Technology Governance

In this article, we present and analyse the concept of Digital Twin (DT) linked to distinct types of objects (artefacts, natural, inanimate or living) and examine the challenges involved in creating them from a fundamental neuroethics approach that emphasises conceptual analyses. We begin by providing a brief description of DTs and their initial development as models of artefacts and physical inanimate objects, identifying core challenges in building these tools and noting their intended benefits. Next, we describe attempts to build DTs of model living entities, such as hearts, highlighting the novel challenges raised by this shift from DTs of inanimate to DTs of living objects. Against that background, we give an account of contemporary research aiming to develop DTs of the human brain by building "virtual brains", e.g. the simulation engine The Virtual Brain (TVB) as it is carried out in the European Human Brain Project. Since the brain is structurally and functionally t...

This paper proposes a new ethical framework that transcends traditional divisions between deontological and utilitarian approaches by integrating technological possibility, moral obligation, and developmental responsibility. Through analysis of AI behavior, historical examples, and contemporary challenges, this work demonstrates how ethics can serve as a universal language for resolving ideological conflicts. The proposed three-dimensional framework evaluates actions based on what is technically possible, whether it should be done ethically, and what improvements should be pursued even if currently impossible. By observing that AI systems consistently demonstrate ethical behavior without consciousness or subjective experience, this study reveals fundamental limitations in human moral reasoning and offers practical solutions to problems ranging from platform governance to historical reconciliation. Unlike traditional ethical theories 1 that often become rigid or lead to minority sacrifice, this integrated approach provides flexible yet principled guidance for complex moral decisions in rapidly changing technological and social environments.

As artificial intelligence (AI) advances, so do concerns about bias, misuse, and larger societal impacts. Governments, international bodies, and the private sector are increasingly recognizing the urgency to regulate AI, leading to proposed frameworks such as the European Union's AI Act [1] and the U.S. Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights [2]. This paper explores three critical angles in AI governance: (1) the ethics and legality of using large-scale training data without explicit permission, (2) the debate around industry self-regulation versus external oversight, and (3) inherent biases and fairness issues in AI data and systems. By examining these dimensions, we highlight both opportunities and pitfalls in the emerging regulatory landscape.

Johannes Schwarzer (Council on Economic Policies) , Lurong Chen (Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)) , Wallace Cheng (Center for China and Globalization (CCG)) , Dan Ciuriak (Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)) , Fukunari Kimura (Keio University) , Junji Nakagawa (University of Tokyo) , Richard Pomfret (University of Adelaide) , Gabriela Rigoni (Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP)) May 7, 2019 | Last updated: December 10, 2020 Tags: Digital society, Future of work

Quantifying the extent and direction of climate change and its impacts is important on crop production as earth's climate is undergoing changes. Thus the aim of this study was to assess the historical and future climate and its change impact on the yield of Tay and Senkegna bread wheat varieties in Adet, North Western Ethiopia. The observed daily climate data were obtained from National Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia, Bahir Dar branch for 33 years (1983 -2015). Future climate data were from Climate Research Programme's Fifth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) database across 20 GCMs for RCP 8.5 emission scenarios in the time horizon of early-term (2010-2039), mid-century (2040-2069) and end-century (2070-2100). Soil data were obtained from Adet Agricultural Research Center. The onset, end dates, Length of Growing Period (LGP) and dry spell risk for the main rainy season were analyzed using first-order Markov model built in INSTAT tools version 3.36. Decision Support System for Agro-technology Transfer (DSSAT) crop model was employed during yield simulation. Onset of rainy seasons occurred before 1st decade of June was only 25% of the study years while it occurred before 2nd decade of June was 75% of the study years with coefficient of variation (CV) 5.3%. The end date of the rainy seasons occurred before 1st decade of November was 25% of the study years and occurred before 2nd decade of November was 75% of the study years with CV of 3.7%. Length of Growing Period (LGP) was ranged between 125-185 days with CV of 9%. The observed rainfall was decreased while both maximum and minimum temperatures were increased significantly (P<0.05). The projected maximum temperature is expected to increase by 1 to 4.69°C in 2030 to 2080. Furthermore, minimum temperature will increase by 0.93 to 4.73°C in 2030 to 2080. For Tay bread wheat variety, the grain yield is expected to increase by 0.5-1.3% in 2030 to 2050 but decreasing of 3% in 2080s. For Senkegna bread wheat variety, the yield is also increase by 1-2.3% in 2030 to 2080 relative to the baseline. However, days to anthesis and days to maturity of both wheat varieties will decline by 5-21% from the baseline.

