Broken Pumps and Promises


Book Description

This volume highlights some of the challenges in delivering effective environmental health interventions, and presents examples of emergent theories and case studies that can help close the gap between intent and impact. These include impact crediting systems, objective evidence gathering tools, and social businesses that service environmental health. The case studies presented cross disciplines, scales, organizational and national boundaries and can defy easy categorization. A water project may be designed for a health impact, but financed with a climate change tool, and leverage high tech cell phone sensors. A cookstove program may be primarily concerned with employment and capacity building, but balance environmental and health concerns. Presently, the impact of interventions may not always be aligned to the intent sought. In this book, readers will discover alternative ways to move the mindset of funders and implementers toward pay-for-performance models of humanitarian and environmental interventions. Undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in social enterprise, social entrepreneurship, global health, appropriate technology, international development and development engineering would benefit from these increasingly non-traditional case studies that challenge commonly accepted presentations of poverty reduction and social enterprise.




The Global Engineers


Book Description

The Global Engineers: Building a Safe and Equitable World Together, is inspired by the opportunities for engineers to contribute to global prosperity. This book presents a vision for Global Engineering, and identifies that engineers should be concerned with the unequal and unjust distribution of access to basic services, such as water, sanitation, energy, food, transportation, and shelter. As engineers, we should place an emphasis on identifying the drivers, determinants, and solutions to increasing equitable access to reliable services. Global Engineering envisions a world where everyone has safe water, sanitation, energy, food, shelter, and infrastructure, and can live in health, dignity, and prosperity. This book seeks to examine the role and ultimately the impact of engineers in global development. Engineers are solutions-oriented people. We enjoy the opportunity to identify a product or need, and design appropriate technical solutions. However, the structural and historical barriers to global prosperity requires that Engineers focus more broadly on improving the tools and practice of poverty reduction and that we include health, economics, policy, and governance as relevant expertise with which we are conversant. Engineers must become activists and advocates, rejecting ahistorical technocratic approaches that suggest poverty can be solved without justice or equity. Engineers must leverage our professional skills and capacity to generate evidence and positive impact toward rectifying inequalities and improving lives. Half of this book is dedicated to profiles of engineers and other technical professionals who have dedicated their careers to searching for solutions to global development challenges. These stories introduce the reader to the diverse opportunities and challenges in Global Engineering.




The Daughter's Promise


Book Description

Family is everything to Willa. Adopted at birth, her loving husband and son are her safe haven, and the ones she has clung to while numbed by the pain of a recent loss. When a letter arrives, it opens a path for Willa to re-engage with life: she has inherited a house halfway across the world, in a town she’s never heard of, from a woman she doesn’t know. Her only guess is that Lillian Brooks could have been her birth mother. Travelling to the inviting shores of Sisters Cove, Willa is entranced by the dilapidated old house she now owns, perched high on a windy cliff within the Merrivale Estate. But as she begins to look amongst the dusty photos and sealed boxes of papers left to her, it becomes clear that the truth about who Lillian really was is not at all what Willa expected. At Merrivale, social butterfly Annabelle is intrigued by Willa’s arrival. Unable to have children herself, she feels drawn to this fragile, younger woman and is inspired to help her mend the cracks in her heart. But as a friendship grows between the two, the dark truth that connects them is exposed, and both are forced to make choices about the risks they’ll take for family, love and forgiveness. An emotional, powerful novel full of dark secrets and family drama. Perfect for fans of The Silent Wife, Amanda Prowse and Sally Hepworth. Readers love The Daughter’s Promise: ‘OMG! OMG! OMG! What a marvellously brilliant book.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I LOVED this book!!! I loved everything about it – the characters, story and writing style. I was sad when it ended… Definitely recommend the book. I read it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Absolutely beautiful. I just loved this amazing book. Heart-breaking and heartwarming. A thought provoking and powerful story of love, loss, forgiveness and how to keep on living after the worst has happened. Just beautiful. One of my favourite reads of 2019!’ Renita D’Silva, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘One of the best books I’ve read in a while. I did not want to put it down so I read it in one day!… Great characters and an interesting story developed with each page read.’ Netgalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Will break your heart… It was so easy to fall into this book and in love with this bittersweet story. Even hours after I had finished, my thoughts still lingered on this tale – and Annabelle's indomitable spirit. Wonderful story!!’ Goodreads reviewer ‘Gripping and engrossing story… an excellent and poignant read.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What a touching story… I loved this book!’ Robin Loves Reading, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A hugely engrossing and entertaining novel… Gripped right from the start, I was totally caught up in the drama of it all… A heart-warming read and a compulsive story… Very highly recommended.’ Brianne’s Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved the story… 5 stars.’ B for Bookreview, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fun characters and good writing made this book a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed the drama that played out on the pages. Sometimes unpredictable and unexpected, the story highlights the beauty of the area and the drama that plays out in a family. I loved this book.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐




