Prépublications

Achieving SDG 1 (No Poverty) requires eradicating extreme poverty (Target 1.1), reducing at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty (Target 1.2), implementing nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all (Target 1.3), and building the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations (Target 1.5). Social safety nets, including cash transfers, food assistance, public works, school feeding, and fee waivers, are a primary policy instrument for reducing poverty and vulnerability in low- and middle-income countries. However, many societies also have indigenous communal solidarity systems, including rotating savings groups, mutual aid associations, funeral societies, and kinship-based support networks, that predate formal social protection and continue to fill gaps where state provision is weak or absent. This study conducts a comparative analysis of social safety nets and communal solidarity systems in Mexico and Ethiopia, two countries with contrasting economic profiles, poverty dynamics, and social protection histories but shared reliance on informal solidarity networks. Mexico, an upper-middle-income country, has a long history of social protection, including the pioneer conditional cash transfer programme Progresa, later Oportunidades and Prospera, and now the comprehensive Bienestar system. Ethiopia, a low-income country, has one of Africa's largest social protection programmes, the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP), reaching 8 million people annually. Using a qualitative comparative case study methodology, the study analyzes secondary data from government reports, international databases, and peer-reviewed literature over the period 2000 to 2025. The study finds that both countries rely on hybrid…

Achieving SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) requires promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Target 16.1 calls for significantly reducing all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. Target 16.3 promotes the rule of law and equal access to justice. Target 16.7 ensures responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. Youth, defined as ages 15 to 35, comprise the largest demographic cohort in the Arab region, approximately 30 percent of the population in both Libya and Tunisia. They have been both drivers of political change during the Arab Spring of 2010 to 2011 and victims of violence, exclusion, and economic marginalization. However, youth participation in peacebuilding remains under-researched and under-supported, with peace processes often dominated by armed actors, political elites, and international mediators who overlook youth as legitimate peacebuilders. This study conducts a comparative analysis of youth participation in peacebuilding in Libya and Tunisia, two neighbouring North African countries with shared historical, cultural, and linguistic ties but divergent post-2011 trajectories. Libya descended into civil war after the 2011 uprising, while Tunisia navigated a largely peaceful political transition. The Libyan peace process has largely excluded youth, with only 5 percent of participants in formal peace negotiations being under 35 and no youth seats in the political dialogue forum. Despite this, Libyan youth have engaged in grassroots peacebuilding through local ceasefires, community mediation, and digital activism. Tunisia has more institutionalized…

Achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) requires ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages, with Target 3.3 calling for ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases. Diagnostic innovation, the development and deployment of rapid, accurate, affordable, and accessible diagnostic tests, is a critical determinant of infectious disease control, enabling early detection, appropriate treatment, transmission reduction, and antimicrobial resistance surveillance. However, diagnostic capacity varies dramatically across countries, shaped by health system infrastructure, research and development investment, regulatory pathways, intellectual property regimes, manufacturing capability, and public-private partnerships. This study conducts a comparative analysis of diagnostic innovation for infectious diseases in India and Brazil, two large middle-income countries with contrasting health systems, strong pharmaceutical and diagnostic industries, and leadership in global health diplomacy. India has emerged as the "pharmacy of the developing world" for generic medicines and is rapidly expanding diagnostic capacity through major manufacturers, public sector diagnostic networks, and a strong cost-innovation model. Brazil has a universal public health system (SUS) serving 150 million people, with strong diagnostic infrastructure including Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation), Instituto Butantan, and a decentralized network of public health laboratories (LACEN). Brazil has pioneered molecular testing integration for multiple pathogens and led a brain infections intervention study (Lancet 2025) that increased syndromic diagnosis from 77 percent to 86 percent and microbiological diagnosis from 22 percent to 30 percent across 13 hospitals in Brazil, India, and Malawi. Using a qualitative comparative case study methodology, the study analyzes secondary data from…

