Impact of solar energy subscription on the market performance of micro, small & medium enterprises in Nigeria

DATA AVAILABILTY : Data will be made available on request.Access to clean, affordable and reliable energy is a major developmental challenge in Africa. The present study investigates the determinants and impact of adopting solar energy on Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) market performance in Lagos, Kano and Ondo states in Nigeria using survey data from 700 MSMEs. We estimated the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) and average treatment effect (ATE) of adopting solar energy on MSMEs’ income. The findings indicate that adoption of solar energy is associated with an increment in MSMEs’ monthly earnings by 27% (nearest neighbor matching), 24% (Kernel matching) and 23% (radius matching). The study points out that powering MSMEs through solar energy decreases their energy expenditure. By adopting solar energy, MSMEs using the national grid and standby generators can cut down their average monthly energy expenditure by 36.64%. MSMEs’ decision to adopt solar energy is influenced by trade-offs between the possible production, economic and environmental effects as well as business owners, business, and product characteristics. To the extent that governments, non-governmental organizations and policymakers are committed to providing reliable, cheaper and cleaner energy systems, they must raise broader awareness of the potential benefits of adopting solar energy.The European Investment Bank through the European Investment Bank and Global Development Network.https://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpolhj2024Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural DevelopmentSDG-07:Affordable and clean energ

Evaluation of mosquito electrocuting traps as a safe alternative to the human landing catch for measuring human exposure to malaria vectors in Burkina Faso

Background: Measuring human exposure to mosquito bites is a crucial component of vector-borne disease surveillance. For malaria vectors, the human landing catch (HLC) remains the gold standard for direct estimation of exposure. This method, however, is controversial since participants risk exposure to potentially infected mosquito bites. Recently an exposure-free mosquito electrocuting trap (MET) was developed to provide a safer alternative to the HLC. Early prototypes of the MET performed well in Tanzania but have yet to be tested in West Africa, where malaria vector species composition, ecology and behaviour are different. The performance of the MET relative to HLC for characterizing mosquito vector population dynamics and biting behaviour in Burkina Faso was evaluated. Methods: A longitudinal study was initiated within 12 villages in Burkina Faso in October 2016. Host-seeking mosquitoes were sampled monthly using HLC and MET collections over 14 months. Collections were made at 4 households on each night, with METs deployed inside and outside at 2 houses, and HLC inside and outside at another two. Malaria vector abundance, species composition, sporozoite rate and location of biting (indoor versus outdoor) were recorded. Results: In total, 41,800 mosquitoes were collected over 324 sampling nights, with the major malaria vector being Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) complex. Overall the MET caught fewer An. gambiae s.l. than the HLC (mean predicted number of 0.78 versus 1.82 indoors, and 1.05 versus 2.04 outdoors). However, MET collections gave a consistent representation of seasonal dynamics in vector populations, species composition, biting behaviour (location and time) and malaria infection rates relative to HLC. As the relative performance of the MET was somewhat higher in outdoor versus indoor settings, this trapping method slightly underestimated the proportion of bites preventable by LLINs compared to the HLC (MET = 82.08%; HLC = 87.19%). Conclusions: The MET collected proportionately fewer mosquitoes than the HLC. However, estimates of An. gambiae s.l. density in METs were highly correlated with HLC. Thus, although less sensitive, the MET is a safer alternative than the HLC. Its use is recommended particularly for sampling vectors in outdoor environments where it is most sensitive

Insecticide resistance and behavioural adaptation as a response to long-lasting insecticidal net deployment in malaria vectors in the Cascades region of Burkina Faso

