Steps to African Development

The development of Africa is vital to the world’s sustainable development.However,African countries still face key challenges in achieving the meaningful expansion of their economies.At the High-Level Symposium on China-Africa Investment Cooperation in Xiamen,southeast China’s Fujian Province,held from September 8 to 10,Chen Deming,Minister of Commerce of China,elaborates on these challenges and sees

BRICS Paving the Way for African Development

THE Ninth BRICS Summit will be held in China＇s Xiamen City in early September. The last time China hosted the BRICS Summit was in 2011, when South Africa was accepted as a full member. South Africa＇s accession not only strengthens the BRICS countries＇ direct links with the Afri- can continent, but also broadens BRICS in terms of economic aggregates, population and area. More importantly, the move has greatly enhanced the representative- ness of the mechanisms as its coverage expanded from Asia, Europe and America to Africa, making it an economic coopera- tion mechanism for emerging economies covering the whole world,

An Institutional Model for Collaborative Disaster Risk Management in the Southern African Development Community(SADC) Region

This article presents and argues for a collaborative model for disaster risk management in the Southern African Development Community(SADC).The research employed a qualitative study through a literature review and empirical research through focus group interviews to realize its objectives.As a key theory of multinational collaboration,neoliberal institutionalism—a subset of the international relations theory—was used to develop the SADC institutional collaborative model.The model combined the theoretical,political,and technical dimensions of collaboration to enhance buy-in for the disaster risk management and reduction function of governments.The model demonstrates the need for a multidisciplinary approach to achieving disaster risk management and reduction in the SADC and elsewhere,if the developmental objectives of disaster risk reduction are to be realized without interference in the domestic affairs of the member countries.This model is therefore grounded in seeking consensus and cooperation among cooperating states in a quest to ensure national implementation of the regional framework on disaster risk reduction.

Financing Disaster Risk Reduction:Exploring the Opportunities,Challenges,and Threats Within the Southern African Development Community Region

The Southern African Development Community(SADC)region,a regional economic body comprised of 16 member states,is one of our planet's most vulnerable regions to natural hazards,and has a complex disaster risk profile.The region has sustained several disasters over the past decades.These events include annual floods in 2004-2019 and extreme droughts(1990-1993);other climate-induced disasters,such as cyclones,also have had devastating impacts,particularly on the Indian Ocean island states and east coast countries.To reduce the risk and impacts of dis asters,governments must invest in disaster risk reduction(DRR).However,interventions aimed at reducing social and economic vulnerability and investing in longterm mitigation activities are often few,poorly funded,and insignificant in comparison with money spent on humanitarian assistance,dis aster relief,and post-disaster reconstruction.This study investigated whether DRR is adequately funded within SADC member states in light of the high stakes in human life,infrastructure,and economic losses and the potential savings involved.The study applied a qualitative research design with data collected through semistructured interviews and focus group discussions.Respondents were selected purposefully and through snowball sampling with a total of 67 respondents from Botswana,Eswatini,Namibia,South Africa,and Zimbabwe participating in the study.The study findings reveal that DRR is inadequately funded in all the member states consulted in comparison to funding allocated to disaster response.In light of the underfunding experienced by DRR activities,this study provides a platform for lobbying and advocacy for adequate funding for DRR.

Perceived Adverse Effects of Separating Government Institutions for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Within the Southern African Development Community Member States

Integration of disaster risk reduction(DRR)and climate change adaptation(CCA)is widely recognized as a solution for reducing the risk and impacts of disasters.However,successful integration seems elusive,and the two goals continue to function in isolation and in parallel.This article provides empirical insights into the perceived effects of separating government institutions for DRR and CCA within the Southern African Development Community member states.A mixed method research design was applied to the study.A total of 40 respondents from Botswana,Eswatini(until April 2018 Swaziland),Madagascar,Malawi,Namibia,South Africa,Tanzania,Zambia,and Zimbabwe participated in face-to-face interviews or an online survey.Five major effects of separating the organizations for DRR and CCA that impede efforts to reduce disaster risk coherently were identified:duplication of services,polarization of interventions,incoherent policies,competition for the same resources,and territorial contests.Given the continued fragmentation of institutions for DRR and CCA,highlighting these effects is important to emphasize the need for integrated approaches towards the reduction of disaster risk.

Developmental assets and age of first sexual intercourse among adolescent African American males in Mobile, Alabama

Background and Aims: Younger age at first sexual intercourse is associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes. We aimed to gain a clearer understanding of a wide range of individual, family and social factors that may influence sexual behavior of children and adolescents. Specifically, we examined the relationships of developmental assets with age of first sexual intercourse among a large sample (n = 1061) of adolescent African American males living in low-income neighborhoods in Mobile, Alabama. Methods: Using the Developmental Asset Model as a theoretical guide, we selected variables from adolescent survey data and conducted logistic regression analysis to determine predictors of early age of first sexual intercourse. Results: Nearly one half (49%) of the male survey participants reported that they first had sexual intercourse at the age of 12 or younger. The total number of assets was the strongest predictor of later age (13 years old or later) of first sexual intercourse (OR 1.49, 95% CI = 1.09, 2.04), followed by decision-making skills (OR 1.40, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.86), and positive view of the future (OR 1.36, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.74). Conclusion: There are several developmental assets related to the age of first sexual intercourse. This study found support for the Developmental Asset Model as a framework for promoting sexual and overall adolescent health. Recommendations for asset-building among this population are discussed.

褐云玛瑙螺发育零点和有效积温的研究

通过自然变温条件下饲养褐云玛瑙螺 (Achatina fulica Frussac)试验 ,分别用加权平均法和正弦法计算日平均温度 ,经牛顿—马夸法拟合有效积温方程 ,以正弦法略优于加权平均法 ,贝的发育零点和有效积温分别为12 .146 1℃、 2 384.1790日度。通过恒温下卵孵化试验确定卵的发育零点和有效积温分别为 14.0 2 0 4℃、98.46 45日度。全世代发育零点和有效积温分别为 12 .2 5 43℃、 2 482 .6 43 5日度。

重思新家长主义:非洲国家中的发展型家长主义——基于四个非洲国家的比较案例分析

新家长主义是描述非洲国家政治经济运转模式的核心概念,也被认为是非洲政治动荡和经济停滞的主要原因。但许多非洲国家在具备了新家长主义特征的情况下仍取得了良好的发展绩效,这一发展模式既超出了新自由主义的理论预期,也区别于其他区域的发展模式,是一种发展型的新家长主义。通过对科特迪瓦、加纳、博茨瓦纳和卢旺达的比较案例分析,可以验证发展型家长主义国家的核心特征是政治经济精英相复合的精英权力结构。这种复合型精英结构通过削弱国家掠夺动机、降低政策交易成本以及强化政治稳定的方式推进了发展。对发展型家长主义的阐释有利于激活新家长主义理论,反思非洲新自由主义改革模式并重新发现非洲国家的发展模式。