COVID-19, climate shocks, and food security linkages: evidence and perceptions from smallholder farming communities in Tanzania

Insights on the indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are critical for designing and implementing policies to alleviate the food security burden it may have caused, and for bolstering rural communities against similar macroeconomic shocks in the future. Yet estimating the causal effects of the pandemic is difficult due to its ubiquitous nature and entanglement with other shocks. In this descriptive study, we combine high-resolution satellite imagery to control for plot-level rainfall with household socio-economic panel data from 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2020, to differentiate the effect of the pandemic from climatic shocks on food security in Morogoro, Tanzania. We find evidence of decreased incomes, increased prices of staple foods, and increased food insecurity in 2020 relative to previous years, and link these changes to the pandemic by asking households about their perceptions of COVID-19. Respondents overwhelmingly attribute economic hardships to the pandemic, with perceived impacts differing by asset level.

East African tourism policies review and crisis preparedness in pandemic situations

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound negative impact on the economies of the Eastern Africa Region and particularly the tourism sector which contributes hugely to the GDPs of these countries. The shock of the pandemic has already reduced growth in service sectors related to tourism and caused massive job losses. Under the current conditions, Ministries of Tourism were confronted with various challenges that will impact long-term development and set the agenda for public policy action. The chapter seeks to address the challenge in the East African Region which requires broad mitigation measures to counteract the consequences of the outbreak as well as specific policies to support local tourism-related businesses and affected communities. The study will examine the preparedness of the region in handling pandemics and offer various scenarios of possible interventions. This chapter addresses this problem by drawing on literature from different literature to recommend generic strategies for crisis preparedness during pandemic situations. The study situates the current outbreak within prior pandemics and offers some directions for research and practice. Due to the human desire for travel, pandemics affecting the sector will manifest when least expected. It is the role of every government to be ready and reduce its impact by implementing progressive policies. © 2023 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Give and Take: Developmental Foreign Aid and the Pharmaceutical Industry in East Africa by Nitsan Chorev (review)

Nitsan Chorev's Give and Take is an in-depth and well-researched comparative historical analysis of the kind of foreign aid that facilitated the development and growth of the pharmaceutical industry in East Africa. [...]the decision to purchase locally manufactured drugs for "rations kits” in Kenya, but not in Tanzania or Uganda, was instrumental in the growth of the Kenyan industry and equally detrimental to the fledgling Tanzanian and virtually nonexistent Ugandan pharmaceutical sectors. [...]Chorev shows how this creation of a market, which expands significantly in the wake of HIV/AIDS, was only part of the equation. [...]the remarkable value of Chorev's work has only been amplified since its publication by the highly unequal global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in Africa, and a subsequent edition might include a prefatory note on the relevance of Give and Take to the COVID pandemic.

Addressing another threat to food safety: Conflict

Conflicts across the globe affect food security and also have a heavy toll on food safety. Many of the areas affected by conflict are breadbaskets for multiple countries. When the production of staple crops is compromised by diverse conflicts, it becomes necessary to grow them somewhere else to satisfy local, regional, and/or international requirements. However, if that production is done in tropical and subtropical zones, it must be done incorporating strategies to prevent mycotoxin contamination, which has negative health, social, and economic impacts. Otherwise, increased production of susceptible crops in mycotoxin-prone areas may augment the already occurring negative impacts, which are severe in the global south.

