Unconditional Cash Transfer Programs and Spillover Effects on the Local Economy: Evidence from Mali

Extreme poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa is challenged by the region’s high population growth, climate change, and armed conflicts. These recent years, social safety net programs have been considered as development policy tools to address poverty and improve households' welfare. However, despite the growing interest in social safety net policies, impact studies do not look at all aspects of the contribution of cash transfer programs. This study attempts to fill in the gap by providing more comprehensive insights into the role of unconditional cash programs in the West African context. Many methodological approaches were applied. The first essay which investigates the causal relationship between the Unconditional Cash Transfers (UCT) program and school-aged children’s time allocation showed that the program increases girls' school enrolment at primary school by 4.3 percentage points. The second essay concludes that conflict has a negative and statistically significant effect on the probability of use and expenditures on fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery. However, the cash program has no significant impact in mitigating the negative effects of conflict. The third essay analyses whether the Income Generating Activities (IGAs) as UCT exit strategy contribute to keeping households out of poverty after leaving the program. Findings mainly indicate that animal fattening and rearing as IGAs are more likely to increase the household consumption per capita than those who choose no IGA. The two last essays show that the program has a multiplier effect on the local economy, and generates a positive welfare effect for non-beneficiary households. As a policy implication, social safety nets should be scaled up and supported as part of governments' development agenda and strategies

Cash transfers and school enrolment

Usingarandomized experimentin Mali, this study investigates whether Unconditional CashTransfer(UCT) targeted to men and intended to reduce poverty and food insecurity impact children’s schooling. Although the school-aged children arenottheprimarytargetoftheprogram,welooktoseeifthetransfershaveany impact on the children’s school enrolment. Results indicate that the transfers have no significant effect on School enrolment for Children age7-16. However,disaggregating by gender and age, results show the program increases girl’s school enrolment at primary school by 8 percentage points and by 6 percentage points for primary school and low secondary school. There is so significant effect on boys’ school enrolment. We provide potential mechanisms through which the UCT impacts school enrolment

Design of a class-F power amplifier with reconfigurable output harmonic termination in 0.13 µm CMOS

Next generation wireless communication technology requires mobile devices and base stations to support multiband multimode frequencies with higher data rate because of the type of enriched and enhanced features and services that are provided to the end user. The challenge for next generation PA designers is to provide high efficiency, output power and good linearity across multiple frequency bands, modulation standards and bandwidth. Current industry solution involves parallel PAs dedicated to a single band of operation. As more and more features are added, more and more PAs will be required with increasing cost, area and complexity. As a solution to this problem, one tunable fully integrated class-F power amplifier with reconfigurable output harmonic termination is proposed, designed, fabricated and tested with a commercially available 0.13µm CMOS process technology. By using the coupling between the primary and the secondary winding of an on chip transformer with a variable secondary termination capacitance, the second and third harmonic short and open circuit frequencies are dynamically tuned from 700 MHz to 1200 MHz and achieve high efficiency and output power. To overcome CMOS process low break down voltage, a series voltage combining approach is used for the power device to boost output power, by allowing the power supply to exceed process limits. The fabricated die was packaged and mounted to a printed circuit board for evaluation. Compared to previously publish fully integrated PAs, our design exhibits superior peak power added efficiency, 48.4%, and decent saturated output power and power gain of 24.6 dBm and 16.5 dB respectively with reconfigurability from 700 MHz to 1200 MHz

Opportunité d’un regain d’intérêt pour la promotion des langues nationales au Bénin

