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In this thesis we look further into Oxfam and Action Against Hunger’s use of the concepts of accountability and participation, how the concepts are informing the programming of humanitarian interventions as well as their materialization in the implementation of the programs in Chad. The study is based on a literature review with secondary sources as the basis of the research material. Scholars debating the concepts provide for the point of departure and the case study is based on the project and program proposals from the organizations themselves. The thesis attempts to demonstrate Oxfam and Action Against Hunger’s degree of fulfilment of the frameworks relating to accountability and participation currently available, in regards of two ongoing interventions in Chad. The result of the research positively demonstrates that the organization uphold their commitments on paper, and to some extent invites the reader to understand the practical action used to adhere to the concepts. It further indicates a lack of insight into what level of accountability and participation which is upheld prior to the identification of activities and the methodology uses in the needs assessment.

The overall purpose with this study is to analyse the challenges, it’s causes and effects, in the Ugandan education sector and the national education policies. In order to do so there is a need to describe the socio-political background of the current situation in Uganda, and in particular the Northern region. The development of Uganda as a country is important to contrast with the Northern region and it’s special circumstances, which is done through out the theses. It has been necessary to emphasise both social (cultural) and formal (academic) education in order to get a complete picture of the distortion and challenges in the education policies and it’s implementation as well as challenges in the overall development of the country.Nationally, it appears that Uganda is struggling to find policy, practice and methods, and it seems clear that Ugandan educationists will have a lot to do. The Education policy makers and implementing technocrats are yet to develop a real plan of action for both quality world-class social and academic education. The broader challenge for Uganda, however, is the central one: Uganda will need an education plan that will address itself to the fundamental activity of “Making the Nation”. It will mean investing correctly and efficiently in human resource development to produce national intellectuals and efficient work force dedicated to values and aspirations of the country, instead of production of tribal intellectuals, politicians and semi-skilled labour force.The key words for this research is Uganda, education, challenges and war affected children.

No description available.

Termisk modellring av hårdhet genom beräkning och simulering av den värmepåverkade zonen i en lasersvetsad stålplatta är en omfattande process. Dock är analysen viktig då mikrostrukturella fastransformationer förorsakade av svetsningen kan ge oönskade hårdhetsnivåer av den värmepåverkade zonen jämfört med hårdeheten i basmaterialet. I denna avhandling har analytiska ekvationer implementerats och testats för validitet mot simuleringar gjorda av andra författare och mot experimentella värden.Eftersom termisk modellering av svetsar är ett omfattande område var avhandlingen tvungen att smalnas av för att göra analysen mer fokuserad. Begränsningar gjordes för den matematiska modelleringen genom att endast titta på två-dimensionellt värmeflöde i svetsade plattor där endast den analytiska lösningen är av intresse. Arbetet har också inriktats mot stål då detta material är vida använt över hela världen. Då lasersvetsning är en snabb och kostnadseffektiv process så är hårdhetsanalysen av största vikt. Avhandlingen är uppdelad i tre övergripande delar; den första är att ta fram och förstå arbetet som gjorts inom termisk modellering av svetsar, alltså förstå matematiken bakom problemet. Modelleringen är till för att producera diagram parametrar från en termisk cykel, för att kunna fortgå med korrekt hårdhets analys. För det andra så sätts den matematiska modelleringen på prov i ett antal situationer som var och en simulerar olika förutsättningar. Detta gjordes i ett grafiskt användargränssnitt av ren bekvämlighet. Detta gör att ingenjörer lätt kan implementera olika egenskaper för materialet och få fram diagram och kurvor.Sist, ett liknande grafisk användargränssnitt för att simulera hårdheten i valfri punkt i den värmepåverkade zonen programmerades och därigenom implementerades ekvationerna som denna avhandling handlar om i grund och botten. En teoretisk bakgrund till fasomvandlingen är också inkluderad som förklaring till grundproblemet med oönskad hårdhet i den värmepåverkade zonen i lasersvetsat stål.Huvudslutsatser i avhandlingen:•Matematisk modellering av värmeöverföring i svetsar genomförd av Rosenthal är fortfarande applicerbar på modern lasersvetsningsapparatur. •Den empiriska modellen från Ion et al. (1984) är ej applicerbar med godkänt resultat för hårdhetsuppskattning.