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• The paper analyzes long-term impacts of electoral violence on health and education. • Areas exposed to violence in Kenya suffer inflation and fall in annual consumption. • Children and adolescents exposed to violence have stunted height as adults. • The sons of those exposed to violence during growing age also have stunted growth. • No long-term impact on education is found as violence peaks during school holidays. This paper examines whether prenatal, childhood, and teenage exposure to electoral violence has any long-term effects on height and human capital in Kenya. First, using the difference-in-difference estimator, we show that areas impacted by electoral violence see increases in local food prices and a decrease in annual nightlight, suggesting important local consumption shocks. We then identify people exposed to such violence using a nationally representative survey and take advantage of the temporal and spatial variation of electoral violence in Kenya between 1992 and 2013. Using coarsened exact matching, we find that exposure to electoral violence between prenatal and the age of sixteen reduces adult height. Previous research has demonstrated that protracted, large-scale armed conflicts can cause significant nutritional shocks and pass down stunting effects to descendants. In line with these studies, we find that the low-scale but recurrent electoral violence in Kenya has impacted the height-for-age of children whose parents were exposed to such violence while they were growing up. Only boys exhibit this intergenerational effect, possibly due to their increased susceptibility to malnutrition and stunting in Sub-Saharan Africa. The fact that most electoral violence in Kenya occurs over the school holidays may help explain why, in contrast to previous studies on large-scale conflicts, childhood exposure to electoral violence has no lasting impact on educational attainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, road safety is a major concern for public authorities on national, secondary and classified roads in developing countries. This paper looks at the problem of non-compliance with road signs and the deteriorating state of roads, which are the cause of many accidents. Road users sometimes miss roadside signs because their attention is focused on the road. At other times, they regularly miss certain road markings or road deformations in unfamiliar areas, which is dangerous for travelers. Ideally, therefore, drivers should be able to be alerted to road signs or deformations from a distance without having to divert their attention. This would make it possible to avoid accidents, especially on national roads between regions of a country and between countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In this paper, we propose a model for the detection and recognition of road signs and deformations using deep learning. The dataset for this model will consist of a hybrid dataset that includes Kaggle data and data from AGEROUTE (Autonomous Agency for Works and Road Management) in Senegal. In addition, the proposed model is trained on two datasets; one for training 80% and the other for testing 20%. Experimental results showed that the proposed model achieved an accuracy of 95.34% for the datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two important risks faced by many smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa are erratic weather patterns and insecure land tenure. It is likely these risks will increasingly interact as projections of more erratic weather make small-scale farming more difficult and demand for rural land grows. This paper asks how farmers in Western Tanzania view these compound risks and the influence this has on levels of investment in adaptive agricultural technologies and the demand for land certification in a lab-in-the-field setting. Presenting novel data from a series of framed decision tasks linked to a household survey, this paper explores the relationship between individual risk preferences, adaptive investment and the demand for land certification from a group of 645 rural households in Kigoma, Tanzania. While adaptive investment increases with weather related risk, we find it responds negatively to land tenure risk. Individual risk preferences and past experiences of land disputes play significant roles in adaptive investment. Demand for land certification is high, investment increases significantly after certification, especially for risk-averse individuals. • In a lab-in-the-field setting, adaptive investment responds strongly to land tenure and weather risk. • Investment in adaptive technologies is much lower than under expected income maximization. • Participants show high demand for land certification, but levels of willingness to pay are lower than current costs. • Risk-averse individuals show larger increases in investment after obtaining land certification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess the impact that delivering an introductory interventional radiology (IR) lecture series has on the knowledge and perception of the specialty among medical students in a resource-limited setting with, until recently, no IR presence. An introductory four-hour lecture series in IR was delivered to third-year medical students in Tanzania. Prior to and following the lecture series, participants completed a 27-item paper-based survey assessing their knowledge and perception of the specialty. Out of a class of 213, the pre- and post-lecture survey was returned by 148 (69.5%) and 151 (70.9%) respondents, respectively. 94.5% of respondents indicated that they were aware of IR as a specialty. Among respondents, 97.3% expressed interest in having IR lectures integrated into their curriculum, compared to 29.0% that reported having any prior IR training. 27.3% believed their knowledge in IR compared to other specialties was either "good" or "excellent", which improved to 43.3% (p<0.001). Identification that IR physicians consult patients directly, have outpatient clinics, have inpatient beds, and do rounds improved from 55.4% to 81.1% (p<0.001), 49.7% to 60.3% (p=0.066), 48.3% to 66.7% (p=0.001), and 52.0% to 66.2% (p=0.013), respectively. By introducing short lectures on IR-relevant topics, knowledge and perception of IR improved among Tanzanian medical students. Early education and exposure to IR should be prioritized to promote the continued growth of the specialty in this setting. • Over 99% believed that IR could play an important role in patient care in sub-Saharan Africa. • Despite 97.3% indicating interest in IR, only 29.0% had any prior training. • A single lecture series in IR significantly improved medical students' knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Households in urban informal settlements of Kisumu City use multiple fuels for their cooking and heating. Despite this reality, previous national inventories of fuel choices in these settlements were based on the most preferred fuel rather than the whole fuel composite used by the households. This paper, therefore, examines the fuel combinations that households in informal settlements of Kisumu City use and how their socio-economic characteristics influence their choice of these combinations. The paper is premised on the energy stacking theory. The study sampled 419 households from informal settlements of Kisumu City. Multinomial logistic regression is used to establish correlation between household characteristics and fuel combination choices. The findings show that majority of households in urban informal settlements of Kisumu City use multiple fuels for cooking, with charcoal and liquefied petroleum gas being the most commonly stacked fuels. Education does not have a strong correlation with fuel choices; whereas household size reliably predicts the choice of individual fuels. Household income significantly predicts the adoption of fuel stacks that have liquefied petroleum gas and charcoal. While increase in household income has a positive correlation with adoption of modern fuels, it does not lead to households dropping primitive and transitional fuels from their stacks. The study asserts that the energy stacking theory is a suitable basis for assessing the relationship between household-based socioeconomic determinants and fuel combination choices among residents of SSA cities. The reality of fuel stacking in urban informal settlements requires policies geared towards increasing access to modern household fuel technologies while incentivizing adoption of fuel-efficient biomass stoves. • Inventory of household fuels should include the whole spectrum of cooking fuels. • Multiple cooking fuel use is common in informal settlements of Sub-Saharan Africa. • Income has a significant correlation with all the fuel-stacking choices studied. • Household income is not always negatively correlated with use of traditional fuels. • Energy stacking theory is suitable in assessing fuel choices in Sub-Saharan Africa [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sub-Saharan Africa, agricultural intensification and urbanization have increased the risk of proliferation of rodents in rural and urban habitats. Management of rodent populations is a challenge in terms of food security and public health. However, conventional efforts to manage rodents are currently reactive and based on the inadequate use of synthetic chemical rodenticides, including first- and second-generation anticoagulants and acute rodenticides. This approach carries substantial environmental and health risks and has yielded limited success in terms of reduction of rodent populations sustainably. In this paper, which is the second part of a diptych, we advocate for a shift towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches, such as Ecologically-Based Rodent Management (EBRM), as a realistic alternative to synthetic rodenticides. This method is based on a good knowledge of habitat use, species diversity and population dynamics of major rodent pests, and involves community-based interventions aimed at reducing rodent abundance to economically and hygienically acceptable levels in the long term. We present for the first time a comprehensive compilation of published and unpublished information derived from observational field studies conducted in Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Benin, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal with the aim to provide an overview of EBRM case studies in these countries of sub-Saharan Africa. This paper intends to serve as a catalyst for change, encouraging the transformation of rodent management practices towards sustainable methods. We aim at stimulating further research and interventions that promote EBRM in Africa, ultimately fostering more environmentally conscious and effective solutions. [Display omitted] • In Africa, agricultural intensification and urbanization are major changes. • These changes increase the risk of rodent proliferation in rural and urban habitats. • Conventional rodent control relies on reactive, inappropriate use of rodenticides. • Ecologically-Based Rodent Management has been poorly tested in sub-Saharan Africa. • This method can be a realistic, sustainable and environment-friendly alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The financial viability of Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) electricity sectors has become