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Hymenaea verrucosa (formerly Trachylobium hornemannianum) is a tree that exudes a resin known as Zanzibar copal in Africa and Sundrus in Unani (Greeko-Arab) medicine. It shows various therapeutic properties such as astringent, anthelminthic, antiobesogenic, antilipidemic and emmenagogue. It has been used in the treatment of obesity, headache, sinusitis, wounds, cataract, otitis, palpitations, worm infestations, taenia, haemorrhage, hyperhidrosis, haemorrhoids, diarrhoea, etc. since ancient times. This paper is intended for the documentation of the biological properties of Hymenaea verrucosa and the chemical compounds found in it as it is an indigenous Unani as well as African origin medicinal tree with much potential. This will also prompt the need for scientific clinical studies on its various pharmacological actions as it has not been fully evaluated. Data sources were authentic Unani literature, modern pharmacology books, and published works including various research and review papers available on PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar. The eligibility criteria were all relevant articles up to 2023 that described the pharmacology and clinical effects of Hymenaea verrucosa. Hymenaea verrucosa resin contains diterpenes and their derivative terpenoids such as caryophyllenes, sesquiterpenes, trachylobanes, kaurenes, diterpene acids, such as trachylolic acid, isotrachylolic acid, α and β selinene, α cubebene, α copaene, α and β resenes, essential oils etc. These constituents have shown anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, metabolic, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, antiparasitic activities in various in vitro and in vivo studies which conform with the old medical literature. The major limitation is that no in vivo or in vitro study has been conducted using the chemical constituents extracted from the resin. Therefore, this paper discusses the bioequivalence of the chemical components found in Hymenaea verrucosa resin through various studies. Zanzibar copal or Sundrus is a promising drug that has been effectively used in Unani medicine to treat various metabolic and phlegmatic disorders. Many potentially bioactive compounds are found in its resin, but no detailed studies of their biological activity are yet available. Therefore, there is a further need to focus research on Hymenaea verrucosa and its ingredients through advanced scientific methods. [Display omitted] • Sundrus is the resin of hymenaea verrucosa, previously trachylobium hornemannianum. • It has been used to treat obesity, sinusitis, haemorrhage, etc. since ancient times. • Zanzibar copal contains caryophyllene, diterpenes and trachylobanes. • They have apoptotic, antidiabetic, antiobesity and anticancer properties. • It can be concluded that gum copal can be used as a remedy for various ailments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The study was commenced to collect and revise data pertaining to the biological impacts of Adansonia digitata. • Our attention was directed towards scholarly articles released from 2015 to January 2024, as documented in the Scopus database. • There is little research conducted on Adansonia digitata plant despite its popular medicinal importance, so we shed light on this plant. Adansonia digitata L. is a highly esteemed and versatile tree native to Africa. It offers numerous benefits in terms of providing medication, food, clothing and serving as a vital source of natural remedies. The increasing demand for natural remedies as opposed to synthetic ones has prompted the exploration of several alternative natural products. The study reviewed research articles published from 2015 to January 2024 and indexed in the Scopus database to provide an up-to-date report on the species' scientific significance. Searches for research papers have been conducted via Elsevier, Springer, Google Scholar, Taylor & Francis, PubMed, and Scopus using " A. digitata ," "chemical composition," "antioxidant," "antibacterial," "antidiabetic," "anticancer," and other pertinent terms. It has been scientifically demonstrated that this plant's fruits, leaves, bark, roots, and seeds all have medicinal potential. This research highlighted the significant potential of the A. digitata tree as a valuable reservoir of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which can be effectively harnessed for pharmacological purposes. Research undertaken in vitro and in vivo has provided evidence of this plant's helpful role in preventing and treating many ailments. The A. digitata tree exhibits significant potential as an antioxidant and antimicrobial agent as well as an antidiabetic and hepatoprotective agent. A comprehensive evaluation of the compounds identified in the A. digitata tree will yield extremely interesting results. The mechanism of action and clinical assessment should further be determined to ascertain the plant traditional, in vitro, and in vivo animal-documented results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the role of networks in the spatial diffusion of local economic shocks in Africa. We show that geographic connectivity, along with road and ethnic connectivity, are important for diffusing economic spillovers over longer distances. We then determine the key players, that is, which districts are key in propagating local economic shocks across Africa. Using these results, we conduct counterfactual policy exercises to evaluate the potential gains from policies that increase economic activity in specific districts or improve road connectivity between districts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraoperative neurosurgical adjuncts improve extent of resection whilst mitigating patient morbidity. The delivery of neurosurgical care via these adjuncts is the norm in high-income countries, but there is yet to be a study highlighting the usage of neurosurgical oncology adjuncts in Africa. This paper aims to provide awareness of the use of these adjuncts in Africa, reasons for limited procurement, and possible solutions to the problem. This scoping review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Semantic derivatives of neurosurgical oncology, adjuncts, and Africa were applied to medical databases. Studies in Africa with outcomes relating to adjunct usage, morbidity, mortality, and quality of life were selected. Book chapters and reviews were excluded. Thirteen studies with 287 patients (0.5 to 74 years) were included in the final analysis. Most studies were cohort observational (46.2%) and originated from South Africa (46.2%). Meningioma was the most prevalent tumor histology (39.4%), and neuronavigation was the most readily used adjunct for surgical resection (30.8%). Using adjuncts, gross total resection was achieved in close to half the patient cohort (49.8%). Limited technology, lack of experience, cost of equipment, and inconsistency in power supply were noted as factors contributing to lack of adjunct usage. Neurosurgical adjuncts provide significant benefits in neurosurgical oncology. There is limited utilization of intraoperative adjuncts in most of Africa owing to limited resources and experienced professionals. Bilateral partnerships with a focus on donation and education will foster safe and sustainable adjunct incorporation in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We assemble a new database of exports at constant prices for 131 countries. • Export growth of decolonised countries negatively related to metropole trade share. • Metropolitan trade shares are significant for post-independence French Africa. • British colonies significant before and after independence. • Colonial trade policy and location were important drivers of the metropole effect. Decolonisation was one of the most important institutional transformations of the twentieth century. Recent work on the effect of decolonisation on bilateral trade has suggested that trade with the ex-metropolis declined significantly after independence. Due to problems related to data quality and coverage, however, there is still no consensus on whether the reduction of colonial dependence encouraged or impeded export growth. In this paper, we argue that metropolitan trade shares proxy for colonial monopsony. Using a new database of exports at constant prices for 131 countries and mean group estimators that control for a range of confounding factors, we find that trade shares with the metropole are negatively associated with export growth, with important differences across metropolitan nationalities and locations. We argue that the significance of the erosion of colonial trade ties for export growth following independence was contingent on the interaction of policy and location during the colonial period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The changing structure of households in Africa is challenging the design of micro-level pro-poor policies. • Divorce/separation and widowhood have increased compared to data from 1987/88. • Lower incomes in female-headed households do not lower children's educational investment. • The gender mix of children plays a key role in aggregate household investments for male-headed households, with the financial inclusion of female household heads under 40 years being important for investments in children's education. • Structural changes in female leadership in communities interact with structural changes at the household level. Female headship of households has increased significantly around the world. This paper