Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation

Socioeconomic vulnerability analysis evaluates the extent to which a community or region is susceptible to the adverse impacts of natural disasters, considering the specific social and economic characteristics of the community. This study examines the socioeconomic vulnerability of the City of Oslo, Norway, to natural hazards using two distinct indexes: the Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI), which distinguishes the population considered as socially vulnerable (due to variables such as age and gender), and the Socio-Economic Status Index (SESI), which incorporates the social and economic status of the total population. The findings revealed that, while the least vulnerable subdistricts varied only slightly between the two indexes, the distribution of the most vulnerable subdistricts remained largely consistent. The measurement of socioeconomic status, rather than the extent of social vulnerability in the SESI, highlighted additional social aspects of vulnerability. Additionally, some variables contributed to the indexes in ways that contradicted expectations, likely due to theoretical inconsistencies in the index methodologies. Both indexes play a critical role in disaster risk management by capturing certain epistemic uncertainties arising from limitations in data and knowledge. However, it is important to note that any index provides only a static picture of vulnerability, offering an initial estimate of the conditions that may increase susceptibility to hazards. It does not fully reflect the dynamic nature of risk and resilience, which should be considered when engaging with disaster management authorities.

Introduction Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is an economically important and widely adopted crop in Burkina Faso. Yet its production is constrained by the lack of improved, locally adapted varieties. This study used a participatory variety selection approach to identify preferred landraces and selection criteria across two agroecological zones: Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian. Methods The evaluation of landraces/accessions was carried out using an ordinal rating system, assigning scores ranging from 9 (most preferred accession), through 7 (very interesting), 5 (moderately interesting), 3 (less interesting), to 1 (least interesting). Landraces considered undesirable were specifically evaluated using negative scores of −5, −3, and −1, reflecting the degree of rejection expressed by the participants. Results Participatory selection involved 126 stakeholders (75.4% women), including producers (37.3%), consumers (30.9%), processors (16.7%), and traders (15.1%). The findings showed that 130 accessions (81.25%) were positively selected across zones, with traits such as leaf size, tenderness, absence of pubescence, market value, and drought tolerance being prioritized. Preferences differed significantly by agroecological zone, ethnicity (p < 0.001), age group, and actor role (χ² = 360.21, p< 0.001). Two accessions (CKK1 and CKN5) were consistently ranked at the top, with index scores of 0.0441 and 0.0428, respectively. In contrast, accessions like CKO2 and HBB3 were most rejected due to poor agronomic and culinary traits. The analysis showed that only 30% of the selected accessions were shared between the two zones. Conclusion These results highlight the potential value of participatory selection in identifying varieties that are well-adapted, socially acceptable, and potentially more resilient for underutilized species in West Africa.

Abstract This volume offers contributions for reflection on cooperation actions in fragile contexts, starting from the discussions that took place during the international conference “Cultural Heritage in Fragile Contexts—Development Cooperation in Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries”, held in Florence from the 10th to the 11th of November 2022. The event offered an opportunity for international discussion between researchers and international operators, as well as a chance to reflect on key relationships between the protection of cultural heritage and the generation of sustainable development. More specifically, focus was placed on the ways in which cultural protection actions can help mitigate social and economic fragilities in intervention areas, contributing to their sustainable development. The geographical focus of the conference, and of this volume, are the Middle and Central Asian areas, as these are areas where situations of fragility are recurrent, both in the socio-cultural sense—just think of the religious tensions between the Shiite and Sunni populations—as well as in political-military terms—the cases of Afghanistan and Syria are exemplary in this regard.

BackgroundPrevious studies on the association between pain and cognitive decline or impairment have yielded mixed results, while studies from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) or specifically on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are scarce. Thus, we investigated the association between pain and MCI in LMICs and quantified the extent to which perceived stress, sleep/energy problems, and mobility limitations explain the pain/MCI relationship.MethodsData analysis of cross-sectional data from six LMICs from the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) were performed. MCI was based on the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association criteria. "Overall in the last 30 days, how much of bodily aches or pain did you have?” was the question utilized to assess pain. Associations were examined by multivariable logistic regression analysis and meta-analysis.ResultsData on 32,715 individuals aged 50 years and over were analysed [mean (SD) age 62.1 (15.6) years; 51.7% females]. In the overall sample, compared to no pain, mild, moderate, and severe/extreme pain were dose-dependently associated with 1.36 (95% CI = 1.18–1.55), 2.15 (95% CI = 1.77–2.62), and 3.01 (95% CI = 2.36–3.85) times higher odds for MCI, respectively. Mediation analysis showed that perceived stress, sleep/energy problems, and mobility limitations explained 10.4%, 30.6%, and 51.5% of the association between severe/extreme pain and MCI.ConclusionsAmong middle-aged to older adults from six LMICs, pain was associated with MCI dose-dependently, and sleep problems and mobility limitations were identified as potential mediators. These findings raise the possibility of pain as a modifiable risk factor for developing MCI.

