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• Common simplifications in transformation discourse can entrench unsustainability. • Acknowledgement of complex dimensionalities and temporalities is crucial. • Clear-cut dimensions of distinction before/after transformation cannot be assumed. • Transformations do not always unfold neatly and cumulatively in a given direction. • Examples from Kenya (cities) and the UK (energy) are discussed. Through interlinked theoretical and empirical analysis, this paper explores some important but neglected questions concerning efforts to achieve sustainability. To what extents do currently dominant forms of academic study and policy visions in this field, satisfactorily address the full political depth and scope of vital complexities in pathways for emerging social transformations? Are there dangers that common simplifications in mainstream ways of thinking about transformation, inadvertently help invisibly to reproduce entrenched patterns of privilege and power that drive focal problems of unsustainability? In particular, does a ' monothetic ' focus on circumscribed sites or sectoral formations with notionally few clear-cut dimensions of distinction before and after, risk missing more multiple and messy ' polythetic ' dimensionalities in which power and privilege can hide? What are the implications of common assumptions that pathways for change proceed ' monotonically ' – neatly and cumulatively in a particular direction, if real world transformations actually unfold according to more plural, undulating and unruly ' non-monotonic ' temporalities? In order to investigate these questions, the paper employs the concept of sociotechnical imaginaries to explore the constituting dimensions of contrasting understandings of 'urban transformations' in Kenya and 'the nuclear renaissance' in the UK. Q method and in-depth interpretive policy analysis are used to test patterns in relationships between imagined transformations and their unfoldings over time. The findings suggest that current mainstream approaches may indeed unduly simplify vital complexities in the ways these political dynamics play out – with potentially important practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the diverse ways in which science and technology are implicated in collective imaginations of urban futures in Kenya. Despite calls for a 'deep reimagining' of African urbanisation (UN Habitat 2014), globalised narratives of urban 'smartness' are intersecting with pan-African tendencies toward top-down Master Planning to constrain spaces for collective imagining of urban futures. Using the conceptual lens of sociotechnical imaginaries and the methodological approach of Q method, we hope to open up and navigate the space of tension between the violence of narratives of failure and crisis in African cities, and the sometimes 'blinding power' of certain hyper-modernist visions of urban futures. We argue that powerful global hegemonic forces around urban transformation can sometimes be most effectively balanced, not by reproducing the same assertive idiom of stylised monothetic categories and set-piece contrasts but by illuminating diversity in the implicated imaginations. Our research describes three distinguishable overlapping imaginaries of Kenya urban futures, which we call: ' Working towards equitable, culturally-vibrant urban habitats for all '; ' Transforming our cities and ourselves to become 'smarter' and thrive sustainability in a digital future', and 'Pragmatically harnessing technology for more inclusive, equitable, liveable cities'. Our findings highlight salient dimensions of difference between the imaginaries including: diverse understandings of technology and culture in urban areas; diverse imaginaries of the urban dwellers of the future; and diverse imagined processes of change. Through detailed analysis of the distinctiveness and similarities/overlap between these imaginaries, we draw out implications for urban governance in Kenya. • Narratives of urban 'smartness' and Master Planning shape imaginaries of urban futures in Kenya. • Q methodology reveals three overlapping imaginaries of Kenya urban futures. • Dimensions of difference between imaginaries, and implications for urban governance are explored. • Combinations of relations between imaginaries are key to understanding the Kenyan context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of resilience, and livelihood resilience more specifically, is growing in prominence with international development and humanitarian organizations that aim to measure and build resilience to specific disturbances such as floods or droughts. However, measuring livelihood resilience is a difficult task, and practical methods to measure livelihood resilience, as well as analyze and visualize the data are needed. In this paper, I introduce the Household Livelihood Resilience Approach (HLRA), which draws from the sustainable livelihoods approach and it’s five capital assets to measure resilience. However, unlike other approaches that use the five capital assets such as utilized by Zurich Insurance Group, Ltd and the IFRC, the HLRA goes farther to help visualize the results and identify specific actions to build resilience. This paper illustrates the effectiveness of the HLRA through an empirical case study where this approach was used to measure livelihood resilience in Isiolo County, Kenya, and the effectiveness of agroforestry in building livelihood resilience for agricultural households. Drawing from this case study, I suggest five ways that the HLRA improves upon previous frameworks, including 1) providing practical methods and tools, not just a theoretical framework, 2) integrating ‘subjective’ measures of livelihood resilience, 3) focusing on the household-scale instead of community-scale or larger, 4) providing methods to analyze, visualize, and interpret results of livelihood resilience measures, and 5) highlighting the importance of human agency, power, and access to assets. The HLRA has the potential to help organizations identify specific interventions that could help build livelihood resilience for the most vulnerable groups of people within a community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clean water facilities and services are failing the population of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), hindering the goal of "Water for All" owing to unsustainable drinking water projects and infrastructure. A vast body of literature has examined the lack of sustainability in drinking water projects, identifying: economic, technological, planning, social and political factors. However, much of the existing literature reflects fragmented and siloed thinking, often focusing on specific issues without a holistic view, masking root causes, and overlooking multi-level stakeholder involvement, necessitating deeper analysis. In addition, most studies view individual projects as pertaining to a single spatial level—such as the village level—detached from its regional or global ecosystem. This paper introduces the "Holistic Integrated Framework" developed through a study in Siaya County, Kenya, on the sustainability of water projects aimed at bridging these gaps. This tool can enhance our understanding of sustainability, allowing for a comprehensive examination and understanding of the problems. It enables the identification of multiple spatial and governance levels and their cross referencing with sustainability categories. It uncovers essential underlying factors driving project sustainability and