Smallholder views on Chinese agricultural investments in Mozambique and Tanzania in the context of VGGTs

Based on a case study in each country, this study documents the views of Mozambican and Tanzanian smallholders regarding Chinese agricultural investments and the extent to which investors abide by their legitimate land tenure rights as defined by the Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Forests and Fisheries in the Context of National Food Security (VGGTs). The VGGTs offer guidelines to government on how to protect the land tenure of rural communities when land is being acquired for large-scale land investments. The study also assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on smallholders. Due to COVID-19, instead of fieldwork, we conducted telephone interviews with 20 smallholders in Mozambique and 35 in Tanzania. The Mozambican case showed that even when land set aside for investors was not in dispute, smallholders still had unmet expectations, especially regarding investors' corporate social responsibility activities. In the Tanzanian case, even though the land leased by the Chinese investor had been designated as general land, it had laid fallow for a long period, and smallholders had moved back onto the land, only to be displaced in 2017. Although smallholders' views on the investment were mixed, the case underscored the need for government to assess current land use before allocating it to investors - regardless of how the land is classified and especially in areas where land shortages are creating conflict. The cases show that even if communities are consulted about proposed land investments, guidelines need to include clauses that allow for ongoing communications between investors, communities and government officials such that if communities are unsatisfied with the results of the investment, renegotiation is possible. Further, in the event of crises, such as COVID-19, investors should partner with communities and government to limit the extent of harm in communities as a result of the crisis.

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among undergraduate students in Kenya: a case study of the University of Nairobi

Objective: To evaluate the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among undergraduates in Kenyan universities. Design: Evaluation design. Setting: University of Nairobi's Main Campus, Nairobi, Kenya. Subjects: Undergraduate students at the University of Nairobi. Background: The fight against COVID-19 pandemic has utilized the information model for behavior change. The prevention behavior to adopt included wearing masks, keeping social distance and the COVID-19 vaccine uptake. However, there is still a knowledge-behavior among high-risk groups like the youth. Based on the Integrated Model of Behavior Prediction, the study sought to evaluate the determinants for the COVID vaccine uptake among undergraduates. Materials & Methods: A survey of undergraduates at the University of Nairobi's Main campus was conducted with a systematic selection of a sample using students class registers. Results: From 384 respondents, the study found that the uptake of coronavirus vaccine was positively correlated with COVID-19 saliency (r=0.211), skills and competency (r=0.146), behavioral intentions (r=0.159) and environmental factors (r=0.211). Conclusion: The uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among undergraduate students in Kenya is determined by all factors in the Integrated Model of Behavior Prediction such as vaccine saliency, behavioral intentions, environmental constraints and skills and competency. Therefore, increasing the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among undergraduates may involve addressing all these factors.

Surveillance, preparedness and challenges of home-based care for COVID-19 patients and health workers in western Kenya

Study Objective(s): The main study objective was to report on surveillance data from, assess the preparedness and challenges of home-based care for COVID-19 patients and hhealth workers in four Counties (Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia) in Kenya. Design, setting and Participants: The study design and setting used was both qualitative and quantitative and it involved random sampling and snowballing sampling, to obtain data from health workers and patients in Home-Based Isolation. Participants were patients, health workers and county health administrators. The participants included 4 health directors, 20 health care givers who included nurses and clinical officers, 30 patients and 20 recovered patients. Main Finding and Outcome: Main finding was that the four counties have inadequacies to handle a pandemic of such scale as Covid-19, in case it occurs. The study informs stakeholders about the status and preparedness of the counties to handle pandemics and offers solutions. Results and Conclusions: low bed capacity, lack of a corresponded system for Home Based Care (HBC) with/and HBC patients, untimely testing HBC patients and care givers and ineffective contact tracing were observed in all the counties in varied scales. The counties are currently bedevilled with challenges ranging from capacity gaps, human resource deficiency, lack of critical legal and institutional infrastructure, lack of financial support and a conflictual relationship with the national government. The study identified "Hot spots" like the Nairobi-Busia/Malaba highways were the main source of community spread and transmission of coronavirus in two of the Western Kenya Counties.

