Conference Summary: Agricultural Successes for the Greater Horn of Africa

A. Objectives This conference focused on three principal objectives: a summarizing key opportunities and challenges for agriculture in the Greater Horn of Africa; b)intifying key successes in expanding African agriculture and improving food security with significant potential for replication and upscaling in the region; c)identifying key opportunities for accelerating agricultural growth and improving food security in the region and develop actions plants for their realization. B. Content Thematically, the conference focused on one major topic each day (Table 9) The first day concentrated on regional trade issues in order to explore ways in which more fluid cross-border flows might enhance farmer incentives and food security in the region. The second day focused on commodity successes, from within as well as outside the Greater Horn. Working in four case study clusters, participants aimed to summarize key lessons learned about ingredients necessary for sustained agricultural growth. They focused, in particular, on promising technologies with significant regional spillover effects. The third day involved a review of community-based successes, instances where local collective action has succeeded in improving agricultural production and livelihoods while maintaining sustainability of the natural resource base. On the final day, participants pulled together key findings from the prior three days of deliberation in order to identify what they see as the top opportunities for stimulating agricultural growth and improving food security in the region. Moving forward after the conference, the NEPAD secretariat aims to identify coalitions of partners willing to translate these strategic opportunities into action. As an immediate step in this direction, NEPAD, ASARECA and COMESA representatives at the Nairobi conference were mandated to take these conference findings to the CAADP regional implementation workshop in Dar es Salaam in January 2005.This conference focused on three principal objectives: a) summarizing key opportunities and challenges for agriculture in the Greater Horn of Africa; b) identifying key successes in expanding African agriculture and improving food security..

Case Study Summary: Combatting Cassava Mosaic Virus in Uganda

“Saving a Nation Beseiged” by the University of Greenwich From Crisis to Confidence: How Improved Cassava Turned the Tide” by the Gatsby FoundationConference Paper No. 12a and 12

Assessing performance of small-scale pumped irrigation systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from a systematic review

Small-scale irrigation (SSI) has significant potential to increase crop productivity in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). Pumped irrigation systems are one of the technologies increasingly being used by smallholder farmers. The aim of this study was to systematically review evidence on the performance of SSI pumped systems, including motorized, treadle, rope and washer, solar and wind pumps. The study revealed a lack of standardization and use of a wide range of indicators to assess performance. Most evidence related to motorized pumps, these studies confirmed mixed levels of performance; studies relating to other types of pumped system mostly reported a positive impact, although the method of assessment used was critical. Studies reporting positive impacts tended to be those that used socio-economic based factors such as yield and profitability, whereas studies reporting mixed performance tended to be those that relied more on technically based indicators such as pumping and irrigation system efficiency. The analysis highlights the sensitivity of interpreting findings from different studies, and how caution should be exercised when comparing performance within and between different types of irrigation system. The implications for supporting policy development and identifying future research gaps are discussed

Managing health professional migration from sub-Saharan Africa to Canada: a stakeholder inquiry into policy options

BACKGROUND: Canada is a major recipient of foreign-trained health professionals, notably physicians from South Africa and other sub-Saharan African countries. Nurse migration from these countries, while comparatively small, is rising. African countries, meanwhile, have a critical shortage of professionals and a disproportionate burden of disease. What policy options could Canada pursue that balanced the right to health of Africans losing their health workers with the right of these workers to seek migration to countries such as Canada? METHODS: We interviewed a small sample of émigré South African physicians (n = 7) and a larger purposive sample of representatives of Canadian federal, provincial, regional and health professional departments/organizations (n = 25); conducted a policy colloquium with stakeholder organizations (n = 21); and undertook new analyses of secondary data to determine recent trends in health human resource flows between sub-Saharan Africa and Canada. RESULTS: Flows from sub-Saharan Africa to Canada have increased since the early 1990s, although they may now have peaked for physicians from South Africa. Reasons given for this flow are consistent with other studies of push/pull factors. Of 8 different policy options presented to study participants, only one received unanimous strong support (increasing domestic self-sufficiency), one other received strong support (increased health system strengthening in source country), two others mixed support (voluntary codes on ethical recruitment, bilateral or multilateral agreements to manage flows) and four others little support or complete rejection (increased training of auxiliary health workers in Africa ineligible for licensing in Canada, bonding, reparation payments for training-cost losses and restrictions on immigration of health professionals from critically underserved countries). CONCLUSION: Reducing pull factors by improving domestic supply and reducing push factors by strengthening source country health systems have the greatest policy traction in Canada. The latter, however, is not perceived as presently high on Canadian stakeholder organizations' policy agendas, although support for it could grow if it is promoted. Canada is not seen as "actively' recruiting" ("poaching") health workers from developing countries. Recent changes in immigration policy, ongoing advertising in southern African journals and promotion of migration by private agencies, however, blurs the distinction between active and passive recruitment