a central energy policy issue in recent years. This follows persistent under-recovery of costs which are amongst some of the highest in the world. Discussions, however, focus on tariff and utility reforms and inadequately on costs efficiency and the role of broader sector reforms in persistently high costs. Through a synthesis of reform theories and case studies and using small electricity systems as a surrogate for liberalized electricity sectors without competitive markets, this paper examines the connection between sector reforms and costs. It brings an economic perspective to the discussion on utility financial performance in SSA electricity systems and the need for a holistic policy approach for sustainable cost-recovery. In this, we recommend the promotion of mobile power plants to facilitate contestability in generation and need for non-island small systems to participate in regional power markets to neutralize the scale limitations of their autarkic demand. Utilities and regulatory agencies should form platforms to share information on cost opportunities and possibilities to inform procurement designs and regulatory benchmarks. Regional markets could partner with national governments to develop subsidy schemes such as Contracts for Differences to remove rigidities imposed by national power purchasing contracts to promote deeper participation of small systems in regional power markets. Yardstick competition in the distribution segment remains viable in many small electricity systems and should be pursued at the regional level in the short run to medium term and at the national levels in the long term following deconcentration and the introduction of private sector participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is under transformation in sub-Saharan Africa where millions still do not have access to a healthy diet. Policy makers in this region should find ways to accelerate agricultural transformation while increasing access to healthy diets. Optimizing agriculture's public budget stands out as a handy option. By combining a dynamic computable general equilibrium model and a multi-criteria decision-making technique, and applying them in the context of Ethiopia, this paper points to an important trade-off that policy makers should keep in mind. An optimal allocation of agriculture's public budget aimed at increasing agri-food output, creating off-farm jobs and reducing rural poverty, which are agricultural transformation objectives, will help to reduce the cost of a healthy diet, allowing around 2 million more Ethiopians to afford it. This number could even be higher should policy makers allocate the budget optimally aiming at only lowering the cost of a healthy diet, but at the cost of reducing household income and slowing down transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of community case management (CCM) and validity of its implementation in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region; (2) identify potential differences in pneumonia disease aetiology, geographic region and cultural factors that may impact the implementation and delivery of community-based interventions; and (3) identify strategies that public health practitioners, stakeholders and policymakers could use to implement CCM. This was a systematic review. Comprehensive searches were conducted in Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CINAHL and Scopus databases from 2012 to 2023. Google Scholar, World Health Organization/United Nations Children's Fund websites, unpublished grey literature, PROSPERO (International Register of Systematic Reviews) and a manual search of references lists for relevant articles. A total of 441 articles were screened, and eight articles were included for the review. Studies were from seven countries in SSA located in three regions: East (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia), West (Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone) and South (South Africa). The study designs of articles included two cluster randomised control trials, four cohorts and two case-control studies. A cross-analysis of the papers identified themes under the subheadings CCM and causal factors and risk factors. Successful impact of implementation and adoption of CCM in the context of SSA culture and environment can be achieved when focused on creating high-demand, dependable and quality healthcare services. Continual monitoring and evaluation of emerging high trends of viral pathogens and co-infections are critical in reducing childhood pneumonia mortalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the effect of energy poverty on respiratory health for a sample of 34 sub-Saharan African countries over the period 2000–2020. Using ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed effect, Driscoll-Kraay, Lewbel 2SLS, Kiviet and S-GMM, the results provide strong evidence of a negative and significant effect of access to electricity and access to clean energy for cooking on respiratory disease in sub-Saharan Africa. This result remained robust to changes in the variables of interest and to alternative estimation techniques. Furthermore, the results showed the existence of a non-linear relationship between energy indicators and respiratory diseases, including a U-shape and an N-shape. Based on these results, we encourage policy makers to better orient their energy policies towards the least polluting sectors in sub-Saharan Africa. In this way, the respiratory health of the inhabitants of sub-Saharan Africa can be improved. • This paper differs from existing work on energy poverty worldwide in the following respects: • It proposes a relevant determinant of respiratory health that has not been sufficiently studied in Sub-Saharan Africa. • It uses robust analytical methods to produce these estimates (Lewbel 2SLS and Kiviet). • It proposes useful policy recommendations for reducing energy poverty and reducing respiratory disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1998 Zimbabwe became one of the first countries in sub-Saharan Africa to adopt and implement IWRM. Twenty-five years later, IWRM principles are yet to be fully operationalised. More importantly, the principle of separating operational and regulatory aspects of water management is becoming more blurred due in part to a water development agenda that is eclipsing water management instead of being in tandem with it. This paper interrogates the merits of establishing a regulator in Zimbabwe's water sector, the only major sector that operates without a regulator, as a catalyst for a better-coordinated and integrated water sector, and an anchor for sustainable water resource management and water supply outcomes. The paper argues for a 'second generation' regulator that covers the entire water value chain in line with SDG 6, as opposed to a 'first generation' regulator, which exclusively focuses on water supply and sanitation. To enhance prospects for sustainability of the regulator, critical success factors, namely mandate, institutional form, financing model and reporting mechanisms should clearly be defined. The insights from Zimbabwe are relevant for other sub-Saharan African countries, which aim to increase prospects for achieving SDG 6 targets. • A minority of countries in sub-Saharan Africa have established water regulators. • Established regulators are 'first generation' as they exclusively focused on water supply and sanitation. • To achieve SDG 6, 'second generation' regulators are required. • The most appropriate mandate and functions, institutional form and financing model should be specified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to decentralized energy solutions is critical for the development of rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). One form of decentralized energy technology, agrivoltaics (AV), has gained attention in the last decade as a means to tackle energy poverty in off-grid communities. The success of renewable energy (RE) projects of any kind, however, depends on existing challenges and risks that may be faced at different stages. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to identify and analyze the main risk factors when implementing agrivoltaics on a community level in SSA. Based on the PESTLE framework, the paper develops a first risk classification system for international agrivoltaic projects in rural farming communities in SSA. By making use of a mixed-methods approach, the research enables the prioritization of potential risks in terms of their occurrence and significance; furthermore, it discusses mitigation strategies. Results indicate that there are various multifaceted risks associated with agrivoltaics, primarily including financial challenges and regulatory barriers. In addition, the study emphasizes the importance of stakeholder involvement as well as a need for long-term community engagement and capacity building to ensure a successful implementation and sustainability of agrivoltaic projects. • Development of the first risk classification system for international agrivoltaic projects in rural communities in SSA. • A mixed-methods approach was used for identifying, classifying and rating potential risks. • Financial risks and regulatory barriers appear to be highly critical. • In addition, stakeholder involvement and long-term community engagement were considered essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development interventions increasingly include women's empowerment and gender equality among their objectives, but evaluating their impact has been stymied by the lack of measures that are comparable across interventions. This paper synthesizes the findings of 11 mixed-methods impact evaluations of agricultural development projects from South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa that were part of the Gender, Agriculture, and Assets Project, Phase 2 (GAAP2). As part of GAAP2, qualitative and quantitative data were used to develop and validate the multidimensional project-level Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index (pro-WEAI), which was used to assess the impact of GAAP2 projects on women's empowerment. This paper assesses the extent to which: (1) a two- to three-year agricultural development project can contribute to women's empowerment; and (2) a suite of methods comprising a standardized quantitative measure of women's empowerment and a set of qualitative protocols, can evaluate such impacts. Our synthesis finds that the most common positive significant impacts were on the instrumental and collective agency indicators that comprise pro-WEAI, owing to the group-based approaches used. We found few projects significantly improved intrinsic agency, even among those with explicitly stated objectives to change gender norms. Unsurprisingly, we find mixed, and mostly null impacts on aggregate pro-WEAI, with positive impacts more likely in the South Asian, rather than African, cases. Our results highlight the need for projects to design their strategies specifically for empowerment, rather than assume that projects aiming to reach and benefit women automatically empower them. Our study also shows the value of a suite of methods containing a common metric to compare empowerment impacts and qualitative protocols to understand and contextualize these impacts. • We use pro-WEAI to assess 11 projects' impacts on women's agency and empowerment. • Pro-WEAI comprises quantitative and qualitative protocols co-developed by projects. • Significant positive impacts observed on instrumental and collective agency. • More limited or null impacts detected on intrinsic agency. • Intentionality is important in projects' strategies to empower women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Okra is high-valued vegetable crop serving the food, pharmaceutical, paper and oil industry. • Okra production and productivity in sub-Saharan Africa and globally are hindered by a lack of improved cultivars with drought tolerance. • The extensive phenotypic and genotypic variation in okra genetic resources are useful for cultivar development with enhanced seed and oil yields, and drought tolerance. