UN Agenda Research Articles

A post-COVID-19 IDEA to strengthen research, innovation, and development in Africa

Globally, research, innovation, and the associated education and entrepreneurship are essential for youth and socioeconomic development. Governments, universities, research institutions, and private sector play various roles in the innovation value chain. The weak research and innovation systems in Africa are often linked to the overarching challenges of poor financing, inadequate capacity, weak infrastructure, and processes. Many African universities and research institutions are challenged to validate and transition their ideas and discoveries from the laboratory to field evaluation, and downstream development, registration, and commercialization processes. The critical discovery–development interface that is normally driven by the private sector is also not well developed. Overcoming these constraints require concerted local and global partnerships, sharing of available resources and assets, and training and use of suitable Information and Communications Technology and digital tools to boost productivity. Importantly, this requires private sector engagement and development. We discuss how the Innovation Development and Entrepreneurship Africa aims to use available assets in Africa to support institutions and youths to stimulate innovation. Redoubling efforts toward African development in the post COVID-19 era, in alignment with the African Union Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals, will require investment in support of these ideals. We offer some policy recommendations in this context.

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INTERVENTION STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED BY EDUCATORS IN ENHANCING LEARNERS’ UNDERSTANDING OF NUMBER SENSE

<p>Global and country-specific mathematics performance constitutes a major challenge, both for educators and policymakers. Realisation of the African Union Agenda 2013 hinges significantly upon transformation of education. In this regard, mathematics and science education, specifically, are instruments for scientific and technological development to position Africa on the same level as the global league of continents in the future. It is, therefore, important to develop amongst learners a good understanding of a mathematical concept such as number sense from an early age, given that students who have a good sense of numbers can manipulate figures to simplify calculations and have the confidence to approach problems in a variety of ways. It is for this reason that the present study investigates the intervention strategies implemented by educators in enhancing learners’ understanding of number sense in the Ekurhuleni North District schools, Gauteng Province, South Africa. The study used a case study design and a qualitative research approach, both of which were supported by an interpretivist paradigm. The study made use of a semi-structured interview to gather data from mathematics teachers, learners, and a principal in the selected school. Research findings revealed that although mental computation, use of concrete props, use of the number line, and a counting strategy are some of the various strategies employed to enhance learners’ understanding of number sense, teachers need to develop a sound understanding of number sense and be flexible in their approaches in order to assist learners. Based on the findings, it was recommended that curriculum designers and teachers concentrate on teaching methods to help students develop learners’ number sense, as this can lead to potential mathematics success.</p>

Impact of different land use types on groundwater quality in Ibadan, Nigeria

Studies of comparative analysis of groundwater quality under different land use types are scarce, and such studies remain critical in achieving sustainable water resource management. This study used suitable multi-statistical techniques alongside the Water Quality Index (WQI) to assess and compare the effects of residential, industrial, and agricultural land use types on groundwater quality in a region of Ibadan, Nigeria, primarily underlain by banded gneisses. The study also established the appropriateness of the water samples for human consumption. Thirty water samples, consisting of 10 samples each from three different land use types, were randomly collected and subjected to established methods of analysis for nine physicochemical parameters. The results from the Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn's test showed that average concentration levels of pH, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate, nitrate, and sulfate in the tested water samples were significantly different (p-value ≤ 0.05) among the three land use types investigated. The results also suggested that where poor environmental conditions are common, residential land use type could pose a greater risk to groundwater quality than either agricultural land use or industrial land use. At least, a three-factor model was suggested and explained 63.4 %, 70.2 %, and 91.6 % of the total groundwater quality variation under the residential, agricultural, and industrial land uses respectively using Kaiser's varimax rotation method. In addition, the WQI results showed that 100 % of the water samples from industrial and agricultural land uses were appropriate for drinking but only 20 % of the water samples from residential land use were. The findings indicated that differing land use types affect groundwater quality in different ways. It was thus recommended that an improved sanitation system should be provided by the authorities to help reduce groundwater pollution in the residential area. This can help toward achieving water security mentioned in the African Union's Agenda 2063.

