World Development Perspectives最新文献

{"title":"Exploring health insurance as a financial buffer in Maternal and Child Health in the Democratic Republic of Congo","authors":"Alexis Nyamugira Biringanine ,&nbsp;Steffen Flessa","doi":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100677","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100677","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the low health insurance coverage among pregnant women and new mothers in selected health zones of DRC, aiming to identify underlying factors and associated implications. The results from the sociodemographic analysis show that only 3% of our respondents reported having insurance coverage. This low coverage is primarily attributed to financial constraints, lack of information, and perceived low value relative to premium costs. The study revealed significant barriers to health insurance uptake, including inadequate health and insurance literacy. Without insurance, households often resort to coping strategies such as family support, informal borrowing, and reduced investment in children’s education. The study also highlights that enhanced health insurance literacy is positively associated with health insurance adoption and better health outcomes. Addressing low health insurance coverage requires targeted interventions to improve financial access and health literacy, and disseminate transparent information about insurance benefits. Implementing health insurance schemes could alleviate financial burdens, minimize reliance on informal networks, and improve health outcomes. Enhanced health insurance coverage, through effective communication and education, could substantially benefit socioeconomic conditions, particularly for mothers and children in the DRC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37831,"journal":{"name":"World Development Perspectives","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 100677"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143864563","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}

{"title":"Community perceptions of potable water quality and public health implications in flood-affected areas of Nowshera District, Pakistan","authors":"Muhammad Tufail ,&nbsp;Muhammad Jamal Nasir ,&nbsp;Atta-ur Rahman ,&nbsp;Syed Ihtisham Kakakhel ,&nbsp;Mehreen Ashraf ,&nbsp;Aqil Tariq","doi":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100679","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100679","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Access to safe and affordable water is indispensable for human health. However, the challenges posed by climate change and its impacts seriously threaten water supply systems. Therefore, it is crucial to understand public perceptions of water quality and its impact on human health. The current research study aims to investigate community perceptions about the status of potable water quality and its effects on human health in flood-affected neighborhood councils (NCs) of the Nowshera district. Public perceptions were assessed via household surveys, community interviews, and focus group discussions with relevant officials and community members. Eleven NCs, representing 2% of households, were surveyed. Respondents were queried about their perception of water quality, satisfaction with municipal water services, climate change, changes in water quality after floods, and the impact of polluted water on human health. Data was meticulously recorded using the Kobo Collect tool for subsequent analysis. The results highlight that 97% of respondents in NC Mana Khel and 63% in Dagi Khel were not satisfied with the water quality after the flood. Similarly, in Khalil Abad, Mana Khel, and Allah-yar Khel, 100% of respondents, 96% in Behram Khan Khel, and 93% in Nawa Kalli reported significant changes in water quality after floods. The findings of this study can empower public health professionals and policymakers to effectively target public awareness initiatives and formulate policies related to potable water.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37831,"journal":{"name":"World Development Perspectives","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 100679"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143844651","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}

{"title":"Managing two locations: Relocation, resettlement and negotiated immobility of climate-displaced communities in Zimbabwe","authors":"Tomy Ncube ,&nbsp;Una Murray","doi":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100676","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100676","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are often forgotten, with their views rarely sought or considered in discussions and decisions that directly impact their lives. This study adopts a mixed method approach to document lived experiences of IDPs in Zimbabwe. Using a case study methodology, and combining qualitative and quantitative methods, we contribute to the understanding of the socio-economic, cultural and institutional dynamics that shape the lives of Cyclone survivors in Tshino and Sawudweni villages-Tsholotsho, with findings offering insights into the challenges and resilience strategies of IDPs. Data was collected from sixty-seven household heads and six key informants; and thematically analysed. We find that there are gaps in achieving durable solutions for those relocated by the Government of Zimbabwe. These gaps are evidenced in the lack of sustainable livelihoods, restricted access to land use, and limited access to basic services and amenities associated with displacement. Our results demonstrate that the difficulties in securing long-term solutions arise from the lack of specific policies addressing the management of displacements and relocations. In response to post-relocation gaps, households demonstrate agency through managing two locations: their original marooned homes from 2017 where they keep their livestock and grow their crops, and the government relocated houses. Contrary to literature that paints immobility as ‘helpless’, our study challenges the notion of immobility as being ‘trapped’, instead presenting (im)mobility as an act of agency. Our findings present the underrepresented perspectives of IDPs in Zimbabwe, providing insights to inform both policy and practice in displacement contexts, noting the importance of promoting strategies to enhance livelihoods; and the need for participatory approaches and civic infrastructure to ensure accountability to affected populations. Implementing sector-specific policies for planned relocations and climate-induced displacement would benefit from prioritising livelihood or livelihood diversification approaches to help IDPs cope and thrive in their new circumstances.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37831,"journal":{"name":"World Development Perspectives","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 100676"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143834920","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}

