An Evaluation and Management of the Systemic Risk of the Banking System -A Literature Review

There is consensus among financial regulators that the recent global financial crisis has highlighted the need of addressing incomplete reforms, one of them being the contribution of financial risks in destabilizing the financial markets. One of the most important form of financial risks is the systemic risk that is imposed by the inter linkages and interdependencies in a financial system. The purpose of this paper is to review some of the updated research articles published on the evaluation and management of the systemic risk between 2005 and 2015 by using diverse systemic risk analytics. The paper highlights the main contributions of the authors to the research. The discussion on the literature is classified into two parts namely empirical and non-empirical studies. The results show that the cross section measures proposed down by Acharya et al (2010) and Adrian and Brunnermeir (2011) MES and CoVaR respectively have gained popularity in evaluating the systemic risk, however the proposed measures should be used with warning. Moreover, despite the fact that the interest in the topic of management of systemic risk has grown tremendously, but little research has been conducted in developing countries. Keywords: Macroprudential policy, Systemic risk, Systemic financial institutions, financial regulation

Land Alienation, Ownership Rights and Indigenous Power Relations in Swaziland.

Land bears enormous social, economic, cultural and political significance in present-day Swaziland. Duality in land tenure exists in the form of the traditional communal system which is practised on Swazi Nation Land (SNL), and the individual modern system that operates on Individual Tenure Farms (ITF). A historical perspective on the evolution of land tenure systems in the country is given. The land tenure and indigenous empowerment structures are examined in terms of existing land rights and the hierarchy of land controlling and allocating communities and their contribution to the indigenous power relations on SNL. The implications of these structures on the rights of women to land and their empowerment is discussed. The emerging power of indigenous Swazi landowners is highlighted. Key observations are that: SNL constitutes about 60% of the land in Swaziland; the traditional land tenure system has concentrated land controlling and allocating powers in the hands of a traditional aristocracy that operates at national through homestead levels; power is exercised through the Swazi Nation, chiefdoms, wards and homesteads; access to land is through the right of avail which is a general right held by the community as a whole, but in which every member automatically participates; access to land is influenced by gender, and is in favour of empowering men than women; indigenous Swazis are gradually obtaining access to individual tenure land, with increasing opportunities for women to own land; indigenous landowners have generally maintained their relationships with the traditional power structure; and the problem of squatters and tenants is a reflection of the disempowering consequences of land alienation. Review of Southern African Studies Volume 3 No. 1 June 1999, pp. 60-10

Status and Upward Mobility of Female Agricultural Professionals in Swaziland

A study sought to examine the status and upward mobility of female agricultural professionals in the public agricultural sector in Swaziland. The specific objectives were to describe the distribution of agricultural employees by sex; the perceived factors influencing women's occupation of high profile positions in agriculture; and the relationship between selected demographic characteristics of respondents and their opinions on factors influencing upward mobility of women. The study utilized primary and secondary sources of data and in the case of the latter, a mailed questionnaire was administered. The questionnaire was checked for validity and reliability and found to be suitable. Purposive sampling was used to obtain 67 female and 22 male agricultural professionals as respondents. The findings revealed that the visibility of female agricultural professionals was very limited. The market for all positions, including high profile ones, in the public agricultural sector was overwhelmingly dominated by men. There were relatively more women in low and middle profile positions than in high profile positions. There was unanimous agreement among respondents with regard to factors associated with attitudes of male colleagues, and overwhelming agreement regarding factors associated with employment policies, which influenced the upward mobility of agricultural professionals. There was agreement regarding the majority of the items pertaining to factors associated with educational opportunities and family and society. However, opinion was more or less divided with regard to factors associated with female professionals. The opinions of respondents varied with age with respect to two factors, and with length of service with respect to three factors. Statistically significant differences, based on sex, were detected in the opinions of respondents regarding factors in three out of five domains. The need for a gender and women's policy to address imbalances arising from the male-female dichotomy in employment was recommended. (Review of Southern African Studies: 2000 4 (1): 42-64

