Women's empowerment in the post-1994 Rwanda: the case study of Mayaga Region
- Authors: Hategekimana, Celestin
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Women in development -- Rwanda , Women -- Rwanda -- Social conditions , Women -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9068 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1314 , Women in development -- Rwanda , Women -- Rwanda -- Social conditions , Women -- Economic conditions
- Description: This research looks at the process of women’s empowerment in post- 1994 Rwanda, with special focus on twelve cooperatives working in Mayaga region and the way these cooperatives empower women, their households and the community at large. Traditional Rwandan society has been always bound by patriarchy which has not valued the reproductive roles of women as economically productive in their households and the society as a whole. On the one hand, this understanding was reversed in the post-1994 Rwanda by the commitment of the government to gender equality at the highest level of political leadership through progressive policies and legislation. On the other hand, in Mayaga region, cooperatives brought about socio-economic development and changed relationships of gender and power in a patriarchal post-conflict society. The findings from cooperatives in Mayaga region show that to prevent women from reaching their full potential is economic folly. If women are empowered, they can generate important development outcomes such as improved health, education, income levels and conflict resolution. The findings further indicate how women’s empowerment is determined by the livelihood strategies women adopt themselves to respond to their vulnerability, and by the ways in which they express their agency in making a living in a sustainable way, with the available community assets that they have access to (financial, social, human, natural and physical). This research highlights that the accessibility of the community assets used by women in Mayaga region and in Rwanda as a whole is also determined by policies, institutions and processes that are able to influence their livelihoods positively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Hategekimana, Celestin
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Women in development -- Rwanda , Women -- Rwanda -- Social conditions , Women -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9068 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1314 , Women in development -- Rwanda , Women -- Rwanda -- Social conditions , Women -- Economic conditions
- Description: This research looks at the process of women’s empowerment in post- 1994 Rwanda, with special focus on twelve cooperatives working in Mayaga region and the way these cooperatives empower women, their households and the community at large. Traditional Rwandan society has been always bound by patriarchy which has not valued the reproductive roles of women as economically productive in their households and the society as a whole. On the one hand, this understanding was reversed in the post-1994 Rwanda by the commitment of the government to gender equality at the highest level of political leadership through progressive policies and legislation. On the other hand, in Mayaga region, cooperatives brought about socio-economic development and changed relationships of gender and power in a patriarchal post-conflict society. The findings from cooperatives in Mayaga region show that to prevent women from reaching their full potential is economic folly. If women are empowered, they can generate important development outcomes such as improved health, education, income levels and conflict resolution. The findings further indicate how women’s empowerment is determined by the livelihood strategies women adopt themselves to respond to their vulnerability, and by the ways in which they express their agency in making a living in a sustainable way, with the available community assets that they have access to (financial, social, human, natural and physical). This research highlights that the accessibility of the community assets used by women in Mayaga region and in Rwanda as a whole is also determined by policies, institutions and processes that are able to influence their livelihoods positively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Valuation of internet-based businesses
- Authors: Krüger, Janine
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Electronic commerce , Internet marketing -- Evaluation , New business enterprises , Internet marketing , Retail trade -- Computer network resources , Teleshopping , Consumer behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9280 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008187 , Electronic commerce , Internet marketing -- Evaluation , New business enterprises , Internet marketing , Retail trade -- Computer network resources , Teleshopping , Consumer behavior
- Description: This study investigates the valuation of Internet-based businesses. In particular the influence of the implementation of an e-business strategy on the value of a business by focussing on its financial performance, will be determined. Although the valuation of businesses in general has been researched extensively, research on the valuation of Internet-based businesses produced contradictory findings. No consensus could be reached regarding the most appropriate valuation approach to be used. Some research findings indicated that the discounted cash flow approach was the most appropriate while others stipulated that a new valuation approach should be developed. Many authors state that the move to include an e-business strategy is natural, and that businesses cannot afford not to include some form of e-business strategy. Previous research has also shown that by including an e-business strategy, it is possible to improve efficiency of the business and ultimately increase profitability. However, there was no emphasis on how the e-business strategy will influence the business valuation. In order to establish whether an e-business strategy will create value for a business, an empirical investigation was undertaken.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Krüger, Janine
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Electronic commerce , Internet marketing -- Evaluation , New business enterprises , Internet marketing , Retail trade -- Computer network resources , Teleshopping , Consumer behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9280 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008187 , Electronic commerce , Internet marketing -- Evaluation , New business enterprises , Internet marketing , Retail trade -- Computer network resources , Teleshopping , Consumer behavior
- Description: This study investigates the valuation of Internet-based businesses. In particular the influence of the implementation of an e-business strategy on the value of a business by focussing on its financial performance, will be determined. Although the valuation of businesses in general has been researched extensively, research on the valuation of Internet-based businesses produced contradictory findings. No consensus could be reached regarding the most appropriate valuation approach to be used. Some research findings indicated that the discounted cash flow approach was the most appropriate while others stipulated that a new valuation approach should be developed. Many authors state that the move to include an e-business strategy is natural, and that businesses cannot afford not to include some form of e-business strategy. Previous research has also shown that by including an e-business strategy, it is possible to improve efficiency of the business and ultimately increase profitability. However, there was no emphasis on how the e-business strategy will influence the business valuation. In order to establish whether an e-business strategy will create value for a business, an empirical investigation was undertaken.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Using social marketing to bridge the gap between systematic conservation planning and implementation at the local government level
- Authors: Wilhelm-Rechmann, Angelika
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Nature conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10603 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1550 , Nature conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The study presented here describes an attempt to bridge the gap between systematic conservation assessment and decision-making for land-use planning in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. The aim was to investigate how to effectively convince officials concerned with land use planning processes in the local municipal sphere to include conservation priorities meaningfully in their processes. The approach used to reach this aim was social marketing, the use of marketing technologies and concepts to effect behavior changes to further societal good. So far social marketing is not commonly used in the conservation domain; I therefore aimed also at proving the usefulness of this approach for conservation. Following the introduction which provides background to the project and a more detailed summary, Chapter 2 provides a detailed and comprehensive review of the considerations and concepts regarding the use of social marketing in a context geared at protecting nature. The research on the primary target group for this study, officials concerned with land use planning processes in the local municipal sphere is described in Chapter 3. The main outcomes were that land use planners perceive few needs with regards to implementing the incorporation of biodiversity conservation issues in the land use planning process, and that the deficiencies in the land use planning process per se, as well as the lack of recognition in the political sphere (the domain of elected councilors), represent the core barriers to adopting the conservation priorities. I conclude that to effect behavior change towards adoption of conservation priorities the land use planning processes need to be supported and the political sphere need to be included in the behavior change process. 6 Chapter 4 therefore focuses on the new target group that emerged as essential in the previous chapter, locally elected councilors. I found that councilors do actually consider land use planning procedures as being important, but also as being dysfunctional. Councilors do value their natural environment for themselves as well as for its tourism value, but most councilors had little understanding of what the term “biodiversity” means and did not connect the term “sustainability” with the natural environment. It became also evident, that councilors do not see conservation in a predominantly positive manner. Chapter 5 therefore yields insight on councilor’s perception that environmental protection and development are mutually exclusive, and the negative frames attached to the conservation endeavor as being socially unjust, disrespectful and utopian. In Chapter 6 I investigated the usefulness of a tractable and well established measure of environmental attitudes or beliefs. I assessed my target audience’s responses to the New Ecological Paradigm scale and the Inclusion of Nature in Self scale. I conclude in Chapter 7 with an account of the difficulties I encountered during the project, an assessment of my project from a social marketing perspective, components of my project that did not yield the results expected, and a proposal for future research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Wilhelm-Rechmann, Angelika
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Nature conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10603 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1550 , Nature conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The study presented here describes an attempt to bridge the gap between systematic conservation assessment and decision-making for land-use planning in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. The aim was to investigate how to effectively convince officials concerned with land use planning processes in the local municipal sphere to include conservation priorities meaningfully in their processes. The approach used to reach this aim was social marketing, the use of marketing technologies and concepts to effect behavior changes to further societal good. So far social marketing is not commonly used in the conservation domain; I therefore aimed also at proving the usefulness of this approach for conservation. Following the introduction which provides background to the project and a more detailed summary, Chapter 2 provides a detailed and comprehensive review of the considerations and concepts regarding the use of social marketing in a context geared at protecting nature. The research on the primary target group for this study, officials concerned with land use planning processes in the local municipal sphere is described in Chapter 3. The main outcomes were that land use planners perceive few needs with regards to implementing the incorporation of biodiversity conservation issues in the land use planning process, and that the deficiencies in the land use planning process per se, as well as the lack of recognition in the political sphere (the domain of elected councilors), represent the core barriers to adopting the conservation priorities. I conclude that to effect behavior change towards adoption of conservation priorities the land use planning processes need to be supported and the political sphere need to be included in the behavior change process. 6 Chapter 4 therefore focuses on the new target group that emerged as essential in the previous chapter, locally elected councilors. I found that councilors do actually consider land use planning procedures as being important, but also as being dysfunctional. Councilors do value their natural environment for themselves as well as for its tourism value, but most councilors had little understanding of what the term “biodiversity” means and did not connect the term “sustainability” with the natural environment. It became also evident, that councilors do not see conservation in a predominantly positive manner. Chapter 5 therefore yields insight on councilor’s perception that environmental protection and development are mutually exclusive, and the negative frames attached to the conservation endeavor as being socially unjust, disrespectful and utopian. In Chapter 6 I investigated the usefulness of a tractable and well established measure of environmental attitudes or beliefs. I assessed my target audience’s responses to the New Ecological Paradigm scale and the Inclusion of Nature in Self scale. I conclude in Chapter 7 with an account of the difficulties I encountered during the project, an assessment of my project from a social marketing perspective, components of my project that did not yield the results expected, and a proposal for future research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Uphicotho nzulu lwendima yepragmatiki ekuphononongeni incwadi ezikhethiweyo zesiXhosa
- Authors: Cutalele, Pumla Pamella
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Xhosa literature , Pragmatics , Translating and interpreting
- Language: Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5442 , vital:20845
- Description: Olu phando luqwalasela indima yepragmatiki ekuphononongeni iincwadi ezikhethiweyo zesiXhosa. Isahluko sokuqala sinika okuqulathwe lolu phando, iinjongo zolu phando nezibe ngunobangela wokuba kukhethwe esi sihloko, imethodi yophando, imo yophando, ulwakhiwo lophando nalapho kukrotyiswa kokuqulathwe sisahluko ngasinye. Uphengululo lweencwadi lwenziwe eziqulathe umxholo wepragmatiki lwenziwe kwakuso esi sahluko. Ingcaciso yamagama aya kuthi asetyenziswe rhoqo inikiwe kwakuso esi sahluko Isahluko sesibini sijonga nzulu iingcingane eziya kuthi zisetyenziswe njengesikhokelo ekwenzeni olu phando. Ingcingane yolwimi kunye nengcingane yoncwadi zijongiwe kwesi sahluko. Ingcingane zepragmatiki eziquka leyo kaGrice nengundoqo kwipragmatiki nayo ithe yaqwalaselwa. Le ngcingane iye izise iindidi zeentsingiselo namasolotya azo. Ingcingane kaGrice ethi iphuhlise intsingiselo efihlakeleyo, intsingiselo ethe ngqo kunye nocingelo ziya- jongwa gabalala kwesi sahluko. Ingcingane yentetho ntshukumo iya kuthi ijongwe ze kujongwe nonxibelelo lwayo kuncwadi. Isahluko sesithathu sijonga nzulu ukusetyenziswa kwentsingisselo efihlakeleyo kwiincwadi ezikhethelwe esi sifundo. Umgaqo wonxibelelwano nezaci zawo ezizezi; isaci somgangatho, isaci sokungakanani, isaci sonxulumano kunye nesaci sobunjani zijongiwe kwiintetho zabalinganiswa nakwizimvo zombhali. Isaci esizihambelayo nesivela kakhulu ngokusetyenziswa kwesigqebelo namaqhalo naso sithe sajongwa ngokubhekiselele kwiincwadi ezikhethelwe esi sifundo.Isahluko sesine siqwalasele ukusetyenziswa kocingelo. Ucingelo nelilelinye isolotya lepragmatiki. Iindidi zocingelo zithe zajongwa, nezizezi: ucingelo lokukhoyo nokunokwenzeka, ucingelo lokuqonda, ucingelo lonobangela nesiphumo kunye nocingelo lwezichazi nezihlomelo. Izichukumisi zocingelo zijongiwe kugxilwe kwiincwadi zesiXhosa ezikhwethelwe esi sifundo. Isahluko sesihlanu siqwalasele intsingiselo ethe ngqo. Imiba yentsingiselo ethe ngqo efana nokuzigqibela, ukuvala isikhewu, ukunqanda ubumbaxa kunye nokusetyenziswa kwemiqondiso kuthe kwaqwalaselwa kwesi sahluko. Indlela ethe ngqo abalinganiswa abathile abathiywe ngayo ngababhali kwiincwadi ezikhethelwe esi sifundo iye izise intsingiselo ethe ngqo, oko ke kuthe kwaqwalaselwa kwesi sahluko.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Cutalele, Pumla Pamella
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Xhosa literature , Pragmatics , Translating and interpreting
- Language: Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5442 , vital:20845
