Towards equitable evaluation through the use of the African evaluation principles

DATA AVAILABILITY : Data sharing is not applicable to this article, as no new data were created or analysed in this study.BACKGROUND : Evaluation has often been associated with Northern paradigms in its formulation and practice. It is extractive in nature and often a top-down approach that implies that those who receive aid or interventions have no voice and no rights. The African Evaluation Principles (AEPs) are aimed at addressing power asymmetries that exist within the evaluation ecosystem in Africa while giving agency, voice and power to Africans. OBJECTIVES : The article explores the role that colonisation has played and continues to influence how development is carried out and therefore, how and when evaluations are carried out and who performs the evaluation. Specifically, it explores the AEPs and how they could be used to contribute to addressing inequalities and power asymmetries. METHODS : The article reviews secondary data and uses one’s own experiences on the continent and observation. RESULTS : The article discusses how the AEPs could contribute to making the concept of equitable evaluation more relevant and applicable in the practice of evaluations in Africa. The article highlights the role of African indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing, values and traditions to inform what equitable evaluation could look like from an African perspective. CONCLUSION : The article concludes that there is much work and commitment needed to ensure the use of the AEPs to contribute towards the practice of true equitable evaluation where this is genuinely practiced with the aim of addressing power asymmetries and inequalities. This requires a change of mindsets, challenging one’s own biases as well as the power imbalances. CONTRIBUTION : This article contributes to better understanding of AEPs and how they could be used to achieve equitable evaluation.http://www.aejonline.orgam2024Marketing ManagementSDG-10:Reduces inequalitie

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the orbit in a four months old infant in Zimbabwe: a case report

Rhabdomyosacoma, as a medical condition, observed in a four month old infant at a Zimbabwe hospital.Infants younger than one year of age with Rhabdomyosacoma appear to have worse prognosis compared to older children due partly to high rates of local failure. We report a 4 months old infant with orbital rhabdomyosarcoma with poor outcome.. Reluctance to use aggressive local control measures and suboptimal chemotherapy dosing are significant contributory factors. Call is made for need for more studies to determine appropriate local therapy in infants with rhabdomyosarcoma

Total electron content derived from global positioning system during solar maximum of 2012-2013 over the eastern part of the African sector

This work presents results of diurnal, seasonal and latitudinal variations of vertical Total Electron Content (TECv) derived from GPS receivers at four locations, [Dodoma (6.19oS, 35.75oE), Mzuzu (11.43oS, 34.01oE), Zomba (15.38oS, 35.33oE) and Tete (16.15oS, 33.58oE)] during the solar maximum period of 2012 – 2013. The receivers are located directly below the EIA and at approximately the same longitude, ~ (33 – 3 oE) within the eastern part of the African sector. Diurnal and latitudinal variations of TECv are presented for an average of the five (5) quietest days of each of the four seasons: March equinox, June solstice, September equinox and December solstice; for the seasonal variations all months in a year were considered. Results showed that TECv is characterized by consistent minimum diurnal variations during presunrise hours, rises steeply during the sunrise period to the maximum peak during the daytime, followed by a decrease to a minimum during nighttime. The values of TECv from all stations used and for both years (2012 and 2013) showed semiannual variations. Our study also showed that, the day maximum value of the TECv decreased significantly with the increase in latitude.Keywords: Global Positioning System, Total Electron Conten

Patterns of retinoblastoma in Zimbabwe: 2000-2009

A research study on the high incidence of Retinoblastoma eye diseases among children from poor countries like Zimbabwe between the period 2 000 to 2009 .Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular malignant tumour of childhood but it remains a rare disease. It occurs more commonly in less affluent regions of the world compared to richer regions. The incidence of retinoblastoma within age group 0-4 years varies from country to country. Africa generally has a higher incidence especially in the sub Saharan Africa region ranging from 10.6 to 42.5cases per million. This is in contrast to developed countries where in the USA, the incidence is 11.8 and in Europe it ranges from 6-12. Bulgaria has the lowest incidence of 3.4 cases per million."' In Zimbabwe the incidence of retinoblastoma is estimated at 23.3 per million ranking 3rd highest in the world after Uganda and Mali

Achieving selectivity in space and time with DNA double-strand-break response and repair: molecular stages and scaffolds come with strings attached

When double-strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA remain unrepaired, catastrophic loss of genes occurs, leading to translocations, mutations and carcinogenesis. If a sister chromatid is not available at the DNA DSB, nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) is used to join broken ends. The NHEJ pathway comprises synapsis, end processing and ligation. Here, we ask how DSBs in DNA are repaired efficiently. We suggest that colocation of proteins is achieved over time by the following components: stages, where the main actors are assembled, scaffolds that are erected quickly around broken parts to give access, and strings that tether proteins together. In NHEJ, a $\textit{stage}$ is provided by the Ku heterodimer interacting with DSBs and several other proteins including DNA-PKcs, APLF, BRCA1 and PAXX. A further $\textit{stage}$, DNA-PKcs, links the kinase with DNA, Ku, PARP1, BRCA1 and Artemis. A temporary $\textit{scaffold}$ facilitates repair and is constructed from XRCC4/XLF filaments that bridge Ku bound at DSB ends. LigIV bound to XRCC4 C-termini likely terminates the scaffold, bringing LigIV close to the DNA broken ends. A $\textit{string}$, provided by the Artemis C-terminal region, is intrinsically disordered but includes short linear ‘‘epitopes’’ that recognise DNA-PKcs, LigIV and PTIP, so keeping these components nearby. We show that these stages, scaffolds and strings facilitate colocation and efficient DSB repair. Understanding these processes provides insight into the biology of DNA repair and possible therapeutic intervention in cancer and other diseases.Wellcome Trust (Programme Grant ID: 093167/Z/ 10/Z), National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (C. J. Martin Research Fellowship, Grant ID: APP1072476), Gates Cambridge ScholarshipThis is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11224-016-0841-

A retrospective analysis of climate adaptation strategies and implications for food and nutrition security among small-scale farmers in South Africa

With the ever-increasing climate change, actions to reduce its negative impact while improving food and nutrition security are critical. This review is a retrospective analysis of climate adaptation strategies and implications for food and nutrition security among small-scale farmers in South Africa. The review used bibliometric analysis and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis to track research on implications of adaptation on food and nutrition security, identify adaptation strategies with implications on food and nutrition security and discuss the implications. The analysis shows a steady growth in the research field; however, whether the pace will accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 by 2030 is unknown. Institutional research collaboration is notable, although weak. The co-occurrence of keywords reflects Climate-Smart Agriculture and food and nutrition linkages, emphasizes the importance of farmers’ perceptions on adopting measures to enhance food and nutrition security and illustrates the risk-vulnerability-resilience nexus. Adaptation measures with implications on food and nutrition security are varied, ranging from individual efforts to government-led initiatives. We recommend strengthening institutional research collaboration to accelerate the pace towards achieving zero hunger, food security and nutrition by 2030. It is also important to have an inclusive policy framework that addresses farmers’ adaptation needs