Investment In Capacity Development Research Articles

Characterising global antimicrobial resistance research explains why One Health solutions are slow in development: An application of AI-based gap analysis

The global health crisis posed by increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) implicitly requires solutions based a One Health approach, yet multisectoral, multidisciplinary research on AMR is rare and huge knowledge gaps exist to guide integrated action. This is partly because a comprehensive survey of past research activity has never performed due to the massive scale and diversity of published information. Here we compiled 254,738 articles on AMR using Artificial Intelligence (AI; i.e., Natural Language Processing, NLP) methods to create a database and information retrieval system for knowledge extraction on research perfomed over the last 20 years. Global maps were created that describe regional, methodological, and sectoral AMR research activities that confirm limited intersectoral research has been performed, which is key to guiding science-informed policy solutions to AMR, especially in low-income countries (LICs). Further, we show greater harmonisation in research methods across sectors and regions is urgently needed. For example, differences in analytical methods used among sectors in AMR research, such as employing culture-based versus genomic methods, results in poor communication between sectors and partially explains why One Health-based solutions are not ensuing. Therefore, our analysis suggest that performing culture-based and genomic AMR analysis in tandem in all sectors is crucial for data integration and holistic One Health solutions. Finally, increased investment in capacity development in LICs should be prioritised as they are places where the AMR burden is often greatest. Our open-access database and AI methodology can be used to further develop, disseminate, and create new tools and practices for AMR knowledge and information sharing.

Donor perspectives on strengthening capacity development for conservation

AbstractGlobal perspectives on the pathways for developing capacity for conservation remain limited. Hindering the robustness of solutions is a dearth of opportunities to foster discussion and dialogue among capacity development practitioners, academics, partners, beneficiaries and donors. Additionally, little is known about donor perspectives on capacity development, and about pathways to developing a more sustainable investment in capacity development for conservation. The 2019 Capacity Building for Conservation Conference in London, UK, provided a unique opportunity to convene more than 150 capacity development practitioners from the global conservation community. The Conference included structured opportunities to hear donor perspectives on strengthening capacity development. Session leaders took detailed notes to document donor perspectives and the discussions around them. A thematic analysis of this empirical evidence resulted in the identification of four key themes with corresponding recommendations, consisting of (1) collaborative design of capacity development initiatives, (2) monitoring and evaluation, (3) longer-term and flexible investments, and (4) building strong relationships between donors and grantees. Given the Convention on Biological Diversity is currently drafting the long-term strategic framework for capacity development post-2020, and global calls to protect significant portions of our land- and seascapes, our recommendations are timely and may inform a way forward.

Assessment of Factors Influencing Youth Involvement in Horticulture Agribusiness in Tanzania: A Case Study of Njombe Region

Involvement of youth in horticulture agribusiness has become a vital approach to create employment opportunities among the youth in Tanzania. This study aimed at examining the extent of youth participation and factors influencing youth involvement in horticulture agribusiness with a focus on innovations in post-harvest management (PHM). Data were collected from a sample of 576 male and female youth in Njombe region using a multi-stage random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using an ordered logit model and descriptive statistics. Results of the ordered logit analysis showed that primary school education, Form IV and above, management innovation, access to credit, good perception of horticulture for agribusiness and improved packaging materials positively and significantly influence youth involvement in horticulture agribusiness. Gender and land size had a negative and significant influence on youth involvement in horticulture agribusiness, as indicated by higher percentages of male youth (59%) participation in the horticulture agribusiness. Therefore, this study suggests increased investment in capacity development of the youth on PHM innovations and the development of rural infrastructure such as agro-processing and storage facilities by the government and private sector. Increasing the availability of improved packaging materials and provision of youth-friendly credit schemes could encourage youth in horticulture agribusiness.

