Explore the vast range of titles available.

Climate variability is variation of climate elements from the longterm mean state on all spatiotemporal scales. Climate variability affects microfinance institutions directly and indirectly through physical and transition risks. However, no studies have analyzed the effects of climate variability in relation to informal microfinance institutions. The study, therefore, aimed to analyze the effects of climate variability in relation to informal microfinance institutions. It used a descriptive study design and multi-stage sampling design. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis, descriptive analysis, and Kendall’s tau-b correlation analysis. The study found a positive trend in climate variability (τb = 0.174, α>0.05). Local people are highly vulnerable to climate variability as confirmed by 98.7% of the respondents who observed that climate variability affects their livelihoods. This vulnerability stems from the effect of climate variability on access to capital assets and livelihood strategies. Vulnerability to climate variability has a significant negative effect on loan repayment performance, loan access and sustainability, and hence on informal microfinance performance (τb = - 0.109**, Pb = 0.239**, Pb = 0.137, P

The African lion has been the target of community-based conservation interventions that aim to halt the unprecedented decline of this iconic species that supports a lucrative tourism industry. Lions frequently get into conflict with pastoralists due to livestock predation leading to retaliatory killing. Assessments of interventions have mainly been goal-oriented, neglecting governance and institutional processes which form key components of potential improvement. Using the policy arrangement approach (PAA) we analyzed the factors that constitute governance arrangements of lion conservation interventions in the Amboseli ecosystem and the statistical effect of these factors on perceptions of lion population trends. We used a mixed methods design consisting of document analysis, key informant interviews, and household surveys. The results indicate high levels of the three forms of congruence. Congruence was a positive predictor of perceptions of lion population trends. In addition, financial and social capital, and rules monitoring were positive predictors. Compliance to the rules and natural capital were however negative predictors. This may indicate extrinsically motivated compliance triggered by both financial incentives including compensation and law enforcement. This implies that the current solutions fail to fully address poverty, an underlying cause of conflict. Consequently, a precarious state of congruence or stability exists, which may be lost at any particular time particularly if the heavily donor-dependent incentive and security programs are removed. The involvement of the tourism industry investors in policy development and implementation would be a good starting point in providing a more stable capital investment in the goals of conservation and development.

The African lion population has declined by 43%, and is estimated to occupy about 25% of the historical range. Retaliatory killing due to livestock predation is a major contributory factor. The problem is acute in the human-populated areas of Southern Kenya. Conservation interventions have therefore been introduced. Evaluation of interventions often focus on human agency. However, non-humans including animals and devices influence conservation goals and outcomes. Using the Actor-Network Theory we trace the development of the complex relations that underpin lion conservation. Data was generated using key informant interviews, field observation, and literature review. Results show that lions represent a heterogeneous entity with individual identities that get embedded in relations that are in themselves a multiple apparent in the realities of actors. The relational agency is realized in the motion of a network formed of lions, humans, policy documents, dollars, collars, spears, and poison. Although Conservation Organizations establish themselves as the representative of this network that realizes a decline in lion killing, power is seen to be associative. Evaluating the agency inherent within the network bonds is necessary to reinforce those with positive agency and break the smaller networks or tame the agency that is likely to destabilize the network. The context of place through which these more-than-human relations are created is important in shaping the way forward.