R4D Kenya

Development Research Centre for the Future State (Research Scheme R8490) Annual Report 1 July 2008 30 June 2009

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:40:00 GMT

Miscellaneous Institute of Development Studies 2009 73 pp.

Progress on the 3 programmes is reported:

1.Public Action and Private Investment
Progress has been steady. Key activities/achievements have included the PAPI 2009 cross cutting workshop attended by representatives of all the major projects. This workshop was also attended by Max Everest Phillips (DfID) and representatives from the Africa Power and Politics RPC and the Institutions for Pro Poor Growth RPC. Closer ties with these RPCs which carry out research in similar themes have been highlighted as having great potential to deepen the research and analysis and vastly improve quality through knowledge sharing activities.

The field research on the 'China's investment in Africa' project was completed and work has now entered a new phase. This project has received a lot of attention from the academic and policy making community. Jing Gu the lead researcher has been highly active in presenting her work and publications are being finalised. Additional funding for this project was recently obtained for the work to continue.

There has been good progress in the Egypt project with a number of publications in the final stages of writing or publication. The projects in Indonesia and Brazil have now been completed with outputs coming from both. The work on particularistic property rights regimes in China is nearing completion. There has been fair progress in the Vietnam project; research partners have been formally identified. With regret the research in Pakistan cannot be completed.

A new project due for completion in March 2010 will attempt to bring some of the key findings of the programme into two publications to answer the core question.

2.Collective Action around Service Delivery (Social Accountability)
Despite good performance as reported in last year's report Modes of Service Delivery in Brazil, India and Mexico (BIM) has experienced some setbacks. It has been formally agreed that Mexico can no longer form part of the project as no researcher of suitable ability could be identified who would be willing to finish the work. There have been some problems with writing up from some of the India researchers, many of whom are younger academics in their early careers. This has led to some delays. Brazil continues to perform well. Despite these setbacks there have been some major achievements especially in the communication of research findings at conferences.

3.State Capacity, Financing the State and Informal Local Governance
Comprising three key research themes (State Capacity, Financing the State and Informal Local Governance), programme three has progressed well over the last year.

There have been some major movements in the taxation work, mainly in communication efforts. The multi country study into the resource curse in Andean countries started and is now nearing completion.

Work into Informal Local Governance institutions has progressed adequately and there is possibility of funding one further stage of work. The multi-country study into donor proliferation in Africa was completed and a research proposal submitted to other funders for follow up work.

Mapping the Likelihood of Introduction and Spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N1 in Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria using Multicriteria Decision Modelling

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:22:00 GMT

Miscellaneous K. B. Stevens, S. Costard, R. Métras, and D. U. Pfeiffer 2009 Working Paper No. 20, 32 pp. The objective of this study was to describe the spatial variation in the likelihood of (i) introduction and (ii) spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) subtype H5N1 on a continental scale in Africa. This report describes the methods used to produce likelihood maps illustrating the likelihood of introduction and subsequent spread of HPAIV H5N1 at both the continental and country level (Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Ghana; targeted countries of the DfID project), and highlights limitations associated with the maps.

The Role of Poultry in Kenyan Livelihoods and the Ex Ante Impact Assessment of HPAI on Livelihood Outcomes

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:25:00 GMT

Miscellaneous L. Ndirangu, E. Birol, Devesh Roy and Y. Yakhshilikov 2009 HPAI Research Brief No. 11, 2009. 6 pp. This study uses the nationally representative Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey (KIHBS, 2005-2006) data and employing quantitative methods to (i) predict and profile those households most likely to be poultry producers and those most likely to keep larger flocks to understand who would be most affected in case of an HPAI outbreak, and (ii) to assess the impact of a potential HPAI outbreak on livelihood outcomes, including income and wealth (value of assets). Such information is expected to assist in the design of efficient, effective, and equitable interventions for mitigation and control of HPAI.

