University of Zambia Online Research Repository
Not a member yet
8755 research outputs found
Sort by
Livelihood diversification to combat climate change effects in Sachitema chiefdom, Kalomo district.
Get PDFEmpirical evidence from a variety of different locations suggest that livelihoods diversification is happening. Rural households do indeed engage in multiple activities and rely on diversified income portfolios in order to increase their resilience to climate change effects (Ellis, 1997). In sub-Saharan Africa, a range of 30–50 per cent reliance on non-farm income sources is common; but it may attain 80–90 per cent in southern Africa. In view of these concerns, the study aimed at investigating the extent to which livelihood diversification strategies adopted by people in Siachitema Chiefdom have contributed to combating effects of climate change. The study used mixed-method approach and convergent parallel design was employed. A total of 200 randomly sampled smallholder farmers from Siachitema chiefdom were interviewed. The objectives were: (a) To rate the severity of the effects of climate change on identified livelihood, (b) To assess the livelihood diversification strategies adopted by residents of Siachitema to withstand climate change effects, (c) To analyze the contribution of livelihood diversification strategies to household food security. The research questions were: (a) what livelihoods are common among residents of Siachitema? (b) How severe are the effects of climate change on local livelihoods in Siachitema Chiefdom? (c) What livelihoods diversification strategies have been adopted by residents of Siachitema Chiefdom to combat climate change effects? (d) To what extent do livelihoods diversification strategies contribute to household food security? Further, 10 key informants were purposively sampled. The Least Square Difference (LSD), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Spearman Rank Correlation were used to analyze quantitative data. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The data were closely examined to identify common themes and patterns arising from the data set. Analysis of collected data revealed that climate change had very severe effects on common livelihoods, particularly on crop and livestock farming. The effects of climate change on the common livelihoods involved stunted growth of crops, reduced soil moisture content, increase in pests and pathogens, crop failure, decrease in crop yields, and destruction of crops by intermittent floods. The effects on livestock farming included, increase in temperature; shortage of fresh water, shortage of forage, mastitis, a disease which caused inflammation of the udder, foot root, increased death of livestock, and heat stress. Effects on gardening included: shortage of water to support growth of vegetables, increase in temperature which destroyed vegetables. Residents of Siachitema chiefdom diversified their livelihoods in order to combat the
effects of climate change. The diversification of livelihoods was categorized into (i) On-farm: iv Conservation agriculture (Ripping and Ground Basin), 45% of smallholder farmers interviewed adopted conservation agriculture. Ripping the land allowed for minimum tillage, potholing (ground basins) involved digging big and small holes respectively on the ground, planting early maturing crops had 100% adoption rate, planting drought tolerant crops 60% adoption rate, keeping small ruminants 80% adoption rate ,intercropping 73% adoption rate, application of cow dung as fertilizer 27% adoption rate, migrating animals to places with water and forage 54% adoption rate; (ii) Non-farm: engaging in piece works in urban areas had 47% adoption rate, molding bricks 26% adoption rate, engaging in village banking 18% adoption, registering for social cash transfer 32% adoption, petty trading 41% adoption, charcoal burning 39% adoption; brick laying 21% adoption rate (iii) Off-farm: doing piece works in other people’s farms 12%
adoption. The adopted strategies made significant contribution to household food security. Diversification helped farmers to improve their food security situation better than it was before they started diversifying. Diversification of crops in particular had a positive and significant effect on household food security. It is concluded that the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Siachitema chiefdom are affected by impacts of climate change. Changes in climate has an impact on the livelihoods of farmers through recurrent drought, high temperatures and occasional floods. Smallholder farmers resorted to diversifying their livelihoods in order to increase income generation and ensure sustainability. The study recommends that Government should consider subsidizing the prices of magoye rippers. This will promote increased adoption of conservation farming and increase smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change effects. Government through Ministry of local Government and rural development should consider providing soft loans to smallholder farmers at low interest rate. This will promote non-farm activities such as business and subsequently reduce reliance on on-farm activities which have been threatened by climate change. In terms of policy direction, there is need to establish climate change and food security network and developing a comprehensive communication plan to share information with regards to climate change effects, vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation. Further, conservation agriculture should not only focus on technical approaches to increase adoption rates but also consider the social aspects like perceptions
Bridging the gap: addressing the disparity between higher education knowledge and industry needs.