The decline in malaria across Africa has been largely attributed to vector control using long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). However, this intervention has prompted widespread insecticide resistance (IR) and been associated with changes in mosquito behaviour that reduce their contact with LLINs. The relative importance and rate at which IR and behavioural adaptations emerge are poorly understood. We conducted surveillance of mosquito behaviour and IR at 12 sites in Burkina Faso to assess the magnitude and temporal dynamics of insecticide, biting and resting behaviours in vectors in the 2-year period following mass LLIN distribution. Insecticide resistance was present in all vector populations and increased rapidly over the study period. In contrast, no longitudinal shifts in LLIN-avoidance behaviours (earlier or outdoor biting and resting) were detected. There was a moderate but statistically significant shift in vector species composition from Anopheles coluzzii to Anopheles gambiae which coincided with a reduction in the proportion of bites preventable by LLINs; possibly driven by between-species variation in behaviour. These findings indicate that adaptations based on insecticide resistance arise and intensify more rapidly than behavioural shifts within mosquito vectors. However, longitudinal shifts in mosquito vector species composition were evident within 2 years following a mass LLIN distribution. This ecological shift was characterized by a significant increase in the exophagic species (An. gambiae) and coincided with a predicted decline in the degree of protection expected from LLINs. Although human exposure fell through the study period due to reducing vector densities and infection rates, such ecological shifts in vector species along with insecticide resistance were likely to have eroded the efficacy of LLINs. While both adaptations impact malaria control, the rapid increase of the former indicates this strategy develops more quickly in response to selection from LLINS. However, interventions targeting both resistance strategies will be needed

Essais sur les mesures d’impact et les projets de développement durable : défis et opportunités pour le secteur privé

The use of impact evaluation methods in the development sector has grown rapidly over the past twenty years. This is particularly true for the evaluation of the results of projects with a high local impact that meet the challenges set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is in this context that this thesis, carried out within the framework of a CIFRE2 program, is structured around three empirical studies that allow the identification of impact evaluation strategies adapted to the requirements of private and public development actors. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the positive and negative, direct and indirect impacts of projects financed in developing economies. Chapter 1 shows that there is a convergence between experimental and quasi-experimental impact assessment methods on the likelihood of project to generate a positive outcome on development indicators. On the other hand, there is a discrepancy between the experimental and quasi-experimental methods to conclude a negative outcome of projects deployed in Africa. Chapter 2, co-authored with Dr. Enoch Owusu-Sekyere and Dr. Esther Leah Achandi, analyzes the impact of solar utility adoption on the socio-economic performances of merchants in Nigeria. Using an original field survey of 700 merchants located in 5 markets, as well as an identification method, this study shows that the average monthly income of merchants subscribing to Rensource solar panels increased by nearly 27%. Subscribers also experienced a decrease in their average monthly energy expenses of nearly 37%, as well as a reduction in environmental and health pollution risks. Then, in a context where environmental policies are taking a prominent place in the financing of impact projects, the work in chapter 3 is based on an innovative geospatial analysis that studies the impact of a biodiversity policy through the creation of protected areas on household consumption of wood cooking fuels in Madagascar. The results show that around the boundaries of protected areas, fuelwood consumption share of household clusters living inside protected areas significantly increases by 0.64 percentage points, compared to the consumption of household clusters located outside the boundaries of the areas. Conversely, charcoal consumption share of households inside protected areas decreases by 0.56 percentage points, compared to the consumption share of those residing outside. This chapter therefore highlights the relationship between the SDGs on environmental protection and access to sustainable energy, with the aim of supporting development practitioners to better understand and measure the effects of their policies.L’utilisation des méthodes d’évaluation d’impact dans le secteur du développement connait un essor fulgurant depuis une vingtaine d’années. Particulièrement dans l’évaluation des résultats de projets à fort impact local et répondants aux enjeux fixés par les Objectifs du Développement Durable (ODD) des Nations Unies. C’est dans ce contexte que cette thèse, effectuée dans le cadre d’un dispositif CIFRE1, s’articule autour de trois travaux empiriques permettant d’identifier des stratégies d’évaluation d’impact adaptées aux exigences des acteurs privés et publics du développement. Ceci, dans le but d’avoir une meilleure connaissance des impacts positifs et négatifs, et directs et indirects des projets financés dans les économies en développement. Le chapitre 1 montre qu'il y a une convergence des méthodes d'évaluation d'impact expérimentale et quasi-expérimentale pour trouver un effet significatif et positif des projets d’électrification décentralisés sur les indicateurs de développement. Par ailleurs, on constate une divergence entre les méthodes expérimentales et quasi-expérimentale quant à la probabilité d’obtenir un résultat négatif des projets déployés en Afrique. Le chapitre 2, co-écrit avec Dr Enoch Owusu-Sekyere et Dr Esther Leah Achandi, analyse l’impact de l’adoption d’une utilité solaire sur les performances socio-économiques des commerçants dans les marchés au Nigéria. S’appuyant sur une enquête terrain originale auprès de 700 commerçants dans 5 marchés au Nigéria ainsi qu’une méthode d’identification permettant de comparer deux groupes de commerçants, cette étude montre que les revenus mensuels moyens des commerçants souscripteurs aux panneaux solaires Rensource ont augmenté de près de 27%. Les souscripteurs connaissent également une baisse des dépenses énergétiques mensuelles moyenne de près de 37%, d’une part. Et d’autre part, une diminution des risques de pollution environnementale et sanitaire. Puis, dans un contexte où les politiques environnementales prennent une place prépondérante dans le financement de projets à impact, les travaux du chapitre 3 reposent une analyse géospatiale innovante qui étudie l’impact d’une politique de biodiversité à travers la création d’espaces protégés sur la consommation de combustibles de cuisson de bois des ménages à Madagascar. Les résultats montrent qu’aux alentours des frontières des aires protégées, la part de bois de cuisson consommée par les groupes de ménages situés à l'intérieur des zones protégées augmente significativement de 0,64 point de pourcentage par rapport à la part consommée des groupes situés en dehors des limites des aires. À l'inverse, la part de charbon de bois consommée par les groupes de ménages situés à l'intérieur des aires protégées a significativement baissé de 0,56 point de pourcentage, par rapport au pourcentage consommé par les groupes résidant à l'extérieur. Ce chapitre met donc en évidence la relation entre les ODD sur la protection environnementale et l'accès à l'énergie durable, dans le but d’appuyer les opérateurs du développement à mieux comprendre et mesurer les effets de leurs politiques

