Towards the empowered commuter : exploring information behaviour of informal public transport users

Papers presented virtually at the 41st International Southern African Transport Conference on 10-13 July 2023.Information is emerging as one of the key dimensions of mobility, and as an important lever through which sustainable access can be promoted in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) cities. Information acts as an enabler of transport, by allowing travellers to make informed decisions on whether, when, and how they travel. The lack of information can also act as a barrier to accessing desired services, with consequences for the attainment of equity and human development goals. Little is known about what information passengers need and how they find and use information. This paper reports on a qualitative mixed-methods study to explore information behaviour amongst informal transport passengers in Tshwane, South Africa. We use the theory and methods of information science (with information behaviour as a subdiscipline) to provide a lens for the investigation. We collected mobility data through travel diaries, user-submitted photos of the travel context and voice messages to explain these, and in-depth individual interviews combined with drawings of situations where respondents used information and its sources (called information horizon mappings). The drawings and interviews revealed the information-poor environment within which informal transport operates, and the strong reliance on other people as well as tacit embedded knowledge for gaining access to information. The paper concludes by offering directions for further research around digital information

The terrain of urbanisation process and policy frameworks: A critical analysis of the Kampala experience

Kampala is urbanising in an unplanned manner, but without a clear picture of the underlying dynamics. The city is characterised by lack of proper zoning of economic activities and construction of physical infrastructure without regard to subsequent spatial quality and environmental conservation. Consequently, there are sharp differences in residential standards where expensive housing and luxury flats co-exist with shanty towns and informal settlements, with about 60% of the city’s population living in unplanned informal settlements and often faced with challenges of unemployment. The unprecedented increase in the urban population in Kampala and the prospects for further increases in the near future have economic and social implications concerning employment, housing, education and health, among others. Understanding the nature of the dynamics of the growth or decline of cities like Kampala helps planners to support the processes that lead to harmonious urban development and to deal with the negative consequences of urban growth. This paper reflects the urbanisation dynamics explaining Kampala’s urbanisation process with the view to analysing the implications for an alternative urban policy framework. It argues that the conditions that have allowed the situation to exist have serious policy implications which require the need for an integrated policy framework that can be used to effectively prevent or halt Kampala’s unplanned urbanisation while promoting planned urbanisation. Induced by the migration and lack of information, understanding urban dynamics is crucial to the development of urban policies that can effectively ensure that further urban changes occur in a systematic and satisfactory manner. The current urban process in developing countries like Uganda is associated with poverty, environmental degradation and population demands that outstrip service capacity

Utilisation des ressources en eau et implications pour la sécurité humaine dans le bassin du lac Victoria en Afrique de l'est