- Description: Olu phando luqwalasela indima yepragmatiki ekuphononongeni iincwadi ezikhethiweyo zesiXhosa. Isahluko sokuqala sinika okuqulathwe lolu phando, iinjongo zolu phando nezibe ngunobangela wokuba kukhethwe esi sihloko, imethodi yophando, imo yophando, ulwakhiwo lophando nalapho kukrotyiswa kokuqulathwe sisahluko ngasinye. Uphengululo lweencwadi lwenziwe eziqulathe umxholo wepragmatiki lwenziwe kwakuso esi sahluko. Ingcaciso yamagama aya kuthi asetyenziswe rhoqo inikiwe kwakuso esi sahluko Isahluko sesibini sijonga nzulu iingcingane eziya kuthi zisetyenziswe njengesikhokelo ekwenzeni olu phando. Ingcingane yolwimi kunye nengcingane yoncwadi zijongiwe kwesi sahluko. Ingcingane zepragmatiki eziquka leyo kaGrice nengundoqo kwipragmatiki nayo ithe yaqwalaselwa. Le ngcingane iye izise iindidi zeentsingiselo namasolotya azo. Ingcingane kaGrice ethi iphuhlise intsingiselo efihlakeleyo, intsingiselo ethe ngqo kunye nocingelo ziya- jongwa gabalala kwesi sahluko. Ingcingane yentetho ntshukumo iya kuthi ijongwe ze kujongwe nonxibelelo lwayo kuncwadi. Isahluko sesithathu sijonga nzulu ukusetyenziswa kwentsingisselo efihlakeleyo kwiincwadi ezikhethelwe esi sifundo. Umgaqo wonxibelelwano nezaci zawo ezizezi; isaci somgangatho, isaci sokungakanani, isaci sonxulumano kunye nesaci sobunjani zijongiwe kwiintetho zabalinganiswa nakwizimvo zombhali. Isaci esizihambelayo nesivela kakhulu ngokusetyenziswa kwesigqebelo namaqhalo naso sithe sajongwa ngokubhekiselele kwiincwadi ezikhethelwe esi sifundo.Isahluko sesine siqwalasele ukusetyenziswa kocingelo. Ucingelo nelilelinye isolotya lepragmatiki. Iindidi zocingelo zithe zajongwa, nezizezi: ucingelo lokukhoyo nokunokwenzeka, ucingelo lokuqonda, ucingelo lonobangela nesiphumo kunye nocingelo lwezichazi nezihlomelo. Izichukumisi zocingelo zijongiwe kugxilwe kwiincwadi zesiXhosa ezikhwethelwe esi sifundo. Isahluko sesihlanu siqwalasele intsingiselo ethe ngqo. Imiba yentsingiselo ethe ngqo efana nokuzigqibela, ukuvala isikhewu, ukunqanda ubumbaxa kunye nokusetyenziswa kwemiqondiso kuthe kwaqwalaselwa kwesi sahluko. Indlela ethe ngqo abalinganiswa abathile abathiywe ngayo ngababhali kwiincwadi ezikhethelwe esi sifundo iye izise intsingiselo ethe ngqo, oko ke kuthe kwaqwalaselwa kwesi sahluko.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Understanding current teacher implementation of Zimbabwe's primary school AIDS curriculum: a case study
- Authors: Musingarabwi, Starlin
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Teacher participation in curriculum planning -- Zimbabwe , Primary school teachers -- Zimbabwe , Education -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9584 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020912
- Description: Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Education Sport, Arts and Culture offers as one of the primary school curricula, an AIDS curriculum which all Grades 4 to 7 teachers in Zimbabwe’s primary schools mandatorily implement with a view to contributing towards the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS among the young primary school learners. The purpose of this research was to explore and describe teachers’ understanding and implementation of Zimbabwe’s primary school AIDS curriculum regarding the ways in which they articulated teaching practices and processes in their classrooms. The study also aimed to elicit the teachers’ views on how personal and contextual factors impact their adaptation and enactment of the curriculum. The study also sought to establish teachers’ perceptions of their practical experiences with the implementation of Zimbabwe’s primary school AIDS curriculum and their suggestions for improving practice. The study follows a qualitative case study design with minimal quantitative results. It involved three purposively selected primary school grade six teachers (n=3) each of whom was asked to teach five lessons while being observed over a period of three months. Each teacher availed his or her teaching scheme/plan to the researcher who conducted document analysis to glean their symbolic conceptualisation of actual classroom practice of the curriculum. This was followed by three semi-structured interviews with each participating teacher to elicit their perceptions. A content analysis using ideas borrowed from the grounded theory approach was employed resulting in thematic findings. The findings of the study confirm and enhance the theoretical significance of the phenomenological-adaptive perspective of educational change and Honig’s (people, policy, places) and cognition model for describing teacher implementation of the mandatory AIDS curriculum. The findings also confirm the complex ways in which human-generated personal and contextual factors played out in framing and shaping teachers’ personal adaptation of the mandatory AIDS curriculum. The study confirms the adaptation claim that as cognitive sense-makers, teachers mutate and enact a curriculum according to their personal subjective interpretations in the context of unique use-setting implementation realities. Although one of the participants’ understanding and practice displayed considerable comprehension of the requirements of the curriculum, the other teachers displayed an understanding of this curriculum in a superficial way, and experienced few positive experiences and several conceptual and operational constraints in its implementation. Drawing on their practical experiences with the implementation of the curriculum, teachers offered suggestions for transforming the implementation proficiency of this curriculum, which formed part of the conceptual strategy I developed for improving practice. Thus the resultant achievement of the study was a conceptual strategy that was constructed from the key findings of the study to provide educational change leaders with nuanced ideas and insights for improving practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Musingarabwi, Starlin
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Teacher participation in curriculum planning -- Zimbabwe , Primary school teachers -- Zimbabwe , Education -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9584 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020912
- Description: Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Education Sport, Arts and Culture offers as one of the primary school curricula, an AIDS curriculum which all Grades 4 to 7 teachers in Zimbabwe’s primary schools mandatorily implement with a view to contributing towards the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS among the young primary school learners. The purpose of this research was to explore and describe teachers’ understanding and implementation of Zimbabwe’s primary school AIDS curriculum regarding the ways in which they articulated teaching practices and processes in their classrooms. The study also aimed to elicit the teachers’ views on how personal and contextual factors impact their adaptation and enactment of the curriculum. The study also sought to establish teachers’ perceptions of their practical experiences with the implementation of Zimbabwe’s primary school AIDS curriculum and their suggestions for improving practice. The study follows a qualitative case study design with minimal quantitative results. It involved three purposively selected primary school grade six teachers (n=3) each of whom was asked to teach five lessons while being observed over a period of three months. Each teacher availed his or her teaching scheme/plan to the researcher who conducted document analysis to glean their symbolic conceptualisation of actual classroom practice of the curriculum. This was followed by three semi-structured interviews with each participating teacher to elicit their perceptions. A content analysis using ideas borrowed from the grounded theory approach was employed resulting in thematic findings. The findings of the study confirm and enhance the theoretical significance of the phenomenological-adaptive perspective of educational change and Honig’s (people, policy, places) and cognition model for describing teacher implementation of the mandatory AIDS curriculum. The findings also confirm the complex ways in which human-generated personal and contextual factors played out in framing and shaping teachers’ personal adaptation of the mandatory AIDS curriculum. The study confirms the adaptation claim that as cognitive sense-makers, teachers mutate and enact a curriculum according to their personal subjective interpretations in the context of unique use-setting implementation realities. Although one of the participants’ understanding and practice displayed considerable comprehension of the requirements of the curriculum, the other teachers displayed an understanding of this curriculum in a superficial way, and experienced few positive experiences and several conceptual and operational constraints in its implementation. Drawing on their practical experiences with the implementation of the curriculum, teachers offered suggestions for transforming the implementation proficiency of this curriculum, which formed part of the conceptual strategy I developed for improving practice. Thus the resultant achievement of the study was a conceptual strategy that was constructed from the key findings of the study to provide educational change leaders with nuanced ideas and insights for improving practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Tree toppling by elephants and its consequences in thicket mosaic vegetation of Addo Elephant National Park
- Authors: Mgqatsa, Nokubonga
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Elephants -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Addo Elephant National Park Woody plants -- South Africa -- Addo Elephant National Park
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19365 , vital:28859
- Description: This study explored the extent of elephant tree toppling and possible cascading effects in Karoo Thicket Mosaic habitat in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. While the notion that elephants topple trees is well recognised, little is known about their indirect effects and the possible influence on several trophic levels. Changes brought about by elephants have the potential to influence microclimatic conditions, soil litter processes, plant community composition and other animals. Therefore, this study determined the impacts of elephants on tree toppling, and hence the production of coarse woody debris and the Coarse Woody Debris Profile. Additionally, I explored the consequences of elephant tree toppling on the plant community, small mammals and seed removal. Furthermore, I explored the potential factors facilitating the coexistence of woody plants and elephants. I compared coarse woody debris production and the Coarse Woody Debris Profile between sites with and without elephants. Further, I assessed the consequences of tree toppling in the elephant present site at a patch scale to explore the possible cascading effects of elephants. Firstly, I showed that elephants impacted woody plants through branch/stem breakages and toppling of trees, but that effects vary for different categories of the Coarse Woody Debris Profile. This result confirms the most recent findings that woody plants are at risk from elephant herbivory in Karoo Thicket Mosaic habitat. The elephant toppling effect on these landscapes is largely influenced by plant growth form, with woody trees suffering high levels of elephant toppling than shrubs of comparable size. However, toppled Pappea capensis is able to persist from being toppled by elephants, either through coppicing or resprouting. Additionally, I showed that toppled trees form discrete patches on the landscape, with altered microclimate and browsing pressures. While I detected no significant effect of these changes on plant composition and abundance within these patches, these findings indicate the possible influence of elephants on facilitating plant recruitment and altering plant communities of thicket through toppling of trees. Moreover, I showed that elephant toppling of trees provide habitat patches for small mammals, thus affecting seed removal by vertebrates within patches. These changes had no discernable effect on soil seed banks. However, they highlight the need to better understand the temporal dynamics of these patches and implications for seed dynamics and plant communities on the landscape. The results show the patterns of elephant impacts on woody plants and possible cascading effects in the presence of elephants. Therefore, the study advances our understanding of top-down effects of elephants and shows the relevance of understanding these effects in order to effectively manage elephant impacts in different systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mgqatsa, Nokubonga
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Elephants -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Addo Elephant National Park Woody plants -- South Africa -- Addo Elephant National Park
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19365 , vital:28859
- Description: This study explored the extent of elephant tree toppling and possible cascading effects in Karoo Thicket Mosaic habitat in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. While the notion that elephants topple trees is well recognised, little is known about their indirect effects and the possible influence on several trophic levels. Changes brought about by elephants have the potential to influence microclimatic conditions, soil litter processes, plant community composition and other animals. Therefore, this study determined the impacts of elephants on tree toppling, and hence the production of coarse woody debris and the Coarse Woody Debris Profile. Additionally, I explored the consequences of elephant tree toppling on the plant community, small mammals and seed removal. Furthermore, I explored the potential factors facilitating the coexistence of woody plants and elephants. I compared coarse woody debris production and the Coarse Woody Debris Profile between sites with and without elephants. Further, I assessed the consequences of tree toppling in the elephant present site at a patch scale to explore the possible cascading effects of elephants. Firstly, I showed that elephants impacted woody plants through branch/stem breakages and toppling of trees, but that effects vary for different categories of the Coarse Woody Debris Profile. This result confirms the most recent findings that woody plants are at risk from elephant herbivory in Karoo Thicket Mosaic habitat. The elephant toppling effect on these landscapes is largely influenced by plant growth form, with woody trees suffering high levels of elephant toppling than shrubs of comparable size. However, toppled Pappea capensis is able to persist from being toppled by elephants, either through coppicing or resprouting. Additionally, I showed that toppled trees form discrete patches on the landscape, with altered microclimate and browsing pressures. While I detected no significant effect of these changes on plant composition and abundance within these patches, these findings indicate the possible influence of elephants on facilitating plant recruitment and altering plant communities of thicket through toppling of trees. Moreover, I showed that elephant toppling of trees provide habitat patches for small mammals, thus affecting seed removal by vertebrates within patches. These changes had no discernable effect on soil seed banks. However, they highlight the need to better understand the temporal dynamics of these patches and implications for seed dynamics and plant communities on the landscape. The results show the patterns of elephant impacts on woody plants and possible cascading effects in the presence of elephants. Therefore, the study advances our understanding of top-down effects of elephants and shows the relevance of understanding these effects in order to effectively manage elephant impacts in different systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Towards the bioremediation of the hypertrophic Swartkops Solar Salt-works
- Authors: Difford, Mark
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Salt industry and trade -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Bioremediation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10606 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1506 , Salt industry and trade -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Bioremediation
- Description: This thesis presents the results of three studies aimed at improving brine-quality at the Swartkops solar salt-works (Swartkops Sea Salt [Pty] Ltd) on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. This is a highly eutrophic salt-works, the management of which has become increasingly difficult in recent years. The fundamental problem is how best to operate the system at maximum capacity while limiting nutrient inputs from the nutrient-rich microtidal Swartkops Estuary. In the first study, brine-quality at several sites along the axis of the Swartkops Estuary, and the extent to which it is affected by a variety of factors, is compared. Sites were sampled on micro- and macrotidal time scales, and were selected by the management of the salt-works as possible locations for a new pump-house (for extracting brine from the estuary) for their salt-work operations at Swartkops and Missionvale. The study showed that there are incremental benefits to be had from moving the site of extraction downstream from its present position to a site closer to the mouth of the estuary, where the concentration of nutrients usually is lower and where salinity usually is higher. There is little to be gained from moving the site of extraction laterally, to the mouth of the Inlet from which brine currently is extracted, so that brine is extracted directly from the estuary itself. A set of models relating the concentrations of NH+ 4 , NO{u100000}3 , and PO34{u100000} to salinity is proposed. These take into account the influences of site and season and may be used to estimate the concentration of these nutrients from a measurement of salinity. The model for PO34{u100000} shows that it would be more damaging to the salt-works’ operations to pump “low”-salinity brine during the early months of summer than during autumn. Evidence is also presented to show that Wylde Bridge has no influence on nutrient concentrations in the estuary, with tidal flushing generally passing beyond the Wylde-Bridge break-point. The exceptionally heavy flooding of the estuary that occurred in September 2002 may, however, have biased this conclusion, because of its scouring effect. The second study concentrated on monitoring the effect of (1) decreasing pond depth and (2) increasing pond salinity—two readily available management tools—on brine quality at the salt-works. Pond depth throughout the salt-works was decreased by 40 cm, and the salinity of Pond 5, a pond in the middle of the system, was increased to 175 S. Both measures were kept in place for the duration of the study (Nov. 2002–Aug. 2004). The pond-depth experiment did not have the expected result, there being no evidence of the increase in microalgal growth in the water column that was predicted based on previous research. There was, however, a significant increase in benthic chlorophyll-a, and there was a general improvement in the condition of the sedimentary system of the salt-works. There was also a substantial decrease in particulate organic matter in the water column, with clear evidence that the remaining fraction was closely associated with living forms of particulate matter rather than with detritus. The pond-salinity experiment proves that there is a flourishing, and resilient, population of brine shrimp (Artemia salina L.) at the salt-works. Restocking the salina, or stocking it with a different strain of brine shrimp, is therefore not necessary. The results of this study show that the brine shrimp population at the salt-works needs salinities of greater than about 65–70 S to survive. As a living force they almost certainly need a protective salinity that is greater than about 120–140 S, perhaps even as great as 160 S. Brine shrimp thrived in the high salinity milieu of the experimental pond for the duration of the study, but dwindled from three other ponds of the system once their salinities fell to below 90 S, eventually to disappear from them, apparently completely, once salinity fell to below 65 S. The third and final study concentrated on establishing whether the products released by decomposing barley straw could be used in a solar salt-works to control macroalgal blooms without detrimentally affecting the benthic-mat. Previous research has shown that these products are effective inhibitors of macroalgal growth and that they remain effective under saline conditions. The results presented here show that the same products, or products released under similar conditions of decomposition, adversely effect both the structure and the function of the mat. Consequently, their use in a solar salt-works cannot be recommended.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Difford, Mark
