The research was done with the aim of evaluating the effect of the basin tillage system as a method of conservation agriculture, on improving smallholder farmers’ food security in Mutasa, Manicaland Province in Zimbabwe. This research focussed on the 2010/2011 agricultural season. The main objectives of this study were to determine the contribution of CA basin tillage system on increasing yields per hectare, to evaluate which CA principles are being practiced by smallholder farmers, and to determine how many months the harvested maize will last. The study compares smallholder farmers who practiced CA with farmers who practiced other tillage methods. The other tillage methods are ploughing and conventional hand hoe tillage systems. On average the farmers who practiced CA used 0.47 hectares of land whilst farmers who practiced other tillage methods used an average of 0.43 hectares of land. The average amount of maize produced by smallholder farmers who practiced CA was 824 kg while who practiced other tillage methods produced an average of 498 kg. Farmers practicing CA produced yield with an average of 1175 kg/ha of maize grain while farmers who practiced other tillage methods produced an average of 946 kg/ha. Food security in this reaseach was measured by the amount of months the maize grain produced was lasting in relation with the household size. 57 percent of the farmers who practiced CA are food secure because they have maize grain to last them a full consumption year and moreover surplus. Only 27 percent of the farmers who practiced other tillage methods produced enough to last a full consumption year.

Tourism is gradually recognized and acknowledged as an important sector to drive economic growth across many nations. It is by no coincidence that the South African government took a bold decision to elevate the importance of tourism in the economy through the establishment of a dedicated tourism ministry in 2009. Tourism derives its mandate from the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996, which outlines tourism function as an area of concurrent competence between the three spheres of government that is national, provincial and local government. According to Tsatsire (2008:1), the new mandate given to local government post 1994 implies that local government is no longer expected to render basic services only, but is also required to serve as an agent of development. The main objective of the study is to identify the challenges faced by the municipalities in the implementation of tourism functions, using UMgungundlovu District Municipality as a case study and pursued the following specific objectives: To establish the roles and responsibilities of municipalities in tourism; To assess whether these responsibilities are adequately performed and to understand the reasons for deficiencies, if there are any; To highlight the contribution of tourism to local economic development; To ascertain the status of the implementation of the tourism strategy for the UMgungundlovu District Municipality (UMDM); To highlight the significance of the role of municipalities in achieving national and provincial tourism objectives and; To recommend appropriate actions to overcome the challenges pertaining to implementation of tourism at a local government level. The study is premised upon the acknowledgement that there are many developmental challenges facing municipalities and tourism is one of them. With tourism being recognised more and more as an essential component of local economic development, municipalities are required to play a central role in ensuring the implementation of national and provincial priorities to boost the sector’s contribution to the economy. The study explores various pieces of legislation upon which tourism mandate on local government is embedded. This has enabled to provide clarification with regards to the roles and responsibilities of local government in tourism. The connection between tourism and local economic development is succinctly discussed to ascertain the benefits of tourism and its contribution in local economy. The study took a form of qualitative research and therefore employing the use of qualitative research techniques in terms of data collection, analysis and interpretation process. Data were collected through the review and analysis of strategy documents including the Local Economic Development Strategy, Tourism Strategy and the Integrated Development Plan of UMgungundlovu District Municipality. Interviews were also conducted with the officials responsible for tourism within UMDM and other local tourism stakeholder organization within the study area including uMsunduzi Pietermaritzburg Tourism Association, Howick uMngeni Community Tourism Association, Pietermaritzburg Business Chamber of Commerce, KwaZulu Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism and Tourism KwaZulu Natal. The methodology that was followed in the study has enabled the researcher to address all the study objectives and to compile the findings report presented in chapter four. Tourism is one of the functions of local government; however, municipalities are faced with a variety of challenges in the implementation of tourism function. Challenges that are pertinent to UMDM are discussed and articulated in this report. The study concludes by documenting the recommendations conferred by the respondents with the objective to overcome the challenges pertaining to implementation of tourism at a local government level. These recommendations are further discussed to explore practical actions on how the UMDM can overcome the identified challenges to enhance local economic development through tourism.

In this study I analyzed the 1089 desegregation outcomes in federal district courts that occurred between 1994 and 2004 in order to identify a) the legal and non-legal factors in the litigation process that predict pro-desegregation outcomes and b) the judicial patterns that impact the future of desegregation policy. Twenty-one legal and non-legal variables were analyzed via logistic regression analysis to identify factors that predict pro-desegregation outcomes. Only three predictor variables were statistically significant: Government Litigants; Region 3 (West) and Region 4 (Northeast.) Descriptive analyses of the data identified two trends in the pattern of litigation: The percentage of defendant wins increased after 1991 at a lesser rate than has been previously reported. I conclude that based on the results of both the quantitative and qualitative analyses the federal district courts are not a barrier to desegregation and can still be a part of a comprehensive desegregation strategy.

Thesis advisor: Vincent Cho / Oftentimes, during the transition of key leadership positions in the public school district setting, multi-year initiatives and core values are disrupted as a new leader assumes their role. The purpose of this research is to examine how district leaders leverage a proactive approach to planning for transitions in key leadership positions. This dissertation used a case study of an urban district with a stated core value of equity to examine the approach of assessing, selecting, developing, and promoting future leaders. Through document reviews, meeting observations, and 14 interviews, this study examines the transition of key leadership positions within the district by addressing the following research question: How do the practices of district leaders foster equity through planning for future changes in leadership? Using the framework of succession planning, findings of the study included the complexities of the district’s approach to planning for future human capital needs in alignment with the values of equity, through both existing strategies and the goals of a new superintendent. Additionally, the bar was raised for initiatives to develop talent from within the organization as pipeline programs were re-emphasized and meeting the needs of students and families were prioritized. Finally, the district aspired to sustain these efforts through systemic equity and a recommitment to ensuring linguistic, cultural, and ethnic diversity among leadership positions. This case study suggests the complex nature of organizational change and the importance of coherence in supporting the vision of the district during periods of leadership transition. / Thesis (EdD) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The value of accountability as a key feature of strengthening health systems and reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality is increasingly emphasised globally, nationally and locally. Frontline health professionals and managers play a crucial role in promoting maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) services in an equitable and accountable manner. They are at the interface between higher-level health system management and communities, facing demands from both sides and often expected to perform beyond their available means. Although accountability is a central topic in the governance of MNCH literature, it has mostly been approached at global and national levels, with little understanding of how accountability is integrated into the routine functioning of local health systems.

The history of a school district is usually presented as a local history. This type of history is very thorough in naming names, locating sites, and explaining events as they affected the local scene. History does not occur in a vacuum, and often the explanation for certain behaviors or events lies beyond the local phenomena. It is the intention of this study to present the history of the Big Trees and Avery School Districts within a larger context of national forces which were also at work and sometimes, dominated the events. It is hoped that the effort to bring education to the Big Trees Road area will be appreciated not only as a local struggle but also as a part of a greater movement.

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