Performance assessment of wastewater treatment plant of Hawassa St. George Brewery, Hawassa, Ethiopia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance efficiency of the wastewater treatment plant of Hawassa St. George brewery by collecting wastewater samples from the influent and outlet of each treatment unit and analyzed using standard methods for major physicochemical parameters. Results of the present study revealed that except for temperature (36-38 0C), all of the other analyzed parameters of raw wastewater exceeded the national discharge limit indicating the necessity of treating the raw wastewater generated by the brewery. In most cases, the values decreased as the wastewater passed over the treatment units of the plant indicating an involvement of the units in the removal of pollutants. The brewery’s treated final effluent had a mean value of 8.6±0.08 (pH), 24.9±0.6oC (temperature), 203.0 mg/L (COD), 17.7 mg/L (NH4-N), 3.62 mg/L (SO24), 220.6μS/cm (EC), 49.8 mg/L (BOD5), and 529.6 NTU (turbidity), which were within national industrial wastewater discharge limits. However, the values of some parameters namely, TN (41.0 mg/L), TP (24.3 mg/L), H2S (3.1 mg/L) and TDS (110.6 mg/L), were higher than the limits. The overall pollutant removal efficiency of the treatment plant was 96.0% (BOD), 92.3% (TSS), 92.0% (COD), 88.5% (EC), 80.6% (TDS), 49.6% (turbidity), 43.0% (SO42-), 42.7% (NH4-N), 33.6% (temperature), 32.8% (TN), 31.8% (pH), and 30.4% (TP). This result shows that the overall removal efficiency was higher only for BOD5, TSS, COD, TDS, and EC, all others (especially nutrients) had less than 50.0% efficiencies. Higher nutrient concentration exceeding the discharge limits in final effluent and poor removal efficiency of the treatment plant indicates that the Hawassa St. Gorge brewery waste treatment plant is not effective enough to lower concentrations of these parameters below the discharge limit. Therefore, in order to make the plant more efficient and to reduce the effect of effluent, the factory should take some technological, technical and recycling measures.Keywords: Brewery, Hawassa, Performance, St. George, Treatment, Wastewate

Genotype x environment interaction and stability analysis for yield and yield related traits of Kabuli-type Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Ethiopia

Chickpea is the major pulse crop cultivated in Ethiopia. However, its production is constrained due to genotype instability and environmental variability. This research was carried out to examine the magnitude of environmental effect on yield of chickpea genotypes and to investigate the stability and adaptability of genotypes under different agro-ecologies. Seventeen (17) genotypes were evaluated in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications in five locations. Various stability indices were used to assess stability and genotype by environment performances. Combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) for yield and yield components revealed highly significant (P≤0.01) differences for genotypes, environments and their interaction. The significant interaction showed genotypes respond differently across environments. At Akaki, Chefe Donsa, Debre Zeit, Dembia and Haramaya, top performing genotype were DZ-2012-CK-0001 (2933 kg/ha), Arerti (3219 kg/ha), Arerti (3560 kg/ha) DZ-2012-CK-0013 (2675 kg/ha) and Arerti (2019 kg/ha), respectively. The first two PCs explained 74.45% of the variance. Based on ASV value, DZ-2012-CK-0002 were most stable genotypes. As per AMMI biplot, Arerti and DZ-10-4 were most widely adapted genotypes. Dembia and Haramaya were most discriminative environments for genotypes. Debre Zeit and Chefe Donsa were favorable environment for genotype. Genotypes DZ-2012-CK-0004, DZ-2012-CK-0010, DZ-2012-CK-0013, DZ-2012-CK-0007 and DZ-10-4 are recommendable to Akaki, Chefe Donsa, Debre Zeit, Dembia and Haramya, respectively.Keywords: AMMI, ASV, clustering, phenologic traits, Kabuli, univariate statistics.Abbreviation: E, Environments; G, genotypes; RCBD, randomized complete block design.