Achieving SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) requires ensuring access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services (Target 11.1), providing access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all (Target 11.2), and enhancing inclusive and sustainable urbanization (Target 11.3). Urban mobility is a critical determinant of quality of life, economic productivity, environmental sustainability, and social equity. However, cities in low- and middle-income countries face a mobility paradox. Formal public transport such as buses, metro, and trains is often inadequate, unaffordable, or inaccessible, leading to the proliferation of informal transport systems including minibuses, shared taxis, auto-rickshaws, motorcycle taxis, and bicycle taxis that fill the gap but operate with limited regulation, safety risks, environmental pollution, and labour precarity. This study conducts a comparative analysis of urban mobility and informal transport systems in Colombia and the Netherlands, two countries with vastly different income levels, urban planning histories, and transport governance models. The Netherlands has achieved one of the world's most sustainable, safe, and equitable urban mobility systems, characterized by integrated multi-modal transport, world-class cycling infrastructure, and strong road safety outcomes. Colombia has invested heavily in formal public transport such as Bus Rapid Transit and metro systems, but still relies heavily on informal transport including minibuses, shared taxis, and motorcycle taxis, which account for an estimated 50 to 70 percent of urban trips. Using a qualitative comparative case study methodology, the study analyzes secondary data from government reports, international databases, and peer-reviewed literature over the period 2000 to…

Achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) requires ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. Target 3.8 calls for achieving universal health coverage, including access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. Medical devices, ranging from simple thermometers and stethoscopes to sophisticated imaging equipment, ventilators, infusion pumps, and surgical instruments, are essential for diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and rehabilitation. However, in low- and middle-income countries, medical devices frequently remain non-functional after donation or purchase due to lack of maintenance capacity, including insufficient trained biomedical engineers and technicians, shortage of spare parts, unreliable electricity, harsh environmental conditions, weak supply chains, and poor equipment management systems. This study conducts a comparative analysis of medical device maintenance and local capacity in Senegal and Cambodia, two low-income and lower-middle-income countries with contrasting geography, health system structures, and biomedical engineering development trajectories. Senegal has made significant investments in health infrastructure and medical equipment, often through donations and development partner support, but maintenance gaps persist, with an estimated 70 percent of medical devices non-functional. Cambodia has also expanded health infrastructure after decades of conflict, but medical device maintenance capacity is weak, with an estimated 60 to 70 percent of medical devices non-functional and fewer than 50 trained biomedical engineers nationally. Using a qualitative comparative case study methodology, the study analyzes secondary data from government reports, WHO Global Atlas of Medical Devices, medical device assessments, peer-reviewed literature, and program evaluations over the…

Achieving SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) requires building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. Target 9.5 aims to enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, particularly developing countries, including by encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per one million people and public and private research and development spending. Target 9.B supports domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries. Innovation strategy, the deliberate alignment of national policies, institutions, funding, and cultural values to stimulate technological progress and economic transformation, has become a central determinant of national competitiveness in the global knowledge economy. However, innovation outcomes vary dramatically across countries, shaped not only by research and development investment and human capital but also by national cultural dimensions, including power distance, individualism versus collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation, and indulgence versus restraint. This study conducts a comparative analysis of innovation strategy and national cultural dimensions in Singapore and South Korea, two Asian high-income economies with divergent cultural profiles, historical development paths, and innovation governance models but shared achievements in global innovation rankings. Singapore has developed a distinctive innovation strategy characterized by strong state direction, strategic foreign direct investment attraction, public-private partnerships, investment in human capital, world-class research universities, intellectual property protection, and a business-friendly regulatory environment. South Korea has achieved a remarkable innovation-driven transformation from poverty to a high-tech powerhouse through chaebol-driven research and development, strong government support, massive public investment in research and…

Achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) requires reducing the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030 (Target 3.1). Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia account for 86 percent of global maternal deaths, with Niger (MMR 441 per 100,000, lifetime risk 1 in 27) and Bangladesh (MMR 123 per 100,000, lifetime risk 1 in 230) representing contrasting trajectories within high-burden regions. Niger, a low-income Sahelian country, has one of the highest MMRs globally, while Bangladesh, a lower-middle-income country, has achieved a 70 percent reduction since 2000 (from 434 to 123). This study conducts a comparative analysis of maternal health outcomes and cultural birth practices in Niger and Bangladesh, two countries with high fertility rates, low skilled birth attendance, and strong traditional birth practices, but diverging policy successes. Bangladesh's success is attributable to sustained political commitment, community-based health workers, conditional cash transfers, midwifery scale-up, emergency transport, female education, and family planning. Niger's stagnation is explained by fragile political context, weak health system, low female education, very high fertility, early marriage, and weak community health workforce. Using a qualitative comparative case study methodology, the study analyzes secondary data from government reports, WHO and UNICEF databases, peer-reviewed literature, and program evaluations over the period 2000 to 2025. The study concludes that maternal mortality can be reduced rapidly even in low-income contexts (as demonstrated by Bangladesh) with sustained political commitment, community-based health workers, skilled birth attendance scale-up, conditional cash transfers, and family planning. Recommendations for both countries…

