202 research outputs found
How has traditional healing been used to address conflict in Mozambique?
No full textThe civil war in Mozambique, between RENAMO and FRELIMO, resulted in millions of Mozambicans being displaced, injured, violated, traumatized, and killed. It destroyed the very fabric of life in Mozambique. It was a collective realization and effort to utilize local resources, such as practitioners of indigenous medicine to perform cleansing rituals with the purpose of reintegrated the traumatized individual into society. By framing traditional healing as an alternative method for reconciliation, this research explores how indigenous knowledge has been used to foster healing that focuses on reconciliation and rebuilding relationships instead of retribution. Through in-depth interviews, discussions, and interpretative analysis, the research explores the meaning behind engaging in indigenous medicine as an unconventional peacebuilding method, and how this method has been utilized and perceived
Land related conflicts and peacebuilding in Minembwe, South Kivu, DRC
No full textFor more than two decades, the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in particular the Minembwe highlands, have been the scene of violent conflict. The dynamics of conflict in this part of the republic are of concern to a number of actors, including various sections of the local population who are victims, as well as local and international humanitarian agencies. The aim of this study was to characterize the way in which land-related conflicts arose in Minembwe, to analyze the relationship between humanitarian intervention and land conflicts, and how humanitarians integrate peace-building into their programs; and to determine the scope for better integration of peace-building at local level into humanitarian action. The results of this study showed that conflicts in Minembwe are more identity-based, but not between farmers and herders (as mediatized), as the population of Minembwe lived in peace with minimal conflicts having local solutions. It was only after political manipulation, the spread of hate speech and the improvisation of politicized armed groups (local and foreign) that the conflicts became violent. Our respondents pointed out that humanitarian organizations have made efforts, but these remain insignificant given the intense needs of the population
Geospatial analysis and decision support for health services planning in Uganda
Full text linkAbstract. As the utilization of geospatial techniques continues to surge, spatial information has become an integral part of decision-making. In Uganda, the use of geospatial techniques in provision of health services planning has gained momentum after a comprehensive survey of health units and the development of a national health services geodatabase. Planning for the provision of health infrastructure services requires quality information to rationalize the location, and allocation, of services in relation to the population. Health service planners are always faced with a question of where to locate services in relation to need and how such distribution would be affected by resources to meet the requirements of the population. Because resources are scarce, prioritization is indispensable and thorough analysis becomes important in the planning process. This paper analyzes access to health facilities using the population gridding approach, coupled with location of health infrastructure facilities for decision support in health services planning. Keywords: population gridding, location-based services, health planning, Uganda
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Designing the next generation of climate adaptation research for development
Full text linkAdaptation research has changed significantly in recent years as funders and researchers seek to encourage greater impact, ensure value for money and promote interdiscipinarity across the natural and social sciences. While these developments are inherently positive they also bring fresh challenges. This Perspective reviews experiences from the delivery of past and current adaptation research and reflects on the merits and limitations of the evolving adaptation research landscape. We propose five key areas that need to be changed in order to meet the needs of future adaptation research, namely: increasing transparency and consultation in research design; encouraging innovation in the design and delivery of adaptation research programmes; demonstrating impact on the ground; addressing incentive structures; and promoting more effective brokering, knowledge management and learning. As large international funding initiatives such as the Future Earth and the Global Challenges Research Fund start to take shape we underscore the importance of learning from past experiences and scaling-up of successful innovations in research funding models
The dilemma of tourism-based livelihoods: Uncovering the development patterns in southern Bali
Full text linkThis study examines the phenomenon of tourism development in Bali, as one of Indonesia’s most prominent tourism destinations. The concept of gentrification was used to explore the story about how the local community is being displaced due to tourism expansion. Moreover, this study seeks to capture how displacement in gentrified areas is attributed to income inequalities among residents, highlighting the inequitable distribution of tourism benefits. This research is essential as the tourism industry is one of the cornerstones of Indonesia’s economy, and the national government has announced to development of other tourism areas across the country. The primary question addressed is how tourism in Bali impacts the social livelihoods of local communities, while also providing the discussion about the long-term consequences of this development. To capture the complexity of this phenomenon, this study adopts a mixed-methods approach by combining both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data are collected through close-ended surveys and the distribution of tourist accommodation. On the other hand, qualitative data are gathered to provide a deeper understanding from the perspective of local communities. The findings reveal a substantial level of dependency of tourism among local people, as most of the businesses are tied to this sector. However, despite the massive growth of development, it is not necessarily translated into an improvement in the community’s quality of life, as over-reliance creates a high level of vulnerability to internal and external shocks, impacting both short-term and long-term well-being. In conclusion, this study seeks to address whether tourism genuinely benefits the local communities, or merely creates a paradox of development
The effects of conflicts between refugees and host communities on depression in Kiryandongo refugee settlement, Bweyale Sub County, Uganda
No full textBased on phenomenological fieldwork and fifteen participant interviews, the research paper addresses effects of conflicts between refugees and host communities on depression in Kiryandongo refugee settlement in Bweyale Sub County. This paper reveals that the prevalence of moderate depression to severe depression is high among the refugees and their hosts. This was found to be a result of the challenges they encounter as evidence shows that there is a divide of classes between the two groups – refugees and host community. Hence, conflicts between refugees and host community are a contributing factor to depression symptoms among these two groups. This research reveals the causes of conflicts between refugees and host communities stemming from land eviction by the host community because the refugees were settled on the local community’s land with minimal to no compensation for such land. These issues together with inadequate water sources, limited provision of firewood and limited job opportunities - all exacerbate the conflict situation between refugees and the host community