Capacity challenges in water quality monitoring: understanding the role of human development

Monitoring the qualitative status of freshwaters is an important goal of the international community, as stated in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) indicator 6.3.2 on good ambient water quality. Monitoring data are, however, lacking in many countries, allegedly because of capacity challenges of less-developed countries. So far, however, the relationship between human development and capacity challenges for water quality monitoring have not been analysed systematically. This hinders the implementation of fine-tuned capacity development programmes for water quality monitoring. Against this background, this study takes a global perspective in analysing the link between human development and the capacity challenges countries face in their national water quality monitoring programmes. The analysis is based on the latest data on the human development index and an international online survey amongst experts from science and practice. Results provide evidence of a negative relationship between human development and the capacity challenges to meet SDG 6.3.2 monitoring requirements. This negative relationship increases along the course of the monitoring process, from defining the enabling environment, choosing parameters for the collection of field data, to the analytics and analysis of five commonly used parameters (DO, EC, pH, TP and TN). Our assessment can be used to help practitioners improve technical capacity development activities and to identify and target investment in capacity development for monitoring.

Integration of the UNICEF nutrition supply chain: a cost analysis in Kenya.

Integration of parallel health commodities supply chains into one national supply chain is becoming more common globally as national health systems are strengthened and organizations realize the potential for increased effectiveness and cost reduction from integration. UNICEF conducted a 10-week pilot to integrate its supply chain for nutrition commodities into the national Ministry of Health supply chain for medical commodities. This paper is a cost analysis of the integration process in two counties, comparing four scenarios of cost structures before, during and after integration. It found as a result of integration, within the two counties involved in the 10-week pilot period, 14% cost savings were obtained on transport, warehousing and staff costs, when compared with the pre-integration total cost structure, and 37% when extrapolated out to a year as initial capacity development (training) costs were spread over a longer period. When looking only at recurrent costs and not one-time investments in capacity development, cost savings increased to 42%. More of the costs post-integration were invested in capacity building activities to strengthen the Kenyan health system, as opposed to pre-integration when more costs went towards higher transportation costs. Besides the positive impact on costs and savings generation, integration increased the reliability of forecasting and reporting, improved communication and coordination across stakeholders, decreased stock-outs and strengthened the capacity of the health system. This article also includes lessons learned and challenges of the integration process, useful to other country programmes considering similar integration. Because of the potential for a positive impact on health systems strengthening, combined with decreased costs and enhanced accountability, this is an exciting change not only for scale-up domestically, but for donors and implementing organizations to consider more broadly in other countries.

The Capacity Development Evaluation Framework: Tested on Three Initiatives

Adoption of effective capacity development has long been considered critical to reducing poverty through international development assistance activities (World Bank, 2005). Consequently, annual global investment in capacity development now exceeds US$30 billion (Ling & Roberts, 2012). However, capacity development results have been questionable and evaluation findings have contributed little to addressing this due to their poor quality and inability to provide the information users require. Using evaluation of capacity development to address these weaknesses, this research sought to determine whether the application of the Capacity Development Evaluation Framework (referred to hereafter as the Framework) provided users with the information, and demonstrated the characteristics, they required. The research adopted a case study approach to three initiatives that applied the Framework. Data was collected from 37 documents and through repeated interviews with 50 users over at least 18 months. The research also considered alternative explanations for the findings. The research found that application of the Framework identified: the changes to which the initiative contributed, progress toward the objectives, effectiveness of different capacity development strategies, and lessons learnt. The Framework did not identify unintended changes or changes in the environment that may influence outcomes. Users identified that application of the Framework provided numerous immediate and future benefits and consequently, many had since applied the Framework elsewhere. The research concluded that because application of the Framework provided users with the information they required, its use should contribute to strengthened capacity development outcomes.

Environmental policy and performance in Africa: implications of structural economic transformation for sustainable development

This paper examines the ability of environmental policy in facilitating projected structural transformative changes to achieve sustainable development in African countries. Simple non-parametric trend analyses are employed on proxies to assess the performance of environmental policy. The implications of this performance for prospects of a sustainable structural transformation are then examined. The analysis is based on nascent evidence of structural transformation in African countries whose effect, among others, includes strains on the capacity of policy and institutions to address the resulting environmental externalities. The analyses illustrate that structural changes within the current state of environmental policy will invariably lead to poor environmental outcomes, and hence impair the ability to achieve sustainable development. It is argued that a new approach to environmental regulation in African countries will require more than grandiose pronouncements of 'green' economy strategies; it will need specific investments in capacity development on environmental matters and regulatory issues.

