13 research outputs found
The Brazilian bolsa escola. Lessons for conditional cash transfer schemes around the world
No full textThe Bolsa Escola (‘school stipend’) and its successor the Bolsa Familia (‘family stipend’) schemes have formed a crucial and successful part of Brazil’s welfare program. Bolsa Escola provided aid to Brazil’s poorest families on the condition that their children attended school, and Bolsa Familia has extended this idea, giving aid on the condition that children both attend school and receive vaccinations. Bolsa Familia is currently the largest Conditional Cash Transfer Program (CCTP) in the world, costing roughly 0.5% of Brazilian GDP and helping around 11.2 million families (around 44 million Brazilians, constituting roughly one fifth of the population). Multilateral institutions have praised the schemes, and they are setting a leading example to other developing nations. In 2005, Paul Wolfowitz (former president of the World Bank) said, ‘Bolsa Familia has already become a highly praised model of effective social policy. Countries around the world are drawing lessons from Brazil’s experience and are trying to produce the same results for their own people
The ethical aspects of designing a healthcare waste management research proposal.
No full textThis paper reviews some of the ethical implications of researching in the field of healthcare waste management. The ethical aspects of research need to be considered from the outset in any project that involves people, and it is the responsibility of the researcher to ensure that no-one is harmed physically, psychologically or socially as a result of the research. In addition to this responsibility, in the UK, where research involves National Health Service (NHS) staff or NHS premises current protocol requires that specific ethical approval is required before it can be undertaken. To illustrate the issues raised by ethical considerations, the paper details the process of applying for ethical approval from the host institution, the University of Northampton, and the NHS. Both the barriers encountered during the process and positive aspects of working within the research governance framework are considered. Issues of informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality are discussed and placed in the context of research into waste management behaviours. Finally, a view is put forward on how the stringency of the system of applying for NHS ethical approval is currently affecting the research agenda in healthcare waste management in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR
The Brazilian bolsa escola. Lessons for conditional cash transfer schemes around the world
No full textThe Bolsa Escola (‘school stipend’) and its successor the Bolsa Familia (‘family stipend’) schemes have formed a crucial and successful part of Brazil’s welfare program. Bolsa Escola provided aid to Brazil’s poorest families on the condition that their children attended school, and Bolsa Familia has extended this idea, giving aid on the condition that children both attend school and receive vaccinations. Bolsa Familia is currently the largest Conditional Cash Transfer Program (CCTP) in the world, costing roughly 0.5% of Brazilian GDP and helping around 11.2 million families (around 44 million Brazilians, constituting roughly one fifth of the population). Multilateral institutions have praised the schemes, and they are setting a leading example to other developing nations. In 2005, Paul Wolfowitz (former president of the World Bank) said, ‘Bolsa Familia has already become a highly praised model of effective social policy. Countries around the world are drawing lessons from Brazil’s experience and are trying to produce the same results for their own people
Stakeholder-driven transformative adaptation is needed for climate-smart nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa - author correction
No full textImproving nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa under increasing climate risks and population growth requires a strong and contextualized evidence base. Yet, to date, few studies have assessed climate-smart agriculture and
nutrition security simultaneously. Here we use an integrated assessment framework (iFEED) to explore stakeholder-driven scenarios of food system transformation towards climate-smart nutrition security in Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. iFEED translates climate–food–emissions
modelling into policy-relevant information using model output implication statements. Results show that diversifying agricultural production towards more micronutrient-rich foods is necessary to achieve an adequate population-level nutrient supply by mid-century. Agricultural areas must expand unless unprecedented rapid yield improvements are achieved. While these transformations are challenging to accomplish and often
associated with increased greenhouse gas emissions, the alternative for a nutrition-secure future is to rely increasingly on imports, which would outsource emissions and be economically and politically challenging given the large import increases required
Rethinking North–South Research Partnerships Amidst Global Uncertainties: Leveraging Lessons Learned from UK GCRF Projects during COVID-19