•Ekvationerna från Ion (2005) är statistiskt godkända för att simulera hårdhet.•Den analytiska lösningen är överlägsen den numeriska när det gäller snabb och enkel implementering för att simulera termiska cykler och hårdhet, medan den numeriska lösningen kan ta i beaktning mera avancerade egenskaper.•Förvärming av stålet innan svetsning kan vara mycket fördelaktigt för hårdheten i den värme-påverkade zonen, speciellt vid högre kolekvivalent. / Thermal modelling of hardness in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) in a laser welded steel plate is a cumbersome process both in calculation and simulation. The analysis is however important as the microstructural phase transformations induced by welding may cause unwanted hardness levels in the HAZ compared with that of the parent material. In this thesis analytical equations have been implemented and checked for validity against simulations made by other authors and against experimental values.With such a large field as thermal modelling, the thesis had to be narrowed down to make the analysis more subject focused. Limitations made were for mathematical modelling only looking at a two-dimensional heat flow in welded plates; in this thesis only the analytical solution to the heat flow is considered. The work was also directed towards steel; such a material as used largely all over the globe. As laser welding is a fast and cost-effective process, an analysis of hardness is of great importance. Work was divided into three overlapping parts; the first was to derive and understand the work done in the field of thermal modelling of welds, thus understanding the mathematics behind the basic problem. This modelling provides a number of curves and parameters from a thermal cycle, thus enabling one to do the hardness analysis correctly. Secondly, this mathematical modelling was applied to a number of cases, simulating different circumstances. This was done using self-programmed Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) for convenience. This enables engineers to easily plug in the materials and processing properties and thus simulate the required parameters and curves for further analysis.Lastly, a GUI for simulating the hardness of any point in the HAZ was programmed and used, thus implementing and validating the equations. A theoretical introduction of the phases induced in the HAZ is also included, in order of understanding the problems of unwanted hardness in the HAZ of laser-welded steel.Main conclusions of this thesis:•Mathematical modelling of heat transfer in welds by Rosenthal (1946) is still applicable for modern laser welding apparatus.•The empirical model presented by Ion et al. (1984) is not applicable with experimental results of hardness in the HAZ of the steels investigated here.•Equations by Ion (2005) are accurate for simulating the hardness.•The analytical solutions investigated are superior to numerical solutions with regard to quick, simple simulations of thermal cycles and hardness. Numerical solutions allows for more advanced modelling, which can be lengthy.•Preheating the steel prior to welding is favourable in reducing hardness levels, especially with steel of higher carbon equivalent.

Wildland fires are increasing in both severity and intensity leading to severe and lasting biogeochemical effects on soil. The CZU lightning complex started on August 16th, 2020, and burned 86,509 acres causing severe social and ecological damage. To better understand the impact of fire on soil properties at the landscape scale, we created a digital soil mapping model with the inclusion of remotely sensed burn severity covariates. We combined a raster-stack of environmental covariates with rasters for fire severity and soil samples, to disentangle the relative contribution of fire to the spatial distribution of soil properties in the recently burned Little Creek watershed in Santa Cruz, Ca. Soils were sampled via a conditional Latin hypercube sampling design and analyzed for soil health and soil Fe/Al-oxide mineralogy. To ascertain the relative contribution of remotely sensed fire severity covariates and standard digital soil mapping covariates (e.g. SCORPAN factors) to explain the variance in post-fire soil properties, we deployed multi-linear regression and random forest modeling. We report that remotely sensed indicators of fire severity explained the variance of Ntotal, Caex, pH, oxalate extractable P, NO3-, and NH4+ in both the MLR and RF models at the watershed scale. The inclusion of rasters of fire effects improved the description of target soil property variance, in concert with more traditional raster-based proxies for the soil forming factors, indicating that fire helps explain the spatial variability of these soil properties in recently burned post-fire landscapes. Furthermore, we report that an increase in remotely sensed fire severity led to an increase in sorbed P (as measured via oxalate extractable P), suggesting a potentially unreported change to post-fire soil P dynamics. Results inform remotely sensed assessment of fire induced changes to soil properties at the landscape scale.

