scholarly journals When Is Choice Empowering? Examining Gender Differences in Varietal Adoption through Case Studies from Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3678
Author(s):  
Vivian Polar ◽  
Jaqueline A. Ashby ◽  
Graham Thiele ◽  
Hale Tufan
Keyword(s):  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Careful Analysis ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Technology Choice ◽  
Individual Agency ◽  
Balanced Approach ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Choice Of Technology

This paper examines the question of what makes choice empowering and critiques prevalent approaches to empowerment focused narrowly on agency as the ability of individuals to make their own free choices and act independently. The implications of a narrow focus on agency are illustrated with the examples of technology choice in agriculture, specifically choices involved in the adoption of improved plant varieties. This example elucidates the limits of individual agency and permits an analysis of how choices may be structured to be either empowering or disempowering, with examples from specific plant breeding cases. In view of the importance given to equitable choice of technology for closing the gender gap in agricultural productivity and sustainability, the paper explores what practical steps can be taken towards a balanced approach to empowerment. An approach to designing a new plant variety by constructing choice differently is illustrated, using information on gender relations. The paper derives lessons from the plant breeding cases to inform other kinds of interventions, so that work on how choices are defined is given as much importance for empowerment as creating the option to choose. Agents who exercise power over rules and resources can either reproduce the status quo or innovate; thus, a balanced approach to empowerment requires careful analysis of the elements of choice.

Breaking the Metal Ceiling

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Campos ◽  
Markus Goldstein ◽  
Laura McGorman ◽  
Ana Maria Munoz Boudet ◽  
Obert Pimhidzai
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Occupational Segregation ◽  
Gender Segregation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Small Enterprises ◽  
Labour Market Participation ◽  
Female Labour Market Participation ◽  
Sub Saharan

Evidence from developed and developing countries indicates that there is significant gender segregation within the labour market, with women more likely to work in low-productivity sectors or less profitable businesses. This chapter looks at occupational segregation which significantly contributes to the earnings gender gap worldwide. The chapter studies the differences in outcomes for male and female enterprises and their sectors in sub-Saharan Africa, a region of high female labour market participation and entrepreneurship. Data on Uganda show that women breaking into male-dominated sectors make as much as men, and three times more than women staying in female-dominated sectors. Factors including entrepreneurial skill/abilities and credit/human capital constraints do not explain women’s sectoral choices. However, information about profitability of their small enterprises, male role models’ influence, and exposure to the sector from family and friends are critical in helping women circumvent or overcome norms undergirding occupational segregation.

ICT Is Not Gender Blind

2016 ◽  
pp. 174-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adamkolo Mohammed Ibrahim ◽  
Mohammed Alhaji Adamu
Keyword(s):  
Gender Gap ◽  
Gender Disparity ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Software And Hardware ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Online Library ◽  
Developed World

This chapter critically reviewed literature on gender disparity associated with access and usage of ICT, focusing on the less developed world, especially Sub-Saharan Africa. The authors used relevant online literature sourced from research databases such as Google Scholar, Elsevier and Wiley Online Library. With the aid of graphical illustrations, the chapter aligned its argument with some critical global research findings regarding gender-based mobile phone and Internet usage and the concept of ICT and gender. The chapter concluded that ICT gender gap negatively affects the socio-economic development of women, and recommended that ICTs manufacturers should integrate gender-balanced software and hardware right at the time of production of the technologies.

Coloniality in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jurgen Poesche
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Natural Science ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Comparative Perspective ◽  
State Sovereignty ◽  
Minority Status ◽  
Power Structures ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sub Saharan

The objective of this article is to contribute to the development of a common narrative on coloniality in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas. Since scholars tend to focus on either Sub-Saharan Africa or the Americas, a gap between these important regions has emerged in the literature on coloniality. This article seeks to bridge this gap by providing a comparative perspective on coloniality, and this hopefully will enhance Indigenous African nations’ and Indigenous American nations’ understanding of what needs to be done to overcome coloniality. The article explores three key theses. First, in spite of the differences in the extant societal power structures in the postcolonial African states and the former settler colonial states in the Americas, this article argues that the continued dynamics of coloniality are similar in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas. The minority status of Indigenous American nations throughout the Americas renders addressing coloniality more challenging than in Sub-Saharan Africa where Indigenous African nations are in the majority although they generally do not have effective sovereignty. Second, the extant societal power structures associated with both coloniality and occidental modernity have weaponized occidental jurisprudence, natural science and social science to defend and proliferate the status quo assisted by state sovereignty. Addressing coloniality effectively therefore requires a renaissance of Indigenous African and Indigenous American cosmovisions unaffected by modernity. Third, addressing coloniality in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas requires the recognition of the comprehensive and supreme sovereignty of the Indigenous African nations in all of Sub-Saharan Africa, and Indigenous American nations in all of the Americas.

scholarly journals The wild dog—Africa's vanishing carnivore

Oryx ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
John H. Fanshawe ◽  
Lory H. Frame ◽  
Joshua R. Ginsberg
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Lycaon Pictus ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
African Wild Dog ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Wild Dog

This paper presents a synopsis of the current status and distribution of the African wild dog Lycaon pictus, outlines reasons for its decline and discusses recommendations to halt or reverse this decline. A recent review of the status of the species provides evidence that it has disappeared or is in decline throughout its range (sub-Saharan Africa). Relict populations with little or no chance of long-term survival are found in several countries including Algeria and Senegal. Countries believed to contain potentially viable populations are, from north to south, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa (only the Kruger National Park).