The AU Free Movement Protocol: Challenges in Its Implementation

AbstractOne of the major pillars of the African Union is the integration of peoples and the ability for them to move freely from one member country to another, with the right to reside and practise their trade or profession. This aspect of integration found full expression in the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to the Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment, adopted in 2018. Upon operationalization, it will remove obstacles to the movement of people, capital and resources in the region and give expression to aspiration 2 of the African Union Agenda 2063. However, significant challenges lie on the path of its implementation. This article doctrinally reviews the protocol, looking at its prospects for promoting African integration and development, and anticipates some of the problems that the protocol will face. It concludes with recommendations for achieving its lofty but desirable ends.

Pathways towards sustainable and just futures with and for disabled populations: a leverage points perspective

ABSTRACT Disabled populations are disproportionally affected by the current climate and environmental crises. However, they are hardly included and their knowledge is neglected in processes addressing these challenges. To achieve the UN Agenda 2030, societies should actively engage with the values, experiences and knowledge held by people with disabilities in science and policy contexts. In this paper, we suggest that addressing ‘deep’ leverage points by 1) recognising diverse valuations of and connections to nature by different social groups (i.e. re-connecting to nature), 2) including disabled populations in decision-making and knowledge creation (i.e. re-structuring institutions), and 3) promoting inclusive education and knowledge generation (i.e. re-thinking knowledge production) can facilitate the development of inclusive transformation pathways and foster sustainable human-nature relationships.

Mechanistic interaction between climate variables rainfall and temperature on surface water quality and water treatment costs at the Barekese Headworks, Ghana: A time series analysis and water quality index modelling approach

Extreme rainfall and temperatures are climate variables that threaten global water supplies and surface water quality (SWQ). To understand how rainfall and temperature interact with surface water quality and water treatment costs, this study, unlike previous ones, uses time series analysis (TSA) and water quality index (WQI) modelling to fill significant research gaps. The study uses data from the Barekese Water Treatment Headworks, Ghana. Water quality data from 2000 to 2019 for the Barekese Headworks were obtained from the Ghana Water Company Limited. Rainfall data for the catchment was obtained from the Ghana Meteorological Agency. The Mann-Kendall statistical test for trend and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) water quality index was applied to data sets. The Mann-Kendall trend test showed no significant change in annual temperatures. An increasing trend for annual rainfall was observed, but this was not statistically significant (Z = 0.21). Sen's slope estimator (Q) showed that rainfall increases at 3.03 mm annually. pH correlated negatively with rainfall (r = - 0.15). Correlations were observed between rainfall and temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Nitrate (NO3−), Phosphate (PO43−), and Manganese (Mn). Rainfall was observed to increase the cost of liming, coagulation, and disinfection. A 20.26% deterioration in SWQ was observed from 2009 to 2019. The SWQ over the period under study and according to the CCME water quality index was 80% marginal, 10% fair and 10% poor. The findings reveal that the concurrent use of TSA and WQI modelling can help elucidate how rainfall and temperature interact with SWQ and water treatment costs. It further contributes knowledge to attaining the Africa Union Agenda 2063 on climate resilience and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 and 6.3 on universal water access and quality improvement.

Sustainable development discourse and development aid in Germany: tracking the changes from environmental protectionism towards private sector opportunities

ABSTRACT ‘Sustainable Development’ can be understood as a widely used discourse that has become even more prominent since the publication of the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development in 2015. In this paper we analyze the way sustainable development discourse unfolds within the context of development aid in Germany by undertaking a discourse analysis of reports on development policy published 1973–2017 by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Our analysis reveals that the sustainable development discourse is characterized by distinct components and storylines that change over time. We detect, in general, a shift away from a focus on environmental protection toward an emphasis on the role of the private sector in leading sustainable development. We argue, therefore, that although development is now only legitimate if it is ‘sustainable’, the discourse apparently facilitates the uneven allocation of development aid. The concern that arises here is that although Agenda 2030 pledges to take “bold and transformative steps’ to secure the planet and to leave ‘no one behind” the least developed states who cannot provide ‘private sector opportunities’ or fulfil ‘national self-responsibilities’ for sustainable development are indeed being ‘left behind’.