Overview of Qualitative Risk Assessments for the Introduction and Spread of HPAI H5N1 Virus

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:58:00 GMT

Miscellaneous R. Métras, S. Costard and D. Pfeiffer 2009 HPAI Research Brief No. 8, 2009. 7 pp. This Briefing gives an overview of risk assessments conducted in Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Indonesia between October 2008 and June 2009.

Pro-Poor HPAI Risk Reduction Strategies: Synthesis of Country Background Papers

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:41:00 GMT

Miscellaneous M. M. Tiongco 2009 HPAI Research Brief No. 6, 2009. 14 pp. This brief is a synopsis of five country background papers that provided an inventory of information about the importance of the poultry sector in the economy and for rural livelihoods, the structure of the poultry sector and the associated level of biosecurity, and the threats and incidences of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), along with prevention and control measures that were implemented and the institutional response capacity. The countries investigated were Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, and Nigeria.

Reducing Vitamin A deficiency through introduction of orange-fleshed sweetpotatoes in Western Kenya.

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:50:00 GMT

Miscellaneous Oyunga, M.; Low, J.; Hagenimana, V.; Njoroge, S.; Kinyae, P.; Gichuki, S.; Kabira, J. 0 KARI, National Potato Research Center-Tigoni, Limuru, Kenya, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Faculdade de Agronomia e Engenharia Florestal, Maputo, Mozambique, International Potato Center (CIP), Nairobi, Kenya, 10 pp. 4 CARE-Kenya, Homa Bay, KENYA The main goal of this study was to determine whether beta-carotene rich sweetpotato cultivars can provide a year-round, sustainable source of vitamin A in the diets of communities in western Kenya where very low levels of vitamin A consumption among children under five years of age have been identified.

Criteria of grouping farmers into wealth categories.

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:04:00 GMT

Miscellaneous 0 1 pp. One page document listing criteria under which farmers can be categorised according to wealth.

Holistic approach to the development of sweetpotato-based products and micro-scale enterprises.

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:56:00 GMT

Miscellaneous Hagenimana, V. 0 3 pp. This is a brief executive summary document.

Adequacy of Traditional Methods for Drying Sweet Potato in Uganda.

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:44:00 GMT

Miscellaneous Odora, C.; Kirsch, N.; Hageminana, V. 0 Makerere University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry Department, Kampala, Uganda, International Potato Centre (CIP), Nairobi, Kenya, 10 pp. To improve the quality and technology of producing affordable dried sweetpotato products at the village level, production of dried sweetpotato was technically evaluated in three villages of Soroti District considering the steps of washing, use of the sweetpotato slicer, adjustment of drying, milling and storage to local conditions, and quality control of the dried product. The product was compared for the nutrient content, microbial quality, and foreign substance contents to that produced using local traditional methods and laboratory controlled methods.

An enterprise approach to commodity system improvement: sweet potato in Uganda and Kenya. Final Technical Report.

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:36:00 GMT

Miscellaneous Hagenimana, V. 2000 International Potato Center (CIP), 23 pp. Rural micro scale enterprises commercialising sweet potato-based food and other food products in Uganda and Kenya offer potential for income generation and employment for women usually responsible for food processing and marketing as well as for enhanced utilization of the root crops. This creates supply and demand for the new food products both in the poor household and for the local market sales, and contributes towards reducing poverty and improving nutrition and food security. This project aimed at identifying strategies, methods and technologies to improve both micro-enterprise performance and the quality, processes, and markets of sweet potato-based food products.