No full textInternational research and development projects (or grand challenge projects) consist of multicultural, multi-country, multi-sectoral, and multi-stakeholder initiatives aimed at poverty reduction. They are usually conceived as partnerships between actors in the global north–south. The COVID-19 pandemic was a major unexpected disruption to ongoing projects and challenged their already complex management. The aim of this paper is to present evidence on how international development projects were impacted by COVID-19 with a particular focus on the relationship between research institutions in the north and south. We conducted a mixed-methods research study, combining a reflective exercise with the co-author team and a survey with principal investigators, project managers, and capacity development leads drawn from 31 Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) projects funded through the UK government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) and focused on social–ecological system research. The survey contained closed- and open-ended questions in order to (i) demonstrate how those involved in managing projects adapted to risks, including both threats and opportunities, presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and (ii) consider the implications for tailoring adaptive management approaches in international research projects amidst uncertainties, with a special focus on enhancing equities in global north–south partnerships. The paper offers the following recommendations on designing, planning, and implementing international research and development projects: (i) devolve project management in order to enhance project resilience and improve north–south equities; (ii) allocate dedicated resources to enable equitable north–south research partnerships; (iii) rely more on hybrid and agile approaches for managing a project’s life cycle; and (iv) improve resource flexibility, transparency, and communication through enhanced funder–implementer collaboration
The Oxford handbook on the World Trade Organization /
No full text"The Oxford Handbook on the World Trade Organization provides an authoritative and cutting-edge account of the World Trade Organization. Its purpose is to provide a holistic understanding of what the WTO does, how it goes about fulfilling its tasks, its achievements and problems, and how it might contend with some critical challenges. The Handbook benefits from an interdisciplinary approach. The editorial team comprises a transatlantic partnership between a political scientist, a historian, and an economist. The distinguished and international team of contributors to the volume includes leading political scientists, historians, economists, lawyers, and practitioners working in the area of multilateral trade. All the chapters present original and state-of-the-art research material. They critically engage with existing academic and policy debates, and also contribute to the evolution of the field by setting the agenda for current and future WTO studies.The Handbook is aimed at research institutions, university academics, post-graduate students, and final-year undergraduates working in the areas of international organization, trade policy and negotiations, global economic governance, and economic diplomacy. As such, it should find an enthusiastic readership amongst students and scholars in History, Economics, Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy, and Law. Equally important, the book should have direct relevance for diplomats, international bureaucrats, government officials, and other policy-makers and practitioners in the area of trade and economic governance"--"Short Description The Oxford Handbook on the World Trade Organization provides an authoritative and cutting-edge account of the World Trade Organization - what it does, how it goes about fulfilling its tasks, its achievements and problems, and how it might contend with some critical challenges"--Includes index."The Oxford Handbook on the World Trade Organization provides an authoritative and cutting-edge account of the World Trade Organization. Its purpose is to provide a holistic understanding of what the WTO does, how it goes about fulfilling its tasks, its achievements and problems, and how it might contend with some critical challenges. The Handbook benefits from an interdisciplinary approach. The editorial team comprises a transatlantic partnership between a political scientist, a historian, and an economist. The distinguished and international team of contributors to the volume includes leading political scientists, historians, economists, lawyers, and practitioners working in the area of multilateral trade. All the chapters present original and state-of-the-art research material. They critically engage with existing academic and policy debates, and also contribute to the evolution of the field by setting the agenda for current and future WTO studies.The Handbook is aimed at research institutions, university academics, post-graduate students, and final-year undergraduates working in the areas of international organization, trade policy and negotiations, global economic governance, and economic diplomacy. As such, it should find an enthusiastic readership amongst students and scholars in