scholarly journals Use of Digital Technology among Adolescents Attending Schools in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 8937
Author(s):  
Geir Gunnlaugsson ◽  
Thomas Andrew Whitehead ◽  
Fatou N’dure Baboudóttir ◽  
Aladje Baldé ◽  
Zeca Jandi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Mobile Internet ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Guinea Bissau

Digital technology plays an important role in achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, access is uneven, with 80% of those in high-income countries being online compared to 20% of those in the 47 least developed countries. This study aimed to describe and analyse adolescents’ access to and usage of digital technology in Guinea-Bissau and its implications. In June 2017, a survey with a locally adapted Planet Youth questionnaire was implemented in the capital, Bissau, whereby classes in 16 secondary schools were surveyed on a variety of issues. In total, 2039 randomly selected students participated; the survey included ten questions specifically on the access to and use of digital technology. Half of the respondents had access to desktop/laptops, and one-third used mobile internet daily; about two-thirds had an experience of social media. Explanatory variables included educational institution, parental education, economic situation, and gender. Furthermore, students’ experience of social media was significantly linked to bullying, anxiety, depression, smoking and alcohol consumption. Many adolescents in Bissau have no experience of using digital technology, including for schoolwork. Access improvements are necessary so that young Bissau-Guineans are not to be left behind in developing their capabilities and can benefit from proficiency in the use of digital technologies. At the same time, potential harmful usage of the media requires the implementation of preventive measures.

Migration, Diasporas, Remittances and the Sustainable Development Goals in Least Developed Countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Nurse
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
Developmental Potential ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Money Transfer ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Contemporary Development ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Migration, diasporas and the growth of remittances are key contemporary development trends which impact directly the lives of one in seven persons and often some of the most vulnerable and as such are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda of “leaving no one behind”. Migration is captured in four Goals and five Targets in the SDGs however it is argued that the developmental potential of migration for LDCs is an underexploited asset. The paper offers critical perspectives on the SDGs targets by analysing the impact of remittances (including South-South remittances) and other financial investments such as diaspora savings and bonds. The analysis then focusses on financial innovation through the growth of money transfer organizations in LDCs (i.e. Haiti, Tonga and Bangladesh) and the rise of mobile money. The impact of these trends on financial inclusion and the banking of unbanked populations is then considered. The paper concludes with some key recommendations and insights.

scholarly journals International Intellectual Property Agreements as Agents of Sustainable Development of Developing Countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Bethel Uzoma Ihugba ◽  
Ikenna Stanley Onyesi
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Intellectual Property ◽  
Developing World ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
International Agreements ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The Status

The paper examines the implication of International Intellectual Property (ip) laws and agreements on the sustainable development of Least Developed Countries (ldcs) and Developed Countries (dcs) and suggests approaches for improving the development and wellbeing of people in the developing world through national ip laws. The paper argues that generally international ip agreements may appear biased against developing countries and most dcs are reluctant to challenge the status quo and/or use the flexibilities of the international ip agreement to promote the wellbeing of their citizens. However, the article finds that ldcs and dcs could change this trend through the creative use of national ip laws and international agreements to promote the sustainable development of ldcs and dcs. The major instrument suggested for this shift in approach is the establishment of national ip administration institutions and the positive use of compulsory licences.

scholarly journals New Analysis Tools and Leadership Model for A Modern UN

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Bienz ◽  
Spyros Schismenos ◽  
Garry Stevens ◽  
Nichole Georgeou
Keyword(s):  
Network Effects ◽  
International Energy Agency ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Analysis Tools ◽  
Gig Economy ◽  
Winner Takes All ◽  
The Way

Digitalization has disrupted the way products are distributed. With this came an influx of products that depend on network effects and thrive in a winner-takes-all market environment (Schilling 2002). A similar trend is being observed in many frontier technologies, including applications in the so-called ‘gig economy’, which will create winners and losers. Simultaneously, governments are experiencing an erosion of their tax base (Peng 2016). These resources are desperately needed to tackle the widening digital divide, combatting the lack of electricity, and providing internet access to the poorest (International Energy Agency 2017). The current strategy of the United Nations (UN) shows promise. However, the way the UN currently operates has not been adapted to meet the challenges of a digital economy. This is often observed in global-to-local applications, especially when generalized frameworks fail to adapt to communities with different characteristics and needs. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a guiding light to rally stakeholders around specific key issues and opens the field for collaboration. The UN is in a unique position to convince all participants to engage in negotiations, to mobilize substantial resources, and has the best chance to get concessions on restrictive systems such as the intellectual property arrangements (Haugen 2010). Systems need to be in place to facilitate technology transfers and capacities need to be built up to give the least developed countries (LDCs) a chance of catching up. The UN needs to bring international institutions, governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector to the table to enable LDCs to determine their own future (Moyo 2010). The UN should introduce more heuristic analysis tools to bring more diverse partners into workable collaborations to address these challenges. A new leadership system should also be introduced to provide clearer direction and autonomy to their contributors.