Depuis ces dernières décennies, des appels se sont multipliés à l’endroit des politiques pour contribuer à l’introduction des langues nationales dans l’éducation formelle en République du Bénin. Le constat à ce jour est que cette innovation pédagogique n’est pas encore à sa phase de mise en œuvre. Et pourtant l’usage des langues nationales comme langues d’apprentissage à l’école formelle n’est ni un luxe, ni une initiative irréalisable en soi. Loin d’être considéré comme l’expression d’un fatalisme inconséquent, la posture développée au travers de cet article est une lecture croisée du regard interne et externe porté sur les langues nationales dans les pays d’Afrique francophone. Suivant une approche méthodologique essentiellement qualitative basée sur l’analyse documentaire, et des entretiens auprès de vingt (20) responsables, il ressort à la suite d’une analyse de contenu que les langues nationales subissent, l’effet synergique de l’individualité des identités culturelles et la mondialisation des savoirs. Il importe que les pays d’Afrique francophone comprennent d’abord qu’ils n’ont pas le contrôle stricto sensu de leurs systèmes éducatifs et que les questions de langues nationales sont à resituer dans une dynamique globale de mutations sociales et culturelles. Cette prise de distance pourrait aider à réévaluer les ambitions en matière de promotion de langues nationales de sorte à définir clairement les latitudes qu’il convient de se donner et les limites à ne pas dépasser.4. Quality educatio

Status of research results in chemistry of biologically active substances in Benin

Research on biologically active chemicals extracted from medicinal plants and essential oils from aromatic plants in the West African subregion is booming. Recognition of the clinical, pharmaceutical and economic value of herbal medicines continues to grow despite the growth of the pharmaceutical industry and the continued development of new, more effective synthetic and biological medical products. On the other hand, despite the improvement in food preservation technics, food preservatives nature remains one of the most important issues for public health. Indeed, several synthetic preservatives have been banned in some countries because of their long-term adverse toxicological effects. The current trend of consumers to seek for a more natural diet has prompted the research, development and application of new natural products with antimicrobial and antioxidant activities in order to use them as alternatives to synthetic preservatives. This review aims to do an inventory of the results of research in chemistry of biologically active substances in Benin

Accès Aux Soins Et Recouvrement Des Couts Dans Les Formations Sanitaires Publiques (FSP) De Parakou (Benin)

RESUME : L’accès aux soins et services de santé rencontre de nombreuses difficultés dans les pays à revenu faible. Le système de santé béninois connaît de ce fait, des lacunes organisationnelles par rapport à l’accès de tous aux soins et services de santé. Les dysfonctionnements du système de santé associés au faible budget alloué au secteur de la santé ainsi que la faible couverture du système de protection sociale sont à la base de l’automédication dont les conséquences ne sont pas à négliger. Le présent article vise à analyser les influences de la politique de recouvrement des coûts dans les formations sanitaires publiques sur l’accès de la population aux soins et services de santé dans la Commune de Parakou (Bénin). L’approche méthodologique a été essentiellement basée sur la collecte des informations sur le terrain à l’aide d’un questionnaire et d’un guide d’entretien auprès de 422 ménages et avec 69 personnes ressources. Ces informations ont été appuyées par les données démographiques et socio-sanitaires. Cette étude montre que 62,9% des enquêtées se réfèrent aux FSP. Ce taux élevé est lié au niveau d’instruction (77%). Le taux de recouvrement des coûts dans les FSP a varié de 1,03 en 2017 à 1,08 en 2021. La viabilité des FSP interpelle les acteurs responsables du système qui peuvent aussi s’inspirer des limites de cette étude.Mots clés : Recouvrement des coûts, Influences, Soins de qualité, Parakou. AbstractAccess to health care and services encounters many difficulties in low-income countries. The Beninese health system therefore has organizational shortcomings with regard to access for all to health care and services. The dysfunctions of the health system associated with the low budget allocated to the health sector as well as the low coverage of the social protection system are the basis of self-medication, the consequences of which should not be overlooked. This article aims to analyze the influences of the cost recovery policy in public health facilities on the population's access to health care and services in the Commune of Parakou (Benin). The methodological approach was essentially based on the collection of information in the field using a questionnaire and an interview guide from 422 households and with 69 resource persons. This information was supported by demographic and socio-health data. This study shows that 62.9% of respondents refer to FSPs. This high rate is linked to the level of education (77%). The cost recovery rate in the PSPs varied from 1.03 in 2017 to 1.08 in 2021. The viability of the PSPs challenges the actors responsible for the system who can also draw inspiration from the limits of this study.Keywords: Cost recovery, Influences, Quality care, Parakou