establishes a link between gender, income, and children's educational investments in an imperfect credit market. We show using a representative household survey from Ghana that, even though there is a positive correlation between income and educational investments, there are expected and unexpected heterogeneities in income and children's educational investments. We find that, whereas income levels for male-headed households with children 6 to 18 years are over 20% higher, female-headed households tend to invest 31% to 38% more on children's education than male-headed households. In imperfect credit markets, higher educational investments could be taking place at the expense of other household outcomes such as food/leisure. Our empirical results show the need for different interventions for different households. We also show how institutional changes that recognize affirmative action can interact with household-level structural changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Seriphium plumosum L. is a taxonomically recalcitrant complex of paper daisies distributed in southern Africa. • The complex has been shown to comprise at least seven independent species. • Stoebe burchellii Levyns, Stoebe virgata Thunb. and Stoebe vulgaris Levyns are reinstated in Seriphium. • Four species new to science are described in Seriphium. • Seriphium vulgaris (Levyns) Z.Shaik is the only species in the S. plumosum complex that is an agricultural weed on millions of hectares of South African rangeland. Seriphium plumosum L. from southern Africa has been shown to comprise at least seven distinct species based on analysis of morphological, environmental, and multilocus DNA sequence data. On that evidence, Stoebe burchellii Levyns, Stoebe virgata Thunb., and Stoebe vulgaris Levyns are reinstated in Seriphium , and four new species are described, viz., Seriphium alto-argillaceum Z.Shaik , Se. burrowsii Z.Shaik , Se. crypticum Z.Shaik , and Se. dunensis Z.Shaik. Four of these species are endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, and one is so far known from a single high-elevation locality. We present a key to species in the Seriphium plumosum complex, and for each species provide a formal description with accompanying images, typification and synonymy, with distribution maps based on verified field-collected and herbarium specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria is a significant health concern worldwide, particularly in Africa where its prevalence is still alarmingly high. Using artificial intelligence algorithms to diagnose cells with malaria provides great convenience for clinicians. In this paper, a densely connected convolutional dynamic learning network (DCDLN) is proposed for the diagnosis of malaria disease. Specifically, after data processing and partitioning of the dataset, the densely connected block is trained as a feature extractor. To classify the features extracted by the feature extractor, a classifier based on a dynamic learning network is proposed in this paper. Based on experimental results, the proposed DCDLN method demonstrates a diagnostic accuracy rate of 97.23%, surpassing the diagnostic performance than existing advanced methods on an open malaria cell dataset. This accurate diagnostic effect provides convincing evidence for clinicians to make a correct diagnosis. In addition, to validate the superiority and generalization capability of the DCDLN algorithm, we also applied the algorithm to the skin cancer and garbage classification datasets. DCDLN achieved good results on these datasets as well, demonstrating that the DCDLN algorithm possesses superiority and strong generalization performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After nearly three decades of "ICT for development", the rollout of ICT backbone infrastructure remains challenging throughout Africa. African states do not only depend on the technology of foreign companies but must also seek external finance to pay for it. This dual dependency puts African governments in a vulnerable position, leading us to inquire: to what extent does the dual dependency on foreign finance and technology affect African agency in ICT infrastructure provider choice? The paper proposes a model that distinguishes between the agency of higher and lower income countries. Elaborating on the latter, the model assumes that the source of foreign ICT-related finance (i.e., China, World Bank, both, internal) determines whether the recipient state can exercise a weak, medium, or strong degree of agency in its ICT infrastructure provider choice. The paper further argues that the link between foreign finance and degree of agency is shaped by the digital development agenda of the donor. For instance, the model predicts that countries which predominantly received Chinese ICT finance possess weak agency when choosing an ICT infrastructure provider because China's digital development agenda ties the provision of finance to hiring a Chinese contractor. By examining the ICT-related financial inflows and geographical distribution of network equipment providers in African states, the paper shows that the source of finance affects the degree of agency and, subsequently, the choice of ICT infrastructure provider. However, the analysis also suggests a divide in African agency along former colonial lines. In fact, the model holds only for countries without colonial ties to France whereas former French colonies all contracted Huawei, regardless of ICT finance flows. • Proposes a model for African agency in choice of network equipment provider. • Development finance determines African agency in ICT infrastructure provider choice. • Digital development agendas of donors affect ICT infrastructure provider choice. • Geospatial mapping of fiber-optic cables sets Francophone states apart from others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Later Stone Age of southern Africa sees the succession of varied lithic traditions. The Wilton (8ka BP – second millennium AD) corresponds to the last techno-complex of the LSA in South Africa. It has been typologically recognised over vast geographical areas and seems to last until the progressive disappearance of stone tool industries, while experiencing chronological and geographical variations. While Wilton formal tools, mainly small scrapers and microliths, have received much attention, the ways in which the stone tools themselves were produced are still unknown. This paper provides keys to describe mid-Holocene Wilton microlithic productions at the reference site of Rose Cottage Cave (Free-State). The lithic technological analysis highlights the integrated production of 'ready-made' blanks from one volume, including bladelets. The scraper and backed piece typologies are analysed and reveal an interesting diversity. These results provide a foundation for the building of the technological understanding of the Wilton in southern Africa. This paper ultimately aims to facilitate the exploration of regional and chronological variations at Wilton sites, and, by contrast, to differentiate other lithic traditions in southern Africa. • This paper provides keys for better understanding Wilton lithic technologies in South Africa • The knapping methods allowed for the production of various 'ready-made' blanks from one volume. • Different knapping techniques could have been used within one operational sequence. • The scraper and backed piece typology are more diverse than revealed by previous studies. • The paper provides a base line for future comparative studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology-based transactions are inseparable from the routine exchange of data. These exchanges may not pose privacy problems until the movement takes extra-territorial turns thereby facing multiple levels of cross-border regulations. In the 80 s, the frequency of transfer of personal data beyond geographical boundaries in Europe precipitated the regulation of transborder data flows (TDF) beginning with the enactment of the Organization for OECD Guidelines. In Africa, the concept of TDF is more complex than usually viewed by the stakeholders and this is partly because neither the African Union nor other regional bodies have introduced legislation on TDF. Like many concepts in data protection, TDF is bereft of a generally accepted meaning. Regardless of the uncertainty, this paper approaches TDF as the transmission of personal data from one country to another country or international entity for the purpose of processing. The paper discusses some definitions of TDF as understood under African regional and national data protection legislation. In a comparative and normative approach, the paper analyses the barriers to TDF in Africa vis a vis the European experience and then concludes with recommendations for workable TDF within and outside the continent from an African perspective beginning with the harmonization of existing regional framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene open-air archaeological sites have been assumed to be disturbed throughout Central Africa because key sites located on the Kalahari Sand Belt and excavated in the 1970s documented substantial artefact displacement. As a result, only cave sites have long been seen as suitable for presenting reliable vertical chrono-cultural sequences, and minimal effort was made to investigate open-air sites in Central Africa. This paper presents a multi-disciplinary approach combining archaeological, anthracological, and sediment granulometry data to test the vertical integrity of