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Salt industry and trade -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Bioremediation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10606 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1506 , Salt industry and trade -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Bioremediation
- Description: This thesis presents the results of three studies aimed at improving brine-quality at the Swartkops solar salt-works (Swartkops Sea Salt [Pty] Ltd) on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. This is a highly eutrophic salt-works, the management of which has become increasingly difficult in recent years. The fundamental problem is how best to operate the system at maximum capacity while limiting nutrient inputs from the nutrient-rich microtidal Swartkops Estuary. In the first study, brine-quality at several sites along the axis of the Swartkops Estuary, and the extent to which it is affected by a variety of factors, is compared. Sites were sampled on micro- and macrotidal time scales, and were selected by the management of the salt-works as possible locations for a new pump-house (for extracting brine from the estuary) for their salt-work operations at Swartkops and Missionvale. The study showed that there are incremental benefits to be had from moving the site of extraction downstream from its present position to a site closer to the mouth of the estuary, where the concentration of nutrients usually is lower and where salinity usually is higher. There is little to be gained from moving the site of extraction laterally, to the mouth of the Inlet from which brine currently is extracted, so that brine is extracted directly from the estuary itself. A set of models relating the concentrations of NH+ 4 , NO{u100000}3 , and PO34{u100000} to salinity is proposed. These take into account the influences of site and season and may be used to estimate the concentration of these nutrients from a measurement of salinity. The model for PO34{u100000} shows that it would be more damaging to the salt-works’ operations to pump “low”-salinity brine during the early months of summer than during autumn. Evidence is also presented to show that Wylde Bridge has no influence on nutrient concentrations in the estuary, with tidal flushing generally passing beyond the Wylde-Bridge break-point. The exceptionally heavy flooding of the estuary that occurred in September 2002 may, however, have biased this conclusion, because of its scouring effect. The second study concentrated on monitoring the effect of (1) decreasing pond depth and (2) increasing pond salinity—two readily available management tools—on brine quality at the salt-works. Pond depth throughout the salt-works was decreased by 40 cm, and the salinity of Pond 5, a pond in the middle of the system, was increased to 175 S. Both measures were kept in place for the duration of the study (Nov. 2002–Aug. 2004). The pond-depth experiment did not have the expected result, there being no evidence of the increase in microalgal growth in the water column that was predicted based on previous research. There was, however, a significant increase in benthic chlorophyll-a, and there was a general improvement in the condition of the sedimentary system of the salt-works. There was also a substantial decrease in particulate organic matter in the water column, with clear evidence that the remaining fraction was closely associated with living forms of particulate matter rather than with detritus. The pond-salinity experiment proves that there is a flourishing, and resilient, population of brine shrimp (Artemia salina L.) at the salt-works. Restocking the salina, or stocking it with a different strain of brine shrimp, is therefore not necessary. The results of this study show that the brine shrimp population at the salt-works needs salinities of greater than about 65–70 S to survive. As a living force they almost certainly need a protective salinity that is greater than about 120–140 S, perhaps even as great as 160 S. Brine shrimp thrived in the high salinity milieu of the experimental pond for the duration of the study, but dwindled from three other ponds of the system once their salinities fell to below 90 S, eventually to disappear from them, apparently completely, once salinity fell to below 65 S. The third and final study concentrated on establishing whether the products released by decomposing barley straw could be used in a solar salt-works to control macroalgal blooms without detrimentally affecting the benthic-mat. Previous research has shown that these products are effective inhibitors of macroalgal growth and that they remain effective under saline conditions. The results presented here show that the same products, or products released under similar conditions of decomposition, adversely effect both the structure and the function of the mat. Consequently, their use in a solar salt-works cannot be recommended.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Towards social impact assessment of copper-nickel mining in Botswana
- Authors: Mengwe, Moses Seargent
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Copper mines and mining -- Environmental aspects -- Botswana , Nickel mines and mining -- Environmental aspects -- Botswana , Mineral industry -- Botswana , Mines and mineral resources -- Botswana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10644 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1443 , Copper mines and mining -- Environmental aspects -- Botswana , Nickel mines and mining -- Environmental aspects -- Botswana , Mineral industry -- Botswana , Mines and mineral resources -- Botswana
- Description: This research study is more of an initiative towards Social Impact Assessment of copper-nickel mining in Botswana. The specific objectives of the study were centred on the assessment of the social impacts of copper-nickel mining in Botswana from the initial mining stage of exploration, surveying and mine site development to mine closure. The study was carried out under the broad hypotheses that mining influences population movement that impact on areas of mining; mining activities have both economic benefits and deleterious social impacts on the local communities found in the areas where mining is taking place; and mine closure has far reaching socio-economic, investment and developmental implications over and above the obvious interests of project owners. To achieve the broad aim as summarised above, the research study used a multi-disciplinary methodology and approach that required several kinds of expertise and sources of information. Hence it used both primary and secondary sources centred on interactive informative interviews, site visits and observations, questionnaires, census data records, mining companies’ publications, published textbooks and journal articles. The research study comprised of three different mines operated by three different mining companies in three varied socio-cultural and ethnic regions of Botswana. First was a detailed Social Impact Assessment of the initial phase of exploration, surveying and mine site development represented by Mowana mine project operated by African Copper in the rural areas of Dugwi and Mosetse. This case study yielded results showing that the social impacts of mining in the area are diverse and extensive. The findings suggest that the impacts relate not only to the possible economic benefits of foreign exchange, employment, the optimal use of available mineral resources and the possible development of Dugwi and Mosetse villages, but extends to the deleterious social impacts. The results also indicated that the social impacts have just begun in the two communities. Hence they point towards a possible disruption within the socio-cultural system of the local people if serious mitigation measures are not put in place; thus suggesting that the early stages of exploration and mine site development results in the most conflict between the mine and the local people. Second was a comprehensive Social Impact Assessment of Tati-Nickel Phoenix mining project in the peri-urban areas of Matshelagabedi and Matsiloje areas representing the mining stage of mine production and expansion. The results from this case study suggest that during vi mine production and expansion, many people were relocated. However, the overriding impression gained from the case study was Tati-Nickel Mining Company’s elaborate corporate policies that suggested good corporate governance and best practices that promote sustainable development. A notable milestone on good corporate governance and best practice that the other two case studies (mining company) could benchmark on is Tati-Nickel’s corporate social responsibility programme that has been designed to ensure that the communities within a fifty kilometre mine radius benefit from the mine. The results from the case study also distinguished the mining stage of production and expansion from the other two because it is associated with the deep entrenchment of the social impacts into the communities near to mining areas. Third was a detailed Social Impact Assessment on Bamangwato Concession Limited mine in the industrial town of Selebi-Phikwe. The case study represented the stage of mine closure. Through the findings of this case study, it became apparent that the economic dependence of Selebi-Phikwe on mining has seen the town developing into a mining town, increasing its vulnerability at mine closure. The results from the case study further suggest that mine closure will degrade the socio-economic sector of the town with ever far reaching socio-economic implications as many people lose their gainful employment, hence suggesting that a possible complete mine closure will be the most traumatic phase leading to major social conflict within the area. Thus the results suggest that at mine closure, the deleterious social impacts will overspill to other areas in Botswana with disastrous effects for the economy of the country. The results yielded through this study established in clear and passionate language that copper-nickel mining in Botswana influences population movements that lead to positive and negative impacts on the communities found in mining areas. Another major finding of the study is that copper-nickel mining activities have both economic benefits and deleterious social impacts on the local communities, hence the recommendation that the copper-nickel mining companies should embrace the concept of sustainable mining for sustainable development to avoid most of the negative impacts of their operations on the local communities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Mengwe, Moses Seargent
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Copper mines and mining -- Environmental aspects -- Botswana , Nickel mines and mining -- Environmental aspects -- Botswana , Mineral industry -- Botswana , Mines and mineral resources -- Botswana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10644 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1443 , Copper mines and mining -- Environmental aspects -- Botswana , Nickel mines and mining -- Environmental aspects -- Botswana , Mineral industry -- Botswana , Mines and mineral resources -- Botswana
- Description: This research study is more of an initiative towards Social Impact Assessment of copper-nickel mining in Botswana. The specific objectives of the study were centred on the assessment of the social impacts of copper-nickel mining in Botswana from the initial mining stage of exploration, surveying and mine site development to mine closure. The study was carried out under the broad hypotheses that mining influences population movement that impact on areas of mining; mining activities have both economic benefits and deleterious social impacts on the local communities found in the areas where mining is taking place; and mine closure has far reaching socio-economic, investment and developmental implications over and above the obvious interests of project owners. To achieve the broad aim as summarised above, the research study used a multi-disciplinary methodology and approach that required several kinds of expertise and sources of information. Hence it used both primary and secondary sources centred on interactive informative interviews, site visits and observations, questionnaires, census data records, mining companies’ publications, published textbooks and journal articles. The research study comprised of three different mines operated by three different mining companies in three varied socio-cultural and ethnic regions of Botswana. First was a detailed Social Impact Assessment of the initial phase of exploration, surveying and mine site development represented by Mowana mine project operated by African Copper in the rural areas of Dugwi and Mosetse. This case study yielded results showing that the social impacts of mining in the area are diverse and extensive. The findings suggest that the impacts relate not only to the possible economic benefits of foreign exchange, employment, the optimal use of available mineral resources and the possible development of Dugwi and Mosetse villages, but extends to the deleterious social impacts. The results also indicated that the social impacts have just begun in the two communities. Hence they point towards a possible disruption within the socio-cultural system of the local people if serious mitigation measures are not put in place; thus suggesting that the early stages of exploration and mine site development results in the most conflict between the mine and the local people. Second was a comprehensive Social Impact Assessment of Tati-Nickel Phoenix mining project in the peri-urban areas of Matshelagabedi and Matsiloje areas representing the mining stage of mine production and expansion. The results from this case study suggest that during vi mine production and expansion, many people were relocated. However, the overriding impression gained from the case study was Tati-Nickel Mining Company’s elaborate corporate policies that suggested good corporate governance and best practices that promote sustainable development. A notable milestone on good corporate governance and best practice that the other two case studies (mining company) could benchmark on is Tati-Nickel’s corporate social responsibility programme that has been designed to ensure that the communities within a fifty kilometre mine radius benefit from the mine. The results from the case study also distinguished the mining stage of production and expansion from the other two because it is associated with the deep entrenchment of the social impacts into the communities near to mining areas. Third was a detailed Social Impact Assessment on Bamangwato Concession Limited mine in the industrial town of Selebi-Phikwe. The case study represented the stage of mine closure. Through the findings of this case study, it became apparent that the economic dependence of Selebi-Phikwe on mining has seen the town developing into a mining town, increasing its vulnerability at mine closure. The results from the case study further suggest that mine closure will degrade the socio-economic sector of the town with ever far reaching socio-economic implications as many people lose their gainful employment, hence suggesting that a possible complete mine closure will be the most traumatic phase leading to major social conflict within the area. Thus the results suggest that at mine closure, the deleterious social impacts will overspill to other areas in Botswana with disastrous effects for the economy of the country. The results yielded through this study established in clear and passionate language that copper-nickel mining in Botswana influences population movements that lead to positive and negative impacts on the communities found in mining areas. Another major finding of the study is that copper-nickel mining activities have both economic benefits and deleterious social impacts on the local communities, hence the recommendation that the copper-nickel mining companies should embrace the concept of sustainable mining for sustainable development to avoid most of the negative impacts of their operations on the local communities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Towards knowing through doing : improving the societal relevance of systematic conservation assessments
- Authors: Knight, Andrew Thomas
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Conservation of natural resources -- Planning , Nature conservation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10598 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/711 , Conservation of natural resources -- Planning , Nature conservation -- South Africa
