Collecting development data with mobile phones: Key considerations from a review of the evidence

Growth in mobile phone access and ownership presents an opportunity to collect more data, more frequently, from more people, and for less money. There are multiple ways to collect data with mobile phones (SMS, voice calls, etc.), each with particular strengths and weaknesses. n The best mode of data collection depends on the characteristics of the target population (e.g. literacy, network access, acceptability of using mobile phones, etc.) and of the data to be collected (e.g. quantitative vs. qualitative, number of questions, sensitivity of information, etc)

Time-Use Analytics: An Improved Way of Understanding Gendered Agriculture-Nutrition Pathways

There is a resurgence of interest in time-use research driven, inter alia, by the desire to understand if development interventions, especially when targeted to women, lead to time constraints by increasing work burdens. This has become a primary concern in agriculture-nutrition research. But are time-use data useful to explore agriculture-nutrition pathways? This study develops a conceptual framework of the micro-level linkages between agriculture, gendered time use, and nutrition and analyzes how time use has been conceptualized, operationalized, and interpreted in agriculture-nutrition literature on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The paper argues that better metrics, but also conceptualizations and analytics of time use, are needed to understand gendered trade-offs in agriculture-nutrition pathways. In particular, the potential unintended consequences can be grasped only if the analysis of time use shifts from being descriptive to a more theoretical and analytical understanding of time constraints, their trade-offs, and resulting changes in activity

Ψηφιοποίηση και ενοποίηση γεωλογικών σχηματισμών ενοτήτων Παξών, Ιόνιας, Γαβρόβου-Τριπόλεως, Μάνης και Άρνας

Η εργασία αυτή αποτελεί τμήμα μιας ολοκληρωμένης προσπάθειας με σκοπό την ενοποίηση των γεωλογικών σχηματισμών ανά γεωτεκτονική ενότητα του Ελλαδικού χώρου και αφορά τις ενότητες Παξών, Ιόνιας, Γαβρόβου-Τριπόλεως, Μάνης και Άρνας. Η ενοποίηση των γεωλογικών σχηματισμών βασίστηκε στους γεωλογικούς χάρτες του ΙΓΜΕ, που υφίστανται σε αναλογική μορφή, οι οποίοι στην συνέχεια ψηφιοποιήθηκαν με την βοήθεια του Συστήματος Γεωγραφικών Πληροφοριών ArcGis. Λόγω της ανομοιογένειας κατά την κατασκευή τους, τόσο σε διαφορετικές χρονικές περιόδους, όσο και από διαφορετικούς ερευνητές κρίθηκε επιτακτική η ανάγκη επαναεπεξεργασίας τους για την δημιουργία ενός ενιαίου ψηφιακού γεωλογικού χάρτη. Με τη χρήση του Συστήματος Γεωγραφικών Πληροφοριών, διακρίθηκαν οι γεωτεκτονικές ενότητες με τους σχηματισμούς τους, και στη συνέχεια ομαδοποιήθηκαν, κωδικοποιήθηκαν και αποτυπώθηκαν χρωματικά με την χρήση της Ευρωπαϊκής Γεωβάσης Inspire για την ηλικία, και την παλέτα συμβόλων της Αμερικάνικης Γεωλογικής Εταιρίας (USGS) για τη λιθολογία, δημιουργώντας έτσι μια εμπλουτισμένη βάση δεδομένων, η οποία είναι δυνατόν να δεχθεί και περαιτέρω επεξεργασία. Τέλος, δημιουργήθηκε μία νέα παλέτα συμβόλων για κάθε γεωλογικό σχηματισμό, έτσι ώστε να μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί αυτούσια από τους ερευνητές – μελετητές.This work is part of an integrated effort to unify the geological formations according to the geotechnical unities of Greece and concerns the units of Paxoi, Ionian, Tripoli-Gabrovo, Arna and Mani sections. The integration of geological formations was based on geological maps of IGME, which exist in analog form, which were subsequently digitized with the help of the ArcGis Geographical Information System. Because of the heterogeneity in their construction, both at different times and by different researchers, it was considered imperative to reprocess them to create a single digital geological map. With the use of the Geographic Information System, geotechnical units were identified with their formations, then grouped, encoded and color-coded using the European Geospatial Inspire for Geological Age, and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) symbol palette for lithology, thus creating an enriched database that can be further processed. Finally, a new palette of symbols was created for each geological formation, so that it could be used in the same way by researchers - scholars

Concepts and critical perspectives for food environment research: A global framework with implications for action in low- and middle-income countries

Malnutrition in all its forms currently affects one in three people globally and is considered one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are increasingly facing a double burden of malnutrition that includes undernutrition, as well as increasing overweight, obesity and diet related non-communicable diseases. The role of food environments in shaping transitioning diets and the double burden of malnutrition in LMICs is increasingly gaining policy attention. However, food environment research to date has predominantly been undertaken in response to obesity and associated diet-related non-communicable diseases in high-income countries (HICs). Empirical research in LMICs is in its infancy. There is a need to create a cohesive research agenda to facilitate food environment research and inform action across the globe, particularly with regard to LMICs. In this paper, we address three fundamental questions: First, how can the food environment be defined and conceptualised in a way that captures the key dimensions that shape food acquisition and consumption globally? Second, how can existing knowledge and evidence from HICs be leveraged to accelerate food environment research in LMICs? Third, what are the main challenges and opportunities in doing so? We conduct a brief synthesis of the food environment literature in order to frame our critical perspectives, and introduce a new definition and conceptual framework that includes external and personal domains and dimensions within the wider food environment construct. We conclude with a discussion on the implications for future research in LMICs