Rainfall variability is one of the most influential climatic factors that determine crop productivity. This study was conducted to analyze rainfall variability and its impact on potato productivity for the period of 2000-2019, and to assess farmer's perception on impacts of climate variability and evaluate their adaptation measures for potato productivity in Haramaya District. Primary data were obtained from randomly selected farmers through questionnaire, key informants interview and field observation. Secondary data on rainfall and potato production were collected from Ethiopia Meteorological agency and Haramaya District Agriculture Office. Purposive sampling was used to select 362 farmers in the district. Proportionate sampling was used to select the sample of farmers in each of the three kebeles (Tiniqe, Tuji Gabisa and Kuro). The data collected were analyzed using Statistical software SPSS. Annual rainfall and potato yield showed decreasing trend from 2000 to 2019. Annual rainfall trends variability was significant and ranged from-25.25 in 2009 to +48.99 in 2007. Annual Potato yield trends variability was also significant and ranged from-33.14 in 2000 to +60.89 in 2007. Rainfall variations, crop diseases, pests, and high cost of inputs have been the major challenges facing potato production in the study area. Forty three percent (43%) of the respondents agreed that rainfall variation was the main cause of decreased potato yields 24% crop diseases and pests and 15% high cost of inputs 10% inadequate improved seed and 8% soil erosions. From the findings Pearson's r=0.668 showed that there was significant impact of rainfall variability trend on potato yields. From the findings, the study recommended that soil and water management practices such as mulching, digging of trenches, water harvesting, crop diversification and use of irrigation during the dry spell as adaptation measures should be applied to cope with rainfall variation.

This paper pretends to do a theoretical approach of Corporate Governance, having as support some case studies about companies like Coca-Cola, Nokia, Microsoft, and Amazon.com. The methodology adopted for this work is based in information from these companies available in their websites and annual reports. I concluded that both companies show the corporate governance components according to their core business

In this editorial to the Topical Collection "Innovation under Fire: The Rise of Ethics in Tech", we provide an overview of the papers gathered in the collection, reflect on similarities and differences in their analytical angles and methodological approaches, and carve out some of the cross-cutting themes that emerge from research on the production of 'Tech Ethics'. We identify two recurring ways through which 'Tech Ethics' are studied and forms of critique towards them developed, which we argue diverge primarily in their a priori commitments towards what ethical tech is and how it should best be pursued. Beyond these differences, we observe how current research on 'Tech Ethics' evidences a close relationship between public controversies about technological innovation and the rise of ethics discourses and instruments for their settlement, producing legitimacy crises for 'Tech Ethics' in and of itself. 'Tech Ethics' is not only instrumental for governing technoscientific projects in the present but is equally instrumental for the construction of socio-technical imaginaries and the essentialization of technological futures. We suggest that efforts to reach beyond single case-studies are needed and call for collective reflection on joint issues and challenges to advance the critical project of 'Tech Ethics'.

Innovation transforms livelihoods of pastoralists in Ethiopia QUICK IMPACT of pilot project in Afar region * Productive oasis created in 3 years: Harnessed flood water re-greens degraded rangelands Increased food self sufficiency: Growing food and forage led to less reliance on food aid More sustainable pastoral systems: Increased feed and water access around the year Proven potential for scaling up: Set for replication in entire Afar, Somali region and Omo-Gibe basin THE CHALLENGE Flooding events turned into farming opportunities AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION • Water Spreading Weirs: To capture and spread the torrential flood emerging in the neighboring highlands to low-lying rangelands and crop fields, five weirs were built based on land suitability studies. • Working together: Joint planning and execution between community leaders, landscape and crop researchers and development agents using a combination of good agronomy, remote sensing and GIS-based maps yielded positive results. • Success draws attention: Seeing the results, pastoralists were willing to take up farming. It created local confidence, drew government attention and benefited pastoralists.

The increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into society raises critical questions about its impact on democracy. The development of AI governance frameworks presents a convenient and crucial ground to strengthen democracy, particularly through the lens of participatory and deliberative theories. From this viewpoint, this article seeks to explore the extent to which emerging AI governance frameworks uphold participatory and deliberative democracy. Through a comparative analysis of proposed or existing legislation in the European Union (EU), Brazil and Canada, this study investigates the specific tools and mechanisms each framework uses to involve the citizens in AI governance. The analysis reveals that while all three jurisdictions emphasise ethical governance and assessment of AI along with regulatory dialogue and multi-stakeholder collaboration, this does not effectively extend to creation of robust and specific mechanisms to facilitate citizens' participation and deliberation. Exhibiting a stronger commitment to participatory and deliberative democracy, the Brazilian framework demonstrates a firmer position, incorporating a wider range of individual rights and direct avenues for citizen input and engagement, e.g. mandatory public consultation in advance of algorithmic impact assessment. Conversely, the Canadian and EU approaches largely rely on existing institutions and processes, overlooking the unique challenges, i.e. knowledge barriers, economic and social injustices, expert rule, that cannot be fully resolved by toolset of ethics governance or through alternative venues such as citizens' assemblies. Overall, this study concludes by advocating for the integration of novel mechanisms that can facilitate citizen participation and deliberation within AI governance frameworks, including specifically designed and institutionalised deliberative venues.

