Analysis of Stallholder Farmers’ Participation in Agricultural Extension Services in Yayo and Hurumu Districts of Oromia, South-West Ethiopia

This study examines farmers’ participation and applicability of agricultural extension service demonstration in Yayo and Hurumu districts of Oromia, South-West Ethiopia. Specifically, it aims to evaluate factors determining households’ participation in agricultural extension service; applicability of the extension service field demonstration; and major sources of information from where rural households get information about the service. The primary data was collected from 143 household heads selected based on systematic random sampling from four Kebeles, and interview conducted with 10 key informants. Analysis is made by descriptive and inferential statistics. Ordered logit econometric model is used with robustness test. Marginal effect is used to interpret the effect of explanatory variables on the dependent variable. Result of the study reveals that about 15.3% of literate households frequently participate in the extension service while only 4.23% of illiterate households fall under the category of frequently participating in the service. Factors determining households’ participation in extension service include; age, sex, farming experience, family size, economic status, experience in extension service, DAs contact with farmers, DAs politeness, and farmers’ access to social networks. Among these, except age of household which is negatively related to the degree of participation in extension service, all other variables are positively influencing households’ participation in the extension service. The study also indicates that applicability of the field demonstration through farmers’ farm visit, demonstration at FTCs, and model farmers’ approach of scaling-up best practices are ineffective. The main sources of information through which rural households get information about extension service include development agents, neighbors/relatives, social networks, Kebele administration, and mass media. But, about 90% of the sampled households argued that the contribution of NGOs and model farmers’ in information dissemination and technology transfer has been poor. The policy implication is that government has to make the extension service delivery approach more demand driven and pluralistic where different multi-extension service providers such as farmers’ union, NGOs and private sectors can contribute their part. To promote participation of private and NGOs particularly local NGOs, government better design legal frameworks through which stakeholders could involve in providing agricultural extension service. Keywords: Extension service, FTCs, FFS, Model farmers, Social networks. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-21-02 Publication date: November 30th 202

The Most Effective Strategies to Curb Corruption and Improve Water Service Delivery in Zimbabwe

 The main objective of this study was to find the most effective strategies to curb and eradicate corruption and improve water service delivery. The study also aimed to present the type, causes, and effects of corruption. A mixed-methods questionnaire survey design was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. 220 questionnaires were distributed to providers and users of water services in Zimbabwe. 149 respondents returned the completed questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. The Analysis of Variance was used to test the significance of mean scores. The study revealed that corruption is highly prevalent in Zimbabwe. The main factors that cause corruption in the water sector are poor governance, economic hardship, and weak accountability. Corruption leads to economic stagnation and poor foreign investments. Organisations such as the Zimbabwe National Water Authority must improve systems and structures, enhance the auditing process, and educate staff on good ethical standards and effective governance to effectively fight against corruption and improve service delivery. They must also put in place strong governance and accountability frameworks and work closely with communities and policy makers to eradicate corruption. The availability of water should be the same across all the suburbs, and the country needs to adjust its water bill rates in line with regional rates. Service providers should make use of mobile technology to promote citizenry participation in sharing ideas and making decisions on water sustainability. This study reaffirms the need to fight corruption and improve water service delivery.&nbsp

What makes urban governance co-productive? Contradictions in the current debate on co-production

Following a number of prominent concepts in urban planning, like participatory planning or self-help housing, co-production has started to gain momentum in the global South context. While it is has been long discussed as a means of service provision, the term is more and more often used in the broader sense of urban governance and policy planning. This understanding goes beyond the aspect of scaling-up successful co-productive infrastructure focused projects; rather, it indicates a different format of engagement for prompting urban stakeholders into planning citywide urban solutions. This article discusses the distinction between the different levels of co-production and their inter-linkages, and it investigates the relevance of positioning co-production as a factor framing urban governance. This includes a discussion on three main contradictions that can be identified within the current discussion on co-production. Finally, it identifies a set of arguments for elaborating the role of co-production in a policy and urban governance setting

Private Sector Participation in Health Care in Zimbabwe: What’s the Value Added and Institutional Challenges?

This paper analyses the private healthcare sector’s role in Zimbabwe’s health delivery system, especially after economic challenges reduced in real terms fiscal support for public health system funding. This paints a sharp contrast between practicalities of achieving affordable and accessible public healthcare on one hand, and the economic and social realities of underfunded and skills-constrained health systems. Using as empirical models and analytical lenses the country’s 2009–2013 National Health Strategy and the WHO’s health system building blocks, we examine the role played by private sector health delivery actors in the last 10 years and suggest that although the private sector added value, there is a bigger challenge of weak macro-level coordination and communication within the health sector which create problems for systemic design, strategy formulation and feedback mechanisms, important for institutional innovation and timely responses to changing dynamics. Macro-level coordination can be aided by documentation and standardization of procedures, processes and approaches by different health delivery actors to align with national health delivery goals, allowing more predictable and measurable impact from interventions by different actors

