Technical and Policy Advances in Rural Telecommunications

Providing access to telecommunications services in rural areas continues to challenge policy makers and telecommunication operators alike. The problem is complex and solutions require an understanding of the technical issues as well as the policy instruments used to create incentives for rural service providers. To that end this article presents a brief overview of both technical and policy innovations in rural telecommunications. Technologies discussed include both wireline and wireless networks while policy instruments are presented as following either an ‘obligation’ or ‘incentive’ strategy

The performance of the EU-Rotate_N model in predicting the growth and nitrogen uptake of rotations of field vegetable crops in a Mediterranean environment

The EU-Rotate_N model was developed as a tool to estimate the growth and nitrogen (N) uptake of vegetable crop rotations across a wide range of European climatic conditions and to assess the economic and environmental consequences of alternative management strategies. The model has been evaluated under field conditions in Germany and Norway and under greenhouse conditions in China. The present work evaluated the model using Italian data to evaluate its performance in a warm and dry environment. Data were collected from four 2-year field rotations, which included lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) and white cabbage (B. oleracea convar. capitata var. alba L.); each rotation used three different rates of N fertilizer (average recommended N1, assumed farmer's practice N2=N1+0·3×N1 and a zero control N0). Although the model was not calibrated prior to running the simulations, results for above-ground dry matter biomass, crop residue biomass, crop N concentration and crop N uptake were promising. However, soil mineral N predictions to 0·6 m depth were poor. The main problem with the prediction of the test variables was the poor ability to capture N mineralization in some autumn periods and an inappropriate parameterization of fennel. In conclusion, the model performed well, giving results comparable with other bio-physical process simulation models, but for more complex crop rotations. The model has the potential for application in Mediterranean environments for field vegetable production

Addressing School-Related Gender-Based Violence in Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Zambia and Ethiopia: A Cross-country Report

This report synthesises findings from four scoping studies of policy, practice and evidence on school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) in Zambia, Togo, Ethiopia and Côte d’Ivoire carried out in 2016-2017.This work forms part of End Gender Violence in Schools (EGVS), an initiative led by UNICEF, with support from Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and UNGEI, which aims to strengthen the production and use of high quality evidence in order to build effective approaches to address SRGBV. Data were collected through stakeholder interviews, workshops and analyses of research, policy and programme texts. The research design offers a valuable framework through which to evaluate and strengthen national action on SRGBV through collecting evidence on: prevalence and patterns of SRGBV; laws, policies and plans; structures and partnerships; responses in and around schools; prevention through teaching and learning; and systems for data collection.Overall, these findings point to the need for using an evidence-based, multi-dimensional approach when analysing, developing and enacting policy and practice on SRGBV. The analysis generates an Action Map on SRGBV through legislation, policy and structures; work in schools; and through partnerships and communities

Addressing School Related Gender Based Violence in Togo: A Scoping Study

This report presents findings from the scoping study of policy, practice and evidence on school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) in Togo, which took place in 2016. The study has been carried out as a collaboration between the government of Togo, UNICEF, and a team at the UCL Institute of Education (Jenny Parkes, Jo Heslop, Freya Johnson Ross, Rosie Westerveld and Elaine Unterhalter) working alongside the consultant Dr Kossi Sénamé Dodzi. Its core elements consisted of: stakeholder mapping and engagement in policy dialogue; analysis of legislation and policy; analysis of any programming on SRGBV; and the identification and evaluation of research and data. The findings presented here will be used to guide decision making for phase two of EGVS which will take place during 2017, as well as longer term planning and action on SRGBV in Togo. The findings will provide the basis for reflection and the development of the action plan for the next phase of the EGVS initiative

Addressing School-Related Gender-Based Violence in Côte d’Ivoire: A Scoping Study

The main objective of the study was to analyse responses to gender-based violence in and around schools in Côte d’Ivoire, in order to inform future planning of policy and practice initiatives. This report draws on the data gathered by the research team, UNICEF CO, national consultants and partners, and presents findings from a scoping study of policy, practice and evidence on schoolrelated gender-based violence (SRGBV) in Côte d’Ivoire