Efficacy of community-based response strategies in reducing COVID-19 transmission in Kisumu East Sub County, Kisumu County, Kenya

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world, especially at the community level. It has not only affected the way community members interact, but also how they relate. Objectives: To examine the role of community awareness in reducing the transmission of COVID-19;to investigate the effect of the engagement of Community Health Workers on the reduction of the transmission of COVID-19 positive cases;to examine the role of government restrictions in reducing COVID19 transmissions among the communities living and to analyse the measures put in place to address challenges facing the community-based responses in addressing COVID-19 transmission in Kisumu East Sub County. Methodology: The study adopted Descriptive Case Study Design. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS. Qualitative data was collected from the interviews and was analysed using the thematic content analysis technique. Findings: The study established that community awareness played a great role in reducing transmissions of COVID-19. It also established that the measures that the government put in place to reduce community transmissions were to a large extent successful. Lastly, the study established that the government stepped up measures to address the challenges of COVID-19 and these measures included screening and vaccinations. Recommendations: It recommends that the government puts emphasis on community-based response strategies when it comes to health interventions. It is expected that the findings of the study will be of benefit to policy makers, health planners as well as scholars in Development Studies.

Reviewing the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the Kenyan aquaculture sector and future adaptive strategies

For many Kenyans, the aquaculture business provides a vital source of food and work. However, information on Kenya's aquaculture sector's resilience in the face of emerging global shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic requires additional examination. Prior to the epidemic, Kenya's aquaculture industry had grown from a tiny participant to a critical component of the country's fish food system, with fish and fisheries products becoming the most extensively traded food commodity in Kenyan market places. However, as indicated in the review, the aquaculture value chain has not been scrutinised since the onset of COVID-19. Lockdowns enacted during the pandemic had a significant influence on access to aquaculture inputs, fish commerce, and the socio-economic livelihoods of stakeholders and players in Kenya's aquaculture value chain. Thus, initial and long-term adaptive strategies, particularly those implemented by governments, could help to the development of COVID-19 specific and generic resilience to numerous shocks and stressors among stakeholders and players involved in the country's aquaculture industry. Some of the measures include a government incentive package to help the fisheries and aquaculture sectors recover, improve farming operations, and gain market trust, as well as the adoption of new methods to reduce labor intensity, such as intelligent sensors, camera systems, and automated or remotely controlled monitoring/feeding strategies. Such strategies and policies can protect the sector from future shocks triggered by pandemics and other unforeseen circumstances.

E-commerce service quality influence on domestic tourists satisfaction in Tanzania: a pursuit to sustaining tourism growth amid COVID-19 pandemic

This paper assesses the influence of e-commerce service quality on domestic tourists' satisfaction in Tanzania. This was important following closure of international tourism amid COVID-19. A multiple regression analysis to data collected from 150 local tourists in Dar es Salaam assessed influence of variables (reliability of e-services, perceived transaction security, responsiveness of e-services, and e-service ease of use) on customer satisfaction. Findings reveal variables' positive and significant influence statistically at p < 0.05. This implies that domestic tourists' satisfaction through e-commerce service quality in Tanzania is facilitated by reliability of e-services, perceived transaction security, responsiveness of e-services and e-service ease of use. Tourism managers need to ensure that all important pre-requisites necessary for tourism e-service quality provision are in place. The government and other responsible stakeholders need to invest in facilitative digital facilities to ensure optimal e-service quality are reliable at all times.

Restocking of small water bodies for a post COVID recovery and growth of fisheries and aquaculture production: socioeconomic implications. (Special Issue: Technology and innovation for a post COVID recovery and growth: the contribution of industry and academia.)

Restocking of fish in Small Water Bodies (SWBs) is one of the technologies that can be used to enhance fish-food production for post Covid recovery and growth in food security, and national development. The current study aimed at assessing the socioeconomic impact and stock performance of restocked Nile tilapia fingerlings in SWBs in 15 counties in the Western and Central regions where the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP) is implemented. The study employed both primary and secondary data from socioeconomics, environmental characteristics and fisheries and aquaculture aspects. There was no restocked dam with a low (<1.66) socioeconomic impact, indicating the potential for restocking. The majority (n = 27;79%) of the restocked SWBs had a moderate (1.66-2.33) impact, owing to the inherent constraints of adoptability by the local community. Twenty one percent (n = 7;21%) of the SWBs had a high (2.34-3.00) impact and with better environmental conditions. The average condition factor (K) of tilapia in restocked SWBs was 1.24 +or- 0.53 SD, suggesting excellent fish growth condition. Notably, restocking the SWBs could benefit riparian fishing communities by improving their livelihoods and providing food and nutritional security. Given the limited exploitation of fish in most SWBs in the developing countries, additional community awareness and capacity building interventions are needed to enhance optimal use of SWBs in post Covid era.

