World Development Sustainability最新文献

Does gender play a role in the adoption of sustainable intensification? Plot-level evidence from Senegal 性别是否在采用可持续集约化方面发挥作用？来自塞内加尔的情节证据

World Development Sustainability Pub Date : 2025-09-15 DOI: 10.1016/j.wds.2025.100255

Arouna Kouandou

{"title":"Does gender play a role in the adoption of sustainable intensification? Plot-level evidence from Senegal","authors":"Arouna Kouandou","doi":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100255","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100255","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sustainable Development Goal 5 aims to achieve gender equality. In rural communities across sub-Saharan Africa—where agriculture remains the primary livelihood—addressing gender disparities in access to and adoption of improved agricultural technologies is critical for inclusive development. This paper contributes to the growing literature on gender gaps in sustainable intensification by examining disparities in the adoption of conservation agriculture practices within extended rural households, the predominant social and economic unit in Senegal. We conduct a plot-level analysis to investigate how the gender of plot managers influences the adoption of three key conservation practices: fallowing, crop residue mulching, and crop rotation. These practices are foundational to sustainable intensification, offering long-term benefits for soil health, agricultural productivity, and climate resilience. However, structural and social barriers—such as limited labor availability, unequal access to extension services, and entrenched gender norms—may impede women’s adoption of such practices. To rigorously identify gender-based differences and address potential selection bias stemming from gender role perceptions, we apply two complementary identification strategies: a selection-on-observables design and entropy balancing. These methods are implemented using detailed plot-level data from the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 waves of the Senegalese Annual Agricultural Survey. Our findings reveal that plots managed by women are significantly less likely to adopt sustainable practices than comparable plots managed by men, with the most pronounced disparities in crop rotation and residue mulching. These results highlight the importance of gender-responsive agricultural policies, particularly in designing extension services and information systems that effectively reach and empower women farmers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101285,"journal":{"name":"World Development Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100255"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145094769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Adoption of climate-smart agriculture among smallholder cashew farmers in Jaman North, Ghana: Interventions, determinants, and barriers 加纳Jaman North的腰果小农采用气候智能型农业：干预措施、决定因素和障碍

World Development Sustainability Pub Date : 2025-09-14 DOI: 10.1016/j.wds.2025.100256

Frank Baffour-Ata , Lawrence Guodaar , Winifred Ayinpogbilla Atiah , Rebecca Naa Merley Larbi

{"title":"Adoption of climate-smart agriculture among smallholder cashew farmers in Jaman North, Ghana: Interventions, determinants, and barriers","authors":"Frank Baffour-Ata , Lawrence Guodaar , Winifred Ayinpogbilla Atiah , Rebecca Naa Merley Larbi","doi":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100256","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an innovative intervention for building resilient livelihoods and food systems in smallholder farming communities. Yet, there is limited evidence on adopting CSAs and their socio-economic determinants to facilitate sustainable cashew production under climate change in Ghana. This study examines the adoption of CSA practices among smallholder cashew farmers in the Jaman North District of Ghana. It explores the extent to which various CSA interventions are utilized, the influence of socioeconomic factors on adoption rates, and the barriers farmers face in implementing these practices. Through a mixed-method approach, involving questionnaire surveys with 250 smallholder farmers, 10 focus group discussions, and 5 key informant interviews, the research identifies mulching (<em>RII</em> = 0.987), mixed farming (<em>RII</em> = 0.959), and the use of drought-resistant cashew varieties (<em>RII</em> = 0.951) as the most prevalent CSA practices adopted by the smallholder cashew farmers. The study also reveals that socioeconomic factors such as gender, age, educational level, and access to extension services significantly affect CSA adoption. The primary barriers to adoption are inadequate government support (<em>PCI</em> = 1118), limited access to agricultural credit (<em>PCI</em> = 1105), and a lack of modern tools and technology (<em>PCI</em> = 1051). This research provides valuable insights for policymakers, suggesting that enhancing institutional support, improving access to credit and technology, and addressing information gaps can significantly increase CSA adoption and contribute to the region’s resilience and sustainability of cashew farming.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101285,"journal":{"name":"World Development Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100256"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145157172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Mapping research needs and priorities in Malawi’s construction industry for enhanced sector performance 绘制马拉维建筑业的研究需求和优先事项，以提高部门绩效

World Development Sustainability Pub Date : 2025-09-03 DOI: 10.1016/j.wds.2025.100248

Patsani Gregory Kumambala , Grivin Chipula , Nema Matekenya , Evance Chaima , Sheila Kavwenje , Lenard Kumwenda , Chikondi Makwiza

{"title":"Mapping research needs and priorities in Malawi’s construction industry for enhanced sector performance","authors":"Patsani Gregory Kumambala , Grivin Chipula , Nema Matekenya , Evance Chaima , Sheila Kavwenje , Lenard Kumwenda , Chikondi Makwiza","doi":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100248","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100248","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The construction industry in Malawi plays a pivotal role in national development yet faces persistent challenges that hinder its performance and sustainability. This study aimed to identify and prioritise research needs across key stakeholder groups within the industry, using a mixed-methods approach. Data were collected through structured questionnaires (<em>n</em> = 83) and follow-up interviews (<em>n</em> = 12) involving contractors, consultants, government officials, academics, and development partners. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and basic inferential tests (chi-square) to examine stakeholder differences, while qualitative responses were thematically coded. The findings reveal consensus around critical issues such as the influx of substandard materials, lack of skilled labour, poor enforcement of construction regulations, and limited research integration into practice. The study also uncovers stakeholder-specific gaps, including weak industry-academic collaboration, underutilisation of digital tools, and insufficient policy alignment. While comparative insights are drawn from international contexts, the analysis emphasises the local institutional and infrastructural constraints that affect Malawi’s construction ecosystem. The study concludes with actionable recommendations for research funding, capacity building, and policy reform to support sector-wide innovation and resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101285,"journal":{"name":"World Development Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100248"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145009934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Spatio-temporal impact of R&D innovation on carbon emission intensity: A comparative analysis of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Pearl River Delta urban agglomerations 研发创新对碳排放强度的时空影响——以京津冀和珠三角城市群为例

World Development Sustainability Pub Date : 2025-09-03 DOI: 10.1016/j.wds.2025.100247

Qianting Zhu, Xiyue Wang

{"title":"Spatio-temporal impact of R&D innovation on carbon emission intensity: A comparative analysis of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Pearl River Delta urban agglomerations","authors":"Qianting Zhu, Xiyue Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100247","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100247","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>China places significant emphasis on reducing carbon emission intensity, with research and development (R&D) innovation serving as an effective approach, particularly among industrial businesses in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) urban agglomeration. Based on 2010- 2022 panel data, this study assesses the spatio-temporal effects of the R&D scale and innovation efficiency on carbon emission intensity in BTH and PRD. The findings reveal that (1) in terms of indicator calculation, there exist differences in R&D innovation between the BTH and the PRD. The R&D scale in the BTH followed an S-shaped growth pattern, while the PRD experienced steady growth; the innovation efficiency gap among areas in the PRD is generally smaller than in the BTH. (2) In a spatial perspective, both urban agglomerations exhibit spatial effects on carbon emission intensity through different transmission pathways. (3) In a temporal perspective, the BTH's R&D scale impact on carbon emission intensity evolves in two stages. In the PRD, the effect of innovation efficiency on carbon emission intensity reveals characteristics of extended accumulation. This study compares the spatio-temporal impacts of R&D innovation on carbon emission intensity in these two crucial urban agglomerations and highlights their differences.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101285,"journal":{"name":"World Development Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100247"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145009935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Geospatial analysis of land use dynamics and urban growth characteristics in Tinsukia District, Assam, India 印度阿萨姆邦廷苏基亚地区土地利用动态和城市增长特征的地理空间分析

World Development Sustainability Pub Date : 2025-09-02 DOI: 10.1016/j.wds.2025.100251

Praduyt Dey , Arpana Handique , Santanu Kumar Patnaik , Shukla Acharjee , Jiten Hazarika

{"title":"Geospatial analysis of land use dynamics and urban growth characteristics in Tinsukia District, Assam, India","authors":"Praduyt Dey , Arpana Handique , Santanu Kumar Patnaik , Shukla Acharjee , Jiten Hazarika","doi":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100251","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100251","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land use change driven by urbanization alters the landscape, transforming natural habitats into built surfaces, which impacts ecological balance and socio-economic development. The present research tries to investigate two components of landscape dynamics in the Tinsukia district of Assam, India: (i) LULC change (2003–2023) and (ii) assessment of urban growth. The LULC maps for the years, 2003, 2013, and 2023 were prepared through support vector machine (SVM) techniques using Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7, and 8 OLI/TIRS imageries with 88.88 %, 86.60 %, and 80 % overall accuracy and 0.87, 0.85 and 0.89 kappa coefficient values for 2003, 2013, and 2023 respectively. The urban sprawl assessment used the LecoS tools, Landscape Expansion Index (LEI), Area-Weighed Mean Expansion Index (AWMEI), and Shannon’s entropy method. The result revealed a significant shift in various LULC classes with a notable expansion of plantation areas from 16.69 % (637.30 sq. km) to 32.98 % (1259.51 sq. km) and the built-up areas increasing from 1.54 % (58.96 sq. km) to 6.33 % (241.72 sq. km) in 2003 and 2023, respectively. The urban sprawl studies between 2003 and 2023 revealed urban expansion, mostly characterized by edge expansion types and scattered patterns. The highly dispersed pattern of urban growth was validated through Shannon’s entropy values of 2.77 and 2.14 between 2003–2013 and 2013–2023, respectively. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of using GIS-based indices combined with statistical applications for urban growth assessment. The findings of the research will promote sustainable urban planning and contribute to environmental conservation in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101285,"journal":{"name":"World Development Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100251"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145048835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Promoting sustainable industrialization by exploring workforce perception towards green hydrogen adoption 通过探索劳动力对采用绿色氢的认知，促进可持续工业化

