Monitoring and Evaluation: Civil Society Organisations’ Competitive Edge in Effective Poverty Alleviation

The role of Civil Society Organisations as preferred partners in development is strongly emerging across the globe. Among many reasons, one is reasonably good governance. The social sector has shown the acumen to learn and apply corporate management practices and international standards fast enough to start leading the competition. Notwithstanding the fact that a large part of development funding under soft loans and grants is channeled to the government, the CSOs receive a significant share directly and indirectly to implement development projects in communities. It has opened tremendous opportunities for CSOs to experiment and evolve new approaches in project management, community organisation, service delivery, product development, resource mobilisation and financial management. What makes the civil society organisations different from the public sector organisations? Fundamentally two things; these are non-governmental and nonprofit. However, the real difference is in the way civil society organisations are managed. It includes leadership, commitment, professionalism, systems and practices, thrust of work and most of all performance.

Experimental Study of the Displacements Caused by Cone Penetration in Sand

As more advanced theoretical methods become available for solution of the complex cone penetration (CPT) boundary-value problem, it is essential to develop methods to validate those solutions experimentally. A large scale model penetrometer testing facility, consisting of a half-circular calibration chamber with digital image correlation (DIC) capability, was developed for experimental simulation of cone penetration. The flat side of the chamber is transparent, made of Plexiglass. In individual tests, sand samples are prepared inside the half-circular chamber by pluviation; the half-circular cone is then pushed into the sand model flush against the Plexiglas, with the penetration process digitally imaged for DIC analysis. The displacement data obtained from DIC analysis provided valuable insights into the cone penetration boundary-value problem. Experiments with three different types of silica sands show that sand crushability influences the slip pattern around the advancing cone and also the cone penetration resistance. The derived strain paths show that very complex modes of deformation are experienced by the soil elements in close proximity of the penetrometer tip. The close-up imagery of the interface zone provided useful information for understanding the model penetrometer-sand interface behavior. The series of cone penetration tests conducted in layered sand profiles show that the sensing and development depths are dependent upon the position of weak and strong layers with respect to the direction of the advancing cone. The observed influence zone as interpreted from DIC analysis is smaller than stated in the literature

Survey to assess the problems of corporate governance facing Islamic Financial Institutions (IFI’s) at this moment in time

This dissertation highlights and analyses the results of a Survey to assess the problems of corporate governance facing Islamic Financial Institutions (IFI’s) at this moment in time. The significance of the dissertation is in describing governance in Islamic financial institutions and how there are numerus matters under the investigation process, and to view the entire area of corporate governance from a religious context. A solution to deal with these problems from a religious angle, whereby the obligation of adhering to good corporate governance practices is perceived from the perspective of religious obligations. One of the objectives of this paper is to examine, and create greater awareness of, some of the critical issues related to corporate governance in Islamic financial institutions. A second, perhaps, a more significant objective is to emphasize how improvements in corporate governance in such institutions can come about by viewing them as a religious obligation, and thereby preserving their acceptance but safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders. Islamic Shariah provides guidelines that can help the Islamic finance industry alleviate problems resulting from the dualism of improving financial efficiency and observing the rules of Shariah. A greater commitment to the objectives of Shariah may allow the industry to escape the argument that Islamic finance is dissimilar in form but effectively the same in substance to conventional finance

Barricades in Implementation and Adoptation Level of ISO-9001 in Construction Industry of Pakistan

The quality of construction projects and products is purely dependant on the development of such industry and is associated with the implementation of Quality management system in this industry. From the last two decade the certification of ISO- 9001 has been taken up in construction industry at the international level. Many benefits gathered throughout the globe by its effective implementation. The awareness of adaptation is weak in the developing countries and is unaware of the everlasting benefits of this standard. Pakistan is also one of the developing countries which are unaware of its benefits specially gathered in foreign countries such as UK, United States, Australia and Japan etc. ISO which stands for International organisation for standardization is alliance of global standards. There is a special technical committee which is TC-176 which formulates all the standards of ISO-9001. Draft is circulated through technical members of board for approval of standards which requires 75% minimum votes for approval as a standard. There are more than 2100 companies which are certified with ISO-9001 in Pakistan and over 200 auditing agencies which time to time audit the certified firms. The study draws attention to the advantages, disadvantages and barricades facing by construction firms by the implementation of ISO-9001 in construction industry of Pakistan. Also some beneficial suggestions for better adopting ISO-9oo1 is given with the help of this research which can be helpful for the future of Pakistan’s construction Industry. The research highlights that construction firms of Pakistan should gain from the advantages gathered by the construction firms of developed countries and take apt measures for implementing ISO-9001 standards. The government as well as public sector should ensure its implication by all firms before tendering any project for better quality works. Keywords: ISO-9001, implementation, standard, auditing agencie