Submitted by Marcel Ribeiro Padinha (marcelpadinha@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-05-30T15:45:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE MARCEL RIBEIRO PADINHA.docx: 87826399 bytes, checksum: faec3465eae91622cbf9b36f2b6c9bca (MD5) / Rejected by ALESSANDRA KUBA OSHIRO ASSUNÇÃO (alessandra@fct.unesp.br), reason: Solicitamos que realize correções na submissão seguindo as orientações abaixo: - Foram feitas duas submissões, deixar apenas uma; - O arquivo com a tese final deve ser em pdf; - A ficha catalográfica deve ser revisada por um bibliotecário. Entrar no site da biblioteca para saber como proceder (http://www.fct.unesp.br/#!/biblioteca2340/servicos/elaboracao-de-ficha-catalografica/). Agradecemos a compreensão. on 2018-05-30T17:37:53Z (GMT) / Submitted by Marcel Ribeiro Padinha (marcelpadinha@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-06-04T15:44:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE MARCEL RIBEIRO PADINHA.output.pdf: 9718780 bytes, checksum: cfd5823c871c9ad1bbc2c7a1abb76b9f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by ALESSANDRA KUBA OSHIRO ASSUNÇÃO (alessandra@fct.unesp.br) on 2018-06-04T20:32:24Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 padinha_mr_dr_prud.pdf: 9718780 bytes, checksum: cfd5823c871c9ad1bbc2c7a1abb76b9f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-04T20:32:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 padinha_mr_dr_prud.pdf: 9718780 bytes, checksum: cfd5823c871c9ad1bbc2c7a1abb76b9f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Cette thèse a analysé les impacts socio-spatiaux sur les échelles de vie des personnes affectées par un «grand projet», le HPP de Belo Monte, construit sur la rivière Xingu, en Amazonie brésilienne. Ces « grands objets » favorisent re (dé) structuration des territoires où ils sont déployés, provoquant des conséquences graves en bordure existants et historiquement constitué spatialité, paysans, indigènes, ainsi que les habitants de la périphérie de la ville d'Altamira - Pará - Amazon. puis analysé la force « prédateurs » de ces grands projets sur les populations « sous-officier » d'une base théorique échelle proposition, qui consiste à considérer l'espace comme « polymorphes ». Espace-spatialité, technique et échelle ont été utilisés comme outils méthodologiques pour la réalisation de la lecture de notre réalité empirique. Les impacts sur l'échelle de la vie des gens « dépossédés » est la mobilité dans l'immobilité se fait sentir, en vue de la condition spatiale d'appartenance, la propriété et l'identification des différents sujets exercent sur leurs territoires et lieux. Néanmoins, en réponse à ce processus de débordement, une série de stratégies de lutte et de résistance sont vérifiées par rapport à des projets «développementalistes». Malgré la main de fer du gouvernement brésilien, c'était une forte opposition au projet de Belo Monte HPP. Les mouvements sociaux de différentes gammes de performance, de différents endroits de la planète, ont rejoint l'impact et de la région d'Altamira, constituant ainsi un cours de confrontation majeure contre conception « biopolitique » appliquées par le gouvernement brésilien et la capitale nationale et internationale. Cette confrontation fait des pauvres à la campagne et la ville et les populations traditionnelles, sous la direction des mouvements sociaux ( « Xingu Vivo Mouvement pour toujours », « Mouvement des femmes ») d'Altamira et de la région, a ajouté le rôle important du ministère public Bureau du défenseur public fédéral de l'État du Pará et les activités des ONG (telles que l'Institut socio-environnemental), se sont battus et se battent pour faire en sorte que la territorialité et lugaridade ceux soumis socioespacialmente touchés, le nombre d'œuvres et les actions qui ont conduit à UHE Belo Monte peut en en quelque sorte, être compensé. Une lutte sociale intense et durable s'est installée dans la région de Xingu afin que les effets (re) structurants de ce «grand projet» puissent être (en quelque sorte) compensés. Cette lutte des sujets hegemonizados / subordonné qui a été appelé « insurgés centralité » établi entre les sujets de (forte) politique et économique puissance asymétrique et inégale, avec l'Etat brésilien et la capitale d'un côté et, de l'autre la spatialement affecté et son réseau de protection, a généré des conflits profonds de nature spatiale. En dépit des réalisations importantes des mouvements sociaux et atteint la force du « état d'exception » utilisé pour déployer UHE Belo Monte par le gouvernement brésilien, dans la période démocratique, l'impact a promu l'échelle de la vie des gens qui sont incommensurables et irréparables. Ce qui implique la nécessité de proposer et d'investissements dans d'autres et de nouvelles formes (sources) de production d'électricité au Brésil et l'Amazonie comme un moyen de surmonter ce cadre de butin, qui est le produit du capitalisme « solution spatiale ». / Esta tese analisou os impactos socioespaciais