African cattle to be protected from killer disease

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:00:00 GMT

The Global Alliance for Livestock Vaccines and medicines (GALVmed), a public private partnership supported by DFID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has facilitated the production of a million doses of an experimental vaccine against a tick-borne disease of cattle in Africa

New TB Regimens: What Countries Want

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:00:00 GMT

A new report from the TB Alliance based on interviews with over 200 key stakeholders explores

Makutano Junction is 'outstanding'

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Makutano Junction, the DFID-supported television drama, based on the lives of a host of colourful characters in a fictitious Kenyan village has been nominated for the prestigious One World Media Award

Agriculture on-air

Thu, 21 May 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Recorded by Africans for Africans, the DFID-funded AGFAX monthly radio service, now in its 15th year, provides the latest information on agricultural and rural development to agricultural broadcasters and, through them, to millions of listeners across Africa

Heckle and Chide

Fri, 08 May 2009 01:00:00 GMT

A good idea, carefully researched and well communicated, can make a huge difference. A new research programme shows the way on road safety in Kenya

DFID Supports World Malaria Day 2009

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:00:00 GMT

DFID is supporting a range of research projects alongside programmes to scale up interventions already known to be effective in the control of malaria

Strengthening Health Research in Africa

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:00:00 GMT

In February 2009, the Health Research Capacity Strengthening (HRCS) initiative was launched. HRCS aims to strengthen the capacity of key academic research and health policy-making institutions in Kenya and Malawi to generate new scientific knowledge. It is funded in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Canada

Kenyan shopkeepers join fight against malaria

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 01:00:00 GMT

DFID-funded research on the effectiveness of training retailers to advise on the home use of shop-bought antimalarial drugs for fevers in coastal areas of Kenya has shown that shopkeeper training can lead to much quicker treatment of malaria

Assessment of Shopkeeper Training Programme on Drugs for Fever

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:04:00 GMT

Completed 750,000 young children die of malaria every year in Sub Saharan Africa. Prompt, correct, treatment is vital. Assess the effectiveness of shopkeeper training to dispense antimalarial drugs.

Does the Media Help or Harm in Potentially Divisive Elections?

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:00:00 GMT

The BBC World Service Trust has launched a new unit for policy advisors to help understand the role that the press can have during elections as the role of media in elections - sometimes negative, sometimes positive - is becoming an increasingly key governance issue

Video stories help health workers learn about the stigma of HIV/AIDS

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:00:00 GMT

DVD-led discussions using material from the DFID-funded soap opera Makutano Junction have helped Kenyan health workers gain more awareness of the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. Those attending an upcoming Healthlink London dicussion will have the chance to find out more from people working on the project

African Initiative Launched to Strengthen Health Research

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Health research in Africa has received an important boost through DFID, Welcome Trust and IDRC support for two funding bodies, established through the Health Research Capacity Strengthening initiative. The two organisations, based in Kenya and Malawi, will implement nationally-owned strategies aimed at strengthening health research capacity in their respective countries

The Know Zone

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

It is not uncommon for children around the world to rush home from school in time to watch their favourite television show. However in Kenya children will now be watching a DFID-funded programme that is not only enjoyable but educational

Preliminary work on a Television Drama Series (Makutano Junction).

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:13:00 GMT

Completed Approximately 10.5 million people (5 million in Kenya, 2.5 million in Uganda, 3 million in Tanzania), many of whom live in peri-urban areas, will be reached with information relating to pest management in horticultural crops and donkey draught power, through the development of a thirteen part television series which will be broadcast across the East African region. This is a brilliant opportunity to reach farmers who are thirsty for additional information on horticultural crop production that will enhance their income generating potential, as well as information on labour-saving techniques through the use of donkey draught power. Currently, CPP are funding projects that focus on promotion of technologies relating to pest management (see above), using Farmer Field Schools and training of private service providers, as well as through the production of manualsl, leaflets and posters. This initiative will reinforce and broaden the promotion of recommendations still further. The project will also liaise with KENDAT who promote issues such as how to care for donkeys (treatment, feeding etc.), how to harness a donkey properly and donkey management.

Better plans are needed to anticipate food crisis in Kenya

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT

A DFID and DANIDA-funded study could help policy makers take the threats of climate change seriously

Gender, education and global poverty reduction initiatives.

