Access to surgery is not a given 

When we get ill, surgery is sometimes our only option for restoring our health – if there is a surgeon who can operate, that is. In Sweden this is a given, but far from in all countries around the world. In African countries south of the Sahara, such as Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Liberia and Uganda,...

What is modern agriculture in Africa? – Five questions for Ellinor Isgren 

African countries are showing an increased interest to invest in agriculture. Many welcome this development, but there are also those who warn that conventional modernised agriculture is likely to disadvantage both the vast majority of smallholder farmers and the environment. Sustainability researcher Ellinor Isgren is investigating so-called agroecological farming and...

Sanitation experts needed 

Access to good sanitation is a basic human right. For many years, major international organisations have focused on giving people in poor countries access to adequate sanitation facilities. But pre-designed toilets and external experts are not always the best solution. Sara Gabrielsson, researcher at LUCSUS, believes that self-help through training and other methods...

Drone images could solve African farming mystery

The key to increased well-being in Africa lies in improving small scale farming – at least if you want to see improvements within a foreseeable future, according to Göran Djurfeldt. Together with Ola Hall, he has now launched a project using drones to understand why harvests vary so much from...

Shrinking resource margins in Sahel region of Africa 

The need for food, animal feed and fuel in the Sahel belt is growing year on year, but supply is not increasing at the same rate. New figures from 22 countries indicate falling availability of resources per capita and a continued risk of famine in areas with low ‘primary production’ from plants. Rising temperatures present...