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) is high-valued vegetable and oil crop serving the food, pharmaceutical, paper and oil industry. The production of okra in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and globally are hindered by a lack of improved cultivars with drought tolerance. Considerable phenotypic and genotypic variation present in okra genetic resources from SSA is useful for cultivar design with enhanced pod and oil yields, and drought tolerance. However, the genetic diversity present in SSA's okra germplasm collection is yet to be explored for breeding targeting economic and horticultural traits. The objective of this review was to document the research progresses on phenotypic and genotypic divergence analysis and drought tolerance breeding of okra to facilitate breeding and conservation. The review presented the diversity of okra for key agronomic, horticultural and physiological traits for ideotype breeding, gene introgression and drought tolerance improvement. This is followed by key summaries on genetic diversity using conventional and genomic tools, and use of genetic variation in selection programs involving drought-adaptive and economic traits. The review serves as a baseline information to guide future okra breeding and cultivar design under water limited environments in SSA or related agro-ecologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ensuring that surgical training programmes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) provide high quality training, including adequate operative experience, is of crucial importance in meeting the goals set out in the Lancet Global Surgery 2030. Electronic logbooks (eLogbooks) have been adopted to monitor both individual trainee progression and the performance of surgical training programmes.Methods: We performed a thematic review of the current evidence base surrounding the use of eLogbooks for the assessment of surgeons in training in sub-Saharan Africa, with a view to identifying the learning to date and areas for future research.Results: Whilst there are multiple papers highlighting the use of surgical eLogbooks in high-income countries, we identified only three papers which discussed their use in sub-Saharan Africa. Four common themes emerged which related to the use of surgical eLogbooks throughout sub-Saharan Africa: ease of analysis, centralised databases, discrepancies in reporting and technology limitations.Conclusions: Robust data to demonstrate trainee progression and the quality of surgical training programmes are of crucial importance in ensuring that surgical training programmes can rapidly scale up to deliver large numbers of well-trained surgical providers to address the unmet patient need in LMICs in the next decade. The limited data on the use of well designed, centralised electronic surgical logbooks indicate that this tool may play an important role in providing key data to underpin these training programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar Home Systems (SHSs) have become a popular means of electrification for millions of people living in rural regions of developing countries with no access to the national grid. As the electrical demand grows, however, there are economic and technical challenges that exist in scaling-up SHSs. At present, up to 70% of the energy generated by SHSs is surplus and effectively goes to waste, due to high solar resource peaks aligning with low demand periods and restricted storage capacity. Interconnecting existing SHSs to form 'DC village' microgrids, comprised of distributed photovoltaic generation and battery storage, enables communities to unlock this surplus energy for more productive uses. This may be to service small businesses with higher energy demand than can be provided by a typical SHS (e.g. to shops or barbers), or to allow domestic consumers to connect higher powered appliances. Meanwhile, people without their own SHS can also connect to the system introducing basic lighting and phone charging for lower capital costs than those with SHSs. This paper presents the results of a field trial conducted in Murambi Village, in the Northern Province of Rwanda, which involved the interconnection of seven households with their own SHS and one with no previous access to electricity. An innovative smart controller developed by the authors to facilitate SHS interconnection was deployed across this village. Using a mix of survey and focus group methods, the paper examines how people experienced the interconnected SHS system; the opportunities and benefits (social, economic) this presented; how the system enabled the use of new (higher power) appliances and new practices by trialing a novel shared refrigeration unit; and the potential of SHS interconnection in the broader context of the 'bottom-up electrification' paradigm. • Introduction of Interconnected Solar Home Systems Networks in Sub-Saharan Africa. • Stimulating productive use of electricity in the Developing World. • Engaging highly distributed prosumers to form local energy networks. • Increasing penetration of high-power appliances in rural Sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There are complexities of Indigeneity at different spatial scales. • Indigenous claims have become important for natural resource management. • Indigeneity has been increasing resource-related conflicts in many parts of Africa. • Climate change is intensifying human mobility and resource-related conflicts. There is considerable evidence in the literature of the nature of Indigeneity in Africa, yet few studies explore the complexity of definitions of the concept at different spatial scales. This paper builds on existing scholarship by problematizing 'Indigeneity' at both regional and national scales through a critical analysis and synthesis of contemporary literature across sub-Saharan Africa, in association with a specific case study from northern Ghana. In generating the review, the concomitant implications for natural resource management and associated conflicts are analyzed. The paper argues that the definitions and conceptualizations of Indigeneity are heterogeneous with numerous ambiguities and complexities at regional and national scales, which have contemporary implications for both acute and prolonged issues of natural resource allocation and management. Claims of Indigeneity in relation to climate change-driven migration and settlement processes are facilitating support for resource access and utilization, but also generating a myriad of problems linked to overlapping and disputed claims. The ambiguity of claims of Indigeneity by vulnerable individuals and groups also has latent implications. Political misunderstandings or conflicts over natural resources are becoming more widespread across Africa during a period of environmental change. Understanding the complexity of Indigeneity at both regional and national scales will provide important opportunities to inform effective policy for the sustainable and equitable distribution and management of resources in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impact of role models on aspirations and the desire to migrate in rural Mali, implementing an RCT. Three documentaries are shown, depicting two successful life stories of non-migrants and migrants, and one unsuccessful migrant's life story. We find that an identification process takes place, and that positive migrant and non-migrant role models increase aspirations and the feeling of control over one's future, and decrease depression symptoms. None has a significant average impact on the desire to migrate. Heterogeneity analysis on the desire to migrate using Machine Learning suggests that belonging to migrant-prone households increases responses to positive and negative migrant role models. It also suggests working in agriculture, bad health conditions, low aspirations and living with migrants induce a stronger response to the film about local opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The paper examines the effect of gender wage differences within households on women's empowerment in Ghana. • IV LASSO technique is employed for this exercise. • Reduction in household gender wage gap significantly enhances women's empowerment. • A decline in household gender wage gap improves household welfare. • The improvement in household welfare is higher for women headed households. Using household data from the latest wave of the Ghana Living Standards Survey, this paper utilizes machine learning techniques – IV LASSO – that allows for the treatment of unconfoundedness in the selection of observables and unobservables to examine the structural effect of gender wage differences within households on women's empowerment and welfare in Ghana. The structural parameters of the IV LASSO estimations show that a reduction in household gender wage gap significantly enhances women's empowerment. Also, a decline in household gender wage gap results meaningfully in improving household and women's welfare. Particularly, the increasing effect on women's welfare resulting from decreases in household gender wage differences is much higher than for the household welfare. The findings showcase the need to vigorously adopt policies that both increase the quantity and quality of jobs for women and address gender barriers that inhibit women from accessing these jobs opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a descriptive analysis of repayment performance for pay-as-you-go solar lamps, based on pilots conducted in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia during 2014 and 2015. In our sample, 95% of accounts were eventually paid off by the end of the observation period, and the median time to ownership was one week less than the nominal repayment term. Default rates of 11% and 7% were observed with a grace period of 50% and 100% of the repayment term, respectively. We document differences between weekly and monthly accounts (e.g., although time to ownership and on-time performance were better in weekly accounts, longer-term default rates were lower for monthly accounts). The observed payment patterns demonstrate that customers make extensive use of the flexibility allowed in rent-to-own models (e.g., fewer than 30% of customers followed a regular schedule of fixed installments). The analysis identified repayment frequency as one key factor associated with this behavior, as flexible payment patterns were much more likely to occur in weekly accounts than in monthly accounts. This paper highlights the importance of business model design in the diffusion of off-grid energy products in developing countries, outlining opportunities for future research