Monitoring and Evaluation: Civil Society Organisations’ Competitive Edge in Effective Poverty Alleviation

The role of Civil Society Organisations as preferred partners in development is strongly emerging across the globe. Among many reasons, one is reasonably good governance. The social sector has shown the acumen to learn and apply corporate management practices and international standards fast enough to start leading the competition. Notwithstanding the fact that a large part of development funding under soft loans and grants is channeled to the government, the CSOs receive a significant share directly and indirectly to implement development projects in communities. It has opened tremendous opportunities for CSOs to experiment and evolve new approaches in project management, community organisation, service delivery, product development, resource mobilisation and financial management. What makes the civil society organisations different from the public sector organisations? Fundamentally two things; these are non-governmental and nonprofit. However, the real difference is in the way civil society organisations are managed. It includes leadership, commitment, professionalism, systems and practices, thrust of work and most of all performance

Awareness regarding breast feeding and complementary feeding in mothers of children with severe acute malnutrition at stabilization centre Multan

Breast feeding is the most natural way of feeding the infants and help to reduce child mortality and morbidity and millions of deaths could be prevented each year if mothers were aware of benefits of exclusive breast feeding for 4 -6 months and early initiation of breast feeding. In current study, awareness regarding breast feeding and complementary feeding in mothers of severely malnourished children was evaluated. The results showed that 99% mothers considered breast milk safe and effective but practically only 23% babies were breast fed while 77% were bottle fed. According to 58% mothers, there should be a early initiation of breast feeding, while 57% were un aware of the facts that clostrum should be given while 43% (43/100) of then considered it unhealthy and non effective. The current awareness reveals that most of the mothers prefer to give commercially available foods for their infants instead of breast feeding. This situation is alarming regarding child health and there is need to educate the mothers especially about the beneficial and health curing effects of breast feeding

PROTECTIVE ROLE OF BREASTFEEDING IN CHILDREN WITH CELIAC DISEASE.

Background; The prevalence of thyroid disease is likely increased among chidren with celiac disease (CD). In addition, exposure to gluten-free treatment may be associated with a risk of thyroid disease, but this association remains controversial. Objective; To Determine the frequency of Prolonged breastfeeding in children with celiac disease at a tertiary care hospital.  Material and Methods; Children with celiac disease (as given in operational definition) were enrolled and their mothers was inquired regarding history of breastfeeding in their child. All the data was entered and analyzed using SPSS-18. Results; Of these 160 study cases, 67 (41.9 %) were male patients while 93 (58.1 %) were female patients. Mean age of our study cases was 51.19 ± 11.25 months (with minimum age of our study cases was 12 months while maximum age was 60 months). Of these 160 study cases, 92 (57.5 %) belonged to rural areas and 68 (42.5 %) belonged to urban areas. Monthly family income up to Rs. 35000 was noted in 68 (42.5%) while more than Rs. 35000 was noted in 92 (57.5%) of our study cases. Mean disease duration of celiac disease was 5.23 ± 4.21 months and 117 (73.1%) had disease duration up to 6 months. Mean duration of breastfeeding was 18.23 ± 5.43 months and prolonged breastfeeding was noted in 124 (77.5%). Conclusion; Prolonged breastfeeding frequency was poor in children with celiac disease in our study. Prolonged breastfeeding was significantly associated with age, disease duration, ethnicity and maternal literacy. A mass campaign to create awareness regarding benefits of breastfeeding should be launched at national electronic and print media. Clinicians treating children having celiac disease should educate the mothers for breastfeeding benefits so as to decrease disease morbidity which will save them future hardships and improve quality of life of such patients. Keywords; Celiac Disease, Breastfeeding, Prolonged. DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/54-19 Publication date: April 30th 2019