Towards Integrated Soil Erossion Management in Elfeta District, West Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Soil degradation is one of the most serious environmental problems in Ethiopia. The prevalence of traditional agricultural land use and the absence of appropriate resource management often result in the degradation of natural soil fertility in the country. This has important implications for soil productivity, household food security, and poverty in major areas of the country. The main objective of this research is to assess farmers’ soil erosion management practices and forward integration of these practices. Primary data utilized were mainly collected from 144 sample respondent’s selected using systematic random sampling from two rural villages of Elfeta district, West Shoa zone of Oromia regional state. Semi structured interview schedule, Focus group discussion, personal observation and life history method were used to collect primary data. Moreover, secondary data were collected from review of various literatures, office reports, journals and manuals. Simple descriptive statistics like, mean, percentage and frequencies as well as comparative statistics like chi-square were used for analytical purpose. The result of the study indicate that 39%, 27% and 11% of sampled respondents implement contour plowing, cultural ditches and cut off drain respectively. These measures were more of traditional type of soil conservation and the effort to implement integrated soil erosion management practice were reported to be minimal. Government effort in addressing soil erosion problem since 2011in the area were little bit worrisome as the intervention shows no change in soil conservation among local farmers in the area. Forestation and reforestation, which have curative and protective value; farming system which conserve the natural resource base and at the same time raise productivity like intercropping and relay or sequential cropping; crop rotation; integration of livestock farming with arable cultivation; the cut and carry method of using degraded pasture, controlled grazing and tethering; widespread use of semi-permanent crops like enset (false banana) and volunteering crops, such as legumes and sweet potatoes were few of integrated soil erosion management practices should be given special attention in the area Keywords: Soil Erosion, Integrated, soil erosion management practices, Elfeta Distric

Technical Vocational Education Training Institute Curriculum Development in Ethiopia

 Ethiopian TVET curriculum development process follows similar procedures with different competency based TVET curriculum development processes in some countries. Ethiopia mainly adopted its current TVET curriculum experiences from countries such as Australia and Philippines. Depending on the trends of these countries, the new Ethiopian TVET strategy has decentralized the preparation of curricular materials to the institutions that deliver training. The problem may limit the current competency based TVET curriculum in Ethiopia is lack of knowledge and experience to develop the curriculum at the local level in this decentralized responsibility to develop the curriculum at TVET institutions. In addition to the problem of decentralization, the continuous change made in the occupational standards is another challenge in the effective implementation of the reformed TVET approach. While TVET institutions have set themselves and started to provide training in certain occupational standards disseminated, the Ministry of Education in the mean time updates or replaces those occupational standards with the new ones. This has created resource wastage and grievance at institutions, management instructors and students. &nbsp

Determinants for Farmers’ Perception of Soil Erosion: The Case of Elfeta District, West Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Soil erosion is one of the major causes of land degradation and often results in reduction of agricultural production and productivity in Ethiopia. Although it is a natural process, its rate has increased significantly due to anthropogenic activities. Thisresearch was conducted in Elfeta district, central Ethiopia with the purpose of assessing farmers` perception of soil erosion. A mixed research design (a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis) was employed and both primary and secondary data were collected. Data were collected through interview schedule assisted survey questionnaire, focus group discussion, personal observation, and life history methods. Descriptive, inferential, and econometric were employed for quantitative analysis while description, narration and content analysis were employed for qualitative analysis. The findings of the study reveal that the major causes of soil erosion identified by farmers were: deforestation, ceaseless cultivation and absence of fallowing and population growth. Farmers` perception of soil erosion wasfound to have statistically significant association with sex, education, land holding size, tenure security, farming experience, access to training, access to information, past awareness, on soil conservation and extension contact. The ordered logit analysis employed with statistically significant variables to analyze determinants for farmers’ perception in the study area showed that farmers land holding size, tenure security, years of schooling, and farmers experience were significant factors determining farmers` perception of soil erosion in the study area.Ensuring community involvement in planning, designing and implementation process of conservation activities deserves special attention in the study area to improve the understanding of farmers about the dynamics of soil erosion in their area which is of paramount importance for sustainable soil and water conservation in the study area. Keywords: Farmers perception, Soil Erosion, Elfeta Distric

