Publications

To complement the quantitative and modeling research, the LIGHT Consortium utilised qualitative participatory action research methods in partner countries to actively engage communities affected by TB in data collection, analysis, dissemination and dialogue with decision makers. These communities included individuals with lived experiences, their caregivers, family members, and healthcare workers.  This participatory approach has been instrumental in co-creating solutions, shaping and informing person-centred, gender-responsive approaches to TB prevention and care. By involving communities directly, the consortium has highlighted the value of participatory methods in addressing complex issues including challenges of TB care across diverse settings. This engagement also strengthened understanding […]

From 2017 to 2020, Rwanda’s current Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showed a positive trend, rising from 882 billion USD to 919 billion USD in 2019-20. Over the same period, regarding healthcare financing, Rwanda’s Total Health Expenditure (THE) witnessed a steady increase over the three years under review. Additionally, THE as a percentage of GDP also demonstrated an upward trajectory, reflecting the country’s commitment to healthcare investment. Furthermore, Rwanda’s per capita THE in USD exhibited an upward trend over the same period. Download the evidence brief  to read more on the findings.  

Kenya’s policies regulate the delivery of people-centred healthcare, including TB prevention and care, through the Primary Health Care Networks comprising a primary health care referral facility (hub) and several other primary health care facilities (spokes). Person-centredness is about focusing care on the needs of people and providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individuals and communities affected by TB. However, most people with TB, who access health services in Kenya, are widely managed the same way with no attempt to distinguish care according to their circumstances.   Read more:

As of 2022, 57% of married women in Kenya were using modern contraceptives, up from 32% in 2003. Despite these gains, unmet needs persist, with 14% of Kenyan women who wish to delay or avoid pregnancy still unable to access contraception. While the Kenyan government has set an ambitious goal of increasing modern contraceptive use to 66% by 2030, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.7, achieving this target requires overcoming several barriers. Chief among them is the continued heavy reliance on international development partners for funding family planning programs, despite strategic calls for increased domestic investment. It is […]

Green banking involves financing practices by commercial banks, which are environmentally compliant and sustainable. Empirical studies reveal that financial institutions have adopted green banking policies in Kenya, Africa, and other developing countries worldwide. However, the adoption of green financing policies is still shallow compared to their industrialized counterparts. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to establish the relationship between green banking and the performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The specific objective of this study is to determine the relationship between electronic transaction volumes and profit before tax of commercial banks in Kenya using quantitative research paradigm and longitudinal time series research design. The study is anchored on the CAMEL model, CAMPARI framework and 5Cs lending model. Results of the study reveal that electronic transaction volumes significantly influence profit before tax of commercial banks in Kenya ((β =.64, p =0.000<0.05). Therefore, it is concluded that green banking influences the performance of commercial banks in Kenya. This study is essential to scholars, regulators and commercial bank managers.

Living conditions refer to circumstances regarding how people live. How people live is quite broad; it implies the quality of food people eat, the type and quality of houses people live in, the clothes people put on, access to health care, and access to quality education and sanitation. Living conditions define the overall well-being of a human being and, at times, are related to self-esteem and dignity. Besides, quality of living may dictate life expectancy and affect the nation’s overall productivity. Living conditions have been a worldwide concern to non-governmental organizations, various local governments, and stakeholders. The study, therefore, investigated the effect of NGO activities on living conditions in informal settlements in Kisumu City. The study used a literature review method; the inclusion criteria were that the study only reviewed literature done in Kisumu related to living conditions, NGOs, and informal settlements in Kisumu. The key search words were living conditions, NGO activities, and informal settlements in Kisumu County, and the study used Google Scholar as the database source of the articles reviewed. Results of the study revealed that despite NGO activities in informal settlements in Kisumu City, the effects of such activities on living conditions are dismal and not quantified. The study recommends a joint effort by stakeholders such as the County Government, the Central Government, the private sector, local development finance institutions, international development finance institutions, and individual philanthropists to help salvage the poor living conditions in informal settlements in Kisumu City. This study is essential to the citizens living in informal settlements, central and County Governments, NGOs, private sector firms, and all the stakeholders.