World Development Sustainability Pub Date : 2025-09-02 DOI: 10.1016/j.wds.2025.100252

Sidhartha Harichandan , Sanjay Kumar Kar

{"title":"Promoting sustainable industrialization by exploring workforce perception towards green hydrogen adoption","authors":"Sidhartha Harichandan , Sanjay Kumar Kar","doi":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100252","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100252","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the determinants of employees’ personal norms that influence the intention to adopt green hydrogen technologies in industries, using the Norm-activation model. Drawing on the responses of 235 industry professionals from India and employing structural equation modelling, the study finds that awareness of consequences (β = 0.529, <em>p</em> < 0.001), awareness of needs (β = 0.152, <em>p</em> < 0.05), and situational responsibility (β = 0.176, <em>p</em> < 0.01) positively shape personal norms. Perceived efficacy showed a negative influence (β = –0.094, <em>p</em> < 0.05), while perceived ability was insignificant. Personal norms strongly predicted the intention to adopt green hydrogen (β = 0.715, <em>p</em> < 0.001), moderated by annual industry turnover. The study highlights gaps in workforce preparedness and recommends targeted upskilling, institutional collaboration, and policy incentives. This research contributes to the sustainable industrialization discourse by integrating organizational behavior with clean energy adoption and provides actionable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders to align workforce readiness with green hydrogen implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101285,"journal":{"name":"World Development Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100252"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145009933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Energy poverty in Seoul: Current status and the effect of government supports 首尔市能源贫困现状及政府支援效果

World Development Sustainability Pub Date : 2025-09-02 DOI: 10.1016/j.wds.2025.100253

In Chang Hwang, Jong-rak Baek

{"title":"Energy poverty in Seoul: Current status and the effect of government supports","authors":"In Chang Hwang, Jong-rak Baek","doi":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100253","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100253","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We estimate the current status of energy poverty in Seoul and examine the effect of policy measures on alleviating energy poverty. One of the main findings is that 2.4 % of the total households in Seoul are suffering from energy poverty based on the 2M indicator (twice the median ratio of energy expenditure to household income). The hidden energy poverty measured as the share of low-income households whose energy expenditure is less than a half of the median expenditure of national households is 2.7 %, which is similar to the proportion of households who respond that they have experienced a lack of energy services during summer or winter or the health effects from energy poverty (2.8∼3.2 %). We find that government supports are useful for alleviating energy poverty from various evaluation methods. The share of low-income households suffering from energy poverty decreases by 1.2∼2.7 % points due to government supports. Government supports help low-income households to reduce energy expenditure by 32.1 %∼38.7 % on average. A reduction in energy expenditure by 1000 Korean won ($0.86) a month due to government supports reduces the probability that low-income households fall in energy poverty by 25.5∼33.4 %, which is far more effective than income redistribution policies to raise household income.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101285,"journal":{"name":"World Development Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100253"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145094768","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Assessing livelihood vulnerability to climate change in rural India 评估印度农村生计对气候变化的脆弱性

World Development Sustainability Pub Date : 2025-09-02 DOI: 10.1016/j.wds.2025.100249