- Description: Systematic conservation assessments are spatially-explicit techniques for prioritising areas for the implementation of conservation action. There has been considerable reference in the peer-reviewed literature as to the usefulness of these tools, which appear to be primarily used by academics for theoretical research. A literature review and author survey reveals the peer-reviewed literature is largely theoretical, although conservation action results more frequently than reported. The effectiveness of these interventions is generally described as only ‘fairly effective’. This general trend, coupled with previous personal failures in translating systematic conservation assessments into effective conservation action triggered an explicit process of social learning implemented as action research. It examined the workings of the Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning (STEP) project, which included development of a systematic conservation assessment. Systematic conservations assessments simply provide information on where action should be implemented, and so are only useful if situated within broader operational models for conservation planning. Most operational models presented in the peer-reviewed literature are primarily focused upon the testing ecological data, not upon the delivery of conservation action. A new operational model for conservation planning is presented which more accurately reflects the ‘real-world’ process of conservation planning. An implementation strategy is an essential complement to a systematic conservation assessment. It describes how specific, explicitly-stated goals will be achieved, who is accountable for undertaking these activities, and the resources required. As the Implementation Specialist for the STEP Project, I co-lead the collaborative development of an implementation strategy with stakeholders that aimed to mobilise resources towards achieving common goals. Whilst the development and initial uptake of the strategy was good, subsequent implementation has flounder. The reasons for this are explored. The ultimate pragmatic goal of a conservation planning process is the establishment of effective social learning institutions. These develop common visions, mobilise collective action, and adaptively learn and refine their conservation activities. Thicket Forum is one xi such institution established through the STEP Project. My involvement with Thicket Forum since 2004 in implementing an adaptive learning approach facilitates collaboration between land managers, government and research organisations. Systematic conservation assessments evolved in response to the ad hoc way in which protected areas were implemented, leaving unrepresentative, biased protected area networks. Most research is theoretical and without an intimate understanding of the social-ecological system of a planning region, notably opportunities and constraints for implementing conservation action. Highlighting the importance of an approach which is flexible, not only in space, but in time, which can capitalise upon implementation opportunities, is important for stemming the myth that opportunism is the nemesis of systematic conservation assessments. To this end, conservation planners have been slow to include factors influencing effective implementation in systematic conservation assessments. Many studies which identify candidate protected area networks, first, fail to identify the specific instrument(s) to be applied, and second, assume all intact land is available. Having mapped the willingness of land managers in the Albany District, South Africa, to sell their land, it is demonstrated the majority of targets fail to be achieved because land managers will not sell. Knowing this, the current focus of gathering ever-more ecological data is misplaced. Human, social and economic factors influence target achievement, efficiency and spatial configuration of priority areas. Selecting important areas for conservation, particularly at the local-scale, requires the mapping of factors which define opportunities for conservation. Land manager willingness to collaborate and participate, entrepreneurial orientation, conservation knowledge, social capital, and local champions were applied using a method of hierarchical clustering to identify land managers who represent conservation opportunities for private land conservation initiatives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Knight, Andrew Thomas
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Conservation of natural resources -- Planning , Nature conservation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10598 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/711 , Conservation of natural resources -- Planning , Nature conservation -- South Africa
- Description: Systematic conservation assessments are spatially-explicit techniques for prioritising areas for the implementation of conservation action. There has been considerable reference in the peer-reviewed literature as to the usefulness of these tools, which appear to be primarily used by academics for theoretical research. A literature review and author survey reveals the peer-reviewed literature is largely theoretical, although conservation action results more frequently than reported. The effectiveness of these interventions is generally described as only ‘fairly effective’. This general trend, coupled with previous personal failures in translating systematic conservation assessments into effective conservation action triggered an explicit process of social learning implemented as action research. It examined the workings of the Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning (STEP) project, which included development of a systematic conservation assessment. Systematic conservations assessments simply provide information on where action should be implemented, and so are only useful if situated within broader operational models for conservation planning. Most operational models presented in the peer-reviewed literature are primarily focused upon the testing ecological data, not upon the delivery of conservation action. A new operational model for conservation planning is presented which more accurately reflects the ‘real-world’ process of conservation planning. An implementation strategy is an essential complement to a systematic conservation assessment. It describes how specific, explicitly-stated goals will be achieved, who is accountable for undertaking these activities, and the resources required. As the Implementation Specialist for the STEP Project, I co-lead the collaborative development of an implementation strategy with stakeholders that aimed to mobilise resources towards achieving common goals. Whilst the development and initial uptake of the strategy was good, subsequent implementation has flounder. The reasons for this are explored. The ultimate pragmatic goal of a conservation planning process is the establishment of effective social learning institutions. These develop common visions, mobilise collective action, and adaptively learn and refine their conservation activities. Thicket Forum is one xi such institution established through the STEP Project. My involvement with Thicket Forum since 2004 in implementing an adaptive learning approach facilitates collaboration between land managers, government and research organisations. Systematic conservation assessments evolved in response to the ad hoc way in which protected areas were implemented, leaving unrepresentative, biased protected area networks. Most research is theoretical and without an intimate understanding of the social-ecological system of a planning region, notably opportunities and constraints for implementing conservation action. Highlighting the importance of an approach which is flexible, not only in space, but in time, which can capitalise upon implementation opportunities, is important for stemming the myth that opportunism is the nemesis of systematic conservation assessments. To this end, conservation planners have been slow to include factors influencing effective implementation in systematic conservation assessments. Many studies which identify candidate protected area networks, first, fail to identify the specific instrument(s) to be applied, and second, assume all intact land is available. Having mapped the willingness of land managers in the Albany District, South Africa, to sell their land, it is demonstrated the majority of targets fail to be achieved because land managers will not sell. Knowing this, the current focus of gathering ever-more ecological data is misplaced. Human, social and economic factors influence target achievement, efficiency and spatial configuration of priority areas. Selecting important areas for conservation, particularly at the local-scale, requires the mapping of factors which define opportunities for conservation. Land manager willingness to collaborate and participate, entrepreneurial orientation, conservation knowledge, social capital, and local champions were applied using a method of hierarchical clustering to identify land managers who represent conservation opportunities for private land conservation initiatives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Towards a community-based model for Agricultural development in Uganda : a case study of Kumi and Gomba districts
- Authors: Kiggundu, Joseph
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48654 , vital:41056
- Description: This study intended to design a community-based model for agricultural development in Uganda, using Kumi and Gomba districts as case studies. The surge in attention towards community-based development is attributed to the growing challenges posed by the traditional approaches to community development, dominated by top-down mechanisms during the planning, implementation, management, monitoring, and evaluation phases of community development programmes. Driven by Robert Chambers and Conway’s theoretical perspectives, this study discusses that a community-based model is capable of filling knowledge gaps, not only in scientific research, but also in the community development process of many developing nations, such as Uganda. In this study particularly, a community-based approach has been identified as the better option in aiding and facilitating the current government efforts to transform the agricultural sector from its predominantly subsistence nature to commercial orientation. It has been acknowledged that the Ugandan government and its development partners do realise the significant role agriculture plays in directly or indirectly impacting the social welfare of Ugandans. The agricultural sector has been identified as a major source of livelihood for most rural Ugandans (over 95% depend on it for food, employment and income). Unfortunately, even with such recognition, coupled with many reforms initiated by government and supported by various development partners who have invested huge sums of money into the sector, agricultural productivity and profitability has remained extremely low. Most rural Ugandans still languish in abject poverty, hunger, malnutrition, vulnerability and powerlessness. This study has established that, while the agricultural sector in Uganda suffers from enormous institutional, technological, market, research and land-oriented challenges, if all these factors are kept constant, an effective community-based approach is capable of facilitating effective planning, implementation, management, monitoring, and evaluation of agricultural reforms, for increased agricultural productivity and profitability hence the improved quality of life of Ugandans. A qualitative elicitation interviewing technique involving in-depth discussions with agricultural extension workers, community development officers, representatives from NGOs, local farmers, farmers’ associations, local and religious leaders as well as key persons from the Ministry of Agriculture and other line ministries was conducted. The participants were selected through chain referrals until the level of theoretical saturation. In addition, directed field observations, document analysis and key informant interviews with other respondents selected through theoretical sampling enhanced the robustness of data acquisition methods. Group-based participatory data analysis and reflexive pragmatism also enhanced the rigour and quality of research findings intended to balance the knowledge generated from the recognised scientific audience and the views of the important but unknown “knowledge generators” (the local experts).The key findings indicate that, historically and currently, agriculture has been and is the predominant community development activity at household, community and national levels in Uganda. It is also anticipated that agriculture will remain a major contributor to the national economic development of Uganda even over the next hundred years. The efforts by government and its development partners to transform the sector are therefore justified by the sector’s strategic importance. It has been found out that although the sector faces huge challenges, there are numerous opportunities for the sector to become a driver of Uganda’s socio-economic development. A community-based model has been proposed as a viable option for facilitating faster agricultural development in Uganda, where technocratic developers tend to impose development reforms on local people. With the traditional approaches to planning and implementation, it was thought that local people do not know what they want, they are illiterate and ignorant and therefore incapable of driving government crafted programmes for effective change. From the proposed model, government technocratic development agents should engage local farmers who practically experience poverty, powerlessness, hunger, malnutrition and vulnerability, to jointly craft effective agricultural reforms that are not only life-changing, but also relevant and sustainable within the confines of community needs. Under this approach, the designers, planners, implementers, monitors, and evaluators, whether of government-initiated reforms, or initiatives from other development agencies, should learn to treat local people as subjects of the community development processes, as opposed to the traditional top-down mechanisms which view them as objects to be used and abused. The involvement of local experts during the planning, implementation, and management of development reforms, should cease to be applied as merely routine fulfilment of donor conditionality and requirements. Rather, the participation of local farmers during all phases of community programming should become intentional and consciously aimed at empowering local people to actively participate in the making of decisions critical to their own development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Kiggundu, Joseph
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48654 , vital:41056
- Description: This study intended to design a community-based model for agricultural development in Uganda, using Kumi and Gomba districts as case studies. The surge in attention towards community-based development is attributed to the growing challenges posed by the traditional approaches to community development, dominated by top-down mechanisms during the planning, implementation, management, monitoring, and evaluation phases of community development programmes. Driven by Robert Chambers and Conway’s theoretical perspectives, this study discusses that a community-based model is capable of filling knowledge gaps, not only in scientific research, but also in the community development process of many developing nations, such as Uganda. In this study particularly, a community-based approach has been identified as the better option in aiding and facilitating the current government efforts to transform the agricultural sector from its predominantly subsistence nature to commercial orientation. It has been acknowledged that the Ugandan government and its development partners do realise the significant role agriculture plays in directly or indirectly impacting the social welfare of Ugandans. The agricultural sector has been identified as a major source of livelihood for most rural Ugandans (over 95% depend on it for food, employment and income). Unfortunately, even with such recognition, coupled with many reforms initiated by government and supported by various development partners who have invested huge sums of money into the sector, agricultural productivity and profitability has remained extremely low. Most rural Ugandans still languish in abject poverty, hunger, malnutrition, vulnerability and powerlessness. This study has established that, while the agricultural sector in Uganda suffers from enormous institutional, technological, market, research and land-oriented challenges, if all these factors are kept constant, an effective community-based approach is capable of facilitating effective planning, implementation, management, monitoring, and evaluation of agricultural reforms, for increased agricultural productivity and profitability hence the improved quality of life of Ugandans. A qualitative elicitation interviewing technique involving in-depth discussions with agricultural extension workers, community development officers, representatives from NGOs, local farmers, farmers’ associations, local and religious leaders as well as key persons from the Ministry of Agriculture and other line ministries was conducted. The participants were selected through chain referrals until the level of theoretical saturation. In addition, directed field observations, document analysis and key informant interviews with other respondents selected through theoretical sampling enhanced the robustness of data acquisition methods. Group-based participatory data analysis and reflexive pragmatism also enhanced the rigour and quality of research findings intended to balance the knowledge generated from the recognised scientific audience and the views of the important but unknown “knowledge generators” (the local experts).The key findings indicate that, historically and currently, agriculture has been and is the predominant community development activity at household, community and national levels in Uganda. It is also anticipated that agriculture will remain a major contributor to the national economic development of Uganda even over the next hundred years. The efforts by government and its development partners to transform the sector are therefore justified by the sector’s strategic importance. It has been found out that although the sector faces huge challenges, there are numerous opportunities for the sector to become a driver of Uganda’s socio-economic development. A community-based model has been proposed as a viable option for facilitating faster agricultural development in Uganda, where technocratic developers tend to impose development reforms on local people. With the traditional approaches to planning and implementation, it was thought that local people do not know what they want, they are illiterate and ignorant and therefore incapable of driving government crafted programmes for effective change. From the proposed model, government technocratic development agents should engage local farmers who practically experience poverty, powerlessness, hunger, malnutrition and vulnerability, to jointly craft effective agricultural reforms that are not only life-changing, but also relevant and sustainable within the confines of community needs. Under this approach, the designers, planners, implementers, monitors, and evaluators, whether of government-initiated reforms, or initiatives from other development agencies, should learn to treat local people as subjects of the community development processes, as opposed to the traditional top-down mechanisms which view them as objects to be used and abused. The involvement of local experts during the planning, implementation, and management of development reforms, should cease to be applied as merely routine fulfilment of donor conditionality and requirements. Rather, the participation of local farmers during all phases of community programming should become intentional and consciously aimed at empowering local people to actively participate in the making of decisions critical to their own development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Time series models for paired comparisons
