub-Saharan Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 2558-2577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicky Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Informal Settlement ◽  
New Institutionalism ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Path Dependency ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Way

The scale of contemporary urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa has culminated in the proliferation of informal settlements, with governments claiming a legitimate right to remove them. Drawing on new institutionalism as a conceptual framework and presenting the case of Old Fadama, an informal settlement within central Accra in Ghana, this paper sheds light on the way in which both formal and informal rules shape these legally unauthorized spaces. Using the analogy of a game, the author devises a novel typology to highlight the way in which different players maximize their personal advantage from maintaining the status quo. The paper concludes that as long as different interests are served by the existing socio-political arrangements then path dependency will endure, with government officials as the dominant playmaker in the locality ultimately controlling the rules and pace of the game.

scholarly journals Barriers and opportunities for management of shared sanitation facilities in low-income settlements in Kenya

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheillah Simiyu ◽  
Raphael M. Kweyu ◽  
Prince Antwi-Agyei ◽  
Kwaku A. Adjei
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Risk Of Disease ◽  
Joint Monitoring ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Barriers And Opportunities ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract Background: Sharing of sanitation is commonly being practiced in low income areas in Sub Saharan Africa. However, the Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) categorizes shared sanitation as a limited sanitation service. These shared facilities are often the only option available for most of the residents in low income settlements, and improving their management is key to reducing open defecation and risk of disease. This study sought to investigate barriers and opportunities for improved management of shared sanitation in low income settlements of Kisumu in Kenya. Methods: Thirty-nine In-depth interviews and 11 focus group discussions were held with residents, who mainly included tenants and landlords. Analysis followed a thematic approach to define the problem, specify the target behaviour and define what needs to change. Results: Pit latrines were commonly shared among landlords and tenants. Shared sanitation facilities were unclean due to poor use and lack of cleaning. Participants identified behavioural challenges such as poor use of the shared toilets, and social challenges such as lack of cooperation in cleaning. These results led to identification of opportunities for improvement such as instituting clear cleaning plans, communication among users, and problem solving mechanisms between landlords and tenants. These approaches could form the basis for designing intervention strategies for improving the management of shared sanitation. Conclusion: The results highlight the need to focus on social aspects for improvement of shared sanitation management in low income settlements. Through a social approach, shared sanitation facilities can be managed appropriately to afford the millions of low income dwellers an opportunity to access sanitation. This study provides further evidence on approaches for improved management of shared sanitation facilities in line with the JMP’s recommendation for high quality shared facilities.

scholarly journals Barriers and opportunities for cleanliness of shared sanitation facilities in low-income settlements in Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheillah N. Simiyu ◽  
Raphael M. Kweyu ◽  
Prince Antwi-Agyei ◽  
Kwaku A. Adjei
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
World Health ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Kisumu City ◽  
Risk Of Disease ◽  
Joint Monitoring ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Barriers And Opportunities ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract Background The sharing of sanitation facilities is a common practice in low-income areas in sub-Saharan Africa. However, shared sanitation is currently categorized as a limited sanitation service, and may therefore not count towards meeting the global goals. These shared facilities are often the only option available for most residents in low-income settlements, and improving their cleanliness and overall management is key to reducing open defecation and risk of disease. This study sought to investigate barriers and opportunities for improved cleanliness of shared sanitation facilities in low-income settlements of Kisumu city, Kenya. Methods Thirty-nine in-depth interviews and 11 focus group discussions were held with residents – mainly tenants and landlords – of a low-income settlement in Kisumu. Analysis followed a thematic approach to define the problem, specify the target behaviour and identify the changes needed. Results Sanitation facilities were mainly pit latrines, typically shared among landlords and tenants. Participants singled out behavioural (poor use of the shared toilets) and social (lack of cooperation in cleaning) challenges that led to unclean shared toilets. Available opportunities for improvement included instituting clear cleaning plans, improving communication among users, and enhanced problem-solving mechanisms between landlords and tenants. These approaches could form the basis for designing intervention strategies for improving the cleanliness of shared sanitation facilities. Conclusion The results highlight the need to focus on social aspects for improvement of cleanliness in shared sanitation facilities in low-income settlements. Through a social approach, shared sanitation facilities can be managed appropriately to provide the millions of low-income residents in Kenya an opportunity to access sanitation. This study provides further evidence on approaches for improved management of shared sanitation facilities in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Joint Monitoring Program’s (JMP) recommendation for high quality shared facilities.

scholarly journals Analysing the Sustainability Challenges of Informal Urban Settlements: The Case of Chibolya in Lusaka Zambia

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Jonathan Simbeya Mwamba
Keyword(s):  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Major Constituent ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Settlement Development ◽  
Development Interventions ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Sustainability Challenges ◽  
Development Literature