Simple SummaryThe detection of fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in 2016 attacking maize fields in central and west Africa indicated the need to increase the knowledge on the pest host plants and natural enemies adapting to it. A field survey was conducted for two years (from June 2018 to January 2020) to determine host plant and parasitoid records variations across seasons (maize growing and off-seasons) in selected sites in southern and central Benin. A total of eleven new host plant species were reported for the first time, including grasses. The survey revealed seven parasitoid species belonging to four families, namely Platygastridae, Braconidae, Ichneumonidae and Tachinidae, associated with FAW on maize and alternative host plants. The most abundant parasitoid species found was the egg parasitoid Telenomus remus (Nixon) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). The study provides crucial information for understanding the bioecology of the pest and for its long-term management using natural enemies.Fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was recorded for the first time in 2016 attacking maize fields in central and west Africa. Soon after, several other regions and countries have reported the pest in almost the entire sub-Saharan Africa. In the present study, we assumed that (i) a variety of alternative plant species host FAW, especially during maize off-season, (ii) a wide range of local parasitoids have adapted to FAW and (iii) parasitoid species composition and abundance vary across seasons. During a two-year survey (from June 2018 to January 2020), parasitoids and alternative host plants were identified from maize and vegetable production sites, along streams and lowlands, on garbage dumps and old maize fields in southern and partly in the central part of Benin during both maize growing- and off-season. A total of eleven new host plant species were reported for the first time, including Cymbopogon citratus (de Candolle) Stapf (cultivated lemon grass), Bulbostylis coleotricha (A. Richard) Clarke and Pennisetum macrourum von Trinius (wild). The survey revealed seven parasitoid species belonging to four families, namely Platygastridae, Braconidae, Ichneumonidae, and Tachinidae associated with FAW on maize and alternative host plants. The most abundant parasitoid species across seasons was the egg parasitoid Telenomus remus (Nixon) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). These findings demonstrate FAW capability to be active during the maize off-season in the selected agro-ecologies and provide baseline information for classical and augmentative biocontrol efforts.

Malnutrition is a major public health issue that has been associated with high susceptibility for impaired brain development and mental functioning. However, to date studies on this topic have not been collated and appraised. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the association between malnutrition and cognitive development. We searched the MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, Embase PsycINFO and Cochrane Library databases in English up to 8 December 2020. All studies reporting an association between nutritional status and cognitive development were included. p values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant and the results are reported as standardised mean differences (SMD), 95% confidence intervals (95%) and I2 statistics. We included 12 studies comprising 7,607 participants aged 1 to 12years. Children with malnutrition had worse scores than controls for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale (SMD -0.40; 95% CI -0.60 to -0.20; p<0.0001; I2 77.1%), the Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (SMD -3.75; 95% CI -5.68 to -1.83; p<0.0001; I2 99.2%), visual processing (SMD -0.85; 95% CI -1.23 to -0.46; p 0.009; I2 11.0%) and short memory (SMD 0.85; 95% CI -1.21 to -0.49; p<0.0001; I2 0%) tests. Normal cognitive development requires access to good and safe nutrition.

ABSTRACT Recent development in policy and learning theory encourages higher education institutions to send their students out of campus and into work placements. In this paper, we report on students’ engagement with various aspects of knowing through practice in work placements. We employed focus group discussions to gather students’ accounts of their knowing in the three higher education programmes: Teacher Education, Aqua Medicine, and Music Performance. The students’ accounts of knowing were analysed as personal epistemologies. Thereby, we aimed to focus on how enacted practices in work develop students’ appraisals of knowing and subjectivities. Three prominent epistemologies were present across all three student groups: professional judgment, professional practice, and professional identity. After the work placements, the students better understand how to enact their knowledge and what knowledge to pursue further. Based on these findings, we hold that there are key educational processes that arise in the interplay between students’ situated enactment of practices, knowing, and personal epistemologies through work placements, and propose a conceptual model to frame students’ learning in work placements.