How impact evaluation methods influence the outcomes of development projects? Evidence from a meta-analysis on decentralized solar nano projects

URL des Documents de travai : https://centredeconomiesorbonne.cnrs.fr/publications/Documents de travail du Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne 2022.08 - ISSN : 1955-611XThis study analyzes the effect of impact evaluation methodologies on the positive and negative outcomes of decentralized solar nano projects in developing countries. Data originate from the Collaborative Smart Mapping of Mini-grid Actions (CoSMMA) developed by the Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development (FERDI). This study is based on a total of 727 tested effects from 10 decentralized solar nano projects which have been measured by experimental and quasi-experimental approaches. Using a multinomial-logit regression shown that randomized and non-randomized evaluation methods have a similar probability of generating a proven favorable outcome on the sustainable development of decentralized solar nano projects. By estimating a complementary log-log model, projects are most often evaluated as successful when effects on education are tested. In addition, a discrepancy of impacts is found between randomized control trials and difference-indifference strategies in proven-unfavorable outcomes of projects. This analysis also highlights the convergence of impacts between randomization and matching techniques on projects implemented in Africa. Findings from this paper provide strong evidence for development practitioners to choose the appropriate impact assessment method

A Case of Visceral Leishmaniasis in a 4-Year-Old Child Living in Nonendemic Area Located in Suburbs of Dakar, Senegal

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an infectious disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. Sporadic cases are observed in nonendemic areas and often associated with limited foci; therefore, the disease is easily overlooked. In addition, other diseases have similar clinical symptoms, which make it difficult for clinicians to make an accurate diagnosis and to provide effective treatment. We identified visceral leishmaniasis in a 4-year-old child in Pikine, Senegal. The patient was admitted to the Pikine National Teaching Hospital for haemorrhagic, tumoral, and infectious syndromes. At admission, the patient presented with epistaxis and gingivorrhagia, a severe anaemic syndrome poorly tolerated, a systemic inflammatory response syndrome with fever at 39.5°C, a tumoral syndrome with 11 cm of hepatomegaly and 12 cm of type IV splenomegaly, and noninflammatory macropoly adenopathies. A spinal cord puncture was performed, and direct microscopy examination of the sample after GIEMSA staining revealed amastigote forms of Leishmania. The PCR amplification of extracted DNA from the bone marrow aspiration using specific primers for VL (forward and reverse) confirmed that VL was responsible for the infection. A treatment with meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) was given and it gave a successful outcome with remission of clinical symptoms and favourable evolution with 3 months hindsight. Conclusion. This visceral leishmaniasis case diagnosis in Senegal has shown that, apart from haematological malignancies, this disease must be considered in combination with a tumor syndrome, haemorrhagic syndrome, and infectious syndrome