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:24:00 GMT

Current The project aims to look at the way global policy on gender, schooling and poverty eradication articulated through the Millennium Development Goals and other policy statements emerging from UN organisations and international gatherings, are interpreted, whether they are put into action and the reasons for this. The proposed study is based on detailed case studies in Kenya and South Africa, where reforming governments have sought to address issues of poverty, gender and schooling. In these countries a vibrant civil society is active and often critical of government, sometimes drawing on global policy for support. The project is designed to explore how national and provincial education departments, national and local non-government organisations and a school community interpret policy on gender, schooling and poverty, the connections that are or are not made between global policy declaration and national, regional and local aspiration and action, the reasons for this and the processes that help and undermine work to take forward initiatives relating to gender, education and global poverty reduction. The case studies will be conducted in partnership with the government departments and NGOs and the proposed project is partly designed so that organisations can draw on the issues raised by the research study to enhance their own reflection on policy and practice and help heighten understanding of the process of global policy making and obligation across national boundaries. The objectives of the study are:
i) to examine in what ways global, national, regional and local ideas and actions regarding gender equality in education and poverty reduction connect and disconnect
ii) to explore relationships in bringing about change in policy and practice in the field of gender, education and poverty reduction
iii) to work with organizations at national, provincial and local level to examine how and why certain conditions, interpretations and actions regarding gender and education impact on poverty reduction and how to enhance policy, advocacy, debate, and implementation in this area.

Improved treatment for sleeping sickness

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

A new combination of drugs has been successfully trailed by the DFID-funded Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative as a treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa

Supporting science journalism in Africa and the Middle East

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

A dozen new teams of science journalists from different countries across Africa and the Middle East trained through the DFID-funded SjCOOP Programme are collaborating on science related stories

Media in Kenya after the elections

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:00:00 GMT

A report produced by the BBC World Service Trust, and sponsored by DFID has received widespread praise and is being taken seriously by policy makers in Kenya and elsewhere

Seeding a message for farmers via the TV viewers of Kenya

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Makutano Junction, the Kenyan TV drama series responds to text messages from its regular TV viewers requesting follow up information on development issues and shows that the message is getting into farming areas

Better roads for Africa

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:00:00 GMT

The Global Transport Knowledge Partnership is helping inform people about new ways to build sustainable road transport in Africa

Health Research Capacity Strengthening Initiative: Kenya and Learning Project Components

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:32:00 GMT

Current HRCS will build local capacity to commission, do and use high-quality research that addresses the health needs of Kenya and:

enhance the quality of health interventions in Kenya through the formulation and use of evidence-based policies.
strengthen institutional capacity to conduct and coordinate health research and to improve its use in evidence-based policy formulation, decision-making and healthcare delivery.

The Kenya initiative has been running through IDRC since Feb 2008. Progress, particularly on spending, has been very slow. The initial ground work has now been laid and the project is now beginning to move. It's now a case of getting into mechanics of what and what's not required. CNHR are now fully manned and being supported by the Incubation team/IDRC.

African Community Access Programme (AFCAP)

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:49:00 GMT

Current AFCAP funds applied research to rural access problems, communicates the research outcomes to stakeholders, and supports the mainstreaming of the research results into practice. A six-month inception phase was completed in December; projects are now in operation or in planning in several sub-Saharan African countries.

Programme Goal: Sustained economic development, poverty reduction and improved livelihoods of the rural poor through more effective, efficient and equitable access to socio-economic opportunities (employment, healthcare, education, etc.).

Programme Purpose: To create sustainable access for rural communities to external opportunities and services (including health, education, employment, markets and social and political networks).

Best practice on Rural Roads Technology mainstreamed in Africa
Evidence of impact of appropriate rural road technology disseminated
Sustainable ownership mechanisms for construction and maintenance of local road systems
Knowledge and research capacity in Africa improved and key knowledge disseminated and adopted
Status of improving access to basic infrastructure for poor in Africa reviewed and further developed

AFCAP has made substantial progress in establishing a robust research programme for the rural transport sector in Africa. National co-ordinators have been appointed in Mozambique, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya, national steering groups have been identified, initial projects have been developed, and contractors for these projects are being procured.