Roads to interdisciplinarity - working at the nexus among food systems, nutrition and health: 1st annual Agriculture, Nutrition and Health (ANH) Academy Week, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), 20-24 June 2016

The development agenda over the next 15 years will be framed by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), of which more than half relate either directly or indirectly to the agricultural sector, highlighting its importance in economic growth and development of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (FAO 2015). It is therefore imperative that agricultural systems are better understood, so that they may be strengthened and optimised to deliver outcomes in line with the SDGs. The interface between agriculture, nutrition and health is particularly multifaceted and complex, and the development of successful strategies will require an integrated and multi-sectoral approach (Dorward and Dangour 2012; Jones and Ejeta 2016). ‘Agri-health’ is an evolving paradigm seeking to unify research approaches and methodologies between agriculture and health. Research within the field encapsulates a broad range of disciplines, locations and actors, and aligns these into a common research agenda. In doing so, agri-health aims to transcend barriers imposed by the longstanding institutional and disciplinary silos. Much progress has been made in recent years in this regard (Harris et al. 2013; Kanter et al. 2014; Picchioni et al. 2015). However, more coordinated efforts are required to generate consensus and target strategic priorities amongst the many existing information gaps (Webb and Kennedy 2014). Understanding the linkages between complex issues such as globalisation, climate change, food systems, and evolving burdens of malnutrition is central to agri-health research. The Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture and Health (LCIRAH) was created in 2010 with a key focus on agri-health interdisciplinary research. LCIRAH includes experts from across the member colleges of the University of London: the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), and the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). The Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Academy (ANH Academy), was established in 2015 as a platform to facilitate learning, knowledge sharing, capacity building and collaborative partnerships among the growing global community of researchers, practitioners and policy makers working within agri-health. It was developed with support from the Innovative Metrics and Methods for Agriculture and Nutrition Actions (IMMANA) research programme,Footnote1 led by LCIRAH and Tufts University, in partnership with the CGIAR Programme on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH). Within this scope, the ANH Academy hosts an annual ANH Academy Week, building on the legacy of five agri-health research conferences organised by LCIRAH; as well as events and activities coordinated under the CGIAR A4NH. The inaugural ANH Academy Week took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in June 2016 and included two days of interactive ‘learning labs’ (training sessions on skills and methods across a broad range of disciplines in agri-health), followed by a three-day research conference. The conference included a mix of abstract-driven sessions, round table discussions, and keynote speeches from across the spectrum of agriculture, nutrition and health disciplines, and a wide range of countries. Hawkes et al. (2012) developed a conceptual framework (Fig. 2, hereafter referred to as the Framework), outlining the key pathways through which agriculture may affect nutritional status in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs), as well as broader drivers of these pathways. Drawing on this Framework, this paper aims to provide an analytical synthesis of the ANH Academy week by mapping the research and debates presented during the conference

Weekend visitors' views and perceptions at an urban national forest park of Cyprus during summertime

Urban national forest parks provide nature preservation and recreational opportunities for socio-economically disadvantaged communities as well as tourists. We empirically examine the preferences and satisfaction of visitors in the Athalassa National Forest Park, which is located in a peri-urban area in the capital city of Cyprus. This study examines visitors' evaluation of the Athalassa in 600 face-to-face interviews during summertime weekends. A two-step cluster analysis identified two distinct clusters of visitors based on the three dimensions of satisfaction that resulted from the factor analysis and the characteristics of the visit. The dual role of the urban forest National Park was highlighted. Both local and tourist visitors were satisfied and appreciative of the setting and support services, although only the local and higher income visitors were willing to pay an entrance fee, whereas tourists avoided expressing their opinion. Management implications: This study highlighted a number of deficiencies and produced information that could be used to integrate the management decision-making process and assist in defining major lines of action for more inclusive use of urban national forest parks. The results revealed that the visitors were overall satisfied with the park, but the benefits promoted from this important green infrastructure were not evenly distributed across different sections of society with older age groups and those of lower socio-economic status were not accessing the park to the same extent as other groups, thus there is some room for improvement. However, in a time of economic crisis, the management of the park must be based on a combination of satisfying the two clusters and on improving efforts in different infrastructures.Foundation for Science and Technology [UID/SOC/04020/2013]COST Action [FP1204

Visitor preferences and satisfaction in Attica zoological park, Greece

In an increasingly competitive tourism market, it is essential to assess visitors' demands and levels of satisfaction. Currently, in Greece, there are two public and one private zoo. The Attica zoological park located in Athens has the most extensive collection of animals from all over the world. At the same time, the two public zoos serve a double purpose as zoos and peri-urban parks. A self-administered questionnaire was designed to determine the views and attitudes of the visitors in both public and private zoos of Greece. A total of 707 questionnaires were collected in Attika Park during the weekends of 2017. According to the results, the visitors were mainly middle-aged and highly educated with their motivation for their visits focused on entertainment. They visit the Park mostly in springtime, traveling mainly by car and covering distances of 5-50 km. As regards the quality of infrastructure, facilities, and services available at the zoo, the visitors of Attica Park found access to the area and security provided at the site as very satisfactory. At the same time, they consider that the animal's living conditions, their hygiene, and the existence of shelters for injured animals to be inadequate. The overall satisfaction with the outdoor recreation experience and satisfaction with the existing park facilities and services was higher at the Attica Zoological Park (91.1%) than in the two public zoos of Greece. The results of this work provide lessons that will improve zoo management, animal welfare, and sustain the flow of visitors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio