The study examined the response of Lake Baringo's water levels to hydro-meteorological forcings and estimated lake water budget components. Hydroclimatic and lake water level data were obtained from satellite and ground stations in addition to in situ sampling. Data were analysed for long-term (1970-1995) and short-term (2008-2021) periods. Results of a water balance model indicated the river inflows contributed 74% and 71% to the lake storage during the 1970-1995 and 2008-2021 periods, respectively, while precipitation contributed 26% and 29% during the same periods. Of the water losses, evaporation contributed the most (64-79%) compared to water abstractions from tributaries (32-15%), and underground seepage (7-6%) over the long-term range (1970 to 2021). Sensitivity analysis showed lake levels to be highly responsive to hydro-meteorological variables. We recommend continuous monitoring of the water balance components, and integrated watershed management actions that sustain surface inflows into the lake.
Ce travail porte sur l'impact des produits forestiers non ligneux (PFNL) sur les revenus et la sécurité alimentaire des communautés vivant autour du Parc National de Kahuzi-Biega. L'objectif principal de cette étude était d’évaluer comment la récolte et la vente des PFNL influencent les revenus des familles et leur sécurité alimentaire. Pour ce faire, une enquête a été réalisée en sélectionnant un échantillon représentatif de récolteurs, commerçants et responsables communautaires dans les villages de Kamakombe, Kashenyi, Bishibiru (Bugorhe), Kahungu, Kabushwa, et Mabingu (Irhambi-Katana). Des entretiens semi-structurés ont permis de recueillir des informations détaillées sur les pratiques de récolte, les types de PFNL, les volumes récoltés, les prix de vente, ainsi que les revenus générés. L'impact sur la sécurité alimentaire a été évalué à travers un questionnaire sur les habitudes alimentaires des ménages, en analysant la fréquence des repas, la diversité des aliments consommés, et la satisfaction des besoins nutritionnels. L’analyse des inégalités dans la répartition des revenus a permis d’identifier si des groupes spécifiques, comme les femmes et les jeunes, bénéficient moins des PFNL. Les résultats montrent que la récolte des PFNL joue un rôle clé dans la sécurité alimentaire et les revenus des communautés, bien que des disparités existent entre les différentes zones étudiées. Le travail suggère qu’une meilleure organisation des filières de PFNL et un soutien institutionnel accru sont nécessaires pour améliorer leur impact sur le développement des communautés.
Women play crucial roles in the emergence of societies worldwide, but due to customary barriers and traditional practices are neglected, leading to objectification and relegation to substitution for men, feeding, family care, domestic income generation responsibilities, with limited authority over natural resource management. The study analysed the level of involvement of rural women in natural resources management in the Basimukuma grouping. Data were collected from a sample of 246 participants from 7 villages, through questionnaires and focus group discussions. 68% of the surveyed were women with a primary education basis (39%), working daily as farmers (61.3%), aged 40.1±6.8. Factors such as duality of laws and customary practices, illiteracy, prejudices, stereotypes, lack of knowledge of legal instruments, and women’s natural inferiority complex, the sociological and cultural environment are barriers to rural women's participation and empowerment. The results show that women are active in agricultural fieldwork, spending (4.1 ± 1 .3) hours compared to men (1.4±0.5), for specific fields of operation in irrigation, tree cutting, and land clearing operations. Household income allocation decision is made by men (75.6%) while extraction of natural resources activities are women-led, spending an average of 2.8±0.3 hours compared to men (0.6±0.1). 84% of respondents recognise the under-representation of women in the decision-making process in natural resource management. In surveyed villages, there is a critically low proportion of women in the village council deciding on the exploitation of natural resources. Except for CBOs in ANANDA and MKELA, where 98% of members are women, the majority of decision-makers, agents and members are men in other villages. Actions should be taken to address the illiteracy burden, advocate for women's empowerment, quota insertion, and promote entitlement for women to full control resources they are tributary to. The study engaged with village councils, leaders, CBOs, women, and men, through focus groups and surveys to gather involvement insights from different perspectives.
La gouvernance des microfinances dépend fortement de la qualité des décisions prises par leurs dirigeants, où l’information comptable joue un rôle central. Cet article examine la considération de l’information comptable dans la prise de décision au sein des microfinances en RDC, à partir de l’étude de dix institutions formelles à Butembo sur la période 2018–2023.Une approche quantitative a été adoptée, combinant analyse documentaire et exploitation des comptes rendus annuels. Les variables étudiées comprennent le nombre de comptes rendus, la compétence des dirigeants en gestion financière, l’intérêt porté aux états financiers et le nombre de décisions nécessitant des informations comptables. Les analyses statistiques, dont la corrélation de Spearman et l’ANOVA, ont permis de mesurer les relations et différences entre catégories et formes juridiques.Les résultats montrent que les décisions stratégiques et opérationnelles reposent largement sur l’information comptable. Les sociétés de microfinance utilisent systématiquement les états financiers, tandis que les COOPEC mutualistes, bien que réguliers dans la production des comptes rendus, les exploitent moins systématiquement. La compétence des dirigeants est un facteur clé.Implications : renforcement des compétences managériales, utilisation systématique des états financiers et amélioration de la gouvernance.
Grammar is a core component of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), yet traditional teacher-centred instruction often hinders learner engagement and impedes mastery. This study investigated the impact of the Active Learning Approach (ALA) on secondary school EFL learners’ grammar achievement in Uvira Territory, eastern DRC. It employed a quantitative, experimental design. It recruited forty-eight fifth-form learners aged between 16-24 (M=17.96 and SD=2.113) who were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group. Both groups completed a researcher-made Grammaticality Judgement Test (α=.781) as pre- and post-tests. The experimental group received a three-week treatment of five sessions each. Normality analyses (p=.017 and p=.076) indicated the need for a non-parametric test to compare group outcomes. The Mann-Whitey U test revealed that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control (p< .001), demonstrating the effectiveness of ALA in enhancing grammar instruction. Additionally, a one-way ANOVA analysis comparing lower-intermediate, upper-intermediate, and advanced proficiency levels (respective normality: p=.061, .830, .086) showed no statistically significant differences, indicating that the ALA raised learners’ grammar achievement equally regardless of initial proficiency. These results highlight the pedagogical value of integrating active, learner-centred strategies in grammar instruction, suggesting that it fosters engagement, motivation, and improves linguistic competence across diverse learner profiles. The study contributes to the growing evidence supporting ALA in EFL education and underscores its applicability in secondary school contexts. Although limited by a small sample and short duration, focusing on two grammar structures, this study provides valuable evidence for the effectiveness of ALA in EFL education and underscores its applicability in secondary schools.
