Methodological challenges of measuring impacts of WASH on educational and health outcomes

Evidence on the impacts of improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) on health and educational outcomes continues to grow and is being used to advocate for an integrated approach to WASH programming. This paper shows that recent analytical work by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) at the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) WASH section in Nairobi has revealed that there is a methodological challenge in building a robust evidence on the impacts of improved WASH on educational and health outcomes. The paper reveals that there remain large gaps in data collection and monitoring processes and that as a result inhibit efforts to make concrete inferences on the impacts of WASH on educational and health outcomes

Voices of the Turkana People

No abstract available

Water security in Africa is gender dependent

A person’s water security is affected by their gender, as is their likelihood to hold decision making positions about this vital resource. To increase water security in the face of a changing climate this must change

Ecosystem-based adaptation in Lake Victoria Basin; synergies and trade-offs

Healthy ecosystems such as forests and wetlands have a great potential to support adaptation to climate change and are the foundation of sustainable livelihoods. Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) can help to protect and maintain healthy ecosystems providing resilience against the impacts of climate change. This paper explores the role of EbA in reconciling socio-economic development with the conservation and restoration of nature in Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya, East Africa. Using selected ecosystems in the Lake region, the paper identifies key EbA approaches and explores trade-offs and synergies at spatial and temporal scales and between different stakeholders. The research methods used for this study include site visits, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, participatory workshops and literature reviews. An analytical framework is applied to advance the understanding of EbA approaches and how they lead to synergies and trade-offs between ecosystem services provision at spatial and temporal scales and multiple stakeholders. Our results show that EbA approaches such as ecosystem restoration have the potential to generate multiple adaptation benefits as well as synergies and trade-offs occurring at different temporal and spatial scales and affecting various stakeholder groups. Our paper underscores the need to identify EbA trade-offs and synergies and to explore the ways in which they are distributed in space and time and between different stakeholders to design better environmental and development programmes

Semântica cultural nacional através do prisma de unidades fraseológicas

The phraseological fund of language is the most valuable source of data on culture, stereotypes of national consciousness; it includes people's ideas about myths, customs, ceremonies, rituals, habits, morals, behavior. Each person belongs to the certain national culture including national traditions, language, history, literature. Economic, cultural and scientific contacts of the countries and their people increase the relevance of the topics connected with a research of cross-cultural communications, interactions and interferences of languages and cultures, studying of the language personality.Studying of how the phraseological component of language reflects the outlook characteristic of "national spirit" in the images gives a special impulse to development of phraseology. Phraseological units (PU) reproduce this outlook in processes of the speech and by that form it, becoming property of language consciousness. The addressing to PU in which figurative basis is imprinted outlook of the English and Russian linguocultural societies defines relevance of the present research.El fondo de fraseología del lenguaje es la fuente de datos más valiosa sobre la cultura, los estereotipos de la conciencia nacional; Incluye las ideas de las personas sobre mitos, costumbres, ceremonias, rituales, hábitos, moral, comportamiento. Cada persona pertenece a la cultura nacional determinada, incluidas las tradiciones nacionales, el idioma, la historia, la literatura. Los contactos económicos, culturales y científicos de los países y sus pueblos aumentan la relevancia de los temas relacionados con la investigación de las comunicaciones interculturales, las interacciones y las interferencias de idiomas y culturas, el estudio de la personalidad lingüística.El estudio de cómo el componente fraseológico del lenguaje refleja la perspectiva característica del "espíritu nacional" en las imágenes da un impulso especial al desarrollo de la fraseología. Las unidades de Phraseological (PU) reproducen esta perspectiva en los procesos del discurso y por eso lo forman, convirtiéndose en propiedad de la conciencia del lenguaje. Dirigirse a PU en el que figura figurativa está impresa la perspectiva de las sociedades linguoculturales inglesas y rusas define la relevancia de la presente investigación.O fundo de fraseologia da linguagem é a fonte mais valiosa de dados sobre cultura, os estereótipos da consciência nacional; Inclui as idéias das pessoas sobre mitos, costumes, cerimônias, rituais, hábitos, moral, comportamento. Cada pessoa pertence à cultura nacional determinada, incluindo tradições nacionais, língua, história, literatura. Os contatos econômicos, culturais e científicos dos países e seus povos aumentam a relevância de temas relacionados à pesquisa de comunicações interculturais, às interações e interferências de línguas e culturas, ao estudo da personalidade lingüística.O estudo de como o componente fraseológico da linguagem reflete a perspectiva característica do "espírito nacional" nas imagens dá um impulso especial ao desenvolvimento da fraseologia. As unidades de fraseologia (PU) reproduzem essa perspectiva nos processos de discurso e, portanto, formam-na, tornando-se propriedade da consciência da linguagem. Dirigindo PU em que figura figurativa é impressa a perspectiva de sociedades linguísticas culturais inglesas e russas define a relevância da presente investigação