Broken Promise


Book Description

In 1907, Ilsa-Marie is born to teenage parents, Gerda Lundberg and Ferdinand Pedersson. Without a thought to their responsibility, they leave their baby in Sweden with grandparents and emigrate to America. Upon the death of the grandparents in 1917, they finally take their daughter to America. Personalities clash as Ilsa-Marie is instructed to become Americanized immediately. Her life is planned by Gerda on the day she arrives. Gerda's jealousy over her beautiful daughter who wins her father's affection, and becomes well-known as a department store's 'girl next door,' drives Gerda to become involved in a daring escapade with her friend, Carlotta Stone. It takes Gerda and Ferdinand to Cuba where their involvement in a drug smuggling operation dramatically alters the lives of all involved.




Rethinking Smart Urbanism


Book Description

Rethinking Smart Urbanism is an empirical exploration of the multiple ways in which cities and infrastructures are constructed and reconstructed through ICT innovation and appropriation. Drawing on the case of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, the study explains existing infrastructure constellations through countervailing processes and rationalities in the context of splintered urbanism. In doing so, the study examines the relationship between urban plans and digital infrastructure development, place-based contexts that shape digital infrastructures, and the extent to which these infrastructures facilitate utility companies’ ambitions of extending centralized networks to new territories. It draws on the theoretical and empirical base of urban and infrastructure studies, particularly in the fields of smart urbanism, postcolonial urbanism, and Science and Technology Studies. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative research design and presents in-depth case studies that combine ethnographic methods with a thorough investigation of written sources. Ultimately, it is hoped to enhance our understanding of urban and digital possibilities, and add new insights to debates on technology and urbanity in Africa and beyond.




Disease Control Priorities, Third Edition (Volume 7)


Book Description

The substantial burden of death and disability that results from interpersonal violence, road traffic injuries, unintentional injuries, occupational health risks, air pollution, climate change, and inadequate water and sanitation falls disproportionally on low- and middle-income countries. Injury Prevention and Environmental Health addresses the risk factors and presents updated data on the burden, as well as economic analyses of platforms and packages for delivering cost-effective and feasible interventions in these settings. The volume's contributors demonstrate that implementation of a range of prevention strategies-presented in an essential package of interventions and policies-could achieve a convergence in death and disability rates that would avert more than 7.5 million deaths a year.




Resilient Health


Book Description

Resilient Health: Leveraging Technology and Social Innovations to Transform Healthcare for COVID-19 Recovery and Beyond presents game-changing and disruptive technological innovations and social applications in health and mental health care around the world for the post-COVID age and beyond, addressing the urgent need for care. In this first-of-its kind comprehensive volume, experts and stakeholders from all sectors - government and the public and private sectors - offer models and frameworks for policy, programming, and financing to transform healthcare, address inequities, close the treatment gap, and “build back better,” especially for under-resourced vulnerable communities globally, to “leave no one behind” and advance development globally. Contributions from world experts cover 8 essential parts: The context and challenges for resilient health systems to shape the future; developments and directions (AI, VR, MR, IVAs and more); an innovations toolbox, also targeted for special populations and settings (women, youth, ageing, migrants, disabled persons, indigenous peoples, in the workplace); the role of stakeholders (governments, the public and private sector); forums and networks; innovative financing; resources, lessons learned and the way forward. Addresses the “hot” topic today in the ever-emerging landscape of disruptive digital healthcare delivery, covering critical issues and solutions in digital health, big data, and artificial intelligence as well as benefits and challenges, and ethical concerns Provides case examples of transformative and radical solutions to urgent health needs, especially in remote low-resource settings as well as in less well-covered regions of Central and South America and MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Positions health innovations at the nexus of the global framework of Universal Health Coverage and of the United Nations Sustainable Developing Goals to achieve SDG3 - good health and well-being –at the intersection with climate action, gender equality, quality education, eradication of poverty and hunger, sustainable cities, environmental protection and others. Serves as an exceptional resource, reference, teaching tool, and guide for all stakeholders including civil society and NGOs, government, think tanks, investors, academia, researchers and practitioners, product developers and all policymakers and programmers involved in planning and delivering healthcare, including an extensive section of resources in the digital health space in various categories like publications, conferences, and collaboratives. Provides examples of, and encourages, multi-stakeholder partnerships essential to re-imagine health systems, delivery and access, and to achieve intended healthcare objectives