in this domain. • Descriptive analysis of repayment performance for pay-as-you-go solar lamps • 95% of accounts were eventually paid off by the end of the observation period. • Default rate of 11% and 7%, with grace period of 50% and 100% of the repayment term • Customers make extensive use of the flexibility allowed in rent-to-own models. • Differences between weekly and monthly accounts for off-grid energy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Explore the relationship between energy poverty and public health of 185 countries. • Apply a partial linear function coefficient method to analyze the relationship. • Results show that energy poverty has a significant negative influence on public health. • Urbanization level has a mediating effect on the link among energy poverty and public health. • Countries that exceed the threshold of urbanization significantly reduce the adverse influence of energy poverty on public health. Research on energy poverty and its impact has been quite extensive, but the impact of such poverty on public health is still lacking. This paper thus presents the relationship between energy poverty and public health of 185 countries from 2000 to 2020 as well as the role of urbanization development levels in this nexus. To achieve this goal, this study uses a partial linear function coefficient (PLFC) method to analyze the relationship between them, which can also clearly exhibit the non-linear impact of energy poverty on public health. First, both linear and non-linear regression results show that energy poverty has significantly negative impacts on public health. Second, urbanization level plays a significant moderating effect in the energy poverty and public health nexus, meaning that energy poverty affects public health under the influence of urbanization. According to the PLFC model results, countries that exceed the threshold of urbanization have significantly reduced the adverse effects of energy poverty on public health. Third, this study investigates the heterogeneous impact of energy poverty across different regions, comparing the Sub-Saharan Africa region with other areas. The results reveal in the Sub-Saharan Africa region that affordable energy under the influence of urbanization provides a new pathway for improving public health in that region, whereas this effect is considerably smaller in other regions. Additionally, a series of tests confirm the robustness of the results. This paper offers a reference for the development and implementation of renewable energy-related public health policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fueled by surging demand in Asia, the exploitation of African rosewood (Pterocarpus erinaceus) has become a lucrative venture in sub-Saharan Africa that has sparked widespread resource conflicts over the last decade. While some of these conflicts have produced fatal outcomes, little is known about the nature of these conflicts and the underlying drivers. Drawing on empirical evidence from four communities in northern Ghana where African rosewood extraction is rife, this paper unpacks the drivers and dynamics of African rosewood conflicts. We find that violent conflicts over African rosewood exploitation are driven by negative othering, engrained power differences, and resource appropriation by external actors. These drivers are connected in complex ways to the flow of transnational capital and commodity chains beyond local politics. This paper contributes to the broader literature on natural resource conflicts, especially the ongoing debate on why resource conflicts turn violent. Given the potential for resource conflicts to contribute to unsustainable resource exploitation, environmental policy must pay attention to these multi-scalar dynamics and drivers. • Using Ide's resource conflict theoretical framework, we analyzed why rosewood disputes escalate to violent conflicts in Ghana. • Negative othering, engrained power differences, and external resource appropriation often drive violent conflicts over rosewood exploitation. • Our results offer new insights into the greater role of mistrust and governance ambiguities in driving violent conflicts. • In natural resource conflicts, it is essential to consider micro-level and national-level political changes. • Violent rosewood conflicts are nested in complex ways across national, local, and intra-community scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of social protection programs in low-income countries is increasingly becoming a subject of interest on the development agenda in the public discourse. The literature reveals a diversity of findings about the role of social protection on household development outcomes. There is little documentation regarding how social protection schemes affect household energy burdens in rural areas, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Rwanda is one of the African countries that have taken deliberate steps to institutionalize the provision of social protection schemes to its citizenry. Therefore, this paper examined how accessibility to different social protection schemes affected household energy burdens in rural Rwanda using nationally representative household-level microdata (EICV5). Results from the Lewbel Instrumental Variable Estimator, nearest neighbor matching, and Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment showed that Vision 2020 Umurenge and Girinka social protection schemes significantly negatively affected household energy cost burdens. These study findings suggest that social protection schemes may require other efforts or policy instruments that might encourage use of modern energy services to address energy affordability barriers in rural areas. • The study found that Vision 2020 Umurenge and Girinka social protection schemes significantly negatively affected household energy cost burdens in rural Rwanda. • These study findings suggest that social protection schemes may require other efforts or policy instruments to address energy affordability barriers in rural areas. • The study recommends that Rwandan government may consider engaging energy policy entrepreneurs at all levels as focal points in the energy policy process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The paper explores recent ASM reforms in Sierra Leone and their potential to contribute to the SDGs. • Entrenched informality in the ASM sector is making policy reforms challenging and unsustainable. • The paper explores the links between Chiefs and politicians, which perpetuates informality in the ASM sector. • The persistence of informality must be dismantled if ASM reforms are to succeed snd contribute to the SDGs. In recent years, governments, donors and policy makers across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have increasingly realised the potential of formalizing and supporting artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) – low tech, labour-intensive mineral processing and extracting. A significant body of evidence suggests that ASM has become the most important rural non-farm activity across SSA, and by making it the centrepiece of new rural development strategies being launched across the continent, it could help governments meet a number of targets linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Focusing on the West African country of Sierra Leone, this paper explores recent reforms to ASM, examining both their potential to support a formalized sector, and to make contributions to the SDGs. In doing so, two broad sets of formalization reforms that have taken place, or are underway, are analysed. First, the paper examines Sierra Leone's legal, policy and regulatory reforms that have shaped the development of a number of laws and policies, including the Mines and Minerals Act of 2009. Second, it analyses institutional reforms resulting from the splitting of policy making and regulatory functions, especially the decentralization of the artisanal mining licencing process. The paper argues that beneath these changes, there exists intractable continuities of informality that make reforms in the sector superficial, unsustainable, and potentially a barrier to attaining the SDGs. Underlining these continuities, the paper suggests, is the role that ASM has traditionally played in a political economy that links powerful local Chieftains with national politicians in mutually beneficial relationships, which invariably render formal state regulators such as the National Minerals Agency and Environment Protection Agency largely uncoordinated, and operationally weak. The paper concludes by arguing that that the persistence of informality in the sector needs to first be dismantled as a rational strategy for those who profit from it, and only then can sustainable mining reforms be linked to broader development initiatives, such as attaining the SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the gender relations and dynamics in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is crucial for formalization interventions and gender-sensitive on-site policies in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, there is very little research on how gender influences women's economic opportunities and power relations at ASM sites in Ghana. Drawing from a qualitative research in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality, Ghana, this paper examines the local gender dynamics and division of labour in ASM. Findings show that while men were mainly engaged in the extraction – digging, shoveling and loading of women's head pans with mineral ore – and processing work at the colluvial mining sites, women were basically working as labourers for the men. The women were directly involved in three main activities – provision of water on mineralised sand, transportation of gold ore and forewomen role – where they received lower remuneration for their labour. In relation to women's access to " dig and wash" work and hard rock mining sites, there was an element of " gendered sympathy " which involved some power dimensions in ASM. In this paper, the empirical analysis of gendered division of labour in ASM provides the basis to understand the gendered organization of ASM and its management structure. • This paper examines the local gender dynamics and division of labour in Ghana. • Gendered division of labour in ASM reinforces inequalities and limits women's opportunities in mining sites. • Women received lower remuneration for their labour. • Men were involved in the extraction and processing work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Climate change is inducing population displacement in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. • Resilience-building projects implemented at different scales are helping to mitigate population displacement. • Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) is expanding food and economic security. • Enhanced data and measurement capabilities are being used to assess structural vulnerabilities. • Early Warning Systems (EWS) are enhancing climate planning and predictability. Growing evidence suggests that there is a correlation between climate change and increasing levels of human population displacement in sub-Saharan Africa. Over the last two decades, stakeholders have established various resilience-building programs to mitigate climate disaster risks and their adverse impacts on life and livelihoods across the region. These