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Cassava utilisation in Malawi is negatively affected by rapid deterioration of fresh roots, primarily caused by postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD). A study was conducted to assess farmers’ knowledge and approaches used to minimize losses from PPD. Multi-stage sampling was used to identify districts, Extension Planning Areas (EPA’s) and farmers. Data were collected from 519 farmers using a structured questionnaire. Results revealed that PPD (74.0%) was the major post-harvest constraint followed by pests and diseases (62.1%). Farmers had varying knowledge levels on signs and causes of PPD. They were knowledgeable on PPD signs with 91.5% ably identifying PPD through change of pulp colour. The farmers also had moderate knowledge on causes of PPD, citing high temperature (57.6%) and over-staying of roots (56.2%) as main causes of PPD. Key methods for preventing PPD are: storage (43.0%) and piece-meal harvesting (40.4%). Only 2.6% of the farmers exploited varietal difference in dealing with PPD as some varieties (Sauti, Mpuma, Ching’amba, and Kalasa) take three to five days before showing PPD signs. Farmers’ knowledge levels and PPD preventive methods could be strengthened through: provision of training on post-harvest handling, improvement in storage and processing technologies; and application of advanced breeding techniques to exploit genetic variation in cassava germplasm.

Identification and monitoring of diverse resources or wastes on the ground is important for integrated resource management. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), with its high resolution and facility, is the optimal tool for monitoring ground objects accurately and efficiently. However, previous studies have focused on applying classification methodology on land use and agronomy, and few studies have compared different classification methods using UAV imagery. It is necessary to fully utilize the high resolution of UAV by applying the classification methodology to ground object identification. This study compared three classification methods: A. NDVI threshold, B. RGB image-based machine learning, and C. object-based image analysis (OBIA). Method A was the least time-consuming and could identify vegetation and soil with high accuracy (user’s accuracy > 0.80), but had poor performance at classifying dead vegetation, plastic, and metal (user’s accuracy < 0.50). Both Methods B and C were time- and labor-consuming, but had very high accuracy in separating vegetation, soil, plastic, and metal (user’s accuracy ≥ 0.70 for all classes). Method B showed a good performance in identifying objects with bright colors, whereas Method C showed a high ability in separating objects with similar visual appearances. Scientifically, this study has verified the possibility of using the existing classification methods on identifying small ground objects with a size of less than 1 m, and has discussed the reasons for the different accuracy of the three methods. Practically, these results help users from different fields to choose an appropriate method that suits their target, so that different wastes or multiple resources can be monitored at the same time by combining different methods, which contributes to an improved integrated resource management system.

Le consortium du programme de recherche sur la recherche appliquée en matière d'assainissement et d'hygiène pour l'équité (SHARE) est un programme financé par le ministère britannique du développement international (DFID) qui vise à contribuer à la réalisation de l'accès universel à un assainissement et à une hygiène efficaces, durables et équitables dans le monde entier. La composante de développement des capacités est un pilier important de ce programme et différentes stratégies ont été conçues et mises en œuvre au cours des différentes phases de SHARE. Ce document décrit et réfléchit aux stratégies de renforcement des capacités de ce grand consortium de recherche multinational, en identifiant les leçons apprises et en proposant des recommandations pour les futurs programmes de recherche en santé mondiale. Dans la première phase, la stratégie s'est concentrée sur le renforcement de la capacité des individus et des institutions des pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire à mener leurs propres recherches. SHARE a soutenu six doctorants et 25 étudiants en MSc, et a organisé un large éventail d'événements de formation pour différentes parties prenantes. SHARE a examiné toutes les propositions soumises par les chercheurs dans le cadre de plusieurs cycles de financement et a proposé un examen par les pairs externe pour tous les rapports produits dans le cadre des plateformes de recherche du partenaire. Dans la deuxième phase, l'objectif était de soutenir le développement des capacités d'un plus petit nombre d'institutions de recherche africaines afin de progresser vers leur durabilité indépendante, en mettant davantage l'accent sur les scientifiques en début et en milieu de carrière au sein de ces institutions. Dans chaque institution, un chercheur a été soutenu et un plan spécifique de développement des capacités a été élaboré conjointement. Les stratégies qui ont été couronnées de succès étaient l'apprentissage par la pratique (soutien aux institutions et aux étudiants de troisième cycle sur la recherche en assainissement et en hygiène), l'octroi de bourses pour nommer des scientifiques en milieu de carrière afin de soutenir le développement personnel et institutionnel, et le soutien de plans de renforcement des capacités sur mesure. Les principaux enseignements tirés ont été que les programmes de renforcement des capacités de recherche doivent être pilotés par des initiatives locales adaptées avec le soutien de partenaires. Nous recommandons que les futurs programmes visant à renforcer les capacités de recherche envisagent des stratégies ciblées pour les individus en début, en milieu et en fin de carrière et soient sensibles aux autres opérations institutionnelles pour soutenir à la fois les capacités de recherche et de gestion. El consorcio del Programa de Investigación de Investigación Aplicada de Saneamiento e Higiene para la Equidad (SHARE) es un programa financiado por el Departamento de Desarrollo Internacional del Reino Unido (DFID) que tiene como objetivo contribuir a lograr el acceso universal a un saneamiento e higiene efectivos, sostenibles y equitativos en todo el mundo. El componente de desarrollo de capacidades es un pilar importante para este programa y se diseñaron e implementaron diferentes estrategias durante las diversas fases de SHARE. Este documento describe y reflexiona sobre las estrategias de desarrollo de capacidades de este gran consorcio de investigación multinacional, identificando las lecciones aprendidas y proponiendo recomendaciones para futuros programas mundiales de investigación en salud. En la primera fase, la estrategia se centró en aumentar la capacidad de las personas e instituciones de los países de ingresos bajos y medios para realizar sus propias investigaciones. SHARE apoyó a seis estudiantes de doctorado y 25 estudiantes de maestría, y organizó una amplia gama de eventos de capacitación para diferentes partes interesadas. SHARE revisó por pares todas las propuestas que los investigadores presentaron a través de varias rondas de financiación y ofreció una revisión externa por pares para todos los informes producidos en las plataformas de investigación del socio. En la segunda fase, el objetivo era apoyar el desarrollo de capacidades de un número menor de instituciones de investigación africanas para avanzar hacia su sostenibilidad independiente, con un mayor enfoque en los científicos de carrera temprana y media dentro de estas instituciones. En cada institución, se apoyó a un becario de investigación y se desarrolló conjuntamente un plan específico de desarrollo de capacidades. Las estrategias que tuvieron éxito fueron aprender haciendo (apoyando a instituciones y estudiantes de posgrado en investigación de saneamiento e higiene), proporcionando becas para nombrar científicos a mitad de carrera para apoyar el desarrollo personal e institucional, y apoyando planes de desarrollo de capacidades personalizados. Las principales lecciones aprendidas fueron que los programas de creación de capacidad de investigación deben ser impulsados por iniciativas locales adaptadas con el apoyo de los socios. Recomendamos que los futuros programas que busquen fortalecer la capacidad de investigación consideren estrategias específicas para las