The potential for scaling up container-based sanitation in informal settlements in Kenya

Kenya has enshrined the right to sanitation in the 2010 constitution. Achieving this requires scaling up infrastructure and models of delivery beyond sewer networks that have previously been the focus. In Kenya, two enterprises, Sanergy and Sanivation, have been providing new forms of off-grid services with container-based sanitation (CBS). This paper uses a political economy analysis to understand the incentives, institutions and power dynamics that are enabling or constraining the potential for such off-grid sanitation models. The paper outlines six core problems to be addressed in the pursuit of scaling up: fragmented governance; sustainability of CBS enterprise models; service delivery planning in informal settlements; personal power rather than institutions in decision-making; vested local interests; and land tenure and political connection. It discusses how stakeholders might work collaboratively to progressively address or recognise these issues

‘Sustainable Mining’? Corporate Social Responsibility, Migration and Livelihood Choices in Zambia

Whilst Corporate Social Responsibility is now part and parcel of many multinational mining operations, and a ‘sustainable mining’ narrative a fundamental part of their public persona, companies still struggle to provide secure, long-term livelihoods for either locals or the swathe of migrants mining attracts. Minimal opportunities in the formal sector leave migrants in particular engaging in informal and illegal activities that offer poor livelihood security. In this paper we examine these activities in Northern Zambia’s emerald mines to highlight some of the issues and barriers to sustainable development that exist across mining zones. We conclude that livelihood choices are not augmented by a so-called ‘sustainable mining’ approach that fails to engage all sectors of the population. We show the numerous challenges faced by migrants in this part of Zambia to accentuate the factors that need to be addressed before favourable environments for fostering sustainable mining might be achieved

Sustainability Indicators in Practice

The goal of sustainable development is to meet the socio-economic and environmental objectives without comprising the needs of future generations. Since the Rio Summit of 1992, the concept of sustainability has captured our imaginations and aspirations and efforts to develop its indicators have increased. A range of sustainability indicators have been developed within various socio-economic, environmental and cultural contexts- including biodiversity, economy, energy, water, land use and transport. Sustainability indicators are widespread in international development arena. They have become popularized among governments, non-governmental organizations, private sector and the wider public.Based on multiple cases across the world, this book explores opportunities and challenges associated with the practical application of sustainability indicators. The book reflects diversity of professionals of inter-disciplinary backgrounds covering contemporary issues within different socio-economic and environmental contexts. Each chapter presents practical examples of the merits and challenges of using sustainability indicators and draws conclusions and lessons learned. The book targets a range of audience from students, academics to development practitioners and policy-makers. The two editors of this book: Dr. Agnieszka Ewa Latawiec and Dr. Dorice Agol are inter-disciplinary scientists who both have experience in research at the environmental conservation and development nexu

Exploring knowledge interfaces for integrated water resources management : Findings from the River Nyando, Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Gender differences related to WASH in schools and educational efficiency

Understanding Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in schools from gender perspectives is fundamental in development. This paper tests the hypothesis that improved WASH in schools can lead to educational efficiency and progression especially for teenage girls. The hypothesis was tested using quantitative data collected through an Education Management Information System (EMIS) for just over 10,000 schools in Zambia, Southern Africa. Relationships between WASH provision in schools and repetition and drop-out ratios were investigated, disaggregated by gender and grade. The analysis revealed that lack of WASH leads to high rates of repetition and dropout in school for girls, compared to boys especially from the age of 13 and in grades 6, 7 and 8. This affirms the importance of providing adequate supply of WASH facilities in schools to facilitate educational efficiency and progression of girls