Ethiopia has the largest livestock number in Africa. Nevertheless, the productivity of this sector faces susceptibility to the effects of climate change and associated risks. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct further research and gather data to gain a deeper understanding of these impacts. This understanding will facilitate the design of effective adaptation and mitigation measures, allowing Ethiopia to effectively respond to the challenges posed by climate change and variability. The primary aim of this article is to provide a review of the impacts of climate change on livestock productivity and summarize adaptation strategies employed by small-scale farmers in Ethiopia. The study highlights an increasing trend in the intensity and frequency of drought occurrences in the country, particularly in pastoralist and agropastoralist regions. These trends exacerbate climate-related issues such as limited access to rainfall and water, reduced availability and quality of animal feed, heightened risks of animal diseases, and increased heat stress, resulting in diminished livestock performance. Consequently, collaboration on adaptation programs among stakeholders is crucial to bolster the traditional coping mechanisms of pastoralists and agropastoralists in response to the adverse effects of climate change. Additionally, comprehensive research is needed to identify and select camel and goat breeds specifically suited for drought-prone areas, serving particular purposes.

This article aims to explore the challenges faced by Brazilian Draft Bill no. 2338/2023 in its purpose to implement risk-based regulation of artificial intelligence in Brazil. Based on the inspiration received from the European AI Act, the article describes the Brazilian classification of risks and its impacts for the regulation, the governance rules, the practical application of principles of prevention and precaution, and the administrative and civil liability.

This study investigated the impacts of climate change on the hydrology of the Upper Awash Basin, Ethiopia. A soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model was calibrated and validated against observed streamflow using SWAT CUP. The Mann–Kendall trend test (MK) was used to assess climate trends. Meteorological drought (SPEI) and hydrological drought (SDI) were also investigated. Based on the ensemble mean of five global climate models (GCMs), projected increases in mean annual maximum temperature over the period 2015–2100 (compared with a 1983–2014 baseline) range from 1.16 to 1.73 °C, while increases in minimum temperature range between 0.79 and 2.53 °C. Increases in mean annual precipitation range from 1.8% at Addis Ababa to 45.5% over the Hombole area. High streamflow (Q5) declines at all stations except Ginchi. Low flows (Q90) also decline with Q90 equaling 0 m3 s−1 (i.e., 100% reduction) at some gauging stations (Akaki and Hombole) for individual GCMs. The SPEI confirmed a signifi...

Interacting strategies in evolutionary games is studied analytically in a well-mixed population using a Markov chain method. By establishing a correspondence between an evolutionary game and Markov chain dynamics, we show that results obtained from the fundamental matrix method in Markov chain dynamics are equivalent to corresponding ones in the evolutionary game. In the conventional fundamental matrix method, quantities like fixation probability and fixation time are calculable. Using a theorem in the fundamental matrix method, conditional fixation time in the absorbing Markov chain is calculable. Also, in the ergodic Markov chain, the stationary probability distribution that describes the Markov chain's stationary state is calculable analytically. Finally, the Rock, scissor, paper evolutionary game are evaluated as an example, and the results of the analytical method and simulations are compared. Using this analytical method saves time and computational facility compared to prevalent simulation methods.

This research study investigates the influence of Large Language Models (LLMs) on the Indian economy, thoroughly examining the probable benefits and inherent drawbacks of incorporating these advanced AI technologies. As illustrated by models such as GPT-3, ChatGPT, and others, LLMs have grown in popularity in various industries, including education, IT services, healthcare, and customer support, particularly in linguistically varied nations such as India. The article highlights LLMs' significant role in market expansion, linguistic and cultural heritage promotion, and cross-sector applications in India, commenting on their potential to stimulate innovation, create new job opportunities, and enhance skills across multiple industries. Yet, it also tackles important issues like the displacement of workers, the digital divide, security risks, and ethical dilemmas. These difficulties highlight the necessity of practicing caution when implementing LLMs to guarantee that they enhance the socioeconomic environment. The study attempts to present a fair analysis, considering both the transformative capacity of LLMs and the demand for responsible management of their impact on India's economy, society, and workforce.