detailed excavations at the open-air site Mukila (DRC). Refitting analysis shows only minor vertical displacement of lithics (6306 artefacts), pottery (1095 sherds) and charcoal (447 fragments), along with a uniform soil particle size distribution throughout the profile. A chronology of 16 radiocarbon dates confirms a continuous age-depth relationship at the site. These data reveal a mostly intact stratigraphy spanning the last 40,000 years. We thus demonstrate that sites along the northern edges of the Kalahari Sand Belt do not per se show vertical disturbance of charcoal and artefact distribution despite uniform grain size distribution. We conclude that a multi-disciplinary approach is mandatory for studying the integrity of archaeological sequences from Central African open-air sites. • The site of Mukila covers 40 millennia and provides a rare glimpse into the lithic production in the Late Pleistocene to the Holocene south of the equatorial rainforest of Central Africa. • The integrity of open-air sites has never been proven by utilising extensive refitting of lithics in combination with anthracological analyses in that region. • We provide a robust protocol for a multi-disciplinary study of site integrity in open-air sites. • The latest Late Stone Age findings are crucial to further our understanding of these insufficiently studied communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) have a disruptive effect on local communities in target areas. • This study assesses the impact of LSLAs on child food insecurity in Africa. • Using a difference-in-differences approach, I find that LSLAs lead to a deterioration in child nutrition, particularly in animal source foods. • Children's dietary diversity scores were reduced by 20% after the land acquisitions. • The baseline dataset consists of 360 LSLAs, published by the Land Matrix Initiative (2 2 9) and supplemented by my own research (1 3 1). Food insecurity is a major concern in most African countries. Large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) frequently have a negative impact on local communities. In this paper, I examine the impact of LSLAs on the nutritional status of neighboring children. To this end, I use a difference-in-differences methodology applied to LSLAs in a large number of African countries at different times since the early 2000s. I analyze data from Demographic and Health Surveys combined with data from the Land Matrix Initiative, supplemented by my own research, ultimately covering 18,276 children living in the vicinity of 45 LSLAs. I show that LSLAs have had a significant negative impact on child nutrition in Africa over the past two decades. Specifically, the dietary diversity scores of children living close to LSLAs were reduced by 20 per cent after acquisition. The results are robust to various statistical tests. I find no changes in work status or household assets. While the impact of LSLAs may be positive for agricultural practices, it is negative for child food security. The analysis highlights the importance of supporting local communities following foreign agricultural investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How is wealth distributed when the economy grows? I study this question in the context of African countries and ethnic groups. If wealth is distributed proportional to population, larger ethnic groups should benefit more when economic activity increases. Using nighttime light and individual level data to geographically locate wealth, I find the exact opposite: Smaller ethnic groups, particularly those in political power, benefit more from increased economic activity than larger ones. The results indicate that political elites in power redistribute wealth from larger ethnic groups. As a result, people's satisfaction with democracy and trust in institutions reduces, casting a shadow on the implementation of trade liberalization policies in developing countries. Instrumental variables estimating exploiting exogenous variation in trading activity confirm initial results. • How is wealth distributed when the economy grows? • This Paper provides evidence that political elite capture the gains from trade. • Elite capture has negative consequences for individuals' satisfaction with democracy and trust in institutions. • Results cast a shadow on trade policies' impact on (democratic) development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines public attitudes regarding the privacy of personal communications across several African countries. The study additionally investigates factors influencing an individual's expression of the right to privacy and rejection of state surveillance. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted on survey data gathered from 48,084 interviews completed in 34 countries. The findings reveal that, among the surveyed countries (34 out of 54 on the continent), a majority (54.87%) advocate for the protection of private communications. This indicates an increasing inclination among individuals to assert greater control over their personal information, which is being collected and utilized by governmental organizations and often by extension, private entities. The results demonstrate that education, gender, occupation, institutional trust, frequency of newspaper reading, perceptions of social media, attitudes towards internet regulation, opinions on government accountability, and the frequency of internet usage all significantly influence an individual's stance on personal data privacy. Governments must strive for more effective communication with citizens to foster support for surveillance programs that achieve a delicate equilibrium between state security and the protection of privacy rights. This study provides an evidence base that policymakers, practitioners and academics can utilize to make informed decisions about data privacy attitudes and predict privacy actions. • Investigates public attitudes towards data privacy and state surveillance in African countries. • Multi-country study utilizing data from 34 countries in Africa. • Belief in the right to data privacy is widespread across Africa. • Provides a better understanding of data privacy and surveillance concerns among citizens and their associations with demographics and behavioral patterns. • Provides guidance for public policy on surveillance and data privacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhamphicarpa fistulosa (Hochst.) Benth., is a facultative parasitic plant causing persistent weed problems in smallholder rice crops across Africa. It was first identified as a rice weed in the 1990's in West Africa. The objective of this review was to comprehensively inform the crop protection research community and extension services on the newly gained insights on R. fistulosa since the last review in 2014. Following a systematic literature search in Web of Science on papers published after September 2014, the cut-off date of the last review, the resulting publications are reviewed. Parasitizing Rhamphicarpa fistulosa plants gain considerably in biomass and reproductive output, compared to independently growing plants. The host incurs severe reductions in photosynthetic efficiency and biomass production. Host-plant assimilates primarily benefit parasite growth and reproduction. Rice yield losses caused by R. fistulosa infestations range from 24 to 73% depending on infestation density and cultivar. Annual crop losses in sub-Saharan Africa were estimated at 204,000 tons of milled rice, with associated annual economic losses of US $82M, affecting >140,000 rural households. Rice cultivars NERICA-L-40 and -31 were identified as resistant and high yielding under R. fistulosa infested conditions. Early sowing decreases R. fistulosa infection. Contrary to the obligate parasitic weed Striga spp., the facultative R. fistulosa is not controlled by fertilisers. The past decade of research generated valuable insights in the genetics, germination biology, environmental and ecological contexts, distribution and impacts on crop yields and economies, and disclosed feasible management options. • Rice vampireweed (Rhamphicarpa fistulosa) is a facultative parasitic weed on rice in Africa. • We reviewed the literature since the last review, ten years ago, to report on research progress. • The weed affects >140,000 farm households and causes losses to African economies worth US $82 M/year. • Control recommendations include identified resistant and tolerant rice cultivars and early sowing. • Small rice production improvements from fertilisers, trade-off with strong weed biomass increments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper adds to the literature on the issue of public debt in African economies, by investigating the role foreign exchange reserves play in improving the level of indebtedness and as buffer of the negative effect of exchange rate depreciation while considering the exchange rate policy. Our results show a direct link between the level of foreign currency reserves and that of external debt in Africa. Particularly, we demonstrate that higher foreign currency reserves tend to decrease the public debt stock to GDP. This effect is even more significant when countries go through high exchange rate depreciation episodes (10% or higher). This impact, however, is not homogenous among country groups, as only countries with a floating exchange regime tend to benefit from this buffer effect compared to anchored regimes. In a time where most African economies face severe exchange rate depreciation episodes following the U.S. monetary