programs have focused on enhancing food and water security while expanding the capacity to predict and plan for climate disasters. Despite a growing body of research, the role of climate resilience-building strategies in mitigating climate-induced displacement has received relatively little attention. This paper contributes to filling this salient gap in the scholarly and policy discourse on this issue. Sub-Saharan Africa is used in this paper as an example that represents a region comprised of developing countries experiencing a variety of climate-induced challenges. Sub-Saharan Africa also has been an incubator for a variety of experimental strategies implemented at the community, national and regional levels to respond to climate shocks and reduce climate risks. Using an integrated resilience building approach that prioritizes understanding vulnerabilities and structural needs in response to climate challenges, this paper examines key strategies implemented in sub-Saharan Africa to reduce the climate risks that have the greatest consequences for population displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar home systems (SHSs) have seen rapid growth and have proven to be a viable source of electricity for households due to their capability to reach remote users that do not have access to grid systems. Based on a comprehensive literature review of 139 papers focussing on SHSs in Sub-Saharan Africa, this paper highlights the key trends, research gaps and policy recommendations. The literature was categorised into four themes: institutional, technology, viability and user-centric. The review finds that the current primary themes of research are technology, user-centric and viability. This highlights the need for further research into the institutional barriers of SHSs, as well as the regulatory frameworks and incentives needed to increase their adoption. The most popular topics discussed in the reviewed literature included SHS business models, SHS design, the energy demand of end-users and barriers to SHS adoption. The authors also identified paucity of research in countries with low electrification rates, highlighting new locations for SHS research. • The authors reviewed 139 papers focussing on SHS research in Sub-Saharan Africa • Almost even split between technology, viability and user-centric SHS research with limited research on institutional issues. • There is a gap in SHS research in SSA countries with low electrification rates • Most popular topics were SHS business models, SHS design, end-user energy demand and adoption barriers • Need to develop stronger regulatory frameworks for SHSs and improved quality assurance through cross-sectoral partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 5979 perinatal use reports from Sub-Saharan Africa compiled from 410 publications. • Congruence among four statistics supports non-random use of plant families. • Widely-reported perinatal species reviewed for pharmacological evidence. • Documentation of traditional knowledge mediates potential health-system conflicts. Sub-Saharan Africa has rich ethnobotanical heritage of public health relevance within pluralistic systems of perinatal care. Compiling of reported medicinal plant use during pregnancy and postpartum from historical and contemporary sources allowed for analyses directed at i) identification of the most important taxa in relation to key functional purposes, ii) establishing patterns of use, and iii) testing the hypothesis that perinatal plant use is non-random. Data from 410 publications generated 5979 use reports related to 2122 species from 181 plant families, with 53% of reports published from 2005 to 2020. New species continue to be added at a constant rate. With 86% (67/78) of perinatal-focused papers published since 2005, purposeful research contributes to an increase in overall data availability. For analysis, reports were categorized as i) uterotonic (n = 2596), ii) prenatal (n = 1778, 555 specifically for preventing miscarriage or delaying the onset of labor), iii) lactation and postpartum recovery (n = 1194, 812 as galactagogues), or iv) newborn and infant health (n = 1018). Most frequently reported species per category are discussed in relation to published pharmacological data. Based on congruence among linear regression, negative binomial regression, Bayesian, and Imprecise Dirichlet Model statistics, non-random use includes preference for i) latex-producing families during lactation and postpartum, ii) families differentiating tocolytic and general pregnancy application, and iii) Crassulaceae species for infant umbilicus healing. Significant underuse of the Rubiaceae throughout the perinatal, and for the Apocynaceae and Euphorbiaceae during pregnancy and parturition specifically, suggests avoidance. Traditional plant knowledge remains relevant to the health and social well-being of Sub-Saharan African populations. Within pluralistic systems, documentation of traditional practices can contribute to complementary approaches and the mediation of potential conflicts with conventional healthcare. Refinement of quantitative and qualitative methodologies for documenting perinatal knowledge, beliefs, and practices can further understanding of the congruence among sociocultural, ecological, molecular, behavioral, and health aspects of women's perinatal use of medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of risk, adoption costs and institutional development on the diffusion of technology. We take a comprehensive approach to examining this link, using a multi-sectoral approach that considers a wide variety of technologies. Using recently developed and more appropriate measures of diffusion, we find the impact of risk and other barriers is relatively weak in contrast to previous literature. Further, it is technology-specific and conditional on institutional development. There is a threshold level of development beyond which countries experience faster technological diffusion, but this is not universally the case. Particularly, for newly invented technologies in the information and communication sector, diffusion occurs faster in less developed countries. A key finding pertains to the learning-by-doing aspect of diffusion suggesting that technology-specific human capital development should complement reforms aimed at improving technological diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa's Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) of 2002 addresses the socio-economic injustices of the post-Apartheid (after 1994) era. Additionally, the Act stipulates that a mining permit or licence is required to mine lawfully. Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) activities that occur without a mining permit, therefore, are illegal and criminalised. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) in South Africa recently released the draft Artisanal and Small-Scale mining policy for implementation in March 2022. The announcement of this policy is the first step in formalising the artisanal mining sector in South Africa. Yet, formalisation strategies often fail in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of Africa. Consequently, the artisanal mining sector continues to operate informally or, in many cases, in an illegal setting. This paper argues that efforts should be directed toward addressing the sector's challenges, and the formalisation process ought to be viewed as an ongoing process. This article outlines developmental initiatives that industry players can apply to support the sector's challenges as part of a formalisation strategy. Ultimately, this will create opportunities where historically disadvantaged people can benefit from South Africa's mineral resources. • Developing the artisanal mining sector could provide wider socio-economic opportunities. • Zama Zama mining, if supported, could contribute to sustainable development in South Africa. • Criminilaisng and policing the artisanal mining sector is counterproductive and unsustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sub-Saharan Africa claims over access to land are often studied from the perspective of legal pluralism. This approach allows us to comprehend how, in pluralistic and post-colonial contexts, access to land is governed by interacting and competing normative frameworks, and by power relations legitimising some of those frameworks over others. But which power relations are we referring to? Through the analysis of a case of marshland grabbing in Rwanda, this paper first introduces different concepts from legal anthropology (arena , forum shopping and shopping forums, semi-autonomous social fields, practical norms and institutional bricolage) to analyse claims around land with a legal pluralism approach. Then, the paper points to the limitations of an actor-oriented approach to power relations proposed by the legal pluralism literature in terms of claims over access to land. Finally, we explore how a subjectivist approach to power, focussing on the ways people's desires are influenced without them being fully aware of it, can enrich our understanding of claims over land access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have often found socioeconomic factors like income and education to be determinants of political participation in advanced democracies. However, past studies have claimed that in emerging democracies and hybrid regimes like those in Africa, education and income do not predict participation. If so, what determines participation in the region? This study examines the determinants of citizen engagement and political participation in sub-Saharan Africa; and argues that political attitudes differ depending on who provides the basic goods and services. Specifically, non-state provision of goods reduces political participation and leads to a weak state. I argue that when the state provides, citizens are more likely to participate; whereas when non-state actors provide, citizens are less likely to participate in politics. I also examine the effects of various non-state actors. This paper draws on data from an original survey experiment and fieldwork in Nigeria. This paper sheds light on subnational governance, democratization and citizen-state relationships. Further, the project contributes to the literature on political institutions and institutional analysis of public service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the lowest rate of electricity access and irrigation in the world, at 45% and 5% respectively. The problem is in part due to the low economic viability of rural electrification, particularly through grid extension, lack of low-cost irrigation energy, and limited access to finance for the high cost of irrigation infrastructure. Despite their promising potential, minigrids' deployment has been rather slow in SSA, partly due to the lack of viable business models for the dispersed low-income rural population. In this paper, we present an integrated model that couples a minigrid model with a crop model to explore the nexus potential of joint deployment of minigrids with smallholder irrigation to alleviate barriers to both minigrid scale-up and irrigation adoption. We apply the proposed model to three rural case studies in different geographical contexts in SSA. Our simulation results show the potential of irrigation loads to lower the unit cost of minigrid energy (LCOE) by up to 47%, depending on the