Sustainability Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa I: Continental Perspectives and Insights from Western and Central Africa

ISBN-13: 9789811544606 / Angielski / Miękka / 2021

Gasparatos, Alexandros

Opis

The aim of this 2-volume book is to highlight how Sustainability Science approaches can help solve some of the pervasive challenges that Africa faces. The volumes collect a number of local case studies throughout Africa that adopt transdisciplinary and problem-oriented research approaches using methodologies from the natural and the social sciences. These are put into perspective with chapters that introduce key sustainability challenges such using a regional focus. Through this multi-scale and inter/transdisciplinary approach the proposed volume will provide an authoritative source that will pack in a single volume a large amount of information on how Sustainability Science approaches sustainability challenges in African contexts. While there have been general books about sustainability science, none has had a strong African focus. As a result the 2-volume set fills a major gap in the Sustainability Science scholarship. This volume sets the stage for the series. Part I introduces key sustainability challenges in Africa. Parts II‐III highlights specific case studies related to these challenges from West and Central Africa.

Spis treści

Chapter 1: ¬Sustainability challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Introduction

2. SDG status and sustainability challenges

2.1          SDG 1: Ending poverty in all its forms everywhere

2.2          SDG 2: Zero hunger

2.3          SDG 3: Good health and well-being

2.4          SDG 4: Quality education

2.5          SDG 5: Gender equality

2.6          SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation

2.7          SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy

2.8          SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

2.9          SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

2.10        SDG 10: Reduced inequalities

2.11        SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities

2.12        SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production

2.13        SDG 13: Climate action

2.14        SDG 14: Life below water

2.15        SDG 15: Life on Land

2.16        SDG 16: Peace and justice, strong institutions

2.17        SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals

 3. Structure and outline of the edited volumes

Chapter 2: Enabling sustainable bioenergy transitions in Sub-Saharan Africa: strategic issues for achieving climate-compatible development

1.  Introduction

2. Identify and strengthen positive SDG inter-linkages in bioenergy transitions

3. Choosing the most appropriate scale, markets and production modes for modern bioenergy

4. Promote integrated landscape approaches for feedstock production

5. Foster synergies between climate change mitigation and adaptation

6. Implications for policy and governance

7. Conclusions

Chapter 3: Linking industrial crop production and food security in sub-Saharan Africa: local, national and continental perspectives

1. Introduction

2. Methodology

3.  Results

3.1 Drivers and production patterns

3.1.1 Continental perspectives

3.1.2 National perspectives

3.1.2.1   General patterns

3.1.2.2   Kenya

3.1.2.3   Ethiopia

3.1.2.4   Malawi

3.1.2.5   Burkina Faso

3.1.2.6   Ghana

3.1.2.7   Swaziland

3.2 Impacts of industrial crops on food security

3.2.1 Main literature patterns

3.2.2 Food availability

3.2.3 Food access

3.2.4 Food utilization

3.2.5 Food stability

4. Discussion

4.1 Knowledge synthesis

4.2 Policy and practice implications

5. Conclusions

Chapter 4: Large-scale land acquisitions in Sub-Saharan Africa and corporate social responsibility (CSR): Insights from Italian investments

1. Introduction

2. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and large-scale land acquisitions

3. Methodology

3.1 Establishing the extent of Italian LSLAs in SSA

3.2 Adoption of CSR practices by Italian investors

4. Results

4.1 Italian large-scale land acquisitions in Sub-Saharan Africa

4.2 Investor engagement in CSR strategies

5. Discussion

5.1 Italian investments and compliance with EU RED sustainability criteria

5.2 Policy implications and recommendations

6. Conclusion

Chapter 5: Determinants of foreign investment and international aid for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa: a visual cognitive review of the literature

1. Introduction

2. Methodology

2.1 ODA flows and linkages to SDGs in Africa

2.2 Factors shaping FDI and ODA landscapes in Africa

3. Results and discussion

3.1 ODA flows and academic research priorities related to SDGs in Africa

3.2 FDI and ODA determinants in Africa

3.3 Pathways to transform FDI and ODA determinants

4. Policy implications and recommendations

5. Conclusions

Chapter 6: Perceived community resilience to floods and droughts induced by climate change in semi-arid Ghana

