Mercy Corps

Abstract In the face of unrelenting water crises, water-saving technologies (WSTs) are increasingly relied upon as a paradigm for managing scarce water resources in the agricultural sector. This approach is gaining momentum in international forums and among development practitioners focused on improving the sustainability and efficiency of their water security interventions. Following this trend, the integration of market incentives to foster the uptake of WSTs is not surprising. However, recent literature on WSTs and related incentives paints an ambiguous picture of the impact these technologies can have. On one hand, there is evidence that supports the efficacy of market incentives in promoting water-saving practices and the adoption of WSTs. On the other hand, there are also concerns about the potential adverse consequences of introducing WSTs, including promoting unsustainable water consumption and exacerbating inequalities. This study focuses on Mercy Corps’ water innovation technologies program in Jordan, a country grappling with severe water scarcity. It specifically examines how market mechanisms played a crucial role in saving approximately 24 million cubic meters of water, equivalent to around 9500 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Driven by this significant achievement, the study delves deeper into the efficacy of market-based approaches, while also considering their potential limitations. The conclusion offers a critical perspective on how the promotion of WSTs through market-based approaches can ensure that water savings contribute to both environmental sustainability and human well-being. In particular, Mercy Corps’ practitioner perspective advocates for governance reforms that limit and prevent unsustainable consumption, facilitate and ensure equitable access to WSTs, and promote the fair redistribution of water savings across different users.

Abstract Acute malnutrition, defined as a weight-for-height Z-score below -2 standard deviations of the WHO growth standards, is prevalent among children in low- and middle-income countries. Our study aimed to identify immediate, underlying, and basic determinants of acute malnutrition among children in Turkana and Samburu, two arid and semi-arid regions in Kenya. Data are from a longitudinal study that recruited children under 3 years of age, with follow-up every 4 months over six waves. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess risk factors of acute malnutrition in this population. Among immediate factors, children who recently experienced diarrhea had 19% and 23% higher odds of acute malnutrition and those who consumed animal-source foods had 12% and 22% lower odds of acute malnutrition in Turkana and Samburu, respectively. Among underlying factors, children in Turkana whose caregivers used alcohol had 32% higher odds of acute malnutrition. Among basic factors, children in Turkana whose caregivers had 3-5 or 6 or more children had 39% and 70% higher odds, whereas those in female-headed households had 34% and 81% higher odds of acute malnutrition in Turkana and Samburu, respectively. Children in Turkana’s fisherfolk communities had 36% higher odds of acute malnutrition compared with those in urban or peri-urban areas. Key risk factors for acute malnutrition included child diarrhea, caregiver’s use of alcohol (in Turkana), caregiver’s number of children, female-headed households, and fisherfolk livelihood (in Turkana), while consuming animal-source foods was associated with lower risk. Interventions should target these intersecting factors to reduce acute malnutrition in these counties.Key messagesAcute malnutrition in children under 5 years is persistent in East Africa’s arid and semi-arid lands.Among immediate factors, children who had diarrhea were more likely to have acute malnutrition, while those who consumed animal-source foods were less likely to have acute malnutrition in both counties.Among underlying factors, children whose caregivers used alcohol were more likely to have acute malnutrition in Turkana only. Household food insecurity and water, sanitation, and hygiene were not directly associated with acute malnutrition.A variety of basic factors were associated with a higher likelihood of acute malnutrition, including number of children in the household, the household being headed by a female, and fisherfolk livelihood (in Turkana).