{"title":"Perception and factors affecting farmers’ adoption of smart agriculture in Vietnam: Implications for extension strategies","authors":"Duc Thanh Tran ,&nbsp;My Thi Dieu Duong ,&nbsp;Hung Gia Hoang","doi":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100691","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100691","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research is designed to look at vegetable and crop farmers’ perception of smart agriculture and factors that influence farmers’ decision to adopt smart agriculture in Vietnam. The questionnaire was developed to randomly survey 211 vegetable and crop households from a total population of 477 vegetable and crop farming households. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. It was found that vegetable and crop farmers who frequently communicate with agronomists/researchers were in a better position to adopt smart agricultural technologies including soil georeferenced sampling, auto pilot spraying, management software and application of variable-rate fertilizers and correctives than those who did not communicate with these people. Vegetable and crop farmers who often communicate with extension workers tend to be users of auto pilot spraying and application of variable-rate fertilizers and correctives. Younger vegetable and crop farmers who had higher levels of education are in a greater position to adopt soil georeferenced sampling, auto pilot spraying, management software and application of variable-rate fertilizers and correctives than older vegetable and crop farmers who had lower levels of education. Vegetable and crop farmers who engaged in rural credit/training programmes are better soil georeferenced sampling users than those who did not engage in these development programmes. Developing and promoting a new agricultural extension model that bases on high-quality farmer and scientist interaction and considers demographic and socio-economic characteristics of farmers is a suitable agricultural education and extension strategy, which can facilitate farmers’ adoption of smart agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37831,"journal":{"name":"World Development Perspectives","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 100691"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144090163","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}

{"title":"Perspectives from historical analyses of agri-food system transformations: A case study of Odisha, India","authors":"Anindita Sarkar ,&nbsp;Aditi Mukherji","doi":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100686","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100686","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rural society in Odisha, India, has been associated with widespread poverty and low purchasing power since the British colonial times. Odisha has consistently reported lower yields of crops and input use in agriculture compared to the national Indian average since India’s independence in 1947. Poor agricultural growth and rural poverty could be traced to colonial, extractive land revenue administration and poor land management practices. Post-independence scholarship has ascribed the continuation of rural poverty and distress to high exposure to natural hazards and high societal vulnerability due to development deficits. By analysing the historical evolution of policies since the 1850s, the study finds that even though the political and economic contexts have changed, low investment in agriculture remains the primary challenge even today. The cycle of low capital investment in agriculture, lack of adoption of better farm technologies, and overall public sector neglect of the agriculture sector has perpetuated, leading to low productivity. Therefore, it is time for the present policies to break away from these historical path dependencies to create a just and sustainable future for Odisha’s agri-food system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37831,"journal":{"name":"World Development Perspectives","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 100686"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144068902","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}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Financing the basic income support in South Africa under fiscal constraints” [World Dev. Perspect. 37 (2025) 100657]","authors":"Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu ,&nbsp;Martin Henseler ,&nbsp;Helene Maisonnave ,&nbsp;Ramos E. Mabugu","doi":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100669","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100669","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37831,"journal":{"name":"World Development Perspectives","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 100669"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143628072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding livelihood strategies and coping mechanisms adopted during COVID-19: A study on Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh","authors":"Minakshi Keeni","doi":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100672","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100672","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has disrupted the lives of people worldwide, severely impacting marginalized communities. Among marginalized communities, Rohingya refugees face numerous challenges, including limited access to education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities. Therefore, this study seeks to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the various livelihood choices pursued by Rohingya refugees and the related coping mechanisms adopted. Additionally, the study also looks into the effectiveness of the various types of aid provided to the refugees. This study draws on quantitative data collected through face-to-face interviews conducted in September 2022. Using a cross-sectional dataset covering 339 households from Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, we performed a regression analysis to find out the adoption of coping mechanisms based on livelihood choices. Results revealed that refugees who were self-employed were the most impacted by the pandemic, additionally, a rise in the shift of livelihoods of refugees from employment to self-employment during the pandemic was also recorded. Regarding the coping mechanisms adopted by the self-employed, the most popular coping mechanisms were the sale of breeding animals and the withdrawal of children from school. Additionally, the majority of self-employed refugees prioritized the change or recovery of their livelihoods. Hence, it is recommended that aid agencies and the host government provide additional non-monetary assistance to Rohingya refugees who have recently shifted their livelihood activities from employed to self-employed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37831,"journal":{"name":"World Development Perspectives","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 100672"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143578474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"‘I feed my family but I own no land’: Understanding the complexities of women’s irrigable land access and wellbeing in northern Ghana","authors":"Ibrahim Abu Abdulai","doi":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Community irrigation schemes play a key role in the sustenance of rural women farmers. However, the literature on how women’s irrigable land access is intertwined with wellbeing under community irrigation schemes is still evolving. There is a need to deepen knowledge of the contemporary dynamics of irrigable land access, given its priority in promoting women’s empowerment. This study draws evidence from the Wa West District, Ghana, to unravel the nuance of women’s irrigable land accessibility under community irrigation schemes using a qualitative research approach involving 59 participants. Thematic analysis of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions revealed that women have access to irrigable land, albeit under implicit and explicit conditions like shouldering household feeding responsibilities and household irrigable land size. Women’s access to irrigable land for irrigation farming helped improve their welfare through supplementary income, a step towards the first Sustainable Development Goal. However, the underdevelopment of irrigation infrastructure limited production efforts. Constructing canals and fences and providing water-pumping machines will help boost production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37831,"journal":{"name":"World Development Perspectives","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 100659"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143161805","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}