Kyawt Yin Min Thein , Vivek Kumar , Vijayaraghavan M Chariar , Takuji W. Tsusaka

{"title":"Assessing livelihood vulnerability to climate change in rural India","authors":"Kyawt Yin Min Thein , Vivek Kumar , Vijayaraghavan M Chariar , Takuji W. Tsusaka","doi":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100249","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100249","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study aims to assess the socio-economic and environmental vulnerability of farming households using the Composite Index (CI), to identify key challenges faced by farmers across various sectors such as agriculture, water, and forests due to climate change, and to evluate barriers to adaptation for building resilience in hill farming communities. A structured survey was conducted with 367 households across thee villages Pali, Wali, and Ason, collecting data on socio-demegraphic characteristics, livelihood strategies, health, food security, water resources, exposure to natural hazards, and constraints to adaptive actions. Key vulnerability indicators were selected, and an index-based method was applied to generate composite scores for the three core components of vulnerability: exposure, susceptibility, and adaptive capacity. These composite scores were subsequently categorized to determine the vulnerability level of each household. Pali is considered the most vulnerable among the study villages due to its highest proportion of households (5.5%) classified as highly vulnerable, despite similar average vulnerability scores across sites. The GRT analysis highlighted that limited access to information on appropriate climate-smart practices was the primary barrier among the sampled households. The study highlights the importance of adaptive capacity and exposure in mitigating climate change's impact on livelihoods. Strategies include promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, improving water distribution systems, enhancing dairy production, supporting sustainable non-timber forest use, integrating rice-fish farming, developing artisanal skills, and growing agro-industries. Government assistance is also crucial for sustainable community adaptation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101285,"journal":{"name":"World Development Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100249"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145048747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Exploring local residents’ response to ecological resettlement policy: a TPB-based study in Zhalong National Nature Reserve 当地居民对生态移民政策的反应：基于tbb的扎龙国家级自然保护区研究

World Development Sustainability Pub Date : 2025-09-02 DOI: 10.1016/j.wds.2025.100246

Zhi Wang , Ting Ma , Hao Zhu , Ding Yang

{"title":"Exploring local residents’ response to ecological resettlement policy: a TPB-based study in Zhalong National Nature Reserve","authors":"Zhi Wang , Ting Ma , Hao Zhu , Ding Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Studies on residents' ecological conservation behaviors primarily focus on personal and socio-economic factors, neglecting crucial psychological aspects like intentions and perceptions. To address this gap, this study investigates the implementation of the ecological resettlement policy in the Zhalong Nature Reserve in northeast China, analyzing how residents respond to it using the Theory of Planned Behavior as the analytical framework. Drawing on survey data, the study quantitatively assesses the influence of residents’ attitudes, subjective norms, and policy evaluations on their behavioral intentions. The results reveal that higher evaluation of ecological resettlement policy promotes policy adoption. Attitudes towards policy positively influence intentions, but subjective norms have a negative effect. By situating Theory of Planned Behavior within a broader institutional context, this study offers a behavioral lens on ecological resettlement, highlighting the importance of participation, transparency, and flexible, locally sensitive strategies. It advances the literature by emphasizing social norms, place attachment, and policy perception beyond economic evaluations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101285,"journal":{"name":"World Development Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100246"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145048836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Understanding household dynamics differently: A multilevel analysis of individual, household, and community influences on household size for sustainable development in Northern Ghana 以不同的方式理解家庭动态：加纳北部个人、家庭和社区对可持续发展家庭规模影响的多层次分析

World Development Sustainability Pub Date : 2025-09-02 DOI: 10.1016/j.wds.2025.100250

Moomin Solahudeen Tando , Mutala Gawusu Sidik , Shuaib Dong Ahmed , Sidique Gawusu , Seidu Abdulai Jamatutu , Mohammed Abdul-Fatawu

{"title":"Understanding household dynamics differently: A multilevel analysis of individual, household, and community influences on household size for sustainable development in Northern Ghana","authors":"Moomin Solahudeen Tando , Mutala Gawusu Sidik , Shuaib Dong Ahmed , Sidique Gawusu , Seidu Abdulai Jamatutu , Mohammed Abdul-Fatawu","doi":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100250","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wds.2025.100250","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines household size determinants in Northern Ghana using multilevel modeling across individual, household, and community levels. Analysis of 240 households across 20 communities in three northern regions reveals that community-level factors overshadow individual characteristics in determining household size. The average household size of 12.91 members (SD = 8.67) shows substantial community-level variance (12.700), accounting for 42.3% of the total variance. Individual-level predictors (age, gender, education) fail to achieve statistical significance (<em>p</em> > 0.05) when community context is properly accounted for. Communities exhibit marked differences in household sizes, ranging from 7.75 to 19.4 members. Food security analysis indicates that very large households (>15 members) report better outcomes, with only 30.5% experiencing food insufficiency compared to 73.7% of small households (≤5 members). These findings challenge conventional approaches that prioritize individual behavior change, instead highlighting the necessity for community-centric policies that recognize household structures as adaptive responses to local conditions. This study emphasizes the importance of tailored, community-specific interventions for effective rural development by aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, and Sustainable Communities. This multilevel perspective offers a more nuanced framework for understanding household dynamics in rural settings, with significant implications for designing sustainable livelihood interventions in Northern Ghana and similar contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101285,"journal":{"name":"World Development Sustainability","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100250"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145009936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0