Design of smart farming communication and web interface using MQTT and Node.js

Abstract The sustainable development goals (SDGs) are a UN agenda that has been approved by all UN member states. The SDGs have 17 targets, one of which is to eliminate hunger. In 2050, the world’s population is expected to reach 9.7 billion people. Improved soil and water management, according to the World Resources Institute, is one of the options for feeding 10 billion people sustainably by 2050. In comparison to conventional farming, smart and precision farming produces higher productivity at a lower cost. Based on the search for literature studies related to the development of agricultural technology, it was found that communication methods and online interfaces still require further improvement. The steps for developing the system are designing the architecture and end-to-end communication flow, designing use case diagrams, designing entity-relationship diagrams, designing user flow diagrams, implementing the system through code development, and finally testing the system. Planned communication and web design for precision smart agriculture are implemented effectively. The MQTT is used to communicate with the Node.js server worker. Data from numeric image feeds and images are directly processed by the system. The server will store all received data, including numeric data and live feeds, for future use. The back end of the website has many functions such as dataset management, device management, user administration, firmware management, control management, and live image feed management are some of the capabilities available. When 100 users access the system simultaneously, the RAM usage on the server is 167 MB. RAM utilization reaches 389 MB when 400 users access the system simultaneously. The limit for simultaneous user connections to the web interface is 400 users. The maximum number of devices that can be connected simultaneously via MQTT communication is 900.

Evaluating Poverty Status of Rural Rice Farmers in the Benue Valley

An important part of the post-2015 MDG process and the African Union's Agenda 2063 is the eradication of extreme poverty. This study was carried out to offer empirical proof of the impact of rice growing on rural farm families' poverty status in Benue Valley, Benue State, Nigeria. Data were gathered from 254 farm families in the research area who were chosen at random. To analyze the data, descriptive and econometric approaches were also used. The findings indicate that a combination of very poor, moderately poor, and non-poor households can be found in the research area. Family size increased poverty, although age, educational achievement, and nonfarm income by family heads decreased its prevalence. The study recommends strengthening and enhancing the farmers' educational status in light of these findings. Farmers are also urged to participate in other economic activities such petty trading and off-farm activities because these have a tendency to stabilize income and lower income volatility. Provision of educational facilities and equipping households with fundamental skills are two examples of specialized programs that are encouraged to lessen the occurrence of poverty.

Managing Urban Green Areas: The Benefits of Collaborative Governance for Green Spaces

Urbanisation has had an impact on people’s livelihoods, and on social infrastructures as well as on the consumption of resources. In the last century, we have witnessed many transformations at the urban scale that in many cases led to the commodification and enclosure of public areas and, especially, green areas. With the turn of the millennium and following the adoption of the UN Agenda 2030, the trend has been partially reverted and cities in Europe are becoming progressively greener, although the phenomenon do not always bring positive societal outcomes and it is not able to re-distribute benefits among community members, promoting unequal access to green areas. Instead, in many cases the so-called green gentrification phenomenon has been identified as a primary societal challenge connected with urban regeneration projects. Building on this, the paper aims to find an answer to the question of whether or not the governance model adopted for urban green areas influences how benefits connected with ecosystem services are perceived by stakeholders and re-distributed at the community level. Based on the gaps highlighted in the theoretical background and direct observation of Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano (BAM), a recently developed urban park in Milan, an analytical framework was developed and tested. The results allow us to identify innovative practices for the management of green areas capable of maximising ecosystem services’ benefits beyond the intervention area. This will support the adaptability, replicability, and scalability of these initiatives while providing effective tools for practitioners and planners when developing a collaborative management model for urban green areas.

Mega-sporting Events, Human Rights Abuses, And the Middle East

This thought piece explores the historical episodes regarding human rights issues and their relationship with the Olympics and other mega and major sporting events. We show how sporting events have long been used for opportunities for the world to see human rights abuses. We then discuss the mixture of money, media companies, and sporting events and how these forces are increasing the visibility of municipalities and states that host these events. We ask the question: Other than money, why do these sporting events continue to be awarded to Middle East counties that have long records of human rights abuses? Like many academic works we try and find the link between ideas and action. We conclude with a call to action and examine the IOC–UN partnership that began in 2009 and allowed the IOC to be directly involved in the UN agenda and also granted them the ability to attend the UN General Assembly meetings.