Evaluation of the production technologies and the microbial and physico-chemical qualities of curdled milk produced in Benin

Objectives: The aim was to identify the different production technologies, the hygiene of the producers and the microbiological and physico-chemical qualities of curdled milks produced in Benin.Methodology and Results: Thirty-two curdled milk samples were collected from five municipalities and microbiological analyses were carried for the detection of Salmonella sp. . The enumeration of total microbial flora, total and faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, lactic flora, sulfito-reducing anaerobic germs, Staphylococcus aureus, as well as yeasts and moulds using normalized methods was carried out. The pH and the titratable acidity of the samples were determined by the AOAC method (1990). Results showed that majority of curdled milk producers of Benin are Peulh women. Two types of milks (fresh cow milk and powdered milk) were used for the preparation of these curds with two different technologies (technology using powdered milk in their preparation with old curdled milk as a starter and that using fresh cow milk with endogenous starter) were used. Microbiological and physico-chemical analyses revealed that the average total microbial flora was 255±126.106 cfu/ml. The lactic flora, as well as yeasts and moulds flora were respectively 8.29±6.56 x106 cfu/ml, 12.431±20.706 x103 cfu/ml and 13±23 cfu/ml. Coliforms count varied from 11.313±13 x103 cfu/ml at 30°C to 0.983±1.228 x103 cfu/ml at 44°C, while the average Escherichia coli count was 0.34±0.89 cfu/ml. The average pH and titratable acidity of the samples were respectively 3.77±0.17 and 156.36±30.22 degree Dornic. All analysed curds were exempt of Salmonella sp, Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium spp.Conclusion and application of findings: The poor quality of the studied curdled milk samples poses serious health risks to consumers. Therefore, this study calls for producers’ sensitisation and training on good hygienic practices for safer curdled milk production with less public health risk.Keywords: curdled milk, quality, technology, health risks, Beni

Analysis of gender and governance of value chainbased systems on rice and vegetable crops in southern Benin and Mali

Published Online June 2015This present study analyses gender and governance in the rice and vegetable-based value chain systems in 3 lowlands of southern Benin and 2 lowlands in Southern Mali. A sample of 243 farmers, 1 modern processing unit, 18 traditional processors, 76 traders and 8 national institutions were interviewed in Benin and Mali. Descriptive statistics and Harvard analytical framework were used for the analysis of governance and gender respectively in the value chains. The majority of farmers have access to the use of land. Women produce up to 80% of basic foods for household consumption and sale. However they don’t have the control of these resources (capital and land). Decision making in relation to resources (land, water labor, credit) is under the control of men and natives. The governance analysis showed that the products of lowlands are not subject to quality control, with no public inspection for health and product quality. There is no input subsidy for actors in both countries. There are informal contracts between actors of the rice based systems in Mali and Benin. The markets are open for all the products and credit systems do exist. Some structures are involved in upstream and downstream chain components for training in various activitiesThis present study analyses gender and governance in the rice and vegetable-based value chain systems in 3 lowlands of southern Benin and 2 lowlands in Southern Mali. A sample of 243 farmers, 1 modern processing unit, 18 traditional processors, 76 traders and 8 national institutions were interviewed in Benin and Mali. Descriptive statistics and Harvard analytical framework were used for the analysis of governance and gender respectively in the value chains. The majority of farmers have access to the use of land. Women produce up to 80% of basic foods for household consumption and sale. However they don’t have the control of these resources (capital and land). Decision making in relation to resources (land, water labor, credit) is under the control of men and natives. The governance analysis showed that the products of lowlands are not subject to quality control, with no public inspection for health and product quality. There is no input subsidy for actors in both countries. There are informal contracts between actors of the rice based systems in Mali and Benin. The markets are open for all the products and credit systems do exist. Some structures are involved in upstream and downstream chain components for training in various activitie