às escalas da vida das pessoas atingidas, por um “grandes projeto”, a UHE Belo Monte, construída no rio Xingu, Amazônia brasileira. Estes “grandes objetos” promovem a re(des)estruturação dos territórios onde são implantados, causando fortes impactos as espacialidades existentes e historicamente constituídas de ribeirinhos, camponeses, indígenas, bem como de moradores da periferia da cidade de Altamira – Pará – Amazônia. Analisamos então a força “espoliadora” destes grandes empreendimentos sobre as populações “subalternizadas”, a partir de uma proposição teórica de base escalar, que envolve considerar o espaço como “polimorfo”. Espaço-espacialidade, a técnica e a escala foram usados como instrumentais metodológicos para a realização da leitura de nossa realidade empírica. Os impactos à escala da vida das pessoas “desterritorializadas” seja na mobilidade seja na imobilidade se fazem sentir, tendo em vista à condição espacial de pertencimento, apropriação e identificação que diferentes sujeitos exercem junto a seus territórios e lugares. Não obstante, como respostas a esse processo espoliador, são verificados uma série de estratégias de luta e resistência em relação a projetos de cunho “desenvolvimentistas”. Apesar da condução da obra com mãos de ferro, por parte do Estado brasileiro, constituiu-se forte oposição ao projeto UHE Belo Monte. Movimentos Sociais de distintas escalas de atuação, de diferentes locais no planeta, juntaram-se aos impactados de Altamira e região, constituindo, assim, um grande campo de enfrentamento contra a concepção “biopolítica” aplicada pelo governo brasileiro e pelo capital nacional e internacional. Esse enfrentamento feito a partir dos pobres do campo e da cidade e pelas populações tradicionais, sob a liderança dos movimentos sociais (“Movimento Xingu Vivo Para Sempre”, “Movimento de Mulheres”) de Altamira e região, somados a importante atuação do Ministério Público Federal, Defensoria Pública do Estado do Pará e a atuação de ONGs (como Instituto Socioambiental), lutou e luta para garantir que a territorialidade e lugaridade dos sujeitos socioespacialmente atingidos, pelo conjunto de obras e ações que deram origem a UHE Belo Monte possa, de alguma forma, ser compensada. Uma intensa e duradoura luta social se travou/trava na região do Xingu para que os efeitos des(re)estruturadores deste “grande projeto” possam ser (de alguma maneira) compensados. Essa luta dos sujeitos hegemonizados/subalternizados a qual chamou-se “centralidades insurgentes”, que se estabeleceu entre sujeitos de poder político e econômico (acentuadamente) assimétrico e desigual, estando o Estado brasileiro e o Capital de um lado e, estando do outro os socioespacialmente atingidos e sua rede de proteção, gerou profundos conflitos de natureza espacial. Em que pese as importantes conquistas dos movimentos sociais e dos atingidos, a força do “estado de exceção” usado para implantar UHE Belo Monte pelo Governo Brasileiro, em pleno período democrático, promoveu impactos à escala da vida das pessoas que são imensurável e irreparável. Implicando a necessidade de proposição e de investimentos em outras e novas formas (fontes) de geração de energia no Brasil e na Amazônia como caminho para superação deste quadro de espoliações, que é produto do “ajuste espacial” do capitalismo. / This thesis analyzed socio-spatial impacts on the life scales of people affected by a "big project", the Belo Monte HPP, built on the Xingu River, Brazilian Amazon. These "great objects" promote the re - de - structuring of the territories where they are implanted, causing a strong impact on the existing and historically constituted spatiality of river dwellers, peasants, natives, as well as residents of the outskirts of the city of Altamira - Pará - Amazônia. We then analyze the "spoiling" force of these large enterprises on "subalternized" populations, based on a scalar-based theoretical proposition, which involves considering space as a "polymorph". Space-spatiality, technique and scale were used as methodological tools for the realization of the reading of our empirical reality. The life-scale impacts of "deterritorialized" people on both mobility and immobility are felt in view of the spatial condition of belonging, appropriation and identification that different subjects carry out in their territories and places. Nonetheless, as a response to this spillover process, a series of strategies of struggle and resistance are verified in relation to "developmentalist" projects. Despite the Brazilian government's hand in hand with iron hands, it was a strong opposition to the Belo Monte HPP project. Social Movements of different scales of action, from different places on the planet, joined the impacted ones of Altamira and region, constituting, therefore, a great field of confrontation against the "biopolitical" conception applied by the Brazilian government and the national and international capital. This confrontation was carried out by the rural and urban poor and by the