The progression of sustainable development goals in tourism: A systematic literature review of past achievements and future promises

The UN 2030 agenda for global sustainable development has huge connotations for the theory, practice, and policy of tourism. This study comprehensively evaluates extant scholarly publications related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in existing tourism scholarship. This review also evaluates existing research to identify knowledge gaps in the literature and to set future research agendas in tourism research to accelerate the progress of the UN SDGs. Doing so, we have utilized the systematic literature review (SLR) technique to identify, select, review, and evaluate extant scholarly publications on this topic. The Web of Science database was used to discover research publications using the keywords, tour* AND (sdg* OR “sustainable development goal*” OR “UNSDG*” OR “UN agenda” OR “global agenda” OR “agenda 2030” OR “agenda-2030”). A sample of 88 relevant empirical articles were systematically selected and reviewed. The findings are categorized into three main sections: (i) descriptive profiling of existing research, (ii) literature synthesis, and (iii) existing knowledge gaps and future research agenda. Given that the SLRs are rarely used in the realm of sustainable tourism and SDGs, this review provides a knowledge base of what is already known to further extend the scholarly debate on the role of tourism in achieving the SDGs. In particular, we highlight theme-based knowledge gaps and limitations in the existing literature and suggest future research agendas by presenting several potential research questions.

Spatial suitability analysis for site selection of municipal solid waste landfill using hybrid GIS and MCDA approach: The case of Kitwe, Zambia

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is an issue of increasing concern at both the global and local levels as urban populations continue to rise with a corresponding increase in waste generation. MSWM, including dump-site/landfill site selection, are of serious socio-economic concerns with environmental and health implications in Zambia. Currently, operational MSW dump-sites in most urban centers in Zambia, including that of Kitwe City, were selected based on land availability and not on land suitability. In this work, we applied a hybrid GIS and multi-sectoral/multi-disciplinary approach to classify the city into areas that are most suitable, suitable and not suitable for hosting a landfill. We employed multi-disciplinary technical knowledge from local planners, public health, civil engineers and environmental experts, contrary to past practices. Input data used was obtained from a combination of environmental and socio-economic constraint and factor criteria. The results showed that 333.24 km2 representing 41.69% of the study area was classified as unsuitable, 140.41 km2 representing 17.57% of the study area was classified as suitable and 325.63 km2 representing 40.74% of the study area is classified as most suitable for a landfill. Further, out of 19 possible landfill sites identified as most suitable, 7 met the minimum of 0.54 km2 required for a landfill which can accommodate 8×106 m3 of solid waste projected to be generated in the next 20 years in Kitwe. The results further found that the current Ichimpe dumpsite falls in a zone classified as unsuitable. This study is of profound significance as it enhas contributed to the existing body of knowledge on the selection of scientifically and socially acceptable landfill sites in developing nations. We propose building human and infrastructural capacity and adopting hybrid GIS and MCDA approaches to promote environmental and socio-economic sustainability in landfill selection and operation which ultimately will contribute to meeting SDGs 3, 6 and 11 and the Africa Union's Agenda 2063.

Data analytics for prediction of solar PV power generation and system performance: A real case of Bui Solar Generating Station, Ghana

The grid-connected solar power generated by the Bui Power Authority is sold to Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and other customers through bilateral contracts. However, there have been challenges in meeting the supply commitments due to the stochastic nature of solar energy. Fluctuating weather and climatic conditions make it difficult for operators to predict the output of the solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in advance. This has the tendency of leading to anticipated power loss or excess power not being managed effectively. In this study, the random forest and gradient boosting regressor algorithms were used to produce deterministic and probabilistic predictions of solar power generation by using data collected over an eleven-month span. Some of the findings show that the random forest model that produced probabilistic predictions performed better than the other compared models in terms of its accuracy. It produces reliable predictions with a normalized mean absolute error of 1.18%. This is deemed acceptable for operational purposes in the sphere of renewable energy prediction. As a result, these predictions are efficient enough to be used by utility companies as input to numerous decision-making problems during operations which consequently leads to the grid being managed effectively. It may also help them to choose the appropriate modelling approach for predicting solar PV power. Overall, this study supports the generation of clean and reliable energy through improved solar power prediction which directly contributes to African Union's agenda 2063 goals especially, in creating environmentally sustainable and climate resilient economies and communities. This is directly linked to the 7th and 13th UN sustainable developmental goals in ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all and, combating climate change and its impacts.

