208 research outputs found
Do differences in the scale of irrigation projects generate different impacts on poverty and production?
No full textThis paper investigates differences in household production and consumption among small- and large-scale irrigators to assess whether the scale of an irrigation project increases household welfare in Mali. Much of the evidence of the impact of irrigation does not use counterfactual analysis to estimate such impact or distinguish between the scale of the irrigation projects to be evaluated. In the dataset collected by the author, both a large-scale irrigation project and small-scale projects are used to construct counterfactual groups. Propensity score matching is used to estimate the average treatment effect on the treated for small and large irrigators relative to nonirrigators on agricultural production, agricultural income, and consumption per capita. Small-scale irrigation has a larger effect on agricultural production and agricultural income than large-scale irrigation, but large-scale irrigation has a larger effect on consumption per capita. This suggests that market integration and nonfarm externalities are important in realizing gains in agricultural surplus from irrigation.Irrigation, program evaluation,
Foreign direct investment in Africa : policies also matter
No full textAfrica has not succeeded in attracting much foreign direct investment in the past few decades. When countries did attract multinational companies, it was principally because of their (abundant) natural resources and the size of their domestic market. Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and South Africa have traditionally been the main recipients of foreign direct investment in Sub-Saharan Africa. But the author shows that a few Sub-Saharan countries have generated interest among international investors by improving their business environment. In the 1990s, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, and Senegal attracted substantial foreign direct investment--more so than countries with bigger domestic markets (Cameroon, Republic of Congo, and Kenya) and greater natural resources (Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe). Mali and Mozambique, which improved their business climate spectacularly in the 1990s, did so with a few strategic actions: liberalizing trade, launching an attractive privatization program, modernizing mining and investment codes, adopting international agreements on foreign direct investment, developing a few priority projects that had multiplier effects on other investment projects, and mounting an image-building effort in which political figures such as the nation's president participated. These actions are similar to those associated with the success of other small countries with limited natural resources, such as Ireland and Singapore about 20 years ago.Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Governance Indicators,International Terrorism&Counterterrorism,Foreign Direct Investment
Financing health services in Africa : an assessment of alternative approaches
No full textThis paper outlines a strategy for financing health services in sub-Saharan Africa. The individual components of the strategy are as follows: general tax revenues, international finance, a system of user charges, community finance, health insurance, and contributions from nongovernmental organizations, including the private sector. The author states that financial positions of public health care systems in sub-Saharan Africa would be greatly enhanced if governments in the region were to adopt policies that would use each of the above sources of finance. Since a strong financial base is a prerequisite for an effective health care system, such policies would considerably improve the health status of the population. It is important that for each country different policies be pursued at various levels of society, and in different sectors of the economy.Health Systems Development&Reform,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Housing&Human Habitats,Health Economics&Finance,Pharmaceuticals&Pharmacoeconomics
Windé Koroji Ouest (Mali, Second and Third Millennia BCE): The Environmental and Subsistence Evidence
No full textWindé Koroji Ouest is an early agro-pastoral site situated at the eastern periphery of the Inland Niger Delta of Mali,
north of the Gandamia and Bandiagara escarpments. This chapter is the first publication of all subsistence and environmental information available concerning this site which was excavated by the senior author in 1992/1993. The
presence of domestic millet ca. 2100-1900 BCE is confirmed, as well as sheep during this same period, with cattle
attested subsequently (post 1600 BCE). The role of the environment and potential environmental change in the economy of this site is reviewed. It is argued that Windé Koroji Ouest existed within wider, seasonally mobile settlement
networks exhibiting a range of flexible subsistence adaptations
Démonstration par l’absurde: une épine dans l´enseignement et l´apprentissage des mathématiques - une étude de cas au Mali
