Micro-enterprise development initiatives and entrepreneurial competencies,innovativeness, and social capital in Malaysia

This article examines the effect of participation in development programmes designed for women micro-entrepreneurs on the development of entrepreneurial competencies, innovativeness, and social capital. The study employed a cross-sectional design and quasi-experimental approach, and collected data from 417 women micro-entrepreneurs in Malaysia. Findings reveal that the participants possess a significantly higher level of social capital, innovativeness, and entrepreneurial competencies. Development organisations should therefore focus on redesigning their policies and programmes to improve the breadth and depth of the development programmes that they offer, which ultimately lead to an improvement in the social-economic condition of low-income households in Malaysia.     

Beliefs,values, and traditions: re-thinking sustainable development using the Hñähñu example

Historically humans have used their territorial resources to meet their reproductive needs. In doing so, they have developed informal institutions through their systems of beliefs and values that have determined the sustainability of the resources they use from their environment. In this sense, this article evaluates the artisanship of the Hñähñu indigenous group as a case study that potentially help us to re-conceptualise sustainable development.     

Farmers’ perceptions of milk-collecting centres in Thailand's dairy industry

This study assessed farmers’ perceptions of milk-collecting centres (MCCs) in the central and north-eastern regions of Thailand. MCCs can be divided into two groups, dairy cooperatives and private organisations. There were similar perceptions about the role of MCCs among the farmers regarding the basic needs of dairy farmers, but with a stronger focus of economic issues for private organisation members, while dairy cooperative members views were more from the perspective of ownership. The farmers were somewhat satisfied with their MCCs’ performance, except that private organisation farmers were less satisfied with credit services. Policy recommendations are presented.     

自然人民事责任能力制度探讨

在传统民法中,责任能力制度主要适用于侵权法领域,是侵权责任承担的基础。但随着风险社会的来临以及侵权法救济功能的强化,该制度遭受到一定冲击,而基于责任能力进行过错判断的必要性也值得质疑。我国《侵权责任法》并未将责任能力设立为一般制度,只是在相关具体制度中有所涉及,并主要作为衡量过错和减轻责任的因素,在一定程度上对过错责任作用的发挥提供支持,从而更好地实现《侵权责任法》的救济功能。     

Putting endogenous development into practice

The gap between theories and the actual practice of development is often great, but the gap between concepts of endogenous approaches and the practice of endogenous development may be hardest to bridge, particularly when the funding agency is a global actor. Nathalie Tinguery, Country Program Coordinator for US African Development Foundation (USADF) in Burkina Faso, reflects on her experience of incorporating values and goals into her development practice of working with communities and for an international funder. She describes how she remains focused on endogenous development, what this means in her development practice, and what it is about USADF policies and practice that make this brand of endogenous development possible. Views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official positions of USADF.     

Indigenous languages and Africa's development dilemma

Most African states like The Gambia use European languages for state activities and formal education. Africa has been a global pilot site for “transplanted” development initiatives with apparently consistent outcomes: failure, medium triumph, or unsustainable “success stories”. Its natural resources have been fully exploited, perhaps at the expense of resources like mother-tongue languages. Sidelining mother-tongue languages as the medium for the translation of the voice of the state, explains the gap in cultural relevance of many borrowed development initiatives, but also the neglect of workable endogenous practices. Africa must look inwards and exploit its indigenous language assets to benefit sustained development.     

Identifying and understanding African norms and values that support endogenous development in Africa

Contemporary development issues are not new. All groups of people, based on their worldviews and contexts, found ways of addressing these societal problems. By their nature, solutions were relevant, legitimate, and sustainable in their contexts. A prerequisite for effective development practice is to understand and respect the roots of African culture. There needs to be a “rootedness” to change and development. Exogenous ideas and practices of potential benefit to Africa must build from the inside out, not outside-in, as an imposition. This article illustrates how African societies have viewed and dealt with these socio-political issues from within.     

Small-scale social-environmental enterprises in the green economy: supporting grassroots innovation

To achieve a top-to-bottom growth of the “green economy”, incentives and enablers need to be identified for those micro enterprises working at the grassroots level. A three-year study of 1,300 social and environmental enterprises in developing countries reveals how they are developing new products and services for their communities, using new business models. But their scale-up is hampered by lack of access to research and technology support and gender barriers, as well as challenges with complex partnerships, progress monitoring, and financial viability. A large pool of innovative ideas remains untapped and an opportunity to build a sustainable economy is being missed.     

Cassava value chain and its products in Morogoro rural district,Tanzania

This study was conducted to examine the cassava value chain and determine strategies for enhancing farmers' profitable participation in the chain, to reduce poverty in Tanzania. Data were collected from 98 farmers from three villages of Morogoro rural district. Profit and marketing margins along the cassava value chain were computed. A linear model was estimated whereby farm size, experience, total family labour, group participation, non-crop livelihood sources, and food insecurity were the main determinants of profitability. The emerging recommendation was for farmers' participation in profitable cassava value chain strands by strengthened coordination, improved cassava varieties, and enhanced agronomic practices and processing technologies.     

癫痫所致精神障碍患者的犯罪学特征研究

目的探讨法医精神病学鉴定中癫痫所致精神障碍患者的犯罪学特征。方法采用自编法医精神病学鉴定案例登记表,对98例癫痫所致精神障碍患者的犯罪学特征进行研究。依据CCMD-3划分为精神病性症状组(51例,52.04%)、人格改变组(42例,42.65%)和智能障碍组(5例,5.31%),并对精神病性症状组与人格改变组犯罪学特征对照分析。结果癫痫所致精神障碍患者违法犯罪者以未婚、青年男性农民为主。其犯罪学特征主要是被鉴定人与被害人双方关系一般(44.9%),无作案前预谋(53.1%),作案目标临时确定(69.4%),使用暴力手段(88.8%),无明显作案诱因(67.3%),作案目的以报复居多(40.4%),现实作案动机(42.9%),作案结果既遂(89.8%),作案次数以1次为主(88.8%),作案类型以凶杀(46.9%)为主,作案后多无自称遗忘(65.3%),作案后多以停留现场、不潜逃等非反侦查表现(57.1%)为主。精神病性症状组和人格改变组在作案预谋(χ2=27.64)、作案目的(χ2=13.0386)、作案动机(χ2=23.5290)和作案后表现(χ2=19.3591)方面的差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.005),作案目的以报复为主、作案动机以现实动机为主。结论癫痫所致精神障碍患者的犯罪学特征有多以无作案前预谋,多以报复为主要目的,作案后多无反侦查表现。与以精神病性症状为主要表现者相比,以人格改变为主要表现者多在现实动机下以报复为主要目的进行作案,因此在法医精神病学鉴定时应予重视。