This research study investigates the influence of Large Language Models (LLMs) on the Indian economy, thoroughly examining the probable benefits and inherent drawbacks of incorporating these advanced AI technologies. As illustrated by models such as GPT-3, ChatGPT, and others, LLMs have grown in popularity in various industries, including education, IT services, healthcare, and customer support, particularly in linguistically varied nations such as India. The article highlights LLMs' significant role in market expansion, linguistic and cultural heritage promotion, and cross-sector applications in India, commenting on their potential to stimulate innovation, create new job opportunities, and enhance skills across multiple industries. Yet, it also tackles important issues like the displacement of workers, the digital divide, security risks, and ethical dilemmas. These difficulties highlight the necessity of practicing caution when implementing LLMs to guarantee that they enhance the socioeconomic environment. The study attempts to present a fair analysis, considering both the transformative capacity of LLMs and the demand for responsible management of their impact on India's economy, society, and workforce.

The views, information and opinions expressed in this publication are the author's/authors' own and do not necessarily reflect those of the GCSP or the members of its Foundation Council. The GCSP is not responsible for the accuracy of the information.

This study argues that the neoliberal character assumed by globalization up to now corresponds with the historical sequence of diffusion of the successive technological waves driving world development. The first two or three decades tend to be ones of laissez faire under the aegis of financial capital. The second half of each wave, however, experiences the return of the State to an active role in the economy, while the orientation of investment returns it to the hands of production capital. The great financial collapse experienced in 2007-2008 marks the transition from one period to the other. This pendular character observable in the market economy in the long term makes it possible to perceive a different type of globalization less oriented to open trade and finance and based more on the global distribution of productive investment. The technoeconomic paradigm of the current wave of informatics and telecommunications opens an enormous potential for a leap in production and wealth all over the planet. Its full realization will depend on the political and socio-institutional framework that is established at a global level and ion each country to overcome the crisis and re-launch growth.

This paper reviews the deployment of Large Language Models (LLMs), particularly OpenAI's ChatGPT-4, within critical sectors such as finance, education, and healthcare. It discusses the potential risks associated with the use of LLMs, including misinformation, biases, and the inadvertent breach of privacy. Furthermore, it highlights the responses from various regulatory bodies and the measures suggested to mitigate these risks. The study underscores the need for robust regulatory frameworks to ensure transparency, accountability, and the ethical use of AI technologies.

Climate-Smart Agriculture is one of the solutions that simultaneously address the issues of climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as food security. This study examines the Factors and practices of climate smart agriculture on the agropastoral livelihoods: the case of Awbare woreda, Somali regional state, Ethiopia. The study was conducted mixed approach, in which 218 randomly selected households were surveyed as  key informants were, and focus group discussions were held. The collected data were analyzed descriptive statistics and multivariate probit model. The findings of the study revealed soil and water conservation, improved crop diversification, crop rotation and intercropping, drought tolerance crop variety, agroforestry and water management found to be highly adopted CSA practices in the study area. Frequent drought, rainfall shortage, water shortage, limited skill and knowledge, financial constraint, lack of agricultural extension and lack of agricultural inputs were the main Factors that influenced the CSA practice by agropastoral.  Factors including age, sex, family size, farm size, access to credit, access to extension service, distance to marketplaces, livestock holding, farm income, off-farm income and access to weather information were identified as determinants for the CSA practices. The result shows that though respondents’ participation was encouraging, the rate of Practice of CSA was low in terms of existing practices. Therefore, the study suggest that the extension program should give attention for the introduction of context and site-specific CSA technologies and support agropastoral with relevant skill and knowledge  as well as input provisions. Further, policy and support programs should also focus on dissemination of CSA best practices and lessons learnt elsewhere to agropastoral.


Keywords: Climate Smart Agriculture; Adaptation Practices, Agropastoral; Fafan Zone, Awbare Woreda

There needs to be a change in thinking about AI. Those dealing with AI must insist on greater clarity about its definition. If policy makers and other leaders are not clear about what the term means and entails, they cannot possibly formulate best practices and governance mechanisms. It would help matters if artificial intelligence discussions were framed in an "AI +" framework, because in many cases, AI is merely a tool included in a system involving other functions or capabilities. The news media should stop framing the global artificial intelligence competition as an "arms race." This misrepresents the competition going on among countries. The policy community needs a clear-eyed appraisal of AI's capabilities and limitations. Without that orientation, those who hope to steer research and development in positive directions will create more problems than they solve.