personas en las etapas iniciales, intermedias y posteriores de la carrera y que sean sensibles a otras operaciones institucionales para apoyar tanto las capacidades de investigación como de gestión. The Sanitation and Hygiene Applied Research for Equity (SHARE) Research Programme consortium is a programme funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) that aims to contribute to achieving universal access to effective, sustainable, and equitable sanitation and hygiene worldwide. The capacity development component is an important pillar for this programme and different strategies were designed and implemented during the various phases of SHARE. This paper describes and reflects on the capacity-building strategies of this large multi-country research consortium, identifying lessons learnt and proposing recommendations for future global health research programmes. In the first phase, the strategy focused on increasing the capacity of individuals and institutions from low- and middle-income countries in conducting their own research. SHARE supported six PhD students and 25 MSc students, and organised a wide range of training events for different stakeholders. SHARE peer-reviewed all proposals that researchers submitted through several rounds of funding and offered external peer-review for all the reports produced under the partner's research platforms. In the second phase, the aim was to support capacity development of a smaller number of African research institutions to move towards their independent sustainability, with a stronger focus on early and mid-career scientists within these institutions. In each institution, a Research Fellow was supported and a specific capacity development plan was jointly developed. Strategies that yielded success were learning by doing (supporting institutions and postgraduate students on sanitation and hygiene research), providing fellowships to appoint mid-career scientists to support personal and institutional development, and supporting tailored capacity-building plans. The key lessons learnt were that research capacity-building programmes need to be driven by local initiatives tailored with support from partners. We recommend that future programmes seeking to strengthen research capacity should consider targeted strategies for individuals at early, middle and later career stages and should be sensitive to other institutional operations to support both the research and management capacities. اتحاد برنامج أبحاث البحوث التطبيقية في مجال الصرف الصحي والنظافة الصحية من أجل الإنصاف (SHARE) هو برنامج تموله وزارة التنمية الدولية في المملكة المتحدة (DFID) يهدف إلى المساهمة في تحقيق الوصول الشامل إلى الصرف الصحي والنظافة الصحية الفعالة والمستدامة والمنصفة في جميع أنحاء العالم. يعد عنصر تنمية القدرات ركيزة مهمة لهذا البرنامج وتم تصميم وتنفيذ استراتيجيات مختلفة خلال المراحل المختلفة للمشاركة. تصف هذه الورقة وتعكس استراتيجيات بناء القدرات لهذا الاتحاد البحثي الكبير متعدد البلدان، وتحديد الدروس المستفادة واقتراح توصيات لبرامج البحوث الصحية العالمية المستقبلية. في المرحلة الأولى، ركزت الاستراتيجية على زيادة قدرة الأفراد والمؤسسات من البلدان المنخفضة والمتوسطة الدخل على إجراء أبحاثهم الخاصة. دعمت SHARE ستة طلاب دكتوراه و 25 طالب ماجستير، ونظمت مجموعة واسعة من الأحداث التدريبية لمختلف أصحاب المصلحة. شارك جميع المقترحات التي قدمها الباحثون من خلال عدة جولات من التمويل واستعرضها الأقران وقدموا مراجعة خارجية لجميع التقارير التي تم إنتاجها في إطار منصات البحث الخاصة بالشريك. في المرحلة الثانية، كان الهدف هو دعم تنمية قدرات عدد أقل من المؤسسات البحثية الأفريقية للتحرك نحو استدامتها المستقلة، مع التركيز بشكل أكبر على العلماء الأوائل والمتوسطين داخل هذه المؤسسات. في كل مؤسسة، تم دعم زميل باحث وتم وضع خطة محددة لتنمية القدرات بشكل مشترك. كانت الاستراتيجيات التي حققت النجاح هي التعلم بالممارسة (دعم المؤسسات وطلاب الدراسات العليا في أبحاث الصرف الصحي والنظافة)، وتقديم زمالات لتعيين علماء في منتصف حياتهم المهنية لدعم التنمية الشخصية والمؤسسية، ودعم خطط بناء القدرات المصممة خصيصًا. كانت الدروس الرئيسية المستفادة هي أن برامج بناء القدرات البحثية يجب أن تكون مدفوعة بمبادرات محلية مصممة بدعم من الشركاء. نوصي بأن تنظر البرامج المستقبلية التي تسعى إلى تعزيز القدرة البحثية في الاستراتيجيات المستهدفة للأفراد في المراحل المهنية المبكرة والمتوسطة واللاحقة وأن تكون حساسة للعمليات المؤسسية الأخرى لدعم كل من القدرات البحثية والإدارية.

