Syfte: Byggindustrin kommer framförallt att påverkas av hållbarhetsutvecklingens framfart. FN har satt hållbarhetsmål presenterade i Agenda 2030 och för att möta dessa mål måste hållbarhet stå i fokus för både yrkesverksamma och intressenter. Betong är ett material som består av ballast, vatten och cement som hårdnar över tiden och används världen över inom byggindustrin. År 2014 uppskattades betongproduktionen stå för hela fem procent av alla antropogena koldioxidutsläpp. Syftet med studien är att undersöka miljöpåverkan från olika betongkvaliteter mätt i koldioxidekvivalenter och använda resultatet för att påvisa om konstruktörer kan göra någon skillnad via sina kravspecifikationer på betong. Metod: En litteraturstudie genomfördes inledningsvis för att säkerställa studiens relevans samt skapa kunskap kring området. LCA och dokumentanalys av EPD möjliggjorde jämförelse av klimatpåverkan och data kunde sammanställas. Resultat: Sammanställd och jämförd data från LCA och dokumentanalys tyder på att konstruktörer kan minska klimatpåverkan genom att föreskriva högre vct och lägre exponeringsklass. Detta möjliggör att en större andel cement kan bytas ut mot tillsatsmaterial. Litteraturstudie tyder på att konstruktörens arbete för att minska klimatpåverkan från betong kan direkt kopplas till mål 13 i Agenda 2030. Mål 13 verkar bland annat för att Sverige inte skall ha några nettoutsläpp av växthusgaser 2045. Konsekvenser: Om konstruktörer i den mån det är möjligt föreskriver högre vct och lägre exponeringsklasser tyder studien på att de kan minska klimatpåverkan från betong. Att föreskriva högre vct och lägre exponeringsklasser är dock inte alltid möjligt med hänsyn till hållfasthet och omgivning. Studien bidrar till att skapa förståelse för hur stora skillnader gällande klimatpåverkan som kan uppstå beroende på betongkvalitet. Begränsningar: Betong erhåller många egenskaper och en uppsjö av parametrar som påverkar dessa egenskaper. Genom att avgränsa studien och bortse från en del parametrar finns risk för orättvisa resultat. Data som används är publicerad data samt data som betongleverantören vill tillge vilket ger ett bristande verklighetsperspektiv. Majoriteten av betongkvaliteterna som analyserades är av en klimatförbättrad betong och har därmed en lägre klimatpåverkan än vad som vanligen används på plats om inte krav finns. På grund av omgivning och andra förhållanden är det inte alltid möjligt för konstruktören att föreskriva högre vct och lägre exponeringsklass. Studiens fokus ligger på klimatpåverkan vilket begränsar möjligheten att koppla resultatet till flera miljömål. / Purpose: The construction industry will be fundamentally impacted by sustainable development progression. The United Nations have set goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. To meet this desired progression, these goals must stand in focus for construction professionals and industry stakeholders. Concrete is a composite material made from aggregates, fluids and cement which hardens over time and is widely used in the construction industry. In 2014 it was estimated to account for more than five percent of all anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the climate impact of various concrete mixtures measured as carbon dioxide equivalents and use this to inform whether construction designers can make a difference through the specifications of concrete mixtures. Method: A literature review was conducted to ensure relevance of the study and establish a knowledge base regarding the subject. LCA and a document analysis of EPDs made it possible to compare climate impacts and data could be compiled. Findings: Data from LCA and document analysis indicates that construction designers can reduce the climate impact through their specifications by subscribing higher w/c ratios and lower exposure classes. This enable a bigger amount of the cement to be traded by additives. A literature study indicates that reducing the climate impact of concrete can directly be related to goal 13 in Agenda 2030. In Sweden, goal 13 is to reach no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045. Implications: If construction designers specify higher w/c ratio and lower exposure classes, they can reduce the climate impact from concrete. To specify higher w/c ratio and lower exposure class is not always possible depending on the structural requirements. The study adds to an understanding of the climate impact depending on concrete mixtures. Limitations: Concrete obtains many characteristics which is affected by multiple parameters. Limiting the study data and ignoring some parameters increases the risk of deceptive results. Publicly available concrete certifications and data from concrete professionals is combined in this study. Most of the concrete mixtures selected for analysis are climate friendly types and therefore the results would differ if regular concrete was used. Because of structural requirements and other conditions, it is not always possible for the construction designer to specify higher w/c ratio and lower exposure class. This study focuses on climate impacts which limits the possibility to make connections to multiple sustainable development goals.