Summary of national data of class A, B and C communicable diseases in China, December 2022

In December 2022 (from 00: 00, 1 December to 24: 00, 31 December), except COVID-19, a total of 278 907 cases of notifiable communicable diseases, including 2 384 deaths, were reported in China (except Hong Kong, Macao Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan Province, the same below). In communicable diseases in class A, no cases and no deaths were reported. In communicable diseases in class B, no cases and no deaths of severe acute respiratory syndrome, poliomyelitis, human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, diphtheria and human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus were reported. For the remaining 21 communicable diseases except COVID-19 in class B, a total of 148 573 cases were reported, a decrease of 29% compared with last month (210 178 cases) and a decrease of 46% compared with the same period in 2021 (273 361 cases). The first 5 diseases in terms of reported case number were viral hepatitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhea and AIDS, accounting for 96% of the total reported cases in class B. A total of 2 384 deaths were reported, an increase of 28% (521 deaths) compared with last month (1 863 deaths) and a decrease of 14% compared with the same period in 2021 (2 763 deaths). In class C communicable diseases, a total of 130 334 cases were reported, a decrease of 33% compared with last month (195 072 cases) and a decrease of 69% compared with the same period in 2021 (420 015 cases). The first 3 diseases in terms of reported case number were influenza, other infectious diarrhea, and hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD), accounting for 96% of the total reported cases in class C. Compared with last month, except filariasis which had no incidence, the reported case number of leprosy was same, and the disease with reported case increase was echinococcosis (47 cases, 48%), the reported cases of other diseases all decreased, the first 3 diseases with reported case decreases were HFMD (22 886 cases, 45%), other infectious diarrhea (21 962 cases, 43%) and influenza (14 775 cases, 18%). Compared with the same period in 2021, except filariasis which had no incidence, the reported cases of other diseases all decreased, the first 3 diseases with reported case decreases were influenza (181 158 cases, 73%), other infectious diarrhea (53 502 cases, 65%) and HFMD (46 674 cases, 63%). No death caused by class C communicable disease was reported, same to last month and a decrease of 7 deaths compared with the same period in 2021 (7 deaths).

Malaria vaccine: the tale of terror, triumph, tyranny, and trust

Malaria is an endemic disease in a true sense. It is an acute febrile disease caused due to the parasite Plasmodium. However, unlike COVID-19, it failed to raise an international concern or gain the scientific limelight. Most of the 200 million globally affected by malaria, half of them are from Africa. Four of the nations, Nigeria (25%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (11%), Mozambique (5%), and Uganda (4%), account for half of the world's malaria burden and is the leading cause of illness and death. In 2019, an estimated 5-6 million people died of malaria - most of them are young children in sub-Saharan Africa. Many of the countries affected by malaria have the lowest economic status. In the malaria-endemic region, the most vulnerable groups are young children and pregnant women. The costs of malaria are enormous to individuals, families, communities, societies, and nations. After a struggle for three decades, the much-awaited malaria vaccine, RTS, S (brand name Mosquirix), was finally launched;but it came with its controversies and allegations. This review explored the different angles of this disease, the vaccine development, and the emerging debates.

Women's groups and seaweed cultivation in Kenya during times of COVID-19

This article reports on a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) technical assistance project entitled "Support to the implementation of mariculture in Kenya within an ecosystem approach", which supported pilot seaweed culture sites, with a specific focus on best management practices for production, post-harvest management and value addition. The article highlights the benefits reaped by the Kibuyuni Seaweed Women, one of five seaweed groups supported by the project.

