Masters of Commerce / Despite having a significant agri-food sector, South Africa is faced with strong food security issues related to high inequalities and the legacy of the apartheid regime. The South African food system finds itself at risk of alienating the majority of its citizens from realizing their right to access food granted by the South African Constitution (1996) Section 27(1)(b). Increasing poverty, unemployment and poor governance are making it harder for ordinary South African citizens to put safe and nutritious food on the table. Part of the food security issue in South Africa is that there is an inefficiency in public policies. It can be explained by the extreme segmentation of public action between departments and also by the limitations and ineffectiveness of decentralization resulting in little to no involvement from local governments. Like most socio-economic issues, the effects of food insecurity are first experienced on the ground at the local level where municipalities are at the forefront. The absence of effective policy around food security and food systems at the local level in South Africa leaves room for research on improved local food governance. Municipalities should be best suited to understand the consequences of food insecurity and could therefore use some of their constitutional mandate which provides some room for manoeuvre with regard to food issues. The aim of this study is to raise awareness of food security issues at the municipal level and to identify ways to facilitate engagement by municipalities. Its main objective was to adopt a foresight approach, using scenarios with local actors, and to understand how it can help improve the engagement of municipalities and citizens in the food security debate and take possible action. This research has made use of an existing collaboration between the Centre of Excellence in Food Security (CoE-FS) and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) developed in the Western Cape. The collaboration focuses on the understanding of the food policy space in South Africa, the results of existing policies, and how the co-production of knowledge between stakeholders, notably at the local level, can contribute to policy improvement.

The Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) is home to the largest tuna fishery stock in the world. However, Pacific Island members of the Western and Central Pacific Tuna Commission (WCPTC) argue that their share of the economic rent from the tuna catches taken out of the Pacific region is very small, being on average only about 6% of the total net benefit, when compared to the share earned by Distant Water Fishing Nations (DWFNs). Kiribati is one of the Pacific Island Countries (PICs), which relies heavily on its fishery for its economic development and sustainability. Kiribati earns 40% - 50 % of its government revenue from fisheries access fees paid by DWFNs for tuna caught in the the Kiribati EEZ. The Government of Kiribati (GoK) believes that Kiribati could get greater benefit if they develop their own domestic tuna fishery. This study uses Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and SWOT Analysis to investigate whether domestication of the tuna fishery is the right move for Kiribati or not. The CBA reported in this thesis adapted a model developed by Campbell (2004) to investigate and evaluate fisheries policy in Papua New Guinea (PNG). However the model in this thesis is reflective of the situation and case of Kiribati. In analyzing the different options identified in this study, the CBA indicated negative (-) NPV(s) for the medium-sized vessel option and positive (+) NPV(s) for the large-sized vessel option. The SWOT analysis however, complemented the CBA by further investigating the tuna domestication options in the economic, social and business and business environment of Kiribati. The SWOT analysis indicated that the existing situation and business conditions in Kiribati appears to favor the small to medium sized vessel options which are less risky than the large purse seine vessel option.

Ibn Iyās est un historien à cheval sur l'époque mamelouke et ottomane. Ce travail porte à la fois sur l'étude de la méthode d'Ibn Iyās dans l'organisation et la production de son ouvrage Badāʼiʽ al-zuhūr fī waqāʼiʽ al-duhūr et sur des analyses thématiques de contenu focalisées sur les données économiques et sociales. La biographie abordée dans le premier chapitre insiste notamment sur le cercle d'amis dans lequel évoluait l'auteur. Le second chapitre fait le point sur l’œuvre ainsi que sur les éditions de la chronique à travers son organisation en sections, tomes et volumes et de là à aborder la question de la datation de l’œuvre. Un recensement des notices nécrologiques et biographiques par catégorie sociale ainsi que l'étude de leur contenu et de la méthode d'Ibn Iyās font l'objet du chapitre 3, avec une attention particulière accordée aux citations poétiques accompagnant ces notices. Le chapitre 4 propose une analyse des faits relevant de l'histoire sociale ainsi les phénomènes naturels exceptionnels ayant retenu l'attention de l'auteur. Puis le chapitre suivant aborde des questions économiques, notamment les crues du Nil et leur impact sur la vie économique, de même que les questions monétaires. Dans chacun des deux chapitres, la méthode suivie par Ibn Iyās retient une attention particulière. Le chapitre 6 évoque les sources utilisées et décrit les modalités de production du texte mises en oeuvre par l'auteur. Trois annexes portant sur les manuscrits, les autres oeuvres d'Ibn Iyās et les répartitions des faits selon les expressions utilisées viennent clore ce travail. / Ibn Iyās was a historian straddling mamluk and Ottoman era. This work concerns at the same time the study of the method of Ibn Iyās in the organization and the production of its work Badāʼiʽ al-zuhūr fī waqāʼiʽ al-duhūr and on thematic analyses of contents focused on the economic and social data. The biographical approach of the first chapter insists in particular on the circle of friends in which the author evolved. The second chapter makes the point on the work as well as on the publishing of the chronicle through his organization in sections and volumes and from there to approach the question of the dating of the work. An inventory of the obituary and biographic notes by social category as well as the study of their contents and the method of Ibn Iyās are the object of the chapter 3, with a particular attention to poetic quotations accompanying such notices. Chapter 4 analyzes the facts relating to the social history and exceptional natural phenomena having attracted the attention of the author. Then the next chapter deals with economic issues, including the Nile floods and their impact on the economy, as well as monetary matters. In both chapters, the approach taken by Ibn Iyās holds attention. Chapter 6 discusses the sources used by the author and describes the process of text production. Three appendices on manuscripts, other works of Ibn Iyās and distributions made on the basis of the author expressions were used to conclude this work.