Theworldiscurrentlyfacingaclimatecrisiswithassociatedhealthandplane- tary consequences, and human activity is central to this crisis. Debates on the relationship between population and climate change provide a mixed picture, ranging from demonstrat- ing a clear link between large populous countries and greenhouse gas emissions to pointing to spurious associations between population growth and climate change. We submit that as the interaction between population dynamics and climate change is complex, a nuanced approach to climate mitigation and adaptation strategies is needed. Finding a solution to the climate crisis requires a concerted effort by all nations, whether rich or poor. While there is an urgent need for more industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, poorer countries with fast-growing populations must do their part in climate mitigation even as they pursue economic development. Addressing intertwined issues of population growth, economic development and climate change necessitates purposeful measures and long-term commitments to a world in harmony with nature.

Accountability is an important aspect of all organisations today. Accountable NGOs have been found to receive large funding from donors and thus undertake development programs that alleviate human suffering. This study is set to establish the accountability of donor funding by non-governmental organisations in Kisumu County. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The target population was the NGOs located in Kisumu County- Kenya. The population was made up of all the 187 NGOs in the region. The use of open-ended questions was justified because some of the information concerned sensitive matters of the NGOs, particularly those involving finances and governance. The study established that donor funding was dependent on the accountability mechanisms put in place by the implementing NGOs. The study revealed that NGOs were expected to keep a minimum set of financial statements, e.g. Statements of comprehensive income, statements of financial position and cash flow statements.

The study revealed that community involvement in the oversight of NGOs was still not adequately practised and that satisfaction of the employees with their pay perks could not be established. Donors were keen on compliance with the laws of the country and involved the oversight bodies in checking the compliance and legitimacy of the NGOs before funding and partnering with them. It was established that donors expected performance measurements to be done and that NGOs prepared specific reports. The donors also demanded that the authenticity of the financial statements be verified by independent auditors. Therefore, this study recommends that NGOs develop proper and effective accountability mechanisms to measure performance and enhance legitimacy and accountability. This will include using proper performance measurement tools and compliance with donor and government regulations to secure sustained financing and ensure that the County’s development agenda is achieved. The study further recommends that the NGOs procure the services of recognised audit firms that will offer value-adding audits, which, in effect, will boost donor confidence.

Despite successes, challenges remain in extending coverage to informal sector workers and addressing disparities in service accessibility across regions. The review of Indonesia’s health financing approaches provides valuable insights for other countries, particularly in leveraging private sector participation, enhancing revenue and risk pooling, and decentralising health spending to improve service delivery.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health concern in Kenya despite the massive global efforts towards ending TB. Notably, TB cases are much higher in men than women. This political economy analysis (PEA) study provides in-depth contexts and understanding of the gender gaps to access and successful treatment for TB infection. The impediments to TB prevention and care efforts include poor health systems, resource limitations and other sociopolitical contexts that inform policy and implementation. Broad contextual factors identified from the PEA widen the disparity in targeted gender efforts toward men. Following the development of effective TB policies and strategies, it is […]

Zambia has made some progress in improving its health system and expanding access to health services, especially for the poor and vulnerable groups (Masiye et al., 2016). However, it still relies on external funding, high out-of-pocket (OOP) payments, and low coverage of health insurance (Chansa et al., 2020). To address these challenges, Zambia has adopted and implemented various innovative health financing mechanisms. This evidence brief unpacks the health financing mechanisms in Zambia.

Female sterilisation is the most common contraceptive method used globally. The use of female sterilisation is disproportionately low in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) at just 1%. Nonetheless, the prevalence of sterilisation among married women in Malawi is quite high at about 11%. While a few recent studies in SSA have examined the relationship between women’s decision-making autonomy and use of long-acting contraceptives, very few have investigated whether different dimensions of decision-making autonomy predict the use of female sterilisation differently. The objective of this study was therefore to examine the relationship between health care and contraceptive decision-making autonomy and the use of […]