United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Kenya

The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (2014-2018) for Kenya is an expression of the UN's commitment to support the Kenyan people in their self-articulated development aspirations. This UNDAF has been developed according to the principles of UN Delivering as One (DaO), aimed at ensuring Government ownership, demonstrated through UNDAF's full alignment to Government priorities and planning cycles, as well as internal coherence among UN agencies and programmes operating in Kenya. The UNDAF narrative includes five recommended sections: Introduction and Country Context, UNDAF Results, Resource Estimates, Implementation Arrangements, and Monitoring and Evaluation as well as a Results and Resources Annex. Developed under the leadership of the Government, the UNDAF reflects the efforts of all UN agencies working in Kenya and is shaped by the five UNDG programming principles: Human Rights-based approach, gender equality, environmental sustainability, capacity development, and results based management. The UNDAF working groups have developed a truly broad-based Results Framework, in collaboration with Civil Society, donors and other partners. The UNDAF has four Strategic Results Areas: 1) Transformational Governance encompassing Policy and Institutional Frameworks; Democratic Participation and Human Rights; Devolution and Accountability; and Evidence-based Decision-making, 2) Human Capital Development comprised of Education and Learning; Health, including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Environmental Preservation, Food Availability and Nutrition; Multi-sectoral HIV and AIDS Response; and Social Protection, 3) Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth, with Improving the Business Environment; Strengthening Productive Sectors and Trade; and Promoting Job Creation, Skills Development and Improved Working Conditions, and 4) Environmental Sustainability, Land Management and Human Security including Policy and Legal Framework Development; and Peace, Community Security and Resilience. The UNDAF Results Areas are aligned with the three Pillars (Political, Social and Economic) of the Government's Vision 2030 transformational agenda

Assessing the Sustainability of Rural Water Supply Management Pdf in the Case of Debark Wereda, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Management and sustainability of rural water supply is a big challenge, in water delivery service. The main objective of this study was for assessing sustainability and management of rural water supply systems in Debark Wereda Amhara region, Ethiopia. Nine sample Kebeles were chosen by cluster sampling. Survey was carried out (n=191) users and artisans (caretakers) to fill the questionnaire in fifteen purposely selected water points constructed in the last few years. Both Primary and secondary data were employed. The collected data were scored; standardized, analyzed and interpreted using project approach and performance frameworks within NUMXL1.6 software and STATA 12. Sample water points were ranked depending on the index and its values mapped with Arc GIS 10.2. Demand driven approach, users participation, committee training, choice of technology were factors which affects pre and post project implementation which results poor management and sustainability of sample projects. From the analysis 54% which was not satisfactory and good enough. 18% of sample water points categorized as ineffectiveness or non-functional and not long-lasting to deliver the anticipated service because of poor project approach and performance frameworks. From the result 23.4% of sample projects fall under effective and sustainable water points with little modification. Community managed projects have greater Effectiveness and Sustainability index results than non-community managed projects this implies Community managed projects well performed than non-community managed projects. Finally, the recommended design of spring water scheme was design by using auto cad software. Keywords: Debark Wereda, Rural Water Supply, and community managed projects DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/69-03 Publication date:September 30th 202

Principles of inspection and review

"This document tells you about the principles which HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) is committed to following in the design and implementation of our inspection and review frameworks. The principles have been developed in the context of Scottish Government policy on scrutiny improvement1 and in line with the UK Cabinet Office principles for inspection bodies2 and for better regulation3. The inspection and review frameworks cover all the different sectors of education and children’s services provision which HMIE works in. They are in line with frameworks set up with other partners such as Audit Scotland for scrutiny of local authority services. The ten principles have been approved by HMIE’s Management Board which includes independent members. These principles provide a key point of reference to inform the development of any new approaches to inspection or the review of any of HMIE’s existing approaches. Beneath this set of principles, HMIE will develop and maintain a set of more specific inspection and review guidance which describes how we work in particular sectors or areas of provision. These show how our general inspection and review principles are being put into practice in the particular sector/area concerned. The full set of inspection and review frameworks will be placed in the relevant sector/area sections of the HMIE website as they become available. We have in place a range of mechanisms by which we evaluate and monitor our performance against these ten principles of inspection and review" - page 1

‘Maybe we can turn the tide’ : an explanatory mixed-methods study to understand how knowledge brokers mobilise health evidence in low- and middle-income countries

Background: Little is known about how knowledge brokers (KBs) operate in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to translate evidence for health policy and practice. These intermediaries facilitate relationships between evidence producers and users to address public health issues. Aims and objectives: To increase understanding, a mixed-methods study collected data from KBs who had acted on evidence from the 2015 Global Maternal Newborn Health Conference in Mexico. Methods: Of the 1000 in-person participants, 252 plus 72 online participants (n=324) from 56 countries completed an online survey, and 20 participants from 15 countries were interviewed. Thematic analysis and application of knowledge translation (KT) theory explored factors influencing KB actions leading to evidence uptake. Descriptive statistics of respondent characteristics were used for cross-case comparison. Findings: Results suggest factors supporting the KB role in evidence uptake, which include active relationships with evidence users through embedded KB roles, targeted and tailored evidence communication to fit the context, user receptiveness to evidence from a similar country setting, adaptability in the KB role, and action orientation of KBs. Discussion and conclusions: Initiatives to increase evidence uptake in LMICs should work to establish supportive structures for embedded KT, identify processes for ongoing cross-country learning, and strengthen KBs already showing effectiveness in their roles