Introdução:A mortalidade materna é um dos melhores indicadores do desenvolvimento socioeconômico de um país. O Brasil implementou políticas públicas para redução da mortalidade materna até 2015. A região do Grande ABC Paulista no Brasil apresenta grande heterogeneidade socioeconômica entre seus municípios, podendo refletir a desigualdade social do país, porém apresentando dimensões que permitem maior controle de dados da mortalidade. Objetivo: Avaliar a tendência da mortalidade materna na região do Grande ABC Paulista no período de 1997 a 2011. Metodologia: Estudo ecológico de série temporal, cujos dados foram obtidas no banco de dados do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde do Brasil (DATASUS) do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil (MS). Os dados foram transformados em Índices da Mortalidade Materna Direta (IMMD), estratificados por municípios, índices de desenvolvimento humano (IDH), causas de óbito materno segundo Classificação internacional de doenças (CID-10), local e período de ocorrência do óbito, dados sóciodemográficos e submetidos a comparações (teste U de Mann-whitney, teste de Kruskal-Wallis e teste de Dunn) e associações pela regressão linear, com significância de 5%. Resultados: Os IMMD predominaram em mulheres solteiras, entre 20-34 anos de idade, brancas, escolaridade entre 4-7 anos, intra-hospitalar, no puerpério imediato, por hemorragias/tromboses/embolias e eclâmpsias. Não houve diferença nos IMMD em relação ao grupo IDH. Rio Grande da Serra atingiu IMMD alto (OMS) na maioria das covariáveis analisadas. Apenas São Caetano do Sul apresentou IMMD baixo (OMS), alto IMMI (p=0,03), queda nos IMMD no período de 1997 a 2011 (beta= -0,67/ano, p=0,03) e tendência neste milênio (2000 a 2011, beta=-0,55/ano, p=0,07) com estimativa de queda de 65,1% até 2015. A soma dos óbitos não investigados, não se aplica e de fichas sem investigação para qualquer variável analisada ultrapassa 50%. Conclusão: Os índices da Mortalidade Materna Direta na região do Grande ABC Paulista apresentaram níveis altos e queda discreta no tempo. Apenas o município de São Caetano do Sul apresentou queda expressiva de IMMD nos 15 anos de estudo e tendência a queda neste milênio com estimativa de atingir 65,1% até 2015. Descritores: Mortalidade materna; Políticas públicas; Mulheres; Saúde da mulher/estatística & dados numéricos; Complicações na gravidez/mortalidade; Mortalidade; Sistema Único de Saúde; Estudos epidemiológicos; Saúde da mulher/estatística & dados numéricos; Período pós-parto; Objetivos de desenvolvimento do milênio; Brasil/epidemiologia / Introduction: Maternal mortality is one of the best indicators of socioeconomic development of a country. Brazil has implemented public policies to reduce maternal mortality by 2015. The Grande ABC Paulista region in Brazil shows great socioeconomic heterogeneity among its municipalities, which can reflect the country social inequality, however presenting dimensions that allow greater control of mortality data. Objective: To evaluate the trend of maternal mortality in the Grande ABC Paulista region in the period of 1997-2011. Methodology: Ecological time series, where data was obtained from the database of the Information Technology Department of the Public Health Care System (DATASUS) of the Health Ministry of Brazil (MS). The data was transformed into direct maternal mortality indices (DMMI), stratified by municipalities, Human Development Indices (HDI), causes of maternal death according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), period and local of maternal death, socio-demographic parameters. Data were submitted to comparison tests (Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Dunn\'s multiple comparisons test) and association tests (linear regression) when applied and a significance of 5%. Results: The DMMI predominated in single women, aged 20-34 years old, white, 4 to 7 school age, in-hospital, postpartum, by bleeding / thrombosis / embolism and eclampsia. There was no difference in DMMI when comparing by HDI group. The Municipality of Rio Grande da Serra reached high DMMI values in the most of the analyzed covariates. São Caetano do Sul presented the lowest DMMI values and was the only municipality which presented decrement in the DMMI during the 15 years of the studied period (beta = - 0.67/year, p=0.03) and a trend in this millennium (2000-2011, beta- 0.55/year, p=0.07) with an estimated fall of 65.61% by 2015. The sum of not investigated, not applied and files without investigation for any analyzed variable exceeded 50%. Conclusion: The DMMI in the Grande ABC Paulista showed high levels and downward trend in time. São Caetano do Sul was the sole municipality where the DMMR dropped in 15 years of study and presented a tendency to decrease in this millennium with an estimated fall of 65.1% by 2015