quantity of irrigable land and its spatial distribution. A further scenario-based sensitivity analysis of the minigrid with and without aggregate irrigation load shows wide variations in LCOE–between a minimum of $0.24/kWh and a maximum of $1.2/kWh–with changes in the cost of capital and technology cost. Regarding irrigation viability, our model results show that irrigation profitability is a function of a complex interplay of factors, including crop type, soil fertility, infrastructure costs, energy prices, fertiliser application rate, and crop farm gate prices. We further test the effects of pay-as-you-go (PAYGo) business model incentives on the profitability of irrigation with minigrids; our results show that various incentives that alleviate either all or a fraction of upfront capital cost do not only mitigate irrigation adoption barrier but also enhances its profitability on the part of the farmer. Finally, our model results underscore that the economic viability of joint deployment of minigrids with smallholder irrigation depends on the optimal combination of agro-ecological factors of production (location suitability), type of crop (on a descending order, onion, tomato, and potato are the most profitable crops in our model), fertiliser application rate (near-optimal to optimal soil fertility is recommended) and cost scenarios (low cost of capital and technology preferred). In the main, our model and the results thereof highlight the potential benefits of co-planning minigrids and irrigation projects. Our model and results presented in this paper can be used as high-level decision-making pointers on the nexus planning of minigrids with smallholder irrigation farming. • Irrigation loads reduce the levelised cost of energy (LCOE) of the minigrid by up to 47%. • Irrigation loads achieve minigrid LCOE range of $0.24/kWh to $1.2/kWh. • Pay-as-you-go (PAYGo) business model enhances irrigation profitability for the farmer. • Irrigation profitability depends on soil fertility, costs location, crop type prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Sub-Saharan Africa, following recent macro-economic expansion, the growth of what was a relatively small middle-class has had a significant effect on urban development. In Mozambique, middle-class growth is still difficult to evaluate, since quantitative data and related research in this domain are limited. However, there have been considerable changes in urban discourse and development praxis in the country: measures directed to middle-class groups have gained more preponderance in housing strategies and land use planning activity; and, in Greater Maputo, urban development related to the growth of middle-class has become more visible. The identification and analysis of ongoing spatial transformation related to such urban discourses and praxis, and their impact on the majority of the population with lower incomes, is hampered by the still vague understanding of the middle-class in this context. This paper reflects on the possibilities and limitations of a methodological approach to identify middle-classness based on a spatial proxy, which was developed to analyse the peri-urban transformations on Greater Maputo associated with the growth of the middle-class (2016–2018). The paper argues that this methodology can potentially provide an understanding of how spatial manifestations of middle-classness can be identified and thus permit evaluation of their influence on urban transformation. • Partial results of a research on urban transformations related to the middle-class • Methodological approach to identify middle-classness based on a spatial proxy • Understanding of how spatial manifestations of middle-classness can be identified. • Evaluation of middle-class influence on urban transformation on Greater Maputo [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind is creating new challenges for the stability and reliability of power systems. Electrochemical battery energy storage systems offer a promising solution to these challenges, as they permit to store excess renewable energy and release it when needed. This paper reviews the integration of battery energy storage systems for increasing the penetration of variable sources into power grids. It highlights the impacts of high penetration of intermittent sources on the power system. The paper provides an overview of battery energy storage systems and their characteristics, applications, and technologies suitable for grid-scale use. The article highlighted that lithium and flow batteries are the most widely used technologies. Battery integration to the power grid has the potential to help achieve a penetration rate of 40–50% of variable renewable energies, as this rate may vary depending on the specific characteristics of each electrical system. The paper also proposes an approach to incentivize the use of BESS to increase the share of variable renewable energies in weakly interconnected power grids such as those in Sub-Saharan Africa. • Li-ion, Na–S and VRFB are the most promising technologies for grid applications. • Penetration rates between 40 and 50% of VRE could be achieved with grid-tied batteries. • For power quality applications, ZnBr, VRFB and Li-ion batteries are well-suited. • For power regulation applications, Na–S and Li-ion batteries are well-suited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• U. chamae provides vital goods and services to sustain livelihoods in Africa. • Most of studies on U. chamae were globally undertaken in Nigeria. • Few studies examined the sustainable conservation and management aspects. • Further investigations will shed light on its appropriate management strategies. Uvaria chamae P. Beauv is known as a key shrub species providing several goods and services for sustaining livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite its great medicinal importance for local communities, little is known about its conservation status and sustainable management strategies regarding the current overexploitation of the species' fruits through traditional agroforestry systems. Here, we addressed a global systematic review of the current state of knowledge on several aspects of research of U. chamae for setting further breeding programmes and conservation initiatives. A total of 744 publications were identified based on the extensive bibliometric review of its sustainable management and conservation status over the last three decades (1991-2021) through existing online databases. Only 257 publications were finally included in the current review after deep scrutinization which were in line with several aspects of the conservation ecology and management of U. chamae in Africa. All retained papers came globally from the five sub-regions, and particularly 13 countries in Africa. Most of them were recorded in West Africa (n = 245) compared to the other sub-regions where few studies exist on this intensively harvested shrub species. Approximately 89% of the retained publications came from five of West African countries including Nigeria (n = 151), Benin (n = 30), Côte d'Ivoire (n = 18), Guinea (n = 16), and Togo (n = 14). In-depth bibliometric analysis revealed critical knowledge gaps on U. chamae in terms of its geographic distribution; conservation status; tree growth, productivity and propagation; morphological diversity; molecular genetic diversity; reproductive biology; ecophysiological performances; socio-economic importance; biochemical analysis; and structural characterization. The current review paves the way for developing further long-term management programs of U. chamae in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper empirically analyses the effect of natural resources rents on the size of informal economy in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). • The estimation procedure include Pooled OLS and GMM System. • The results reveal that natural resources rents increase the size of informal economy in SSA. • These results are robust to several sensitivity analyses. • The positive relationship between natural resource rents and the size of the informal economy becomes negative when good and strong institutions are in place. Despite the extensive literature on the resource curse, little is known about the empirical relationship between natural resource abundance and the size of the informal economy. Theoretical predictions suggest that natural resource abundance contributes to the growth of the informal economy because the investments and expenditures associated with natural resource revenues limit opportunities in the formal sector, thereby channeling more labor and firms into the informal sector. This theory is empirically tested using data from 44 sub-Saharan Africa countries over the period 1991-2015. The main results reveal a positive and significant relationship that natural resource abundance favors the growth of the informal sector in SSA. These results are robust to several tests. Furthermore, the positive relationship between natural resource abundance and the size of the informal economy becomes negative when good and strong institutions are in place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is a broad literature on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all (SDG7), the positive impact of electrification on development and on electrification strategies, there is little literature on the topic of devolved electrification governance. The paper addresses this issue by analyzing opportunities and challenges of a devolved electrification governance with Kenya as a case study. Conceptually, we base our exploration on an analytical framework adapted from work on multi-level natural-resource governance, which not only includes actors and policies, but also their interactions and power relations, and the analysis of devolution outcomes in the light of (good) governance principles. Methodologically we rely on an extensive literature review and on 24 expert interviews in Kenya. Kenya is chosen as a case study because Kenya has, after its new Constitution came into force in 2010, implemented an ambitious devolution process and is one of the few countries in Sub-Saharan Africa that has devolved important energy functions. However, our results show that devolved electrification governance in Kenya is (still) fragmented and complex, partly due to the late enactment of the Energy Act (2019). Electrification is still mainly planned and implemented by actors on the national level, although decentralized structures and technologies have become more important in recent electrification policies. We found more challenges than opportunities in Kenya's devolved electrification governance. The biggest challenge is a lack of capability in the county governments; other challenges relate to legitimacy and overlapping responsibilities, transparency and information-sharing, accountability of national actors, as well as a lack of inclusiveness and participation of local communities. Despite existing challenges, our interviewees perceive devolution as dynamic and an opportunity for electrification and universal electricity access in the long run. Overall, the article shows that while devolution provides opportunities for electrification and associated development impacts, a devolved electrification governance is challenging and requires not only transparency and information-sharing, but also support for capacity building at