Environmental policy and performance in Africa: implications of structural economic transformation for sustainable development

This paper examines the ability of environmental policy in facilitating projected structural trans-formative changes to achieve sustainable development in African countries. Simple non-parametric trend analyses are employed on proxies to assess the performance of environmental policy. The implications of this performance for prospects of a sustainable structural transformation are then examined. The analysis is based on nascent evidence of structural transformation in African countries whose effect, among others, includes strains on the capacity of policy and institutions to address the resulting environmental externalizations. The analyses illustrate that structural changes within the current state of environmental policy will invariably lead to poor environmental outcomes, and hence impair the ability to achieve sustainable development. It is argued that a new approach to environmental regulation in African countries will require more than grandiose pronouncements of 'green' economy strategies; it will need specific investments in capacity development on environmental matters and regulatory issues.

Community engagement in health research: two decades of experience from a research project on HIV in rural Uganda

To describe how a research project on HIV epidemiology in rural Uganda has engaged the community over the past two decades, describing activities, opportunities and challenges that have arisen. The review draws on the experience of the authors as investigators involved in the project at various times since its inception in 1989, and on project documents and peer-reviewed publications. The project attracts community interest, participation and support mostly through community groups. The three main areas of activity are: health care and promotion, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, and community development aimed at poverty reduction. Key opportunities arise from the long-term joint commitment of the project and the community over nearly 20 years, and the potential to accommodate research beyond HIV. Challenges arise from participation fatigue, countered by innovations for the community and investment in capacity development for staff, and from the need to balance community development expectations and the project focus on HIV research. Judged by criteria of longevity, acceptance, and scientific output, community engagement in this HIV research project in rural Uganda has been successful. The experience from this project contributes to the collective documentation and analysis of case studies from various research projects in developing countries which identify good practices from multiple stakeholder perspectives.

Community-based natural resource management: governing the commons

Community-based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) focuses on the collective management of ecosystems to promote human well-being and aims to devolve authority for ecosystem management to the local (community) level. CBNRM therefore requires strong investments in capacity development of local institutions and governance structures. CBNRM has come under strong criticism for its failures to deliver real benefits to communities. In this paper we explore the reasons for the frequent failure of CBNRM. We postulate that good governance buffers CBNRM against unexpected change, notably conflicts, especially in the early stages when income generation, infrastructure development and capacity development have not yet taken place. We assess the key characteristics of CBNRM governance systems that could perform this buffering function, using case study examples from Macubeni, Nqabara, Makuleke and Richtersveld to support our propositions. In our case studies, 11 strategies have been used to increase the incidence of success of CBNRM: understand and describe the social-ecological system; establish and communicate a clear vision; build on local organizations; plan ahead; create rules for resource use and enforce them; communicate the vision, plan and rules; develop management capacity; finance the initial stages of the initiative; work within available legal frameworks; monitor and learn all the time; and create lasting incentives. Despite these strategies there are, however, a number of obstinate implementation challenges, related to governance shortcomings and external factors which management cannot control. We therefore propose seven additional strategies to promote good governance in CBNRM: 1. Develop knowledge networks that draw on the experience and wisdom of a wide range of key individuals. 2. Establish formalised decision-making structures (e.g. multi-level project steering committees) with clear constitutions and codes of conduct. 3. Clearly define and legitimise conflict resolution procedures. 4. Ensure acceptance of the governance structure by community members. 5. Obtain formal commitment to well-defined roles and responsibilities by key individuals. 6. Establish tangible incentives to key individuals for meeting their commitments. 7. Develop the capacity for facilitation to promote communication. Local communities, government and scientists have important roles to play in maintaining these knowledge and governance networks through adaptive co-management.