Discussed with International Institute of Water and Environment Engineering of Ouagadougou University possible development of a short course for rural road engineering. There is potential to collaborate with KNUST in Ghana and the opportunity to offer course material across the French West African region.

Letters of Agreement have now been secured with the governments of Mozambique, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya. AFCAP is supporting study tours for the Ethiopian Road Authority and a strategic planning workshop in Tanzania.

Preparing for malaria in the changing climate of East Africa's highlands

Thu, 22 May 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Kenyan researchers are combining climate observation with medical research to improve an existing model of malarial prediction so that local officials can better prepare

Capacity strengthening for East African journalists

Thu, 22 May 2008 01:00:00 GMT

A pilot initiative to provide training to radio and print journalists from East Africa, alongside a major international conference, has helped to strengthen links between scientific researchers and the media

SecureWater: Building sustainable livelihoods for the poor into demand responsive approaches. Inception phase.

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:58:00 GMT

Completed This research project will bring together two development approaches in order to achieve more sustainable poverty elimination through water supply improvements. A sustainable livelihoods (SL) framework (see http://www.odi.org.uk/ rpeg/srls/html) - to understand the nature of poverty at a household level and best practices for its elimination - will be used to inform and assist in the move towards more demand-responsive approaches (DRA) in water supply development. A need for better understanding of the water-poverty links has been highlighted in recent years in the increasing focus on poverty elimination amongst many ESAs and national governments. The challenge is to build a better understanding into the work of all participants involved in water supply development. Of particular importance is how to assist in the development of water for productive purposes at a household level, a key to which is understanding how and where water is used as part of natural capital in the livelihood strategies of poor households, thus understanding demand properly in order to respond to it. Understanding this micro-level use of water entails achieving a holistic understanding mirrored at a higher level by the recent global emphasis on integrated water resources development at the basin level. Hitherto, water supply has been closely linked to the achievement of health benefits through its integration with sanitation and hygiene promotion. Whilst the importance of this integrated approach is acknowledged, its limitations in terms of addressing broader water-livelihoods linkages in understanding at household-level are recognised. Significant issues surrounding sanitation and livelihoods will be a subsidiary focus of this research. To increase understanding anong interveners in the water sector of water livelihoods links, enhancing their capacity to eliminate poverty in demand responsive approaches. A concept paper, incorporating literature review.

An inception report, incorporating research methodology framework, collaborative arrangements and dissemination plan.

Five case studies on water and livelihoods, and one on sanitation and livelihoods in an urban context, in versions adapted for different capacity building contexts.

Sustainable livelihoods-based tools developed for decision-support, monitoring and demand assessment tools to contribute to pro-poor sectoral decision making.

Forum established for institutional collaboration to develop sustainable financing mechanisms and appropriate technological choice for poor communities.

Dissemination of research findings, tools, training materials, through broadcast video, electronic media, journals oriented to interveners as well as to the research community.

The contribution of post-basic education and training to poverty reduction: evidence from South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:28:00 GMT

Current

For 25 years within the World Bank, and increasingly within other multilateral and bilateral agencies, education and particularly primary education have been held to have a powerful relationship with many other development outcomes, and, through these, with the reduction of poverty more generally. This primacy of primary education is symbolised in its position as a Millennium Development Goal (MDG), and hence within DFID as an element in their Public Service Agreement (PSA).

The present research builds directly on this foundation role for basic education, but extends it to examine in what ways and under what conditions post basic education and training (PBET) can also be expected to contribute to poverty reduction. It considers the extent to which PBET can provide skills and knowledge necessary for countries to develop capacity to reduce poverty and to ensure that the full benefits of basic education can be harnessed.

To synthesize state-of-the-art research on the potential contribution of post-basic education (secondary, tertiary and skills development) to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and poverty reduction.