A systematic review of research on climate change adaptation policy and practice in Africa and South Asia deltas
Full text linkThis paper synthesizes selected literature on adaptation policy and practice in river deltas located in Africa and South Asia. A systematic review methodology was used to scan online knowledge portals for published papers and also unpublished government documents. The review characterizes the state of adaptation policy in African and South Asian deltas, and identifies future research priorities targeting climate change adaptation in large delta regions. Policy strengths and gaps are assessed in the context of adaptation plans, revealing adaptation policy gaps regarding knowledge advancement, scaling up actions, and the move from incremental adaptation to transformational adaptation
Planning innovation for better urban communities in sub-Saharan Africa: The education challenge and potential responses
Full text linkCities in the sub-Saharan Africa region present challenges to the urban and regional planning profession, city managers, leaders, educationists and dwellers (Rakodi, 1997, 2001; McGill, 1988; Diaw, Nnkya & Watson, 2002). This is at a time when Africa is urbanising faster than any other region (UN-Habitat, 2008), calling for a rethinking of planning to respond to existing needs. Although the current urbanisation level is at 39.1% (UN-Habitat, 2008), it is projected to increase to over 50% by 2025. This outstanding demographic shift on the African continent and particularly in the sub-Saharan region presents current and future urban challenges. In addition to the future challenges, the unresolved question as to whether existing and much utilised models of urban development offer solutions to the planning needs in the region should be investigated, although it is important to recognise the failures of locally designed initiatives. The models have been critiqued widely (Brockerhoff, 2000; Arimah & Adeagbo, 2000) and this is not the focus of this article. However, it is necessary to recognise that the planning profession has relied on these models through the planning education system. Notwithstanding the challenges of resources, leadership, and political dispensations, planning education systems have played a role in influencing and shaping urban development in the region. Although planning models have been critiqued, planning education systems have received less attention in respect of their role in influencing the development pathways of cities in sub-Saharan Africa. Likewise, planning education systems have not adequately been viewed as points of entry in planning innovation for new urban Africa. Drawing from experiences of cities in the region, two urban development processes can be discerned: first, the explosion of some cities particularly former colonial administrative or economic hubs and, second, the fast growth of secondary cities. There are also many small rural trading centres and ‘hamlets’ with densities comparable to neighbourhoods of the large-cities. The latter, conceptualised in this article as urbanisation by implosion, is not properly accounted for in the national statistical reports. Several drivers are responsible for this urbanisation, including population dynamics, legislative designation, and increasing densities in rural trading centres. The challenges of social service provision, sustainable economic development, housing delivery, urban governance, spatial development guidance and urban environmental management are yet to be thoroughly analysed and rethought in planning education in the context of addressing the existing needs. This article examines the planning education system and how it has influenced the nature and shape of cities in sub-Saharan Africa, the outcome of which may not have substantively responded to existing needs. This article will also identify possible points of innovation in planning education that may create a difference in addressing the existing needs in sub-Saharan Africa
How floods shape Kampala's urban gestalt: How floods shape Kampala's urban gestalt
No full textRapid urbanisation steadily increases the importance of sustainability in urban planning while it equally contributes to rising spatial injustice, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa: Access to land, services, employment opportunities and therefore the city itself varies strongly between different income and social groups. These gaps are significant and disadvantage the already most marginalised groups even more, and are increasing, specifically under the growing threat of climate change and its accompanying risks. The understanding thereof as well as realising which factors influence spatial justice is crucial for tackling these inequalities. A case study in Kampala is undertaken to examine these dynamics further. This research intends to increase the understanding of spatial justice in the field of climate change vulnerability to support betterinformed policy and spatial intervention strategies with a particular focus on flood-related risks. Starting from this broader context and in order to answer the central question how floods shape Kampala's urban gestalt and vice versa, a quantitative method is developed to measure the urban form, as well as the distinguished components of social vulnerability; namely risk exposure, adaptive capacity and sensitivity. The collected and analysed data is supported with several expert interviews from Kampala, an online survey and field observations. The objective is an improved understanding of urban dynamics, justice, and accessibility to build a better foundation for informed policy decisions and spatial interventions. The thesis results in two principal outcomes: (1) A variety of high-resolution visualisation of the current situation of urban form and social vulnerability through 64 individual and aggregated indicators; and (2) correlations between urban form and social vulnerability, as well as its constituents, and carefully selected individual indicator pairs. Furthermore, the characteristics of urban form and social vulnerability are investigated for marginalised groups of the urban society. The applied method proves several initial presumptions from existing literature, as well as current academic theories, and results in the sound confirmation of the impact social vulnerability and urban form can have on each other, and the manifested spatial injustice. However, the findings do not just show today's complex interplay but also bring underlying developments and deeply enrooted injustices to light. Even if the results are contextspecific, general conclusions apply to other urban areas and add to a more comprehensive understanding of spatial injustice in sub-Saharan African cities, while the developed and applied methodology bears a magnitude of potentials for further research in more detail and varying environments
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