Achieving SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) requires building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. Target 9.1 calls for developing quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. Target 9.C aims to significantly increase access to information and communications technology and to provide universal and affordable internet access. E-governance, the use of information and communications technology to deliver government services, exchange information, facilitate citizen participation, and improve administrative efficiency, has emerged as a transformative tool for public sector reform. However, the digital divide between urban and rural communities remains a persistent global challenge. Rural areas have lower internet access, lower digital literacy, weaker infrastructure, and higher poverty rates, which limit their ability to benefit from e-governance. This study conducts a comparative analysis of e-governance and digital inclusion in rural communities in Estonia and India, two countries with contrasting digital trajectories, population scales, and rural development contexts. Estonia, a small high-income country, is widely recognized as the world's most advanced digital society, with infrastructure including X-Road, digital ID, i-Voting, e-Tax, and e-Health. India, a large lower-middle-income country, has made significant e-governance progress through Aadhaar (biometric digital identity), DigiLocker, UMANG, and BHIM-UPI, but faces persistent digital inclusion challenges in rural areas. Using a qualitative comparative case study methodology, the study analyzes secondary data from government reports, international indices, peer-reviewed literature, and program evaluations over the period 2000 to 2025. The study finds that…

Achieving SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) requires promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Target 8.3 calls for promoting development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises. Target 8.5 aims to achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men. Target 8.10 strengthens the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all. Microfinance—the provision of financial services (credit, savings, insurance, money transfers) to low-income individuals and small businesses lacking access to traditional banking—has emerged as a critical tool for poverty alleviation and economic empowerment, particularly for women in rural areas. Group lending models (solidarity groups, joint liability, village banking, self-help groups) have been widely adopted to overcome information asymmetries, reduce transaction costs, and improve repayment rates by leveraging social capital and peer monitoring. This study conducts a comparative analysis of microfinance and group lending models in Benin and India, two countries with contrasting microfinance histories, regulatory environments, and institutional architectures but shared reliance on group lending for financial inclusion. Benin, a low-income West African country, has a microfinance sector dominated by decentralized financial systems and mutual savings and credit institutions. India, a lower-middle-income country, has the world's largest microfinance sector, anchored by the Self-Help Group (SHG) Bank Linkage Programme. Using a qualitative comparative case study methodology, the study…

Achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) requires reducing the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030 (Target 3.1). Since 2000, maternal mortality has declined globally from 385 to 223 per 100,000 live births (2020), but progress is uneven: sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 70 percent of maternal deaths, while high-income countries have achieved MMR below 10. Maternal mortality is sensitive to health system factors, socioeconomic determinants, and cultural practices. This study conducts a comparative analysis of maternal mortality reduction and cultural practices in Burkina Faso and Canada, two countries with vastly different MMRs (Burkina Faso: 325 per 100,000, Canada: 8 per 100,000) and contrasting cultural contexts, health systems, and policy trajectories. Burkina Faso, a low-income Sahelian country, faces high maternal mortality driven by low skilled birth attendance (68 percent), traditional birth attendants (30 percent of births), dietary taboos, and decision-making delays. Canada, a high-income country, has achieved low maternal mortality through universal health coverage, high skilled birth attendance (99 percent), and midwifery integration. However, Indigenous populations (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) experience maternal mortality ratios 2 to 3 times higher than non-Indigenous Canadians due to geographic isolation, racism, and colonial suppression of traditional midwifery. Using a qualitative comparative case study methodology, the study analyzes secondary data from government reports, WHO and UNICEF databases, peer-reviewed literature, and program evaluations over the period 2000–2025. Findings indicate that Burkina Faso has reduced MMR from 580 (2000) to 325 (2020) through free caesarean policy, emergency obstetric care…

Achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) requires ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. Target 3.4 calls for reducing by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through prevention and treatment. NCDs—including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory disease—are the leading causes of death globally, accounting for 41 million deaths annually (71 percent of all deaths). Dietary transitions—shifts from traditional, minimally processed, plant-based diets to Western-style diets high in ultra-processed foods, refined sugars, unhealthy fats, and low in fiber—are a primary driver of the NCD epidemic in both high-income and low- and middle-income countries. This study conducts a comparative analysis of non-communicable diseases and dietary transitions in South Africa and the United Kingdom, two countries with shared colonial history, different income levels, and different stages of dietary transition. The United Kingdom has undergone a complete dietary transition and has implemented strong policies including a sugar tax, reformulation programmes, front-of-pack labelling, and advertising restrictions. South Africa is experiencing a rapid dietary transition driven by trade liberalization, urbanization, supermarket expansion, and aggressive food marketing. South Africa has implemented a sugar tax and salt reduction legislation, but lags on front-of-pack labelling, advertising bans, and school food standards. Using a qualitative comparative case study methodology, the study analyzes secondary data from government reports, international databases, peer-reviewed literature, and food industry reports over the period 1994–2025. The study concludes that dietary transition is reversible through comprehensive policy packages including fiscal policies, reformulation, labelling, marketing restrictions, school food standards,…

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant weaknesses in health project management systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Cameroon. Effective quality management in health projects is essential to ensure timely service delivery, patient safety, efficient resource utilization, and stakeholder satisfaction during public health emergencies. This study aims to develop a contextualized framework to strengthen quality management in health project implementation in Cameroon, using the COVID-19 response project at the Presbyterian Health Hospital (PHH) in Bepanda, Douala, as a case study. Methods: A mixed-methods case study design was employed. Data were collected through document review, key informant interviews, and descriptive analysis of project performance indicators to assess the quality management practices implemented during the project. Results: The findings identified several critical challenges affecting quality management in health projects. These include inadequate quality planning, weak monitoring and evaluation systems, limited staff training in project quality management, and insufficient coordination among key stakeholders. These gaps may hinder the effectiveness and sustainability of health interventions, particularly in emergency contexts. Conclusion: Based on these findings and informed by established project management and quality improvement models, a practical framework for strengthening quality management in health projects was developed. The framework places leadership at its core and incorporates key components such as quality planning, capacity building, stakeholder engagement, risk management, and continuous quality improvement. This framework provides practical guidance for health managers and policymakers seeking to enhance quality management practices in future health projects and emergency response initiatives in Cameroon and similar contexts.

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being — Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being; Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse; Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. This study examines the comparative approaches to mental health counseling and traditional healing in Burkina Faso and South Africa, focusing on how each country's health systems, cultural frameworks, and policy environments shape the integration of biomedical and traditional healing practices. The research analyzes the therapeutic landscapes in both countries, the roles and perceptions of traditional healers in mental health care, the challenges of collaboration between healing systems, and emerging models of integration that respect cultural diversity while ensuring patient safety and human rights. A comparative analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including ethnographic research, policy documentation, professional commentary, and systematic reviews covering recent decades to 2025. Burkina Faso presents a context where mental health care is characterized by therapeutic pluralism shaped by limited formal services and deep cultural beliefs about illness causation. Ethnographic research in Bobo-Dioulasso identified three distinct systems of care: psychiatric care associated with diagnostic functions and management of serious pathologies triggered by "natural" causes; traditional care viewed as having healing functions for "supernatural" pathologies, though associated with risks of…

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 2: Zero Hunger — Target 2.2: End all forms of malnutrition, including achieving the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under five years of age; Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. This study examines the comparative approaches to infant feeding practices and the influence of cultural beliefs in Burkina Faso and Nepal, focusing on how traditional customs, maternal perceptions, and socio-economic factors shape feeding behaviors from birth through the complementary feeding period. The research analyzes the tensions between global recommendations for exclusive breastfeeding and local practices, the role of cultural ceremonies and beliefs in introducing complementary foods, and the influence of maternal social status on infant nutrition. A comparative analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including peer-reviewed research, program documentation, and ethnographic studies covering recent decades to 2025. Burkina Faso presents a context where infant feeding practices are deeply influenced by cultural traditions and environmental factors that often conflict with global health recommendations. Research by Alive & Thrive and UNICEF reveals that giving water to infants under six months is pervasive, driven by two primary cultural beliefs: first, the customary practice of welcoming guests by offering water, extended to newborns as "new guests" arriving in the family; second, the widespread belief that breastmilk alone cannot satisfy an infant's thirst in intense heat exceeding 43°C, a belief shared even by some health workers . Additionally, the…

