Asian Research Journal of Arts & Social Sciences

North-Bengal Research Foundation & Development (NRD) aims at eliminating poverty through different projects in Bangladesh. To help realize the MDGs and SDGs, NRD is implementing ‘Water and Sanitation (WS)’ project in northern-western part of the Bangladesh since 2012. The project aims to improve the health of poor and enhance equitable development through provision of sustainable and integrated WS services; inducing hygienic behaviors to break the contamination cycle of unsanitary latrines and contaminated water; and ensuring sustainability and scaling-up. The objective of this paper is to describe which areas were adapted for mainstreaming gender approaches and ensuring equity of services. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources, validity cross-checked through triangulation. Findings show that gender mainstreaming as a cross-cutting strategy helps women and other disadvantaged groups, notably poor and ultra-poor households, to become aware of, and increase their access to services and decision-making processes for equal benefits. Different initiatives adopted by NRD towards equitable access to and control over WS services which ultimately reducing the gender gap and promoting sustainable development. However, the poor, ultra-poor, disabled persons and hard-to-reach areas are still underserved. The affordability and involvement in decision making of vulnerable groups are still challenge that lessons could be useful for others who also working in the sector.

Aim: To investigate the influence of sociocultural factors on academic performance in national examinations among candidates in Kisumu City, Kenya

Sample: The study population was 4480 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates in public secondary schools of Kisumu City in 2017. Purposive sampling technique was used to draw a sample of 224 students.

Study Design: The study employed phenomenological design in the qualitative approach.

Place and Duration of Study: The place of the study was Kasagam Secondary School in Kisumu City, Kenya, between September and October 2017.

Methodology: Focus group discussions were used to collect qualitative data. Focus group discussion guide was piloted with students who did not participate in the study to establish validity and reliability. Data was transcribed in summaries by the group secretary and analyzed thematically.

Conclusion: The findings revealed that sociocultural factors of collectivist cultural practices, involvement in political activism and participation in witchcraft promoted poor academic performance in national examinations among students in Kisumu City in 2017.

With the soaring increase in demand for oil owing to its rapid economic growth and expansion, coupled with her quest to build a strong and formidable security system, China has no option than to ensure her energy security. For a country whose oil consumption has been increasing yearly, the need to secure sustainable and affordable energy supplies is imperative. China’s policy of self-reliance with regard to energy security is no longer feasible. The country’s growing dependence on the global energy supplies and oil-rich countries such as Russia and the West Asia region has become complex. For a country that hopes to achieve greater economic progress and secure maximum economic growth for its people, securing energy supplies is very crucial, especially when every great and progressing country’s ultimate interest is to secure a place in the international community.

Using a historical comparative approach in analysing China's growing engagement in Africa, the paper suggests that China’s rising interest on the continent is a strategic move to have a more reliable and secure energy supply without interruptions. China is very much aware of the United States’ hegemonic control in West Asia and the Middle East. With regard to oil supply from Russia, the stakes are high factoring in scepticism since it is only a tactical arrangement. China has, therefore, turned to Africa, especially in the oil producing countries like Angola and Sudan in hopes of balancing the security danger and threat it faces in its energy security domain.

This study looked at Ghanaian youth and contemporary art vis a vis perception and challenges involved in contemporary art practices in Ghana. The current practice of contemporary art by Ghanaian youth has come under scrutiny, with many questioning the place of art in their practice and exhibitions. Using a triangulation of interviews, observation and survey, the study revealed that Ghanaian youth are actively embracing contemporary art and have developed an interest in exhibitions despite challenges of accepting the expanded media, processes and forms it could take. Despite the misunderstanding of what contemporary art should be and what should not, contemporary art is gradually gaining grounds and recognition in Ghana and placing the Ghanaian art on the international art scene. Although the youth have no privileged routes and a weak infrastructure for art making, recent teachings, coupled with a passion to train independent artists, commitment and collaborative efforts by the youth have made recent exhibitions trailblazers on the continent. Through more experimental projects, critique sessions and exhibitions, the Gown would surely get to Town. The passion for more experimental approaches to art making and exhibition signal greater and emancipated future for art in Ghana.

The study was conducted to explore the management and institutional factors associated with dairy farms profitability in Chittagong district. The aim of the study was to determine the role of dairy farming in improving their lives, identifications of the problems of dairy cow rising and to provide suggestions for their improvement. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the farmers during the months of August to September in 2015. From the regression analysis, three variables (two managements and one institutional factor) such as age of respondent, number of milking/dairy cows and search costs, were found to be significant and rest of the variables were insignificant but consistent with the expected signs. In addition to that, the highest ranked constraint of dairy farm operating and marketing was insufficient veterinary service and low price of milk. Despite several problems in regard to farm operation and milk selling, the dairy farming was profitable in the study area. So, If proper support could be taken by the government and private organizations and formal institutional arrangements could be established, the overall dairy operation could be improved which in turn would play a vital role to overcome the problems of low income, unemployment, under nutrition of the country.