Foreign assistance is among the policy tools in International Politics and Diplomacy that develop... more Foreign assistance is among the policy tools in International Politics and Diplomacy that developed countries use to help African countries to address their challenges in sustainable development, amidst the reality that aid to poorest countries is declining, stagnating or shifting allocation priorities in favour of middle income level countries. Many scholars have difficulty in finding a nexus between aid, growth and development, as the debate rages on whether foreign assistance has any impact, as Africa is caught up in poverty trap and remains behind the developing world, in spite of the massive foreign assistance support which is hailed as the solution to World poverty. However, there is strong thinking that foreign assistance works, where there are proper institutions of governance and leadership. The tools used in data collection in this study, included interview schedules, document reviews, and internet. Purposive sampling was used to identify key informants such as officials from the line Ministries and development partners. The targeted population comprised line Ministries, SAGAS and development partners. Analysis was done using frequency distributions, cross tabulations and weighted average measures, using Ms Excel and results put into descriptive statistics to present views of Government officers and development partners. The major findings of the study are that the challenges of development in Africa can be classified into political, social, economic and environment, and that foreign assistance has increased over the last 10 years, despite the raging debates on the impact. Measuring the impact of foreign assistance is not easy, because all conclusions on its effect economic growth are contestable. The study will be useful to the development practitioners both at national and county level who are involved in implementing Kenya"s Vision 2030, SDGs and Agenda 2063, and forms the basis for further research on how major development challenges can be overcome by strengthening foreign assistance, especially by the recipient and the donor. Some of the key recommendations include, Strengthening Leadership and Governance institutions, Growth
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Feb 17, 2023
Commercial banks could provide important benefits to economies and facilitate the objectives of f... more Commercial banks could provide important benefits to economies and facilitate the objectives of financial liberalization, by boosting competition in banking markets, stimulating improvements in services to customers and expanding access to credit, especially to domestic small and medium-scale businesses. But the attainment of these benefits has been jeopardized because commercial banks have been vulnerable to financial distress. Substantial numbers of banks have failed, mainly because of non-performing loans. Poor loan quality has its roots in the informational problems which afflict financial markets, and which are at their most acute in developing countries, in particular problems of moral hazard and adverse selection. The Kenyan financial sector plays major roles in the country in promoting economic growth and development. However, financial distress is one the challenges that is hindering commercial banks from continuing contributing according to their potential to the GDP wellness. Some of the banks such as Imperial bank limited, Chase bank and Dubai Bank have been put under statutory management of late. For the purpose of attempting to unfold the issues of major concern, it was necessary to assess the factors contributing to financial distress in commercial banks. The specific objectives of this study were based on financial leverage, liquidity, credit risks and capital adequacy. It was further guided by relevant theories; modern portfolio theory, agency theory, pecking order theory and cash management theory. The study used research works particularly the ones published in the journal articles which were related to the topic under the study. This was supplemented by information in books concerning financial distress and commercial banks. The information was analyzed through content analysis by considering all the constructs used. The research designs adopted were also put into account. Meta-analysis research design was used to analyze these research works in the academic journals. The findings are of importance to commercial banks and Central bank. It provides information that can help them prevent and manage financial distress. The study found out that financial distress leads to poor performance and failure in commercial banks. The study also showed that financial distress had a significant effect on financial performance of banks where performance was negatively affected. A rise in financial distress led to a decrease in financial performance and vice versa. Both descriptive and inferential findings showed that financial distress in commercial banks was contributed by leverage, liquidity, credit risks and capital adequacy. The study established the need to reduce financial distress by ensuring financial stability in banks to ensure shareholders confidence. It was recommended that banks should adopt appropriate credit management strategies to control their lending. They should also make effective decisions on the means to fund their operations in different economic and financial conditions. This should indicate when equity or debt funds are suitable. Central banks should be stricter on their regulations concerning liquidity and capital reserves of the commercial banks.