tightening policy, central bankers and policy makers need to consider a plethora of policy issues including interventions in the FX market to mitigate depreciations and maintain a sustainable public debt stock. • We explore the relationship between international reserve and public debt in Africa. • Higher foreign currency reserves have a positive impact on reducing the public debt. • This effect is observed during periods of large exchange rate depreciation. • The impact varies among countries according to the exhange rate regime. • Policymakers could use international reserves to maintain sustainable public debt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The potential of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) in the context of the political, economic, social, technical and environmental (PESTLE) framework in Africa. • The prospect of dual use of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) in Africa. • Implementing appropriate energy policy and financing schemes in African cities. • Promoting a sustainable path for cost effective recycling and reuse of end-of-life PV in African cities. Power outage is a regular occurrence in most African cities due to increasing energy demand from population growth and commercial activities outstripping the grid capacity. This results in disruption to normal life putting stress on businesses and affecting development across the continent. This review paper investigates the potential of solar photovoltaic (PV) in African cities from three perspectives. Firstly, the potential of rooftop PV in the context of the political, economic, social, technical, legal and environmental aspects (PESTLE) is evaluated. Thereafter, sustainable waste management of solar PV panels is reviewed in anticipation for the upcoming wave of end-of life solar panels. Finally, the prospect of dual use building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) as power generators and building components is investigated from case studies in Africa. Most studies highlight the strong potential of rooftop PV and BIPV due to the availability of high radiance in the continent. However, our review shows that affordability and lack of investment acts as a significant barrier to mass adoption of this technology which could be remedied by implementing appropriate energy policy and financing schemes. Alternative financing of PV products and service solutions such as leasing, pay monthly, pay-as-you-go, and subscriptions are emerging as popular options, and these approaches seem to act as drivers to market expansion. The review also emphasizes on the need for effective and sustainable waste management of solar PV products through implementing appropriately designed recycling schemes. This will need to be adopted now to ensure success and to prevent a waste management crisis in the future for the African continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper proposes a novel multi-model approach, integrating the CARIMA-SARIMA-GPM framework, to assess the combined impacts of climate change and land use change on the potential of concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems. By considering both climatic variables and land use patterns, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these factors influence CPV performance in the context of a changing environment. The proposed methodology offers valuable insights into the future viability and sustainability of CPV technology, enabling informed decision-making for policymakers, energy planners, and investors in the Middle East and Africa. As a result, the ability of the hybrid evolutionary CARIMA-SARIMA-GPM to predict the potential of CPV energy output for assessing the impacts of climate change on it was investigated in Alice Springs, the Middle East, and Africa. The outcome showed that the hybrid model significantly outperformed the other machine learning approaches. The fitted model was used to assess the potential impacts of climate change on CPV generation in Alice Springs, Australia, as well as the Middle East's and Africa's comparable climatic conditions. According to the study, climate change had the greatest impact on solar CPV energy production in Alice Springs, where it decreased the most by 8.577% under moderate forcing scenarios (SSP245) during the boreal summer season; moderately in the Middle East, where it decreased the mode by 2.316% under mitigation scenarios (SSP126) during the boreal summer season; and extremely minimally in Africa, where it decreased the mode by 1.263% under the far future sequencing period (2051–2099). Climate change also increased solar CPV energy production significantly in the Middle East in the far future sequencing period (2051–2099), as well as in Alice Springs, Australia, and Africa in the near future sequencing period (2015–2050). The strongest forcing scenario (SSP585) increased by 7.644% during the boreal autumn season in Africa; moderately increased by 6.502% during the boreal spring season in the Middle East; and had the least beneficial effects in Alice Springs, Australia, with increases of 5.538% during the boreal winter season. On an annual basis, all three regions showed a similar trend. Climate change (CLC) and urban expansion (URE) were also investigated in the Middle East and Africa for their effects on changes in solar CPV energy output. URE had a greater impact in Africa than the Middle East under the effective scenario, with a URE value of 45.45% for Africa and 20.15% for the Middle East, whereas CLC had a greater impact in the Middle East than Africa, with a CLC value of 29.01% compared to 5.47% for Africa. CLC and CPV residual factors, on the other hand, have a greater impact in the Middle East than in Africa, with effects of 29.01% and 50.83%, respectively, compared to 5.47% and 49.09%. The potential difference that drives the remediation of specific pollutants lies in the application of advanced technologies and sustainable practices. By exploring innovative solutions, such as using renewable energy sources like concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems, we can effectively mitigate the impacts of climate change and land use changes on pollutant concentrations. These technologies have the potential to significantly reduce pollution levels and create a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations. Assessing the CPV potential in different regions like Alice Springs, Australia, the Middle East, and Africa allows us to identify areas with high solar energy resources that can be harnessed for efficient pollutant remediation. Implementing prompt climate mitigation and adaptation measures is crucial for achieving a net-zero energy transition in the Middle East and Africa by 2050. In this context, prioritizing solar energy as the primary source of renewable energy is imperative for successful low-carbon economic planning in these regions. • CARIMA-SARIMA-GPM outperforms other applicable models • By 2100, the CPV potential in Alice Springs could increase by 0.082–5.338% at 1.5 °C • By 2100, the Middle East's CPV potential could increase by 0.021–0.221% at 1.5 °C. • By 2100, Africa's CPV potential could increase by 0.133–7.644% at 1.5 °C. • Climate change has harmed Alice Springs and the Middle East more than Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainty about land ownership is believed to increase vulnerability of marginalized groups in a society. When agriculture is not only responsible for employing more than half of the labor force population but also the main source of the livelihood of poor families, access to land becomes critical. This paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of the impact of land reform on agricultural output in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. Employing a system of equations model and controlling for traditional variables, our study yields several noteworthy findings. First, our results reveal that land development exhibits a positive impact on agricultural output, emphasizing the importance of investment in agriculture. Conversely, the positive coefficient for civil unrest highlights the intricate relationship between land reform and social stability, suggesting that unrest may be a consequence of land reform aimed at addressing inequality. Second, the channel equations shed light on the indirect pathways through which factors like rural population growth rate, life expectancy, and capital stock influence agricultural output. These findings underscore the potential benefits of managing rural population growth, improving healthcare, and increasing investment in agriculture, albeit with varying degrees of impact. Third, our study dissects the different effects of land reform policies. Willing seller-willing buyer and various forms of expropriation are found to be significant in both land development and civil unrest equations, indicating their dual role in promoting land development while potentially contributing to social unrest. Striking a balance between land reform and stability emerges as a crucial policy challenge. • The dual role of land reform policies is evaluated in terms of the trade-off between equity and efficiency. • The findings suggest a policy challenge in achieving a balance between land reform and stability. • While the market approach is deemed equitable, its inefficiency is evident, attributed to its sluggish pace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding bureaucratic corruption in access to public services and exit mechanisms particularly for the poor remains a