traditional populations, under the leadership of the social movements ("Xingu Movement Vivo Para Semper", "Women's Movement") of Altamira and region, together with the important work of the Public Ministry Federal, Public Defender of the State of Pará and the work of NGOs (as a Socio-Environmental Institute), fought and struggled to ensure that the territoriality and place of the socio-residents affected by the set of works and actions that gave rise to Belo Monte HPP somehow, be compensated. An intense and enduring social struggle has caught on in the Xingu region so that the (re) structuring effects of this "big project" can be (somehow) offset. This struggle of the hegemonized / subalternized subjects, which was called "insurgent centralities", was established between subjects of politically and economically (asymmetric) and unequal economic power, the Brazilian State and Capital being on one side and, on the other spatially affected and its protection network, has generated deep conflicts of a spatial nature. Despite the important achievements of social movements and those affected, the strength of the "state of exception" used to implant Belo Monte Power Plant by the Brazilian Government, in the midst of a democratic period, has promoted impacts on the scale of people's lives that are immeasurable and irreparable. Implicating the need to propose and invest in other and new forms (sources) of energy generation in Brazil and the Amazon as a way to overcome this scenario of spoliation, which is a product of the "spatial adjustment" of capitalism. / Esta tesis analizó los impactos socioespaciales a las escalas de la vida de las personas afectadas, por un "gran proyecto", la UHE Belo Monte, construida en el río Xingu, Amazonia brasileña. Los "grandes objetos" promueven la reestructura de los territorios donde se implantan, causando fuertes impactos las espacialidades existentes e históricamente constituidas de ribereños, campesinos, indígenas, así como de moradores de la periferia de la ciudad de Altamira - Pará - Amazonia. Analizamos entonces la fuerza "espoliadora" de estos grandes emprendimientos sobre las poblaciones "subalternizadas", a partir de una proposición teórica de base escalar, que implica considerar el espacio como "polimorfo". La espacialidad, la técnica y la escala se utilizaron como instrumentos metodológicos para la realización de la lectura de nuestra realidad empírica. Los impactos a la escala de la vida de las personas "desterritorializadas" ya sea en la movilidad o en la inmovilidad se hacen sentir, teniendo en vista la condición espacial de pertenencia, apropiación e identificación que diferentes sujetos ejercen junto a sus territorios y lugares. No obstante, como respuestas a ese proceso espoliador, se verifican una serie de estrategias de lucha y resistencia en relación a proyectos de cuño "desarrollistas". A pesar de la conducción de la obra con manos de hierro, por parte del Estado brasileño, se constituyó una fuerte oposición al proyecto UHE Belo Monte. Los movimientos sociales de distintas escalas de actuación, de diferentes lugares en el planeta, se unieron a los impactados de Altamira y región, constituyendo así un gran campo de enfrentamiento contra la concepción "biopolítica" aplicada por el gobierno brasileño y por el capital nacional e internacional. Este enfrentamiento hecho a partir de los pobres del campo y de la ciudad y por las poblaciones tradicionales, bajo el liderazgo de los movimientos sociales (Movimiento de Mujeres) de Altamira y región, sumados a la importante actuación del Ministerio Público (Por ejemplo, el Instituto Socioambiental), luchó y lucha para garantizar que la territorialidad y lugar de los sujetos socioespacialmente afectados, por el conjunto de obras y acciones que dieron origen a la UHE Belo Monte, alguna forma, ser compensada. Una intensa y duradera lucha social se trabó / traba en la región del Xingu para que los efectos des (re) estructuradores de este "gran proyecto" puedan ser (de alguna manera) compensados. Esta lucha de los sujetos hegemonizados / subalternizados a la que se llamó "centralidades insurgentes", que se estableció entre sujetos de poder político y económico (acentuadamente) asimétrico y desigual, estando el Estado brasileño y el Capital de un lado y, estando del otro, socioespacialmente afectados y su red de protección, generó profundos conflictos de naturaleza espacial. En cuanto a las importantes conquistas de los movimientos sociales y de los afectados, la fuerza del "estado de excepción" usado para implantar a Belo Monte por el Gobierno brasileño, en pleno período democrático, promovió impactos a la escala de la vida de las personas que son inmensurables e irreparables. En el caso de Brasil, en la Amazonia, el proceso de superación de este cuadro de espolones, que es producto del "ajuste espacial" del capitalismo, implica la necesidad de proposición y de inversiones en otras y nuevas formas (fuentes) de generación de energía en Brasil y en la Amazonia.

