Better potato for a better life: Reducing food insecurity and dependence on cereals in Amhara Oromia, Tigray and SNNP regions of Ethiopia

This flyer outlines the work done to achieve the goal of enhanced rural incomes, food security and nutrition in four regions of Ethiopia through resilient and profitable potato and sweetpotato value chains. It describes the successes of the first phase of the project (2010-2014) which led to the implementation of the second phase (2015-2016), as well as the progress made between June 2014 and July 2015 in implementing activities that are geared towards increasing access to quality disease-free seed, increasing productivity and revenue, and dietary diversity

The star-switched MMC (SSMMC): a hybrid VSC for HVDC applications

This paper presents a new hybrid VSC topology (the Star-Switched MMC) – suitable for HVDC applications. The basic structure and operating principles of the topology are described. Control strategies that regulate the power exchanged between the VSC, the AC network and the DC network are presented. A modulation strategy ensuring appropriate switching of the individual chain-link sub-modules and a capacitor voltage balancing algorithm that ensures the capacitor voltages are maintained within the required tolerance are discussed. Results from a simulation model are presented to validate the expected performance of the converter and the proposed control schemes

The Jordanian Attitude Towards the Women’s Quota System

This study evaluates the relationship between women and politics in Jordan: more specifically it will look at (1) the attitudes of Jordanians on the the positions of women in the Jordanian assembly, (2) the challenges that women face in the Jordanian Council, and (3) the extent to which people agree or disagree with the Parliament’s quota system. I hypothesized that the attitudes of Jordanians from the public perspective will be supportive of women entering into Parliament and most Jordanian citizens will be in support of the quota system. I also hypothesized that women from Jordan that chose to enter into politics deal with many barriers that might include disapproval from male politicians, this is especially if women are coming in through the quota system since the public and some political elites might see women in political positions as less credible since the political reputation was not gained in the same(traditional) way as men. My research data consists of three interviews with Jordanian citizens from different backgrounds and two interviews with women sitting in parliament. My findings proved that most Jordanian citizens see the Quota Law as a great assistance to the political representation with a few dissenting to that there are plenty of barriers that exist today even though the country has made a long way of improvement for women in politics. I argue that these results are a great example of the current state of mainstream gendering in Jordanian society and the patriarchal barriers that exist in Jordanian politics

The impact of Neo-Liberal frameworks on student mobility and internationalisation in African higher education

Internationalization and academic mobility have traditionally been pivotal components within higher education, each serving distinct roles. Internationalization has been instrumental in promoting academic exchange, enabling knowledge dissemination, fostering research collaborations, and driving shared innovation. However, the emergence of neoliberal ideologies has embedded global capitalism's market dynamics into higher education systems globally, aligning the sector increasingly with market-oriented values. This paper investigates the effects of neoliberalism on the internationalization of higher education in Africa, with particular emphasis on evolving trends in international student mobility. It contends that neoliberal influences on international mobility extend beyond mere market considerations, touching on issues of hegemony within global knowledge frameworks that often marginalize African nations and institutions. The study is based on published sources and accessible statistical data from governmental and non-governmental entities. By exploring the intersections of neoliberalism and internationalization in higher education, this paper highlights the complex and nuanced nature of these dynamics and their concrete implications for the movement of students across borders. Furthermore, the article considers how neoliberal entanglements may shape the future trajectory of internationalization within African higher education contexts