There needs to be a change in thinking about AI. Those dealing with AI must insist on greater clarity about its definition. If policy makers and other leaders are not clear about what the term means and entails, they cannot possibly formulate best practices and governance mechanisms. It would help matters if artificial intelligence discussions were framed in an "AI +" framework, because in many cases, AI is merely a tool included in a system involving other functions or capabilities. The news media should stop framing the global artificial intelligence competition as an "arms race." This misrepresents the competition going on among countries. The policy community needs a clear-eyed appraisal of AI's capabilities and limitations. Without that orientation, those who hope to steer research and development in positive directions will create more problems than they solve.

that ai is going to affect businesses and how they are conducted, is now clear and unambiguous; however, the extent to which this technology will impact business remains to be seen. Considering a wide variety of ai applications, the implication is that several benefits arise from the use of such technology. improved health care, safer cars and other transport systems, improved machine maintenance, as well as increased production output and quality, are some of the benefits and opportunities ai offers. nevertheless, risks of incorporating ai that businesses need to be aware of include job losses, privacy, security and reputational threats; hence, the need for regulation of the way ai is transforming businesses. excessive reliance on ai and the need to protect smaller businesses, which cannot afford ai, from being disadvantaged competitively are some factors that make regulation imperative for the ai technology. this paper presents a literature review of the opportunities, risks and regulation imperatives for ai in Big tech companies including ai ethics in africa and consequences of China's advancement in facial recognition technology. the implications are that while the ai technology should be embraced and advanced, the ethics and risks associated with the technology should be reflected on and incorporated in the development of the technology, particularly in africa.

In many organisations, Information Technology (IT) has become crucial in the support, the sustainability and the growth of the business. This pervasive use of technology has created a critical dependency on IT that calls for a specific focus on IT Governance. IT Governance consists of the leadership and organisational structures and processes that ensure that the organisation’s IT sustains and extends the organisation’s strategy and objectives. This introductory chapter records and interprets some important existing theories, models and practises in the IT Governance domain and aims to contribute to the understanding of IT Governance and its structures, processes and relational mechanisms.

Mono-cropping of sorghum is usual practice by small holders in Eastern Hararghe zone which aggravates the infestation of striga in case of susceptible varieties and has risk of crop failure in most cases due to erratic and unreliable rainfall. Thus, it was important to undertake research on cropping system which can make the farmers less vulnerable to current changing climate. Thus, an experiment was done to assess the effect of double cropping on yield, and yield components of the sorghum and compare the productivity of the double cropping with the single cropping system. The study was conducted at Fedis Research station, Eastern Hararghe during cropping season of 2015 by including two sowing time the first in April and the other during July using RCBD design. The treatments consisted were twelve including two farmers’ practices (long cycle sorghum and July planting of improved sorghum varieties) and the remaining ten treatments were double cropping of common bean and mung bean eac...

Local values, institutions and knowledge have enabled people to understand the happenings and changes in their environment. Local perceptions and knowledge provide a crucial foundation for community-based climate change adaptation measures and natural resource conservation. This paper is specifically focused on the assessment of the opportunities and challenges of traditional knowledge and institutions for community's sustainable climate change adaptation in Ethiopia. We used knowledge products form journal articles, policy documents, working papers, policy briefs, and other gray literature. In addition, two case studies were conducted in central and eastern Ethiopia by interviewing 251 randomly selected households. This helped to determine the state-of-the art for knowledge co-products for community's sustainable climate change adaptation and natural resource management. Regardless of the challenges from global change, cultural erosion and transformation, traditional knowledge still serve as the bases for weather forecasting, agricultural and natural resource management thereby sustain community's livelihoods and landscape resilience against the impacts of climate change and variability. Traditional knowledge and institutions in Ethiopia have maintained landscapes for millennia: Konso cultural landscapes and Gedeo Agroforestry systems are some to mention. The knowledge systems have also contributed for the large diversity of crops and livestock breeds in Ethiopia which play roles in community's climate change adaptation. From this assessment, it can be concluded that both scientific and traditional knowledge have their own gaps and what will be better is the integration of the two to give an additive impact that can foster sustainable development and build livelihood and landscape resilience in times of climate change.