Can ICTs Increase Tax? Experimental Evidence from Ethiopia

The widespread introduction of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and digitalised data management systems is one of the most important developments among African tax administrations in recent years. However, very little evidence is available on their effectiveness in practice, and how taxpayers respond to these changes. This paper starts filling this gap by reporting three sets of results from Ethiopia.DFIDBill and Melinda Gates Foundatio

Les Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication (TIC) peuvent-elles augmenter les taxes? Résultats expérimentaux en Ethiopie

This ICTD Research in Brief is a two-page summary of ICTD Working Paper 82 by Giulia Mascagni, Andualem T. Mengistu, and Firew B. Woldeyes. This series is aimed at policy makers, tax administrators, fellow researchers and anyone else who is big on interest and short on time. African tax administrations have experienced rapid modernisation in the past two decades. The digitalisation of tax records and widespread adoption of ICTs have been key features of this process. However, there is still very little evidence on the effectiveness of ICTs and digitised data on tax collection and the functioning of tax administration more broadly. In principle, ICTs can have a great impact in making the tax administration more efficient. This brief summarises the findings from the working paper that asks the empirical question of whether and to which extent these benefits can materialise in practice, in presence of severe capacity constraints within the tax administration.Résumé du document de travail 82 de Giulia Mascagni, Andualem T. Mengistu, et Firew B. Woldeyes. Les administrations fiscales africaines ont connu une rapide modernisation au cours des deux dernières décennies. La numérisation des dossiers fiscaux et l’adoption généralisée des TIC ont été des éléments majeurs de ce processus. Cependant, il y a encore très peu de preuves de l’efficacité des TIC et des données numérisées sur le recouvrement des impôts et, plus généralement, sur le fonctionnement de l’administration fiscale. En théorie, les TIC peuvent avoir un impact important sur l’augmentation de l’efficacité de l’administration fiscale et sur l’évolution des emplois de tâches mécaniques – comme la saisie des données – vers des tâches plus élaborées – comme les audits et l’analyse de données. En outre, les données numérisées peuvent rendre la mise en œuvre moins coûteuse et plus efficace, en élargissant par exemple l’utilisation des informations issues de sources tierces et par le recoupement systématique des informations des contribuables. Cet article cherche à établir de manière empirique si, et dans quelle mesure, ces avantages peuvent se matérialiser dans la pratique, en présence d’importantes contraintes de capacité au sein de l’administration fiscale

Seasonal variation in the parasite burden and body condition of working donkeys in East Shewa and West Shewa regions of Ethiopia.

A survey of donkeys arriving at markets in three localities in East and West Shewa regions of central Ethiopia was carried out during 2002. Total faecal worm egg counts and body condition scores were measured for a total of 963 donkeys over a 12-month period. Total faecal worm egg counts did not differ significantly between localities but there was significant (

Ethiopia Social Accounting Matrix 2015/16

A Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) is a comprehensive and economy-wide database recording data on all transactions between economic agents in a certain economy during a certain period of time; its interest is twofold. First a SAM is a standard database for most whole economy modellers as it provides comprehensive data for economic modelling (multi-sectorial linear models or more complex CGE models). Second a SAM shows a complete and intuitive snapshot of the economy at hand. This report presents the Social Accounting Matrix of Ethiopia for the year 2015/16, describing its specific structure and the basis for its estimation. In this sense, it is necessary to highlight the special structure of this SAM to reflect the Home Production for Home Consumption (HPHC) issue and a high disaggregation of agricultural and food sectors, both aspects so relevant in developing countries. Finally, a complete on-line application is presented, both for the download of the SAM, and for the visualization of some indicators derived directly from it.JRC.D.4-Economics of Agricultur