No full textThe present work has as a theme " Demonstration through absurd: a thorn in teaching and learning mathematics: a case study in Mali “To achieve this, we conducted a review of the literature that focused on work around reasoning by the absurd and the institutional study of demonstration by the absurd. The problem relates to the role that demonstration by the absurd plays in classroom practices and in school textbooks and its absence in the curricula. The research questions are worded as follows: In Mali, is demonstration by the absurd considered to be beyond the capacities of the secondary school student? Regarding a statement, does the future teacher recognize the need for a demonstration by the absurd or can he transform it in such a way that a demonstration by the absurd is necessary? The mathematical study of the demonstration by the absurd, allowed us to analyze this method of demonstration as reference knowledge and to make its logical interpretation. The classification of the problems made by the first author in his thesis, allowed us to choose the didactic variables. The experimental part includes the choice and a priori analysis of three problems proposed to student teachers at the École Normale Supérieure in Bamako, the handing over of items in one session, the a posteriori analysis of the productions. The student teachers were put in a situation of problem solving by the method of the demonstration by the absurd to eventually know their relation to the demonstration by the absurd. A posteriori analysis allowed us to see confirmation that the demonstration by the absurd poses difficulties for secondary school teachers.El presente trabajo tiene como tema “Demostración a través del absurdo: una espina en la enseñanza y el aprendizaje de las matemáticas: un estudio de caso en Malí”. Para ello, llevamos a cabo una revisión de la literatura centrada en el trabajo en torno al razonamiento del absurdo y el estudio institucional de la demostración por el absurdo. El problema tiene que ver con el papel que juega la demostración por el absurdo en las prácticas del aula y los libros de texto y su ausencia en los planes de estudio. Las preguntas de investigación son las siguientes: En Malí, ¿la demostración de lo absurdo está más allá de las capacidades del estudiante de secundaria? Con respecto a un enunciado, ¿el futuro maestro reconoce la necesidad de una demostración para lo absurdo o puede transformarla de tal manera que sea necesaria una demostración para lo absurdo? El estudio matemático de la demostración por el absurdo nos permitió analizar este método de demostración como conocimiento de referencia y realizar su interpretación lógica. La clasificación de problemas realizada por el primer autor en su tesis nos permitió elegir las variables didácticas. La parte experimental incluye la elección y análisis a priori de tres problemas propuestos a los estudiantes-profesores de la École Normale Supérieure de Bamako, la aplicación de las tareas elegidas en una sesión, el análisis posterior de las producciones de los sujetos de investigación. Los estudiantes-maestros fueron colocados en una situación de resolución de problemas utilizando el método de demostración absurda para eventualmente aprender acerca de su relación con la demostración absurda. El análisis a posteriori mostró que la demostración por absurdo es una dificultad para los profesores de secundaria.Le présent travail a comme thème « Une épine dans l’enseignement et l’apprentissage des mathématiques : Une étude de cas au Mali . Pour le réaliser nous avons fait une revue de la littérature ayant porté sur des travaux autour du raisonnement par l'absurde et l’étude institutionnelle de la démonstration par l’absurde. La problématique est relative au rôle que la démonstration par l’absurde joue dans les pratiques de classe et dans les manuels scolaires et son absence dans les programmes. Les questions de recherche sont libellées comme suit : Au Mali la démonstration par l’absurde est-elle considérée comme étant au-dessus des capacités de l’élève du secondaire ? Au regard d’un énoncé, le futur enseignant reconnait-il la nécessité d’une démonstration par l’absurde ou alors peut-il le transformer de manière qu’une démonstration par l’absurde s’impose ? L’étude mathématique de la démonstration par l’absurde, nous a permis d’analyser cette méthode de démonstration comme savoir de référence et de faire son interprétation logique. La classification des problèmes faite par le premier auteur dans sa thèse, nous a permis de faire le choix des variables didactiques. La partie expérimentale comporte le choix et l’analyse a priori de trois problèmes proposés à des élèves-professeurs de l’École Normale Supérieure de Bamako, la passation des items en une séance, l’analyse à postériori des productions. Les élèves-professeurs ont été mis dans une situation de résolution de problèmes par la méthode de démonstration par l’absurde pour éventuellement connaitre leur rapport à la démonstration par l’absurde. L’analyse a postériori nous a permis de constater la confirmation du fait que la démonstration par l’absurde pose des difficultés aux professeurs de l’enseignement secondaire
Corrigendum: How do smart device apps for diabetes self-management correspond with theoretical indicators of empowerment? an analysis of app features: (International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care (2019) 35 (150-159) DOI: 10.1017/S0266462319000163)
No full textIn the article by Brew-Sam and Chib the incorrect author information was provided for reference #84 in the original published article. The correct reference is as follows: Debussche X, Besançon S, Balcou-Debussche M, Ferdynus C, Delisle H, Huiart L, Sidibe AT (2018) Structured peer-led diabetes self-management and support in a low-income country: The st2ep randomised controlled trial in Mali. PLoS ONE 13, e0191262. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191262 The authors apologize for the error
Taine-Cheikh, Catherine, Lexique français – hassāniyya; Dialecte arabe de Mauritanie. Paris : Librairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner, 2004, 157 pp.