Effect of Financial Literacy on Poverty Reduction Across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Financial literacy can be critical to reducing poverty, but limited evidence exists on the mechanisms of change. Guided by the financial capability framework, this study examines the direct effects of financial literacy on poverty and the indirect effect through financial inclusion and entrepreneurship, using data from wave 5 of the InterMedia Financial Inclusion Insights Program for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. We also examined how the relationships differ by gender and locality. Overall, the endogeneity-corrected results suggest that an increase in financial literacy is associated with a 6.9% decrease in poverty. We found that entrepreneurship and financial inclusion act as mechanisms of change through which financial literacy decreases poverty, with the findings differing by gender and locality. These findings point to the poverty-reducing effect of financial literacy, mainly in Tanzania, followed by Kenya and Uganda. The results contribute to understanding how financial literacy and poverty interact and can inform contextually relevant interventions and policies.

Resident loyalty formation for the survival of African-ethnic restaurants during COVID-19: the adaptive capabilities logic

Purpose: This qualitative research aimed to explore the relationship between adaptive dynamic capabilities and resident loyalty formation among African-ethnic restaurants (AERs) during COVID-19 in East Africa. Design/methodology/approach: Anchored on the dynamic capabilities perspective, the study uses eight case studies to obtain data based on restaurant owner-managers' lived experiences. Findings: The paper presents six factors: (1) sensory quality promise, (2) service personalization declaration, (3) openness of technology adoption, (4) healthy food and safety assurance, (5) authenticity pledge and (6) diversity provision as prerequisites for resident loyalty formation. The findings suggest adaptive capacity as an appropriate alternative for stimulating resident loyalty formation during difficult times. Practical implications: The findings help managers in formulating strategies that facilitate residents' display of willingness to revisit and/or recommend others. The local restaurants can now keep modifying and adjusting their practices and processes so as to exhibit the ability to handle customer unique demands during difficult times. Originality/value: Through this work, a model of adaptive capabilities as enablers of resident loyalty formation is proposed, hence contributing the existing body of knowledge. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Challenges and strategies for the internationalization of higher education in low-income East African countries.

As it becomes more crucial to push the boundaries of science to develop new technologies and important global initiatives, internationalization can be instrumental in helping underdeveloped countries overcome challenges such as poverty, climate change, and educational inequalities. Higher education institutions have always faced challenges in the process of internationalization, which have occupied scholarly attention in recent decades, but little research has been conducted on the internationalization of higher education in less developed African countries. This qualitative study aims to shed light on the challenges of internationalization of higher education in low-income countries in East Africa. After reviewing the literature and interviewing academics, the obtained data were thematically analyzed. The results suggested 12 main challenges, which were classified into four major categories. The challenges include a lack of clear policies and guidelines; the inefficiency of the organizational structure of internationalization; financial, infrastructure, and equipment problems; weaknesses in scientific, skill, and language competences; cultural differences; non-reciprocal relationships; and a brain drain. Finally, strategies for responding to these challenges with regard to the internal and external environments of higher education institutions were proposed. Among the internal strategies of higher education institutions are the development of clear policies and visions, planning for the development of human resources, and sustainable budgeting for internationalization programs. External strategies emphasize the development of national policies and laws based on contextual and environmental conditions, as well as interaction and participation in international meetings to expand communication and use the scientific and economic capacities of international agencies and institutions.