Dissemination of project outputs will be promoted throughout the project's lifecycle, and beyond.
Outline the project ideas to an international meeting on capacity development in JICA, Tokyo.
Present the findings of the first data collection phase to the annual meeting of the Working Group on International Co-operation of Skills Development.
Use the Centre of African Studies Occasional Paper series to publicise findings from all the teams.
A special project meeting will be organised end-on to the major Oxford Conference to review a preliminary result from both phases and to feed selected papers into the main conference. Project dissemination will occur.
A special issue of Norrag News will be published (and aid policy bulletin) on the theme of learning capacity and poverty reduction.
Encourage submission of articles by junior team members to some of the following journals with which they are closely associated: Compare, IJED, Journal of Modern African Studies, BOLESWANA Educational Research Journal, African Affairs and NIEPA Journal.
At the end of the project, the main DFID report will be submitted and it is expected that the project would also feature as part of the DFID Education Papers.

Organisation of a special panel in the 2004 Conference of the Development Studies Association. This first paper was published, in 2005, in a special issue of the Journal of International Development supported by DFID, appropriately entitled 'Bridging Research and Policy'. Our DFID research chapter will also appear in the book of the same title to be published in the summer of 2006.
Six country studies were all completed in near to final draft by March 2005. It was possible for them all to be available as background papers, by the time of the Centre of African Studies' (CAS) International Conference in Edinburgh in April 2005. This CAS Conference was itself deliberately oriented around the key themes of the DFID project, and hence the published volume from the CAS conference, Revisiting Education, Training and Work in Africa (CAS October 2005) set the DFID research on five African countries within a larger African context.
Workshop (April 2005) with high level policy makers from Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and India in order to get early feedback on the research from these senior members of the policy community.
The individual country studies were versioned into academic papers for the UKFIET's Oxford International Conference on Education and Development, September 2005. This panel was entitled 'Educating and Training out of Poverty', and thus was organised in large part around our DFID research theme. All the DFID country studies that were presented in Oxford were also accepted by the International Journal of Educational Development.
Country studies translated into short, sharp Policy Briefs. These are on the website (http://www.cas.ed.ac.uk/research_and_publications/projects/projects-2006.htm) along with the country studies and the academic versions of the papers. But packages containing the Policy Briefs, the Executive Summaries of our country studies and the country studies themselves have been sent to carefully selected policy makers in each of our research countries. The same package was also sent to the DFID advisors' meeting in Nairobi in early 2006.
It also proved possible for our DFID research to be fed into the main donor agencies concerned with the relationship of skills and poverty reduction. Both in the Working Group for International Cooperation in Skills Development and in the European Training Foundation in November and December of 2005 respectively, major presentations on Skills and Poverty Reduction were made at these agency meetings in Italy. While a little earlier in the year, the results of our DFID work were also presented to a meeting of all of USAID's education advisors in Washington.
The summaries of our six country studies along with many other articles on the Education-Poverty Reduction relationship have been a key element in the Aid Policy Bulletin, NORRAG NEWS NO. 37, which was published in May 2006.
A further opportunity to present the results of the research was in the biennial conference of the African Studies Association of the UK in SOAS in September 2006.
Final synthesis report

Making sense of sustainable agriculture

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:44:00 GMT

Current Agricultural development policy must simultaneously improve smallholder productivity and address long-term environmental concerns. Much of the recent interest in sustainable agriculture focuses on technologies that feature low external input strategies. These rely on local resources, particularly knowledge and labour; encourage adapting solutions to individual farm conditions; and promote a vision of farm stewardship. This type of technical change draws upon, and seeks to strengthen, farm communities' human capital (skills, knowledge) and social capital (communication, organisation, participation).

Despite broad interest in these strategies, there are few empirical studies that assess the progress and outcomes of this type of initiative. The proposed research will examine three instances of the successful introduction of low external input agriculture: the adoption of integrated pest management in rice in Sri Lanka, the development of soil conservation techniques in Honduras, and the catchment approach to soil and water conservation in Kenya.