decentralized levels. • Kenya has ambitious legislation regarding devolution in electrification governance. • However, the implementation is delayed or even impaired. • (Good) governance is a success factor for decentralized electrification governance. • Devolution-electrification interdependencies require more case studies and research. • Properly implemented, devolved electrification governance can help to reach universal access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mini-grids are discussed as a cost-effective and sustainable solution to provide electricity to populations lacking access, of which the majority reside in sub-Saharan Africa. Projects struggle to be fiscally solvent, however, in part because electricity demand from rural households is low relative to installed mini-grid generation and distribution capacity, making it difficult to recoup investment costs. This paper explores how productive uses of electricity may increase electricity demand and evaluates impacts of increased electrical load to the technical and economic metrics of mini-grid projects. A full cashflow analysis is completed to evaluate business model efficacy for mini-grid developers and investors for a case study of a township in Sierra Leone. Productive uses of electricity are shown to have minimal improvement to the financial viability of residential mini-grid projects, and subsidies are required to reach financial metrics suitable to attract private investment. Of the productive uses investigated, year-round loads had the most positive impact to payback periods. Seasonal loads offer only small improvements to payback period and internal rate of return because they require extra generation assets to meet peak demand in the high season that are left idle or heavily under-loaded during the low season. Overall, the study finds the most effective way to improve financial outcomes through productive uses is to increase the mini-grid load factor with productive uses of electricity that operate year-round. • PUE interventions that increase mini-grid load factor improve project financials. • Higher load factors better utilized hybrid systems with generator, solar, storage. • PUE type and load profile significantly affects mini-grid design and financials. • Constant-load PUE types improved financials over seasonal loads. • Seasonal PUEs increase capital costs that go largely unused during the off-season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study investigates the effects of foreign ownership on firm performance with respect to profitability, productivity, export intensity, and skills acquisition in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. This is particularly important given that in the last three decades, the stock of FDI has increased by over 20,000% in SSA countries. To achieve the objectives of this paper, we employed firm- and country-level data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys and the World Bank Development Indicators, respectively. Results of the least squares dummy variable (LSDV) and propensity score matching (PSM) estimations showed that foreign ownership was positively associated with higher levels of financial profitability, productivity, exports, and skilled labour acquisition. Policy implications were deduced from the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rate of access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is just 42 %. The private market for household-scale off-grid solar (OGS) products (pico solar and solar home systems) is regarded as a key tool for increasing electricity access in SSA. However, the growing volume of unabated waste from OGS products poses a significant environmental risk. Based on a systematic literature review of 52 papers, the dynamics of SSA's OGS market, the drivers of OGS waste, the environmental and health impactions of OGS waste, the barriers to waste management, and potential circular economy solutions to address SSA's OGS waste flow are analysed. The market landscape is decentralised and predominantly unregulated. The lifetime of OGS products is found to be short (less than four years), limited by affordability constraints, the lack of local technical expertise, detrimental usage habits, and low access to maintenance and repair services. The widespread uptake of OGS products and short product lifetimes has resulted in rapidly increasing waste volumes across SSA (an estimated 12,000 tonnes of waste generated in 2020, a 545 % increase from 2016). The current informal recycling practices are found to have extremely severe environmental consequences. In particular, the informal recycling of lead-acid batteries is a primary driver of lead exposure in SSA. Formal waste management initiatives are hindered by competition with informal practices, inadequate legislation, the complexity of reverse logistics, the negative recycling value of some OGS products, and the absence of sophisticated formal recycling infrastructure. Furthermore, the emerging consensus on how to address SSA's OGS waste, from the industry's body and legislation across SSA, is found to be inadequate as it fails to address the majority of the waste flow. Finally, the authors recommend circular economy solutions such as promoting local resource conservation activities and pursuing effective public-private partnerships to capitalise on domestic value generating activities within the OGS waste chain. • Off-grid solar market and waste flow in sub-Saharan Africa are mostly unregulated. • Estimated 12,000 tonnes of waste generated in 2020, a 545 % increase from 2016. • Off-grid solar waste has significant impacts, including childhood lead exposure. • Emerging waste management consensus fails to address most of the waste flow. • Profitable opportunities to close the lead-acid battery material loop in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rural areas on the peri-urban fringe of rapidly expanding African cities, urbanization can be interpreted and conceived as an unwelcome change threatening traditional ways of life and personal and community cultural identity of rural areas with customary land tenure arrangements and generally ethnically homogenous populations. In this paper, we examine the relationship between place attachment and residents' perceptions of various aspects of urban life, using Moshi, Tanzania, located in a region long identified with the Chagga people, as a case study. We utilize a survey of approximately 700 respondents, stratified by location, and use principal component analysis to construct variables for place attachment, perceptions of cities, and perceived risks associated with urbanization. Utilizing stepwise regression techniques, we find that there was a significant decrease in levels of place attachment between rural, per-urban, and urban locations. We also find that residents who associate the city with more negative characteristics report higher levels of place attachment. This suggests that urbanization is perceived as a threat to people's sense of place. Finally, we find that place attachment is positively associated with age, while being Chagga, owning land, and being native to the area are associated with greater levels of place attachment. [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 effect of renewable energy on value-added in the agricultural, industrial, and service sectors is examined. • Renewable energy significantly enhances value-added in the three sectors in the long-run. • Renewable energy does not matter for sectoral value-added growth in the short-run. • One-way causality from renewable energy to agriculture value-added and from service value-added to renewable energy. • No causal relationship between renewable energy and industry value-added. A growing number of studies have investigated the growth-renewable energy nexus with mixed findings. However, they have mostly focused on aggregate growth ignoring the sectoral level differences. Like economic growth, it is been argued that there are sectoral dynamics in the determinants and impact of renewable energy. Hence, this paper examines the effect of renewable energy on value-added in the agricultural, industrial and service sectors in a selected sample of 12 Sub-Saharan African countries from 1985 to 2017. The findings from the PMG - ARDL model show that renewable energy significantly improves value-added in these sectors in the long run with the highest impact in the service sector. In the short run, however, renewable energy does not have a significant effect on sectoral value-added. Also, findings show that nonrenewable energy consumption significantly enhances the service value-added whereas capital and labor spur value-added in the three sectors. Finally, the causality test unveils a unilateral effect from renewable energy to agriculture value-added, from service value-added to renewable energy, and a neutral relationship exists between renewable energy and industry value-added. These findings suggest investments in renewable energy are long-term in nature. In the short term, however, governments could provide financial incentives such as subsidies and/or tax exemptions to boost the adoption of modern and more energy-efficient technologies across economic sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Sentinel-2 reference dataset for the validation of Burned Area products. • Sampling units were identified based on the Sentinel-2 tiling grid system. • Burned Area perimeters were derived with a supervised Random Forest algorithm. • Accuracy of reference perimeters was assessed by comparison with perimeters from Planet images. The availability of high-resolution reference datasets representing in space and time and with high accuracy areas affected by fires is strategic for the validation of remotely-sensed Burned Area (BA) products. This paper proposes a methodology designed to build a burned area reference dataset from Sentinel-2 (S2) images at continental scale by implementing a stratified random sampling scheme. Representative sample units are selected across biomes and regions with high/low fire activity; each unit covers the extent of a S2 tile (∼10 000 km2) where image time series are classified with a supervised Random Forest algorithm to extract fire perimeters by exploiting visible to near and short-wave infrared S2 wavebands at 10 to 20 m spatial resolution. Time series have to satisfy requirements on maximum cloud cover, maximum time interval between consecutive images and minimum length to be suitable for being selected and processed. The proposed methodology was applied to Sub-Saharan Africa for the year 2019 to select 50 S2 sample units where time series were processed to deliver fire reference perimeters for accuracy assessment of regional BA products. Average series length is 140 days with the longest series in the savanna biome (maximum length is 355 days, 29 consecutive S2 images) and a total of 695 S2 images were processed to build the 2019 reference dataset. This dataset was compared to burned areas derived from very-high resolution Planetscope images over five S2 tiles obtaining 15.5% omission and 11.6% commission errors. To exemplify the use of this reference dataset, S2 perimeters were used to validate the NASA MCD64A1 Collection 6 and the ESA FireCCI51 BA products. The reference dataset has been added to the Burned Area Reference Database (BARD) (Franquesa et al., 2020) and is publicly available