History, Economics, Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy, and Law. Equally important, the book should have direct relevance for diplomats, international bureaucrats, government officials, and other policy-makers and practitioners in the area of trade and economic governance"--"Short Description The Oxford Handbook on the World Trade Organization provides an authoritative and cutting-edge account of the World Trade Organization - what it does, how it goes about fulfilling its tasks, its achievements and problems, and how it might contend with some critical challenges"--Machine generated contents note: -- Introduction, Amrita Narlikar, Martin Daunton, and Robert M. Stern -- Part I: Theory of Multilateral Trade Liberalization -- 1. The Case for a Multilateral Trade Organization, Robert E. Baldwin -- 2. The Inconsistent Quartet: Free Trade Versus Competing Goals, Martin Daunton -- 3. Trade Liberalization and Domestic Politics, Judith Goldstein -- Part II: Institutional Evolution: Building up the World Trade Organization -- 4. International Trade Organization, Richard Toye -- 5. The expanding mandate of the GATT: The First Seven Rounds, Thomas Zeiler -- 6. Uruguay Round Negotiations and the Creation of the WTO, Ernest Preeg -- Part III: The Process Behind the Workings of the WTO -- 7. The Role of the Director-General and the Secretariat, Richard Blackhurst -- 8. Defining the Borders of the WTO Agenda, Marion Jansen -- 9. Collective Agency, Systemic Consequences: Bargaining Coalitions in the WTO, Amrita Narlikar -- Part IV: Agency in the WTO --^10. The Influence of the EU in the World Trade System, Patrick Messerlin -- 11. The Role of the US : A Multi-level explanation for Decreased Support over Time, Todd Allee -- 12. The Role of the B(R)ICS: System supporters or Change agents in the WTO?, Brendan Vickers -- 13. Least Developed Countries: Growing Voice, Shishir Priyadarshi and Taufiqur Rahman -- 14. Awkward Partners: NGOs and Social Movements in the WTO, Jens Steffek -- 15. What happened to the Influence of Bussines? Corporations and Organised Labour in the WTO, Steven McGuire -- Part V: The Substance of the Agreements -- 16. Trade in Manufactures and Agricultural Products: The Dangerous Link? (Helen Coskeran, Dan Kim, Amrita Narlikar) -- 17. Trade in Services in the WTO: From Marrakech (1994) to Doha (2001) to..., Rudolf Adlung -- 18. Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs), Keith Maskus -- 19. Rules: Anti-dumping, Countervailing Duties, and Safeguards, Michael Finger --^20. Regulatory Measures: SPS, TBT, Customs Valuation, Robert Howse -- Part VI: Implementation and Enforcement -- 21. Trade Policy Review Mechanism, Sam Laird and Raymundo Valdes -- 22. Dispute Settlement Mechanism - Analysis and Problems, Manfred Elsig, Joost Pauwelyn and Thoms Bernhauer -- 23. DSM - The Appellate Body - Assessment and Problems, Mitsuo Matsushita -- 24. Interpretation and Institutional Choice at the WTO, Gregory Shaffer and Joel Trachtman -- 25. The DSM: Ensuring Compliance?, Alan O. Sykes -- Part VII: Challenges to the System -- 26. Persistent Deadlock at Doha, Cedric Dupont and Manfred Elsig -- 27. The Role of Domestic Courts in the Implementation of WTO Law: The Political Economy of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances, Thomas Cottier -- 28. Preferential Trading Arrangements, Richard Baldwin -- 29. New Issues in Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, Tim Josling -- Part VIII: Ethical Issues --^30. Fairness in the WTO Trading System, Andrew G. Brown and Robert M. Stern -- 31. Labour Standards and Human Rights, Drusilla Brown -- 32. Trade and the Environment, Meera Fickling and Gary Hufbauer -- Part IX: Reform of the WTO and Global Economic Governance -- 33. Proposals for Reform: A Synthesis and Assessment, Bernard Hoekman -- 34. The WTO and Institutional (In)Coherence, Steven Bernstein and Erin Hannah
Stakeholder-driven transformative adaptation is needed for climate-smart nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa.
No full textImproving nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa under increasing climate risks and population growth requires a strong and contextualized evidence base. Yet, to date, few studies have assessed climate-smart agriculture and nutrition security simultaneously. Here we use an integrated assessment framework (iFEED) to explore stakeholder-driven scenarios of food system transformation towards climate-smart nutrition security in Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. iFEED translates climate-food-emissions modelling into policy-relevant information using model output implication statements. Results show that diversifying agricultural production towards more micronutrient-rich foods is necessary to achieve an adequate population-level nutrient supply by mid-century. Agricultural areas must expand unless unprecedented rapid yield improvements are achieved. While these transformations are challenging to accomplish and often associated with increased greenhouse gas emissions, the alternative for a nutrition-secure future is to rely increasingly on imports, which would outsource emissions and be economically and politically challenging given the large import increases required. [Abstract copyright: © 2024. The Author(s).