Este artículo aplica la teoría de juegos en la empresa objeto de estudio, con el fin de optimizar la estrategia competitiva con respecto a su principal contendor en el mercado de artículos para bicicletas y motocicletas. Una vez definido el problema se establece la matriz de suma cero entre los competidores, luego se procesa el modelo utilizando el correspondiente modelo matemático y se selecciona la estrategia que permite el mejor posicionamiento en el mercado. Además, se prueba que, eventualmente, si se modifican las decisiones estratégicas competitivas se incide, a su vez, en la toma de decisiones de las empresas rivales, consecuentemente en la decisión estratégica de la empresa tomada como caso de estudio. El objetivo del estudio es explicar como la teoría de juegos ayuda a la toma de decisiones mediante la aplicación de herramientas y factores que determinan el grado de importancia en la organización. La presente investigación es de tipo cuantitativo, permitiendo la utilización de procesos sistemáticos para el estudio del problema. Este estudio tiene un alcance explicativo, puesto que trata de establecer las causas, el ambiente y las consecuencias, en este caso, relacionadas con aspectos de competitividad vinculados con la empresa objeto de estudio, aplicando la teoría de juegos. El resultado de la investigación indica que la implementación de la teoría de juegos en la empresa Motocentro ayudará a lograr más ventas de artículos para bicicletas y motos, dependiendo del valor asignado a las estrategias que así lo establezca la empresa.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems have demonstrated potential in detecting tuberculosis (TB) associated abnormalities from chest X-ray (CXR) images. Thus, they might provide a solution to radiologist shortages in high TB burden countries. However, the cost of implementing computer-aided detection (CAD) software has thus far been understudied. In this study, we performed a costing analysis of CAD software when used as a screening or triage test for pulmonary TB, estimated the incremental cost compared to a radiologist reading of different throughput scenarios, and predicted the cost for the national scale-up plan in Pakistan. For the study, we focused on CAD software reviewed by the World Health Organization (CAD4TB, Lunit INSIGHT CXR, qXR) or listed in the Global Drug Facility diagnostics catalogue (CAD4TB, InferRead). Costing information was obtained from the CAD software developers. CAD4TB and InferRead use a perpetual license pricing model, while Lunit and qXR are priced per license for restricted number of scans. A major implementer in Pakistan provided costing information for human resource and software training. The per-screen cost was estimated for each CAD software and for radiologist for 1) active case finding, and 2) facility based CXR testing scenarios with throughputs ranging from 50,000-100,000 scans. Moreover, we estimated the scale-up cost for CAD or radiologist CXR reading in Pakistan based on the National Strategic Plan, considering that to reach 80% diagnostic coverage, 50% of TB patients would need to be found through facility-based triage and 30% through active case finding (ACF). The per-screen cost for CAD4TB (0.25 USD- 2.33 USD) and InferRead (0.19 USD- 2.78 USD) was lower than that of a radiologist (0.70 USD- 0.93 USD) for high throughput scenarios studied. In comparison, the per-screen cost for Lunit (0.94 USD- 1.69 USD) and qXR (0.95 USD-1.9 USD) were only comparable with that of the radiologists in the highest throughput scenario in ACF. To achieve 80 percent diagnostic coverage at scale in Pakistan, the projected additional cost of deploying CAD software to complement the current infrastructure over a four-year period were estimated at 2.65-19.23 million USD, whereas Human readers, would cost an additional 23.97 million USD. Our findings suggest that using CAD software could enable large-scale screening programs in high TB-burden countries and be less costly than radiologist. To achieve minimum cost, the target number of screens in a specific screening strategy should be carefully considered when selecting CAD software, along with the offered pricing structure and other aspects such as performance and operational features. Integrating CAD software in implementation strategies for case finding could be an economical way to attain the intended programmatic goals.

O artigo apresenta algumas reflexões pautadas no intercambiar posições entre o que é normal e o que é estranho a fim de dar algumas pistas para se fundar o princípio do acolhimento e do respeito ao diferente. Num primeiro momento são feitas considerações a partir da atual conjuntura social tendo como foco de análise o convívio com o diferente. Na segunda parte estabelecem-se tensões e contrapontos com o intuito de propor a construção de uma cultura para o acolhimento. A construçãode novos ethos e significados para se fundar uma práxis de respeito à diferença precisa passar pela sua reconstrução priorizando valores que radicalizem em favor da vida e não em valores pautados no fetiche e na mercantilização dos sujeitos.

While family functioning interventions show promise for improving adolescent girls’ well-being in humanitarian contexts, few programs employ a gender-transformative approach to maximize benefits for adolescent girls. This paper presents findings from a mixed-methods pilot evaluation of a whole-family, gender-transformative intervention conducted with Syrian refugee families in Jordan. The Siblings Support of Adolescent Girls in Emergencies program was implemented with 60 Syrian refugee households in Azraq and Za’atari camps in Jordan. A quantitative survey was administered to 18 households at baseline and endline, and researchers conducted qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with caregivers, paired interviews and participatory discussions with adolescents, and key informant interviews with program mentors. Paired t-tests revealed statistically significant improvements in mental distress, resilience, and gender equitable attitudes in the full sample and for girls only and marginally significant improvements in family functioning. Qualitative findings revealed improvements in four domains of girls’ well-being—self-efficacy, self-confidence, pro-social behavior, and mental health—through three primary pathways: family members’ increased gender equitable attitudes, healthier intrahousehold communication, and greater affective involvement. Findings from this mixed-methods evaluation point to the potential value in merging gender-transformative and whole-family approaches in humanitarian programming to maximize positive impacts for adolescent girls.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo abordar o Pagamento por Serviços Ambientais (PSAs) como Mecanismo de Incentivo de Mercado, discorrendo sobre sua conceituação, algumas experiências e possibilidades no estímulo à restauração ambiental e desenvolvimento econômico, trazendo para o contexto atual da bacia do rio Paraíba do Sul –SP. O texto é apoiado na revisão bibliográfica pertinente e é parte integrante da tese em Planejamento Urbano e Regional em desenvolvimento, prevista para conclusão em 2023. Conclui-se que esta é uma ferramenta que tem sido incentivada pelo poder público e por isso a necessidade em acompanhar as experiências desenvolvidas para contribuir no aprimoramento da própria Política Pública.