core question in the economics of corruption literature. This paper examines the role of social networks in easing bureaucratic corruption in the demand for public services, using a bivariate ordered probit model and the sixth wave of the Afrobarometer survey from 36 African countries between 2014–2015. The main results suggest that not all citizens are victims of corrupt public officials, as social networks serve as substitutes or potential exit options out of corruption. However, individuals who face multiple deprivations lack access to public services as they are not able to use their social networks to ease access. Individuals who do not face difficulties in accessing public services employ social networks as complements to their corrupt acts to "get ahead". We discuss these findings in line with poverty eradication strategies and anti-corruption policies in Africa. • Corruption hinders public service access in Africa but not all citizens are victims. • Officials are likely to be more corrupt than citizens in demanding public services. • Corruption eases the poor's access to public services in Africa • Civic networks serve as an exit option from corruption, and a way to "get ahead". • Poverty eradication and anti-corruption are key for service access for the deprived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The study analyzed the synergistic effect of digital infrastructure and human capital on innovation. • System generalized method of moments is employed on a sample of 28 African countries over the 2011–2019 period. • Digital infrastructure positively impacts innovation. • Digital infrastructure and human capital are complementary factors in promoting innovation. While both theory and empirical evidence have established the critical role of digital infrastructure in promoting innovation, there needs to be more understanding of factors mediating this nexus, especially from the African context, which is understudied. This paper argues that digital infrastructure spurs innovation, but the overall effect depends on countries' level of human capital. Relying on data from 28 African countries spanning 2011–2019 and the system Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) estimator, this study departs from the extant literature by examining the synergistic effect of digital infrastructure and human capital on innovation while placing much emphasis on the multidimensional measurement approach of digital infrastructure. The results show a positive relationship between digital infrastructure and innovation in Africa. Furthermore, the interactive effect of digital infrastructure and human capital is significantly related to innovation, implying that digital infrastructure can indirectly enhance innovation through human capital accumulation. To promote innovation, the study recommends that policies that improve digital infrastructure should be pursued simultaneously with policies that enhance human capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the Holocene climatic dynamics of South Africa's southern Cape, a region that supports a large proportion of the Greater Cape Floristic Region and contains an array of important archaeological sites. While South African climates are generally characterised by marked rainfall seasonality, the southern Cape is currently situated at the interface between tropical and temperate climate systems, resulting in a largely aseasonal rainfall regime. This regime, however, is thought to have been particularly sensitive to past changes in late Quaternary boundary conditions, meaning that variability in either tropical or temperate systems could have significant environmental impacts. Evidence of past climate change, however, remains limited. We present a 9000-year record of hydroclimatic variability obtained from rock hyrax midden stable nitrogen records, from Papkuilsfontein, on the southern slope of the Anysberg Mountains. Resolved to an average 6-year resolution and spanning the period c. 9050 cal yr BP to 1990 CE, this is the highest resolution Holocene record from southern Africa and presents a unique opportunity for the detailed study of the primary drivers and spatial gradients of Holocene climate change in the southern Cape. The data indicate a long-term decrease in aridity across the Holocene and a pattern of variability that reveals remarkable similarities with records from the South African tropics and El Niño–Southern Oscillation proxies, highlighting the significance of tropical systems as drivers of Holocene climate change in the region. This substantially expands what has been previously considered to be the zone of tropical influence, extending from a coastal phenomenon associated with heat transport via the Agulhas Current to encompass much, if not all, of the Agulhas Plain south of the Cape Fold Mountains. These findings provide a valuable new climatic framework for contextualizing changes in ecological and archaeological records in the southern Cape, and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the spatio-temporal dynamics of climate systems in southern Africa. • Sub-decadal 9000-year record of aridity from South Africa's southern Cape. • Reveals dominance of tropical forcing across the southern Cape and Agulhas Plain. • ENSO variability indicated to be important driver of regional climate change. • Presents high-resolution framework for study of human-environment interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Analyzing wind-hydrogen production synergy in multi-energy systems. • Modelling three renewable energy-based multi-energy systems' configurations. • Modelling multi-energy systems' production of electricity, cooling, hydrogen, and hot water. • Levelized cost of electricity as low as 0.03653 $/kWh for wind-hydrogen production. • Energy and exergy efficiency ranges from 55.26% and 78.73% and 27.05% to 58.51%. With rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and environmental challenges, there is a strong push towards decarbonization and an emphasis on renewable energy, with wind energy emerging as a key player. The concept of multi-energy systems offers an innovative approach to decarbonization, with the potential to produce hydrogen as one of the output streams, creating another avenue for clean energy production. Hydrogen has significant potential for decarbonizing multiple sectors across buildings, transport, and industries. This paper explores the integration of wind energy and hydrogen production, particularly in areas where clean energy solutions are crucial, such as impoverished villages in Africa. It models three systems: distinct configurations of micro-multi-energy systems that generate electricity, space cooling, hot water, and hydrogen using the thermodynamics and cost approach. System 1 combines a wind turbine, a hydrogen-producing electrolyzer, and a heat pump for cooling and hot water. System 2 integrates this with a biomass-fired reheat-regenerative power cycle to balance out the intermittency of wind power. System 3 incorporates hydrogen production, a solid oxide fuel cell for continuous electricity production, an absorption cooling system for refrigeration, and a heat exchanger for hot water production. These systems are modeled with Engineering Equation Solver, and analyzed based on energy and exergy efficiencies, and on economic metrics like levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), cooling (LCOC), refrigeration (LCOR), and hydrogen (LCOH) under steady-state conditions. A sensitivity analysis of various parameters is presented to assess the change in performance. Systems were optimized using a multi-objective method, with maximizing exergy efficiency and minimizing total product unit cost used as objective functions. The results show that System 1 achieves 79.78 % energy efficiency and 53.94 % exergy efficiency. System 2 achieves efficiencies of 55.26 % and 27.05 % respectively, while System 3 attains 78.73 % and 58.51 % respectively. The levelized costs for micro-multi-energy System 1 are LCOE = 0.04993 $/kWh, LCOC = 0.004722 $/kWh, and LCOH = 0.03328 $/kWh. For System 2, these values are 0.03653 $/kWh, 0.003743 $/kWh, and 0.03328 $/kWh. In the case of System 3, they are 0.03736 $/kWh, 0.004726 $/kWh, and 0.03335 $/kWh, and LCOR = 0.03309 $/kWh. The results show that the systems modeled here have competitive performance with existing multi-energy systems, powered by other renewables. Integrating these systems will further the sustainable and net zero energy system transition, especially in rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water erosion, a notorious major threat to food security and ecosystem sustainability, is strongly conditioned by spatial and temporal scale effects. This paper systematically reviews the scale issues in runoff and sediment delivery (SIRSD) as a research field by integrating the traditional review approach and bibliometric analysis. This review summarises SIRSD's roots and the scale effect on runoff and sediment delivery. Then, we provide quantitative insights into the SIRSD domain's development history, thematic structure, geographic distribution, international cooperation, and methodologies. Findings show that: i) SIRSD arises from the gap between the non-linearity of runoff and sediment delivery across scales and our ability to measure it. Point-based and short-term measurements cannot capture the non-linearities from the spatio-temporal heterogeneities and cross-scale interactions of factors or processes. ii) Previous literature provides evidence that the spatial scaling