{"title":"Financing the Basic income support in South Africa under fiscal constraints","authors":"Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu ,&nbsp;Martin Henseler ,&nbsp;Helene Maisonnave ,&nbsp;Ramos E. Mabugu","doi":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100657","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100657","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war and climate change-induced disasters that have led to worldwide poverty increases, have re-ignited discussions about the urgency of pro-poor support programs. South Africa offers a current and topical example to this discourse with the government’s intention to introduce a basic income support covering everyone in the age group 18–59 years who is neither disabled nor employed. Expanding social protection to reach those currently receiving no support within a severely constrained fiscal environment raises affordability and developmental challenges relevant to many other developing countries grappling with similar issues. It raises questions such as whether the planned support grant effectively reduces inequality and poverty. How does the grant impact the entire economy? What are the best funding options to create fiscal space? Model-based assessments like the one implemented in this research provide information to contribute to these questions and, therefore to a policy discussion. This study develops a micro–macro modelling approach with alternative fiscal financing options to address these developmental and affordability issues simultaneously and systematically. The analysis suggests that the government could address growing poverty and inequality in the short term with benign impacts on macroeconomic and fiscal outcomes while the country looks for other initiatives to achieve higher growth and employment in the long run.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37831,"journal":{"name":"World Development Perspectives","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 100657"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143161818","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}

{"title":"Ethics and Equity: Addressing Violations of the Belmont Report principles for research staff","authors":"Jana Kuhnt ,&nbsp;Lennart Kaplan ,&nbsp;Ana Garcia-Hernandez ,&nbsp;Julia Leininger ,&nbsp;Janina I. Steinert","doi":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100662","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wdp.2025.100662","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Particularly in development research, data is often collected in settings characterised by high deprivation, risk and power asymmetries, which aggravates working conditions of research staff. This perspectives article introduces a novel conceptual framework that identifies ethical challenges, failures and potential solutions. It is based on an analysis of 57 semi-structured interviews with research staff across hierarchies, world regions, gender and institutions. We find that the research environments in the ‘Global South’ often pose particular challenges to research staff and if not addressed can be harmful in terms of insecurity, sexual harassment, emotional distress, exploitative employment conditions and discrimination. Addressing ethical failures in research requires change across different levels, with a particular focus on alleviating structural asymmetries as a key driver of ethical challenges. Our findings provide a toolkit to (i) ensure the wellbeing of research staff, (ii) improve the ethical integrity of empirical research, and (iii) increase the rigour of data.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37831,"journal":{"name":"World Development Perspectives","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 100662"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143438109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}