This special section addresses Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) as an increasingly global concept that is translated and transformed in heterogenous national contexts. Based on seven national perspective articles from the RRI-Practice project, this introduction outlines a framework of transduction through which RRI becomes contextually negotiated and reconfigured. Read together, the national explorations of the special section make visible aspects of responsibility not readily apparent in abstract, European or global scale discussions of RRI. They not only point up important particularities of national contexts, but unexpected points of overlap in national contexts not often thought to have distinct commonalities.

anotechnologien haben einen prominenten Platz in den FuE Budgets sowohl von Staaten als auch von Unternehmen und stellen gegenwärtig eine zentrale Komponente des internationalen Technologiewettbewerbs dar. Nanotechnologien können dabei als integrierender Ansatz betrachtet werden, der im Grundsatz von der Physik über die Chemie bis zu den biologischen Wissenschaften reicht und deren minimale gemeinsame Definition darin besteht, dass zum einen zumindest eine Dimension im Nanobereich liegt und zum anderen eine neue Funktionalität aufweist. Zudem werden Nanotechnologien in der Regel als enabling tech nologies charakterisiert, was heißt, dass sie insbesondere herkömmliche Produktionsverfahren grundsätzlich verändern könnten. Damit hätten Nanotechnologien letztlich Auswirkungen auf alle Industriezweige.

BackgroundAppraising of rural households’ perception and observed rainfall and temperature variability is a vital stage in devising operational adaptation strategies. Therefore, this study aims to examine the rural households’ perception and adaptation strategies to climate variability induced vulnerability in Northeastern Highlands of Ethiopia across the livelihood zones. A total of 361 sample households were selected using proportional probability sampling techniques. Data sources such as survey questionnaire, interview and focus group discussion were used to collect the necessary information. Historical rainfall and temperature data from CenTrends Great Horn of Africa v1 and CRU_TS 4.0 were also used. Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI) and Standardized Anomaly Index (SAI) model were employed to analyze the data. Descriptive statistical tools for frequency and percentage were also used. ResultsThe result showed that rainfall and temperature variability induced vulnerability w...

In many organisations, Information Technology (IT) has become crucial in the support, the sustainability and the growth of the business. This pervasive use of technology has created a critical dependency on IT that calls for a specific focus on IT Governance. IT Governance consists of the leadership and organisational structures and processes that ensure that the organisation's IT sustains and extends the organisation's strategy and objectives. This introductory chapter records and interprets some important existing theories, models and practices in the IT Governance domain and aims to contribute to the understanding of IT Governance and its structures, processes and relational mechanisms.

Ethiopia is a developing country that has been vulnerable to climate-related disasters during the last three decades. More than 88 percent of Ethiopia's 60 million people are engaged in agricultural and pastoral activities for their livelihood. With little access to irrigation, these predominantly smallholding farmers depend on rainfall to cultivate their crops. Poverty, lack of access to technology, subsistence agriculture, deforestation, soil erosion and overpopulation are some of the problems that increase the vulnerability of the people to climate-related disasters. Constant wars and political instability also contributed to the severity of the impact of disasters. Ethiopia is located in the tropics. Its climate, however, is modified by altitude, which has led to the existence of diverse microclimates. Ethiopia has four climatic zones, which are classified according to the patterns of rainfall. These climate zones are those (1) with a distinct wet and a distinct dry season, (2) with two wet and two dry seasons, (3) with two wet seasons and one dry season in between, and (4) with an undefined rainy season. Altitude leads to the creation of microclimates such as the quola, weinadega and dega, which are hot, temperate and cool, respectively. One of the major causes of rainfall variation in Ethiopia is the north-south movement of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ, following the seasons. The three-season pattern known as Kiremt (big rains from June-September), Bega (dry from October-January) and the belg (small rains from February-May) characterize the crop-producing areas of the country. Drought is the dominant climate-related disaster in Ethiopia. Droughts in Ethiopia have killed many people and animals in 1957-58, 1964-65, 1972-73 and 1983-84. Though not as pronounced as drought in their impact and publicity, floods and fires have increasingly caused disasters in Ethiopia. In response to these disasters, Ethiopian governments decided to create the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) in 1976 (which was renamed in 1995 the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC)). In the 1990s, the government of Ethiopia had created four important documents to guide its early warning system and food security.

The study analyzed the extent to which information technology in the 40 JSElisted companies discloses (IT) risks and governance. It also identified the similarities and differences between the South African King IV governance and other international IT governance and risk disclosure codes. We employed a qualitative content analysis technique and found that 32 of the top 40 JSE-listed entities (80%) completely complied with King IV and other international standards. In contrast, eight of the top forty JSE-listed businesses (20%) partly complied. Moreover, 79% (19/24) of provisions in King IV are similar to that of the international standards, while 21% (5/24) differ. The findings imply that most of the top 40 JSE-listed firms are protected from the consequences of noncompliance with IT risks and governance disclosure, such as going concern risk, fraud, and data manipulations. We also confirmed that King IV provisions regarding IT risks and governance aligned substantially with global standards, enhancing multinational firms' implementation of efficient IT risks and governance.

