Three essays on the evaluation of renewable energy investments and the effectiveness of support schemes

Renewable energy development is a critical aspect of the political agenda of the European Union (EU) due to its environmental friendliness as well as enhancing economic development. Electricity markets in the EU have changed due to rising capacity and generation from renewable energy sources of electricity (RES-E) as a result of policy intervention. However, there have been increasing and inconclusive debates on the growth of RES-E technologies and the effectiveness of support scheme policies. The uncertainty regarding continuing the support schemes for RES-E technologies makes it relevant to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing support schemes in driving RES-E capacity development.This thesis presents three empirical chapters which evaluate RES-E investments and the effectiveness of the RES-E support policies in the EU. In the first empirical chapter we use a real options framework to analyse the investment timing of a wind farm, considering the electricity price and production uncertainties and the impact of the correlation between these two variables on the timing of the investment, neglecting the existence of support schemes. In the remaining two empirical chapters, we use econometric analyses to examine the effectiveness of RES-E policies in driving capacity development in the EU. More specifically, we use dummy variables to account for the existence and the experience of enacted policies while controlling for market and macroeconomic factors. We also analyse the impact of the heterogeneity in Feed-in-System (FIS) on the capacity development of wind and solar photovoltaic (PV), while controlling for country specific effects

Programmatic feasibility of dried blood spots for the virological follow-up of patients on antiretroviral treatment in Nord Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Background:As part of its policy to shift monitoring of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to primary health care (PHC) workers, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) tested the feasibility of using dried blood spots (DBS) for viral load (VL) quantification and genotypic drug resistance testing in off-site high-throughput laboratories.Methods:DBS samples from adults on ART were collected in 13 decentralized PHC facilities in the Nord-Kivu province and shipped during program quarterly supervision to a reference laboratory 2000 km away, where VL was quantified with a commercial assay (m2000rt, Abbott). A second DBS was sent to a World Health Organization (WHO)-accredited laboratory for repeat VL quantification on a subset of samples with a generic assay (Biocentric) and genotypic drug resistance testing when VL >1000 copies per milliliter.Findings:Constraints arose because of an interruption in national laboratory funding rather than to technical or logistic problems. All samples were assessed by both VL assays to allow ART adjustment. Median DBS turnaround time was 37 days (interquartile range: 9-59). Assays performed unequally with DBS, impacting clinical decisions, quality assurance, and overall cost-effectiveness. Based on m2000rt or generic assay, 31.3% of patients were on virological failure (VF) and 14.8% presented resistance mutations versus 50.3% and 15.4%, respectively.Conclusion:This study confirms that current technologies involving DBS make virological monitoring of ART possible at PHC level, including in challenging environments, provided organizational issues are addressed. Adequate core funding of HIV laboratories and adapted choice of VL assays require urgent attention to control resistance to ART as coverage expands

Immunization against east coast fever by infection and treatment method in Uganda

East Coast Fever (ECF) caused by Theileria parva is known in Uganda as the must important tick-horne disease of cattle fora long time. The 1}apcr describes research efforts conducted mainly in Kenya and Uganda towards the development andtesting of the infection and tre:ltment method of immunization against ECF. This method has now been introduced onprivate farms and it is accepted in Uganda

OPTIMAL MEASURES FOR MINIMIZING THE TAX AUDIT EXPECTATION GAP IN KENYA

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out whether a tax audit expectation gap exists between the tax authority and corporate tax payers.Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive research design.  Findings: The study findings confirmed that, indeed, a tax audit expectation gap existed between corporate tax payers and the tax authority. In addition, better tax compliance standards, forensic accounting, I-tax implementation and user education were found to be important measures in narrowing this tax audit expectation gap.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study will be of significance to the following stakeholders: users of financial information including the corporate tax payers, the creditors, customers and suppliers.  The study will provide information as to what is termed reasonable and unreasonable expectations. The tax authority in Kenya and those in other countries will find this study useful as it will highlight the tax audit expectation gap and how it can be reduced by several measures notably better tax compliance standards, forensic accounting, I-tax implementation, educating members and enhanced compliance with International Accounting Standards (IAS) and International Standards of Auditing (ISA). The findings of this study will also inform policy making with regard to corporate tax payers as pertains to duties and roles of auditors, the educative role of management, the introduction of stringent reporting and the government\u27s role in supervising the affairs of corporate tax payers. This study will be an invaluable addition to literature pertaining to corporate tax payers, and measures for reducing the tax audit expectation gap. Scholars who wish to further their education on the area of the expectation gap may use the findings of this study to do so

Meeting the needs of clients in research: A preliminary overview of NARO experiences

With the current government emphasis on increased productivity and poverty eradication through the policies of decentralisation, liberalisation commercialisation and private sector involvement, NARO had to realign its strategic direction. Arising from the strategy and Medium term Plan was the need to respond to needs of farmers and other key stakeholders. The strategy of decentralisation of research services was identified as key in involving clients as equal partners. The other one was the need to avail research outputs to intermediary organisations, service providers and selected end-users (uptake pathways). In an effort to provide high quality, relevant and effective research outputs, NARO is strengthening its adaptive research by involving Farmer Research Groups (FRGs) and having location specific research based on the needs of clients. It is also forging linkages and partnerships as well as encouraging networking. Preliminary indications of core elements for successfully meeting the clients needs seem to include community mobilisation and action, partnership between researchers, farmers and extensionists, voluntary participation, active feedback from clients, and blending scientific ideas with farmers' own knowledge and practices. Farmers' active participation in monitoring and analysing of the changes as well as sharing experiences among themselves had a positive contribution. There are however, possible challenges from attitudes by all stakeholders at individual, institutional and organisational levels. This calls for a well managed transition to a new paradigm. The incentives particularly in terms of improved livelihoods seem to be low for farmers to actively participate in the process

African Linguistics in Central and Eastern Europe, and in the Nordic Countries

Non peer reviewe

Language endangerment and language documentation in Africa

Non peer reviewe