The Resilient Educators support programme (REds) for HIV and AIDS affected educators was initiated by the University of the Northwest in 2006, following a research project in 2005 that highlighted the need for a support programme that addresses the challenges of educators affected by HIV and AIDS, as existing support structures were found to be inadequate. The REds programme is implemented in phases, and after the completion of each phase, the programme is modified to meet the needs of a broader audience of educators. Since 2006, the REds programme has been implemented by independent researchers in four South African provinces, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, the Northwest province and the Free State. This round of implementation included a comparison group, to allow researchers to compare data. The 2009 implementation of the REds programme was aimed at gathering comparative data to prove that the programme has a positive impact on the quality of life and resilience of educators. This was done in order to provide to the greater REds programme the opportunity to generalise the findings of the programme, and implement it on a national level. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the 2009 version of the REds programme to enhance the quality of life and resilience of HIV and AIDS affected educators in Gauteng. For the purpose of this research study, the researcher used applied and evaluative research. The mixed methods research approach was used, followed by the concurrent triangulation design. The qualitative and quantitative data carried the same weight in the results of the study, and the data sets were merged in the interpretation to produce well-validated conclusions. When comparing the pre- and post-test results, both the quantitative and qualitative data were used to prove or disprove the hypothesis. For the quantitative part of the study, the researcher made use of a quasi-experimental design namely the comparison group pre-test-post-test design. For the qualitative part of the study, the researcher used a collective case study design. Quantitative data was collected through two group administered standardised questionnaires, the Professional Quality of Life Screening (ProQol) and the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA). Qualitative data was collected by using a narrative, drawings and observations. Pre-test data was collected from the experimental and comparison groups prior to exposure to the REds programme. The experimental group participated in the programme and afterwards, both the experimental and comparison groups participated in a post-test. The participants were recruited from the Diepsloot Combined School and the Emfundiswene Primary School in Alexandra, Johannesburg, Gauteng, by using non-probability volunteer sampling. The quantitative empirical research findings in the experimental group data showed minimal differences between the pre- and post-test data for the ProQol test, and trivial differences in the RSA screening. The comparison group data also showed minimal differences, but the differences were in a downward trend. When comparing the experimental and comparison group findings, the experimental group’s results were slightly more positive than the comparison group, but not enough to draw valid conclusions. However, the qualitative findings showed that the participants in the experimental group found that the programme addressed their support needs as HIV and AIDS affected educators and they felt empowered with knowledge and skills that they lacked, thus making them more resilient. The researcher did not mark any changes in the comparison group data, thus indicating that they did not feel empowered. The researcher hypothesised the following: If the Resilient Educators support programme (REds) were implemented among HIV and AIDS affected educators, their quality of life and resilience will be increased. Conclusions drawn from the qualitative research findings indicated that the REds programme met the support needs of HIV and AIDS affected educators, as the experimental group indicated that they felt empowered and the comparison group did not indicate this. The quantitative data results were not significant enough to prove or disprove the proposed hypothesis, and thus the researcher recommends that the reasons for the insignificant test results from the questionnaires be investigated. AFRIKAANS : Die Resilient Educators Support Programme (REds), ’n ondersteunings program vir MIV-en VIGS-geaffekteerde opvoeders, is in 2006, deur die Noordwes-Universiteit ontwikkel. Die projek spruit uit navorsing wat in 2005 gedoen is en getoon het dat die uitdagings wat MIV-en VIGS-geaffekteerde opvoeders in die gesig staar nie aangespreek word deur die huidige ondersteuningstrukture nie, en dat daar ’n daadwerklike behoefte aan ’n ondersteuningsprogram bestaan. Die REds-program word in fases geïmplementeer, en in elke fase, word die program heraangepas om aan die behoeftes van ’n breër teikengehoor van opvoeders