An Investigation into the Prevalent Types of Conflicts, Conflict Indicators, The Role Played by These Indicators and How Conflict Undermines the Management of Disasters in Africa.

This study sort to identify the prevalent types of conflict and causes, conflict indicators, the role played by these indicators and how conflict undermines Disaster Management activities in Africa.The historical method of data collection was used. Data collected was secondary. Collection involved the researcher visiting various web sites on the internet and various published works, which had information on conflicts in Africa.The study population comprised of 52 African countries. The period covered by the research was January 2007 to April 2009.The results show an identification of the following six types of conflict, armed conflict (divided into major, intermediate and minor), border disputes, food riots, political violence, targeted attacks and inter-communal strife. Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya were quantitatively identified as high conflict areas in the continent. Armed conflict came out as the high priority conflict type that needed urgent attention. Various types of conflict indicators were identified and their role was explained as that of providing early warning to conflict. Conflict was seen as undermining disaster management activities through retarding, stopping and stalling many developmental processes.The study recommended various ways to deal with conflicts, all directed towards the search for peace and security that requires the mobilization, coordination and cooperation of all states, Non-Governmental Organisations, civil society, community leaders, the community and others to participate in efforts of promoting peace, security and stability in Africa. Key words: Conflict, indicators, disaster

Vulnerability of Southern Afar pastoralists to climate variability and change, Ethiopia

The present study was carried out in the Southern Afar region in Ethiopia to assess the vulnerability of pastoral communities to climate change and variability. A household questionnaire survey was employed to collect data at a household level. A total of 250 pastoral households were sampled using stratified random sampling. The results revealed that 28.8% of the pastoral households were highly vulnerable. Most of the households (53.6%) were moderately vulnerable. Only 17.6% of the households were capable of coping even though there would be a high probability of moving from less vulnerable to a moderate or high vulnerability level in the future if no appropriate adaptive measures would be taken by decision-makers. Policies with emphasis on empowerment of women, such as improving their access to and control over resources through a better institutional set-up; improving irrigation facilities and skills; expanding the participation of pastoral households on irrigation farming; creating opportunities for non-farm income; and improving access to credits, markets, health and veterinary services, are expected to enhance pastoralists’ resilience

Ecological vulnerability indicators to drought: Case of communal farmers in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Estimation of ecological drought vulnerability indicators is the important step for drought mitigation management. This article identified and estimated ecological drought vulnerability indicators among communal farmers in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, using an ecological vulnerability index based on a household survey of 121 communal farmers. The results identified overgrazing, soil erosion, land degradation, surface and groundwater supply, and land use management as the main ecological vulnerability variables. The results showed that climate is not necessarily linked to ecological vulnerability. High rainfall districts in this study showed higher ecological vulnerability to drought because of poor planning and management of water supply, poor grazing practices and land management that leads to serious land degradation. The identification and analysis of ecological vulnerability indicators to drought would aid in reconsidering priorities for the government to implement appropriate policy measures in response to drought and suggest strategies to reduce drought vulnerability. Such policies and strategies will strengthen climate change adaptation and ensure ecological and climate sustainability that comply with the Millennium Development Goals set out by the United Nations in 2000 and the subsequent 2030 development agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals

Op weg na 'n Gereformeerde kerkplantingsmodel as deel van die missio–Dei

Thesis (MTh (Missiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.This mini-dissertation views the missio-Ecclesiae through the lens of the missio-Dei. The conclusion is that church planting presupposes the missio-Dei . A further conclusion is drawn that church planting results in the re-orientation and revitalization of the local church. Guidelines are given for the revitalization and re-orientation process of local congregations, as well as the role they need to play in church planting. In conclusion the essential characteristics of Reformed church planting are pointed out.Master

Understanding resilience of pastoralists to climate change and variability in the Southern Afar Region, Ethiopia

Change in climate and climate extremes are acknowledged as a vital challenge to pastoral production systems. Alternative systems that are accessible to a household in order to make a living could determine the household’s resilience at a given point in time. This study was conducted in the Southern Afar region in Ethiopia to understand the resilience of pastoralists to climate change and variability. A household questionnaire survey and focus group discussions were employed to collect primary data at household level. A total of 250 pastoral households were sampled using stratified random sampling. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics and principal component analysis. The resilience of households to climate shocks and stresses was determined using a two-step modelling approach by clustering households into livelihood groups, gender and districts. The results indicated that agro-pastoral households were more resilient than pastoralists to climate-induced shock. Furthermore, households in the Gewane district were more resilient than those in the Amibara district. Female-headed households were less resilient than male-headed households. Enhancing livestock assets and productivity, social safety nets, access to market, credit, extension services and education, improving irrigation crop farming, and providing farm inputs significantly enhanced the resilience of pastoralists to climate change and variability. Keywords: Asset, Livelihood, Climate shock, Pastoralist, Resilienc

Land-use and land-cover changes and their drivers in rangeland-dependent pastoral communities in the southern Afar Region of Ethiopia

The present study was conducted in the southern Afar Region in Ethiopia to analyse the trends of land-use and land-cover changes and their drivers in the period 1985 to 2015 using remote sensing, field observation, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews. A substantial loss of grassland cover (64.5%), moderate decline of cultivated land (24%) and a considerable increase in bush and shrub land cover (114.3%) occurred between 1985 and 2015. Consequently, pastoralist’s access to rangeland resources and farmlands was highly restricted, thus putting the pastoral production system under increasing threat. A 13.3% decline of bare land was also observed during the same period. The results further indicated that policy, climate change, and variability, biotic factors including population growth, overgrazing, Prosopis juliflora seed dispersal via livestock’s fecal droppings and seed germination potential of P. juliflora under moisture stress were the most important drivers of land-use and land-cover changes. Therefore, policy and strategies should be developed to control P. juliflora and give pastoralists full rights to their grazing land. Furthermore, there should be a strategy to strengthen the customary institution for effective management of rangeland resources.Keywords: grassland, land cover, land use, pastoralists, Prosopi