Perceptions of Senegalese Telecommunications Policy Experts on Factors Affecting Policy Reform Cheikh Dramé Independent Researcher Author Note

Abstract This paper seeks to inform decision-makers on factors perceived by Senegalese telecommunications experts as hindering the policy reform. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight Senegalese telecommunications experts. They perceive that factors affecting the policy reform in the sector are issues associated with three of the six Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) produced by Kaufmann, Kraay, & Mastruzzi (2012). These three categories represent voice and accountability, government effectiveness, and regulatory quality. Successful policy reform in the Senegalese telecommunications sector will depend on the ability of Senegalese institutions in charge of telecommunications to address issues described within these three categories

Caractérisation des périmètres maraîchers institués par les groupements des femmes comme stratégie de résilience en zone post conflit (Casamance, Sénégal)

L’Afrique subsaharienne est marquée, en ce début de 21ième siècle, par une situation d’insécurité alimentaire généralisée, aussi bien dans les campagnes que dans les villes. Pour corriger ce déséquilibre, les groupements des femmes de l’arrondissement de Kataba 1 instituent des blocs maraichers comme stratégie de résilience. C’est dans cette perspective que cette étude se propose de faire une caractérisation des périmètres maraichers des femmes dans l’arrondissement de Kataba 1. Elle a été réalisée sur la base des enquêtes socioéconomiques, menées auprès de 140 producteurs répartis dans 73 blocs maraichers (soit 53,3% des blocs) appartenant à 53 villages. Les enquêtes ont révélé que 36,62% des productrices se trouvent sur la tranche d’âge 40 - 50 ans. Les superficies emblavées contenant 19 spéculations maraichères varient de 0,01 à 7,5 ha, . Le fertilisant le plus utilisé est le fumier avec l’application d‘une dose deux (2) bassines par planche de 10 m2 . Toutefois, les cultures sont attaquées par de nombreux bioagresseurs qui occasionnent chaque année des pertes importantes de récoltes. Pour lutter contre ces ennemis de culture, les producteurs adoptent selon les moyens disposés, deux types de traitements phytosanitaires à savoir l’usage des produits chimiques de synthèse d’une part et l’application d’extraits naturels.   Sub-Saharan Africa is marked by widespread food insecurity at the beginning of the 21st century, both in rural and city areas. To correct this imbalance, women's groups in the Kataba 1 borough are instituting market garden blocks as a resilience strategy. It is with this in mind that the study carried out in the district of Kataba 1 proposes to make a characterization of the market garden perimeters of the area. It was carried out on the basis of surveys of 140 producers in 73 winery blocks (or 53.3% 2 blocks) belonging to 53 villages. Surveys revealed that 36.62% of produccers are on the 40- to 50-year age group. With areas ranging from 0.01 to 7.5 ha, 19 market garden speculations were noted in the area. In addition, the most commonly used fertilizer is manure in doses of two (2) basins per 10 m2 board. However, crops are attacked by many enemies who cause significant crop losses each year. To combat these enemies, producers adopt two types of treatments, namely treatments with chemicals and those with natural products, according to the means available

Performance of dry and wet spells combined with remote sensing indicators for crop yield prediction in Senegal

Studying the relationship between potential high-impact precipitation and crop yields can help us understand the impact of the intensification of the hydrological cycle on agricultural production. The objective of this study is to analyse the contribution of intra seasonal rainfall indicators, namely dry and wet spells, for predicting millet yields at regional scale in Senegal using multiple linear regression. Using dry and wet spells with traditional indicators i.e. proxies of crop biomass and cumulated rainfall, hereafter called remote sensing indicators (NDVI, SPI3, WSI and RG), we analysed the ability of dry and wet spells alone or combined with these remote sensing indicators to provide intraseasonal forecasts covering the period 1991–2010. We analysed all 12 regions producing millet and found that results vary strongly between regions and also during the season, as a function of the dekad of prediction. At the spatial scale, the strongest performing combinations include the dry spell indicators DSC20 and DSxl in the peanut basin. While in the south of the country, the combination of wet period indicators WS1 or WSC5 with the RG is fairly reliable. Focussing on Thies, our best region in the groundnut basin, we showed that dry and wet spells indicators can explain up to 80% of yield variations, alone or in combination with remote sensing indicators. Regarding the timing of prediction, millet yield can be forecast as early as July with an accuracy of 40% of the mean yield but the best forecast is obtained in early September, at the peak of crop development (accuracy of 100 kg/ha i.e. 20% of the mean yield). Although, the estimated yields show biases over some years identified as extremely deficient or in oversupply in terms of agricultural yields

GSG6-P1 salivary biomarker discriminates micro-geographical heterogeneity of human exposure to Anopheles bites in low and seasonal malaria areas

Background: Over the past decade, a sharp decline of malaria burden has been observed in several countries. Consequently, the conventional entomological methods have become insufficiently sensitive and probably underestimate micro-geographical heterogeneity of exposure and subsequent risk of malaria transmission. In this study, we investigated whether the human antibody (Ab) response to Anopheles salivary gSG6-P1 peptide, known as a biomarker of Anopheles exposure, could be a sensitive and reliable tool for discriminating human exposure to Anopheles bites in area of low and seasonal malaria transmission. Methods: A multi-disciplinary survey was performed in Northern Senegal where An. gambiae s.l. is the main malaria vector. Human IgG Ab response to gSG6-P1 salivary peptide was compared according to the season and villages in children from five villages in the middle Senegal River valley, known as a low malaria transmission area. Results: IgG levels to gSG6-P1 varied considerably according to the villages, discriminating the heterogeneity of Anopheles exposure between villages. Significant increase of IgG levels to gSG6-P1 was observed during the peak of exposure to Anopheles bites, and decreased immediately after the end of the exposure season. In addition, differences in the season-dependent specific IgG levels between villages were observed after the implementation of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets by The National Malaria Control Program in this area. Conclusion: The gSG6-P1 salivary peptide seems to be a reliable tool to discriminate the micro-geographical heterogeneity of human exposure to Anopheles bites in areas of very low and seasonal malaria transmission. A biomarker such as this could also be used to monitor and evaluate the possible heterogeneous effectiveness of operational vector control programs in low-exposure areas

First attempt to validate the gSG6-P1 salivary peptide as an immuno-epidemiological tool for evaluating human exposure to Anopheles funestus bites

OBJECTIVE The development of a biomarker of exposure based on the evaluation of the human antibody response specific to Anopheles salivary proteins seems promising in improving malaria control. The IgG response specific to the gSG6-P1 peptide has already been validated as a biomarker of An. gambiae exposure. This study represents a first attempt to validate the gSG6-P1 peptide as an epidemiological tool evaluating exposure to An. funestus bites, the second main malaria vector in subSaharan Africa. METHODS A multi-disciplinary survey was performed in a Senegalese village where An. funestus represents the principal anopheline species. The IgG antibody level specific to gSG6-P1 was evaluated and compared in the same children before, at the peak and after the rainy season. RESULTS Two-thirds of the children developed a specific IgG response to gSG6-P1 during the study period and - more interestingly - before the rainy season, when An. funestus was the only anopheline species reported. The specific IgG response increased during the An. funestus exposure season, and a positive association between the IgG level and the level of exposure to An. funestus bites was observed. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the evaluation of the IgG response specific to gSG6-P1 in children could also represent a biomarker of exposure to An. funestus bites. The availability of such a biomarker evaluating the exposure to both main Plasmodium falciparum vectors in Africa could be particularly relevant as a direct criterion for the evaluation of the efficacy of vector control strategies