Get PDFArticleJob mismatch, which has been described as a discrepancy between skills possessed by individuals
and those demanded by the labor market, has become a prevalent issue with significant implications
for individuals, organizations, and society at large. This paper explores the causes and consequences
of job mismatch and proposes strategies to address this challenge. Drawing on existing literature
and personal experiences, the paper highlights the role of technological advancements, inadequate
education and training systems, and changing job requirements in contributing to job mismatch. It
discusses the adverse effects of job mismatch on individuals' job satisfaction, productivity, overall
well-being, and its impact on organizations' performance and the economy. To mitigate job
mismatch, the paper suggests collaborative efforts between training institutions and employers,
increased investment in employee training and development, and the use of comprehensive skills
assessment tools. By implementing these strategies, individuals can acquire the necessary skills,
organizations can optimize their workforce, and societies can foster inclusive and sustainable
economic growth. This paper provides insights into the complex issue of job mismatch and offers
practical recommendations for policymakers, employers, and individuals to tackle this challenge
and create a better-aligned labor market
Major consideration in developing construction labour productivity standards in Zambia: a quantity surveyors perspective.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Engineering Degree in Construction Management.Recent studies have revealed that projects performance in Zambian Construction Industry is below satisfactory. Since labour is one of the key construction inputs, construction labour productivity is among the major determinants of projects’ success in ZCI. However, before making attempts to improve CLP, there is need to have CLP standards for consistent measurement, estimation and evaluation of CLP. Therefore, this study aimed at establishing the major considerations in developing CLP standards in Zambia. Literature was reviewed and questionnaires were administered to Contractors, Quantity Surveyor professional firms and statutory bodies. Probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used in selecting target groups and determine sample sizes. Information gathered was analysed using frequency tables, chai-square and regression test. The following were the study results: The reliability of CLP estimation and evaluation in ZCI was highly questionable as estimators rely on their individual experience and historical productivity data due to lack of CLP standards. Major considerations in developing CLP standards in Zambia include; major resources required for optimal CLP (labour, materials and tools/equipment) and factors related to work, workers and management that influence CLP. Further, the process of CLP standards development can be initiated by government bodies or other relevant stakeholders and would require the formulation of Standard Development Technical Committee to conduct the consultative process. As such, the following recommendations were made: The process of CLP standards development in Zambia should be facilitated by Zambia Bureau of Standards as
the mandated statutory body. SDTC must conduct detailed studies on factors that influence CLP in ZCI and must employ the principle of averaging to ascertain ideal CLP rates as standards. Stakeholders or experts from various sectors must be adequately represented in SDTC for CLP standards development in Zambia. Government should consider financing the development and publication of CLP standards in Zambia. If successfully developed, CLP standards must be reviewed periodically so as to ascertain the need for revision at any particular time
Effectiveness of girls’ education programmes in senior secondary schools of Zambia: a case of Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) interventions in Senanga district.
Get PDFArticleThe study sought to assess the effectiveness of girls’ education empowerment program in senior secondary schools in Senanga district in Western Province of Zambia. Following a qualitative approach with descriptive statistics AGAPE project was assessed on its key indicators. A total 220 beneficiaries of the programme being studied were systematically selected and 18 key informants were purposively recruited to the study respectively. Data was collected using structured questionnaires for pupils and open-ended interview guide with key informants. SPSS was used to analyse quantitative data, while qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. Ethical clearance was sought from Kwame Nkrumah University Ethics Committee in Zambia.
The findings show that the key factors affecting girls’ access to education established in this study are; financial barriers, gender perceptions, distance to school and menstrual and sexual harassment. The study has revealed that CHAZ interventions in supporting girls’ education had modest positive impacts on sexual and reproductive health knowledge, reduced truancy and improved academic performance among girls.
The study recommends that the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services come up with policies that support increased education support to girls. The Government of the Republic of Zambia together with its stakeholders should increase efforts to ensure that vulnerable communities especially in the rural areas are educated on the importance of girls' education. The Government and all stakeholders need to provide and strengthen the provision of bursaries to vulnerable, orphaned and girl children in schools. There’s also need for deliberate policies for the effectively implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education as a standalone in schools, unlike the way it is taught in carrier subjects
An analysis of the use of project finance in Zambia infrastructure projects : the case of Maamba Collieries.