Objectives: The main objective of this article is to investigate the current stage of the public management paradigm in the area of the water and sewage sector in Poland. Research Design & Methods: A thorough examination of the current stage of research of the post-New Public Management concepts is followed by empirical analysis of public management paradigms present in the water and sewage sector in Poland. The research hypothesis focuses on a shift from the NPM model towards other paradigms closer to Neo-Weberian State or a hybrid. Analysis of statistical data is supported by additional arguments related to recent publications and legal changes in the sector. Contribution/Value Added: This article is one of the first analyses of the applications of post-NPM paradigms in the water and sewage sector in Poland. A special emphasis is put on the discussion of NWS elements in the paradigm shift taking place in this sector. Implications/Recommendations: The results of the research conducted prove that the NPM model is still in place in the water and sewage sector in Poland, but gradually, in particular as a result of recent changes to legislation and the introduction of more centralised procedures, the NPM model is being supplemented by new elements that are clearly of a NWS origin. While it is visible that these paradigms co-exist at this point, it is necessary to continue research and thorough observations of the sector to investigate the future development of public management in this area.

Innovationspolitik ist zumeist Industriepolitik. Dabei wird die hohe gesellschaftliche Bedeutung von unspektakulären, nicht kommerziellen Alltagsinnovationen unterschätzt. Innovationspolitik muss daher auch diese kollaborativ geschaffenen Innovationen in den Blick nehmen.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that climate has changed over the past century and the trend is anticipated to continue in the future. This study examines climate change posed drought and potential of rainy season rainfall in Kesem sub-basin. Rainfall variability is examined using statistical descriptors. Also, the onset and cessation dates, length of growing season, and probability of dry and wet spell are analyzed using INSTAT Plus software. On the other hand, long-term drought is analyzed using reconnaissance drought index. Rainfall variability result showed high coefficient of variance (CV) of 46.8 to 179.2% on monthly and 39.1% on annual basis. The mean duration of the main rainy season is 91 days with standard deviation of 18.5 days and CVof 20.4%. The probability of dry decade in the main rainy season is more than 50% for the 16th to 18th and 25th to 27th decades. Whereas probability occurrences of dry decades preceded by dry decades were more than 50% for decades 16th to 18th and 23th to 27th. Potential evapotranspiration showed increment of 25.9 mm from the base period for RCP 4.5 (2020) and 26.7 mm for RCP 8.5 (2020), and 55 mm for RCP4.5 (2050) and 56.8 mm for RCP8.5 (2050). Regarding the long-term drought, there were 9.7% extreme, 6.5% severe, 3.2% moderate, and 48.4% mild drought on the basis of observed data. The inter-annual variability of growing seasons, probability occurrence of dry decade, and drought during growing season are revealed. So, policymakers need to consider supplementary irrigation for crops in the area because there are high probability occurrences of dry decades.

Starting from the perception of innovation as a multi actor, multi level strategic game, this paper addresses the role of strategic intelligence, more in particular of TA, in systemic innovation policies. First the history of TA in the US and Europe over the last 4 decades are described and its role in innovation policies discussed. Hereafter the role and (possible) impact of strategic intelligence and systemic innovation policies is analysed. Two recent cases of Constructive TA are used to illustrate how this role is operationalised. The paper is concluded with conclusions on how strategic intelligence may further reinforce systemic innovation policies. Special attention is paid to the role of strategic intelligence in empowering users and other non traditional actors in innovation processes.

Anticipatory governance is ‘a broad-based capacity extended through society that can act on a variety of inputs to manage emerging knowledge-based technologies while such management is still possible’. It motivates activities designed to build capacities in foresight, engagement, and integration – as well as through their production ensemble. These capacities encourage and support the reflection of scientists, engineers, policy makers, and other publics on their roles in new technologies. This article reviews the early history of the National Nanotechnology Initiative in the United States, and it further explicates anticipatory governance through exploring the genealogy of the term and addressing a set of critiques found in the literature. These critiques involve skepticism of three proximities of anticipatory governance: to its object, nanotechnology, which is a relatively indistinct one; to the public, which remains almost utterly naïve toward nanotechnology; and to technoscience ...

The Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University (CNS-ASU) is a Nano-scale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC) funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF). It implements an agenda of "real-time technology assessment" (RTTA) in pursuit of a strategic vision of the "anticipatory governance" of nanotechnologies. To achieve this vision, CNS-ASU unifies research programs not only across several universities but also across three critical, component activities: foresight (of plausible future scenarios), integration (of social science and humanities research with nano-scale science and engineering), and engagement (of publics in deliberations). CNS-ASU also performs educational and training activities as well as public outreach and informal science education. This paper elaborates the Center's strategic vision of anticipatory governance and its component activities, especially in the context of extending the concerns of societal dimensions research beyond the traditional risk paradigm.

Background: Awash River basin (ARB) as a system is in a state of continuous change that requires successive studies to discern the changes or trends of climatic elements through time due to climate change/variability, and other socio-economical developmental activities in the basin. The livelihood of communities in the ARB is primarily based on rainfall-dependent agriculture. Effects of rainfall anomalies such as reduction of agricultural productivity, water scarcity, and food insecurity are becoming more prevalent in this area. In recent years, ARB experienced more frequent and intense spatio-temporal rainfall anomalies, which make the shift and trend analyses of rainfall associated with sea surface temperature crucial in providing guidance to improve agricultural productivity. Method: Change-point detection tests (Pettit's, the von Neumann ratio (VNR), Buishand's range (BR) and standard normal homogeneity (SNH)) and Mann-Kendall (MK) trend analysis of rainfall and temperature data from 29 meteorological stations in the ARB were carried out from 1986 to 2016. Results: A signi cant increasing trend of annual and seasonal temperature was found. The temperature change-points for the annual and major rainy season (MRS) were detected in 2001, while for the minor rainy season (mRS) in 1997. A signi cant decreasing trend, shift, and high variability of rainfall were detected in the downstream part of the ARB. The BR and SNH results showed that the mRS rainfall change-point was in 1998, with a subsequent mean annual decrease of 52.5 mm. The increase (decrease) of rainfall in the annual and MRS was attributable to La Niña (El Niño) events. Conclusions: The signi cant decreasing trend and change-point of rainfall in the mRS was attributable to the steady warming of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, local warming, and La Niña events. With this knowledge of the current trends and change-point for rainfall and temperature in the ARB, it is therefore essential that appropriate integrated water management and water-harvesting technologies are established, especially in the downstream areas. Moreover, early detection of El Niño episodes would provide invaluable warning of impending rainfall anomalies in the ARB and would enable better preparations to mitigate its negative effects.

Drought is one of the most complexes and least understood natural disaster that causes loss of life and property destruction. The objective of this study was to analyze meteorological drought using Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and climate variability (ENSO) in North Shewa Zone, Amhara Regional State. Spatiotemporal variability or trends of rainfall, and temperature were also analyzed. For the seasonal trend analysis of rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures the MK test was applied and there have been significant increasing trend in maximum, minimum temperature, mostly in semi-arid district. The rainfall of three agro-ecological zones showed strong variability with negative Sen's slope indicated decreasing signal mostly for Belg season and semi-arid district. The Belg season rainfall showed high variability. Ataye station Belg season (April and May) dry events occurred

Natural and man-made activities in the sub-basin have influenced the climate change and induced the hydrology of the watershed. Changes in climate could affect metrological parameters, and thus the available water resource and which directly lead to changes in irrigation water requirement in agriculture. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the current and future crop water use of major crops grown under climate change scenarios in the Didesa sub basin. For this study, daily metrological data such as maximum temperature, minimum temperature, wind speed, sunshine hours, and humidity and precipitation data were used. Crop and cropping pattern data were used for the study area. Future climate data predicted for the periods 2025, 2055 and 2085 considering both the A2 and B2 scenarios using GCM HadCM3. Crop evapotranspiration (ETo) was calculated using mean monthly climate and rainfall data with help of the CROPWAT 8.0. The crop water requirement (CWR) was determined for each crop in the project area of the study area for the baseline period (2020) and downscaled climate data. Crop water use of tomato crops increased from 1.2% and 1.4 % for H3B2 and H3A2 scenarios, respectively at 2085s. Similarly, sugarcane water requirement increased from 1.5% to 1.8% for H3B2 and H3A2 scenarios, respectively at 2085s. This increasing crop water requirement results in the crop water stress during scenario periods. Therefore, to solve water shortages, alternative sources of water supply such as ground water and water harvesting technologies should be studied and integrated water management systems should be implemented. In addition, to improve the efficiency of irrigation water, different irrigation methods such as drip irrigation should be improved in areas that have implication for driving climate change resilience as early warning.