The research focuses on examining differential response to, and subsequent development of, introduced low external input technologies. The research will focus on two sets of questions. The first set involves a retrospective understanding of how differences in farmers' human and social capital assets affect their capacities to utilise low external input agriculture. A second set of questions is prospective in nature and is made possible by the focus on projects whose major activities are now complete. The study will seek evidence on the degree to which the initiatives have contributed to strengthening farmer assets, allowing further adaptation and change beyond the initial project. The objective of the research is to provide a policy-relevant analysis of the prospects and challenges for knowledge- and management-intensive technological change for smallholder agriculture. To examine the introduction of pest management in rice in Sri Lanka, development of soil conservation techniques in Honduras and the catchment approach to soil and water conservation in Kenya. The research will focus on examining differential response to, and subsequent development of, sustainable agriculture. An analysis of the factors determining differential uptake of three types of low external input agriculture and the identification of policies, strategies and conditions conducive to strengthening human and social capital in support of appropriate technology development and adoption.

Policy Innovation Systems for Clean Energy Security (PISCES)

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:43:00 GMT

Current

The idea behind PISCES is that the security of livelihoods is contingent upon the interdependence of energy, water and food security - and that Bioenergy is the pivotal issue at the intersection of these three factors. Millions still rely on bioenergy in the form of wood for basic energy services, often depleting forestry resources, contributing to the deterioration of watersheds, and promoting desertification. There is also increasing global interest and activity in the growing of energy crops to act as modern biofuels, stimulated by increasing prices, tightening access to fossil oil supplies, and the impact of climate change requiring mitigation and adaptation to these changes.

While increased cultivation of energy crops could provide increased energy access for the poor, without appropriate policies in place it could also pass them by. At the macro-level, bioenergy could increase global energy supplies without increasing carbon emissions; at the local level it could absorb vital water supplies and fertile land needed to cultivate food. Tradeoffs are inevitable for an increase in bioenergy provision and need to be understood and appropriately regulated and incentivised in policy if the promise of bioenergy is to be realised in meeting the energy security needs of the poor, without compromising their already limited access to water and food security.

The goal of this project are threefold; one is to contribute to widely transferable knowledge and understanding of bioenergy, two to show demonstrable policy change in the target countries of the project; and three maximize the contribution of bioenergy to clean energy access and livelihoods. PISCES is 5-year RCP running from 2007 to 2012 with the lead institution being African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and lead partners includes University of Dar es Salaam, Practical Action, University of Edinburgh, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and University of Edinburgh. The project is implemented in India, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.

The purpose of this project is to increase available knowledge and understanding of policy relevant trade-offs between energy, food and water security for livelihoods in relation to bioenergy.

Objectives:
Development of policy relevant frameworks on bioenergy supported by comprehensive data, analysis and stakeholder participation.

Sustainable pilot projects running action inquiry research and demonstrations operating in three countries.

Research outcomes are taken up in policy, regulations, standards and practice in each country.

PISCES Policy Working Groups (PWGs) have been established with encouraging engagement in Kenya and Sri Lanka. In Kenya PISCES is actively involved the national initiatives to develop the national strategy paper for both biodiesel and bioethanol. The impact on policies is not yet clear and the process has yet to get well underway in Tanzania and India.

PISCES RPC expert working groups have been established. Policy makers and practitioners have engaged with the groups.

Research is under way into small-scale gasification and ethanol microdistillation technologies & delivery models. PISCES is a member of the National Biodiesel Research Working Group, Natinal Biodiesel Committee and Bioethanol Strategy Working Group. Research outcomes are taken up in policy, regulations, standards and practice in each country.

PISCES has produced two policy briefs which are in their last stage of publication.

A number of training courses have been conducted to build capacity of lead partners and collaborators. Training courses have been conducted on topics such as Research in to Use and Market Mapping Approach.

A number of PhDs and Masters students training are going on both at Edinburgh and University of Dar es Salaam.

Bioenergy resources, needs and environmental impacts surveys have been completed in India.