te voldoen. Sedert die begin van die projek in 2006, is die REds-program deur verskeie onafhanklike navorsers, in vier Suid Afrikaanse provinsies, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Noordwes en die Vrystaat geïmplementeer. Die 2009-implementering van die REds-program, het ’n vergelykende groep ingesluit, wat navorsers instaat stel om die data wat ingesamel word te vergelyk met ’n groep wat nie ’n intervensie ontvang het nie. Die 2009-implementering van die REds-program se doel was om vergelykbare data in te samel, en sodoende te bewys dat die program ‘n positiewe impak op die lewensgehalte en veerkragtigheid van opvoeders het. Die doel van hierdie studie was om te evalueer hoe doeltreffend die 2009-weergawe van die REds-program die lewenskwaliteit en veerkragtigheid van MIV-en VIGS geaffekteerde opvoeders in Gauteng verbeter. Vir die doeleindes van hierdie navorsing het die navorser toegepaste en evaluerende navorsing benut. Die gemengdemetode-navorsingsbenadering en die samewerkende triangulasie-ontwerp is benut. Die kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe data dra ewe veel gewig in die resultate van die studie. Datastelle is ook saamgevoeg tydens die interpretasie daarvan ten einde deeglik gestaafde gevolgtrekkings te maak. Tydens die vergelyking van die voor- en na-toetsresultate, is die kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe data benut om die hipotese te bewys of te weerlê. Vir die kwantitatiewe deel van die studie het die navorser ‘n kwasieksperimentele ontwerp, genaamd die groep-vergelykende voor-toets-na-toetsontwerp benut. Die kwalitatiewe deel van die studie is gedoen met behulp van die kollektiewe gevallestudie-ontwerp. Kwantitatiewe data is verkry deur twee groepgeadministreerde gestandaardiseerde vraelyste, die Professional Quality of Life Screening (ProQol) en die Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA), te gebruik. Kwalitatiewe data is ingesamel deur gebruik te maak van ’n narratief, tekeninge en observasies. Voor-toets-data is ingesamel by die eksperimentele en vergelykende groep. Die eksperimentele groep het die die REdsprogram deurloop en beide groepe het daarna deelgeneem aan die na-toets. Die deelnemers van die Diepsloot gekombineerde skool en die Emfundiswene laerskool in Alexandra, Johannesburg is by wyse van ’n nie-waarskynlikheids steekproeftrekking gekies, deur van die vrywillige steekproeftegniek gebruik te maak. Die kwantitatiewe navorsingsbevindinge van die eksperimentele groep het minimale verskille tussen die voor- en na-toets-data getoon vir die ProQol-toets, en niksbeduidende verskille is opgemerk in die RSA-toets. Die vergelykende groep se data het ook minimale verskille tussen die voor- en na-toets getoon, maar hierdie veranderings was negatief. In ’n vergelyking tussen die eksperimentele en vergelykende groep se resultate, is bevind dat die eksperimentele groep se uitslae meer positief van aard was as die van die vergelykende groep. Hierdie verskil is egter so klein dat geen werklilke gevolgtrekkings gemaak kan word nie. Desnieteenstaande het die kwalitatiewe bevindinge getoon dat die program wel aan die eksperimentele groep se ondersteuningsbehoeftes voorsien het. Die deelnemers het aangedui dat hulle bemagtig is met die kennis en vaardighede wat hul benodig om hul veerkragtigheid te verhoog. Die navorser het egter geen veranderinge in die vergelykende groep se data waargeneem nie, wat dus beteken dat die vergelykende groep nie bemagtig is nie. Die navorser het die volgende hipotese geformuleer: Indien die Resilient Educators support program (REds) onder MIV-en VIGS-geaffekteerde opvoeders geïmplimenteer word, sal hul lewenskwaliteit en veerkragtigheid verbeter. Gevolgtrekkings gemaak na gelang van die kwalitatitewe navorsingsbevindinge toon aan dat die REds-program wel die ondersteuningsbehoeftes van die opvoeders aanspreek, aangesien die eksperimentele groep aangedui het dat hulle bemagtig voel, in teenstelling met die vergelykende groep wat nie bemagtig voel nie. Die kwantitatiewe navorsingsbevindinge was egter van so ’n aard dat die navorser dit nie kon benut om die hipotese waar of vals te bewys nie. Na gelang van hierdie bevinding beveel die navorser onder andere aan dat die rede(s) vir die niksseggende kwantitatiewe toetsresultate verder ondersoek word. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Even though supporting affected populations is the raison d’etre for humanitarian action, organisations are frequently not accountable to populations they aim to serve. Despite several reform movements, the consultation and participation elements of accountability to affected populations (AAP), in particular, are still lacking. Specifically, during the design phases of projects, such involvement is critical since major decisions around implementation are taken. Given that donors usually use their power over NGOs to set requirements around financial and results-based management, they could do the same for AAP and make funding conditional on meeting requirements. The puzzle of this research is (Q1) to what extent do donors try to enhance AAP at the project design stage by setting AAP requirements and (Q2) what motivates donors to set these requirements and given many do not set them, what holds them back. In total, nine (n=9) problem-centred expert interviews were led with donor and NGO representatives, which were complemented by an analysis of n=14 donor documents related to the project design phase. During the data collection and analysis process, it became apparent that a sole focus on top-down approaches through requirements would leave out relevant constraints around AAP requirements in project design phases. Thus, driven by the interview data, two additional questions were included: (Q3) What are possible reasons why the requirements set by donors are not successful in improving AAP practices? (Q4) How could these constraints be overcome?  For Q1, it was found that there is no systemic inclusion of AAP requirements in project design phases by donors. Though there are positive examples and donors emphasize their engagement, NGO representatives shared the view that there is no real push through requirements for the two more complex elements of AAP, namely consultation and participation. The main bottleneck for donors to set stricter requirements were competing priorities, while their main motivation to do so apart from intrinsic motivations was found to be past failure in combination with hope for effectiveness and efficiency gains (Q2). The additional constraints identified as hampering successful implementation of such requirements were NGO, discursive and systemic constraints, which dealt with resource scarcity, process constraints, conceptual unclarity and misunderstandings as well as constraints related to the humanitarian context and the delivery of aid through projects (Q3). Solutions presented by interviewees underline the importance of updated funding procedures, establishing clarity around the concept, and advancing cash-based programming and the localization agenda (Q4). Finally, the grounded theory developed from the interview and analysis process explains the limited success of donor AAP requirements in the following way: First, such requirements are not established in the first place if hindered by donor bottlenecks. If motivations are stronger than bottlenecks, such requirements do not automatically lead to the implementation of meaningful AAP practices, since the requirements are not adapted to the wider context. Donors (1) do not take NGO constraints into account, (2) do not fully realize discursive constraints and (3) only take limited action against systemic constraints. When setting requirements, donors need to inform their strategies by considering these constraints in setting meaningful requirements.

Balance of motor network activity between the two brain hemispheres after stroke is crucial for functional recovery. Several studies have extensively studied the role of the affected brain hemisphere to better understand changes in motor network activity following stroke. Very few studies have examined the role of the unaffected brain hemisphere and confirmed the testretest reliability of connectivity measures on unaffected hemisphere. We recorded blood oxygenation level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals from nine stroke survivors with hemiparesis of the left or right hand. Participants performed a motor execution task with affected hand, unaffected hand, and both hands simultaneously. Participants returned for a repeat fMRI scan 1 week later. Using dynamic causal modeling (DCM), we evaluated effective connectivity among three motor areas: the primary motor area (M1), the premotor cortex (PMC) and the supplementary motor area for the affected and unaffected hemispheres separately. Five participants manual motor ability was assessed by Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment scores and root-mean square error of participants tracking ability during a robot-assisted game. We found (i) that the task performance with the affected hand resulted in strengthening of the connectivity pattern for unaffected hemisphere, (ii) an identical network of the unaffected hemisphere when participants performed the task with their unaffected hand, and (iii) the pattern of directional connectivity observed in the affected hemisphere was identical for tasks using the affected hand only or both hands. Furthermore, paired t-test comparison found no significant differences in connectivity strength for any path when compared with one-week follow-up. Brain-behavior linear correlation analysis showed that the connectivity patterns in the unaffected hemisphere more accurately reflected the behavioral conditions than the connectivity patterns in the affected hemisphere. Above findings enrich our knowledge of unaffected brain hemisphere following stroke, which further strengthens our neurobiological understanding of stroke-affected brain and can help to effectively identify and apply stroke-treatments.