of specific runoff (r), soil erosion (SE), sediment yield (SSY), or sediment delivery ratio (SDR) with drainage area (A) or slope length (L) exhibits contrasting patterns due to distinct mechanisms. Infiltration-excess and saturation-excess processes account for inverse and positive r - A relations, respectively. Interrill-erosion and rill-erosion cause inverse and positive SE-L relations. Hillslope-erosion and channel/bank-erosion explain inverse and positive SSY-A relations. Downstream increasing deposition and additional sediment inputs drive inverse and positive SDR-A relations. These scaling relationships can be nonlinear or complex due to spatial heterogeneities in land use, vegetation, topography, climate, lithology, and soil characteristics. Hence, applying an empirical scaling equation developed from the region with distinct environmental contexts is not recommended. Furthermore, the existing scaling patterns or equations may require updating given global climate and land use change. iii) SIRSD is a complex and multidisciplinary issue investigated by scientists from 93 countries since 1928. International research has substantially facilitated the understanding of SIRSD; still, more collaboration should focus on less-developed countries with high soil and water loss risks and urgent conservation needs, such as those in Africa and South America under cropland expansion. iv) Scale mismatch and scale break have discredited large-scale erosion and sediment assessments. Incorporating gully and bank erosion into modelling, extending the scale range of the L factor, and expanding the sediment scaling scope from watershed to slope may make a difference. Therefore, more research with nested design incorporating multiple scales is necessary for cross-scale analysis and scalable modelling. Addressing global climate change requires improving real-time urban flood forecasting and integrating downscaled climate models with hydrology, erosion, and sediment transport models. • A bibliometric review of the global SIRSD research for the first time. • SIRSD is rooted in the gap between natural nonlinearity and our measuring ability. • Scaling of specific runoff, erosion, sediment yield, and SDR has diverse patterns. • Scale mismatch and scale break discredit large-scale modelling and assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Africa, Morocco is the 10th largest producer of plastic. The severity of this plastic has attracted increasing amounts of attention in the Moroccan Atlantic and Mediterranean in recent years. However, at the national level, there is limited knowledge of plastic pollution. To obtain an exhaustive and comprehensive evaluation of plastic pollution levels in Morocco, large-scale monitoring is needed on all the coasts of the country. In this context, this paper examined the composition, abundance, distribution, source and quality of beaches on two Moroccan coasts using four beach quality indices along 29 beaches. During two seasons, a total of 72,105 items were counted. The mean litter abundance was 0.31 items/m2, and the Mediterranean beaches were more dense than the Atlantic beaches. In particular, litter density was greater in spring (0.35 items/m2) than in summer (0.29 items/m2). The data indicate considerable differences in the density of marine debris according to the seasonality, beach typology and presence of rivers. Hazardous litter items were collected along both Moroccan coasts, constituting 8.41 % of the total collected items, with a mean of 0.026 items/m2. The use of environmental indices allowed us to classify Moroccan beaches as "moderate cleanliness", "moderate abundance" of plastics, "moderately safe" presence of hazardous litter and "mediocre" environmental status. The findings of the present study indicate that the sources of litter on both Moroccan coasts come mainly from recreational activities and dumping. The waste management practices recommended for Moroccan beaches include reducing sources, mitigating mitigation measures and changing littering behavior. • Plastic pollution assessed along the Moroccan Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts • The mean density of litter found along the study area was 0.31 items/m2. • The percentage of hazardous litter represented 8 % of the items collected. • Marine litter sources mainly from recreational activities and dumping • Beach quality indices could serve as a tool for beach management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we documented the association between specific wordings regarding domestic violence within gender equality laws and women's attitudes towards domestic violence in African countries. To do so, we used data on the longitudinal Demographic and Health Survey conducted between 2003 and 2018, and we empirically conducted a difference-in-differences analysis that captures variations in the country and timing of the inclusion of specific wordings addressing domestic violence in the legislative framework that encompasses the general principle of gender equality. The empirical analysis showed that the inclusion of a specific article criminalizing domestic violence within a country's general gender equality law contributed to a statistically significant and substantial decrease in the likelihood of women deeming wife-beating behaviors justifiable. We further conducted an analysis of heterogeneity by socioeconomic status, as defined by urban status, wealth, literacy, and access to information; we found that the association between laws' wordings and attitudes towards domestic violence appeared statistically significant and sizeable in all socioeconomic groups. • Many African countries lack specific domestic violence laws. • We explore the effects of specific wording regarding domestic violence. • Specific laws of domestic violence decrease women's justification for it. • Effects are sizeable across socioeconomic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The African continent is endowed with massive energy resources such as hydropower, solar, wind, natural gas, wave energy, and many more, yet it is the continent with the least energy supply in the world thereby resulting in a lack of sufficient energy to meet its growing energy demand. Though the continent holds 100 GW of wind capabilities, the current installed capacity as at 2018 was 5.7 GW with countries in northern Africa as well as South Africa capturing over 90% of the wind energy share on the continent. Therefore, this paper reviews the wind energy industry in Africa by identifying the current installed and potential capacity of wind energy on the continent. The challenges faced by the wind energy industry such as policy, competition, technical and economic are also reviewed. Transitions, technological innovation systems, and strategic niche management theoretical sustainability transition framework as well as proposed pathways to overcome these prevailing challenges hindering the full exploration of the wind energy sector in Africa are also highlighted in order to uplift the continent's socio-economic status. Basically, this can be achieved through the adoption of strong 'political-will' by African national governments to drive wind energy development. There is also the need for institutional frameworks to ensure the practical adoption of new wind energy technologies. Furthermore, the major benefits Africa stands to gain from investment in wind energy are enumerated by comparing with the benefits realized by other countries' economies as a result of investing in the wind energy industry. For instance, cheap electricity, job creation, industrial growth, and eco-friendly energy source. • Reviewing wind energy industry in Africa and existing challenges. • The challenges faced by African's wind energy industry can be categorized under policy, competition, technical and economic. • Framework for transiting Africa's wind energy industry from small-scale production to large-scale commercial industry.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop models are essential tools for assessing the impact of climate change on national or regional agricultural production. Starting from meteorology, soil and crop management, fertilization and irrigation practices, they predict the yield of specific crop varieties. For long term assessments, climate models are the source of primary information. To make climate model results usable in a specific time frame context, bias adjustment (BA) is required. In fact, climate models tend to deviate from day-to-day values of the physical parameters while conserving the climate variability signal. BA brings the climatic signal to the actual values observed in a specific location and period, and to be representative of a specific period in absolute terms. BA techniques come in different flavours. The broadest categorization is univariate and multivariate methods. Multivariate methods adjust the variables considering possible cross-correlations while univariate methods treat the variables one by one without accounting for possible dependence on one another. The hypothesis tested in this paper is that since crop models require as input climate variables that are in most of the cases cross-correlated, the multi-variate bias adjustment of the latter is likely to improve performance compared to univariate bias adjusted climate model results. To verify this hypothesis, 14 BA methods were applied to 9 variables from 8 climate models at 21 locations across Europe and Northern Africa for a period of 5 years. Twelve crop models, from the AgMIP Wheat