Institute of Geography and Development Studies
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Item Moving interdisciplinary science forward: integrating participatory modelling with mathematical modelling of zoonotic disease in Africa(BioMed Central, 2016-02-25) Grant, CatherineThis review outlines the benefits of using multiple approaches to improve model design and facilitate multidisciplinary research into infectious diseases, as well as showing and proposing practical examples of effective integration. It looks particularly at the benefits of using participatory research in conjunction with traditional modelling methods to potentially improve disease research, control and management. Integrated approaches can lead to more realistic mathematical models which in turn can assist with making policy decisions that reduce disease and benefit local people. The emergence, risk, spread and control of diseases are affected by many complex bio-physical, environmental and socio-economic factors. These include climate and environmental change, land-use variation, changes in population and people's behaviour. The evidence base for this scoping review comes from the work of a consortium, with the aim of integrating modelling approaches traditionally used in epidemiological, ecological and development research. A total of five examples of the impacts of participatory research on the choice of model structure are presented. Example 1 focused on using participatory research as a tool to structure a model. Example 2 looks at identifying the most relevant parameters of the system. Example 3 concentrates on identifying the most relevant regime of the system (e.g., temporal stability or otherwise), Example 4 examines the feedbacks from mathematical models to guide participatory research and Example 5 goes beyond the so-far described two-way interplay between participatory and mathematical approaches to look at the integration of multiple methods and frameworks. This scoping review describes examples of best practice in the use of participatory methods, illustrating their potential to overcome disciplinary hurdles and promote multidisciplinary collaboration, with the aim of making models and their predictions more useful for decision-making and policy formulation.Item A state-of-the-art examination of disaster management in Sierra Leone: the implementation drawbacks, research gaps, advances, and prospects(Springer Nature, 2022-11-03) Turay, BashiruUnfolding events have shown that Sierra Leone is enduring various disasters at a worrying rate. While progress is being made in disaster management, activities that degrade the fragile ecosystem, exacerbated by climate change, poverty, and bad governance, remain growing concerns. Amid these concerns, there is inadequate information to take appropriate actions. The authors wish to provide a solution by examining 35 publications from various scholarly and grey literature and raw data sources, following a critical review process designed to expose the implementation drawbacks, research gaps, advances, and prospects in disaster management in Sierra Leone. The study results show that lapses in data management, fewer professionals, and inefficiencies in communication are the most pressing considerations for improving disaster management in the country. Inadequate funds to implement management plans remain pervasive. Following these findings, we recommend that all first responders be routinely exposed to international tabletop exercises and simulated disaster response training to help them build their capacities and learn from other countries. Students in the relevant disciplines should be encouraged to participate in these exercises to facilitate early learning. Also, management initiatives should consider gender equity, the situations of the disabled, and other vulnerable groups at all levels of planning and implementation of activities. Future studies should assess the influence of social media on disaster management research and practice in the country.Item Socioeconomic Characteristics of Child-Bearing Mothers and Feeding Practices of Under-Five Children in Kori Chiefdom, Sierra Leone(Scientific Research Publishing, 2022) Blango, Victoria Nancy**Introduction:** The use of proper feeding practices is key for the overall development of children. Generally, breastfeeding and complementary feeding make up the diet and therefore the nutritional status of children. However, the degree to which mothers adhere to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) regarding breastfeeding and complementary feeding is key to the nutritional status of children. Again, the adherence to this dietary recommendation is contingent on the socio-economic conditions of the child-bearing parents, especially the mothers. Here in this study, the socio-economic characteristics were analyzed along with the feeding practices of children not more than five years old in rural Sierra Leone. **Method:** Data were collected in 2017 on representative mothers with children within 0 - 5 years old. A total of 10 communities and 200 respondents were randomly covered in the Kori Chiefdom of Moyamba District, Sierra Leone. The data collection instruments included structured questionnaire, inter-personal interaction, personal observation and experience. The collected data were analyzed in Microsoft Excel and SPSS and the results presented in simple graphs. **Results:** A large number of the respondents were married teenage mothers with 1 - 2 children and living under extreme hardship by the United Nations (UN) standard. Also, most of the mothers were illiterate and started breastfeeding their children within the very hour of birth. Because complementary feeding was started all too early, exclusive breastfeeding last for not more than two months for most of the respondent mothers. Also, because rice is by far the most widely eaten the staple food in Sierra Leone, complementary food was mostly powdered rice mixed with salt and oil. Hardly was protein food supplement used as complementary food, probably due to the economic conditions of the poor rural women. **Conclusion:** The study has thrown sufficient light on the socio-economic characteristics and adopted feeding practices of children in poor rural Sierra Leone. In this sense, the study has laid the basis for sufficient for in-depth correlativity studies on the