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Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the electricity challenges confronting slums in order to understand the health implications thereof. Design/methodology/approach: The study utilized purposive sampling techniques supported by the convenience sampling method within the context of qualitative research to select 30 interviewees of varying demographics for in-depth interviews. Findings: The findings revealed that slums faced various forms of challenges that are attributable to lack of government support, stringent procedures and financial hardship, among others. The study also found that a lack of health education in the slums has resulted in health problems, such as skin diseases, stomach aches, cholera, typhoid and childbirth complications. Research limitations/implications: The outcome of this study cannot be generalized to represent the whole population of slums within context due to the qualitative approach. Practical implications: The study advanced the frontiers of slum literature to understand contextual issues that are important to policymakers and practitioners. Originality/value: This study revealed a country-specific understanding of the challenges confronting slum dwellers in accessing electricity through the perspective of the two-factor theory of motivation.

This article focused on the informal settlements and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable populations using a data set that covers many countries. We sample 47 cross-country data and employ political ecology and economic contagion to empirically respond to two related questions: What is the impact of pandemics on informal settlement dwellers? How can governments address pandemics among informal settlement dwellers? Our results show that the risk factors for informal settlements concerning COVID-19 include the degree of trade openness, the death rate, family size, population density, geography and airport activity. This article offers several innovations on measures, determinants and the impact of pandemics on vulnerable populations across the globe. By extension, our results have important policy implications for governments in addressing the inequalities between formal and informal settlements during pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To trickle down poverty in rural areas, development partners and national governments have instituted enterprise development programmes which call for the establishment of some participatory frameworks to enable rural entrepreneurs determine for themselves, the exact Business Development Service (BDS) they desire to bring about economic improvement and social change. In ensuring that the concept of participation is not merely a wish list, the article modified Choguill's ladder of community participation as a de facto lens to examine whether "participation" really exists in these programmes by drawing on evidence from the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP) in Ghana. Using qualitative in-depth interviews grounded in a single case study design (REP), the study observed that despite the existence of structures that appear to involve entrepreneurs at all stages of the decision-making process, beneficiaries think otherwise. Notwithstanding, some context and power-induced factors were identified to have accounted for these discrepancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncertainty surrounding the possibility of generating sufficient funds from international donors and other public financial resources to support climate action calls for the identification of alternative sources of climate finance options. Ensuring a reliable stream of funds to drive climate action requires the identification of diverse funding channels that can supplement existing ones. Also, in light of the proactive approach required to combat climate change, overreliance on a singular funding source could hinder the achievement of climate‐related goals. This is because the existing sources of funding from the central government, local governments, and international agencies remain insufficient to meet the perceived cost of climate change in Ghana. Through a qualitative in‐depth interview, empirical data was drawn from religious institutions to identify their contribution toward climate finance. The study revealed that religious institutions play a significant role in climate finance due to their advocacy capacity, financial resources, and extensive networks. Funding from religious institutions has also been channeled into stock adaptation projects and public education, and this is evident in the areas of agriculture, waste, energy, water, and the support rendered to SMEs in general. Besides, their engagement in climate finance is also motivated by ethical, theological, and moral considerations. The study, therefore, argues that funding from religious institutions toward climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives should be seen as a complementary source of funding to climate finance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the challenges facing 29 women in their quest for maternal health services in the Shai Osudoku District of Ghana. In-depth, semi-structured interviews with health professionals and focus-group discussions with women on uptake of maternal health services were conducted. Findings showed inadequate human resources and logistics for maternal health care and transportation problems. Women whose pregnancies required specialized care at district or regional hospitals deliberately reported late to the community clinics in an advanced stage of labor to avoid referrals. Findings have implications for health policymakers, implementers, and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]