Promoting sustainable development goals: Role of higher education institutions in climate and disaster management in Zimbabwe [Scholarly Article - Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 2022]

Title:

Promoting sustainable development goals: Role of higher education institutions in climate and disaster management in Zimbabwe 

 

Authors:

Munyaradzi A. Dzvimbo, Tinashe M. Mashizha, Kelvin Zhanda, Albert Mawonde

 

Published:

Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 29 June 2022

https://jamba.org.za/index.php/jamba/article/view/1206/2349

 

Abstract:

This article seeks to explore the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in climate change adaptation and disaster risk management (DRM). The study is based on the qualitative desk review, thematic and document analysis and uses the theory of change to facilitate a road map for HEIs in strengthening professional human development, policy consistency in dealing with climate-induced natural disasters (CINDs) research and policies. Academic journals covering the role of HEIs in climate and disaster management in Zimbabwe were selected on google scholar. Reviewed documents include universities’ curriculum documents, government disaster policy documents and other related disaster management policy protocols. The article’s findings reflect that HEIs in Zimbabwe have been engaged in climate change education and DRM as the country and the region are prone to threats posed by extreme weather events in the form of tropical cyclones and extreme droughts. The article concludes that HEIs core mission that includes public engagement to advance achieving sustainable development goals in Zimbabwe is growing at a steady pace to find ways to avert the impact of climate change and put strategies in place to respond to disaster to minimise social, environmental and economic losses posed by disasters. Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) is enhancing people’s resilience in Chadereka village in Muzarabani through disaster preparedness training. National University of Science Technology (NUST) is also training communities on disaster concepts, disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response. 

 

Social justice now for an equitable tomorrow: Reflections from the Consortium of Universities for Global Health Conference 2022

Title:

Social justice now for an equitable tomorrow: Reflections from the Consortium of Universities for Global Health Conference 2022

 

Published:

PLoS medicine, Vol 19 (4), April 2022

https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003995

 

Description:

PLOS Medicine editors Beryne Odeny and Callam Davidson report from the Consortium of Universities for Global Health conference.

Discourse on Pedagogy between Academy and the Public: A Proposal for Curriculum Transformation and Renewal in South African Higher Religious and Theological Education [Scholarly Article - Religion and Theology, December 2021]

Title:

Discourse on Pedagogy between Academy and the Public: A Proposal for Curriculum Transformation and Renewal in South African Higher Religious and Theological Education

 

Author:

Amanda L. du Plessis 

North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

 

Published:

Religion and Theology, 16 December 2021

https://brill.com/view/journals/rt/28/3-4/article-p233_6.xml

 

Abstract:

This theoretical paper reviews the current theory about curriculum transformation and renewal in higher education in Africa and, in particular, South Africa. Although the findings are applicable to different universities, the pedagogical approach of North-West University will be the focus. The aim is to understand curriculum responsiveness pertaining to decolonisation and sustainable development that can align with the African Union’s proposed Agenda 2063. The epistemology is from a practical public theological paradigm. A single-system research method has been followed to integrate current research about tertiary education curriculum transformation with the latest practice theory. Three different aspects are explored, namely how Agenda 2063 is applicable to higher education in a post-colonial context, the fibre of human relations based on Nagy’s contextual theory, and the curriculum as a powerful tool for change. The paper concludes that lecturers and students can join forces in growing towards the Africa they want by active experiential student-centred pedagogy.

Sustainable development and the UK higher education sector’s opportunity for global leadership by David Willock (HEPI, UK, 1 June 2021) & Webinar (8 Jun 2021) on ‘From COVID to COP26: What more could higher education institutions do to drive environmental sustainability?’

Title:

Sustainable development and the UK higher education sector’s opportunity for global leadership 

 

Author:

David Willock

Published:

Higher Education policy Institute (HEPI), 1 June 2021 

https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2021/06/01/sustainable-development-and-the-uk-higher-education-sectors-opportunity-for-global-leadership/

 

Description of blog post:

This guest blog has been kindly contributed by David Willock, Managing Director, Head of ESG Finance & Structuring at Lloyds Bank, who are sponsoring the webinar on ‘From COVID to COP26: What more could higher education institutions do to drive environmental sustainability?’ taking place on 8 June 2021 – further details, including how to book a free place, are here.

 

La Grande muraille verte, vecteur de développement durable au Sahel [The Great Green Wall, a driver of sustainable development in the Sahel] - article by Sougueh Cheik (Institut de recherche pour le développement)

Titre:

La Grande muraille verte, vecteur de développement durable au Sahel

[The Great Green Wall, a driver of sustainable development in the Sahel]

 

Par:

Sougueh Cheik

Docteur en sciences de l’environnement, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)

 

Publié dans:

The Conversation, 23 février 2021

https://theconversation.com/la-grande-muraille-verte-vecteur-de-developpement-durable-au-sahel-154195

Extrait de l'article:

Zone particulièrement vulnérable aux évolutions climatiques, l’Afrique subsaharienne est aujourd’hui confrontée à de nombreux défis, souvent interconnectés : sécurité alimentaire et hydrique, réduction de la dégradation des terres, gestion durable des ressources naturelles et des écosystèmes ou encore réduction de l’extrême pauvreté.  

 

Ces enjeux risquent d’être exacerbés par l’augmentation constante de la population dans la région, qui devrait progresser de 1,4 milliard d’ici à 2030 et de 2,1 milliards d’ici à 2050.

Au cœur de l’Afrique subsaharienne s’étend cette vaste région tropicale aride et semi-aride qu’on appelle le Sahel, et qui traverse tous les pays bordant le sud du Sahara du Sénégal à Djibouti. Dans cette zone, les deux tiers de la population vivent de la production animale et végétale.  