Introdução:A mortalidade materna é um dos melhores indicadores do desenvolvimento socioeconômico de um país. O Brasil implementou políticas públicas para redução da mortalidade materna até 2015. A região do Grande ABC Paulista no Brasil apresenta grande heterogeneidade socioeconômica entre seus municípios, podendo refletir a desigualdade social do país, porém apresentando dimensões que permitem maior controle de dados da mortalidade. Objetivo: Avaliar a tendência da mortalidade materna na região do Grande ABC Paulista no período de 1997 a 2011. Metodologia: Estudo ecológico de série temporal, cujos dados foram obtidas no banco de dados do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde do Brasil (DATASUS) do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil (MS). Os dados foram transformados em Índices da Mortalidade Materna Direta (IMMD), estratificados por municípios, índices de desenvolvimento humano (IDH), causas de óbito materno segundo Classificação internacional de doenças (CID-10), local e período de ocorrência do óbito, dados sóciodemográficos e submetidos a comparações (teste U de Mann-whitney, teste de Kruskal-Wallis e teste de Dunn) e associações pela regressão linear, com significância de 5%. Resultados: Os IMMD predominaram em mulheres solteiras, entre 20-34 anos de idade, brancas, escolaridade entre 4-7 anos, intra-hospitalar, no puerpério imediato, por hemorragias/tromboses/embolias e eclâmpsias. Não houve diferença nos IMMD em relação ao grupo IDH. Rio Grande da Serra atingiu IMMD alto (OMS) na maioria das covariáveis analisadas. Apenas São Caetano do Sul apresentou IMMD baixo (OMS), alto IMMI (p=0,03), queda nos IMMD no período de 1997 a 2011 (beta= -0,67/ano, p=0,03) e tendência neste milênio (2000 a 2011, beta=-0,55/ano, p=0,07) com estimativa de queda de 65,1% até 2015. A soma dos óbitos não investigados, não se aplica e de fichas sem investigação para qualquer variável analisada ultrapassa 50%. Conclusão: Os índices da Mortalidade Materna Direta na região do Grande ABC Paulista apresentaram níveis altos e queda discreta no tempo. Apenas o município de São Caetano do Sul apresentou queda expressiva de IMMD nos 15 anos de estudo e tendência a queda neste milênio com estimativa de atingir 65,1% até 2015. Descritores: Mortalidade materna; Políticas públicas; Mulheres; Saúde da mulher/estatística & dados numéricos; Complicações na gravidez/mortalidade; Mortalidade; Sistema Único de Saúde; Estudos epidemiológicos; Saúde da mulher/estatística & dados numéricos; Período pós-parto; Objetivos de desenvolvimento do milênio; Brasil/epidemiologia / Introduction: Maternal mortality is one of the best indicators of socioeconomic development of a country. Brazil has implemented public policies to reduce maternal mortality by 2015. The Grande ABC Paulista region in Brazil shows great socioeconomic heterogeneity among its municipalities, which can reflect the country social inequality, however presenting dimensions that allow greater control of mortality data. Objective: To evaluate the trend of maternal mortality in the Grande ABC Paulista region in the period of 1997-2011. Methodology: Ecological time series, where data was obtained from the database of the Information Technology Department of the Public Health Care System (DATASUS) of the Health Ministry of Brazil (MS). The data was transformed into direct maternal mortality indices (DMMI), stratified by municipalities, Human Development Indices (HDI), causes of maternal death according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), period and local of maternal death, socio-demographic parameters. Data were submitted to comparison tests (Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Dunn\'s multiple comparisons test) and association tests (linear regression) when applied and a significance of 5%. Results: The DMMI