- Authors: Sjolander, Morne Rowan
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Paired comparisons (Statistics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10577 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012858
- Description: The method of paired comparisons is seen as a technique used to rank a set of objects with respect to an abstract or immeasurable property. To do this, the objects get to be compared two at a time. The results are input into a model, resulting in numbers known as weights being assigned to the objects. The weights are then used to rank the objects. The method of paired comparisons was first used for psychometric investigations. Various other applications of the method are also present, for example economic applications, and applications in sports statistics. This study involves taking paired comparison models and making them time-dependent. Not much research has been done in this area. Three new time series models for paired comparisons are created. Simulations are done to support the evidence obtained, and theoretical as well as practical examples are given to illustrate the results and to verify the efficiency of the new models. A literature study is given on the method of paired comparisons, as well as on the areas in which we apply our models. Our first two time series models for paired comparisons are the Linear-Trend Bradley- Terry Model and the Sinusoidal Bradley-Terry Model. We use the maximum likelihood approach to solve these models. We test our models using exact and randomly simulated data for various time periods and various numbers of objects. We adapt the Linear-Trend Bradley-Terry Model and received our third time series model for paired comparisons, the Log Linear-Trend Bradley-Terry Model. The daily maximum and minimum temperatures were received for Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Coega for 2005 until 2009. To evaluate the performance of the Linear-Trend Bradley-Terry Model and the Sinusoidal Bradley-Terry Model on estimating missing temperature data, we artificially remove observations of temperature from Coega’s temperature dataset for 2006 until 2008, and use various forms of these models to estimate the missing data points. The exchange rates for 2005 until 2008 between the following currencies: the Rand, Dollar, Euro, Pound and Yen, were obtained and various forms of our Log Linear-Trend Bradley-Terry Model are used to forecast the exchange rate for one day ahead for each month in 2006 until 2008. One of the features of this study is that we apply our time series models for paired comparisons to areas which comprise non-standard paired comparisons; and we want to encourage the use of the method of paired comparisons in a broader sense than what it is traditionally used for. The results of this study can be used in various other areas, like for example, in sports statistics, to rank the strength of sports players and predict their future scores; in Physics, to calculate weather risks of electricity generation, particularly risks related to nuclear power plants, and so forth, as well as in many other areas. It is hoped that this research will open the door to much more research in combining time series analysis with the method of paired comparisons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Sjolander, Morne Rowan
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Paired comparisons (Statistics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10577 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012858
- Description: The method of paired comparisons is seen as a technique used to rank a set of objects with respect to an abstract or immeasurable property. To do this, the objects get to be compared two at a time. The results are input into a model, resulting in numbers known as weights being assigned to the objects. The weights are then used to rank the objects. The method of paired comparisons was first used for psychometric investigations. Various other applications of the method are also present, for example economic applications, and applications in sports statistics. This study involves taking paired comparison models and making them time-dependent. Not much research has been done in this area. Three new time series models for paired comparisons are created. Simulations are done to support the evidence obtained, and theoretical as well as practical examples are given to illustrate the results and to verify the efficiency of the new models. A literature study is given on the method of paired comparisons, as well as on the areas in which we apply our models. Our first two time series models for paired comparisons are the Linear-Trend Bradley- Terry Model and the Sinusoidal Bradley-Terry Model. We use the maximum likelihood approach to solve these models. We test our models using exact and randomly simulated data for various time periods and various numbers of objects. We adapt the Linear-Trend Bradley-Terry Model and received our third time series model for paired comparisons, the Log Linear-Trend Bradley-Terry Model. The daily maximum and minimum temperatures were received for Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Coega for 2005 until 2009. To evaluate the performance of the Linear-Trend Bradley-Terry Model and the Sinusoidal Bradley-Terry Model on estimating missing temperature data, we artificially remove observations of temperature from Coega’s temperature dataset for 2006 until 2008, and use various forms of these models to estimate the missing data points. The exchange rates for 2005 until 2008 between the following currencies: the Rand, Dollar, Euro, Pound and Yen, were obtained and various forms of our Log Linear-Trend Bradley-Terry Model are used to forecast the exchange rate for one day ahead for each month in 2006 until 2008. One of the features of this study is that we apply our time series models for paired comparisons to areas which comprise non-standard paired comparisons; and we want to encourage the use of the method of paired comparisons in a broader sense than what it is traditionally used for. The results of this study can be used in various other areas, like for example, in sports statistics, to rank the strength of sports players and predict their future scores; in Physics, to calculate weather risks of electricity generation, particularly risks related to nuclear power plants, and so forth, as well as in many other areas. It is hoped that this research will open the door to much more research in combining time series analysis with the method of paired comparisons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Thermal degradation of diamond compacts: a TEM investigation
- Authors: Westraadt, Johan Ewald
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Materials -- Thermal properties Chemical weathering
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/10829 , vital:26827
- Description: Diamond compacts consist of fine diamond grains bonded together by using high pressure and high temperature. In this study transmission electron microscopy (TEM)was used to study thermal degradation of diamond compacts. Three different types of diamond compacts – namely cobalt polycrystalline diamond (PCD), calcium carbonate PCD, and diamond-SiC composites – were investigated with TEM to understand the processes that occur during synthesis. These compacts were then heated in inert atmospheres and the chemical changes studied with TEM. It was found that PCD, using cobalt as a bonding agent, will degrade after exposure to temperatures above 750ºC. The cobalt pools contain tungsten in solid solution. During heat treatment above 700ºC the solid solution tungsten combines with cobalt and dissolved carbon to form η-phase particles at the cobalt/diamond interface. At higher temperatures or insufficient tungsten levels the rate of dissolved carbon, into the cobalt pool, is too high and the excess carbon will form as graphite in the cobalt pool. Increased levels of solid solution tungsten, in the cobalt, is expected to delay the onset of graphitization in the diamond compact, thereby increasing the thermal stability of the diamond compact. Non-metallic PCD using calcium carbonate as a bonding agent was successfully sintered in this study. TEM revealed similar micro-structural features as in cobalt based PCD. No signs of thermal degradation were found after exposure to 1200ºC in vacuum for this PCD. Contaminants introduced during processing prevented a detailed study of the binder in this system. The effect of substitutional metal atoms and plastic deformation of diamond on the thermal stability of diamond-SiC composites were investigated. A piston cylinder press was developed and used to synthesize diamond-SiC composites with different levels of plastically deformed diamond. It was concluded that substitutional metal atoms and plastic deformation of diamond grains play no role in the thermal degradation of diamond compacts at 750ºC. The thermal degradation of cobalt PCD is therefore completely determined by the cobalt/diamond interaction at 750ºC.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Westraadt, Johan Ewald
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Materials -- Thermal properties Chemical weathering
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/10829 , vital:26827
- Description: Diamond compacts consist of fine diamond grains bonded together by using high pressure and high temperature. In this study transmission electron microscopy (TEM)was used to study thermal degradation of diamond compacts. Three different types of diamond compacts – namely cobalt polycrystalline diamond (PCD), calcium carbonate PCD, and diamond-SiC composites – were investigated with TEM to understand the processes that occur during synthesis. These compacts were then heated in inert atmospheres and the chemical changes studied with TEM. It was found that PCD, using cobalt as a bonding agent, will degrade after exposure to temperatures above 750ºC. The cobalt pools contain tungsten in solid solution. During heat treatment above 700ºC the solid solution tungsten combines with cobalt and dissolved carbon to form η-phase particles at the cobalt/diamond interface. At higher temperatures or insufficient tungsten levels the rate of dissolved carbon, into the cobalt pool, is too high and the excess carbon will form as graphite in the cobalt pool. Increased levels of solid solution tungsten, in the cobalt, is expected to delay the onset of graphitization in the diamond compact, thereby increasing the thermal stability of the diamond compact. Non-metallic PCD using calcium carbonate as a bonding agent was successfully sintered in this study. TEM revealed similar micro-structural features as in cobalt based PCD. No signs of thermal degradation were found after exposure to 1200ºC in vacuum for this PCD. Contaminants introduced during processing prevented a detailed study of the binder in this system. The effect of substitutional metal atoms and plastic deformation of diamond on the thermal stability of diamond-SiC composites were investigated. A piston cylinder press was developed and used to synthesize diamond-SiC composites with different levels of plastically deformed diamond. It was concluded that substitutional metal atoms and plastic deformation of diamond grains play no role in the thermal degradation of diamond compacts at 750ºC. The thermal degradation of cobalt PCD is therefore completely determined by the cobalt/diamond interaction at 750ºC.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The use of Geographical Information Systems for the promotion of spatial cognition, spatial perspective taking and problem solving in school level geography
- Authors: Britz, Hendrina Wilhemina
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Geography -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Geographic information systems -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9579 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020298
- Description: A question asked at the United States of America (USA) National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) conference in 1967, namely, what learning does GIS allow that other ways do not and whether teaching GIS at school level is worth the time and effort required to implement it, remains largely unanswered. Literature searches suggest that little more has been done since 1967 to investigate the effectiveness of GIS in education, or that there are any findings to suggest that GIS is worth the time and effort to implement in schools. Internationally the implementation of GIS software and geo-spatial data in schools has been slow, and South Africa is no exception. The main reasons given for slow implementation internationally have included lack of resources, lack of training and lack of time. The majority of secondary schools that offer Geography in the Port Elizabeth Education District, South Africa, teach GIS theory without the use of GIS software and geo-spatial data. The purpose of this research was to elicit the perceptions of secondary school level Geography teachers and learners of the benefits, barriers and obstacles to implementing GIS software and geo-spatial data as a teaching strategy. As a focused exercise to investigate what learning using GIS allows that other ways do not, this study also investigated whether using GIS as a teaching and learning strategy enables the promotion of learners spatial cognition, spatial perspective taking and problem solving abilities better than traditional methods do. The findings are viewed through the lens of developing Crystallized Intelligence (Gc), Spatial Intelligence (Gv) and Fluid Intelligence (Gf), respectively. The study followed a concurrent transformative mixed methods design with pre-post testing and the use of crossover experimental and control groups to generate both qualitative and quantitative data. Questionnaires aimed at all secondary Geography teachers in the Port Elizabeth Education District were used to assess how GIS is taught in their schools and to evaluate their perceptions of the benefits and barriers of implementing GIS software and geo-spatial data in the classroom. Four secondary school Geography teachers in four schools volunteered to take part in the experimental aspects of the study. Empirical data on the development of spatial cognition, spatial perspective taking, and problem solving were generated via pre- and post-tests in which the grade 11 Geography learners participated. Experimental and comparison groups of learners wrote four different types of pre- and post-tests where the experimental groups worked on GIS software with geo-spatial data while the comparison groups used traditional methods. Teacher interviews and learner interviews were also conducted to assess attitudes towards GIS software and geo-spatial data as a teaching strategy. The results from this aspect of the study mirrored the benefits and barriers to implementing GIS in schools recorded in international literature. However, and possibly more importantly, the empirical data generated by the learners revealed that GIS software and geo-spatial data do statistically significantly promote better spatial cognition (Crystallized Intelligence) and spatial perspective taking (Spatial Intelligence) than traditional methods do (i.e. using atlases, rulers and calculators). No improvement was found in the experimental groups‟ problem solving abilities. This report offers possible explanations and recommendations in terms of socio-cultural findings from other educational studies on the effects of exploratory talk on the development of Fluid Intelligence. Recommendations are made for the attention of curriculum developers, teachers, school principals, departmental officials and other educational stakeholders in terms of what is required for the successful implementation of GIS software and the use of geo-spatial data in secondary school Geography classes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Britz, Hendrina Wilhemina
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Geography -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Geographic information systems -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9579 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020298
- Description: A question asked at the United States of America (USA) National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) conference in 1967, namely, what learning does GIS allow that other ways do not and whether teaching GIS at school level is worth the time and effort required to implement it, remains largely unanswered. Literature searches suggest that little more has been done since 1967 to investigate the effectiveness of GIS in education, or that there are any findings to suggest that GIS is worth the time and effort to implement in schools. Internationally the implementation of GIS software and geo-spatial data in schools has been slow, and South Africa is no exception. The main reasons given for slow implementation internationally have included lack of resources, lack of training and lack of time. The majority of secondary schools that offer Geography in the Port Elizabeth Education District, South Africa, teach GIS theory without the use of GIS software and geo-spatial data. The purpose of this research was to elicit the perceptions of secondary school level Geography teachers and learners of the benefits, barriers and obstacles to implementing GIS software and geo-spatial data as a teaching strategy. As a focused exercise to investigate what learning using GIS allows that other ways do not, this study also investigated whether using GIS as a teaching and learning strategy enables the promotion of learners spatial cognition, spatial perspective taking and problem solving abilities better than traditional methods do. The findings are viewed through the lens of developing Crystallized Intelligence (Gc), Spatial Intelligence (Gv) and Fluid Intelligence (Gf), respectively. The study followed a concurrent transformative mixed methods design with pre-post testing and the use of crossover experimental and control groups to generate both qualitative and quantitative data. Questionnaires aimed at all secondary Geography teachers in the Port Elizabeth Education District were used to assess how GIS is taught in their schools and to evaluate their perceptions of the benefits and barriers of implementing GIS software and geo-spatial data in the classroom. Four secondary school Geography teachers in four schools volunteered to take part in the experimental aspects of the study. Empirical data on the development of spatial cognition, spatial perspective taking, and problem solving were generated via pre- and post-tests in which the grade 11 Geography learners participated. Experimental and comparison groups of learners wrote four different types of pre- and post-tests where the experimental groups worked on GIS software with geo-spatial data while the comparison groups used traditional methods. Teacher interviews and learner interviews were also conducted to assess attitudes towards GIS software and geo-spatial data as a teaching strategy. The results from this aspect of the study mirrored the benefits and barriers to implementing GIS in schools recorded in international literature. However, and possibly more importantly, the empirical data generated by the learners revealed that GIS software and geo-spatial data do statistically significantly promote better spatial cognition (Crystallized Intelligence) and spatial perspective taking (Spatial Intelligence) than traditional methods do (i.e. using atlases, rulers and calculators). No improvement was found in the experimental groups‟ problem solving abilities. This report offers possible explanations and recommendations in terms of socio-cultural findings from other educational studies on the effects of exploratory talk on the development of Fluid Intelligence. Recommendations are made for the attention of curriculum developers, teachers, school principals, departmental officials and other educational stakeholders in terms of what is required for the successful implementation of GIS software and the use of geo-spatial data in secondary school Geography classes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
