Model for the integrated and transversal monitoring and evaluation of Rural Development Programmes implemented by government departments

Literature indicates that there is a lack of an integrated approach to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of interventions focusing on rural development, resulting in policy development and analyses not being supported, transparency and accountability on rural spending not enhanced and organisational learning not encouraged. The study looked into the institutionalisation of M&E in government. The research was conducted in three phases: Comparative Case Studies (Canada, Chile, Brazil, Uganda and the United Nations Development Programme), a single Case Study (Limpopo Provincial Government, South Africa) and the development of a model for the integrated and transversal M&E of rural development programmes implemented by government departments (being the general objective of this empirical study). Qualitative data were obtained through document analysis and desk based survey of existing information from various sources. M&E and rural development specialists and agriculturalists were sampled and interviewed using a semistructured interview schedule. To support the three phases of the research, the data collection method of experience surveying was also utilised. The study found that M&E is not adequately institutionalised, particularly in the rural development and agricultural sector. The study therefore recommends capacity building on the M&E skills of professionals in the agricultural extension and advisory sector.Keywords: Monitoring and evaluation, rural development, integrated, transversal, South Africa, Limpopo Provincial Governmen

Kerkleierskap as bemiddeling van ‘n onmoontlike werklikheid: ‘n Prakties teologiese ondersoek na die rol van leierskap in die transformasie van gemeentes

Church leadership as mediator for an impossible reality: A practical theological study of the role of leadership in the transformation of congregationsThe Church finds herself in a complex society, which currently has a destructive impact on the realisation of the Church. To overcome the challenges of our time, leaders must help to shape new realities creatively and innovatively. Church leadership must find an alternative way of dealing with the issues at stake in order to guide congregations on a challenging journey. The challenge for congregational leaders is to let the realisation of the Church take place in a revealing and developing manner. The assumption is that the Church is realised organically rather than mechanically and institutionally. Leadership is a dynamic matter that should be realised in a congregational and ecumenical context. The question to be answered in this article is: What is the role of leaders in a world typified as complex? Because of the complexity of postmodern society, leadership theory and practice have developed beyond the point of planning, organisation and control (acceptable managerial scientific methodology). Leadership in the Church is a collective matter, and, as such, it should be approached and managed holistically with dynamic and relational methods.Keywords: leadership; management of change; complexity; postmodernism; identity of the church; life-cycle approach; strategic planning; relationalThis article is in Afrikaan

Egorassisme as verswarende faktor by straftoemeting

Uit teks: In die saak R v White ([2001] Crim LR 576), wat onlangs voor die strafafdeling van die Court of Appeal (CA) in Engeland gedien het, was die feite kortliks soos volg: Die appellant, W, was ‘n passasier op ’n bus in London. Daar is aangevoer dat, toe hy van die bus afgeklim het, hy dreigende, smalende en beledigende woorde/gedrag teenoor die konduktrise, wat van Sierra Leone afkomstig was, gebruik/openbaar het en dat hy gevolglik skuldig was aan oortreding van artikel 31 van die Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (1998 c37) gelees met artikel 4 van die Public Order Act 1986 (1986 c64)

Die status van fiksies in ’n regstaat: opmerkinge oor ouderdomsgrense en die kind as dader en slagoffer in die strafreg

In the first instance, the origin of age limits in determining criminal liability and also in answering the question whether a child is a victim of a specific (sexual) crime is investigated. Secondly, the development by our courts and legislature of these rules concerning age limits in criminal law are scrutinised. Reference is made throughout to the position in other legal systems. Thereupon, the necessity of age limits in this regard is analysed and evaluated from a rational, constitutional and a general justice point of view. Rigid and unchangeable age limits are pointed out as being fictitious and are rejected as being in conflict with basic principles of rationality and constitutionality as well as general principles of justice

’n Analise van onlangse interpretasies van die nuwe uitgebreide penetrasiebegrip by verkragting in die Duitse reg

In this article, the origin and development of the penetration concept in rape is initially explained from a history of law and anthropo-legal perspective. Thereafter the current formulation of section 177StGB in Germany is analysed and recent interpretations by the courts and commentators are expounded. In contemporary German law the crime of rape only comes into play in determining a proper punishment. It , in fact, only constitutes an aggravated form of sexual assault. The penetration requirement in rape is extended to also encompass penetrative sexual acts of a similar nature aswell as other sexual conduct resulting in comparable humiliation to the victim. The South African Law Commission should take cognizance of recent developments in German law