Stakeholder-driven transformative adaptation is needed for climate-smart nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa
No full textAbstract Improving nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa under increasing climate risks and population growth requires a strong and contextualized evidence base. Yet, to date, few studies have assessed climate-smart agriculture and nutrition security simultaneously. Here we use an integrated assessment framework (iFEED) to explore stakeholder-driven scenarios of food system transformation towards climate-smart nutrition security in Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. iFEED translates climate–food–emissions modelling into policy-relevant information using model output implication statements. Results show that diversifying agricultural production towards more micronutrient-rich foods is necessary to achieve an adequate population-level nutrient supply by mid-century. Agricultural areas must expand unless unprecedented rapid yield improvements are achieved. While these transformations are challenging to accomplish and often associated with increased greenhouse gas emissions, the alternative for a nutrition-secure future is to rely increasingly on imports, which would outsource emissions and be economically and politically challenging given the large import increases required
A new integrated assessment framework for climate-smart nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa: the integrated Future Estimator for Emissions and Diets (iFEED)
No full textClimate change will put millions more people in Africa at risk of food and nutrition insecurity by 2050. Integrated assessments of food systems tend to be limited by either heavy reliance on models or a lack of information on food and nutrition security.
Accordingly, we developed a novel integrated assessment framework that combines models with in-country knowledge and expert academic judgement to explore climate-smart and nutrition-secure food system futures: the integrated Future Estimator for Emissions and Diets (iFEED). Here, we describe iFEED and present its application in Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.
The iFEED process begins with a participatory scenario workshop. In-country stakeholders identify two key drivers of food system change, and from these, four possible scenarios are defined. These scenarios provide the underlying narratives of change to the food system. Integrated modelling of climate change, food production and greenhouse gas emissions is then used to explore nutrition security and climate-smart agriculture outcomes for each scenario. Model results are summarised using calibrated statements - quantitative statements of model outcomes and our confidence in them. These include statements about the way in which different trade futures interact with climate change and domestic production in determining nutrition security at the national level.
To understand what the model results mean for food systems, the calibrated statements are expanded upon using implication statements. The implications rely on input from a wide range of academic experts – including agro-ecologists and social scientists. A series of workshops are used to incorporate in-country expertise, identifying any gaps in knowledge and summarising information for country-level recommendations. iFEED stakeholder champions help throughout by providing in-country expertise and disseminating knowledge to policy makers.
iFEED has numerous novel aspects that can be used and developed in future work. It provides information to support evidence-based decisions for a climate-smart and nutrition-secure future. In particular, iFEED: i. employs novel and inclusive reporting of model results and associated in-country food system activities, with comprehensive reporting of uncertainty; ii. includes climate change mitigation alongside adaptation measures; and iii. quantifies future population-level nutrition security, as opposed to simply assessing future production and food security implications
Stakeholder-driven transformative adaptation is needed for climate-smart nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa
No full textImproving nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa under increasing climate risks and population growth requires a strong and contextualized evidence base. Yet, to date, few studies have assessed climate-smart agriculture and nutrition security simultaneously. Here we use an integrated assessment framework (iFEED) to explore stakeholder-driven scenarios of food system transformation towards climate-smart nutrition security in Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. iFEED translates climate–food–emissions modelling into policy-relevant information using model output implication statements. Results show that diversifying agricultural production towards more micronutrient-rich foods is necessary to achieve an adequate population-level nutrient supply by mid-century. Agricultural areas must expand unless unprecedented rapid yield improvements are achieved. While these transformations are challenging to accomplish and often associated with increased greenhouse gas emissions, the alternative for a nutrition-secure future is to rely increasingly on imports, which would outsource emissions and be economically and politically challenging given the large import increases required