factors driving feeding practices of children and how it in turn impacts nutritional status of children in poor rural Africa. From here, practically adoptable recommendations can be advanced for the attention of the governments, public institutions, the private sector and the individuals of the society.Item The Environmental Impact of Mining on Local Communities in Tankoro Chiefdom, Kono District, Sierra Leone(2023-07-19) Mansaray, Hassan ElsanTo effectively determine the environmental and social impacts of mining on local communities in Tankoro chiefdom, the researcher applied a mixed methods research methodology to perform the study. The study applied methods in the data collection that consist of, questionnaire interviews through Kobo Collect and focus group discussion. The sample size was 393 respondents. The study discovered that the local communities where the mining activities are carried out suffer negative effects on the environment together with the society. Nevertheless, Koidu Holdings had tried to decrease the negative impacts of mining operations on the affected communities due to uncompromising concerns among the affected communities. It had also constructed new markets, a Primary Health Unit (PHU), building of relocated schools, renovation of old schools, provided scholarships to students at all academic levels and has supported schools with educational resources as well as dug some boreholes, mainly in Kanniya resettlement community, which served as a drinkable water, to help reduce the sternness of water crisis.Item “Emancipatory Circuits of Knowledge” for Urban Equality: Experiences From Havana, Freetown, and Asia(Cogitatio, 2022-06-02) Butcher, StephanieFeminist, Southern, and decolonial thinkers have long argued that epistemological questions about how knowledge is produced and whose knowledge is valued and actioned are crucial in addressing inequalities, and a key challenge for planning. This collaborative article interrogates how knowledge is mobilised in urban planning and practice, discussing three experiences which have actively centred often-excluded voices, as a way of disrupting knowledge hierarchies in planning. We term these “emancipatory circuits of knowledge”—processes whereby diverse, situated, and marginalised forms of knowledge are co-produced and mobilised across urban research and planning, to address inequalities. We discuss experiences from the Technological University José Antonio Echeverría (CUJAE), a university in Havana, Cuba, that privileges a fluid and collaborative understanding of universities as social actors; the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre, a research institute in the city of Freetown, which curates collective and inclusive spaces for community action planning, to challenge the legacies of colonial-era planning; and the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights, a regional network across Asia, which facilitates processes of exchange and co-learning which are highly strategic and situated in context, to advance community-led development. Shared across these “emancipatory circuits” are three “sites of impact” through which these partners have generated changes: encouraging inclusive policy and planning outcomes; shifting the planning praxis of authorities, bureaucrats, and researchers; and nurturing collective trajectories through building solidarities. Examining these three sites and their challenges, we query how urban knowledge is produced and translated towards epistemic justice, examining the tensions and the possibilities for building pathways to urban equality. Shared across these ‘emancipatory circuits’ are three layered ‘sites of impact’ through which these partners have generated changes: encouraging inclusive policy and planning outcomes; shifting the planning praxis of authorities, bureaucrats and researchers; and nurturing collective trajectories through processes of building solidarities. Examining these three sites and their challenges, we query the ways in which urban knowledge is produced and translated towards epistemic justice –examining the tensions and the possibilities for building pathways to urban equality.Item Analysis of Land Use and Land Cover Changes, and Their Ecological Implications in Wuhan, China(Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2011-08-31) Kabba, Victor Tamba SimbayThis study investigated land use changes, and their ecological effects in Wuhan (1987-2005). Remote Sensing techniques extracted land use data, whilst the spatial analyst software, Fragstats quantified ecological metrics at both landscape and class levels. The results showed increased urban and agricultural land uses (1987-2005); with urban land increasing more than 250 percent. This was largely attributed to: i) state favors accorded to it as the economic, industrial, scientific and cultural hub of central China; and ii) socioeconomic reforms. This is also shown by the positive correlation between urban growth and socioeconomic variables in the order GDP > per capita GDP > per capita annual net urban income. Ecological metrics at landscape level (example, number of patches, Shannon and Simpson’s diversity Indices) showed that fragmentation strengthened (1987-1994), but weakened (1994-2005). Socioeconomic factors and ecological metrics indeed explained land use changes and their effects in Wuhan.Item Exogenous Methyl Jasmonate Application Improved Physio-Biochemical Attributes, Yield, Quality, and Cadmium Tolerance in Fragrant Rice(Frontiers Media, 2022-04-25) Kanu, Adam ShekaCadmium (Cd) has detrimental effects on crop plants, whereas, jasmonates (JAs) play a vital role in abiotic stress tolerance in plants. The present study investigated the effects of exogenous application of methyl jasmonate (MeJa) on the physio-biochemical attributes, yield, and quality of two fragrant rice cultivars, i.e., Xiangyaxiangzhan and Meixiangzhan-2 under Cd stress. The experiment was comprised of four treatments, i.e., CK, control (normal conditions); Cd: 100 mg Cd kg –1 of soil; MeJa: exogenous application of MeJa at 20 mM; and Cd + MeJa: 100 mg Cd kg –1 of soil + exogenous MeJa application at 20 mM. Results depicted that Cd toxicity resulted in a substantial reduction of enzymatic activities and non-enzymatic antioxidants, chlorophyll contents, while enhanced oxidative damage in the terms of lipid peroxidation (higher