community, were run using the climate model results. All crop models, except one, were restarted at every growing season. The crop models were also run using the AgMERRA re-analysis. The latter were used as reference to compare the results when using the other climate models treated with the various sets of bias-adjustment methods. The results show that multivariate BA treatment should be preferred to univariate ones. The error obtained by comparing crop simulation obtained with AgMERRA with those obtained with multivariate bias-adjusted climate prediction is systematically lower. The error reduction varies as a function of the variable, the location, the crop model, and the climate model though the tendency is for smaller errors when multivariate methods are used to treat the latter. The results are attributed to the nature of crop models and the fact that multivariate methods consider more adequately the correlation existing between the meteorological variables. The study shows the importance of considering the nature of a model and the selection of input data that best suited to the former. In this case the improvements produced when using multivariate data appears to be significant especially in the light of the variety of crop models used and the similar response obtained and it is therefore recommended. [Display omitted] • The impact of climate data multivariate bias-adjustment methods versus univariate on crop model results was estimated. • Crop model results improved when input data was treated using multivariate methods compared to univariate methods. • Multivariate methods maintain the variables correlation as required by crop models. • This result is attributed to the parameterized nature of the participating crop-model formulations. • Climate, bias adjustment and the crop modelling communities joined efforts in this unprecedented collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite protected areas are a useful instrument for preserving locations with a high natural value, violations are frequent, endangering their primary scope. Encroachment, the use of land inside protected areas for agricultural purposes, is a common violation. The present paper investigates the determinants of encroachment in eight Western African countries, with a broad coverage rarely seen in previous research on the topic. The focus is placed on the agro–economic determinants, in the form of average characteristics of rural households living in the proximity of protected areas. The analysis is performed through a Tobit model, with OLS, Probit and Poisson regressions used as robustness checks. Protected areas in locations with a strong agricultural vocation or with a high percentage of protected land are more likely to be subject to violations. Furthermore, economic deprivation and land profitability are other two mild drivers of encroachment together with mechanization. Other indicators of modern practices such as irrigation and use of inorganic fertilizers, instead, do not increase the probability of violations to protected areas. Furthermore, husbandry is a significant determinant of encroachment, but only when involving cattle, while specializing in certain types of crops, e.g. cereals, vegetables or cash crops, does not affect the probability of violations. • The agro-economic determinants of encroachment into Protected Areas (PAs) are investigated. • Violations are more likely in areas with a strong agricultural vocation and several Protected Areas. • Among the agro-economic determinants, poverty, land profitability and mechanizat ion are conducive of encroachment. • Neither modern agricultural practices nor traditional ones prevail in favouring violations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the potential of solar-hydrogen hybrid renewable energy systems as a solution for off-grid applications in areas with heavy rainfall. This study highlights the immense potential of renewable mini grids as a solution to Africa's energy access challenges helping to achieve the sustainable development goal SDG 7. Associated to Photovoltaic primary source (PV), the combination of Lithium-Ion batteries and Alkaline hydrogen system emerges as an effective approach for ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply, especially in rainy seasons. This solution mitigates the need for Diesel Generator, offers protection against fluctuations in diesel fuel prices, and concurrently results in significant reductions in CO2 emissions while optimizing the utilization of PV energy. The uniqueness of this approach is the use of hydrogen as a backup solution. Hydrogen, generated through electrolysis, serves as a reliable energy reservoir during periods of low renewable energy production. This capability enhances the mini-grid's resilience, guaranteeing continuous electricity feeding to off grid critical facilities where power outages can have significant consequences. However, the exclusive use of hydrogen in conjunction with PV energy requires further cost reductions for broader competitiveness, especially concerning Solid Oxide Cell (SoC) electrolyzers. Furthermore, fuel cells, across all hydrogen technologies explored, require continuous development to improve their cost-efficiency and streamline their widespread adoption. Nevertheless, the improvement that can be made to reduce the Hydrogen system CAPEX and enhancing its efficiency would make green hydrogen as a competitive and reliable primary storage solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Travelling long distances to access public service facilities is costly and time consuming, especially to those who suffer the burden of poverty and deprivation. Assessing accessibility based on route-based distances does not work well in rural areas of Africa where people often travel along footpaths and dirt roads (in and out of vehicles) that are not mapped, not necessarily well-defined, could vary based on the season or change over short periods of time. The South African government therefore recommended that geographic accessibility be assessed based on a road network that is augmented by connecting communities to the main road network via a triangulated irregular network (TIN). While this method is recommended, a study about its suitability has not been published. We do this by describing an implementation, analysing the results and comparing these to other techniques. In this paper we present and compare the recommended method to geographic accessibility results of two other frequently used distance measuring techniques: 1) straight-line distances; 2) route-based distances in the road network. We applied the techniques to South African Police Service stations in the O.R. Tambo District Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa, which is characterized by rural villages scattered across the landscape, not connected to the road network and where data for footpaths and dirt roads does not exist. The results confirm that in the absence of a completely mapped travel network, the recommended method is a suitable alternative for measuring geographic accessibility in rural areas of Africa without having to spend time and money on mapping footpaths and dirt roads that keep on changing anyhow. However, the results reveal sensitivity to the threshold distance and significant local variation depending on distance from urban areas and proximity to natural barriers such as rivers. The latter must be considered when deciding whether to apply the recommended distance measurement technique in rural accessibility studies. Further research could compare the techniques for other study areas and also refine the method, e.g., by experimenting with different algorithms for centroids of populated areas and finding ways to estimate travel speeds on TIN arcs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floods have major effects on the livelihoods of rural and urban communities in Africa. In order to lessen its effects, means for mitigating them have been developed, including the use of flood Early Warning Systems (EWS) as a preparedness measure against flood effects. However, there is little comprehensive documentation of the performance of flood EWS in areas where floods occur frequently in Africa. This paper reviews the extent to which flood EWS are contributing to the reduction of flood effects in Africa. This review is important because it gives the reasons why people are affected even when warnings are in place. The review was aided by a literature survey from Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct engines. Through this review, it has been observed that people use traditional and modern systems to communicate flood early warnings. The results indicate that upon receiving the early warnings from the aforementioned systems, people vacate the flood-prone areas for safer places, cleaning water drainage systems and buildings, conducting evacuation training, preparing shelter centers, and forming flood management committees. Furthermore, it was noted that those responses have been instrumental in enhancing food security, reducing human injuries and deaths, and reducing damage and/or losses to properties. It is concluded that if people are informed ahead of time of the flood, they can take more response measures to prepare themselves and reduce the flood's effects. Similarly, the ability of relevant national, local, and community institutions to understand, interpret, disseminate, and respond to flood warnings is critical to the effectiveness of flood early warning systems. • Local and scientific flood