Lake Malawi has exceptional water quality but increasing nutrient loadings threaten to create rapid eutrophication, as occurred in Lake Victoria. To help avoid this, UNU/INWEH developed a predictive model of physical, chemical and water quality processes that will evaluate consequences of changing land-use and water-resource demands in the catchment. The model enables local scientists to predict nutrient and sediment inputs, pollutant dispersal, phytoplankton growth and future rates of eutrophication. The model also enables prediction of projected land use effects on river and lake quality and evaluation of potential mitigation strategies. Url: http://www.inweh.unu.edu/unuinweh/newsletters/newsletteroct00/malawimodel.htm
Author(s): Julius Court, Petra Kirsten and Beatrice Weder There is increasing evidence that different bureaucratic performance helps explain variations in economic performance around the world. The objective of this UNU work was to undertake the first systematic data collection on bureaucratic structure and performance in Africa and thus to also expand the existing global dataset. The survey indicates that bureaucratic structure and performance vary considerably across Africa. Empirical analysis indicates that better bureaucratic performance is associated with: agency power, autonomy, career opportunities, good relative wages, and merit-based entry mechanisms. The good news is that the relationship between the public and private sector seems to be improving across the region. More worryingly, however, perceived levels of corruption are increasing in a number of countries. Also, many senior bureaucrats feel they lack "ownership"; they felt that economic policy is formulated outside the country, particularly by the Bretton Woods Institutions.
Url: http://www.unu.edu/hq/academic/Pg_area4/b-structure.html
Author(s): Abigail Barr This paper focuses on the networks of business-related contacts that are built and maintained by manufacturing entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa. It describes the various functions that such networks perform, explaining why each function is important given the environment in which the enterprises are operating, and looks at the extent to which collective action is either necessary or desirable for their fulfilment. Data from the Ghanaian manufacturing sector suggests that networks are more commonly valued because they provide access to information about new technologies, trading opportunities and the conduct of others than because they provide a basis for collective action. Further, where functions can be performed either collectively or through bilateral interactions, the latter is more likely. This notwithstanding, there is evidence that the networks can provide support for both socially beneficial and socially detrimental collective action. Url: http://www.wider.unu.edu/publications/wp182.pdf (PDF 206KB)
Author(s): Eyob Zere This study evaluates the technical efficiency and productivity of a sample of public sector hospitals in three provinces of South Africa. The findings indicate that there is a marked variation of performance among hospitals within each group. If the inefficient hospitals were to operate as efficiently as their peers on the frontier, efficiency gains in terms of reduction in recurrent expenditure would amount to about R 279 million (about US$ 47 million) - an amount which can cover the costs of constructing a sizeable number of clinics or upgrading service quality where necessary. This would offset the need to raise user charges, and would potentially be more equitable. These results indicate the potential to improve access and/or quality of care without injecting additional resources into the health sector. This is important given the financial constraints on social sector investment in South Africa. Url: http://www.wider.unu.edu/publications/wp187.pdf (PDF 396KB)
Author(s): Kiichiro Fukasaku This paper reviews the main Special and Differential Treatment (S&D) provisions for developing countries under the GATT-WTO trading system and discusses issues relating to the future of S&D treatment from the perspective of the least-developed countries (LDCs). It argues that negotiations on S&D provisions in the next trade round must take the question of trade capacity building seriously. This would require WTO Members to make binding commitments to meeting the special needs of LDCs in terms of market access and technical assistance. Despite design flaws and deficiencies involved in various S&D provisions under the WTO Agreements, there is little reason to believe that the move back to the past approach to S&D treatment would be desirable for LDCs. Url: http://www.wider.unu.edu/publications/wp197.pdf (PDF 222KB)
UNU International Courses 2001 - apply by 31 January 2001 The United Nations University will organize the second UNU International Courses (UNU/IC) in Tokyo, Japan from 14 May to 22 June 2001. The UNU/IC is organized annually for a select group of postgraduate students and professionals who wish to pursue careers in international public service. The courses are designed to provide analyses of global issues from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. Url: http://www.unu.edu/ic/spring2001/brochure2001.html Contact: Wilma James, UNU Centre (james@hq.unu.edu)
Helsinki, 25-26 May 2001 Building on some of the themes covered in the World Development Report 2000-2001, the conference will review what is currently known about the relationship between poverty and growth. It will also provide an opportunity to share views on the direction of future research, including the issues that require attention, the methods of analysis which need to be developed, and new data sets that would facilitate research in this area. Those interested in participating in the conference are invited to submit an application by 28 February 2001 together with a short summary of their research interests. Applications from younger researchers and from researchers in developing countries are especially welcome. Url: http://www.wider.unu.edu/ Contact: wider@wider.unu.edu
The Social Science Research Council has two new funding opportunities that we are happy to publicize in this newsletter. The full text of the posters and an application form can be downloaded at www.ssrc.org under the heading Global Security and Cooperation. The deadlines are fast approaching: January 12 and February 1, 2001. Url: http://www.ssrc.org/fcom40.htm
Compiled by: Julius Court - Programme Officer, Office of the Rector (court@hq.unu.edu) John Datsomor - Webmaster (datsomor@hq.unu.edu)
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