The training of artisans for house building projects in South Western Nigeria
- Authors: Oni, Oluwole Joseph
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Skilled labor -- Nigeria , Artisans -- Training of -- Nigeria , Construction industry -- Employees -- Training of -- Nigeria , Training needs -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9726 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020625
- Description: The current shortage of artisans in the Nigerian house construction sector has constrained the productivity of the sector and exacerbated the nation‟s housing problem. The persistent neglect of the artisan training system has negatively impacted on the stock of artisans available for house construction projects. Nigeria‟s large and fast-growing population of over 140 million with an estimated growth rate of 3.2 percent has engendered increased investment in shelter provision; especially by individuals and families due to fast rising housing rentals- mainly in the urban centres. Past policies have not adequately addressed the realities of the skills crisis occasioned by inadequate and neglected apprenticeship training and poorly developed vocational education and training systems. The fallout of this is manifested in the difficulties faced by developers in sourcing suitably qualified and experienced artisans for house construction projects. In response to this challenge, an upsurge of migrant artisans and craftsmen from neighbouring West African nations like Togo, Benin Republic and Ghana to Nigeria has occurred in the recent times. They were attracted by building contracting firms to fill the gap created by inadequate artisan supply that is currently being experienced locally. This development is totally unacceptable as it exacerbates the overarching socio-economic problems in Nigeria, especially the already high unemployment rate which is estimated to be 23.9 percent. This study has consequently investigated the inadequate training of house construction artisans in South Western Nigeria; evolving interventions and developing a strategic model for improving the artisan training system to ensure an adequate and sustainable artisan supply in the house construction sector. The model incorporates best practices, rethinking strategies and integrated approaches in mitigating the identified challenges. The model is underpinned by reviewed literature and empirical findings. Quantitative surveys and interviews were utilised as the data sources. The research findings show that the factors which negatively impact on the artisan training system in the house construction sector include: the poor image of artisans in society; lack of recruitment strategies for attracting potential artisans; inadequate policy framework for training and employment; a faulty and rigid National Qualification Framework (NQF); the non-participation of employers in training; a poor funding mechanism; a weak regulatory framework and corrupt practices in training administration. Recommendations for addressing the inadequate training of artisans include education policy reforms to give priority to vocational education; a new regime of funding for vocational education and training; a review of the National Qualification Framework to integrate the vocational colleges with the university system; a reform of the regulatory framework; public re-orientation on the societal image of the artisans; adoption of a new approach of public- private partnership in artisan training; the provision of incentives schemes to attract potential artisans and the appropriation of the proposed model for an integrated approach to addressing the challenges.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Oni, Oluwole Joseph
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Skilled labor -- Nigeria , Artisans -- Training of -- Nigeria , Construction industry -- Employees -- Training of -- Nigeria , Training needs -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9726 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020625
- Description: The current shortage of artisans in the Nigerian house construction sector has constrained the productivity of the sector and exacerbated the nation‟s housing problem. The persistent neglect of the artisan training system has negatively impacted on the stock of artisans available for house construction projects. Nigeria‟s large and fast-growing population of over 140 million with an estimated growth rate of 3.2 percent has engendered increased investment in shelter provision; especially by individuals and families due to fast rising housing rentals- mainly in the urban centres. Past policies have not adequately addressed the realities of the skills crisis occasioned by inadequate and neglected apprenticeship training and poorly developed vocational education and training systems. The fallout of this is manifested in the difficulties faced by developers in sourcing suitably qualified and experienced artisans for house construction projects. In response to this challenge, an upsurge of migrant artisans and craftsmen from neighbouring West African nations like Togo, Benin Republic and Ghana to Nigeria has occurred in the recent times. They were attracted by building contracting firms to fill the gap created by inadequate artisan supply that is currently being experienced locally. This development is totally unacceptable as it exacerbates the overarching socio-economic problems in Nigeria, especially the already high unemployment rate which is estimated to be 23.9 percent. This study has consequently investigated the inadequate training of house construction artisans in South Western Nigeria; evolving interventions and developing a strategic model for improving the artisan training system to ensure an adequate and sustainable artisan supply in the house construction sector. The model incorporates best practices, rethinking strategies and integrated approaches in mitigating the identified challenges. The model is underpinned by reviewed literature and empirical findings. Quantitative surveys and interviews were utilised as the data sources. The research findings show that the factors which negatively impact on the artisan training system in the house construction sector include: the poor image of artisans in society; lack of recruitment strategies for attracting potential artisans; inadequate policy framework for training and employment; a faulty and rigid National Qualification Framework (NQF); the non-participation of employers in training; a poor funding mechanism; a weak regulatory framework and corrupt practices in training administration. Recommendations for addressing the inadequate training of artisans include education policy reforms to give priority to vocational education; a new regime of funding for vocational education and training; a review of the National Qualification Framework to integrate the vocational colleges with the university system; a reform of the regulatory framework; public re-orientation on the societal image of the artisans; adoption of a new approach of public- private partnership in artisan training; the provision of incentives schemes to attract potential artisans and the appropriation of the proposed model for an integrated approach to addressing the challenges.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
The sustainability of South African construction small, medium and micro enterprises
- Authors: Anugwo, Iruka Chijindu
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Construction industry -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15259 , vital:28194
- Description: The construction industry is one of the strategic sectors that drive the economic sustainability and competitiveness of any nation. However, the chronic business failure amongst the start-ups and Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the construction industry globally is of great concern to economic prosperity for both developed and developing countries. This challenge is significantly high in the South African construction industry, where SMMEs account for 95% of the business entities, of which about 80% are most likely to exit from the market within their first five years of operation. Previous studies in this field centred on the factors that lead to construction-business failure. However, the actual operational elements of surviving SMMEs have rarely been addressed and are little understood. Thus, this research aimed to explore the strategic drivers that offer significant solutions to the challenges facing start-up contractors in the South African construction industry. The review of the related literature revealed the strategic drivers and business survival characteristics that foster SMME economic sustainability and competitiveness in the construction market. The qualitative research approach that is rooted in the phenomenological paradigm was adopted for this study. Port Elizabeth, located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa was the selected geographical scope for this research. Thirty-four (34) construction organisations were purposively selected from the Port Elizabeth construction industry development board (cidb) register of contractors in grades 4-6. The purposive sampling technique was adopted in selecting respondents based on the snowball approach. The research data were collected through in-depth interviewing. It was found that the SMME contractors who succeeded in their first 5 years of operation possessed the following qualities: “fundamental educational qualifications”; “experience and knowledge of construction works”; “a clear understanding of competitive business strategies and characteristics”; “critical skills and multi-skills (functional project teams)”; and “rely on strategic resources, competencies and capabilities”. Also, the significant factors contributing to the SMME contractors’ competitiveness were: “entrepreneurship skills”; “innovation and technological skills”; “leadership skills”; “education, skills training, and investment in Research and Development (R&D)”; as well as “strategic-alliance advantage”. Moreover, globalisation and internationalisation, and government support have significant potential to impact on the success and sustainability of SMME contractors. Unfortunately, these factors are under-utilised or un-strategically adopted by most of the South African SMME contractors. The research has also developed a conceptual model for sustainable performance of SMMEs based on the results and informed by the theoretical framework. The research has also developed a business-survival strategy and model for SMME contractors in the South African construction industry. The study has achieved its aim of identifying the strategic business practices, models and concepts that the surviving and active SMME contractors employed to thrive within and beyond the first five years in the industry. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the start-ups and SMME contractors should gain an insightful and strategic business knowledge on how to develop and grow a competitive and economically sustainable organisation in the industry. This should form part of their competitive business strategic models, their business review plans; and set the benchmark for performance evaluation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Anugwo, Iruka Chijindu
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Construction industry -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15259 , vital:28194
- Description: The construction industry is one of the strategic sectors that drive the economic sustainability and competitiveness of any nation. However, the chronic business failure amongst the start-ups and Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the construction industry globally is of great concern to economic prosperity for both developed and developing countries. This challenge is significantly high in the South African construction industry, where SMMEs account for 95% of the business entities, of which about 80% are most likely to exit from the market within their first five years of operation. Previous studies in this field centred on the factors that lead to construction-business failure. However, the actual operational elements of surviving SMMEs have rarely been addressed and are little understood. Thus, this research aimed to explore the strategic drivers that offer significant solutions to the challenges facing start-up contractors in the South African construction industry. The review of the related literature revealed the strategic drivers and business survival characteristics that foster SMME economic sustainability and competitiveness in the construction market. The qualitative research approach that is rooted in the phenomenological paradigm was adopted for this study. Port Elizabeth, located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa was the selected geographical scope for this research. Thirty-four (34) construction organisations were purposively selected from the Port Elizabeth construction industry development board (cidb) register of contractors in grades 4-6. The purposive sampling technique was adopted in selecting respondents based on the snowball approach. The research data were collected through in-depth interviewing. It was found that the SMME contractors who succeeded in their first 5 years of operation possessed the following qualities: “fundamental educational qualifications”; “experience and knowledge of construction works”; “a clear understanding of competitive business strategies and characteristics”; “critical skills and multi-skills (functional project teams)”; and “rely on strategic resources, competencies and capabilities”. Also, the significant factors contributing to the SMME contractors’ competitiveness were: “entrepreneurship skills”; “innovation and technological skills”; “leadership skills”; “education, skills training, and investment in Research and Development (R&D)”; as well as “strategic-alliance advantage”. Moreover, globalisation and internationalisation, and government support have significant potential to impact on the success and sustainability of SMME contractors. Unfortunately, these factors are under-utilised or un-strategically adopted by most of the South African SMME contractors. The research has also developed a conceptual model for sustainable performance of SMMEs based on the results and informed by the theoretical framework. The research has also developed a business-survival strategy and model for SMME contractors in the South African construction industry. The study has achieved its aim of identifying the strategic business practices, models and concepts that the surviving and active SMME contractors employed to thrive within and beyond the first five years in the industry. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the start-ups and SMME contractors should gain an insightful and strategic business knowledge on how to develop and grow a competitive and economically sustainable organisation in the industry. This should form part of their competitive business strategic models, their business review plans; and set the benchmark for performance evaluation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The solvent-free approach versus the use of ionic liquids in the synthesis of ferrocenes
- Authors: Elago, Elago R T
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Ferrocene , Inorganic compounds -- Synthesis , Ionic solutions , Solvents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10396 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/853 , Ferrocene , Inorganic compounds -- Synthesis , Ionic solutions , Solvents
- Description: The philosophy of green chemistry has seen much development in the past decade. The use of environmentally benign solvents is amongst the areas of green chemistry that have received the most attention. In this context, imidazolium ionic liquids have been widely reported to offer high product yields, fast reaction rates, excellent selectivity and generally mild working conditions, when used as reaction media. In addition, concerns about costs of solvents and the long-term environmental impact that can potentially result when solvents are discarded after their use have led to focused investigations into solvent-free procedures, as reported in recent literature. We have set out to explore the extent to which these advantages could be realized within our research. Non-volatile, non-flammable imidazolium ionic liquids [bmim][I], [bmim][BF4] and [bmim][PF6] were used as green solvents in ferrocene chemistry. Ferrocenoate esters were synthesised efficiently by the respective DCC/DMAP-promoted reactions of ferrocenecarboxylic acid and substituted benzoic acids or, alternatively, the DMAP-promoted reactions of ferrocenoyl fluoride with a range of substituted phenols in [bmim][BF4] and [bmim][PF6]. High yields and short reaction times were achieved. In addition, the ionic liquid was reused several times without a reduction in product yields. Under solvent-free conditions, DCC/DMAP-promoted reactions provided high yields within 3 min of reaction. The possible rearrangement of one of the intermediates in these reactions was modelled theoretically using density function theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of approximation. Catalyst-free esterification was achieved by the application of microwave radiation to the reaction of ferrocenoyl fluoride and a range of substituted phenols. All the reactions were complete after 1 min of irradiation and products were isolated in high yield. DPAT, HfCl4, Sc(OTf)3 and Al(OTf)3 were screened as catalysts for esterification in [bmim][BF4] and under solvent-free conditions at various temperatures. All attempts at esterification of ferrocenecarboxylic acid with alcohols and phenols were unsuccessful. The Suzuki cross-coupling reaction was carried out in [bmim][BF4]. The isolated yields are, however, poor and suffer from poor reproducibility with different batches of [bmim][BF4] used.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Elago, Elago R T