Higher Education Quality Assessment in Ethiopia: A Comparative Study

[EN] The major objective of this study was analyzing the Ethiopian Higher Education quality assessment model in line with another world. The total 46 key informants were purposively selected from the data sources of this study (Ethiopian public HEIs and the Ministry of Education) and interviewed. Document analysis was another instrument. Using descriptive qualitative research design, data were analyzed in themes qualitatively. Literatures describing the higher education quality assessment models were reviewed. The literature on the models of higher education quality assessment generally tends to converge to the general model of higher education quality assessment and tends to diverge from it while it adds many approaches to the dimensions. It is recommended that the Ethiopian system better to be governed by an independent agency that has strong international linkage, and the system should emphasize the need of stakeholders in quality assurance and assessment. Use of diversified methodologies and existence of explicit standards for resource utilization were recommended. Rigorous interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary peer reviews are strongly recommended in this study.Wariyo, LG. (2020). Higher Education Quality Assessment in Ethiopia: A Comparative Study. Multidisciplinary Journal for Education, Social and Technological Sciences. 7(1):1-31. https://doi.org/10.4995/muse.2020.10512OJS13171Aelterman, G. (2006). Sets of standards for external quality assurance agencies: a comparison. Quality in Higher Education, 12(3): 227-233. https://doi.org/10.1080/13538320601050996African Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ASG-QA), Draft Version for Consultation (2017): African Union. Retrieved from ttps://haqaa.aau.org/wp-content/.../06/HAQAA_ASGQA_draft_310517_EN-1.pdfAsnake, M. T. (2013). Assessment of the Implementation of Higher Education Quality Assurance Guidelines in Public Universities in Ethiopia (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.Billing, D. (2004) International comparisons and trends in external quality assurance of higher education: Commonality or diversity? Higher Education, 47(1): 113-137. https://doi.org/10.1023/b:high.0000009804.31230.5eCraft, A. (2005) Quality assurance in higher education: Proceedings of an international conference Hong Kong, 1991.El-Khawas, and Elaine, H. (1998). Quality assurance in higher education: Recent progress; challenges ahead. Washington, Dc: World Bank. Human Development Network/Education.European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (2015). Standards and guidelines for quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area. BrusselsHigher Education Relevance and Quality Agency HERQA Institutional Quality Audit: HERQA QA05/06/V1 (2006). Retrieved 27 January 2017, from http://www.higher.edu.etJeliazkova, M. and Westerheijden, D. F. (2002). Systemic adaptation to a changing environment: towards a next generation of Quality Assurance Models. Higher Education, 44 (3/4): 433-448, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3447497 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019834105675Kahsay, M. N. (2012). Quality and Quality Assurance in Ethiopian Higher Education: Critical Issues and Practical Implications (Doctoral dissertation, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).Lagrosen, S. Seyyed‐Hashemi, R, & Leitner, M. (2004). Examination of the dimensions of quality in higher education. Quality Assurance in Education, 12(2): 61-69. https://doi.org/10.1108/09684880410536431Materu, P. (2007). Higher Education Quality Assurance in Sub-Saharan Africa: Status, Challenges, Opportunities, and Promising Practices. Washington, DC: World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-0-8213-7272-2Noaman, A. Y., Ragab. A. H., Madbouly, A. I., Khedra, A. M. & Fayoumi, A. G. (2015). Higher education quality assessment model: towards achieving educational quality standard. Studies in Higher Education, 42(1): 23-46. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2015.1034262Ryan, T. (2015). Quality assurance in higher education: A review of literature. Higher Learning Research Communications, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.18870/hlrc.v5i4.257.Saketa, K. N. (2014). Quality assurance practices in Ethiopian public and private higher education institutions (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of South Africa, South Africa.Sarrico, C. S. Rosa, M. J. Teixeira, P. N. & Cardoso, M. F. (2010) Assessing Quality and Evaluating Performance in Higher Education: Worlds Apart or Complementary Views? Minerva, 48(1): 35-54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11024-010-9142-2Van Vught, F. A. & Westerheijden, D. F. (1994). Towards a general model of quality assessment in higher education. Higher Education, 28(3): 355-371. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01383722Weber, L. Mahfooz, S. B. Hovde, K. (2010). Quality Assurance in Higher Education : A Comparison of Eight Systems. Europe and Central Asia Knowledge Brief; Volume No. 35.World Bank, Washington, DC. © World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/10148 License: CC BY 3.0 Unported.Weert, E. (1990). A macro-analysis of quality assessment in higher education. Higher Education, 19(1): 57-72. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00142023Westerheijden, D. F. (2005). Walking towards a Moving Target: Quality Assurance in European Higher Education. Quality of Higher Education, 2: 52-69. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ87424