Through a collaborative initiative with the FAO, PISCES have conducted Bioenergy and Livelihoods Case Studies in 12 countries covering South America, South East Asia and African countries.

PISCES team have future in several National and International Bioenergy Conferences.

Centre for the Future State - Phase 2

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:26:00 GMT

Current The primary purpose of the Development Research Centre for the Future State is to harness the ideas and the research skills of applied social science researchers, in both developing and developed countries, to assist in finding ways of achieving the Millennium Development Goals by increasing the accountability and effectiveness of public authority in the South. The secondary purpose is to contribute to enhancing the capacity of researchers to perform this role by (a) helping to upgrade research and communication skills, especially for younger researchers from developing countries, and (b) strengthening an institutional framework that permits and encourages researchers from South and North to work together to share resources and collectively to define and implement applied research programmes. To harness the ideas and the research skills of applied social science researchers, in both developing and developed countries, to assist policymakers and citizens to find ways of increasing the accountability and effectiveness of public authority in the South. Policy-relevant research. This is the core activity, and constitutes the intellectual and organisational framework around which the other activities will be organised.

Dissemination and policy-influencing activities. The project has a very good record in this field and has begun to invest more heavily in these activities, in particular in the activities of the Synthesis Task Force.

Capacity Building. The approach and plans are that the major investments in this area will be on increasing the capacity of younger Southern researchers to undertake high quality policy-relevant research, and to communicate their findings to various audiences.

R4D Kenya

Development Research Centre for the Future State (Research Scheme R8490) Annual Report 1 July 2008  30 June 2009

Mapping the Likelihood of Introduction and Spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N1 in Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria using Multicriteria Decision Modelling

The Role of Poultry in Kenyan Livelihoods and the Ex Ante Impact Assessment of HPAI on Livelihood Outcomes

Overview of Qualitative Risk Assessments for the Introduction and Spread of HPAI H5N1 Virus

Pro-Poor HPAI Risk Reduction Strategies: Synthesis of Country Background Papers

Reducing Vitamin A deficiency through introduction of orange-fleshed sweetpotatoes in Western Kenya.

Criteria of grouping farmers into wealth categories.

Holistic approach to the development of sweetpotato-based products and micro-scale enterprises.

Adequacy of Traditional Methods for Drying Sweet Potato in Uganda.

An enterprise approach to commodity system improvement: sweet potato in Uganda and Kenya. Final Technical Report.

African cattle to be protected from killer disease

New TB Regimens: What Countries Want

Makutano Junction is 'outstanding'

Agriculture on-air

Heckle and Chide

DFID Supports World Malaria Day 2009

Strengthening Health Research in Africa

Kenyan shopkeepers join fight against malaria

Assessment of Shopkeeper Training Programme on Drugs for Fever

Does the Media Help or Harm in Potentially Divisive Elections?

Video stories help health workers learn about the stigma of HIV/AIDS

African Initiative Launched to Strengthen Health Research

The Know Zone

Preliminary work on a Television Drama Series (Makutano Junction).

Better plans are needed to anticipate food crisis in Kenya

Gender, education and global poverty reduction initiatives.

Improved treatment for sleeping sickness

Supporting science journalism in Africa and the Middle East

Media in Kenya after the elections

Seeding a message for farmers via the TV viewers of Kenya

Better roads for Africa

Health Research Capacity Strengthening Initiative: Kenya and Learning Project Components

African Community Access Programme (AFCAP)

Preparing for malaria in the changing climate of East Africa's highlands

Capacity strengthening for East African journalists

SecureWater: Building sustainable livelihoods for the poor into demand responsive approaches. Inception phase.

The contribution of post-basic education and training to poverty reduction: evidence from South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa

Making sense of sustainable agriculture

Policy Innovation Systems for Clean Energy Security (PISCES)

Centre for the Future State - Phase 2

Development Research Centre for the Future State (Research Scheme R8490) Annual Report 1 July 2008 30 June 2009