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Ferrocene , Inorganic compounds -- Synthesis , Ionic solutions , Solvents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10396 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/853 , Ferrocene , Inorganic compounds -- Synthesis , Ionic solutions , Solvents
- Description: The philosophy of green chemistry has seen much development in the past decade. The use of environmentally benign solvents is amongst the areas of green chemistry that have received the most attention. In this context, imidazolium ionic liquids have been widely reported to offer high product yields, fast reaction rates, excellent selectivity and generally mild working conditions, when used as reaction media. In addition, concerns about costs of solvents and the long-term environmental impact that can potentially result when solvents are discarded after their use have led to focused investigations into solvent-free procedures, as reported in recent literature. We have set out to explore the extent to which these advantages could be realized within our research. Non-volatile, non-flammable imidazolium ionic liquids [bmim][I], [bmim][BF4] and [bmim][PF6] were used as green solvents in ferrocene chemistry. Ferrocenoate esters were synthesised efficiently by the respective DCC/DMAP-promoted reactions of ferrocenecarboxylic acid and substituted benzoic acids or, alternatively, the DMAP-promoted reactions of ferrocenoyl fluoride with a range of substituted phenols in [bmim][BF4] and [bmim][PF6]. High yields and short reaction times were achieved. In addition, the ionic liquid was reused several times without a reduction in product yields. Under solvent-free conditions, DCC/DMAP-promoted reactions provided high yields within 3 min of reaction. The possible rearrangement of one of the intermediates in these reactions was modelled theoretically using density function theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of approximation. Catalyst-free esterification was achieved by the application of microwave radiation to the reaction of ferrocenoyl fluoride and a range of substituted phenols. All the reactions were complete after 1 min of irradiation and products were isolated in high yield. DPAT, HfCl4, Sc(OTf)3 and Al(OTf)3 were screened as catalysts for esterification in [bmim][BF4] and under solvent-free conditions at various temperatures. All attempts at esterification of ferrocenecarboxylic acid with alcohols and phenols were unsuccessful. The Suzuki cross-coupling reaction was carried out in [bmim][BF4]. The isolated yields are, however, poor and suffer from poor reproducibility with different batches of [bmim][BF4] used.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The separation of platinum and gold from an industrial feed solution
- Authors: Louw, Talana
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Platinum -- Separation , Gold , Separation -- Technology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10400 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/731 , Platinum -- Separation , Gold , Separation -- Technology
- Description: In this thesis, the aim was to develop resins which are platinum and gold specific to be utilized for the early removal of these metals from the industrial feed. Efforts were therefore directed towards the synthesis of silica based resins with active centra which were designed for platinum and gold specificity respectively. The large chlorometallate ions in the feed stream were characterized in terms of physical parameters relevant to phase distribution namely distortability (RD), charge density, softness (σ) etc. Matching cations for each of the types were investigated. In order to attempt the design of platinum specific resins different structural amines were used to aminate the silicone precursor and subsequently to fix these onto the silica framework. Two different solvents i.e. alcohol and dmf were used for this process, resulting in two sets of resins with different properties. For gold specific resins, various polyethers were attached to a different type of silicone precursor, which was attached to the silica framework. The design was based on previous experience with these ions with reference to their behaviour towards different types of cations. The platinum species PtCl6 2- and PtCl4 2-, the gold species AuCl4 -, as well as the most important contaminants in the feed stream were typified bearing in mind size, charge, charge density and distortability. Different types of cationic centra having differences in charge density, stereochemical crowding and extent of hydrophobicity were synthesized and tested both as solvent extractants (where possible) and silica based resins. The results indicated that partly screened secondary ammonium cationic resin species, which could be regarded as “intermediate”, proved to be satisfactory both in their high percentage extraction for PtCl4 2- and rejection of contaminants like chlororhodates, chloroiridates(III) and FeCl4 -. It was, however, necessary to work at a redox potential where iridium(IV) in the form of IrCl6 2- is absent. Various 2-aminoalkane resins were prepared with variation in the length of alkane group and synthesized in the two different solvents. The latter resulted in two sets of resins with different compactness also having significantly different properties with reference to platinum specificity, HCl effect and stripping potential. The 2- aminobutane and 2-aminoheptane resins both proved to be very satisfactory platinum specific resins with respect to selectivity, platinum capacity and stripping potential. The various physical parameters could be utilized to accommodate the chemical behaviour. To obtain gold specific resins, experiments were performed with resins having oxygen-donor atoms which can readily be protonated to form onium type cations for example amides and ether oxygen atoms. In the case of the latter, various polyethers with a different number of ether groups (polyether groups linked by ethylene and propylene groups) and variations of hydrophobicity (by substitution) have also been studied. Linked to the polyether groups were alkane and aryl groups. Those having 8 to 10 ether groups and aromatic tail ends proved to be moderately successful in terms of gold capacity and sharp breakthrough curves of their columns, however, platinum could not be very effectively rejected.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Louw, Talana
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Platinum -- Separation , Gold , Separation -- Technology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10400 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/731 , Platinum -- Separation , Gold , Separation -- Technology
- Description: In this thesis, the aim was to develop resins which are platinum and gold specific to be utilized for the early removal of these metals from the industrial feed. Efforts were therefore directed towards the synthesis of silica based resins with active centra which were designed for platinum and gold specificity respectively. The large chlorometallate ions in the feed stream were characterized in terms of physical parameters relevant to phase distribution namely distortability (RD), charge density, softness (σ) etc. Matching cations for each of the types were investigated. In order to attempt the design of platinum specific resins different structural amines were used to aminate the silicone precursor and subsequently to fix these onto the silica framework. Two different solvents i.e. alcohol and dmf were used for this process, resulting in two sets of resins with different properties. For gold specific resins, various polyethers were attached to a different type of silicone precursor, which was attached to the silica framework. The design was based on previous experience with these ions with reference to their behaviour towards different types of cations. The platinum species PtCl6 2- and PtCl4 2-, the gold species AuCl4 -, as well as the most important contaminants in the feed stream were typified bearing in mind size, charge, charge density and distortability. Different types of cationic centra having differences in charge density, stereochemical crowding and extent of hydrophobicity were synthesized and tested both as solvent extractants (where possible) and silica based resins. The results indicated that partly screened secondary ammonium cationic resin species, which could be regarded as “intermediate”, proved to be satisfactory both in their high percentage extraction for PtCl4 2- and rejection of contaminants like chlororhodates, chloroiridates(III) and FeCl4 -. It was, however, necessary to work at a redox potential where iridium(IV) in the form of IrCl6 2- is absent. Various 2-aminoalkane resins were prepared with variation in the length of alkane group and synthesized in the two different solvents. The latter resulted in two sets of resins with different compactness also having significantly different properties with reference to platinum specificity, HCl effect and stripping potential. The 2- aminobutane and 2-aminoheptane resins both proved to be very satisfactory platinum specific resins with respect to selectivity, platinum capacity and stripping potential. The various physical parameters could be utilized to accommodate the chemical behaviour. To obtain gold specific resins, experiments were performed with resins having oxygen-donor atoms which can readily be protonated to form onium type cations for example amides and ether oxygen atoms. In the case of the latter, various polyethers with a different number of ether groups (polyether groups linked by ethylene and propylene groups) and variations of hydrophobicity (by substitution) have also been studied. Linked to the polyether groups were alkane and aryl groups. Those having 8 to 10 ether groups and aromatic tail ends proved to be moderately successful in terms of gold capacity and sharp breakthrough curves of their columns, however, platinum could not be very effectively rejected.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The role of transformative mediation in post-electoral violence: the case of Kenya 2007-2008
- Authors: Ondigo, Anne Achieng Oyier
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Political violence -- Kenya Conflict management -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12962 , vital:27138
- Description: Free and fair elections, accompanied by smooth transitions of democratically elected leaders, constitute one of the key pillars of democracy. The dawn of democratisation and advent of multi-party politics after the end of the Cold War in 1991, seemingly held great promise for Africa. However, in recent years, many elections in Africa have consistently become a source of violence. Electoral violence is threatening to become an intractable source of conflict on the African continent, making it hard for emerging democracies to consolidate their status as free democratic societies. Many remain largely autocratic or semi-democratic. African leaders are all too often not ready to relinquish political power, while political elites are ‘power hungry’ and use violence to skew the outcomes of elections in their favour. Hence, electoral violence is employed in order to manipulate civilian election choices and outcomes. Election violence is often deliberately used to target civilians, and in countries like Kenya involves inter-ethnic clashes. These “new wars” are fought unconventionally using ‘crude weapons’, (Kaldor 2013). Kaldor describes how these ‘new wars’ are fought as intra-state (within the state) wars in developing countries. Often, they are waged via state or county networks based on identity or ethnicity. The consequences of electoral violence include the destruction of property, reversed development, injuries, rape, death, internally displaced persons and refugees. Electoral violence persists despite attempts to contain it and measures to effectively manage these processes often prove to be inadequate. The study utilises an exploratory case study of Kenya during 2007-2008 Post-Election violence. The causes, the immediate steps that were initiated to mitigate violence and the reforms undertaken to generate peace structures and prevent future occurrences of post-election violence were explored. Forty-five participants representing involved citizens, negotiators and mediators were interviewed. The research was triangulated via the interview process, together with the use of primary document analysis and an extensive review of the literature. The data was analysed via the use of grounded theory. The research findings reveal that the causes of electoral violence are multi-faceted and multi-layered, with deep underlying issues. The causes include weak institutions, corruption, a non-representational electoral system, ethnicity and ethnic militia. Further causes include statelessness as experienced by certain groups, abuse of state resources and human rights violations. The role of political elites who withhold crucial information, thus denying the public the opportunity to make informed choices during elections was also found to contribute to electoral violence. Other information-related causes include biased media and sensational reporting. Findings also show that socio-economic issues such as poverty, unemployment, scarce resources and unmet basic human needs cannot be underestimated. Lastly, the causes of electoral violence included diverse interests of internal and external actors at play during elections. The findings revealed that although the Kenyan mediation process included the signing of a peace agreement, the root causes of electoral violence such as corruption, weak institutions, abuse of state resources and the unjust electoral system were not adequately addressed. A model for mediation for electoral violence which was explored and developed sought to build on the strengths of the Kenyan mediation process and address its inherent weaknesses, thus making this a significant contribution flowing from the study. The election model for mediation proposes certain key phases which include a pre-mediation process that will ensure a cessation of all hostilities; the mapping of the root causes of electoral violence and electoral reforms that provide resolutions that are acceptable to all the parties. Training of personnel at all levels of government to implement these reforms is also proposed. These measures can ensure the integrity and independence of electoral institutions from political manipulation. Training constitutes a crucial stage in the process of consolidating the emerging democracies. The model for mediation developed is therefore not only meant to mitigate electoral violence but is also intended to serve as a preventive measure. Many African states currently experience structural weaknesses similar to those that existed in Kenya before the 2007-2008 elections (and still persist). These fault lines include corruption, weak institutions, human rights violations, and lack of information. The proposed model for mediation which aims to counter these problems can thus be applied and adapted for implementation in Africa and globally. Several recommendations with implications for policy development are proposed to curb electoral violence. They include constitutional reforms, training of government and electoral officials and the introduction of a properly representational election system. This study, which focuses specifically on post-election violence, recommends further research investigating the pre-election phase, and ‘voting day’ causes of electoral violence for a more comprehensive approach to electoral violence research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ondigo, Anne Achieng Oyier
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Political violence -- Kenya Conflict management -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12962 , vital:27138