Abstract Biofuels have been promoted as a renewable energy option in many countries, but have also faced extensive scrutiny over their sustainability. Food security is perhaps the most debated sustainability impact of biofuels, especially in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa that experience high rates of malnutrition and have been a major destination for biofuel-related investments. This study assesses the local food security impacts of engagement in biofuel crop production using a consistent protocol between multiple crops and sites. We use standardized metrics of food security related to dietary diversity and perceptions of hunger, and focus on feedstock smallholders and plantation workers in four operational projects: a large-scale jatropha plantation (Mozambique), a smallholder-based jatropha project (Malawi) and two hybrid sugarcane projects (Malawi, Eswatini). Collectively these reflect the main feedstocks, modes of production and land use transitions related to biofuel projects in Sub-Sahara Africa. Inverse Probability Weighting analysis indicates that involvement in sugarcane production improved household food security for plantation workers and feedstock smallholders. Conversely, involvement in jatropha production does not have a statistically significant positive effect on household food security for both workers and smallholders. Regression models indicate that the factors driving food security indicator levels vary between study sites. Wealth indicators influence food security indicators in several sites, but the absolute level of income plays a smaller role, while income stability/regularity, access to credit and stable markets for selling sugarcane be important drivers as indicated by the strong effect of proxy variables on indicators.

Abstract Background Periods of droughts can lead to decreased food security, and altered behaviours, potentially affecting outcomes on antiretroviral therapy (ART) among persons with HIV (PWH). We investigated whether decreased rainfall is associated with adverse outcomes among PWH on ART in Southern Africa. Methods Data were combined from 11 clinical cohorts of PWH in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, participating in the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS Southern Africa (IeDEA-SA) collaboration. Adult PWH who had started ART prior to 01/06/2016 and were in follow-up in the year prior to 01/06/2016 were included. Two-year rainfall from June 2014 to May 2016 at the location of each HIV centre was summed and ranked against historical 2-year rainfall amounts (1981–2016) to give an empirical relative percentile rainfall estimate. The IeDEA-SA and rainfall data were combined using each HIV centre’s latitude/longitude. In individual-level analyses, multivariable Cox or generalized estimating equation regression models (GEEs) assessed associations between decreased rainfall versus historical levels and four separate outcomes (mortality, CD4 counts < 200 cells/mm3, viral loads > 400 copies/mL, and > 12-month gaps in follow-up) in the two years following the rainfall period. GEEs were used to investigate the association between relative rainfall and monthly numbers of unique visitors per HIV centre. Results Among 270,708 PWH across 386 HIV centres (67% female, median age 39 [IQR: 32–46]), lower rainfall than usual was associated with higher mortality (adjusted Hazard Ratio: 1.18 [95%CI: 1.07–1.32] per 10 percentile rainfall rank decrease) and unsuppressed viral loads (adjusted Odds Ratio: 1.05 [1.01–1.09]). Levels of rainfall were not strongly associated with CD4 counts < 200 cell/mm3 or > 12-month gaps in care. HIV centres in areas with less rainfall than usual had lower numbers of PWH visiting them (adjusted Rate Ratio: 0.80 [0.66–0.98] per 10 percentile rainfall rank decrease). Conclusions Decreased rainfall could negatively impact on HIV treatment behaviours and outcomes. Further research is needed to explore the reasons for these effects. Interventions to mitigate the health impact of severe weather events are required.

Solid waste disposal is an essential component of any waste management system, but finding suitable solid waste disposal sites is seen as the main challenge. The goal of this study was to locate solid waste disposal facilities in Lilongwe that would not present logistical or operational difficulties. We used a hybrid approach involving qualitative and quantitative methods. Primary and secondary data were collected, through interviews, questionnaires, and GPS for coordinates. The study considered 10 suitability factors of slopes, rivers, soil types, built-up areas, airports, forests, wetlands, current dumpsites, roads, and railways weighted using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). We analyzed site selection techniques, evaluated the current dumpsite, and created a multi-factor geographic information system (GIS) model. This study found that the current dumpsite is dangerous for human health and is close to homes. Additionally, this research reveals that the most popular techniques for choosing the location of a solid waste disposal facility are the AHP and weighted linear combination (WLC) coupled with GIS. Out of 46,283 Ha in Lilongwe, 84.07% are unsuitable, 14.97% are suitable, and 0.96% are highly suitable for solid waste disposal sites. Six sites with capacities ranging from 28 Ha to 94 Ha were identified as optimal to reduce operational costs in areas 55, 44, 58, and 61. Further waste recycling initiatives are recommended to reduce solid waste volume and promote sustainable waste management practices.