assesses stakeholders' interconnectedness as well as the direct impact of their actions, thus assisting in addressing the myriad obstacles to sustainability. Furthermore, it identifies the regional feedback loops that perpetuate these problems. The tool is exemplified through a case study illustrating the complexity and fragility of sustainability's, emphasizing the need for a detailed, comprehensive analysis to mitigate risks. • Drinking water projects' sustainability is a complex goal and unsustainable projects hinder the goal of "Water for All". • The HIF, is a comprehensive approach for evaluating and planning project sustainability with an ecosystem's perspective. • Sustainability can only be evaluated and achieved locally. • The HIF enables to uncover multitude sustainability factors, underlying issues and stakeholders and regional feedback loops. • The HIF, assists to plan for obstacles to sustainability and thus, supports progress toward UN SDG 6.1, in SSA by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulating services provided by ecosystems are amongst the most important for the sustainability of resource use, and yet they are also amongst the least understood. This paper considers one set of regulating mechanisms – the buffering functions of wetlands – and considers the information needed to identify both the value of the services offered by wetlands, and their substitutes. Using data from a catchment discharging water and nutrients to the Kenyan segment of Lake Victoria, the Yala catchment, the paper models the interactions between agriculture and fisheries as mediated by wetlands at the lake margin. More particularly, it estimates the value of the forgone nutrient retention function involved in the conversion of the wetland to agriculture, and the scope for providing the same services through land use change elsewhere in the catchment. The total cost of the payments that would compensate farmers for on-farm nutrient buffering services is 3.86M US$year−1, or 35% of the total gains from wetland conversion to crop production. This finding contributes to an understanding of both the value of regulating services and how they might most effectively be delivered in alternative ways. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper investigates to what extent and how micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries are adapting to climate risks. We use a questionnaire survey to collect data from 325 SMEs in the semi-arid regions of Kenya and Senegal and analyze this information to estimate the quality of current adaptation measures, distinguishing between sustainable and unsustainable adaptation . We then study the link between these current adaptation practices and adaptation planning for future climate change. We find that financial barriers are a key reason why firms resort to unsustainable adaptation, while general business support, access to information technology and adaptation assistance encourages sustainable adaptation responses. Engaging in adaptation today also increases the likelihood that a firm is preparing for future climate change. The finding lends support to the strategy of many development agencies who use adaptation to current climate variability as a way of building resilience to future climate change. There is a clear role for public policy in facilitating good adaptation. The ability of firms to respond to climate risks depends in no small measure on factors such as business environment that can be shaped through policy intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines farmers’ ethnobotanical knowledge, innovation and rural change, and indicates one way in which indigenous technical knowledge complementing scientific knowledge may be documented for use by development planners and agencies. This paper firstly identifies plant species recognised as resources by farmers, and considers the value of these resources. Secondly, the paper documents and assesses the ethnobotanical knowledge associated with the utilisation of plant species, before turning to examine how plant resources are defined by use and culture. It also demonstrates that some components of ethnobotanical knowledge have potential for the sustainable development of plant species. The study shows that farmers have started to domesticate some of the ‘traditional’ plants, and new crops have been introduced associated with corresponding innovations in local agricultural systems. Since the farmers have a relatively strong tradition in natural resources conservation, this study suggests that it will be possible to introduce community-based gene banks linked to formal or government facilities. The paper demonstrates that it is important to combine and interweave ‘modern’ and indigenous knowledges to produce a more realistic and sensitive understanding and management of natural environmental resources for sustainable development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper evaluates the association between technology innovation, environmental sustainability and its impact on small business performance. Samples of 204 small businesses and hierarchical regression models were used in the analysis. The results of the survey show that technological innovation affects environmentally friendly owners who have a positive impact on the performance of the company. Successful companies that support environmental community projects and social well-being beyond their economic responsibilities can bring greater financial success. Innovation from management and employee participation in environmental protection practices can improve the company's performance and enhance its image to stakeholders. The findings of this paper enhance existing theories and contribute to the establishment of sustainable practices in developed and developing countries. • Sustainable development requires economic growth without depletion of natural resources. • Environmental sustainability relates to the social impact of business activities and its environment. • SMEs have raised environment and social concerns in both developing and developed countries. • Technology innovation acts as a catalysts for sustainable development. • SMEs are indebted to innovate by developing strategies friendly to their environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mashavu: Networked Health Solutions increases access to pre-primary health services, provides personal health information tracking, and income-generation opportunities to women in rural Kenya. The aim of this paper is to explore the potential of Mashavu, a healthcare social franchise, to create sustainable livelihoods for its employees in rural Kenya. The research team conducted two pilots of the Mashavu system in a rural Kenyan community. While the initial pilot protected Mashavu Health Workers (MHWs) from the financial risks of taking a new service to the market, the second pilot removed employee income subsidies. The removal of subsidies after the conclusion of the first pilot led to a divergence in monthly wages for the MHWs. While one MHW retained consistent monthly income by increasing the number of days worked monthly and the number of clients seen, a second MHW retained a largely consistent schedule without significantly increasing the number of clients daily and experienced a 600 KSH (29%) decrease in monthly wages. Following a period of employee incubation from financial risk, the MHWs consistently involved in the program were able to continue to generate income through Mashavu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]