SMS-based digital health intervention in Rwanda's home-based care program for remote management of COVID-19 cases and contacts: A qualitative study of sustainability and scalability.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented global health challenges. Rwanda identified its first COVID-19 case on March 14, 2020 and subsequently introduced Home-Base Care (HBC) Program in August 2020 following community transmission of the virus and to alleviate logistical and financial strain on the healthcare system. Cases and contacts eligible for HBC were remotely supported by WelTel, an SMS-based mHealth intervention that was successfully implemented before for HIV epidemic in Rwanda. Enrolled cases and contacts were supported and monitored daily via their cell and/or mobile phones until they complete isolation/quarantine period. This study explored the rationale, perspectives, and experiences of key informants (KIs) during the implementation WelTel's mHealth tool for HBC in Rwanda. Methods: Semi-structured one-on-one virtual interviews were conducted with KIs in this qualitative study. The KIs were classified into 2 major categories: (A) Senior staff including policymakers, directors, and senior managers; (B) Technical teams including case managers, and other staff supporting the implementation of WelTel (e.g., IT staff). Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed in NVivo. Thematic analysis was conducted using a hybrid approach. A topic guide was developed using the Modified Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and feedback from local stakeholders. Results: 7 KIs were interviewed. Five themes emerged following thematic analysis including: SMS-Based mHealth for Home-Isolation; Facilitators for Intervention Adoption; Barriers for Intervention Adoption; Infection prevention and control for Home-Isolation; and SMS-Based mHealth for Future Pandemics and Epidemics. Based on interviews, strong political commitment and advanced digital infrastructure were major facilitators for adopting WelTel for HBC. A major barrier to adopting WelTel was identified as technical-based issues. This was followed by local communication culture. All participates agreed on the significance of using WelTel to improve access and adherence to infection prevention and control measures, understand transmission dynamics, and inform public health decision-making regarding HBC. Conclusions: Rwanda successfully adopted WelTel for supporting and monitoring COVID-19 cases and contacts in home-isolation and the implementation was instrumental to the country's effort to manage the pandemic. Experiences and perspectives of cases and contacts enrolled into WelTel must be explored to understand the appropriateness and effectiveness of the intervention.

Impact of COVID-19 measures on the health and healthcare of children in East-Africa: Scoping review.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic is of grave concern. As scientific data is being collected about the nature of COVID-19, government leaders and policy makers are challenged. They might feel pressured to take strong measures to stop virus spread. However, decisions could cause more harm than do good. This study maps all existing literature regarding the impact of COVID-19 containment measures on the health and healthcare of children in East-Africa. METHODS: This scoping review follows Population Concept Context guidelines of Arksey and O'Malley and PRISMA 2020 checklist. PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched. All peer-reviewed literature published in English between January 2020 and October 2022 was considered. Initial screening of titles and abstracts was undertaken independently by two reviewers, with a third available in case of doubt. This was followed by full-text screening involving two independent reviewers. RESULTS: In total, 70 studies were included. Eight containment measures affecting children's health and healthcare were distinguished: lockdowns, school closures, physical distancing, travel restrictions, business closures, stay-at-home orders, curfews, quarantine measures with contact tracing. The consensus in the studies is that containment measures could minimise COVID-19 spread but have adverse indirect effects on children in East-Africa. Seven indirect effects were distinguished: economic damage, limited education access, food insecurity, child abuse, limited healthcare access, disrupted health-programs, and mental health challenges. CONCLUSION: Government leaders and policy makers should take adverse indirect effects of COVID-19 measures into account, particularly in resource-limited regions such as East-Africa, apply a holistic approach, and strengthen socioeconomic and health-systems to protect the most vulnerable.

Infection Prevention and Control Initiatives to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Transmission of SARS-CoV-2, East Africa.

The coronavirus disease pandemic has highlighted the need to establish and maintain strong infection prevention and control (IPC) practices, not only to prevent healthcare-associated transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to healthcare workers and patients but also to prevent disruptions of essential healthcare services. In East Africa, where basic IPC capacity in healthcare facilities is limited, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supported rapid IPC capacity building in healthcare facilities in 4 target countries: Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. CDC supported IPC capacity-building initiatives at the healthcare facility and national levels according to each country's specific needs, priorities, available resources, and existing IPC capacity and systems. In addition, CDC established a multicountry learning network to strengthen hospital level IPC, with an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning. We present an overview of the key strategies used to strengthen IPC in these countries and lessons learned from implementation.