A decision-support framework for the restoration of Cystoseira sensu lato forests

Macroalgal forests characterised by species of the genus Cystoseira sensu lato form important shallow coastal rocky habitats in the Mediterranean Sea. These forests support a high biodiversity and provide important ecosystem services and societal benefits. Currently these habitats are often in a poor condition in many areas, due to loss and degradation from both anthropogenic and climate stressors. Restoration has recently moved to the forefront of the United Nations and European Union agendas to reverse this trend, particularly in the last decade with the implementation of various international policies. However, this has been in the form of generic targets (e.g., restoration of 30% of degraded habitats by 2030) and has not been linked to specifically what habitat or species to restore, where and how. Initial targets have been missed, new targets are expected through the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law, but overall guidance is still lacking. There are few specific guides to marine habitat restoration limited to mostly seagrass, corals and shellfish. As a priority action for the recovery of coastal marine ecosystems a decision-support framework has been developed for the restoration of Mediterranean macroalgal forests, comprising a stepwise decision tree with additional descriptions of key elements to be considered for a restoration action. The decision tree includes steps concerning current and historical forest presence, site local condition assessment and choice of actions. Key considerations include restoration implementation (competence, society and support, finance and governance), success evaluation (at the target species and the ecosystem level) and long-term management. The framework builds on existing work on Cystoseira s.l. restoration, the work carried out in the EU AFRIMED project, but also on principles and guidelines in place for both generic and specific marine habitats. The work reported here has involved the expertise of scientists and information from stakeholders. Gaps were identified and recommendations were made, dealing with stressors, coordinating and networking stakeholders, integrating top down policy and bottom up initiatives, funding of restoration actions, establishing synergies between restoration, conservation and marine spatial planning and finally communication and publicity.

Assessing the economic impact of the single African air transport market: The case of Tanzania

Tanzania is one of the 21 (out of 54) African countries that are yet to ratify the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) launched in 2018 as the first project of the African Union's agenda 2063. SAATM aims to create a single unified air transport market for Africa thereby opening skies across the whole continent and aiding the economic integration agenda. Using the two-stage least squares estimator that is robust to endogeneity bias, this study empirically assesses the economic effects of liberalization of air services between Tanzania and other African countries. The results show that removing restrictions on designation, flight frequency, and capacity for air transport between Tanzania and other parts of Africa would lead to a rise in the number of air passengers. Specifically, the results suggest that between 2010 and 2018, routes linking Tanzania and other African countries that were governed by liberal bilateral air services agreements (BASAs) enjoyed slightly lower fares compared to routes governed by restrictive BASAs. The results also suggest that air travel demand is not very sensitive to fare implying that the increase in the flow of passengers by an average of 16.9% between 2010 and 2018 can be attributed to the enhancement in service quality (as measured by flight frequency), and increased competition resulting from the entry of new players or intensified competition among existing ones. The policy implication of this study might be the need for Tanzania to embrace the SAATM initiative.