This study examines the comparative dynamics of regional integration and cultural diplomacy in Burundi and Uganda, two East African nations that are geographically proximate yet pursue distinct approaches to engagement with the East African Community (EAC) and to cultivating cultural soft power. Despite their divergent political trajectories and diplomatic styles, both countries grapple with fundamental questions about how to navigate regional integration processes, leverage cultural assets for diplomatic influence, and balance sovereignty concerns with the imperatives of collective regional action. The research employs a comparative case study methodology, drawing on policy documents, diplomatic engagements, cultural initiatives, and scholarly analyses spanning 2020-2026. Uganda has positioned itself as a leading advocate for deeper EAC integration, with President Yoweri Museveni's March 2026 assumption of the EAC chairmanship marked by a stark warning that the bloc risks "perpetual marginalisation" if member states fail to deepen integration across its four pillars: Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union, and Political Federation. Museveni's rhetorical framing, drawing on the Luganda concept of "Okukonesa" (undercooking food) to describe incomplete reforms, illustrates how cultural metaphors can articulate political vision. Uganda's cultural diplomacy extends beyond rhetoric—the Kampala Geopolitics Conference at Makerere University has become a platform for showcasing regional culture, as demonstrated by the April 2025 performance of Burundi's Ingoma drummers alongside Ugandan artist Vinka, creating a fusion that reminded participants of "the unifying power of music" in regional cooperation . Uganda's open-door refugee policy, praised as among the most progressive globally, represents a form of humanitarian diplomacy that enhances its…

This study examines the comparative dynamics of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and traditional healing practices in Nigeria and Brazil, two countries with high NTD burdens and deeply embedded traditional medical systems. Despite their divergent geographical and cultural contexts, both nations grapple with fundamental questions about how to integrate traditional healing into formal NTD control strategies, respect indigenous knowledge while ensuring patient safety, and build collaborative relationships between biomedical and traditional health practitioners. The research employs a comparative case study methodology, drawing on ethnographic research, policy documents, epidemiological studies, and scholarly analyses spanning 2020-2026. Nigeria's engagement with traditional healing and NTDs is exemplified by research on noma (cancrum oris), a devastating orofacial gangrene affecting primarily children with a 90% mortality rate if untreated . A qualitative study in Sokoto state, northwest Nigeria, involving 12 caretakers of noma patients and 15 traditional healers (mai maganin gargajiya in Hausa), revealed that traditional healers view the stages of noma as distinct conditions requiring individualized remedies and are willing to refer patients to biomedical facilities . Caretakers expressed deep trust in traditional healers, who occupy an established position within the health system. The study concluded that traditional healers could play a crucial role in early detection and health-seeking decision-making, recommending their inclusion through training and referral partnerships . Recent policy developments include collaboration between the Nigerian Natural Medicines Development Agency (NNMDA) and the Nigerian Institute for Onchocerciasis, Trypanosomiasis and Research (NITR) to develop indigenous medicines for river blindness and sleeping sickness, recognizing that "drugs are…