International audienceThis synthesis/review paper attempts to explore water resource use issues in the Lake Victoria Basin [LVB] andwhat implications these would have on human security in the basin. Use was made of both primary and secondary datato analyse: (1) water resource use issues and their implication for human security, and (2) existing initiatives/ policies/ programmesin water resources management to improve human security. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the LVB is facedby an array of stressors operating in combination, including hydrological and climate change (reduced amounts of rainfall,unpredictability of rainfall seasons, shifts in rainfall distribution patterns), discharge of waste materials (municipal and industrialwastes); intense resource extraction and fisheries depletion; political uncertainty; land use and cover change [increasingurban and de-vegetated catchments] and increased pollution loading [horticultural and industrial]. How thesestressors impact on the water resources in the context of global changes is still unclear in the LVB. The paper argues that increasingstress from global change in the basin will lead to further degradation and dwindling of the vital water resource basethat would have serious implications for human security. Innovative and strategic water resources management approachessuch as incentive/financing mechanisms (PES), information/education/research and development, command and controlmeasures (penalties for inappropriate use) at different governance scales are therefore required to protect the integrity oftrans-boundary basins like the LVB.Dans cette synthèse les auteurs examinent les questions soulevées par l’exploitation de la ressource en eaudans le bassin du lac Victoria (LVB), en Afrique de l’est. Les auteurs s’intéressent principalement à l’impact sur la vie humaine,notamment sur la survie et la sécurité et surtout l’impact sur les moyens d’existence.En Afrique, le stress hydrique concerne les pays qui manquent d’eau mais aussi les régions où il y a abondance.Les changements climatiques exacerbent la situation et les activités humaines et naturelles ont un effet sur tous les secteursdu cycle de l’eau. Parmi les menaces principales pour les êtres humains on peut citer la pollution et la pénurie d’eau.Les auteurs enquêtent sur les ressources en eau que représente le LVB. Ils examinent l’impact des changements climatiquessur les ressources en eau, ainsi que ce que cela implique pour la sécurité environnementale. Ils voient commentassurer l’utilisation efficace de l’eau à l’avenir. Ils analysent ensuite les moyens disponibles pour une gestion proactivedes ressources en eau et la promotion du développement durable de l’eau dans cette région africaine. La gestion du lacet les activités humaines du passé continuent à influer sur les stratégies de management actuelles et toute solution proposéedoit prendre en compte les tensions et les conflits potentiels entre les différents pays, riverains et acteurs, à savoir,la Tanzanie, le Kenya, l’Ouganda, le Burundi et le Rwanda.Situé à 1100 m au-dessus du niveau de la mer, le lac Victoria est le plus grand lac d’eau douce en Afrique. Alimentépar une quinzaine de fleuves principaux et drainé par le Nil blanc, c’est aussi une région importante de zones humides.Une population de 30 millions de personnes habite le bassin et le PIB annuel est estimé à environ 30 milliards dedollars. L’urbanisation se développe et la densité de la population riveraine s’accroit de façon très importante. Les eauxdu lac sont exploitées comme source d’eau potable, de nourriture, d’énergie, d’irrigation, pour le transport, comme sitede rejet pour les eaux usées et pour certains déchets. Des données récentes démontrent l’eutrophisation du lac. À la finde 2012, la capacité en hydroélectricité créée par les eaux du Nil qui quittent le lac augmentera à 450 MW.Les sources principales de stress environnemental - dans le lac, dans la zone littorale, dans le bassin et au-delàdu bassin - mènent à une dégradation de l’écosystème du LVB et ont un effet négatif sur l’économie de la région et surles moyens d’existence des populations lacustres. On s’inquiète donc pour la détérioration de la qualité de l’eau, pourl’augmentation de la pollution et de l’eutrophisation et pour l’impact des changements climatiques mondiaux sur lesressources en eau. L’existence des populations lacustres est donc fragilisée.Le niveau des eaux du lac varient naturellement, mais depuis plus d’une décennie on observe une baisse généraledu niveau ce qui occasionne des pertes en tout genre notamment pour les transporteurs, les pêcheurs et pour l’hydroélectricité.Les pays riverains reconnaissent que la bonne gestion des eaux du lac est donc cruciale pour l’économiede la région, pour la protection de la biodiversité et les zones humides ainsi que pour le maintien de l’intégrité environnementaledu LVB.Au coeur des ces préoccupations se trouve la sécurité humaine. Dans un avenir proche on estime qu’il ne seraplus possible de soutenir une population en croissance permanente. Les mauvaises pratiques en agriculture et en élevagemais aussi dans les forêts sont en partie responsables des menaces pour la sécurité humaine. La qualité de l’eau sedétériore et bientôt elle ne sera plus potable; le manque d’eau pour la production agricole qui est la source de conflitsentre différents acteurs conduirait à des pénuries d’alimentation. Le manque d’eau est ainsi source de tensions dans lebassin tout comme l’excès d’eau quand la région n’arrive pas à gérer la précipitation excessive et les inondations. Ces dernièressont en grande partie imputables à l’activité humaine (déforestation, perte de la couche végétale (terre arable),conversion des zones humides…). La contamination de l’eau affecte la santé des populations directement : pollution industrielle, eaux usées non traitées, déchets agricoles et prolifération de la biomasse algale qui mène à la disparitiondes poissons et à la destruction de l’habitat aquatique. Des tensions et des conflits au niveau de l’état, de la région, voireau niveau de chaque foyer aggravent les menaces qui pèsent sur la sécurité sanitaire et économique de la populationnotamment entre les acteurs en amont et en aval du bassin. La présence de barrages et l’inconstance de la précipitationajoutées à une surextraction importante de l’eau exacerbent la situation politique et économique. La santé publique estmenacée par une combinaison de facteurs qui favorisent l’apparition de maladies contagieuses ou de maladies véhiculéespar l’eau. Les auteurs identifient les stratégies pour une gestion optimale de l’eau du LVB et préconisent essentiellementune gestion raisonnée de la ressource qui dépasse les frontières nationales. Ils prônent le recours aux organismes internationauxpour la résolution amicale des conflits. En conclusion ils déplorent l’héritage post-impérial et l’existence de structures colonialistes mises en place pour servir une élite urbaine qui perdure

Gendered Perceptions of Climate Variability and Change among Local Communities Living around Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda

Climate change affects both men and women which, in turn, shapes their varied and contrasting perceptions of climate variability and change. This paper examined the gendered perceptions of climate variability and change among local communities in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.The objectives are threefold: - identify climatic shocks faced by the local communities; examine the perceptions of men and women of climate variability and change; and to compare their perceptions with empirical meteorological data. This study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods, with data collected from 215 respondents using survey, interviews and focused group discussions. From the findings, indicators of climate variability and change included reduced flooding events, occurrence of human diseases, increasing crop pests and diseases, dry spells and intensity of rains. There was increasing significant temperatures while rainfall was declining. Both male and female significantly associated with increasing temperatures and reduced flooding events. While climatic shocks affected both males and females, the impact was more pronounced depending on distinct livelihood activities and roles and responsibilities undertaken. The study concluded that people’s perceptions of climate change should be taken on by the government and integrated in the national climate programs that support people’s livelihoods and survival mechanisms

Challenges and opportunities to prevent tuberculosis in people living with HIV in low-income countries

People living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLHIV) are at high risk for tuberculosis (TB), and TB is a major cause of death in PLHIV. Preventing TB in PLHIV is therefore a key priority. Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in asymptomatic PLHIV has a potent TB preventive effect, with even more benefits in those with advanced immunodeficiency. Applying the most recent World Health Organization recommendations that all PLHIV initiate ART regardless of clinical stage or CD4 cell count could provide a considerable TB preventive benefit at the population level in high HIV prevalence settings. Preventive therapy can treat tuberculous infection and prevent new infections during the course of treatment. It is now established that isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) combined with ART among PLHIV significantly reduces the risk of TB and mortality compared with ART alone, and therefore has huge potential benefits for millions of sufferers. However, despite the evidence, this intervention is not implemented in most low-income countries with high burdens of HIV-associated TB. HIV and TB programme commitment, integration of services, appropriate screening procedures for excluding active TB, reliable drug supplies, patient-centred support to ensure adherence and well-organised follow-up and monitoring that includes drug safety are needed for successful implementation of IPT, and these features would also be needed for future shorter preventive regimens. A holistic approach to TB prevention in PLHIV should also include other important preventive measures, such as the detection and treatment of active TB, particularly among contacts of PLHIV, and control measures for tuberculous infection in health facilities, the homes of index patients and congregate settings