Using data envelopment analysis to measure the extent of technical efficiency of public health centres in Ghana

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) has been used to analyze the efficiency of the health sector in the developed world for sometime now. However, in developing economies and particularly in Africa only a few studies have applied DEA in measuring the efficiency of their health care systems.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study uses the DEA method, to calculate the technical efficiency of 89 randomly sampled health centers in Ghana. The aim was to determine the degree of efficiency of health centers and recommend performance targets for the inefficient facilities.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The findings showed that 65% of health centers were technically inefficient and so were using resources that they did not actually need.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results broadly point to grave inefficiency in the health care delivery system of public health centers and that significant amounts of resources could be saved if measures were put in place to curb the waste.</p

Neoliberalism and the revival of agricultural cooperatives: The case of the coffee sector in Uganda

Agricultural cooperatives have seen a comeback in sub‐Saharan Africa. After the collapse of many weakly performing monopolist organizations during the 1980s and 1990s, strengthened cooperatives have emerged since the 2000s. Scholarly knowledge about the state–cooperative relations in which this “revival” takes place remains poor. Based on new evidence from Uganda's coffee sector, this paper discusses the political economy of Africa's cooperative revival. The authors argue that donors' and African governments' renewed support is framed in largely apolitical terms, which obscures the contested political and economic nature of the revival. In the context of neoliberal restructuring processes, state and non‐state institutional support to democratic economic organizations with substantial redistributional agendas remains insufficient. The political–economic context in Uganda—and potentially elsewhere in Africa—contributes to poor terms of trade for agricultural cooperatives while maintaining significant state control over some cooperative activities to protect the status quo interests of big capital and state elites. These conditions are unlikely to produce a conflict‐free, substantial, and sustained revival of cooperatives, which the new promoters of cooperatives suggest is under way

Memorandum of Understanding between the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the International Agricultural Research Centers (IARCs) supported by the CGIAR

Memorandum of understanding (MOU) between NEPAD and the IARCs of the CGIAR, represented by the Committee of Center Directors (CDC). MOU signed on March 8, 2004 by Kanayo Nwanze of the CDC and Professor W. Nkuhlu, Chairman of the NEPAD Steering Committee