Lutter contre les violences basées sur le genre en milieu scolaire en Côte d’Ivoire: Étude exploratoire

Les violences basées sur le genre en milieu scolaire (VBGMS) désignent les actes de violence physique, sexuelle et psychologique contre les garçons et les filles perpétrés au sein et aux abords des écoles, des communautés et des familles et fondés sur un accès inégal aux ressources et au pouvoir, ainsi que sur des normes et stéréotypes inéquitables. Bien que ce type de violences bénéficie d’une reconnaissance accrue en tant que problème majeur à l’échelle internationale, un examen rigoureux de la documentation disponible démontre l’absence de solutions concrètes dont l’efficacité serait avérée. Les liens entre les différents niveaux d’action (que ce soit au niveau des politiques internationales et nationales, des lois ou au niveau des projets et des actions mises en oeuvre au sein de l’école ou des communautés) n’ont, jusqu’ici, pas fait l’objet d’une attention à la hauteur de la problématique. L’initiative visant à mettre fin aux VBGMS est un partenariat entre l’UNICEF, l’Institute of Education de l’University College de Londres, l’Initiative des Nations Unies pour l’éducation des filles, le Partenariat mondial pour l’éducation et les partenaires de Côte d’Ivoire, d’Éthiopie, du Togo et de Zambie (2015–2017), et est financé par les subventions aux activités mondiales et régionales du Partenariat mondial pour l’éducation. L’initiative a pour objectif de mettre en évidence les faits en vue d’étayer, de renforcer et de mieux comprendre le processus de mise en oeuvre des politiques relatives aux VBGMS en Côte d’Ivoire, en Éthiopie, au Togo et en Zambie. Les conclusions de cette initiative contribueront aux débats internationaux et nationaux sur les façons de lutter contre les VBGMS. L'objectif principal de l'étude était d'analyser les réponses à la violence sexiste dans et aux abords des écoles en Côte d'Ivoire, en vue d'éclairer la planification des politiques et des initiatives pratiques à venir. Ce rapport s'appuie sur les données recueillies par l'équipe de recherche, l’UNICEF CO, des consultants nationaux et des partenaires, et expose les résultats d’une étude préliminaire sur les politiques, les pratiques et les faits relatifs aux VBGMS en Côte d’Ivoire

Addressing SRGBV in Ethiopia: A scoping study of policy and practice to reduce gender-based violence in and around schools

School-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) describes physical, sexual and psychological acts of violence in and around schools, underpinned by unequal access to resources and power, and inequitable norms and stereotypes. While there is increasing recognition of SRGBV as a major issue globally, rigorous reviews of literature have concluded that evidence about effective ways to address it is lacking. The End Gender Violence in Schools (EGVS) initiative, led by UNICEF with support from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and UNGEI, aims to build evidence to better understand, inform and strengthen the process of policy enactment on SRGBV in Ethiopia, Zambia, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire. Findings from the initiative in these four countries will contribute to global debates on how to address SRGBV. This summary presents draft findings from a scoping study of policy, practice and evidence on SRGBV in Ethiopia, which was carried out in 2016. The main objective of the study was to analyse responses to gender-based violence in and around schools in Ethiopia, in order to inform future planning of policy and practice initiatives. The study was a collaboration between the Government of Ethiopia, UNICEF, and the UCL Institute of Education. Several methods for data collection were employed: 1) Two interactive workshops led by the Ministry of Education and facilitated by UNICEF and the UCL Institute of Education (March 2016; December 2016); 2) Literature review and documentary analysis of legislative and policy texts, research reports and datasets, and documents describing programmes or interventions addressing SRGBV in Ethiopia; 3) 23 in-depth interviews with governmental and non-governmental experts. The research questions addressed 1) what we know about SRGBV in Ethiopia, 2) what policies, laws and programmes exist and how well they are enacted, and 3) the availability and quality of evidence on SRGBV