- Description: Free and fair elections, accompanied by smooth transitions of democratically elected leaders, constitute one of the key pillars of democracy. The dawn of democratisation and advent of multi-party politics after the end of the Cold War in 1991, seemingly held great promise for Africa. However, in recent years, many elections in Africa have consistently become a source of violence. Electoral violence is threatening to become an intractable source of conflict on the African continent, making it hard for emerging democracies to consolidate their status as free democratic societies. Many remain largely autocratic or semi-democratic. African leaders are all too often not ready to relinquish political power, while political elites are ‘power hungry’ and use violence to skew the outcomes of elections in their favour. Hence, electoral violence is employed in order to manipulate civilian election choices and outcomes. Election violence is often deliberately used to target civilians, and in countries like Kenya involves inter-ethnic clashes. These “new wars” are fought unconventionally using ‘crude weapons’, (Kaldor 2013). Kaldor describes how these ‘new wars’ are fought as intra-state (within the state) wars in developing countries. Often, they are waged via state or county networks based on identity or ethnicity. The consequences of electoral violence include the destruction of property, reversed development, injuries, rape, death, internally displaced persons and refugees. Electoral violence persists despite attempts to contain it and measures to effectively manage these processes often prove to be inadequate. The study utilises an exploratory case study of Kenya during 2007-2008 Post-Election violence. The causes, the immediate steps that were initiated to mitigate violence and the reforms undertaken to generate peace structures and prevent future occurrences of post-election violence were explored. Forty-five participants representing involved citizens, negotiators and mediators were interviewed. The research was triangulated via the interview process, together with the use of primary document analysis and an extensive review of the literature. The data was analysed via the use of grounded theory. The research findings reveal that the causes of electoral violence are multi-faceted and multi-layered, with deep underlying issues. The causes include weak institutions, corruption, a non-representational electoral system, ethnicity and ethnic militia. Further causes include statelessness as experienced by certain groups, abuse of state resources and human rights violations. The role of political elites who withhold crucial information, thus denying the public the opportunity to make informed choices during elections was also found to contribute to electoral violence. Other information-related causes include biased media and sensational reporting. Findings also show that socio-economic issues such as poverty, unemployment, scarce resources and unmet basic human needs cannot be underestimated. Lastly, the causes of electoral violence included diverse interests of internal and external actors at play during elections. The findings revealed that although the Kenyan mediation process included the signing of a peace agreement, the root causes of electoral violence such as corruption, weak institutions, abuse of state resources and the unjust electoral system were not adequately addressed. A model for mediation for electoral violence which was explored and developed sought to build on the strengths of the Kenyan mediation process and address its inherent weaknesses, thus making this a significant contribution flowing from the study. The election model for mediation proposes certain key phases which include a pre-mediation process that will ensure a cessation of all hostilities; the mapping of the root causes of electoral violence and electoral reforms that provide resolutions that are acceptable to all the parties. Training of personnel at all levels of government to implement these reforms is also proposed. These measures can ensure the integrity and independence of electoral institutions from political manipulation. Training constitutes a crucial stage in the process of consolidating the emerging democracies. The model for mediation developed is therefore not only meant to mitigate electoral violence but is also intended to serve as a preventive measure. Many African states currently experience structural weaknesses similar to those that existed in Kenya before the 2007-2008 elections (and still persist). These fault lines include corruption, weak institutions, human rights violations, and lack of information. The proposed model for mediation which aims to counter these problems can thus be applied and adapted for implementation in Africa and globally. Several recommendations with implications for policy development are proposed to curb electoral violence. They include constitutional reforms, training of government and electoral officials and the introduction of a properly representational election system. This study, which focuses specifically on post-election violence, recommends further research investigating the pre-election phase, and ‘voting day’ causes of electoral violence for a more comprehensive approach to electoral violence research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The role of security sector reform in post-conflict recovery: the case of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Authors: Nibishaka, Emmanuel
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Security sector -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Postwar reconstruction -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Peace-building -- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7753 , vital:23824
- Description: From 1990s, Security Sector Reform (SSR) has become a key component in international interventions in many countries in the aftermath of conflict. Currently, 17 UN peacekeeping missions are deployed with an SSR mandate, making SSR, an integral part of peacekeeping. Additionally, the growing consensus amongst donors and the United Nations regarding the necessity of implementing SSR for effective stabilisation and reconstruction in the aftermath of conflict made it evident that SSR has gained traction in peacebuilding and post-conflict activities as a major transformative measure needed in post-conflict recovery to achieve more sustainable, peaceful relationships and structures of governance in order to avoid a relapse into conflict. However, despite that recognition, deeper understanding of its actual implementation and empirical results of the existing programmes have yet to be fully documented. Many SSR implementation experiences in various post-conflict states have been mainly disappointing and yet there are not enough studies identifying structural and operational challenges faced by SSR actors (both local and external). Using the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where several SSR donor supported initiatives have been ongoing since 2003, this study investigated the effectiveness and sustainability of Security Sector Reform (SSR) in post-conflict recovery processes, as one of the key mechanisms to avoid relapse into conflict. In this study, diverse arguments and actual implementation practices of SSR interventions in the DRC were assessed against guidelines and principles in existing policy documents, and opinions in secondary sources. It emerged that the SSR processes in DRC had registered little success and faced systemic deficiencies needing remediation to truly contribute to DRC’s post-conflict recovery. Such deficiencies include: SSR programmes being implemented in an environment of chronic instability; incoherence and inconsistencies in external actors’ policies and practices; lack of political will both by the GoRDC and external actors; competition and rivalry amongst donors and external actors; and selectivity and lack of a holistic approach to peacebuilding. These shortfalls undermined efforts in building local ownership; and jeopardises the entire SSR process by negatively influencing prioritisation, accountability, and proper follow-up to ensure that the agreed plans and programmes have been implemented. The study concludes that current SSR programmes in the DRC are ill-suited and ill-designed to create a truly effective, accountable and sustainable security sector in as much as actors (both local and external) have mostly disregarded basic SSR underpinning principles that would have ensured the success of their programmes. They also paid little attention to other aspects of post-conflict peacebuilding such as broader governance reform, institutional and capacity building, impact of mineral resources, poverty reduction and the proliferation of armed groups when articulating SSR policies all of which could have laid the foundations for SSR to properly launch. The study recommends that current SSR donor practices are revisited to formulate an acceptable and achievable SSR strategy consistent with the reality on the ground. In this regard, the study argues that SSR should be viewed as an essential, but currently, insufficient condition to achieve lasting peace and security. It needs to be part of a broader democratisation and reform process in any post-conflict setting. Specifically, in DRC, the study recommends that in the absence of political will, international partners should leverage their direct financial contributions to persuade or even pressurise the Government into initiating structural reforms in all sectors that would ensure sustainable entry points for SSR. The study strongly recommends an overhaul of all DRC governance institutions to broadly align with post-conflict reforms, as no institutional foundations currently exist. The study also noted a lack of proper staffing within the UN SSR system and recommends the best way to respond to this particular challenge, including the appreciation and recruitment of experts from the Global South who are familiar with the realities on the ground.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Nibishaka, Emmanuel
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Security sector -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Postwar reconstruction -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Peace-building -- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7753 , vital:23824
- Description: From 1990s, Security Sector Reform (SSR) has become a key component in international interventions in many countries in the aftermath of conflict. Currently, 17 UN peacekeeping missions are deployed with an SSR mandate, making SSR, an integral part of peacekeeping. Additionally, the growing consensus amongst donors and the United Nations regarding the necessity of implementing SSR for effective stabilisation and reconstruction in the aftermath of conflict made it evident that SSR has gained traction in peacebuilding and post-conflict activities as a major transformative measure needed in post-conflict recovery to achieve more sustainable, peaceful relationships and structures of governance in order to avoid a relapse into conflict. However, despite that recognition, deeper understanding of its actual implementation and empirical results of the existing programmes have yet to be fully documented. Many SSR implementation experiences in various post-conflict states have been mainly disappointing and yet there are not enough studies identifying structural and operational challenges faced by SSR actors (both local and external). Using the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where several SSR donor supported initiatives have been ongoing since 2003, this study investigated the effectiveness and sustainability of Security Sector Reform (SSR) in post-conflict recovery processes, as one of the key mechanisms to avoid relapse into conflict. In this study, diverse arguments and actual implementation practices of SSR interventions in the DRC were assessed against guidelines and principles in existing policy documents, and opinions in secondary sources. It emerged that the SSR processes in DRC had registered little success and faced systemic deficiencies needing remediation to truly contribute to DRC’s post-conflict recovery. Such deficiencies include: SSR programmes being implemented in an environment of chronic instability; incoherence and inconsistencies in external actors’ policies and practices; lack of political will both by the GoRDC and external actors; competition and rivalry amongst donors and external actors; and selectivity and lack of a holistic approach to peacebuilding. These shortfalls undermined efforts in building local ownership; and jeopardises the entire SSR process by negatively influencing prioritisation, accountability, and proper follow-up to ensure that the agreed plans and programmes have been implemented. The study concludes that current SSR programmes in the DRC are ill-suited and ill-designed to create a truly effective, accountable and sustainable security sector in as much as actors (both local and external) have mostly disregarded basic SSR underpinning principles that would have ensured the success of their programmes. They also paid little attention to other aspects of post-conflict peacebuilding such as broader governance reform, institutional and capacity building, impact of mineral resources, poverty reduction and the proliferation of armed groups when articulating SSR policies all of which could have laid the foundations for SSR to properly launch. The study recommends that current SSR donor practices are revisited to formulate an acceptable and achievable SSR strategy consistent with the reality on the ground. In this regard, the study argues that SSR should be viewed as an essential, but currently, insufficient condition to achieve lasting peace and security. It needs to be part of a broader democratisation and reform process in any post-conflict setting. Specifically, in DRC, the study recommends that in the absence of political will, international partners should leverage their direct financial contributions to persuade or even pressurise the Government into initiating structural reforms in all sectors that would ensure sustainable entry points for SSR. The study strongly recommends an overhaul of all DRC governance institutions to broadly align with post-conflict reforms, as no institutional foundations currently exist. The study also noted a lack of proper staffing within the UN SSR system and recommends the best way to respond to this particular challenge, including the appreciation and recruitment of experts from the Global South who are familiar with the realities on the ground.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The role of conflict management in maintenance of discipline : the case of Kenya's public secondary schools
- Authors: Kibui, Agnes Wanja
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: School discipline -- Kenya , Discipline of children -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:16151 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020074
- Description: This study set out to establish the role of conflict Management in Maintenance of Discipline in Kenya’s Public Secondary Schools. The study formulated 6 objectives as follows: examine the nature of Conflict experienced in Public Secondary Schools in Kenya; establish how teachers and students perceive conflict in secondary schools; determine how teachers and students experience conflict in Secondary Schools; investigate the effectiveness of conflict Management Programmes used in Secondary Schools; discover suitable conflict management programmes to address present and future conflict in secondary schools; generate findings based on a theoretical approach for understanding and managing conflict in secondary schools with particular reference to schools in Kenya. The research was conducted in the form of a descriptive survey design with a mixed methods approach which combined qualitative research design and quantitative research technique. A sample of 649 Students, 16 secondary school head teachers, and 16 secondary school guidance and counseling officers from 4 provinces in Kenya was used to obtain data for the study. Random and purposive sampling techniques were used. Data was collected using questionnaires and structured interviews. Descriptive statistics such as mean, percentages, standard deviation, and frequencies was used to discuss the research findings. The study also used inferential statistics, particularly chi-square to test the significant statistical differences on the nature of conflict in schools, how students and teachers experience and perceive conflict in different categories of schools. From the findings, students witness conflict in form of theft, 51.7%, bullying, 29 percent, rumours and fights. Results from males and females indicate that drugs are abused in secondary schools (males (26.8%) and females (13.6 percent). All the respondents revealed that students take drugs to please their peers, and to release stress, and for adventure. On the effectiveness of conflict management programmes, a majority of students accept punishment when they break the school rules (80.0%) as they feel that punishments improve their behaviour. Most of the teachers had not had proper training in conflict management and some of them do not understand the role of peer mediation as they lack such programmes in their schools. The study concluded that failure to train teachers in conflict management skills, and to involve students in decision making causes conflict in schools. The study recommended that life skills, and peace keeping lessons should be taught in schools. In addition, head teachers and teachers should go for a refresher course in conflict management. Also, the study recommends that a comparative study should be done in a wider scope in secondary schools that experience conflict and those that do not, so as to get an insight of the suitable strategies needed to manage conflict in schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Kibui, Agnes Wanja
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: School discipline -- Kenya , Discipline of children -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:16151 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020074
- Description: This study set out to establish the role of conflict Management in Maintenance of Discipline in Kenya’s Public Secondary Schools. The study formulated 6 objectives as follows: examine the nature of Conflict experienced in Public Secondary Schools in Kenya; establish how teachers and students perceive conflict in secondary schools; determine how teachers and students experience conflict in Secondary Schools; investigate the effectiveness of conflict Management Programmes used in Secondary Schools; discover suitable conflict management programmes to address present and future conflict in secondary schools; generate findings based on a theoretical approach for understanding and managing conflict in secondary schools with particular reference to schools in Kenya. The research was conducted in the form of a descriptive survey design with a mixed methods approach which combined qualitative research design and quantitative research technique. A sample of 649 Students, 16 secondary school head teachers, and 16 secondary school guidance and counseling officers from 4 provinces in Kenya was used to obtain data for the study. Random and purposive sampling techniques were used. Data was collected using questionnaires and structured interviews. Descriptive statistics such as mean, percentages, standard deviation, and frequencies was used to discuss the research findings. The study also used inferential statistics, particularly chi-square to test the significant statistical differences on the nature of conflict in schools, how students and teachers experience and perceive conflict in different categories of schools. From the findings, students witness conflict in form of theft, 51.7%, bullying, 29 percent, rumours and fights. Results from males and females indicate that drugs are abused in secondary schools (males (26.8%) and females (13.6 percent). All the respondents revealed that students take drugs to please their peers, and to release stress, and for adventure. On the effectiveness of conflict management programmes, a majority of students accept punishment when they break the school rules (80.0%) as they feel that punishments improve their behaviour. Most of the teachers had not had proper training in conflict management and some of them do not understand the role of peer mediation as they lack such programmes in their schools. The study concluded that failure to train teachers in conflict management skills, and to involve students in decision making causes conflict in schools. The study recommended that life skills, and peace keeping lessons should be taught in schools. In addition, head teachers and teachers should go for a refresher course in conflict management. Also, the study recommends that a comparative study should be done in a wider scope in secondary schools that experience conflict and those that do not, so as to get an insight of the suitable strategies needed to manage conflict in schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013