Cost recovery strategy for rural water delivery in Nigeria

What economic and political factors have made cost recovery for rural water systems so difficult in the Nsuuka district of Anambra State? This paper found that households in the region do not want to pay for water in advance or commit themselves to a fixed monthly payment for water. They want the freedom to buy water only when they use it - partly because they do not want to buy water in the rainy season and partly because they want control of their cash flow in the event of more pressing needs. Equally important, they do not trust the government to provide a reliable public water supply. If required to pay a fixed fee every month, households are willing to pay only relatively small amounts for improved services. Current arrangements for cost recovery - fixed monthly fees for both public taps and unmetered private connections - are inappropriate. Kiosk systems or kiosk systems with metered private connections for some households are the most promising way to improve cost recovery and meet consumers's cash flow needs. Kiosk systems can provide less expensive, more reliable, and better quality water than water vendors do. It is not yet possible to generalize these results to other parts of Nigeria or other developing countries, but the advantages are likely to be equally valid in many other places.Town Water Supply and Sanitation,Water Supply and Sanitation Governance and Institutions,Water and Industry,Water Conservation,Water Use

Performance Evaluation of Spatial Modulation and QOSTBC for MIMO Systems

YesMultiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems require simplified architectures that can maximize design parameters without sacrificing system performance. Such architectures may be used in a transmitter or a receiver. The most recent example with possible low cost architecture in the transmitter is spatial modulation (SM). In this study, we evaluate the SM and quasi-orthogonal space time block codes (QOSTBC) schemes for MIMO systems over a Rayleigh fading channel. QOSTBC enables STBC to be used in a four antenna design, for example. Standard QO-STBC techniques are limited in performance due to self-interference terms; here a QOSTBC scheme that eliminates these terms in its decoding matrix is explored. In addition, while most QOSTBC studies mainly explore performance improvements with different code structures, here we have implemented receiver diversity using maximal ratio combining (MRC). Results show that QOSTBC delivers better performance, at spectral efficiency comparable with SM

Monetary policy and economic development: lessons from the deregulation policy in Nigeria

This paper examines the impact of monetary policy instruments on the economic development in Nigeria during the period 1980-2006.With the aid of the t-ratio, the study revealed that only two out of the six selected explanatory variables exert a significant impact on the level of economic development in Nigeria between the study periods (pre-and-postderegulation). The study therefore, concludes that with the insignificant nature of most of the variables, policy formulation and implementation inconsistencies appear to hinder the full impact of monetary policy on the economy and therefore, should be critically watched. Key words: Monetary Policy, Pre-deregulation, Post-deregulation, Policy Formulation, Policy Implementation

Le fétichisme dans Allah n’est pas obligé d’Ahmadou Kourouma et Célanire coucoupé de Maryse Condé

ResumeLe fétichisme consiste à louer des objets inanimés qui sont perçus comme renfermant un esprit et donc ayant des pouvoirs magiques. C’est une pratique très ancienne qui est bien répandue en Afrique. Il existe donc presque toujours une raison à travers la sorcellerie pour expliquer ou justifier ce qui arrive à quelqu’un dans les sociétés africaines et afrocaribéennes. Cet article se propose de mettre en évidence la place du fétichisme dans la littérature africaine et caraïbe en s’appuyant sur deux œuvres : Allah n’est pas obligé et Célanire cou-coupé d’Ahmadou Kourouma et de Maryse Condé respectivement

Retrofitting To Reduce Carbon Emissions From Existing Buildings In Bloemfontein, South Africa

DissertationDesigning energy-efficient retrofits for buildings will bring about environmental, economic, social and health benefits. However, selecting specific retrofit strategies is complex and requires careful planning. In its contribution to resolving these complexities, the study attempts to provide insights into how building energy retrofit (BER) can be understood and addressed within a socio-technical context. The study was situated in a pragmatist paradigm in which a mixed-methods research design was adopted. The quantitative data was statistically analysed, while the qualitative data was transcribed and thematically analysed. The study identified and highlights the key elements needed in implementation of BER projects, and offered solutions with respect to the challenges highlighted in the BERP delivery process. This gave rise to an artefact that serves as a guide for innovative and proactive tools to attain efficiency in the delivery of BER projects. It was discovered that the artefact has adequate robustness to engender change in the industry. The description of the developed artefact is followed by detailed steps on how to implement it, which is easily understandable by industry stakeholders

Fiscal federalism an equity in the financing of primary health care: The case of South Africa

Includes bibliographical references.This thesis investigates the implications of fiscal federalism on the equitable distribution of primary health care resources in South Africa. The study evaluates the processes and criteria for intergovernmental and sector budgeting, the influence of key stakeholders, community involvement in PHC budgeting, and policy objectives of the health sector to assess how they impact on the realisation of an equitable distribution of PHC resources. A combination of qualitative and quantitative analyses was employed in the study. Quantitative analysis of health expenditure and health need data was used to assess whether the distribution of PHC resources has become more or less equitable. Health districts were the units of analysis. Deprivation indices were generated using principal components analysis for each district from demographic and socio-economic variables. The deprivation index was used as a proxy for relative need at the level of districts, and was compared with non-hospital PHC per capita expenditure using regression analysis. This analysis was carried out for per capita PHC from 2001 to 2007. Data on the process for intergovernmental fiscal arrangements and budgeting for health was collected through review of government publications and interviews with government officials. These were analysed thematically. Literature on the subject predicts that if lower levels of government have considerable autonomy in determining primary health care allocations, there is a greater scope for inequities in the distribution of primary health care resources. However, the results of the study are contrary to expectations. Although, the introduction of fiscal federalism in South Africa created an additional constraint to achieving a more equitable distribution of PHC resources, recent trends in primary health care allocations are more equitable than in previous years. A growing public sector budget, consistent increases in health sector allocations, and overwhelming political support for equity in South Africa have been the key reasons for the shifts towards a more equitable distribution of primary health care resources. These findings form the main contribution to the literature on the subject

MATERIAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND SERVICE DELIVERY PERFORMANCE OF UPSTREAM OIL FIRMS IN RIVERS STATE

This paper examined the relationship between materials management strategies and service delivery performance of upstream oil firms in Rivers State. The aim was to examine the relationship between materials management strategies and service delivery performance of upstream oil firms in Rivers State. The study adopted cross-sectional research design. 40 copies of questionnaire distributed and 35 were valid. The Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient was used with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23.0), Cronbach Alpha verified the internal consistency and validity status and the results were positive. The findings of the study showed that MMS significantly related with service delivery performance of upstream oil firms in Rivers State, thus enhancing delivery reliability and on-time delivery. The study concluded that MMS indicators positively and significantly related with service delivery performance measures. Based on the findings, the study, recommends that, upstream oil firms need to have the necessary skills and knowledge about the use of scientific material management techniques and decision models. It is recommended that, pragmatic measures be adopted to implement efficient and effective inventory management software

CORPORATE IDENTITY MANAGEMENT: A PANACEA FOR ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF HOTELS IN RIVERS STATE

The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between corporate identity management and organizational performance of hotels in Rivers State. Drawing from its theoretical baseline, the study was anchored on resource-based theory and relational-view theory. Cross-sectional survey design was used in accessing the study’s subjects. The population of the study comprised of staff of four-star hotels in Rivers State. Data obtained through this process were analyzed and a total of 5 hypotheses were tested using Regression Analysis. Findings from these tests revealed a positive and significant correlation between the dimensions of corporate identity management (corporate reputation and corporate communication) and the measures of organizational performance (organisational growth and marketing effectiveness). The study concluded that corporate identity management has been confirmed to be reliable management tool to help improve organizational performance. Based on the conclusion, the study therefore recommended that management of 4-star hotels to in building and maintain their identity, management are encouraged to design and implement services that are appealing to stakeholders and the public. This will bring about stakeholders’ endorsement and reputation for the banks. In order to enhance organisational performance, management of 4-star hotels are expected to disseminate vital information about the organization's corporate existence and value propositions on one hand, and to also coordinate inter-departmental flow of information in order to ensure that the corporate marketing strategies are understood and implemented by every employee of the organization

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE EFFECTIVE CAPTURE OF INDIRECT COSTS IN ACCIDENT REPORTS BY EMERGING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS IN SOUTH AFRICA

There has been limited research into the indirect cost of accidents in the South African construction industry, despite its consequences on productivity and performance measurement and management. Extant studies have attempted to explore the impact of direct and indirect costs from a macro-economic (industry-wide) perspective.  Whilst a few have focused on the micro-economic impacts, with specific emphasis on the organizational level, most of these studies have concentrated on the construction client perspective without recourse to the experiences for construction contractors. This is the gap which this study seeks to fulfil within the South Africa. To achieve this objective, a document analysis of selected construction accident reports was conducted using a pre-set theme identified from the literature in extracting information from the emerging contractors’ accident reports. It was revealed that none of the reports were compliant as per the pre-set theme used. The reasons behind the non-compliance were sought for, through another round of data collection deploying questionnaire surveys. A population of contractors within CIDB grades 5-7 were sampled and surveyed. Survey results revealed that difficulties in extracting the information top the list with MIS value of 4.67, followed by organisational will with MIS value of 4.61. Also, areas for improvement in capturing the accident report were highlighted such as; making it as a policy for any accident report to capture indirect cost with MIS of 4.82 which ranks 1st; assigning timeliness on when the data must be captured in any accidents with MIS of 4.66 which ranks 2nd. This finding has implications on the emerging contractors as it provides information on factors that negate and impact on sustainability of the emerging contractors as it relates to OHS performance and competitiveness

EVALUATION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ADOPTED IN TSHWANE BUILDING INDUSTRY

The minimisation and disposal of construction wastes has become one of the most construction and environmental issues in recent years. The disposal of waste can have a significant impact on the environment as total volume of available landfill is decreasing and cost associated in its disposal are quite enormous. Primary data were obtained using structured questionnaire, interviews and site visits. The questionnaire was also designed in line with the method to cover various factors that lead to wastages on construction sites, waste control measures, existence of waste management plan in contractual process and remedies to the problem. The findings indicate that waste of materials in the building industry is fairly high and that a large variability in waste incidence is found across different projects. The study established that the strategies adopted in minimising material wastes in the City of Tshwane building industry were good but evidence on site reveal to the contrar