Get PDFThesisProject Finance has been regarded as a one-stop-shop capable of addressing the gaps
in infrastructure financing of most countries. In Zambia, much has been talked about
regarding the need for the country to improve its infrastructure. Stakeholders in
development have realized that infrastructure is an essential driver of competitiveness
which is critical for ensuring the effective functioning of any economy and the
country must have basic reliable infrastructure, among others; airports, road
networks, railway lines, energy generation, and transmission installations, and
telecommunication infrastructure. This research analyzed the use of project finance
in Zambia’s infrastructure projects using Maamba Collieries as a case study. This
research adopted a qualitative approach and interviews were used as the data
collection method from a total of twenty (20) key informants. Data was analyzed
using thematic analysis. Hence, having explored the relevant body of literature, the
targeted institutions included Maamba Collieries Limited as it used project finance
in developing the power project, a deal described as the project finance deal of the
year 2016, financial institution which was the source of long term debt financing, an
investment promotion and facilitation agency, an energy regulatory body, a state
energy utility company, and a unit responsible for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)
as they all represent government a host to project finance deals. The research findings
sufficiently supported the use of project finance to close Zambia’s infrastructure gap.
The experts who were interviewed had no doubt that project finance is an appropriate
financing model to develop the country’s infrastructure. The growth of project finance
in Zambia is constrained by factors such as; the lack of financial resources dedicated
to PPP projects, unclear guidelines and regulations to both authorities and the private
sector, as well as inadequate expertise in areas such as economics, law and finance in
the government departments Nevertheless, the findings of this research also revealed
that the cornerstone of the success and continued use of project finance depends on
political will and policy consistency.
KEYWORDS: Project Finance; Special Purpose Vehicle; infrastructure; Corporate
Finance; Energ
Assisted artificial intelligence medical diagnosis system for heart disease.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Computer ScienceIn recent years, the expanding array of innovative applications in the medical domain has been instrumental in propelling research forward. Among these advancements, Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems have emerged as influential tools, significantly contributing to the development of various medical applications and tools. However, heart disease remains a pressing health concern globally, highlighting the critical need for accurate diagnosis to enable effective regulation and intervention. This study focuses on harnessing the capabilities of an AI system to enhance the diagnostic process for heart disease. By leveraging input medical data sourced from a well-established dataset on Kaggle, the developed AI application is tailored specifically to cater to the demographic characteristics of Zambian patients. The primary objective is to evaluate the model's predictive accuracy when applied to medical data from the Zambian population. To facilitate this assessment, 80% of the collected dataset is allocated for training purposes, with the remaining 20% reserved for testing. Central to the prediction process is the utilization of a Bayesian data-mining algorithm, which plays a pivotal role in forecasting the risk level and likelihood of heart disease. An extensive array of medical parameters, including blood sugar levels, sex, heart rate, age, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, presence of exercise-induced angina, ST-slope, oldpeak, resting electrocardiogram results, and chest pain type, serves as the foundation for predicting heart disease in patients. Following a meticulous pre-processing phase, supervised learning techniques are employed to craft a robust prediction model. The outcomes of this process reveal a commendable prediction accuracy of 90.97%. Comparative analysis with established algorithms such as KNN, Random Forest, and Decision Tree algorithms further validates the efficacy of the proposed AI system in medical diagnosis. This study not only emphasizes the effectiveness of AI systems in medical diagnosis but also contributes valuable insights to the ongoing efforts to combat heart disease. The integration of data mining, artificial intelligence, and predictive modeling presents a promising avenue for advancing healthcare practices and outcomes, particularly in regions like Zambia grappling with cardiovascular health challenges. Achieving an 89% accuracy rate demonstrates the model's ability to adapt to Zambian patients' traits, while incorporating real-world data from the National Heart Hospital enhances its credibility. This validation underscores the potential of AI-driven diagnostic systems to improve healthcare and patient outcomes.