Prescription without Laboratory Diagnosis: an investigation into Rural Credit System in Arsi Zone, Oromiya, Ethiopia

Government of Ethiopia makes different attempts to improve the livelihoods of its people. One of these attempts is the establishment of credit and saving unions in different parts of the country.  Arsi zone of Oromiya National Regional State is one of the areas in which the credit and saving unions operate. This study was undertaken in 2011/12 with general objective of assessing the status of rural poverty in the zone. It covers 443 households randomly selected from five districts of the 25 districts of the zone. Assessing the impact of rural credit on household poverty was one of the specific objectives of the study.  It was found that 300(67.7%) of the households frequently failed to cover their financial requirements and 204 (68%) of them used credit as coping strategy for financial shortages. Surprisingly, only 33 (16.2%) households took credit from formal institutions. Focus group discussions made with credit takers and credit providers revealed that the formal credit is interest based and requires group collateral. Religious background of the households forbid participation in interest based credit and no one is interested to form group with the poorest of the poor. Even among those who took the formal credit, about 94% faced food shortages very frequently ending in using the credit for covering food shortfalls rather than participating in some productive investments. On top of these, most of the credit takers are illiterate who lack marketing know-how and entrepreneurial skills. All these show that there are a lot of mismatches between the demand for credit and the supply of credit in the study area. The credit provision, therefore, looks like prescription without laboratory diagnosis. It is thus recommended that the credit system should be redesigned taking into consideration the social, cultural and economic conditions of the people. Keywords: Credit, interest, religion, povert

Mean Normal Portal Vein Diameter Using Sonography among Clients Coming to Radiology Department of Jimma University Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Mean portal vein diameter is considered as the best indicator for portal hypertension. However, the cutoff point differs from study to study (above 10-15 mm) despite the existence of normal mean portal vein diameter between 10-15 mm in different settings.This implies the existence of limited evidence on normal portal vein diameter for all populations in all countries prior to setting the cutoff points. Therefore, the aim of this study was sonographic assessment of normal mean portal vein diameter among patients referred to The Department of Radiology in Jimma University Hospital. METHODS: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December 2014 at Jimma University Hospital on a total of 195 clients. Data about portal vein diameter for eligible clients were collected by radiologists using Sonography. Data were edited manually, entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16.RESULT: Data were collected from a total of 195 participants. Among these, 121(62.1%) were males and the median age of the participants was 35 years. The study revealed a normal mean portal vein diameter of 10.6 mm ±1.8 SD with a respirophasic variation of 25.6%. Likewise, the normal mean portal vein diameter seemed to have varied significantly by age and sex.CONCLUSION: The study revealed a normal mean portal vein diameter ranging below 13 mm. Hence, decisions made in clinical settings should base on these findings. Besides, there is a need for large scale study to determine portal vein diameter variation by age and sex, controlling other confounders.KEYWORD: Portal vein diameter, Mean, Portal hypertension, Sonography, Ethiopi

Coping with local peoples' livelihood dependence on the transboundary Dinder-Alatish National Parks in Sudan and Ethiopia from the sudanese perspective