No full textThe Arabic dialect recorded in this vocabulary is al-hassāniyya, spoken in Mauritania, the Western Sahara, northern Mali and in some oases scattered in southern Morocco. This dialect is also named klām Hassān (the Hassans" speech) or klām l-bīzān (the Whites" speech). The author of this work is the well-known specialist in the dialect of bīzān, Catherine Taine-Cheikh, from CNRS Paris. She is also the author of the great Hassāniyya – French Dictionary, drafted in eleven volumes, nine of which already published. The present work – here under review– can be considered a very short reversed variant, French – Hassāniyya, of this Summa
Maternal immunisation with trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine for prevention of influenza in infants in Mali: a prospective, active-controlled, observer-blind, randomised phase 4 trial
No full textSummaryBackgroundDespite the heightened risk of serious influenza during infancy, vaccination is not recommended in infants younger than 6 months. We aimed to assess the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of maternal immunisation with trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine for protection of infants against a first episode of laboratory-confirmed influenza.MethodsWe did this prospective, active-controlled, observer-blind, randomised phase 4 trial at six referral centres and community health centres in Bamako, Mali. Third-trimester pregnant women (≥28 weeks' gestation) were randomly assigned (1:1), via a computer-generated, centre-specific list with alternate block sizes of six or 12, to receive either trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine or quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine. Study personnel administering vaccines were not masked to treatment allocation, but allocation was concealed from clinicians, laboratory personnel, and participants. Infants were visited weekly until age 6 months to detect influenza-like illness; laboratory-confirmed influenza diagnosed with RT-PCR. We assessed two coprimary objectives: vaccine efficacy against laboratory-confirmed influenza in infants born to women immunised any time prepartum (intention-to-treat population), and vaccine efficacy in infants born to women immunised at least 14 days prepartum (per-protocol population). The primary outcome was the occurrence of a first case of laboratory-confirmed influenza by age 6 months. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01430689.FindingsWe did this trial from Sept 12, 2011, to Jan 28, 2014. Between Sept 12, 2011, and April 18, 2013, we randomly assigned 4193 women to receive trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (n=2108) or quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (n=2085). There were 4105 livebirths; 1797 (87%) of 2064 infants in the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine group and 1793 (88%) of 2041 infants in the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine group were followed up until age 6 months. We recorded 5279 influenza-like illness episodes in 2789 (68%) infants, of which 131 (2%) episodes were laboratory-confirmed influenza. 129 (98%) cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza were first episodes (n=77 in the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine group vs n=52 in the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine group). In the intention-to-treat population, overall infant vaccine efficacy was 33·1% (95% CI 3·7–53·9); in the per-protocol population, vaccine efficacy was 37·3% (7·6–57·8). Vaccine efficacy remained robust during the first 4 months of follow-up (67·9% [95% CI 35·1–85·3] by intention to treat and 70·2% [35·7–87·6] by per protocol), before diminishing during the fifth month (57·3% [30·6–74·4] and 60·7 [33·8–77·5], respectively). Adverse event rates in women and infants were similar among groups. Pain at the injection site was more common in women given quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine than in those given trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (n=253 vs n=132; p<0·0001), although 354 [92%] reactions were mild. Obstetrical and non-obstetrical serious adverse events were reported in 60 (3%) women in the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine group and 61 (3%) women in the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine group. Presumed neonatal infection was more common in infants in the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine group than in those in the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine group (n=60 vs n=37; p=0·02). No serious adverse events were related to vaccination.InterpretationVaccination of pregnant women with trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in Mali—a poorly resourced country with high infant mortality—was technically and logistically feasible and protected infants from laboratory-confirmed influenza for 4 months. With adequate financing to procure the vaccine, implementation will parallel the access to antenatal care and immunisation coverage of pregnant women with tetanus toxoid.FundingBill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Community risk factors for ocular Chlamydia infection in Niger: pre-treatment results from a cluster-randomized trachoma trial.