Foreign assistance is among the policy tools in International Politics and Diplomacy that develop... more Foreign assistance is among the policy tools in International Politics and Diplomacy that developed countries use to help African countries to address their challenges in sustainable development, amidst the reality that aid to poorest countries is declining, stagnating or shifting allocation priorities in favour of middle income level countries. Many scholars have difficulty in finding a nexus between aid, growth and development, as the debate rages on whether foreign assistance has any impact, as Africa is caught up in poverty trap and remains behind the developing world, in spite of the massive foreign assistance support which is hailed as the solution to World poverty. However, there is strong thinking that foreign assistance works, where there are proper institutions of governance and leadership. The tools used in data collection in this study, included interview schedules, document reviews, and internet. Purposive sampling was used to identify key informants such as officials from the line Ministries and development partners. The targeted population comprised line Ministries, SAGAS and development partners. Analysis was done using frequency distributions, cross tabulations and weighted average measures, using Ms Excel and results put into descriptive statistics to present views of Government officers and development partners. The major findings of the study are that the challenges of development in Africa can be classified into political, social, economic and environment, and that foreign assistance has increased over the last 10 years, despite the raging debates on the impact. Measuring the impact of foreign assistance is not easy, because all conclusions on its effect economic growth are contestable. The study will be useful to the development practitioners both at national and county level who are involved in implementing Kenya"s Vision 2030, SDGs and Agenda 2063, and forms the basis for further research on how major development challenges can be overcome by strengthening foreign assistance, especially by the recipient and the donor. Some of the key recommendations include, Strengthening Leadership and Governance institutions, Growth
Different methods of recovering a demodulated polarization modulation signal from atmospheric mod... more Different methods of recovering a demodulated polarization modulation signal from atmospheric modulation noise are discussed. Negligible depolarization effects engendered by atmospheric propagation are used to advantage such that optical polarization modulation can be employed in transmission of information without serious interference by atmospheric modulation noise. Beam steering or beam deflection, beam spread, fluctuations in beam arrival angle, and beam scintillation contribute to atmospheric modulation noise impairing the performance of optical heterodyne receivers and throwing laser beams off target. The dual-path signal processing scheme minimizes these effects.
IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2021
The detection of incipient faults of the current fault diagnosis systems in Nuclear Power Plants ... more The detection of incipient faults of the current fault diagnosis systems in Nuclear Power Plants is inherently limited. Active research in machine learning algorithms like Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is providing promising results in the prediction of faults. This paper explored four different configurations of Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) methodology in a bid to come up with a superior model that not only had a high sensitivity in the detection of incipient faults but also had superior prediction capabilities. The data-driven ANFIS schemes were used to predict a sensitive fault signature and to evaluate the models, Small Break Loss of Coolant Accident (SBLOCA) transient events were modeled in Qinshan I Nuclear Power Plant. Coefficient of determination, normal probability plot of residuals and mean absolute percent error were used to assess the competencies of the estimation of the models.
IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2021
Radioactive waste levels have continued to increase due to the growth and development of nuclear ... more Radioactive waste levels have continued to increase due to the growth and development of nuclear energy, industrial or medical radioactive use. In this regard, conventional radioactive waste generated by nuclear power plants cannot be ignored. Effective management of nuclear radioactive waste plays a vital role in alleviating negative impacts on the society and environment. Despite the progress that has been made concerning separation and recycling of spent nuclear fuel through the PUREX process, several gaps in knowledge still exist especially towards the development of a robust separation system based on solid-phase extraction using porous materials. Solid phase extraction is being viewed as one of the most convenient and effective approaches in the removal of cations in radionuclide solutions. This is due to its ability to increase the selectivity and sensitivity of the method as it permits discriminatory binding of analyte to a solid support where the analyte can be collected an...
The Population Council is an international, non-profit, nongovernmental institution that seeks to... more The Population Council is an international, non-profit, nongovernmental institution that seeks to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations around the world and to help achieve a humane, equitable, and sustainable balance between people and resources. The Council conducts biomedical, social science, and public health research and helps build research capacities in developing countries. Established in 1952, the Council is governed by an international board of trustees. Its New York headquarters supports a global network of country offices.