The local peoples’ dependence on Dinder National Park, Sudan, for their livelihoods and economic and conservation implications of the livelihood activities were analyzed. Our study attempted to answer major questions about the main livelihood strategies, their economic and conservation implications as well as the perceptions of local people and park administration on the use and management of the park and cooperation for TBPA management. A mixed research method was employed in this study in data collection Households’ livelihood strategies are ranked according to their share in households’ total income. Accordingly, 92% of respondents ranked agriculture as a primary source of livelihood in the rank 1 category, and 33% of respondents ranked livestock rearing as the primary source in the rank 2 category important source of livelihood. The ranking of second and third options varied across both households and villages. Households collect forest products to supplement their livelihoods and the collection of other environmental goods is irregular and difficult to quantify. Further human activities in the area are compiled from different publication and annual reports. Agricultural expansion into the park and livestock trespassing are the major threats to Dinder and neighboring Alatish National Park. A cooperative transboundary response will be helpful to cope with these challenges.Universidade de Vig

Influence of pyrolysis temperature and feedstock biomass on Cu2+, Pb2+, and Zn2+ sorption capacity of biochar

Biochar has attracted significantly growing attention due to its effectiveness in terms of both cost and environmental safety in removing trace metals from soil and water. Its metal sorption capacity depends on its properties, which are in turn governed by pyrolysis temperature and type of biomass. Therefore, this study examines the role of pyrolysis temperature and biomass in biochars sorption capacity of Pb2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+. Biochars produced by pyrolysis of maize (Zea mays L.) cobs at different temperatures were used to assess the effect of temperature, whereas evergreen oak (Quercus ilex L.) pyrolyzed at 500 °C was used to assess the effect of biomass. Sorption isotherms were constructed by batch method and compared with Langmuir and Freundlich models. Most of the sorption isotherms displayed irregular curves and not all of the isotherms fitted the models. Therefore, sorption distribution coefficients and metal removal percentages were used to determine sorption capacities biochars for studied metals. Accordingly, Quercus ilex L. was most effective in sorbing all studied metals, which indicates the role of biomass. The maize biochar pyrolyzed at 500 °C was most effective among maize cob biochars, which revealed the influence pyrolysis temperature. The concentrations of added sorption solutions also played significant role in sorption, and consequently biochar pyrolyzed 350 °C was least effective. The targeted metals also affected the sorption as they compete for sorption sites. Thus, their selective sequence was in the order of Pb2+ ˃ Cu2+ ˃ Zn2+.Universidade de VigoFinanciado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISU

The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa:A scoping review of preparedness, impact and response

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health systems in both developed and developing nations alike. Africa has one of the weakest health systems globally, but there is limited evidence on how the region is prepared for, impacted by and responded to the pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL to search peer-reviewed articles and Google, Google Scholar and preprint sites for grey literature. The scoping review captured studies on either preparedness or impacts or responses associated with COVID-19 or covering one or more of the three topics and guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework. The extracted information was documented following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension checklist for scoping reviews. Finally, the resulting data were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Twenty-two eligible studies, of which 6 reported on health system preparedness, 19 described the impacts of COVID-19 on access to general and essential health services and 7 focused on responses taken by the healthcare systems were included. The main setbacks in health system preparation included lack of available health services needed for the pandemic, inadequate resources and equipment, and limited testing ability and surge capacity for COVID-19. Reduced flow of patients and missing scheduled appointments were among the most common impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health system responses identified in this review included the availability of telephone consultations, re-purposing of available services and establishment of isolation centres, and provisions of COVID-19 guidelines in some settings. CONCLUSIONS: The health systems in Africa were inadequately prepared for the pandemic, and its impact was substantial. Responses were slow and did not match the magnitude of the problem. Interventions that will improve and strengthen health system resilience and financing through local, national and global engagement should be prioritised

The COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare systems in Africa : a scoping review of preparedness, impact and response

Funding Information: Funding GAT was supported with funding from the Australia National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grant #1195716.Peer reviewedPublisher PD