EWS are used by communities to reduce flood effects. • Communities respond to flood early warning systems by evacuating flood-prone areas, constructing flood-resistant houses, forming disaster committees, providing flood risk education, and preserving food. • Communities' response to flood early warning systems is useful in enhancing food security, reducing human injury and deaths, and establishing flood management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An emerging question for photovoltaic (PV) solar power development is how to ascertain the optimal choice from a finite set of available alternatives under numerous conflicting criteria as well as high levels of imprecise, vague, and uncertain information. For the first time, we investigate the prioritization of the alternatives for the development of PV solar power via the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs), which show great power in capturing ambiguous, uncertain, and vague information, and mitigating information loss. This paper presents a novel integrated intelligent decision support system comprising of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Combined Compromise Solution (CoCoSo) within an interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy (IVIF) framework. Four alternatives are considered. To rank these alternatives, twelve criteria are defined under four aspects of SWOT analysis based on literature review and discussion with decision-makers. Subsequently, the IVIF-AHP method is utilized to determine the weights assigned to each criterion and sub-criterion. Finally, the IVIF-CoCoSo method is employed to rank four alternatives. The results showed that giving proactive attention to mitigating potential adverse environmental impacts of PV solar systems is the most highly prioritized strategy for PV solar power development. The results of the comparative and sensitivity analyses showed that the proposed method generates highly robust outcomes. The formulated integrated intelligent decision support system can help energy policy authorities with a valuable resource to craft optimal techniques for developing PV solar power. • A novel integrated MCDM approach for the development of solar energy is presented. • Challenges to solar energy development are identified and evaluated. • Strategies to overcome these challenges are provided. • Sensitivity analysis is done to validate the stability of the integrated approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Modern inputs and mechanization can raise smallholder labor productivity and broker the structural transformation. • Intensification increases land and labor productivity, especially when agro-chemicals and mechanized land preparation are combined. • Returns to labor double to triple, inducing specialization and greater market orientation as well as greater food security. • Labor in agriculture becomes more waged, and gender balance remains the same. • Agricultural intensification is a key pathway towards rural transformation. Modern inputs and mechanization are promoted across Africa to raise smallholder labor productivity and broker the structural transformation. Yet, adoption has remained low and the implications for returns to labor and labor allocation remain poorly understood. This paper explores the effects of different intensification packages on farm performance, market orientation, and food security using data from lowland rice farmers in Côte d'Ivoire. Employing a multinomial treatment effect model, the findings reveal that intensification increases land and labor productivity, especially when agro-chemicals and mechanized land preparation are combined. Returns to labor more than triple, inducing greater market orientation as well as greater food security. This opens opportunities to productively release agricultural labor for other activities (on and off the farm). Labor in rice production becomes more waged and slightly more male, but child labor input does not decrease. The findings call for greater attention to labor productivity and confirm that agricultural intensification can pay and enhance rural transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of migrant remittances poses a real challenge in developing countries both in terms of development and the quality of the environment. This paper examines the effect of migrant remittances on the ecological footprint in Africa with taking account the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Unlike previous work that has considered carbon dioxide emissions as a measure of environmental degradation, this study takes into account the ecological footprint as a fair measure of environmental quality. Our sample consists of 30 African countries from 2000 to 2021. We use two methodologies, respectively Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) with instrumental variable and quantile for robustness. The results show that remittances contribute to environmental degradation by increasing the ecological footprint. Moreover, taking into account the modified environmental Kuznets curve effect, our results show that more migrants' remittances increase, more they contribute to improving the environment by improving the ecological footprint. Our results remain robust using quantile regression. Moreover, ICTs reduce the adverse effect of remittances on environmental degradation. In addition, the results reveal that urbanization and human capital improve environmental quality but energy consumption damage it in Africa. Besides, reducing remittances costs and considering incentives to increase remittances inflows to the country remains a suitable target under sustainable development. Finally, there is evidence to implement effective financial system to soften investment credits granting intended for clean technology. Households and individuals should minimize their use of remittances to finance carbon-intensive items like automobiles and others. Moreover, is been necessary to improve ICT penetration and his efficiency in the African countries' context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Africa, the effects of informal e-waste recycling on the environment are escalating. It is regularly transported from developed to developing nations, where it is disassembled informally in search of precious metals, thus increasing human exposure to harmful compounds. Africa has a serious problem with e-waste, as there are significant facilities in Ghana and Nigeria where imported e-waste is unsafely dismantled. however, because they are in high demand and less expensive than new ones, old electronic and electrical items are imported in large quantities, just like in many developing nations. After that, these objects are frequently scavenged to recover important metals through heating, burning, incubation in acids, and other techniques. Serious health hazards are associated with these activities for workers and individuals close to recycling plants. At e-waste sites in Africa, there have been documented instances of elevated concentrations of hazardous elements, persistent organic pollutants, and heavy metals in dust, soils, and vegetation, including plants consumed as food. Individuals who handle and dispose of e-waste are exposed to highly hazardous chemical substances. This paper examines heavy metal risks around e-waste sites and comparable municipal dumpsites in major African cities. Elevated concentrations of these heavy metals metal in downstream aquatic and marine habitats have resulted in additional environmental impacts. These effects have been associated with unfavourable outcomes in marine ecosystems, such as reduced fish stocks characterized by smaller sizes, increased susceptibility to illness, and decreased population densities. The evidence from the examined studies shows how much e-waste affects human health and the environment in Africa. Sub-Saharan African nations require a regulatory framework that includes specialized laws, facilities, and procedures for the safe recycling and disposal of e-waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) are considered one of the potential ways for airlines to reduce emissions. However, African airlines may need more support using SAFs in underdeveloped regions. This paper calculates the carbon emissions from the international routes in Africa from 2019 to 2021 through the Modified Fuel Percentage Method (MFPM) and the ICAO standard method. The error rate is about 4.10%. Then, we predict the carbon emissions for each route and airline under different epidemic recovery paths and analyze the potential subsidies, the impact of SAFs price adjustment, and carbon trading price changes. It can be found that the more extensive the overall carbon emission base, the higher the cost of using SAFs. In addition, the higher the SAFs mixing ratio, the more the cost will increase. The average subsidy to promote SAFs will be 3492.82–3784.74 million dollars at a 50% mixed ratio. By 2025, if only the carbon price is not lower than 12.84 times the current price, or the SAF price is 1.412 times lower than the current aviation kerosene price, the African airlines may promote the SAFs. • Cost-benefit analysis of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) in Africa aviation industry is done. • The average subsidy to promote SAFs will be 3492.82–3784.74 million dollars at a 50% mixed ratio. • Only the carbon price is not lower than 12.84 times, or the SAF price is 1.412 times lower, the African airlines may promote the SAFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]