Rethinking Faecal Sludge Management in Emergency Settings


Book Description

The development of technology in the emergency sanitation sector has not been emphasised sufficiently considering that the management of human excreta is a basic requirement for every person. The lack of technology tailored to emergency situations complicates efforts to cater for sanitation needs in challenging humanitarian crisis. Concerns persists on the lack of faecal sludge management that considers the whole sanitation chain from containment until treatment. This study focused on the development of a smart emergency toilet termed the eSOS (emergency sanitation operation system) smart toilet to address the limitation in technical options. This toilet is based on the eSOS concept that takes into account the entire sanitation chain. This study also addresses the limited time for planning in emergencies by developing a decision support system (DSS) to help quick selection of optimal sanitation options. The aim was to enable users of the DSS to plan their emergency sanitation response within the shortest time possible. The study aims to contribute toward a better emergency sanitation response by application of technology advances.




Water Science, Policy and Management


Book Description

Provides an in-depth look at science, policy and management in the water sector across the globe Sustainable water management is an increasingly complex challenge and policy priority facing global society. This book examines how governments, municipalities, corporations, and individuals find sustainable water management pathways across competing priorities of water for ecosystems, food, energy, economic growth and human consumption. It looks at the current politics and economics behind the management of our freshwater ecosystems and infrastructure and offers insightful essays that help stimulate more intense and informed debate about the subject and its need for local and international cooperation. This book celebrates the 15-year anniversary of Oxford University’s MSc course in Water Science, Policy and Management. Edited and written by some of the leading minds in the field, writing alongside alumni from the course, Water Science, Policy and Management: A Global Challenge offers in-depth chapters in three parts: Science; Policy; and Management. Topics cover: hydroclimatic extremes and climate change; the past, present, and future of groundwater resources; water quality modelling, monitoring, and management; and challenges for freshwater ecosystems. The book presents critical views on the monitoring and modelling of hydrological processes; the rural water policy in Africa and Asia; the political economy of wastewater in Europe; drought policy management and water allocation. It also examines the financing of water infrastructure; the value of wastewater; water resource planning; sustainable urban water supply and the human right to water. Features perspectives from some of the world’s leading experts on water policy and management Identifies and addresses current and future water sector challenges Charts water policy trends across a rapidly evolving set of challenges in a variety of global areas Covers the reallocation of water; policy process of risk management; the future of the world’s water under global environmental change; and more Water Science, Policy and Management: A Global Challenge is an essential book for policy makers and government agencies involved in water management, and for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying water science, governance, and policy.




Introduction to Development Engineering


Book Description

This open access textbook introduces the emerging field of Development Engineering and its constituent theories, methods, and applications. It is both a teaching text for students and a resource for researchers and practitioners engaged in the design and scaling of technologies for low-resource communities. The scope is broad, ranging from the development of mobile applications for low-literacy users to hardware and software solutions for providing electricity and water in remote settings. It is also highly interdisciplinary, drawing on methods and theory from the social sciences as well as engineering and the natural sciences. The opening section reviews the history of “technology-for-development” research, and presents a framework that formalizes this body of work and begins its transformation into an academic discipline. It identifies common challenges in development and explains the book’s iterative approach of “innovation, implementation, evaluation, adaptation.” Each of the next six thematic sections focuses on a different sector: energy and environment; market performance; education and labor; water, sanitation and health; digital governance; and connectivity. These thematic sections contain case studies from landmark research that directly integrates engineering innovation with technically rigorous methods from the social sciences. Each case study describes the design, evaluation, and/or scaling of a technology in the field and follows a single form, with common elements and discussion questions, to create continuity and pedagogical consistency. Together, they highlight successful solutions to development challenges, while also analyzing the rarely discussed failures. The book concludes by reiterating the core principles of development engineering illustrated in the case studies, highlighting common challenges that engineers and scientists will face in designing technology interventions that sustainably accelerate economic development. Development Engineering provides, for the first time, a coherent intellectual framework for attacking the challenges of poverty and global climate change through the design of better technologies. It offers the rigorous discipline needed to channel the energy of a new generation of scientists and engineers toward advancing social justice and improved living conditions in low-resource communities around the world.




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