1. Introduction

2. Methodology

2.1. Research approach

2.2 Study sites

2.3 Data Collection

2.4 Data Analysis

3. Results

3.1 Perceived community resilience by study community 

3.2 Perceived community resilience by dimension, sub-dimension and element

3.3 Perceived community resilience by age group

4. Discussion

4.1 Synthesis of findings

4.2 Possible practical applications

4.3 Policy implications and recommendations

5. Conclusion

Chapter 7: Linking rural livelihoods and fuelwood demand from mangroves and upland forests in the coastal region of Guinea

1. Introduction

2. Methodology

2.1 Study site

2.2 Data collection and analysis

3. Results

3.1 Fuelwood access regimes

3.2 Timber collection by loggers and salt producers

3.3 Household energy consumption

3.4 Monthly household expenditures

4. Discussion

4.1 Synthesis and future trajectories

4.2 Policy implications and recommendations

5. Conclusions

Chapter 8: Strategic partnerships between universities and non-academic institutions for sustainability and innovation: Insights from the University of Ghana

1. Introduction

2. Methodology

3. Results

3.1 University of Ghana

3.1.1 Policies and regulatory frameworks

3.1.2 Institutions promoting research

3.1.3 Research funding and collaborative research

3.2 Industry

3.2.1 Policies and regulatory frameworks

3.2.2 Institutions promoting research

3.2.3 Research funding and collaborative research

3.3 Government institutions

3.3.1 Policies and regulatory frameworks

3.3.2 Institutions promoting research

3.3.3 Research funding and collaborative research

4. Discussion

4.1 Policies and Regulatory Frameworks

4.2 Institutional Structures Promoting Research

4.3 Research Funding Strategies

4.4 Opportunities for Collaborative Research

4.5 Policy implications and recommendations

5. Conclusion

Chapter 9: Long-term vegetation change in central Africa: the need for an integrated management framework for forests and savannas

1. Introduction

2. Methodology

2.1 Central Africa, and its paleo- and recent history

2.1.1 Study area

2.1.2 Paleo-history

2.1.3 Recent history

2.2. Data collection and analysis

2.2.1 Reconstruction of past vegetation changes

2.2.2 Assessment of current vegetation cover and change

2.2.3 Identification of natural and anthropogenic drivers of vegetation change

2.2.4 Prediction of future vegetation change

3. Results

3.1 Past vegetation changes and its drivers

3.1.1 Trends from the Last Glacial Maximum to the African Humid Period

3.1.2 Trends during the late Holocene

3.2 Current vegetation distribution

3.2.1 Vegetation types

3.2.2 Determinants of vegetation

3.3 Changes in vegetation

3.3.1 Ongoing vegetation changes

3.3.2 Predicted vegetation changes

4. Discussion

4.1 Past, ongoing and future changes in central African forests and savannas

4.2 Policy implications and recommendations

4.2.1 Target degraded areas for ecosystem restoration

4.2.2 Expand protected areas

4.2.3 Promote sustainable forest management approaches

5. Conclusion

Chapter 10: Forest-agriculture in the Center-South region of Cameroon: how does traditional knowledge inform integrated management approaches?

1. Introduction

2. Methodology

2.1 Study site

2.2 Data collection and analysis

3. Results

3.1 Human-nature relationships

3.2 Traditional knowledge about forest use and forest-agriculture

3.2.1 Forest use

3.2.2 Soil classification and fertility

3.3 Agro-diversity management

3.4 Pests and disease management approaches for major crops

3.5 Social demand and supply of forest-agriculture innovations

4. Discussion

4.1 Understanding human-nature relationships in humid tropical forests

4.2 Reconciling trade-offs between forest-agriculture and biodiversity conservation

4.3 Linking external and local perspectives and knowledge systems

4.4 Policy and practice recommendations

5. Conclusions