malondialdehyde (MDA) contents), H 2 O 2 , and electrolyte leakage. Proline contents were found higher whereas protein and soluble sugars were lower under Cd stress as compared with Ck and Cd + MeJa. Exogenous MeJa application further improved the panicles per pot, spikelets per panicle, seed setting (%), 1,000 grain weight, and yield per pot under Cd stress conditions as compared with non-MeJa applied plant under Cd stress. In addition, exogenous MeJa application enhanced the accumulation of macro (N, P, K, Mg, and Ca) and micronutrients (Mn, Zn, Fe, and Cr) in both cultivars under Cd stress, while reduced the Cd contents in different plant parts. Overall, the contents of Cd in different plant organs were recorded as: root > stem > leaves > grains for all treatments. Comparing both cultivars, the grain Cd contents were higher in Meixiangzhan 2 than Xiangyaxianzhan under Cd contaminated conditions. Conclusively, Cd toxicity impaired growth in rice by affecting physio-biochemical attributes, however, Xiangyaxiangzhan performed better than Meixiangzhan-2 cultivar.Item The New Elsan Evaluation of Environmental Impact (EEEI) Method for the Assessment of Environmental Impacts of Industrial Activities in Rural Communities(European Organization for Nuclear Research, 2025-11-04) Mansaray, Hassan ElsanThe Elsan Evaluation of Environmental Impact (EEEI) method represents a transformative approach to assessing environmental impacts in rural communities affected by industrial activities, particularly mining. This study focuses on three communities in Tankoro Chiefdom, Sierra Leone—Kanniya, Koakoyima, and Sahr Quee Town—to evaluate the environmental, social, and economic consequences of mining operations. The EEEI method integrates community perceptions with advanced statistical analyses, offering a unique combination of inclusivity and rigour. Using multivariate statistical techniques, the study identifies significant environmental degradation, including deforestation and water contamination, as well as socio-economic disruptions, such as displacement and loss of traditional livelihoods. Positive impacts, such as job creation and infrastructure development, were observed but were limited in scope and overshadowed by the broader negative consequences. Unlike traditional approaches like the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM), which rely on qualitative scoring, the EEEI method employs a standardised numerical framework, allowing for objective, replicable, and scalable evaluations. Results demonstrate significant main effects for individual predictors and highlight a moderate interaction effect between the Kanniya and Sahr Quee Town communities. The study concludes that the EEEI method is a robust tool for environmental assessments, capable of revealing critical insights into the interconnected dynamics of industrial impacts. Recommendations are provided for further testing and refinement of the EEEI model across diverse contexts, emphasising its potential for broader application in environmental governance and policymaking.Item THE EFFECT OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN SIERRA LEONE(Open Access Publishing Group, 2025-10-23) Kougbaka, Alpha JuniorThe paper investigates the effect of foreign direct investment on economic growth in Sierra Leone. A model of real GDP growth was estimated with annual data from 1980 to 2022. Tests for stationarity were done in order to avoid spurious regression by using the Dickey-Fuller GLS test and a battery of structural break tests. An auto-regressive distributed lag model (ARDL) was estimated using the Ordinary Least Squares, following the transformation of non-stationary variables to obtain stationarity, which was the case for terms of trade only. A parsimonious model was then obtained from an over-parameterized model. The model results show that foreign direct investment (FDI) has a significant positive effect on economic growth, with a one percentage point of GDP increase in foreign direct investment increasing real GDP growth by 0.49 percentage point in the same year. Hence, policies that encourage more foreign direct investment in Sierra Leone are to be strengthened. Also, for enhanced poverty reduction, tilting foreign direct investment towards the agricultural sector to enhance agricultural transformation is imperative for a more productive agricultural sector, as a large chunk of Sierra Leone’s labor force, population, and the poor are in the rural areas, where agriculture is the predominant activity. JEL: F21, F43 Article visualizations:Item The Role of Decentralization in Rural development; Evidence from Moyamba District, Sierra Leone(International Research and Academic Scholar Society Publisher, 2026-07-16) Ndanema, Gabriel TimothyDecentralization has become a significant governance reform strategy in post conflict Sierra Leone. However, results from the implementation has been mixed. This study was therefore undertaken to determine the role of decentralization in rural development. The objectives of the study were to identify the role of decentralization in rural development, determine the challenges associated with the implementation process, and to determine what changes have been observed in rural development as a result of decentralization implementation. Data were collected from 410 respondents using stratified random sampling techniques, while a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to obtain quantitative and qualitative responses. A key informant guide was also used to collect information from selected key informants. The data were analyzed using the “R” a widely used statistical tool for data analysis. The results of the study revealed that while decentralization has made some gains in promoting gender equality and service delivery, economic opportunity, poverty reduction and rural water supply remain below average undermining the effectiveness of decentralization implementation in Sierra Leone. To address these challenges, the study recommends that the government establish a transparent and legally protected intergovernmental framework that guarantees adequate fiscal transfers, strengthens accountability and oversight systems, and promotes regular collaboration with clearly defined roles among all levels of governance. These measures would enhance the effectiveness of local councils in delivering public services.