Conflict and Peace-building in Africa: The Regional Dimensions

sub-Saharan Africa, conflict, peace-building

Are you willing to be made nothing? Is Commonwealth reform possible?

A new round of Commonwealth reform proposals commenced at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting of 2009. An ensuing report, titled A Commonwealth of the people: time for urgent reform, contained a long list of proposals that eventually resulted in 2013 in the adoption of the Commonwealth Charter. Many classic international organizations are in need of reform, but this is, of course, challenging. This new Commonwealth reform process will not lead to satisfying changes and will not make it a more relevant actor in global governance. The year 2015 marks the Commonwealth Secretariat’s first half-century. We take this symbolic marker to push for a forward-looking exercise, arguing that because the true nature of the Commonwealth is often misunderstood, a better understanding of the organization is essential before embarking on any successful change-management project. In the article we identify four different kinds of Commonwealth: three of a ‘formal’ nature (the official, bureaucratic and the people’s Commonwealth) and a fourth ‘informal’ one (Commonwealth Plus). By describing the potential of these four different kinds of Commonwealth, we can anticipate better the challenges with which the Commonwealth network is faced, both internal (including its mandate, its British imperial past and dominance, the organization’s leadership and its membership) and external (other international organizations, other Commonwealths, rivalry with regional organizations and the rise of global policy networks). Consequently, this should lead to a better and more sustainable debate about the Commonwealth’s future role in global governance

Transnational initiatives towards natural resource governance in Africa post-2015

The 21st century is marked by a welcome proliferation of innovative forms of natural resource governance to advance sustainable development. This article sheds light on the background for this quite remarkable and unanticipated shift. It analyses the prospects for AMV advocacy and adoption by emerging state and non-state actors by the end of this decade, both in Africa and beyond. It examines these evolving perspectives and debates vis á vis 21st century globalization. It also identifies the unexpected and unprecedented range of transnational governance initiatives that have been proposed since the turn of the century. These continue to proliferate and compete, being refined in the process as the problematic notion of global governance continues to be a subject of considerable debate. It also extends the range of developmental challenges to include the burgeoning water-energy-food nexus.Keywords: governance, Africa, economy, developmen

African agency versus dependency: prospects for developmental states given natural resource governance

African growth in the 21st century will not necessarily lead to development unless its governance is enlightened. Then the balance between developmental & fragile states on the continent should change. Several causes & correlates of 'African Agency' are identified, including new partners, state & non-state & the African Mining Vision. The analysis & articulation of development & foreign policies in Africa are in flux ahead of 2015

Is bilateral aid responding to good governance in Africa?

This paper investigates whether aid flows from traditional donor countries to African countries have responded to improved governance in African countries, whether aid has been used by donors to improve the quality of governance in the last two decades; it also investigates alternative sources of development financing, especially from the Global South, as well as researchesnewmodalities of aid delivery. Using the insights provided by several alternative approaches, the paper finds that at the aggregate level, aid flows to African countries respond positively to improved governance. However, there are wide variations in country experiences while aid flows to some countries respond positively to improved governance, aid flows to other countries are not in any way related to changes in governance. The paper finds that while all donor countries purport to increase aid flows in response to improved governance, donors generally tend to follow their national interests and focus on aspects of governance that are consistent with their foreign policy interests but not necessarily the governance as more broadly conceived. Although some donors respond positively to improved governance and may withhold aid for egregious violations of human rights, most donors give aid to further their strategic interests even in the face of poor governance records of recipient countries. While some donors provide aid to support activities that improve governance, donors have generally not used increased resources to support activities to improve governance. Africa countrieson the other hand have learnt to take advantage of the ambivalence of donors towards governance reforms by promising to reform governance in exchange for aid without following through with the promises. The paper also finds that there are several sources of alternative development financing, available especially from the Global South. While these sources provide relatively small amounts of financing, they are rapidly increasing in importance and it behooves African countries to seek these sources not only as additional sources of development financing but also as a way of diversifying funding sources. In addition, the delivery mode of development financing from these sources is different from those of the traditional sources and may be more suitable to African needs. Finally, the paper finds that a new mode of aid delivery cash on delivery may not be easily implantable in African countries. Key words: donors, bilateral aid, governance, cash-on-delivery, Afric

Not Just Full of Hot Air: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Increases Survival in Cases of Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections

INTRODUCTION: The utility of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the treatment for necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) has not been proven. Previous studies have been subject to significant selection bias since HBOT is not universally available at all medical centers and there is often considerable delay associated with its initiation. We examined the utility of HBOT for the treatment of NSTI in the modern era by isolating centers that have their own HBOT facilities. METHODS: We queried all centers in the University Health Consortium (UHC) database from 2008 to 2010 that have their own HBOT facilities (N=14). Cases of NSTI were identified by ICD-9 diagnosis codes, which included Fournier’s gangrene (608.83), necrotizing fascitis (728.86), and gas gangrene (040.0). HBOT treatment status was identified by the presence (HBOT) or absence (CONTROL) of ICD-9 procedure code (93.95). We then risk stratified and matched our cohort by UHC’s validated severity of illness (SOI) score. Comparisons were then made using univariate tests of association and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: There were 1,583 NSTI cases at the 14 HBOT-capable centers. 117 (7%) cases were treated with HBOT. Risk stratified univariate outcomes are summarized in the table. There was no difference between HBOT and CONTROL groups in hospital length of stay (LOS), direct cost, complications, and mortality across the three less severe SOI classes (minor, moderate, and major). However, for extreme SOI the HBOT group had fewer complications (45% vs. 66%; p CONCLUSION: At HBOT capable centers, receiving HBOT was associated with a significant survival benefit. HBOT in conjunction with current practices for the treatment of NSTI can be both a cost effective and life saving therapy