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Purpose: Managements of humanitarian organizations in arid and semi-arid lands have recently become sensitized to the vulnerability of their supply chains. This is due to an ever-increasing range of security breaches and disruptions that affect global value chains especially in information security management. The current study sought to determine the influence of information security management on the operational performance of humanitarian value chains in arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted a cross-sectional design. A target population of 100 respondents was studied through census method from humanitarian organizations operating in arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information whereas descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The results were presented by use of tables. Findings: Scrutiny of the results of linear regression analysis indicated that information security management significantly predicted the operational performance of the organizations (r=.659, p=0.000). Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that humanitarian organizations should put measures into place to ensure access control and safe storage of information. Employees should also be trained in information security management to understand their role on overall organizational performance.

The study was carried out to assess determinants of farmers’ choice of specific adaptation strategies to climate variability and extreme events in selected agro-ecological zones in Kitui County. Descriptive survey design was used. The study area was stratified into four study sites with respect to four different agro-ecological zones and a total of 341 households selected to constitute the sample size. Multivariate probit regression model was run in Stata version 12 to determine the influence of different socio-economic characteristics on farmers’ choice of specific adaptation strategies. The model results indicated that age, gender, farming experience, membership to farmers’ organization, education level, access to extension services and proximity to market had a significant varying influence on farmers’ choice of several adaptation strategies. The study established that different socio-economic characteristics had a different influence on the farmers’ choice of specific adaptation strategies. The study therefore recommends that climate variability adaptation policies, programs and projects by governmental and non-governmental development agencies should target specific socio-economic characteristics that are relevant to the adaptation strategies in question.

This study set out to investigate contribution of forestry provisioning ecosystem services (FPES) to the household income of small holder farmers living adjacent Chyulu Hills Forest and assess factors influencing utilization of the FPES. A survey research design was used and a sample size of 60 households was randomly selected from two study sites which were purposely selected to enable a comparative analysis. The study area was stratified into the two sites on the basis of ease of access to the forest. Mangelete and Kiu sub-locations were consequently selected. Mangelete was separated by a fence from the forest while there was no barrier between Kiu sub-location and the forest. An interview schedule having closed, and open-ended questions was used to elicit responses from the respondents on the issue of FPES. Results indicated that FPES contributed a significant amount of income to the respondents.

The impact of cropping systems on soil properties, nutrient availability and their carbon sequestration potential was studied during the years 2014 and 2015 in Shiwalik hills of Himachal Pradesh. The four commonly occurring cropping systems namely vegetable, fruit, cereal crop and agroforestry were selected. Uncultivated land in the region was considered as control. In total, there were five treatments which were replicated six times under randomized block design. The study indicated that the cropping systems in the Shiwalik hills varied significantly (P=0.05) with respect to their impact on soil properties, nutrient availability and carbon sequestration potential. The pH and EC was in the range of 6.04 to 6.90 and 0.094 to 0.138 dSm-1, respectively and were normal in range. Organic carbon and bulk density in surface soils ranged from 8.06 to 9.70 g kg-1 and 1.19 to 1.34 Mg m-3, respectively. The available NPK was highest (267.21, 19.99, 172.42 kg ha-1) under vegetable based cropping system as compared to other systems. Carbon density in surface soil ranged from 11.33 to 15.39 Mg C ha-1 and total carbon sequestered upto 30cm soil depth ranged from 601.96 to 12646.29 Gg. The study indicated that in Shiwalik hills of Himachal Pradesh, the commonly occurring cropping systems did not influence the soil properties and nutrient availability adversely. Agroforestry based cropping system is having highest potential of sequestering soil carbon in Shiwalik hills. Therefore to adapt to changing climatic situation and to mitigate its effect in the region, agroforestry based cropping system need to be encouraged.