Proceedings of the African Pathologists Summit; March 22–23, 2013; Dakar, Senegal: A Summary

2014 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
African Pathologists' Summit Working Groups
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Pathology ◽  
West African ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
East African ◽  
Laboratory Service ◽  
Medical College ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
American Society ◽  
International Academy

Context This report presents the proceedings of the African Pathologists Summit, held under the auspices of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer. Objectives To deliberate on the challenges and constraints of the practice of pathology in Sub-Saharan Africa and the avenues for addressing them. Participants Collaborating organizations included the American Society for Clinical Pathology; Association of Pathologists of Nigeria; British Division of the International Academy of Pathology; College of Pathologists of East, Central and Southern Africa; East African Division of the International Academy of Pathology; Friends of Africa–United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology Initiative; International Academy of Pathology; International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research; National Cancer Institute; National Health and Laboratory Service of South Africa; Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College; Royal College of Pathologists; West African Division of the International Academy of Pathology; and Faculty of Laboratory Medicine of the West African College of Physicians. Evidence Information on the status of the practice of pathology was based on the experience of the participants, who are current or past practitioners of pathology or are involved in pathology education and research in Sub-Saharan Africa. Consensus Process The deliberations were carried out through presentations and working discussion groups. Conclusions The significant lack of professional and technical personnel, inadequate infrastructure, limited training opportunities, poor funding of pathology services in Sub-Saharan Africa, and their significant impact on patient care were noted. The urgency of addressing these issues was recognized, and the recommendations that were made are contained in this report.

scholarly journals Access to Credit by Firms in Sub-Saharan Africa: How Relevant is Gender?

2013 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Asiedu ◽  
Isaac Kalonda-Kanyama ◽  
Leonce Ndikumana ◽  
Akwasi Nti-Addae
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Financing Constraints ◽  
Developing Regions ◽  
Access To Finance ◽  
Econometric Estimation ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Using Data

The literature on the determinants of firms' financing constraints has paid little attention to gender as a determinant of access to finance. Using data for 34,342 firms from 90 developing countries, the paper analyzes the determinants of firms' financing constraints and assesses whether female-owned firms are more financially constrained than male-owned businesses. The results show that female-owned firms in sub-Saharan Africa are more likely to be financially constrained than male-owned firms, but there is no gender gap in other developing regions. The gender gap in sub-Saharan Africa is robust to variations in specifications and econometric estimation procedures.

scholarly journals The Role of Feminist Standpoint and Intersectionality Epistemologies in Providing Insights into the Causes of Gender Disparity in Higher Education

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Enyonam Brigitte Norgbey
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Gender Disparity ◽  
Gender Disparities ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Feminist Standpoint ◽  
Sub Saharan

Higher education plays a critical role in society’s development, particularly in the current era of globalization in which knowledge-based innovations are critical for development. However, women’s underrepresentation in higher education remains a persistent issue of concern, particularly, in sub-Saharan Africa. The gender gap in higher education is created by complex interconnected sets of deep-rooted factors. A clear understanding of the underlying causes of gender inequality in higher education is necessary to develop effective interventions to overcome this disparity. Feminist standpoint and feminist intersectionality epistemologies have been used to provide insights into gender disparities in higher education. Drawing on existing published literature, I will discuss the conceptual and theoretical frameworks of these two feminist epistemologies and explore the methodological implications of these epistemologies for critically examining gender disparities in higher education in the context of sub-Saharan Africa. Keywords: epistemology, feminism, gender, higher education, intersectionality

scholarly journals Factors of Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Current Trends

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 38-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. V. Podbiralina ◽  
J. C. Asiagba
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Added Value ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Innovative Products ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sub Saharan

Despite the fact that the African continent is positioned as one of the fastest growing economies in the world (especially the sub-region of sub-Saharan Africa), the lack of industrialization and the use of modern technologies continues to be a brake on the development of the economies of African countries, which largely depend on agriculture and exports of raw goods that have a relatively low added value and account for more than 80% of their exports. This has a negative impact not only on the economic development of the region, but also on per capita incomes of the population. This article assesses the existing economic potential of African countries, which is one of the most important factors for overcoming economic backwardness, achieving the goals of sustainable development, raising the standard of living of the population and changing the status of SSA countries in the world economic system. It is shown that it is important for African states to attract new technologies and innovative products to the industrial and agricultural sectors, since knowledge and innovations are the locomotive of economic growth and are one of the most important factors in the reconstruction and modernization of their economies.

scholarly journals Fighting non-communicable diseases in East Africa: assessing progress and identifying the next steps

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. e003325
Author(s):  
Christian Kraef ◽  
Pamela A Juma ◽  
Joseph Mucumbitsi ◽  
Kaushik Ramaiya ◽  
Francois Ndikumwenayo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Communicable Disease ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
East African ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
East African Community ◽  
Monitoring Tools ◽  
The Status ◽  
African Community ◽  
Sub Saharan

Sub-Saharan Africa has seen a rapid increase in non-communicable disease (NCD) burden over the last decades. The East African Community (EAC) comprises Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and Uganda, with a population of 177 million. In those countries, 40% of deaths in 2015 were attributable to NCDs. We review the status of the NCD response in the countries of the EAC based on the available monitoring tools, the WHO NCD progress monitors in 2017 and 2020 and the East African NCD Alliance benchmark survey in 2017. In the EAC, modest progress in governance, prevention of risk factors, monitoring, surveillance and evaluation of health systems can be observed. Many policies exist on paper, implementation and healthcare are weak and there are large regional and subnational differences. Enhanced efforts by regional and national policy-makers, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders are needed to ensure future NCD policies and implementation improvements.

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