Presently, informal settlements exist as part of the urban fabric and a major constituent of the residential geographies of most Cities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The growth of informal settlements in cities of the global south has been widely discussed in existing literature as a critical concern. Urban development literature in Zambia in particular has focused on the rapid urbanization and poverty growth, but barely explains how this affects settlement sustainability. Studies have focused on measures put in place by government and supporting organisations to help find solutions to the problem. But this has been done without providing specifics as relates to interventions for settlement sustainability and user perceptions of their living environments. The article provides a conceptual analysis of the local dynamics influencing informal settlement development and sustainability. The historical perspective and modern day realities of informal urban settlement settings in Lusaka in Zambia are also reviewed. The case study findings indicate a need to refocus development interventions in informal settlements by considering informal dwellers concerns and requirements when formulating settlements development strategies. The article offers an insight into sustainability challenges that the settlement population faces despite a variety of development interventions by the State and private agencies. The article shows the potential success and sustainability of interventions when informal settlement residents are empowered and take responsibility of their own development agenda. The paper points out the need for collaborative approach to informal settlement improvement where all stakeholders including the local residents, participate in all stages of settlement development.

scholarly journals Impact of sanitation monitoring approaches on sanitation estimates in Sub-Saharan Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 481-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muchaneta Munamati ◽  
Innocent Nhapi ◽  
Shepherd Nimrod Misi
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Altman Analysis ◽  
Bland Altman Analysis ◽  
Improved Sanitation ◽  
Survey Instruments ◽  
Joint Monitoring ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The Government and the Joint Monitoring Programme for Water and Sanitation (JMP) sanitation monitoring approaches often produce conflicting sanitation estimates reflecting an inconsistent view of sanitation performance. One of the possible reasons for conflicting estimates is the differences in definitions of ‘improved sanitation access’. This paper presents an assessment of definitions used in Sub-Saharan Africa and an analysis of the impact of the two monitoring approaches on sanitation estimates. Results showed that 40.0% of the 35 countries analysed used stricter definitions than the JMP definition, while 22.2 and 37.1% used more lenient definitions and JMP-like definitions respectively. Independent samples t-test results showed significant differences (p≤ 0.05) between the Government and JMP sanitation estimates. The Bland–Altman analysis showed that on average the Government approach measured more than the JMP approach and that the highest frequencies of negative differences were obtained from countries using JMP-like definitions. The study concludes that the overestimation of Government sanitation estimates could not have been due to use of lenient definitions, but other factors such as the quality and quantity of data sources and methods of data analysis could have played a crucial role. Harmonization of definitions and methods in all survey instruments is, however, crucial to ensuring consistency in the post-2015 sanitation monitoring.

scholarly journals Barriers and opportunities for cleanliness of shared sanitation facilities in low-income settlements in Kenya

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheillah Simiyu ◽  
Raphael M. Kweyu ◽  
Prince Antwi-Agyei ◽  
Kwaku A. Adjei
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
World Health ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Kisumu City ◽  
Risk Of Disease ◽  
Joint Monitoring ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Barriers And Opportunities ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract Background: The sharing of sanitation facilities is a common practice in low-income areas in sub-Saharan Africa. However, shared sanitation is currently categorized as a limited sanitation service, and may therefore not count towards meeting the global goals. These shared facilities are often the only option available for most residents in low-income settlements, and improving their cleanliness and overall management is key to reducing open defecation and risk of disease. This study sought to investigate barriers and opportunities for improved cleanliness of shared sanitation facilities in low-income settlements of Kisumu city, Kenya. Methods: Thirty-nine in-depth interviews and 11 focus group discussions were held with residents – mainly tenants and landlords – of a low-income settlement in Kisumu. Analysis followed a thematic approach to define the problem, specify the target behaviour and identify the changes needed. Results: Sanitation facilities were mainly pit latrines, typically shared among landlords and tenants. Participants singled out behavioural (poor use of the shared toilets) and social (lack of cooperation in cleaning) challenges that led to unclean shared toilets. Available opportunities for improvement included instituting clear cleaning plans, improving communication among users, and enhanced problem-solving mechanisms between landlords and tenants. These approaches could form the basis for designing intervention strategies for improving the cleanliness of shared sanitation facilities. Conclusion: The results highlight the need to focus on social aspects for improvement of cleanliness in shared sanitation facilities in low-income settlements. Through a social approach, shared sanitation facilities can be managed appropriately to provide the millions of low-income residents in Kenya an opportunity to access sanitation. This study provides further evidence on approaches for improved management of shared sanitation facilities in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Joint Monitoring Program’s (JMP) recommendation for high quality shared facilities

Managing African Urbanization in the Context of Environmental Change

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuaib Lwasa
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Governance ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Urbanization Rate ◽  
Development And Management

Africa’s urbanization rate has increased steadily over the past three decades and is reported to be faster than in any other region in the world . It is estimated that by 2030, over half of the African population will be living in urban areas . But the nature of Africa’s urbanization and subsequent form of cities is yet to be critically analyzed in the context of city authorities’ readiness to address the challenges . Evidence is also suggesting that urbanization in African countries is increasingly associated with the high economic growth that has been observed in the last two decades . Both underlying and proximate drivers are responsible for the urbanization, and these include population dynamics, economic growth, legislative designation, increasing densities in rural centers, as well as the growth of mega cities such as Lagos, Cairo and Kinshasa, that are extending to form urban corridors . With the opportunities of urbanization in Sub–Saharan Africa, there are also challenges in the development and management of these cities . Those challenges include provision of social services, sustainable economic development, housing development, urban governance, spatial development guidance and environmental management, climate change adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk reduction . The challenge involves dealing with the development and infrastructure deficit, in addition to required adaption to and mitigation of climate change . This paper examines the current state of urban management in Africa .

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