The authors would like to thank Helen Odindo, consultant, for her tremendous assistance with data... more The authors would like to thank Helen Odindo, consultant, for her tremendous assistance with data collection. Also, the authors would like to thank the reviewers of the report, who provided such helpful input, including Michael Cassell, USAID; Naomi Rutenberg, Horizons/Population Council; Colleen Conroy, formerly of PATH; Paul Nary, FHI; and John McWilliams, FHI. A special acknowledgment goes to Carol Larivee, formerly of FHI, who encouraged and supported the study team, and who was a major impetus behind the study. This project was funded by the Horizons Program. Horizons is implemented by the
This report presents findings from an evaluation of an intervention that was implemented by the K... more This report presents findings from an evaluation of an intervention that was implemented by the Kenya Girl Guides Association (KGGA), with technical guidance from Family Health International (FHI) and PATH. The research team would like to thank the following individuals at the KGGA for their tireless efforts: Mrs. Honorine Kiplagat (former National Chairman), Mrs. Margaret Mwaniki (former Chief Commissioner), Debbie Gachuhi (Independent Consultant), Mrs. Alice Waweru (Project Executive), Mrs. D.P. Shah (former Assistant Chief Commissioner), Mrs. Naomi Zani (Provincial Coordinator, Coast), and Mrs. Wamuyu Mahinda (current Chief Commissioner). Gratitude is also extended to Mrs. Jane Mbugua (Project Officer, HIV/AIDS) and Mrs. Magdalen Waweru (National Trainer, HIV/AIDS) for their exceptional support during all phases of the research. The study team benefited greatly from the KGGA District Coordinators and from the Ministry of Education Offices in the study sites. At FHI, the appreciation is extended to Charity Muturi, Simon Ochieng, Maryann Pribila and Peter Mwarogo. At PATH, the study team would like to thank Rikka Transgrud and Michelle Folsom. Special appreciation is extended to the Girl Guides, fellow students and Guide Leaders, who kindly answered the questionnaires and participated in the study. We are also grateful to the school management for enabling the research to be implemented in their facilities.
Foreign assistance is among the policy tools in International Politics and Diplomacy that develop... more Foreign assistance is among the policy tools in International Politics and Diplomacy that developed countries use to help African countries to address their challenges in sustainable development, amidst the reality that aid to poorest countries is declining, stagnating or shifting allocation priorities in favour of middle income level countries. Many scholars have difficulty in finding a nexus between aid, growth and development, as the debate rages on whether foreign assistance has any impact, as Africa is caught up in poverty trap and remains behind the developing world, in spite of the massive foreign assistance support which is hailed as the solution to World poverty. However, there is strong thinking that foreign assistance works, where there are proper institutions of governance and leadership. The tools used in data collection in this study, included interview schedules, document reviews, and internet. Purposive sampling was used to identify key informants such as officials from the line Ministries and development partners. The targeted population comprised line Ministries, SAGAS and development partners. Analysis was done using frequency distributions, cross tabulations and weighted average measures, using Ms Excel and results put into descriptive statistics to present views of Government officers and development partners. The major findings of the study are that the challenges of development in Africa can be classified into political, social, economic and environment, and that foreign assistance has increased over the last 10 years, despite the raging debates on the impact. Measuring the impact of foreign assistance is not easy, because all conclusions on its effect economic growth are contestable. The study will be useful to the development practitioners both at national and county level who are involved in implementing Kenya"s Vision 2030, SDGs and Agenda 2063, and forms the basis for further research on how major development challenges can be overcome by strengthening foreign assistance, especially by the recipient and the donor. Some of the key recommendations include, Strengthening Leadership and Governance institutions, Growth
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Feb 17, 2023
Commercial banks could provide important benefits to economies and facilitate the objectives of f... more Commercial banks could provide important benefits to economies and facilitate the objectives of financial liberalization, by boosting competition in banking markets, stimulating improvements in services to customers and expanding access to credit, especially to domestic small and medium-scale businesses. But the attainment of these benefits has been jeopardized because commercial banks have been vulnerable to financial distress. Substantial numbers of banks have failed, mainly because of non-performing loans. Poor loan quality has its roots in the informational problems which afflict financial markets, and which are at their most acute in developing countries, in particular problems of moral hazard and adverse selection. The Kenyan financial sector plays major roles in the country in promoting