Umyalezo olukuhlayo ekuvuseleleni i-Afrika

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is about the persuasive message towards the Millennium African Recovery Plan, which is known today as New Partnership for African Development. It is divided into five chapters. The first chapter, which constitutes the introductory chapter, deals with the general introduction to the entire study, the scope of the study, statement of the aim and objectives of this study, also looks at the research methods. The second chapter provides a brief theoretical background to the study of persuasion, and the third chapter looks at various applications of persuasion. This forms the basis upon which the entire study will rest as it provides different theories pertaining to persuasion. The fourth chapter concentrates on a critical evaluation of persuasion messages. The messages, which are analysed in this study, are selected from the newsletter ANC Today. These 4 articles are: 1. Africa's people central to success of recovery plan. Vol. 1 no. 2, 2-8 February 2001. 2. One step to the birth of the African Union. Vol. 1 no. 7, 9-15 March 2001. 3. Important steps to deepen democratic practice in Southern Africa. Vol. 1 no. 16, 11- 17 May 2001. 4. Our commitment to Africa Vol. 1 no. 18,25-31 May 2001 The fifth chapter contains general conclusions drawn from the persuasive messages in chapter 4. Translations for terminology are provided and are contained in the appendix, which is found at the end of this study, which is followed by the bibliography.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie handeloor die oorredende boodskap gerig op die Millenium Afrika Hernuwingsplan, ook bekend as die 'Nuwe vennootskap vir Afrika se ontwikkeling'. Die studie is verdeel in vyf hoofstukke. Die eerste hoofstuk, wat die inleidende hoofstuk is, bied 'n algemene inleiding tot die studie as geheel, gee 'n oorsig van die omvang van die studie, bied die doelstellings van die studie, en gee 'n uiteensetting van die navorsingsmetode. Die tweede hoofstuk bied 'n kort teoretiese agtergrond tot die studie van oorreding, en die derde hoofstuk handeloor 'n verskeidenheid toepassings van oorreding. Hierdie hoofstuk vorm die basis waarop die navorsing berus aangesien dit 'n oorsig bied oor verskillende teorieë van oorreding. Die vierde hoofstuk konsentreer op 'n kritiese evaluering van oorredingsboodskappe. Die boodskappe wat analiseer word in hierdie studie is geselekteer uit die nuusbrief ANC Today. Die vier artikels is die volgende: 1. Africa's people central to success of recovery plan. Vol. 1 no. 2, 2-8 February 2001. 2. One step to the birth of the African Union. Vol. 1 no. 7, 9-15 March 2001. 3. Important steps to deepen democratic practice in Southern Africa. Vol. 1 no. 16, 17- 17 May 2001. 4. Our commitment to Africa. Vol. 1 no. 18,25-31 May 2001. Die vyfde hoofstuk bevat algemene gevolgtrekkings met betrekking tot die oorredende boodskappe wat ontleed is in hoofstuk 4. Vertalings van terminologie word in die bylae aan die einde van die studie gegee.ISIXHOSA SISHWANKATHELO: Esi sifundo simalunga nomyalezo olukuhlayo ekuvuselelweni kwe-Afrika. Sahlulwe saba ziza hluko ezintlanu. Isahluko sokuqala, esiphawula intshayelelo yesahluko, sijongana nentshayelelo eqhelekileyo kuso sonke isifundo, umda wesifundo, ingxelo yenjongo yesi sifundo, kwaye sijonga kwizicwangciso zophando. Isahluko sesibini sinika imvelaphi yethiyori kwisifundo solukuhlo., kwaye isahluko sesithathu sijonga kwiindlela zokusetyenziswa kolukuhlo. Oku kwenza isakhelo apho sonke esi sifundo siza kuqwalasela khona njengokuba sinika iithiyori ezahlukeneyo malunga nolukuhlo. Isahluko sesine sizikis'ingqondo kuvavanyo olunzima Iwemiyalezo yolukuhlo. Imiyalezo, eboniswayo apha kwesi sahluko, ikhethwe kumaphetshana e-"ANC Today". La maphetshana mane ngala: 1. Africa's people central to success of recovery plan. Vol. 1 no. 2, 2-8 February 2001. 2. One step to the birth of the African Union. Vol. 1 no.7, 9-15 March 2001. 3. Impotant steps to deepen democratic practice in Southern Africa, Vol. 1 no. 16, 11- 17 May 2001. 4. Our commitment to Africa. Vol.t no.18, 25-31 May 2001. Isahluko sesihlanu siqulathe iziqukumbelo eziqelekileyo ezisukela kwimiyalezo yolukuhlo kwisahluko se-4. Isigama esitolikiweyo sinikiwe kwaye siqulathwe kwi-apendiksi, efumaneka ekupheleni kwesi sifundo, elandelwa yi-bibliyografi