Keywords: Heart Disease, Artificial Intelligence, Bayesian Classification, Prediction Model, Supervised Learning Techniques, Data Mining Algorithm
Assessing the impact of the response to gender based violence (GBV) interventions in Gwembe district.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Public HealthBackground: Records at the Victim Support Unit (VSU) of the Zambia Police Service show that reported GBV cases annually from 2012 indicate an upward increase from 12,924 cases in 2012 to 18,080 in 2015, and 22,073 cases in 2018, to 25,121 cases in 2019, while in 2020 cases shot to 26,370 before showing a slight drop to 20,540 in 2021. (www.zambiapolice.gov.zm). Main objective: To assess the effectiveness of the response to Gender based violence interventions
against women and girls in Gwembe district. Method: A quantitative cross sectional survey that was “Assessing the impact of the response to Gender Based Violence (GBV) intervention in Gwembe District-Zambia’’ The study was a descriptive cross-sectional in nature where a multistage random sampling procedure was used to select 8 wards and 16 villages. A systematic sampling was used to determine household interval in each village. A total of 102 respondents had either experienced or survived GBV in Gwembe district plus 17 key informants (implementers/stakeholders) comprised the sample under study. The study used semi-structured questionnaires to collect primary data. The study report is presented using descriptive statistics namely, frequencies and percentages.
The findings were as follows: women realization of corporal punishment as being abuse stood at 89.9%, while whether GBV cases had declined in Gwembe district declined was 76.5%. However, reporting of cases of abuse to VSU stood at only 9.8%. With regard to impact of the response interventions against GBV in Gwembe district, efforts to bring the perpetrators to book by VSU was (10) 100% of 10 survivors, however the (92) 90.2% of 102 survivors did not report their abuse to VSU but handled the abuse domestically, usually by survivors’ relatives who charged the perpetrator with an animal e.g cow or some goats. The study found a significant relationship between distance and reporting of abuse to VSU as the majority of women (72) 70.6% of 102 women who survived GBV lived within 5km radius, while survivors that lived beyond 15 km accounted for (22) 21.6 %, thus distance was a hindrance to reporting of cases. The study recommends that Government and cooperating: i. Establish a GBV response centre within Gwembe valley. ii. To consider establishing a GBV one stop centre in Gwembe
Enterprise risk management (ERM) performance strategies of national water and sanitation council of Zambia (2010 – 2022).
Get PDFMaster of Business Administration in Finance.Scholars have argued that although Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is a necessity to organizations or companies, the rate of implementation is still low (Mc Neil, 2015). The problem however, remains that most authors have not specifically looked at the effects of Enterprise Risk management processes on the performance of public regulatory bodies such as NWASCO. Therefore, this study sought to evaluate the effects of Enterprise Risk Management Strategies on the problems that affect the performance of the National Water Supply and Sanitation Council in Zambia. To pursue the study objectives, the study adopted a mixed research approach in which both qualitative and quantitative research designs were used. It also used a scientific survey design for the target population of 200 people were the sample size was selected from. The sample consisted of 20 managers and 44 officers who were purposively selected from the National water and sanitation company body and the three (3) utility companies’ Finance, Audit and Risk management departments. The data collected was analysed using the content analysis for qualitative data and Advanced Microsoft excel data analysis for quantitative data. From the study findings, most of the information given by the respondents indicated that there is no specific ERM framework being used by NWASCO after analysis and interviews with management as well as other respondents. Findings also revealed lack of knowledge on Risk Management being used by NWASCO in their operations. The organisation has not employed a qualified risk officer and it does not have a Risk department which looks into the company risks independently. However, NWASCO has not adequately put in place measures that would lead to a reduction in its exposure to risk to achieve the objectives, these measures included but not limited to; the Provision of incentives for service providers who comply with regulations set by NWASCO, Penalties For non-compliance to regulations, Community involvement and Audit-based regulation approach. The study recommended that NWASCO should develop and implement an appropriate ERM framework at strategic and operational level, which can offer exceptional value if it is soundly applied. This can help in identifying, categorizing, analysing and prioritising and treatment of risks at operational and strategic levels. Effective ERM risk framework adoption and implementation at Board level and operational levels should be based on a strong risk culture and risk profiling which requires the sponsorship of the executives in the company. In addition, the aggregation of risk information needs to be performed according to clear rules that everyone would understand and abide by.
Key words: Enterprise, Enterprise Risk Management, Performance Risk and NWASCO