Why is Macroeconomics Neglected in Equity and Inclusion Strategies for Sustainable Development? An Exploration of Four Systemic Barriers

ABSTRACT The literatures on Macroeconomics and Human development and capabilities have been described as constituting “two different worlds” that never intersect despite the importance of macroeconomics for human development (Nayyar [2012]. “Macroeconomics and Human Development.” Journal of Human Development and Capabilities 13 (1): 7–30.). This paper explores the barriers that keep the two worlds apart in policy making. It considers the case of national strategies for one is implementing UN Agenda 2030 (better known as the SDGs) with a commitment to equity and inclusion; the majority of which rely on social protection and neglect macroeconomic policies. This paper proposes four systemic barriers in the policy making processes: institutional silos and gaps, informational deficits, ideology, and interests. We highlight how these barriers play out in mutually reinforcing ways to construct resilient barriers: narrowly defined mandates of central banks and other economic agencies are reinforced by ideological commitments and the influence of vested interests to neglect inclusion, equity and sustainable development as policy objectives, and in policy research agendas. This in turn creates a vicious circle of information deficits with respect to policy alternatives. The paper discusses how these barriers play out differently in different policy making contexts for different stakeholders.

Assessing regional implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 9 “Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation” in Poland

The paper deals with an immensely important and topical issue related to the implementation of sustainable development policies at the regional level. It focuses on assessing the level of sustainability in building stable infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation between 2015 and 2021 at the regional level in Poland. The areas included in the assessment relate to Goal 9 of the UN Agenda 2030 adopted by member states. The basis for the assessment was a developed research methodology based on a selected set of 19 indicators characterizing the development of innovation, industrialization and infrastructure at the regional level. The research covered 16 regions (provinces) in Poland from 2015 to 2021. In addition to determining the dynamics of change of individual indicators, characterizing the rate of change of the sustainable economy in these 16 regions, their ranking was created, reflecting the status of implementation of Goal 9 of the Agenda. The ranking was made using the developed new approach to analyzing a multi-criteria problem based on the MCDM methodology. The CODAS and CoCoSo methods and the Laplace criterion were used to determine the final value of the index for assessing the level of sustainable development of regions. Meanwhile, the values of the indicator weights were determined based on the Shannon Entropy and CRITIC methods and the aforementioned criterion. The determined index values formed the basis for making a ranking of the studied regions and assessing their level of development. The result of this process was their division into four classes differing in the level of achievement of Goal 9 of the Agenda. With the use of non-parametric tests (Kendall's Rank and Spearman Rank), an evaluation was carried out of the relationship between the values of the determined index and selected economic and social parameters characterizing the studied regions between 2015 and 2021. The results show that Poland is highly differentiated both temporally and spatially at the regional level. Throughout the entire analyzed period, the high level of development in the assessed scope was reported for the Masovia, Lower Silesia and Pomerania provinces, and the low level – for the Holy Cross Province. The results also confirm the relationship between a high degree of innovation, industrialization and stable infrastructure and economic development and living standards. The results show regions that need a decision on their nature and the role they are to play in the national and European economy.

Early Warning System from the point of view of the administrative representatives of national parliaments in Brussels

Under Protocol No. 2 on the Application of the Principles of Subsidiarity and Proportionality, national Parliaments have been granted participation in EU law-making through the Early Warning System (EWS). Within the framework of this mechanism, national chambers can evaluate EU legislative proposals on subsidiarity grounds, within an eight-week period, following their submission by the European Commission. The contribution of the National Parliaments Representatives at the European Parliament (or the liaison officers) is crucial for the national chambers to follow up on the Union agenda and participate in EU affairs. This study offers novel data that were collected through a questionnaire administered to the liaison officers in 2022. In brief, these transnational practitioners tend to express scepticism with regard to the EWS and its eventual reform, and at the same time, they would welcome an enhancement of the much broader “political dialogue” between the European Commission and national Parliaments.

THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY VS THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT APPROACH TO PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION: THE CASE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES

Production and consumption are both monitored in the context of progress toward a circular economy and sustainable development. In each case, the number and types of the implemented indicators are different. Thus, it is reasonable to ask about the comparability of information produced by two composite measures for equivalent research subjects: production and consumption. This is a thematic area of the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy, as well as for responsible consumption and production, which is the 12th goal of the UN Agenda 2030. To scrutinize this problem in the European Union, this research aims to test statistically the similarity between the production and consumption composite indicators (based on Circular Economy Action Plan measures), and the responsible consumption and production composite indicators (based on the UN Agenda 2030 measures). The thesis that the application of the composite indicators generates significantly different results is not proved.