Leadership in strategic information (LSI) building skilled public health capacity in Ethiopia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In many developing countries, including Ethiopia, few have the skills to use data for effective decision making in public health. To address this need, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with two local Ethiopian organizations, developed a year long Leadership in Strategic Information (LSI) course to train government employees working in HIV to use data from strategic information sources. A process evaluation of the LSI course examined the impact of the training on trainees' skills and the strengths and weaknesses of the course. The evaluation consisted of surveys and focus groups.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Trainees' skill sets increased in descriptive and analytic epidemiology, surveillance, and monitoring and evaluation (M and E). Data from the evaluation indicated that the course structure and the M and E module required revision in order to improve outcomes. Additionally, the first cohort had a high attrition rate. Overall, trainees and key stakeholders viewed LSI as important in building skilled capacity in public health in Ethiopia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The evaluation provided constructive insight in modifying the course to improve retention and better address trainees' learning needs. Subsequent course attrition rates decreased as a result of changes made based on evaluation findings.</p

Harnessing inter-disciplinary collaboration to improve emergency care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): results of research prioritisation setting exercise

Background More than half of deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) result from conditions that could be treated with emergency care - an integral component of universal health coverage (UHC) - through timely access to lifesaving interventions. Methods The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to extend UHC to a further 1 billion people by 2023, yet evidence supporting improved emergency care coverage is lacking. In this article, we explore four phases of a research prioritisation setting (RPS) exercise conducted by researchers and stakeholders from South Africa, Egypt, Nepal, Jamaica, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, South Korea and Phillipines, USA and UK as a key step in gathering evidence required by policy makers and practitioners for the strengthening of emergency care systems in limited-resource settings. Results The RPS proposed seven priority research questions addressing: identification of context-relevant emergency care indicators, barriers to effective emergency care; accuracy and impact of triage tools; potential quality improvement via registries; characteristics of people seeking emergency care; best practices for staff training and retention; and cost effectiveness of critical care – all within LMICs. Conclusions Convened by WHO and facilitated by the University of Sheffield, the Global Emergency Care Research Network project (GEM-CARN) brought together a coalition of 16 countries to identify research priorities for strengthening emergency care in LMICs. Our article further assesses the quality of the RPS exercise and reviews the current evidence supporting the identified priorities

Respectful maternity care in Ethiopian public health facilities

Background: Disrespect and abuse of women during institutional childbirth services is one of the deterrents to utilization of maternity care services in Ethiopia and other low- and middle-income countries. This paper describes the prevalence of respectful maternity care (RMC) and mistreatment of women in hospitals and health centers, and identifies factors associated with occurrence of RMC and mistreatment of women during institutional labor and childbirth services. Methods: This study had a cross sectional study design. Trained external observers assessed care provided to 240 women in 28 health centers and hospitals during labor and childbirth using structured observation checklists. The outcome variable, providers' RMC performance, was measured by nine behavioral descriptors. The outcome, any mistreatment, was measured by four items related to mistreatment of women: physical abuse, verbal abuse, absence of privacy during examination and abandonment. We present percentages of the nine RMC indicators, mean score of providers' RMC performance and the adjusted multilevel model regression coefficients to determine the association with a quality improvement program and other facility and provider characteristics. Results: Women on average received 5.9 (66%) of the nine recommended RMC practices. Health centers demonstrated higher RMC performance than hospitals. At least one form of mistreatment of women was committed in 36% of the observations (38% in health centers and 32% in hospitals). Higher likelihood of performing high level of RMC was found among male vs. female providers ((beta) over cap = 0: 65, p = 0.012), midwives vs. other cadres ((beta) over cap = 0: 88, p = 0.002), facilities implementing a quality improvement approach, Standards-based Management and Recognition (SBM-R (c)) ((beta) over cap = 1: 31, p = 0.003), and among laboring women accompanied by a companion (beta) over cap = 0: 99, p = 0.003). No factor was associated with observed mistreatment of women. Conclusion: Quality improvement using SBM-R (c) and having a companion during labor and delivery were associated with RMC. Policy makers need to consider the role of quality improvement approaches and accommodating companions in promoting RMC. More research is needed to identify the reason for superior RMC performance of male providers over female providers and midwives compared to other professional cadre, as are longitudinal studies of quality improvement on RMC and mistreatment of women during labor and childbirth services in public health facilities