scholarly journals Performances of the Least Developed Countries under Neo-liberal Regimes: Implications for the implementation of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 467
Author(s):  
Melake Tewolde
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Structural Transformation ◽  
External Debt ◽  
Private Investment ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Agenda 2030 ◽  
Neoliberal Policies

<p><em>The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have implemented neoliberal policies such as trade liberalization, privatization of public enterprises, and currency devaluation with the expectation to promote their economic growth and development by capturing the gains from international trade through a more efficient allocation of resources and increased private investment. Twenty one countries (constituting 44%) have been designated LDCs since 1971, the introduction of the category for the first time by the United Nations (UN). Development experiences of the LDCs indicate that neoliberal policies are not adequately addressing their development challenges. The LDCs  are still locked into a low equilibrium trap characterized by fragile economic growths, distorted  structural transformation,  low domestic resource, high dependence on external financing , high dependence on primary commodity exports, high external debt burden  and debt services  and  low human development. The LDCs must thus shift to a developmental state approach to strategically integrate into the world economy and to build their productive capacities and to enhance their structural transformation which could lead the countries along the path of sustained economic growth to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.</em><em> </em></p><p><em>The implications for the implementation of Agenda 2030 for sustainable development are that: </em></p><p><em>(i) The LDCs have  to extensively tap their domestic savings potentials and investments to reach 25% or more of their Gross Domestic Product(GDP) to  sustain 7% -8% growth rates per annum that will have a great impact on  poverty reduction in line with the  sustainable development goal 1 (SDG1) . (ii) The LDCs have to select a few SDGs which are of high national priorities and  synchronize them  with their respective national development plans  and determine  the financing needs for the implementation  of the selected SDGs. (iii)  cancellation of external debt of the LDCs  by the creditors in order to release resources needed for their  investments to achieve the SDGs (iv) replacement of foreign aid  by market access for  the LDCs products to  increase their foreign exchange earnings needed for  building their  productive capacities. (v) Maintaining peace and stability and resolving conflicts to release resources needed for their productive investment.<br /></em></p>

A journey from Rio to Paris via Kyoto to facilitate technology transfer to the LDCs under the UNFCCC

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monirul Azam
Keyword(s):  
Technology Transfer ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Paris Agreement ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Gradual Development ◽  
Nationally Determined Contributions ◽  
Reporting Mechanism

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate to what extent the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have supported (or could support) the least developed countries (LDCs) particularly for accessing the climate technologies and thereby to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted legal dogmatism to evaluate the gradual development of technology transfer issues to support the LDCs under the international climate regime. Findings This study suggested a few potential measures to facilitate meaningful technology transfer to LDCs – such as clarifying and linking the role of the technology and financial mechanism, a more robust role of capacity building, using the sustainable development mechanism with a technology transfer focus, improving the transparency and reporting mechanism to particularly indicate support regarding technology transfer requested and received by the LDCs linking it with the nationally determined contributions, and adapting a pragmatic approach to intellectual property. Originality/value This study is an original contribution as it identified concern over technology transfer under the UNFCCC since 1992 with a focus on the LDCs and indicated required actions that need to be taken to support the LDCs in the context of climate-related technology transfer and beyond.

scholarly journals Global Action on SDGs: Policy Review and Outlook in a Post-Pandemic Era

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6461
Author(s):  
Yi Cheng ◽  
Haimeng Liu ◽  
Shaobin Wang ◽  
Xuegang Cui ◽  
Qirui Li
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
National Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
Policy Action ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The North ◽  
Global Action

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provided brand new goals and action targets for human well-being and development, but the COVID-19 pandemic has cast a shadow on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is therefore essential to provide a reference for making policy adjustments and transformations to promote the realization of SDGs in the post-pandemic era. Based on a literature review of the progress and policies of SDGs across countries worldwide, we find that research on sustainable policies has rapidly increased since the SDGs issued in 2015 with particular focuses on eco-environment, sustainable policies, green economy, sanitation and health, and water sanitation. Most countries are in the process of nationalization, institutionalization, and universalization of the SDGs through incorporating the SDGs into national development frameworks, enabling extensive participation and negotiation mechanisms, and promoting the SDGs’ national publicity. Countries of different economic and institutional backgrounds demonstrate divergent development pathways, priorities, measures, and progress in the implementation of SDGs. Despite significant global progress during the last five years, the North–South divide emerges in the policy action and achievement of SDGs. The least developed countries in sub-Sahara Africa and South Asia appear to be difficult or even unable to implement the SDGs and monitor the progress. In the post-pandemic era, particular attention shall be given to integrating SDGs and achieve synergy among goals, concretizing short-and medium-term priorities toward the SDGs targets for all countries, strengthening multilateralism and global cooperation among countries and continents, providing reliable data and approaches for real-time impact assessment and process monitoring, and promoting an inclusive engagement and integrative implementation with multiple stakeholders and consortiums.

