Innovation in the Public Sector

Innovation is something that is new, capable of being implemented, and has a beneficial impact. It is not an event or activity; it is a concept, process, practice, and capability that defines successful organizations. Innovation in the public sector can help create value for society

Chain-wide learning for inclusive agrifood market development : a guide to multi-stakeholder processes for linking small-scale producers to modern markets

This guide provides a set of concepts and analytical tools for finding ways to better link small-scale producers to the modern markets associated with today’s largescale supermarket retail and wholesale operations. It is has been developed through iterative testing with partners in several organisations and countries. The guide is a product of the Regoverning Markets Programme, a multi-agency programme to generate strategic information and anticipatory policy advice on small-scale producers in these fast changing markets

Determinants of the uptake of green practices in lodges and tented camps within Masaai Mara game reserve in Narok County Kenya

The general objective of the study was to establish the determinants of the uptake of green practices in lodges and tented camps within Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Narok County Kenya. The specific objectives were: to determine whether environmental awareness and organizational commitment influence the uptake of the green practices in lodges and tented camps. This study was anchored on the Institutional Theory of the Firm. The study adopted a descriptive design.The target population was 371 respondents whocomprised of Managers, Housekeepers, and Chefs. A stratified random sampling technique was used to draw the study sample of 196 respondents. The sample size of the study was calculated using Fishers Exact Test 1991 formula. The study used a questionnaire as the main research tool. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Correlation analysis was used to explain the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the determinants of the uptake of green practices in lodges and tented camps. Qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis and the subsequent drawing of conclusions. The study found that environmental awareness had a significant positive relationship with green practices in lodges and tented camps within Maasai Mara Game Reserve; organizational commitment had a significant positive relationship with green practices in lodges and tented camps within Maasai Mara Game Reserve. The study concludes that an increase in environmental awareness and organizational commitment will result in increased uptake of the green practices in lodges and tented camp

Trivial movements and redistribution of polyphagous insect herbivores in heterogeneous vegetation

The aim of this thesis was to study the interplay between movement patterns of polyphagous insect herbivores and vegetation heterogeneity within agricultural fields. I examined if and how 1) host plant species, 2) host plant quality, 3) vegetation architecture, and 4) trap crop physical design influence movement patterns of individuals and spatial distribution of populations. Foragers may aggregate in profitable areas by tactic movement, or by area-restricted search, i.e. by moving randomly but slowing down movement and increasing rate of turning after encountering a profitable patch. Movement patterns of polyphagous herbivores have a high potential for influencing their distribution among hosts differing in quality. However, information on the role random vs. non-random components in their movement behavior is scarce. The results of this thesis show that both host plant species and within species differences in host plant quality affect movement behavior of a polyphagous herbivore, the European tarnished plant bug nymphs. The host plant induced movement patterns also explained the distribution of nymphs in heterogeneous vegetation. Because redistribution was very fast, it appears that no tactic behavior is needed for the nymphs to locate preferred hosts in heterogeneous vegetation composed of small patches. Instead the nymphs may successfully locate superior hosts merely by random movement coupled with sensitivity to local host quality. The physical structure of environment influences redistribution of populations at several spatial scales. At small scale the architecture of vegetation may influence redistribution of insects that move on the plant surface. At large scale e.g. trap crop physical design may affect redistribution of pests. In this thesis I derive a model for predicting the impact of vegetation architecture on the rate of displacement by insects moving on the plant surface. I also present and explore models of the interplay between pest movement and trap crop physical design. The trap crop models suggest that considerable reduction in pest density may be achieved using small trap crop cover with trap crops that the pest distinctly prefers over the crop. It supports also the idea that trap crop placement may have a dramatic impact on the efficiency of the trap crops