INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton observations of the weak GRB 030227

We present INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton observations of the prompt gamma-ray emission and the X-ray afterglow of GRB030227, the first GRB for which the quick localization obtained with the INTEGRAL Burst Alert System (IBAS) has led to the discovery of X-ray and optical afterglows. GRB030227 had a duration of about 20 s and a peak flux of 1.1 photons cm^-2 s^-1 in the 20-200 keV energy range. The time averaged spectrum can be fit by a single power law with photon index about 2 and we find some evidence for a hard to soft spectral evolution. The X-ray afterglow has been detected starting only 8 hours after the prompt emission, with a 0.2-10 keV flux decreasing as t^-1 from 1.3x10e-12 to 5x10e-13 erg cm^-2 s^-1. The afterglow spectrum is well described by a power law with photon index 1.94+/-0.05 modified by a redshifted neutral absorber with column density of several 10e22 cm^-2. A possible emission line at 1.67 keV could be due to Fe for a redshift z=3, consistent with the value inferred from the absorption.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, latex, Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letter

Monitoring and evaluation in global HIV/AIDS control - weighing incentives and disincentives for coordination among global and local actors

This paper discusses coordination efforts of both donors and recipient countries in the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of health outcomes in the field of HIV/AIDS. The coordination of M&E is a much underdeveloped area in HIV/AIDS programming in which, however, important first steps towards better synchronisation have already been taken. In this paper, we review the concepts and meanings commonly applied to M&E, and approaches and strategies for better coordination of M&E in the field of HIV/AIDS. Most importantly, drawing on this analysis, we examine why the present structure of global health governance in this area is not creating strong enough incentives for effective coordination among global and local actors. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Security sector reform in Africa: donor approaches versus local needs

Many African states have security sector reform (SSR) programs. These are often internationally funded. But how do such programs account for previously existing security institutions and the security needs of local communities? This article examines SSR all over Africa to assess local ownership and path dependency from a New Institutionalist perspective. It finds that SSR, particularly in post-conflict countries, tends to be driven by ideas and perceptions of international donors promoting generalized blueprints. Often, such programs only account in a very limited way for path-dependent aspects of security institutions or the local context. Hence the reforms often lack local participation and are thus not accepted by the local community eventually

Information and Communication Technologies— Opportunities to Mobilize Agricultural Science for Development

Knowledge, information, and data—and the social and physical infrastructures that carry them—are widely recognized as key building blocks for more sustainable agriculture, effective agricultural science, and productive partnerships among the global research community. Through investments in e-Science infrastructure and collaboration on one hand, and rapid developments in digital devices and connectivity in rural areas, the ways that scientists, academics, and development workers create, share, and apply agricultural knowledge is being transformed through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). This paper examines some trends and opportunities associated with the use of these ICTs in agriculturalscience for development

Female genital mutilation in Kenya: Evidence links health workers to FGM

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a traditional practice that affects women and girls in several African countries. It is practiced in a variety of ways, classified by WHO into four broad types all found in Kenya. In some communities it is associated with passage into maturity; in others, it is considered a symbol of ethnic identity, a religious obligation, or a necessary prerequisite for marriage, either through symbolizing attainment of womanhood or as a means of preserving and demonstrating virginity. FGM is considered a harmful traditional practice because it may be associated with a variety of short- and long-term health complications: immediate and long-term physical complications; obstetric, gynecological, and sexual complications; psychosocial consequences; and potential complications with the fetus. This brief was produced by the FRONTIERS in Reproductive Health Programme of the Population Council with the support of USAID and GTZ Kenya. Topics include: How widespread is the practice in Kenya? What are communities’ reasons for continuing to practice FGM? Are medical practitioners involved in the practice? What can the MOH do to reduce the practice and its adverse effects

