It operates as a network, open to all organisations, including government institutions, agencies of the United Nations, bi- and multi-lateral development banks, professional associations, research institutions, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector.
Tobacco cultivation in Tanzania is frequently linked to deforestation, increasing the risk of desertification and land degradation. To mitigate these effects, decades-long afforestation campaigns have been implemented. However, the effectiveness of these efforts remains understudied, which hinders our understanding of their sustainability and replicability. This study explored the efficacy of these afforestation campaigns, usually conducted in woodlots by analyzing seven decades (1950s to 2020s) of changes in land use and land cover (LULC) in Urambo, Uyui, and Kaliua districts, which are the leading tobacco production areas. LULC classification relied on open-source data and software, utilizing Quantum GIS and Landsat imagery for 2000 and 2020, as well as country's topographical maps of 1956 and 1976. This study adopted cadastral surveying coupled with digitization of satellite images to estimate area cover of woodlots. The study revealed a 62% decline in forest cover from 28,985 in 1956 to 8,811 sq. km in 2020. This decline is largely due to population growth, which has increased demand for land for settlement and shifting cultivation, leading to more bush and grassland. However, afforestation campaigns have deemed ineffective, as the total area reforested (455 out of 32,715 sq. km) is significantly less than the annual rate of forest loss (315 sq. km per year). The inefficiency of afforestation efforts is partly attributed to the widespread planting of eucalyptus trees, an exotic species that offers limited benefits to farmers, making it an unpopular choice for wood production, including tobacco curing. This study highlights the importance of using productive species Gmelina arborea (beechwood tree) in woodlots, implementing clear fallow periods, and efficient harvesting cycles in plantation forests to ensure regeneration and maintain a balanced ecosystem.
The nuanced nature of the changes in the contemporary business environment has introduced new waves of challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurship. This can be in the form of expanding globalisations, emerging market trends, proliferation of artificial intelligence and digital technologies as well as social, economic and political dynamics of nations. This study assessed the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship in developing economies using Nigeria as a case study. The study employed qualitative research approach using interviews from 20 participants selected using purposive sampling procedure. The study was conducted through exploratory research design with primary data collected through semi-structured interview and analysis was through themes and premises. The findings showed that the challenges of entrepreneurship are situated within the context of financial, infrastructural, institutional and socio-cultural. Also, the study demonstrated that entrepreneurs have immense opportunities before them in developing economies in Nigeria because of population growth, untapped market, digital penetrations and advancements as well as urbanisation. The study concluded that the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship in Nigeria is based on the delicate balance between localisation and globalisation. It was recommended from this study that there should be increased development of entrepreneurship ecosystem through combined effort of actors such as government, non-government organisations, private sector and academics. It was also suggested that accessibility to finance, strengthening institutions and developing infrastructure would pave the way to more profitable and sustainable enterprises in developing economies.
Судалгаанаас үзэхэд сүүлийн жилүүдэд усны нөөц бохирдсоор байна. Ахуйн болон үйлдвэрийн гаралтай бохир ус цэвэрлэх байгууламжууд хаягдал усны стандартад хүртэл усаа цэвэрлэж чадахгүйгаас гадна, гэр хорооллын нүхэн жорлон, муу усны нүх, хуурай хог хаягдлыг ил задгай хаяснаас бохирдуулагч эх үүсвэрүүдийн тоо хэмжээ буурахгүй байгаа нь орчны бохирдлын гол шалтгаан нөхцлийг бүрдүүлж байна. Монгол улсын Үндэсний хөгжлийн цогц бодлого, “Ногоон” хөгжлийн хөтөлбөр, Тогтвортой хөгжлийн зорилтуудыг хэрэгжүүлэхийн тулд “төрийн институцийн тогтолцоог” хамгийн оновчтой зөв зохион байгуулснаар орчны бохирдлыг тууштай бууруулах эрх зүй, эдийн засгийн хөшүүрэг механизм бүрдэж, төр, шинжлэх ухаан үйлдвэрлэл, бизнессийн “алтан гурвалжин”-д түшиглэн техник, технологи инновацийг хөхүүлэн дэмжих замаар усны салбарын зарим тулгамдсан асуудлууд шийдвэрлэгдэх боломж байдаг. Хэдийгээр манай улсад бохирдлын хяналт мониторингийн нэгдсэн сүлжээ байхгүй боловч, стандарт бус бохирдолтой ахуйн болон үйлдвэр, хур борооны бохир усыг дахин ашиглах хэмжээнд цэвэршүүлэх үндэсний технологийг бий болгох зорилготой туршилт судалгаа, инновацийг нэвтрүүлэхээр зорьсон ажлын үр дүнг танилцуулах нь усны нөөцийг бохирдлоос хамгаалах, усыг дахин ашиглах замаар нөөцийг арвижуулах, нэмэгдүүлэх, усны цогц менежментийг хөгжүүлэхэд ач холбогдолтой гэж үзлээ. Манай улсад ногоон технологийн нэг индикатор болсон “ус дахин ашиглах коэффициент”, “бохирдлын ачаалал”зэргийг тодорхойлсон арга зүй, тооцоо судалгаа байхгүй, бохир усыг дахин ашиглах хэмжээнд хүртэл цэвэршүүлэх технологийн судалгааны үр дүнг баталгаажуулах тогтолцоог бий болгох шаардлагатай юм.
Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) forms a critical component of ensuring access to adequate and equitable sanitation for all, as outlined in SDG 6.2. Despite its importance, little is known about MHM in Malawi, particularly at a household level. Through a household survey of MHM within 2 districts, we evaluated the type of menstrual absorbents used by people who menstruate. Reusable cloths/rags were the most used menstrual absorbent, used by 79.5% of respondents, whilst disposable absorbents, such as tampons and sanitary pads, were used by 18.6% of respondents. Appropriate MHM also incorporates adequate management of MHM materials, including the washing and drying of reusable menstrual absorbents. We evaluated the cleaning of reusable menstrual absorbents; most respondents (90.1%) reported appropriate washing of menstrual absorbents using soap and water, however only 20.3% reported that menstrual absorbents were dried outside in the sun (as is best practise) with most reporting that reusable menstrual absorbents were dried inside their homes. Our findings highlight the need for improved MHM within Malawi, not only in the access and affordability of appropriate menstrual absorbents but also the promotion of appropriate washing and drying of menstrual absorbents. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This research was funded by the Scottish Government under the Scottish Government Climate Justice Fund Water Futures Programme research grant HN-CJF-03 awarded to the University of Strathclyde (R.M. Kalin). Funding was also received from the Scottish Government for the joint PhD studentship of R.G.K Hinton between the James Hutton Institute and the University of Strathclyde. The data collection process was funded by CARE with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Not Applicable The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study. All data collected was in line with the Government of Malawi ethics and was agreed with each participant. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Not Applicable I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Not Applicable I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Not Applicable Confidential data were provided by the Government of Malawi and CARE. All data summarised is provided here.
This Commentary reports on the pressures posed by climate change to the living habits of some African communities and outlines some of the adaptation strategies currently deployed. It also describes how resources such as plants, leaves and roots are used in inhospitable environments, as responses to the changing climate conditions.
