Closing the development finance gap in post-conflict and fragile situations: What role for development finance institutions?

For many years, the main focus of international institutions and bilateral aid agencies has been on state building as the main action to support countries' recovery from conflicts or other fragile situations. The role of the private sector has been widely overlooked, despite being crucial in supporting economic growth and job creation. We argue that development finance institutions have a dedicated role to play in closing financial gaps, which are widening as fragility increases. They have the comparative advantages needed to make projects happen by supporting the private sector, hence significantly contributing to the recovery process. (Résumé d'auteur

Tensor approximation in visualization and graphics

In this course, we will introduce the basic concepts of tensor approximation (TA) – a higher-order generalization of the SVD and PCA methods – as well as its applications to visual data representation, analysis and visualization, and bring the TA framework closer to visualization and computer graphics researchers and practitioners. The course will cover the theoretical background of TA methods, their properties and how to compute them, as well as practical applications of TA methods in visualization and computer graphics contexts. In a first theoretical part, the attendees will be instructed on the necessary mathematical background of TA methods to learn the basics skills of using and applying these new tools in the context of the representation of large multidimensional visual data. Specific and very noteworthy features of the TA framework are highlighted which can effectively be exploited for spatio-temporal multidimensional data representation and visualization purposes. In two application oriented sessions, compact TA data representation in scientific visualization and computer graphics as well as decomposition and reconstruction algorithms will be demonstrated. At the end of the course, the participants will have a good basic knowledge of TA methods along with a practical understanding of its potential application in visualization and graphics related projects

Induction of annexin-1 at transcriptional and posttranscriptional level in rat brain by methylprednisolone and the 21-aminosteroid U74389F

Jan Kornelis de Cock-Foundation

Synthesis of Pyridinium Amphiphiles Used for Transfection and Some Characteristics of Amphiphile/DNA Complex Formation

Pyridinium amphiphiles have found practical use for the delivery of DNA into cells. Starting from 4-methylpyridine, a general synthesis has been devised for the production of pyridinium amphiphiles which allows variation in both the hydrophobic part and in the headgroup area of the compounds. By means of differential scanning microcalorimetry, zeta potential, particle size measurements and cryo electron microscopy, some characteristics of the pyridinium amphiphile/ DNA complexes have been determined.

Funding models for financing water infrastructure in South Africa: Framework and critical analysis of alternatives

The Government of South Africa has been the main provider of public infrastructure, particularly in the water sector. Government administration and institutional structures continue to shape and influence infrastructure investment. The South African constitutional system imposes unique complexities and constraints on infrastructure investment. The country experiences a serious backlog in water infrastructure investment for the development and management of water resources and water services. In 2011, this under-investment was estimated at more than R600 billion (600 x 109 ZAR: South African Rand). The national Government traditionally had a pivotal role in shaping water infrastructure investment. Government needs to find a solution to this backlog by putting in place new institutional structures and funding models for effective strategies leading to prompt water infrastructure provision. The research identified several funding models for financing water infrastructure development projects. The existing public provision model continues to characterise much of the publicly-provided water infrastructure in South Africa. These models see Government planning, installing and financing infrastructure with pricing at marginal costs or on a loss-making basis, with returns recovered through the taxation system. Nowadays, water infrastructure provision is split between fully-public and mixed ownership by water entities. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the water sector are not yet a reality.Keywords: Department of Water Affairs, funding models, water infrastructure, National Treasury, operations and maintenanc

Performance management in the Services SETA

Thesis (M.M. (Public and Development Management))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, 2015.Performance management is critical to the South African public sector as the focus on increased accountability and performance grows. Performance management systems are used extensively in the public and private sectors, but are inclined to be fraught with challenges and limitations. The purpose of this research was to investigate factors leading to the inability of the Services SETA’s Performance Management and Development System to develop public servants of the future; to present, interpret and analyse the findings; and to investigate how to transform the performance management system of the Services SETA to develop Executive Managers as public servants of the future. The qualitative research approach used an instrumental single case study. This led to the key finding that the Services SETA’s Performance Management and Development System is unable to develop Executive Managers as public servants of the future. The Services SETA specifically, and the public sector generally, needs to revise its design for performance management, with a strategic shift managing and directing performance to the facilitating performance. This strategic shift is necessary as performance is a multi-faceted phenomenon