at https://doi.org/10.21950/VKFLCH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the debate on formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) – low-tech, labour-intensive mineral extraction and processing – in sub-Saharan Africa, drawing on fresh insights from Ghana. In the early-1990 s, with support from GTZ, the German technical arm, Ghana implemented its Small-Scale Mining Project (SSMP), an institutional framework designed specifically to facilitate legalization of, and administer assistance to, ASM. Whilst at the time of its launch, the SSMP was lauded in donor circles as a best practice governance structure for formalizing ASM in sub-Saharan Africa, its existence was short-lived because of poor planning, uncoordinated execution, and a general lack of commitment on the part of government and donors to fulfilling its objectives. The institutional, policy and regulatory framework that has emerged in its place has stifled formalization of the sector by introducing a number of barriers that have prevented operators from legalizing their activities and accessing crucial support services. Ghana's small-scale miners have long called for the implementation of a more operator-friendly licensing apparatus and support structure, although it is becoming increasingly evident that such change is unlikely to happen without an unprecedented intervention. This, however, may be supplied in the form of the Community Mining Scheme (CMS), launched by Ghana's senior government officials in 2019 in a bid to ringfence specific areas for licensed ASM. Wide adoption of the CMS promises to transform the governance of ASM in Ghana into a more operator-friendly and efficient process by engaging local government units hitherto marginalized in the sector's formalization process; (re)establishing a decentralized platform donors desperately covet to implement projects with greater precision; and revitalizing dormant policy interventions – foremost, the list of Designated Areas for Small Scale Gold & Diamond Mining in Ghana , initiated by the government in May 2009 – that are keys to facilitating a robust grassroots institutional presence for licensing and a galvanized support structure for operators. • Ghana's pledge to formalize artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) has entered its fourth decade. • Little progress has been made, however, because the country's ASM formalization strategy is highly-centralized. • The development of a legalized ASM sector will continue to be elusive in Ghana without decentralized governance and support. • The advent of the Community Mining Scheme (CMS), which empowers local government, could facilitate change in the sector. • The CMS maps on to and legitimizes other areas of policy, thus fortifying the country's ASM formalization strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Soil fertility is vital for agricultural productivity, yet poor soils and erosion remain a management challenge in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. One challenge is that soil scientists and farmers often evaluate soil fertility using different knowledge systems and the implications have not been clearly reconciled within the literature. In particular, whether farmers are observing similar aspects of structure and function as classified in soil science. If so, what can we learn about how soil fertility is evaluated and communicated in terms of developing a hybrid approach that improves communication of ideas between different stakeholders. This paper addresses this challenge by examining the similarities and differences between farmers' qualitative evaluation and soil science quantitative analysis for soil fertility classification, and how location of soils influence farmers' evaluation of soil fertility. Empirical fieldwork was carried out in two villages in Kitui County, Kenya with 60 farmers using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion. Based on farmer perception, 116 soil samples of the best and worst soil fertility taken and analysed for physiochemical factors. Farmers had a consistent classification system and primarily relied on texture and colour as indicators for good soil fertility and texture alone for poor soils. Soils with fine texture under the local semi-arid climate were associated with higher pH, TOC and WHC and fertile black and red soils were associated with pH, TOC, WHC and AP based on differences in bed rock. Poor soil fertility was associated with sandy soils and soils with no colour in their local name. Spatial location is an important consideration in farmers' evaluations, reflecting awareness of local diversity in soil and historical social or environmental factors. Local historical narratives reveal the importance in changes to humus, consistent with technical knowledge about the role of soil organic matter for soil fertility. The paper provides a better understanding of farmers' soil classification, evaluation processes and perspectives that help to inform scientists working with alternative frameworks for assessment and, in doing so, supports the development of local tailor-made soil assessment systems. Highlights • Key local soil indicators are texture and colour which consistent with soil analysis results. • Location of soils influences the difference of fertility and fertility evaluation by farmers. • The classification of colour is different between Kitui farmers and scientific standard. • Qualitative farmer and quantitative soil science indicators could be used by extension officers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Gold mining has for several decades contributed to the socio-economic development of many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it has also caused considerable environmental damage and human health concerns in mining communities. However, despite the extensive proliferation of policies and programs aimed at addressing the adverse environmental impact of mining, limited attention has so far been paid to identifying what might constitute environmental policy best practices across Sub-Saharan Africa's gold mining sector. To address this gap, this paper undertakes a systematic literature review of environmental policy measures and considers its broader implications for sustainable development in the context of gold mining in Sub-Saharan Africa. Of the 1,217 papers retrieved from the databases, 22 met the inclusion criteria and are included in evidence synthesis. Based on an in-depth analysis, we find that there are tensions and consensus in the environmental policy literature. However, extant works remain fragmented, uneven, and not systematically integrated. This perhaps might explain the difficulty in trying to develop and institutionalize best practices within the gold mining industry in Sub-Saharan Africa. As a result, we propose an integrated conceptual model that lays a foundation for possible environmental policy best practices within the mining industry in developing countries. The paper concludes by identifying specific theoretical and practical implications of the study and suggests possible avenues for future research. Highlights • Gold mining has contributed to the socio-economic development of many countries. • However, it has also caused considerable environmental damage. • This study explored evidence of environmental policy best practices. • We found that there are tensions and contradictions in the literature. • We propose an integrated conceptual model of environmental policy best practices. • We conclude by considering the theoretical and practical implications of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Most sub-Saharan African countries have low and unequal access to electricity. • Multi-objective optimisation model integrates grid and off-grid electrification. • Solar energy is the cost-minimal strategy to minimise electrification inequality. • Off-grid electrification is a crucial component of all optimal solutions in Uganda. • Uganda's current official expansion plan is infeasible and would be sub-optimal. While electricity access is lowest in developing countries, the academic literature on generation expansion planning (GEP) has been informed almost exclusively by challenges in industrialised countries. This paper presents the first multi-objective, long-term energy planning optimisation model tailored towards national power systems with little existing power infrastructure. It determines the location, type, capacity and timing of power system infrastructure additions. Specifically, three novel generalisations of standard generation planning are introduced: (1) an expansion of the demand constraints to allow for industrial and household electrification rates below 100%, (2) a minimisation of sub-national energy access inequality in conjunction with minimising system costs considering environmental constraints, and (3) an integration of distribution infrastructure, explicitly including both on-grid and off-grid electrification. Using a specifically designed solution algorithm based on the ε-constraint method, the model was successfully applied to the previously unexplored Ugandan national power system case. The results suggest that while it is cost-optimal to maintain highly unequal sub-national access patterns to meet Uganda's official 80% electrification target in 2040, equal access rates across all districts can be achieved by increasing discounted system cost by only 3%. High optimal shares of locationally flexible on-grid and off-grid solar energy enable cheap sub-national shifts of generation capapcity. This paper strongly challenges the Ugandan government's nuclear energy and largely grid-based electrification expansion plans. Instead, it calls for solar concentrated power as a baseload option in the future and a focus on off-grid electrification which the model selects for the majority of household connections in 2040, even in a high-demand scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, following the discovery of huge coal reserves in the province of Tete, Mozambique, there has been an increasing rush of global capital into the province. This interest in the mining industry has resulted in the creation of enclaves and spaces of enclosure that entrench the existing class differences further by integrating small groups into global circuits of production whilst subjecting others to dispossession. These dynamics of contemporary capitalist expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa have been analysed in the literature on neoliberal enclaves as exclusionary spaces of extraction and capital accumulation. This paper contributes to this scholarship. It focuses on the resettlement site of Cateme that was built to accommodate the populations dispossessed by the neoliberal mining enclave in Tete, and highlights how the space of Cateme constituted through the dispossession from this enclave is characterised by extreme forms of socio-economic marginalisation. Through this discussion, the paper demonstrates how neoliberal enclaves, rather than just being exclusionary spaces of extraction as observed in the literature, ought to be analysed as interacting in complex ways with broader socio-economic landscapes of host countries, through which they create spaces of suffering and entrench the existing class differences beyond their own spaces of extraction and accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]