economic growth and development. However, financial distress is one the challenges that is hindering commercial banks from continuing contributing according to their potential to the GDP wellness. Some of the banks such as Imperial bank limited, Chase bank and Dubai Bank have been put under statutory management of late. For the purpose of attempting to unfold the issues of major concern, it was necessary to assess the factors contributing to financial distress in commercial banks. The specific objectives of this study were based on financial leverage, liquidity, credit risks and capital adequacy. It was further guided by relevant theories; modern portfolio theory, agency theory, pecking order theory and cash management theory. The study used research works particularly the ones published in the journal articles which were related to the topic under the study. This was supplemented by information in books concerning financial distress and commercial banks. The information was analyzed through content analysis by considering all the constructs used. The research designs adopted were also put into account. Meta-analysis research design was used to analyze these research works in the academic journals. The findings are of importance to commercial banks and Central bank. It provides information that can help them prevent and manage financial distress. The study found out that financial distress leads to poor performance and failure in commercial banks. The study also showed that financial distress had a significant effect on financial performance of banks where performance was negatively affected. A rise in financial distress led to a decrease in financial performance and vice versa. Both descriptive and inferential findings showed that financial distress in commercial banks was contributed by leverage, liquidity, credit risks and capital adequacy. The study established the need to reduce financial distress by ensuring financial stability in banks to ensure shareholders confidence. It was recommended that banks should adopt appropriate credit management strategies to control their lending. They should also make effective decisions on the means to fund their operations in different economic and financial conditions. This should indicate when equity or debt funds are suitable. Central banks should be stricter on their regulations concerning liquidity and capital reserves of the commercial banks.
Foreign assistance is among the policy tools in International Politics and Diplomacy that develop... more Foreign assistance is among the policy tools in International Politics and Diplomacy that developed countries use to help African countries to address their challenges in sustainable development, amidst the reality that aid to poorest countries is declining, stagnating or shifting allocation priorities in favour of middle income level countries. Many scholars have difficulty in finding a nexus between aid, growth and development, as the debate rages on whether foreign assistance has any impact, as Africa is caught up in poverty trap and remains behind the developing world, in spite of the massive foreign assistance support which is hailed as the solution to World poverty. However, there is strong thinking that foreign assistance works, where there are proper institutions of governance and leadership. The tools used in data collection in this study, included interview schedules, document reviews, and internet. Purposive sampling was used to identify key informants such as officials from the line Ministries and development partners. The targeted population comprised line Ministries, SAGAS and development partners. Analysis was done using frequency distributions, cross tabulations and weighted average measures, using Ms Excel and results put into descriptive statistics to present views of Government officers and development partners. The major findings of the study are that the challenges of development in Africa can be classified into political, social, economic and environment, and that foreign assistance has increased over the last 10 years, despite the raging debates on the impact. Measuring the impact of foreign assistance is not easy, because all conclusions on its effect economic growth are contestable. The study will be useful to the development practitioners both at national and county level who are involved in implementing Kenya"s Vision 2030, SDGs and Agenda 2063, and forms the basis for further research on how major development challenges can be overcome by strengthening foreign assistance, especially by the recipient and the donor. Some of the key recommendations include, Strengthening Leadership and Governance institutions, Growth
Different methods of recovering a demodulated polarization modulation signal from atmospheric mod... more Different methods of recovering a demodulated polarization modulation signal from atmospheric modulation noise are discussed. Negligible depolarization effects engendered by atmospheric propagation are used to advantage such that optical polarization modulation can be employed in transmission of information without serious interference by atmospheric modulation noise. Beam steering or beam deflection, beam spread, fluctuations in beam arrival angle, and beam scintillation contribute to atmospheric modulation noise impairing the performance of optical heterodyne receivers and throwing laser beams off target. The dual-path signal processing scheme minimizes these effects.
IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2021
The detection of incipient faults of the current fault diagnosis systems in Nuclear Power Plants ... more The detection of incipient faults of the current fault diagnosis systems in Nuclear Power Plants is inherently limited. Active research in machine learning algorithms like Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is providing promising results in the prediction of faults. This paper explored four different configurations of Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) methodology in a bid to come up with a superior model that not only had a high sensitivity in the detection of incipient faults but also had superior prediction capabilities. The data-driven ANFIS schemes were used to predict a sensitive fault signature and to evaluate the models, Small Break Loss of Coolant Accident (SBLOCA) transient events were modeled in Qinshan I Nuclear Power Plant. Coefficient of determination, normal probability plot of residuals and mean absolute percent error were used to assess the competencies of the estimation of the models.
IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2021
Radioactive waste levels have continued to increase due to the growth and development of nuclear ... more Radioactive waste levels have continued to increase due to the growth and development of nuclear energy, industrial or medical radioactive use. In this regard, conventional radioactive waste generated by nuclear power plants cannot be ignored. Effective management of nuclear radioactive waste plays a vital role in alleviating negative impacts on the society and environment. Despite the progress that has been made concerning separation and recycling of spent nuclear fuel through the PUREX process, several gaps in knowledge still exist especially towards the development of a robust separation system based on solid-phase extraction using porous materials. Solid phase extraction is being viewed as one of the most convenient and effective approaches in the removal of cations in radionuclide solutions. This is due to its ability to increase the selectivity and sensitivity of the method as it permits discriminatory binding of analyte to a solid support where the analyte can be collected an...
The Population Council is an international, non-profit, nongovernmental institution that seeks to... more The Population Council is an international, non-profit, nongovernmental institution that seeks to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations around the world and to help achieve a humane, equitable, and sustainable balance between people and resources. The Council conducts biomedical, social science, and public health research and helps build research capacities in developing countries. Established in 1952, the Council is governed by an international board of trustees. Its New York headquarters supports a global network of country offices.
The authors would like to thank Helen Odindo, consultant, for her tremendous assistance with data... more The authors would like to thank Helen Odindo, consultant, for her tremendous assistance with data collection. Also, the authors would like to thank the reviewers of the report, who provided such helpful input, including Michael Cassell, USAID; Naomi Rutenberg, Horizons/Population Council; Colleen Conroy, formerly of PATH; Paul Nary, FHI; and John McWilliams, FHI. A special acknowledgment goes to Carol Larivee, formerly of FHI, who encouraged and supported the study team, and who was a major impetus behind the study. This project was funded by the Horizons Program. Horizons is implemented by the
This report presents findings from an evaluation of an intervention that was implemented by the K... more This report presents findings from an evaluation of an intervention that was implemented by the Kenya Girl Guides Association (KGGA), with technical guidance from Family Health International (FHI) and PATH. The research team would like to thank the following individuals at the KGGA for their tireless efforts: Mrs. Honorine Kiplagat (former National Chairman), Mrs. Margaret Mwaniki (former Chief Commissioner), Debbie Gachuhi (Independent Consultant), Mrs. Alice Waweru (Project Executive), Mrs. D.P. Shah (former Assistant Chief Commissioner), Mrs. Naomi Zani (Provincial Coordinator, Coast), and Mrs. Wamuyu Mahinda (current Chief Commissioner). Gratitude is also extended to Mrs. Jane Mbugua (Project Officer, HIV/AIDS) and Mrs. Magdalen Waweru (National Trainer, HIV/AIDS) for their exceptional support during all phases of the research. The study team benefited greatly from the KGGA District Coordinators and from the Ministry of Education Offices in the study sites. At FHI, the appreciation is extended to Charity Muturi, Simon Ochieng, Maryann Pribila and Peter Mwarogo. At PATH, the study team would like to thank Rikka Transgrud and Michelle Folsom. Special appreciation is extended to the Girl Guides, fellow students and Guide Leaders, who kindly answered the questionnaires and participated in the study. We are also grateful to the school management for enabling the research to be implemented in their facilities.
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