predominated in single women, aged 20-34 years old, white, 4 to 7 school age, in-hospital, postpartum, by bleeding / thrombosis / embolism and eclampsia. There was no difference in DMMI when comparing by HDI group. The Municipality of Rio Grande da Serra reached high DMMI values in the most of the analyzed covariates. São Caetano do Sul presented the lowest DMMI values and was the only municipality which presented decrement in the DMMI during the 15 years of the studied period (beta = - 0.67/year, p=0.03) and a trend in this millennium (2000-2011, beta- 0.55/year, p=0.07) with an estimated fall of 65.61% by 2015. The sum of not investigated, not applied and files without investigation for any analyzed variable exceeded 50%. Conclusion: The DMMI in the Grande ABC Paulista showed high levels and downward trend in time. São Caetano do Sul was the sole municipality where the DMMR dropped in 15 years of study and presented a tendency to decrease in this millennium with an estimated fall of 65.1% by 2015

Obesity and obesity-related diseases – such as type 2 diabetes – have become the most crucial indicators of population health in the 21st century. Formerly understood as ‘diseases of affluence’, obesity is now prevalent in the Global South posing serious risk to socioeconomic development. This is particularly true for rapidly developing countries where nutrition transitions are most apparent. There are many factors which impact on risk of obesity (e.g. gender, culture, environment, socioeconomic status, biological determinants). The problem is further aggravated within small island developing states where food security is exacerbated by factors associated with globalization and development. The thesis examines the surge of obesity and type 2 diabetes within Caribbean populations, using Barbados as a case study. A holistic approach was applied using an ecological health model. Moving away from the lifestyle model, the theoretical framework underpinning included sub-theories (e.g. social constructivism, feminism, post-colonial theory, concepts of memory and trauma).

L’Éducation Pour Tous mobilise la communauté internationale et les gouvernements depuis 1990. Cet engagement global renouvelé en 2000 sous l’auspice de l’UNESCO puis des Nations-Unies, porte notamment sur un objectif de base : l’universalisation de la scolarisation primaire complète pour tous les enfants d’âge scolaire à l’horizon de 2015. Plusieurs études sur la réalisation de cet objectif montrent que les pays en développement sont les plus à risque et que les progrès accomplis dans la plupart de ces pays, pourraient être plus importants si la pratique du redoublement faisait davantage l’objet de régulation et de contrôle. Cela contribuerait à améliorer la réussite scolaire et accroître la rétention des élèves au sein des systèmes éducatifs. La pratique du redoublement est en effet une tradition dans plusieurs systèmes éducatifs. Elle est particulièrement prépondérante dans certains groupes de pays ou régions, notamment en Afrique francophone au sud du Sahara. Dans ces pays, le PASEC - Programme d’Analyse des Systèmes Éducatifs de la CONFEMEN (Conférence des Ministres de l’Éducation Nationale des pays ayant le français en partage) - œuvre à améliorer l’accès à une éducation de qualité pour tous, par exemple, en informant les politiques sur la situation nationale du redoublement. Cette recherche sur le redoublement, la réussite scolaire et l’objectif de la Scolarisation Primaire Universelle (SPU) privilégie la dimension pédagogique, l’analyse empirique et étudie le cas du Sénégal. Elle présente et discute les indicateurs internationaux de suivi de l’objectif de la SPU, fait le point de l’état des connaissances sur le redoublement et la réussite scolaire et montre le défi que représente la réalisation de l’objectif de la SPU notamment dans les pays francophones d’Afrique sub-Saharienne. Exploitant les données existantes de l’enquête longitudinale de suivi de cohorte du PASEC au Sénégal entre 1995 et 2000, cette recherche examine le parcours scolaire des élèves en vue de la réalisation de l’objectif de la SPU. L’examen effectué combine des approches d’analyse transversale et longitudinale du redoublement et des apprentissages par rapport aux caractéristiques personnelles, familiales et scolaires de l’élève. Les résultats d’analyse montrent des