REACHING SWAZI NATION LAND FARMERS: CHALLENGES TO THE CREDIBILITY OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN SWAZILAND K.J.B. Keregero Department of Agriculture Education and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture UNIVERSITY OF SWAZILAND, LUYENGO M205, SWAZILAND

Agricultural extension services have been availed to Swazi Nation Land (SNL) farmers for seven decades now. However, increasing concern that the services have not contributed significantly to the improvement of the conditions and wellbeing of farmers points to a mounting credibility problem. The paper reflects on various studies that have been undertaken in the country and argues that the threat to the credibility of agricultural extension lies in: myths associated with extension behaviour; characteristics of agricultural extension workers; sources of agricultural extension knowledge; extension staffing and coverage; approach used by extension workers; and characteristics of extension clientele. The key observations are that: extension practice has ignored indigenous knowledge; the extension job is male dominated and gender stereotyped; extension workers are relatively lowly qualified and only moderately experienced; conventionally recognised sources of agricultural information are poorly regarded by clientele; community meetings have not been successfully utilised for extension; women who constitute the majority as cultivators of the land are not directly recognised as extension clientele; and rural people tend to portray mutual distrust in interpersonal relations. The agricultural extension service is generally weak in addressing its mandate, and calls for review in order to seriously address its credibility problem. (UNISWA J Agric: 2000 9: 79-89

Reaching Swazi Nation Land Farmers: Challenges to the Credibility of Agricultural Extension in Swaziland

Agricultural extension services have been availed to SNL farmers in Swaziland for seven decades now. However, increasing concerns that the services have not contributed significantly to the improvement of the conditions and well-being of farmers and that it is not clear where extension efforts are heading point to a mounting credibility problem. The paper points out that this problem is partly a result of lack of a clearly defined philosophy, often leading to the use of top-down, directive methods; the extension job being male dominated and gender stereotyping; and most of the frontline extension workers being youthful, moderately experienced in their job and relatively lowly qualified. It also notes that institutions conventionally mandated to disseminate agricultural information are poorly regarded by clientele and that extension staffing is poor, leading to inequitable and infrequent coverage. Extension approaches are based on operational myths that tend to marginalise and disempower tradition oriented clientele. The agricultural extension service has been found to be generally weak in addressing its mandate. The paper highlights the need for a paradigm shift and clear definition of direction, with implications for addressing the operational myths and seeking redress

Objectives achievement of the schools agriculture program in Swaziland: Implications for future curriculum reforms.

Abstract . The study further found that the statistically significant differences were small, and of no practical value. Thus, demographic characteristics of respondents were eliminated as confounding the results of this study

Objectives achievement of the schools agriculture program in Swaziland: Implications for future curriculum reforms.

Abstract . The study further found that the statistically significant differences were small, and of no practical value. Thus, demographic characteristics of respondents were eliminated as confounding the results of this study

Fermentation of cereal and legume based weaning foods

Meeting: Improving Young Child Feeding in Eastern and Southern Africa : Household Level Food Technology, 12-16 Oct. 1987, Nairobi, KEIn IDL-129

Required competencies for employment in the catering industry in Swaziland

The study was conducted to determine competencies needed by Home Economics graduates for employment in the catering industry in Swaziland. Respondents for the study were managers of catering institutions in Swaziland and graduating Home Economics students from the University of Swaziland, Luyengo. An interview schedule and a questionnaire were used to collect data. Both instruments were pilot-tested by fourth year Home Economics students at the University of Swaziland, Luyengo and validated by a panel of experts from the Home Economics Department, University of Swaziland, Luyengo. Data were analysed using the SPSS programme to determine frequencies, percentages and standard deviations. The findings showed that both technical and non-technical skills are required in the catering industry. There was a highly significant difference in perceived level of technical and non-technical competencies of graduating home economists in almost all the aspects, before and after enrolment in the B.Sc. Home Economics programme. The B.Sc. in Home Economics curriculum appears to cover a majority of the identified technical and non-technical competencies. Some changes are necessary in order to address all the competencies fully. UNISWA Jnl of Agric Vol 10 2001: pp 76-8