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UNU Africa Research Observer
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No. 3, December 2000
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This biannual email newsletter brings you the latest United Nations
University
(UNU) research on human security and development in Africa. It contains
short
abstracts with links to detailed reports on the UNU "Priority Africa"
website.
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CONTENTS
New Reports Online
* Model to Predict Water Quality Processes in Lake Malawi
* Bureaucratic Structure and Performance in Africa: Survey Findings
* Collective Action and Bilateral Interaction in Ghanaian Entrepreneurial
Networks
* Hospital Efficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa
* WTO Special and Differential Treatment for Developing Countries
Other News
* UNU International Courses 2001 - Apply by 31 January 2001
* UNU/WIDER conference on growth and poverty - Apply by 28 February 2001
* New grant opportunities from SSRC - Apply by 12 January and 1 February
2001.
Seasons greetings and best wishes for the New Year from everyone at UNU.
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New Reports Online
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Model to Predict Water Quality Processes in Lake Malawi
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.
< www.inweh.unu.edu/unuinweh/newsletters/newsletteroct00/malawimodel.htm >
Contact: Ralph Daley, Director, UNU/INWEH ( <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
)
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Bureaucratic Structure and Performance in Africa: Survey Findings
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.
< <http://www.unu.edu/hq/academic/Pg_area4/b-structure.html> >
[Download the findings paper, presentations, database and questionnaire]
Contact: Julius Court, Programme Officer, UNU Centre
(<mailto:[log in to unmask]>)
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Collective Action and Bilateral Interaction in Ghanaian Entrepreneurial
Networks
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.
< <http://www.wider.unu.edu/publications/wp182.pdf> > (PDF 206KB)
Contact: Tony Addison, Senior Research Fellow, UNU/WIDER
(<mailto:[log in to unmask]> )
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Hospital Efficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa
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.
< <http://www.wider.unu.edu/publications/wp187.pdf> > (PDF 396KB)
Contact: Tony Addison, Senior Research Fellow, UNU/WIDER
(<mailto:[log in to unmask]> )
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GATT-WTO Special and Differential Treatment for Developing Countries: Does
It Help Those Who Help Themselves?
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.
< <http://www.wider.unu.edu/publications/wp197.pdf> > (PDF 222KB)
Contact: Mansoob Murshed, Research Fellow, UNU/WIDER
(<mailto:[log in to unmask]> )
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Other News
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UNU International Courses 2001 - Apply by 31 January 2001
The United Nations University will organize the second UNU International
Course
(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.
< <http://www.unu.edu/ic/spring2001/brochure2001.html> >
Contact: Wilma James, UNU Centre (<mailto:[log in to unmask]> )
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Development Conference on Growth and Poverty
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.
< <http://www.wider.unu.edu/>>
Contact: <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
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Global Security and Cooperation: New Grants from SSRC
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.
< <http://www.ssrc.org/fcom40.htm> >
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Notes:
* Please send comments or inquiries to: [log in to unmask]
* To receive or stop receiving this Newsletter, write to: [log in to unmask]
* Please pass this newsletter on to others who might find it interesting!
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Compiled by:
Julius Court - Programme Officer, Office of the Rector ([log in to unmask])
John Datsomor - Webmaster ([log in to unmask])
Disclaimer:
Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of UNU or other
contributing institutions. Unless stated otherwise, articles may be copied
or quoted
without restriction, provided that UNU and the originating author(s) and
institution(s)
are acknowledged.
Copyright: United Nations University, 2000.
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