Highly precarious general and sexual health conditions of young domestic servants: results from a qualitative exploratory study and perspectives for community-based research in Bamako, Mali

Most domestic servants (DS) in Mali are very young female migrants living in precarious conditions. We aimed to understand their living and working conditions in relation to their general and sexual health. Seven focus groups (53 participants) were conducted by the DS community-based organization ADDAD. Narratives were thematically analyzed using an inductive method. The dominant emerging theme was DS' strong dependence on their employers. Employers' attitudes regarding DS workload, the provision of food, water and hygiene products, housing conditions, and healthcare cover, appeared decisive for DS' physical and mental health, and the type of healthcare they used (self-medication, traditional care, healthcare facilities). Psychological, physical and sexual violence in employers' households was frequent. HIV/STI prevention knowledge was poor. These results highlight the serious risks for DS in terms of HIV/ STI and unwanted pregnancies. DS were interested in receiving healthcare from ADDAD; this was motivated by the organization's trusting and understanding community-based environment, and DS' fear of discrimination in healthcare facilities. This study highlights the relevance of tackling the defense of rights and sexual health promotion for DS at the community level. Its findings can help identify research questions to evaluate the extent to which DS constitute a key HIV population

Anopheles aquatic development kinetic and adults’ longevity through different seasons in laboratory and semi-field conditions in Burkina Faso

Abstract Background Anopheles mosquitoes are ectothermic and involved in numerous pathogen transmissions. Their life history traits are influenced by several environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity and photoperiodicity. Despite extensive investigations of these environmental conditions on vector population ecology, their impact on the different life stages of Anopheles at different seasons in the year remains poorly explored. This study reports the potential impact of these abiotic factors on the immature and adult stages of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato during different seasons. Methods Environmental conditions were simulated in the laboratory using incubators to mimic the environmental conditions of two important periods of the year in Burkina Faso: the peak of rainy season (August) and the onset of dry season (December). Eggs from wild An. coluzzii and An. gambiae s.l. were reared separately under each environmental condition. For Anopheles coluzzii or An. gambiae s.l., eggs were equally divided into two groups assigned to the two experimental conditions. Four replicates were carried out for this experiment. Then, egg hatching rate, pupation rate, larval development time, larva-to-pupae development time, adult emergence dynamics and longevity of Anopheles were evaluated. Also, pupae-to-adult development time from wild L3 and L4 Anopheles larvae was estimated under semi-field conditions in December. Results A better egg hatching rate was recorded overall with conditions mimicking the onset of the dry season compared to the peak of the rainy season. Larval development time and longevity of An. gambiae s.l. female were significantly longer at the onset of the dry season compared than at the peak of the rainy season. Adult emergence was spread over 48 and 96 h at the peak of the rainy season and onset of dry season conditions respectively. This 96h duration in the controlled conditions of December was also observed in the semi-field conditions in December. Conclusions The impact of temperature and relative humidity on immature stages and longevity of An. gambiae s.l. adult females differed under both conditions. These findings contribute to a better understanding of vector population dynamics throughout different seasons of the year and may facilitate tailoring of control strategies. Graphical Abstrac

Polymyositis anti-SRP antibodies and pregnancy about 2 cases

Anti-SRP myopathy represents 4 to 6% of all the inflammatory myopathies. It has been described since the 80s and its influence on pregnancy and vice versa has been highlighted recently. We report two cases of anti-SRP myopathy associated with pregnancy. In the first case, the initial manifestations of the disease started in post partum and the second case was an anti-SRP myopathy patient before pregnancy. In both cases we objectified outbreaks during post-partum. Pregnancy seems to promote outbreaks. The inactive myopathy seems to presents no serious maternal-fetal complications as well as the usual dose of corticosteroids. The treatment (corticosteroid) during pregnancy is indicated given the risk of worsening during the post-partum.The Pan African Medical Journal 2016;2