Automaticity revisited: when print doesn't activate semantics

It is widely accepted that the presentation of a printed word automatically triggers processing that ends with full semantic activation. This processing, among other characteristics, is held to occur without intention, and cannot be stopped. The results of the present experiment show that this account is problematic in the context of a variant of the Stroop paradigm. Subjects named the print color of words that were either neutral or semantically related to color. When the letters were all colored, all spatially cued, and the spaces between letters were filled with characters from the top of the keyboard (i.e., 4, #, 5, %, 6, and *), color naming yielded a semantically based Stroop effect and a semantically based negative priming effect. In contrast, the same items yielded neither a semantic Stroop effect nor a negative priming effect when a single target letter was uniquely colored and spatially cued. These findings undermine the widespread view that lexical-semantic activation in word reading is automatic in the sense that it occurs without intention and cannot be derailed

Embryo rescue as a method to develop and multiply a backcross population of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) from an interspecific cross of Manihot esculenta ssp. flabellifolia

Cassava is one of the most planted tuber crops in the tropical world. The importance of cassava is growing as a food security crop in sub Saharan Africa, where malnutrition is a menace. However, a major hindrance in the fast improvement of the crop is the long generational cycle of cassava and poor germination of the seeds, and the low multiplication rate of the stem cuttings. In vitro germination of 495 seeds from backcross population was done. Each genotype was multiplied for sufficient planting material, hardened in the green house and transplanted to the field. Percentage germination of the seeds in embryo culture was high (66%). Raising plantlets in the green house was found to be useful to select healthy plants and thus obtain a uniform stand in the field. The genotypes were planted in a single row trial and harvested eight months after planting. Transplanted plantlets gave 98.89% establishment. Yield-related traits were significantly high compare to the result from the past experiments. The high percentage of plant recovery from seed through to the field is a means of overcoming some problems associated with the traditional method of cassava breeding through direct seed planting to generate planting materials.Key words: Cassava, backcross population, interspecific, flabellifolia, embryonic axes

Smart slope monitoring through the use of fibre optic sensors

Abstract: This study demonstrates the use of fibre optic instrumentation such as an Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer as well as Fibre Bragg Grating sensors on a small-scale physical 1-g model to monitor potential slope movement. The scope is to improve current knowledge in the field of slope monitoring through the im- plementation of optic fibre sensors. Single-mode and multi-mode hetero-core optic fibre displacement sensors were created and directly embedded into layers of coarse-grained soil. By inducing critical slope conditions in the small-scale model through the course of several experiments we were able to identify localised failure zones and quantify signal attenuation. Using a calibrated source, it was possible to indirectly estimate microstrain and investigate spatial resolution of the sensing cable. Laboratory testing of the sensors and the sensing system allowed for further development of sensor integration techniques

Genetic variability, stability and heritability for quality and yield characteristics in provitamin A cassava varieties

Open Access Article; Published online: 25 Jan 2020Cassava is widely consumed in many areas of Africa, including Ghana, and is a major part of most household diets. These areas are characterized by rampant malnutrition, because the tuberous roots are low in nutritional value. Provitamin A biofortified cassava varieties have been developed by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, but adoption of these varieties in Ghana will largely depend on their agronomic performance, including fresh root yield, dry matter content, resistance to major pests and diseases, mealiness, starch content and the stability of these traits. Eight provitamin A varieties with two white checks were planted in three environments for two seasons to determine stability and variability among the varieties for important traits. There were significant variations in performance between varieties and between environments for cassava mosaic disease, root number, fresh root yield and starch content. High broad-sense heritability and genetic advance were observed in all traits, except for storage root number, and could be exploited through improvement programs. This study identified the best performing enhanced provitamin A varieties for traits that are key drivers of variety adoption in Ghana. In view of this, some varieties can be recommended for varietal release after on-farm testing. The study also showed the possibility of tapping heterosis after careful selection of parents

Student review of doctor-patient communication skills training in a South African undergraduate medical programme

Background. Barriers to the training of doctor-patient communication in the South African (SA) context have been well explored through qualitative research at several SA medical schools. However, this aspect of training has not been reviewed in a systematic way by a large number of students. A student review of doctor-patient communication skills training in the undergraduate medical programme of a medical school in SA was obtained to improve training and identify further research needs. Objective. To investigate doctor-patient communication skills training in the undergraduate programme of a medical school in SA to identify shortcomings and further research needs. Methods. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used. Data were collected through an anonymous questionnaire based on Harden’s extended vision of the curriculum. Printed anonymous questionnaires, distributed to all the fourth- and fifth-year undergraduate medical students, were analysed quantitatively. Open-ended questions were analysed qualitatively using grounded theory. Results. The sample comprised 106/132 fifth-year students (response rate 80.3%) and 65/120 fourth-year students (response rate 54.2%). Frequent training in history-taking was reported by >75% of students, while >60% reported infrequent training in breaking bad news. More than 50% of participants indicated that senior doctors seldom or never modelled patient-centred communication in the clinical teaching milieu. Students preferred experiential learning to didactic methods. Conclusion. Medical students want to see patient-centred communication unequivocally modelled in the clinical setting. A greater emphasis on practical training in context-specific communication skills is required. Positive role-modelling is needed in the clinical environment