Publications

There is a shortage of doctors working in rural areas all over the world, especially in low-income and middle-income countries. The choice to practise medicine in a rural area is influenced by many factors. Motivation developed as a medical student is one key determinant of this choice. This study explores influences on medical students’ motivation to practise in rural areas of low-income and middle-income countries following graduation.

Reaching male youth through a multi-channel MI+ approach facilitates an open dialogue on SRHR issues among health care workers, peers and teachers.

Continuous, tailored SRHR information and education enable male youth to adopt healthy and positive attitudes to sexuality and to lead meaningful lives.

Is market concentration among large cocoa firms responsible for the widespread poverty among cocoa farmers? Probably not. While market concentration has increased, particularly among cocoa processors, the report does not find evidence that this concentration is excessive or that market power is being abused to keep prices artificially low.

Can agricultural extension systems deliver quality services to smallholder producers, often in remote areas? Yes, there is evidence that this is achieved in some developing and emerging economies. But this is by no means a common practice, and many extension systems continue to struggle with weak performance. This is paper 6 on this subject in a series of six: Incentives for enhanced performance of agricultural extension systems.

Assessing quality of health services, for example through supportive supervision, is essential for strengthening healthcare delivery. Most systematic health facility assessment mechanisms, however, are not suitable for routine supervision. The objective of this study is to describe a quality assessment methodology using an electronic format that can be embedded in supervision activities and conducted by council health staff.

In India, over the last decade, a series of stewardship failures in the health system, particularly in the medical profession, have led to a massive erosion of trust in these institutions. In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the situation is similar and has reached crisis proportions; this crisis requires urgent attention. This paper draws on the insights from the recent developments in India, to argue that a purely control-based regulatory response to this crisis in the medical profession, as is being currently envisaged by the Parliament and the Supreme Court of
India, runs the risk of undermining the trusting interpersonal relations between doctors and their patients. A more balanced approach which takes into account the differences between system and interpersonal forms of trust and distrust is warranted. Such an approach should on one hand strongly regulate the institutions mandated with the stewardship and qualities of care functions, and simultaneously on the other hand, initiate measures to nurture the trusting interpersonal relations between doctors and patients. The paper concludes by calling for doctors, and those
mandated with the stewardship of the profession, to individually and collectively, critically self-reflect upon the state of their profession, its priorities and its future direction.

Can agricultural extension systems deliver quality services to smallholder producers, often in remote areas? Yes, there is evidence that this is achieved in some developing and emerging economies. But this is by no means a common practice, and many extension systems continue to struggle with weak performance. This is paper 4 on this subject in a series of six: ICT in extension.

The WHO has approved a post-2015 Global End Tuberculosis Strategy for tuberculosis (TB) 50 prevention, care and control. Countries need to respond by adapting and enhancing their TB control activities. Justifying investment in effective TB control strategies in a country can be achieved in part by defining and monitoring the (MDR) TB epidemic to identify appropriate interventions.

The growth in private sector contributions to sustainable development, through investment, expertise and innovation, has led to calls for improved tracking and measurement of social and environmental impact. The CFC follows these developments closely and seeks to incorporate good impact measurement practices into its project appraisal and implementation process.

In South Sudan, women disproportionately bear the burden of morbidity and mortality related to sexual and reproductive health, with a maternal mortality ratio of 789 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Cet ouvrage se propose de mettre en exergue la contribution du pastoralisme au développement économique de l’Afrique de l’Ouest à travers la valorisation d’initiatives locales et des résultats de recherches. Ces exemples illustrent la capacité du pastoralisme, et des chaînes de valeur1 qui en découlent, à s’adapter à une demande croissante et de plus en plus exigeante pour des produits d’origine animale. Les propos mettent en lumière les défis à relever pour accompagner ces mutations et fournissent des argumentaires pour réconcilier la pratique et la politique afin que celle-ci devienne un véritable instrument au service du développement des communautés et des systèmes pastoraux.

The purpose of this project was to perform a study to assess the sustainability, in terms of funding as well as the International Vaccine Institute’s (IVI) external communication and visibility

Mining of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (3TGs) in the Great Lakes Region (GLR) of Africa holds much promise to lead to economic, social and political transformation although its development potential is yet to be realized. 3TGs in the GLR are mainly produced via artisanal and small scale mining (ASM), an activity that provides a crucial source of livelihood and catalyst for economic development yet is often informal, highly manual and characterized by dire occupational, environmental and social risks. Over 300,000 men and women, adults, youth and children, produce 3TGs in the GLR, mainly driven to ASM by economic vulnerability or drawn by economic opportunity.

Can agricultural extension systems deliver quality services to smallholder producers, often in remote areas? Yes, there is evidence that this is achieved in some developing and emerging economies. But this is by no means a common practice, and many extension systems continue to struggle with weak performance. This is paper 3 on this subject in a series of six: Monitoring and evaluation for accountability and learning

An association between onchocerciasis and epilepsy was suspected as early as the 1930’s in Mexico and later reports were published showing clustering of epilepsy in several African onchocerciasis foci. Ecological studies carried out in onchocerciasis endemic areas in West, Central and East Africa found a strong association between the prevalence of onchocerciasis and of epilepsy. In previous case-control studies this association was less clear, but this was probably due to shortcomings in study design and the selection of comparison groups. Moreover there seems to be an association between epilepsy and the degree of infection with Onchocerca volvulus. Indeed, in a study in Cameroon, performed before the introduction of annual ivermectin treatment (to control Onchocerciasis), the prevalence of epilepsy and the community microfilarial load were closely related. Moreover a case-control study demonstrated that the microfilarial loads (microfilariae per skin snip) in the epileptic group were significantly higher than in the control group.

This report provides the result of an evaluation of the Universal Health Coverage Partnership (UHC‐P), a collaboration between the EU, Luxembourg and the WHO. As a formative evaluation, the focus is on lessons learnt, rather than on accountability. This review was carried out between March and September 2016 by KIT, the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam, and mandated by WHO headquarters.

With a maternal mortality ratio of 789 per 100,000 live births, and a contraceptive prevalence rate of 4.7%, South Sudan has one of the worst reproductive health situations in the world. Understanding the social norms around sexuality and reproduction, across different ethnic groups, is key to developing and implementing locally appropriate public health responses.

The Post-Ebola Resilience programme started its implementation in August 2015 and it has been progressing thanks to the hard work and commitment of the WPs leaders and the different project teams. We are excited to share with you the ongoing activities of the programme.