variabilités, notamment par rapport aux caractéristiques personnelles de l’élève et à celles de sa classe et de son milieu de scolarisation. L’analyse longitudinale du redoublement s’est appuyée sur le diagramme de flux scolaire et a permis de produire un ensemble d’indicateurs d’efficacité interne du système éducatif du Sénégal. Pour la cohorte étudiée, du fait de l’importance des redoublements et des abandons scolaires, il faut en moyenne 9,4 années de scolarité pour que l’élève progresse du deuxième au sixième (dernier) grade du primaire. Seulement 39% de l’effectif de la cohorte survivent au dernier grade ce qui suggère que si cette tendance se maintenait, le Sénégal serait à risque de ne pas réaliser l’objectif de la SPU. Une évaluation de la situation courante à partir de données plus récentes serait requise. Le diagramme de flux scolaire constitue un outil de planification de l’éducation et représente de ce fait un important levier aux mains des autorités politiques pour agir sur les paramètres du système éducatif (paramètres liés à la qualité de l’éducation, à l’efficacité interne, etc.) afin de répondre à des objectifs spécifiques ou d’étapes pouvant conduire, par exemple, à la réalisation de l’objectif de la SPU. / The Education for All is mobilizing the international community and national governments since 1990. This global commitment which was renewed in 2000 under the auspices of UNESCO and the United-Nations has set a basic goal: the universalization of a complete primary education for all school-age children by 2015. Several studies on the achievement of this goal show that developing countries are most at risk and that progress in many of these countries could have been higher if the practice of grade repetition was better regulated and controlled. This measure would contribute to the improvement of academic achievement and increase retention within the education systems. Indeed, grade repetition practice is a tradition in several education systems. It is particularly overwhelming in some groups of countries or regions, especially in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa. In these countries, the PASEC – «Programme d’Analyse des Systèmes Educatifs de la CONFEMEN (Conférence des Ministres de l’Éducation National des pays ayant le français en partage)» - works to improve access to quality education for all, by for example, informing policies on the national situation of grade repetition. This research on grade repetition, school success and the Universal Primary Education (UPE) goal favors the pedagogical dimension, the empirical analysis and studies the case of Senegal. It presents and discusses the international indicators for UPE goal monitoring, takes stock of current knowledge on grade repetition and academic achievement and shows the challenge that represents the realisation of UPE goal especially in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa countries. By using the existing 1995-2000 PASEC longitudinal survey data in Senegal, this research examines pupils’ school careers toward the realisation of UPE goal. Transversal and longitudinal analyses of grade repetition and learning achievement based on the pupil’s personal, family and school characteristics have been used. Results from these analyses show variabilities related especially to individual, classroom and school location factors. The longitudinal analysis of grade repetition is based on the school flowchart which allows the calculation of a set of indicators about the internal efficiency of Senegal education system. For the cohort studied, due to the high grades repetition and dropout rates, pupils are required, on average, 9.4 years of schooling to progress from the second to the sixth (final) grade of primary. Only 39% of the initial cohort survives to the last grade, which suggests that if this trend remains unchanged, Senegal would be at risk of not achieving the UPE goal. An assessment of the current situation based on more recent data would be required. The school flowchart is an educational planning tool. Thus, it represents an important lever for political authorities to act on education system parameters (parameters related to education quality, internal efficiency, etc.) in order to effectively attain specific objectives or milestones resulting, for example, to the achievement of the UPE goal.