El ecoturismo: sus implicaciones y relaciones de género

El ecoturismo se ha analizado en su mayoría desde una visión económica y desde el turista, obviando otras dimensiones como la del género, adicional a que el ecoturismo ha significado un cambio de actividad para las personas de las comunidades locales que lo practican, sumado al reforzamiento y traslado de ciertas actividades hegemónicas desde sus grupos domésticos. La presente investigación analiza las relaciones de género en la actividad ecoturística, bajo tres ejes: el ecoturismo como actividad económica, el sistema familiar y la perspectiva de género como marco de referencia para comprender y explicar la importancia de las relaciones de género en los procesos productivos y reproductivos que se desarrollan en los grupos domésticos y los centros ecoturísticos. La investigación se realizó a través del estudio de caso, en dos centros ecoturísticos: Top Che en la comunidad de Lacanjá-Chansayab, municipio de Ocosingo, del grupo indígena Maya-Lacandón; y Pak´al Tsix A´ en el ejido el Águila, municipio de Cacahoatán, conformado por un grupo mestizo con descendientes del grupo indígena Mam. Mediante la observación participante, entrevistas semi-estructuradas y talleres participativos, en distintos niveles: centro ecoturístico, grupo doméstico y personal. Los resultados señalan que el ecoturismo desde el discurso no visualiza la brecha de género y el impacto en sus grupos domésticos y por ende en las personas. Es una actividad que dé inicio plantea un desequilibrio entre los grupos domésticos. No se reflejan las condiciones que los hombres y las mujeres tienen que vivir a partir de esta actividad económica. Se distinguen los roles hegemónicos reforzando las actividades reproductivas al espacio productivo. La distribución del tiempo de las mujeres desde la economía de cuidado es reforzado y condicionado por la actividad ecoturística. El ecoturismo mantiene una estructura hegemónica que refleja los roles y estereotipos del espacio doméstico hacia el productivo y están alineadas a la división sexual del trabajo y soportadas por el grupo doméstico. Finalmente, sigue abonando a la brecha de género a pesar de los chispazos de buena fe que pueda aportar en pro de la incursión de las mujeres

Health System Support for Childbirth care in Southern Tanzania: Results from a Health Facility Census.

Progress towards reaching Millennium Development Goals four (child health) and five (maternal health) is lagging behind, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, despite increasing efforts to scale up high impact interventions. Increasing the proportion of birth attended by a skilled attendant is a main indicator of progress, but not much is known about the quality of childbirth care delivered by these skilled attendants. With a view to reducing maternal mortality through health systems improvement we describe the care routinely offered in childbirth offered at dispensaries, health centres and hospitals in five districts in rural Southern Tanzania. We use data from a health facility census assessing 159 facilities in five districts in early 2009. A structural and operational assessment was undertaken based on staff reports using a modular questionnaire assessing staffing, work load, equipment and supplies as well as interventions routinely implemented during childbirth. Health centres and dispensaries attended a median of eight and four deliveries every month respectively. Dispensaries had a median of 2.5 (IQR 2--3) health workers including auxiliary staff instead of the recommended four clinical officer and certified nurses. Only 28% of first-line facilities (dispensaries and health centres) reported offering active management in the third stage of labour (AMTSL). Essential childbirth care comprising eight interventions including AMTSL, infection prevention, partograph use including foetal monitoring and newborn care including early breastfeeding, thermal care at birth and prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum was offered by 5% of dispensaries, 38% of health centres and 50% of hospitals consistently. No first-line facility had provided all signal functions for emergency obstetric complications in the previous six months. Essential interventions for childbirth care are not routinely implemented in first-line facilities or hospitals. Dispensaries have both low staffing and low caseload which constraints the ability to provide high-quality childbirth care. Improvements in quality of care are essential so that women delivering in facility receive "skilled attendance" and adequate care for common obstetric complications such as post-partum haemorrhage

Livelihoods, conflict and aid programming: Is the evidence base good enough?

In conflict-affected situations, aid-funded livelihood interventions are often tasked with a dual imperative: to generate material welfare benefits and to contribute to peacebuilding outcomes. There may be some logic to such a transformative agenda, but does the reality square with the rhetoric? Through a review of the effectiveness of a range of livelihood promotion interventions—from job creation to microfinance—this paper finds that high quality empirical evidence is hard to come by in conflict-affected situations. Many evaluations appear to conflate outputs with impacts and numerous studies fail to include adequate information on their methodologies and datasets, making it difficult to appraise the reliability of their conclusions. Given the primary purpose of this literature—to provide policy guidance on effective ways to promote livelihoods— this silence is particularly concerning. As such, there is a strong case to be made for a restrained and nuanced handling of such interventions in conflict-affected settings.Department for International Development - PO511