This study examines the comparative approaches to road infrastructure development and its impact on community access in Burkina Faso and Laos, two landlocked nations facing distinct geographical and climatic challenges. Despite their different contexts, both countries grapple with the fundamental challenge of connecting rural populations to markets, services, and economic opportunities through road networks. The research employs a comparative case study methodology, drawing on project reports, policy documents, and empirical studies from both countries spanning 2020-2026. Burkina Faso's approach is increasingly shaped by climate resilience imperatives. The SKBo Basin Integration Project, a $216 million initiative supported by the World Bank and Global Center on Adaptation, demonstrates how climate risk assessment is being integrated into road design, with adaptation measures including higher temperature-rated bitumen, 100-year flood-resistant culverts, and nature-based solutions for erosion control (World Bank, 2025a; Global Center on Adaptation, 2025). The project targets 115 km of the RN11 corridor, expected to benefit over 3.9 million people while addressing the vulnerability of critical trade routes where climate disruptions could reduce road accessibility by up to 90% under worst-case scenarios. The African Development Bank's Dédougou-Tougan and Kongoussi-Djibo road projects further illustrate Burkina Faso's commitment to opening up high-potential agricultural regions, with explicit attention to community participation and labor-intensive methods creating jobs for women and youth (African Development Bank, 2025). Helvetas's HIMO program demonstrates the transformative potential of community-grounded approaches, with participatory planning, local recruitment, and integration of nature-based solutions generating measurable impacts: household incomes increased by 90% due to both construction employment…

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth — Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation; Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation; Target 8.6: Substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training. This study examines the comparative approaches to entrepreneurship ecosystems and the cultural attitudes that shape them in Israel and Chile, focusing on how each country's unique historical context, policy frameworks, and deeply embedded social values influence the emergence and performance of entrepreneurial activity. The research analyzes the systemic factors driving innovation, the role of government intervention, and the distinctive cultural characteristics that either propel or constrain entrepreneurial dynamism. A comparative policy and cultural analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including academic research, institutional reports, and contemporary case studies covering recent developments to 2025-2026. Israel presents a globally celebrated model of a "Startup Nation" where entrepreneurship has become a national project. With more startups per capita than any other country, Israel consistently ranks among the world's most innovation-dense economies, contributing roughly 20% of GDP and over 50% of exports from the technology sector . Tel Aviv has been ranked the most productive startup ecosystem in the world, responsible for 19% of all Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)'s unicorns created since 2019 while attracting less than 4% of the region's funding . The ecosystem's success rests on a distinctive combination of…

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation — Target 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations; Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials; Target 6.b: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management. This study examines the comparative approaches to Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) programs in Bangladesh and Ethiopia, focusing on how each country's historical context, implementation strategies, and adaptive innovations have shaped outcomes in the global effort to end open defecation. The research analyzes the foundational principles of CLTS, the challenges of scaling from local innovation to national policy, and the persistent tensions between community empowerment and the need to address social equity. A comparative policy and case study analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including foundational CLTS literature, academic research, institutional reports, and program evaluations covering developments from 1999 to 2025-2026. Bangladesh represents the birthplace of CLTS and the model from which the global movement emerged. In 1999-2000, Dr. Kamal Kar pioneered the CLTS methodology in Bangladesh, developing a radical alternative to conventional sanitation programs that had failed to achieve sustainable results despite decades of subsidy-based approaches . The approach rejected hardware subsidies entirely, focusing instead on facilitating communities to conduct their own appraisal and analysis of open…

This study examines the comparative approaches to community schools and local language instruction in Niger and Peru, two countries with significant linguistic diversity and persistent educational exclusion. Despite their different geographical and cultural contexts, both nations face the fundamental challenge of delivering quality education to indigenous and marginalized populations through community-based models and mother-tongue instruction. The research employs a comparative case study methodology, drawing on policy documents, program evaluations, and empirical studies from both countries spanning 2020-2026. Niger's educational landscape is characterized by severe access deficits and linguistic complexity. With 11 national languages and French as the official language of instruction, the country struggles with low enrollment (primary net enrollment rate of approximately 60%) and high dropout rates. Community schools emerged as an alternative to address gaps in the formal system, operating with greater flexibility and community involvement. Research from the Niger Education and Community Strengthening (NECS) project demonstrates that community-based approaches, when properly supported, can improve access and learning outcomes. The project's integrated approach—combining school construction, teacher training, and community engagement—reached over 100,000 children across multiple regions, with significant gains in early grade reading and mathematics (USAID, 2024). The introduction of bilingual education programs, using local languages alongside French, has shown promise. Studies indicate that children taught initially in their mother tongue demonstrate better reading comprehension and mathematical reasoning than those taught exclusively in French, with effects particularly pronounced for girls and children from low-literacy households (RTI International, 2023). However, challenges persist: inadequate teacher training in bilingual methods, limited…