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Key Documents archive results 1-20 of 74 in Sub-Saharan Africa
Applicability of near-real-time satellite data acquisition and analysis and distribution of geoinformation in support of African development
This report, prepared for the UN Economic Commission for Africa, reviews the status and prospects for remote sensing in Africa. The authors argue that a real and immediate need exists for real-time remote sensing data to improve early warning, vulnerability assessment, mitigation, response and...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: April 2005 | EN
An autonomous earth observing Sensorweb
This article describes how a network of sensors, linked by software and the Internet, can provide an automatic satellite-based surveillance system for disasters such as volcanoes, wildfires and flooding. The system, or 'Sensorweb', uses data from low resolution, high frequency sensors to trigger...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: October 2005 | EN
New satellite observations and rainfall forecasts help provide earlier warning of African drought
This article, written by Chris Funk of the US GS, outlines how the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) uses satellite data and statistical forecasts to provide early warnings of potential droughts in sub-Saharan Africa. Funk outlines the role of satellite data in FEWS NET at all...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: January 2009 | EN
Climate change: A call to action for African leaders
This policy brief, prepared by the Africa Progress Panel, African Development Bank and UN, outlines the implications of climate change for Africa, emphasising the need for a strong and cohesive negotiating position at the December 2009 climate talks in Copenhagen. The authors argue that African...
KEY DOCUMENT | EN
Agrofuels and the use of genetic modification
This report from GeneWatch UK describes the use of genetically modified (GM) crops as agrofuels and makes policy recommendations on their use. Civil society groups have raised concerns over the sustainability of using food supplies to produce biofuel. Industry and government have responded by...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: July 2009 | EN
Nanotechnology, water and development
This report, written for the Meridian Institute by a team of scientists from South Africa and Sri Lanka, describes the general issues facing projects aimed at improving access to clean water in the developing world, as well as the specific challenges facing nano-based projects. The authors...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2006 | EN
Nanotechnology and the challenge of clean water
This commentary, by South African scientists Thembela Hillie and Mbhuti Hlophe, examines nanoscience's potential to solve the technical challenges associated with removing pollutants from water. The authors describe a range of nano-based water treatment technologies already in the marketplace and...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: November 2007 | EN
Accelerating catch-up: Tertiary education for growth in Sub-Saharan Africa
This World Bank report examines higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa, asking how it can stimulate economic growth in the region. Drawing on international experience and regional case studies, the authors argue that there is an urgent need for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to invest in human...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2009 | EN
African higher education development and the international community
This paper from the Association of Commonwealth Universities outlines the commitments and activities made by major international partners -- specifically the G8 countries -- to developing African higher education between 2000 and 2004. Projects are analysed by topic -- from human resources...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: June 2005 | EN
A comparison of the cost of research in South Africa's public research and higher education institutions
This paper examines the relative costs of research in South Africa and the apparent disparity in researchers' salaries. A 2004-2005 research and development survey provides data on the unit cost of research across higher education institutions (HEIs), science councils and the business sector....
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: December 2008 | EN
Global carbon markets: Are there opportunities for Sub-Saharan Africa?
This discussion paper, published by the International Food Policy Research Centre, examines the potential for mitigating climate change through carbon trading, with particular emphasis on Sub-Saharan Africa. The authors provide an overview of global carbon markets, highlighting Africa's share in...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2008 | EN
Carbon and biodiversity: A demonstration atlas
This report, published by the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, highlights areas where high carbon content and high biodiversity overlap. The authors argue that by identifying target areas, such spatial analyses can help tropical countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions from land-use...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: 2008 | EN
African AIDS vaccine programme for a coordinated and collaborative vaccine development effort on the continent
This paper, written by an international team of researchers, documents the work of the African AIDS Vaccine Programme (AAVP). It highlights the programme's impacts, successes and challenges, and looks to where the AAVP is heading. The AAVP, supported by the WHO and UNAIDS, is a network of...
KEY DOCUMENT | EN
Expanding priorities — confronting chronic disease in countries with low income
Cardiovascular disease accounts for 30% of deaths worldwide and 10% of all years of healthy life lost to disease, and the figures are nearly as high in developing countries -- 27 per cent and 9 per cent respectively. This compares with 10% of lives lost worldwide from HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria put...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: January, 2007 | EN
Therapeutic vaccination for chronic diseases: a new class of drugs in sight
Vaccination for infectious diseases is a vital method of prophylaxis, and has transformed modern medicine. By contrast, research into vaccines against chronic diseases has been less successful, in part because of the increased complexity involved. In this opinion piece, the authors outline the...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: January, 2004 | EN
Achieving the millennium development goals: does mental health play a role?
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) practically define health efforts in the 21st century, but they virtually ignore non-communicable diseases such as mental health, say these authors. This is despite evidence that mental health disorders are among the most important cause of sickness and...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: September 2007 | EN
What is the best approach to treating schizophrenia in developing countries?
Schizophrenia is relatively rare -- affecting 1% of the world's population -- but is arguably one of the most severe mental illnesses. Diagnosing and treating it can be hard enough in developed countries; the challenges are magnified in developing nations with inadequate health systems; few trained...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: June 2007 | EN
Cancer control: knowledge into action
In 2005, the World Health Assembly called on WHO member states to tackle their growing rates of cancer by developing rigorous cancer control programmes. To help guide the process, the WHO developed a series of six modules that provide practical advice for programme managers and policy-makers on how...
KEY DOCUMENT | EN
The challenge of cancer control in Africa
Worldwide, cancer kills more people than HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB put together. In developing countries where chronic diseases are now growing alongside infectious diseases, new strategies need to be developed. This article outlines how to develop an effective cancer strategy in African...
KEY DOCUMENT | EN
Grand challenges in chronic non-communicable diseases
In 2003, the Gates foundation infused new vigour into global health efforts by declaring that the 21st century's "grand challenges" included developing new vaccines and overcoming drug resistance. This new grand challenges initiative, launched by a collaboration of top global chronic disease...
KEY DOCUMENT | Publication date: November 2007 | EN