[An area particularly vulnerable to climate change, Sub-Saharan Africa is today faced with many challenges, often interconnected: food and water security, reduction of land degradation, sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems or even reduction of extreme poverty.  

 

These challenges are likely to be exacerbated by the continued increase in the region's population, which is expected to grow by 1.4 billion by 2030 and 2.1 billion by 2050.

 

 At the heart of sub-Saharan Africa lies this vast arid and semi-arid tropical region called the Sahel, which crosses all the countries bordering the south of the Sahara from Senegal to Djibouti. In this area, two thirds of the population live on animal and plant production.]

Economic Development in Africa Report 2020 - Tackling Illicit Financial Flows for Sustainable Developments in Africa / Le Rapport 2020 sur le développement économique en Afrique : Les flux financiers illicites et le développement durable en Afrique

Title / Titre:

Economic Development in Africa Report 2020 - Tackling Illicit Financial Flows for Sustainable Developments in Africa

Le Rapport 2020 sur le développement économique en Afrique : Les flux financiers illicites et le développement durable en Afrique

Published / Publié:

United Nations (UN), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 28 September 2020

https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/aldcafrica2020_en.pdf

 

This report is also available in Français

 

From the Foreword / De l'avant-propos:

Worldwide, a loss of trust in multilateralism is weakening the capacity of globalization to deliver a more sustainable and fairer world. Growing awareness of the scale, scope and cost of illicit financial flows is stoking growing scepticism about the power of collective action versus unilateral measures. It is against this backdrop that the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Economic Development in Africa Report 2020 tackles the relationship between illicit financial flows and sustainable development in Africa. Illicit financial flows – cross border exchanges of value, monetary or otherwise, which are illegally earned, transferred or used – cost African countries around $50 billion per year, dwarfing the amount of official development assistance the continent receives annually. Illicit financial flows are a shared problem and a shared responsibility for developed and developing countries; their economic impacts are a major development issue across the globe, even more so for African economies whose sustainable development prospects critically pivot on massive investments. 

 

This year’s Economic Development in Africa Report adopts a multidisciplinary methodological approach, encompasses a gender lens throughout the analysis and includes environmental sustainability in its conceptualization of sustainable development. Although this report primarily provides substantive and analytical contributions on how to tackle illicit financial flows in Africa, the breadth of issues and topical debates around this subject are applicable to any country. They range from trade-specific illicit flows to international taxation issues, from international investment agreements to the institutional roots of illicit financial flows.

 

Partout, la perte de confiance dans le multilatéralisme amoindrit les chances que la mondialisation produise une société plus durable et plus juste. La prise de conscience grandissante de l’ampleur et du coût des flux financiers illicites fait de plus en plus douter du pouvoir de l’action collective par rapport aux mesures unilatérales. C’est dans ce contexte que le Rapport 2020 sur le développement économique en Afrique de la CNUCED se penche sur la relation entre les flux financiers illicites et le développement durable en Afrique. Les flux financiers illicites − échanges transfrontaliers de valeur, monétaire ou autre, qui est illégalement perçue, transférée ou employée − coûtent aux pays africains une cinquantaine de milliards de dollars par an, bien plus que l’aide publique au développement que le continent reçoit chaque année. Les pays développés et les pays en développement partagent le problème et la responsabilité des flux financiers illicites ; les conséquences économiques de ces flux constituent un enjeu de taille pour le développement dans le monde entier, encore plus dans les pays africains, dont les perspectives de développement durable reposent essentiellement sur la réalisation d’investissements massifs. 

 

Le Rapport sur le développement en Afrique de cette année adopte une approche méthodologique pluridisciplinaire, intègre les questions de genre dans l’analyse et prend en compte la durabilité environnementale dans la conceptualisation du développement durable. Bien que le rapport présente avant tout des contributions de fond et des analyses sur la manière de s’attaquer aux flux financiers illicites en Afrique, ce thème suscite dans tous les pays de nombreux enjeux et débats d’actualité qui vont des flux illicites propres aux échanges commerciaux aux questions de fiscalité internationale, en passant par les accords internationaux d’investissement et les racines institutionnelles de ces flux.

Webinar (FREE): Libraries, Open Science and Sustainable Development - 16 September 2020 (1pm British Summer Time)

Webinar:
Libraries, Open Science and Sustainable Development

Date:
16 September 2020 (1pm British Summer Time)

Speaker:
David Ball
[The owner of David Ball Consulting that specializes in all aspects of scholarly communication and Open Science/Open Access, and library management. He chairs CILIP’s UK e-information Group (UKeiG) and is a committee member of CILIP’s International Library and Information Group (ILIG).]

For more information & to register:
https://www.cilip.org.uk/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1413451&group

Sustainable development: Are universities ready to lead? (University World News, 10 March 2020)

Title:
Sustainable development: Are universities ready to lead?

Author:
Rebecca Warden

Published:
University World News, 10 March 2020

From the article:
"Universities cannot be leaders in the drive for sustainable development and still expect to carry on business as usual. Disruption is coming no matter what and higher education institutions face the choice of whether to take the initiative and lead the change in areas such as climate justice, fighting poverty and ensuring gender equality or whether to risk becoming mere followers of social change begun by others."

To read article:
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20200310143004253

The Future of Higher Education in Moldova - A reflection of the perception of current students from 3 Universities in Chisinau about the education system, education trends and the needs of their educational institution

Title:
The Future of Higher Education in Moldova

Published:
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), 16 January 2020

Focus:
"This paper is a reflection of the perception of current students from three Universities in Chisinau about the education system, education trends and the needs of their educational institution to prepare for the road ahead. Based on students' micro-narratives and perceptions, we have jointly identified possible solutions to support universities in aligning to future trends."

For more information:
https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/poverty-reduction/the-future-of-higher-education-in-moldova.html