scholarly journals أحكام المشاركة الشعبية ودورها في درء مخاطر الكوارث

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 269-293
Author(s):  
د. خالد محمد مصطفى
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Remedial Measures ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
Popular Participation ◽  
The Sustainable Development

       This paper addresses the popular participation strategy and its role in the effectiveness of disasters risk management, with an emphasis towards strengthening the sustainable development opportunities, remedial measures of threads in least Developed Countries taking Sudan as a case study, which suffer from acute vulnerability despite its huge resources and comparative advantage.Thus the local community participation is important to achieve integration between formal and informal efforts.       The study also sheds light on the tools of popular participation experienced in Sudan, characteristics, challenges, objectives, inputs, operations, outputs, and results, accompanied with methods of measuring and evaluation within the context of the state national strategic planning.      The study also reveals the expected merits from adopting the grass rooted development (Bottom Top Approach) in the different stages of disaster management.    

scholarly journals BRICS and Partnerships for Sustainable Development: Prospects for Trade with Least Developed Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-106
Author(s):  
Alexandra Morozkina ◽  
◽  
Valentina Skryabina ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
Sharp Drop ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Intensity Index ◽  
Mutual Trade ◽  
Current Implementation ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

The informal BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) is actively working to solve the most acute global problems. This is why opportunities for implementing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) at BRICS summits is a topic for urgent research. This article discusses the prospects for achieving SDG 17.11 by the least developed countries (LDCs) in the framework of mutual trade with BRICS. SDG 17.11, unlike other goals, was expected to be achieved in 2020, but World Trade Organization (WTO) estimates for 2018 showed that progress was too slow. Against the sharp drop in international trade in 2020 due to economic shutdowns, the implementation of this goal is especially high on the agenda. This article describes the current implementation of the SDG by BRICS. A general analysis of mutual trade between LDCs and BRICS shows the low involvement of least developed countries in trade with BRICS. The methodology for the study involves computations of two trade indices and the identification of new clusters of LDCs. The export propensity index and trade intensity index are calculated in order to identify the countries with the most promise to increase exports to BRICS. The authors selected 13 LDCs with prospects for trade development with BRICS—Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Bangladesh, Guinea, Mauritania, Nepal, Tanzania, Zambia, Bhutan, Lesotho, Malawi and Solomon Islands. Among 34 other LDCs, the authors identify five clusters based on their economic structure, including the role played in their economies by official development assistance (ODA) and personal remittances. Clustering allows BRICS to provide targeted support to LDCs in order to increase their export potential through the most effective mechanisms for each economy.

Quantification of Vitamin A in Fortified Rapeseed, Groundnut and Soya Oils Using a Simple Portable Device: Comparison to High Performance Liquid Chromatography

2013 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cécile Renaud ◽  
Jacques Berger ◽  
Arnaud Laillou ◽  
Sylvie Avallone
Keyword(s):  
High Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Portable Device ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
Control Food ◽  
Assay Precision

Vitamin A deficiency is still one of the major public health problems in least developed countries. Fortification of vegetable oils is a strategy implemented worldwide to prevent this deficiency. For a fortification program to be effective, regular monitoring is necessary to control food quality in the producing units. The reference methods for vitamin A quantification are expensive and time-consuming. A rapid method should be useful for regular assessment of vitamin A in the oil industry. A portable device was compared to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for three plant oils (rapeseed, groundnut, and soya). The device presented a good linearity from 3 to 30 mg retinol equivalents per kg (mg RE.kg- 1). Its limits of detection and quantification were 3 mg RE.kg- 1 for groundnut and rapeseed oils and 4 mg RE.kg- 1 for soya oil. The intra-assay precision ranged from 1.48 % to 3.98 %, considered satisfactory. Accuracy estimated by the root mean squares error ranged from 3.99 to 5.49 and revealed a lower precision than HPLC (0.4 to 2.25). Although it offers less precision than HPLC, the device estimates quickly the vitamin A content of the tested oils from 3 or 4 to 15 mg RE.kg- 1.

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