Kwame Nkrumah was the first African leader to pursue the idea of Africa’s continent-wide unity with fervour. Many thought that African unity will only be the pooling of poverty and that Nkrumah’s dream was impossible. Nkrumah was known for his philosophy "Seek ye first the political kingdom and all things shall be added unto it". He thought that political unity should precede economic unity, which would naturally follow. Even though the newly independent African states agreed on the necessity of unity, his philosophy was not welcomed when the Organisation of African Unity was established in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) in 1963. Rather, delegates opted for incremental political integration leading to economic integration –an aspiration that Africa is still struggling to bring to fruition. This study demonstrates that Nkrumah’s idea of political unity before economic integration was and still is valid for Africa’s continent-wide unity. To this end, the study will use textual sources and use diachronic and integrative approaches as analytical tools. / Political Sciences / M.A. (International Politics)

This research focuses on assessing the extent to which the Principles of Aid Effectiveness were followed and translated into action by taking the General Education Quality Improvement Programme (GEQIP) in Ethiopia as an example. Outcomes of the secondary reviews conducted on the selected government institutions and development partners documents demonstrate that these Principles are taken as overarching strategies to guide the undertakings on GEQIP. The study attests that a number of factors influence the realization of aid effectiveness in Ethiopia. These include, at the recipient level, existence of strong national development plans while demanding improvement on absorptive capacity. At the level of development partners, compliance with pledges made on the provision of resources and better coordination is needed. A common country framework to guide the aid effectiveness process including mutual accountably is important. The study most importantly identifies that beyond sector specific reviews, emphasis should also be given to assess the contribution of the Principles of Aid Effectiveness for efficient delivery of support to the GEQIP. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

With the advent of the new National Health Act, health care in South Africa is at a critical point as this will be the first time in history that a National Health Insurance is being implemented in this country. Globally National Health Insurance has been around for more than a hundred years, however some countries with long established national health schemes are currently grappling with funding issues surrounding their health systems. South Africa should take note of these issues as it embarks on this journey. The objective of this study was to perform a literature review on how South Africa’s National Health Insurance can be funded taking cognisance of the history of the country and experiences of other countries. It is imperative for each country to achieve optimal health care funding to ensure the success and long-term sustainability of National Health Insurance. The analysis of the problems experienced by other countries revealed that balancing the three main funding options namely, allocated from the national revenue fund, user charges and or donations or grants from international organisations, is critical as the funds needed in a system to achieve coverage at an affordable cost is dependent on the current state of health care in a country. Considering South Africa’s history and current inequality in society and health care it is clear that the majority of funding for the National Health Insurance should be supplied by the national revenue fund. The required funds can either be raised by increasing existing taxes or introducing a new tax specifically aimed at financing the National Health Insurance. The use of user charges is important however, although not purely for a revenue collection point, but from a cost control point of view as well. Some studies have revealed that the lack of user charges results in a misuse of the system. / Financial Accounting / M. Phil. (Accounting Science)

Obesity and obesity-related diseases – such as type 2 diabetes – have become the most crucial indicators of population health in the 21st century. Formerly understood as ‘diseases of affluence’, obesity is now prevalent in the Global South posing serious risk to socioeconomic development. This is particularly true for rapidly developing countries where nutrition transitions are most apparent. There are many factors which impact on risk of obesity (e.g. gender, culture, environment, socioeconomic status, biological determinants). The problem is further aggravated within small island developing states where food security is exacerbated by factors associated with globalization and development. The thesis examines the surge of obesity and type 2 diabetes within Caribbean populations, using Barbados as a case study. A holistic approach was applied using an ecological health model. Moving away from the lifestyle model, the theoretical framework underpinning included sub-theories (e.g. social constructivism, feminism, post-colonial theory, concepts of memory and trauma).

This thesis examines the transformative potential of grassroots movements for sustainability and thus asks how citizen-led initiatives can contribute the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda. In focus is the permaculture movement and its efforts to promote small-scale farming in balance with ecological systems and principles. The study draws upon an ethnographic study of the permaculture farm Kosters Trädgårdar, located on the west coast of Sweden. Through extended participant observation and four interviews with owners and workers at Kosters Trädgårdar, this thesis seeks to identify the transformative visions, practices and agents mobilized by the permaculture movement. Although permaculture has a strong ecological heritage and is closely tied to small-scale farming practices, this study identifies a shift in the meaning of the term as explained hereafter. The experiences of Kosters Trädgårdar indicate that the cultivation of social community and alternative livelihoods is an equally important aspect of the permaculture movement that holds significant transformative potential. By inviting multiple actors to participate in and learn from the farming practices, and to enjoy and socialize around ecological food, Kosters Trädgårdar is effectively building local community and spreading its visions of sustainable food production beyond the circuits of the farm. Although we should not over-estimate the upscaling potential of local experiences, this permaculture farm emerges as a site of grassroot innovation, experimentation and learning and may hereby function as a testbed for the grand transformative visions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.