No full textBACKGROUND: Trachoma control programs utilize mass azithromycin distributions to treat ocular Chlamydia trachomatis as part of an effort to eliminate this disease world-wide. But it remains unclear what the community-level risk factors are for infection. METHODS: This cluster-randomized, controlled trial entered 48 randomly selected communities in a 2×2 factorial design evaluating the effect of different treatment frequencies and treatment coverage levels. A pretreatment census and examination established the prevalence of risk factors for clinical trachoma and ocular chlamydia infection including years of education of household head, distance to primary water source, presence of household latrine, and facial cleanliness (ocular discharge, nasal discharge, and presence of facial flies). Univariate and multivariate associations were tested using linear regression and Bayes model averaging. FINDINGS: There were a total of 24,536 participants (4,484 children aged 0-5 years) in 6,235 households in the study. Before treatment in May to July 2010, the community-level prevalence of active trachoma (TF or TI utilizing the World Health Organization [WHO] grading system) was 26.0% (95% CI: 21.9% to 30.0%) and the mean community-level prevalence of chlamydia infection by Amplicor PCR was 20.7% (95% CI: 16.5% to 24.9%) in children aged 0-5 years. Univariate analysis showed that nasal discharge (0.29, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.54; P = 0.03), presence of flies on the face (0.40, 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.64; P = 0.001), and years of formal education completed by the head of household (0.07, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.13; P = 0.03) were independent risk factors for chlamydia infection. In multivariate analysis, facial flies (0.26, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.49; P = 0.03) and years of formal education completed by the head of household (0.06, 95% CI: 0.008 to 0.11; P = 0.02) were associated risk factors for ocular chlamydial infection. INTERPRETATION: We have found that the presence of facial flies and years of education of the head of the household are risk factors for chlamydia infection when the analysis is done at the community level. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00792922
Ghana's labor market (1987-92)
No full textUsing the household survey and other data sources, the authors analyze returns to education and other aspects of Ghana's labor market profile from 1987 to 1991. The labor force grew slower than the population did between 1980 and 1990, but the supply of labor is expected to increase as the population of youth is expected to grow faster from 1990 to 2000. And labor force participation rates for 26- to 45-year-olds have been increasing rapidly. Over time, the average labor force participation rates of women have become equal to men's; that of children younger than 15 has remained unchanged at 38 percent. More than half of Ghana's child laborers are employed in agriculture. The formal sector's share of employment is on the decline, while the private informal sector's share has increased, especially in urban areas. Over time, the informal sector (in which most workers have a primary education or less) has absorbed more labor than the formal sector (in which most workers have middle or secondary schooling). Unemployment is pervasive in urban areas, and is less visible in rural areas. Labor productivity may not have increased and is possibly declining. Between 1987 and 1992, there was reverse migration, with many people moving from urban to rural areas, mostly for family reasons. Employment-related migration has also been on the increase. As is true elsewhere, the level of education affects participation in the labor force. Literacy rates for women are lower than those for men, which is one reason men dominate the private formal sector. The rate of return to education increases with higher education and work experience. The return for each additional year of schooling rangesfrom 4 percent to 6 percent in Ghana, quite high for a Sub-Saharan African country. Private and social returns to education are greater for primary than for secondary or postsecondary education.Public Health Promotion,Health Economics&Finance,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Labor Policies,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Economics&Finance,Labor Standards,Poverty Assessment
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