NRU :: Browsing by Author "Ecuru, Julius"

Browsing by Author "Ecuru, Julius"

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Cluster Development in Low Resource Settings: the Case of Bioethanol and Fruit Processing Clusters in Uganda
(Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2013) Ecuru, Julius; Trojer, Lena; Lating, Peter Okidi; Ziraba, Yasin Naku
In this paper, bioethanol and fruit processing clusters in Uganda were taken as sectoral innovation systems, and enabling conditions and barriers to their growth analysed from a technoscientific and innovation systems perspective. Active participation of entrepreneurial university scientists in the clustering process appears to be an enabling factor. Absence of goals and incentives for investing in the cluster areas and for driving formation of markets for cluster products is a major barrier. Adopting more inclusive innovation policies, and having in place good community engagement strategies, could help overcome the barriers and expand opportunities for clusters in low resource settings to grow and become competitive.
Effective Innovation Policies for Development: Uganda
(The Global Innovation, 2015) Ecuru, Julius; Kawooya, Dick
As a landlocked country, Uganda’s economy is largely dependent on neighbouring countries for access to and participation in global economic activities. Until recently, following two decades of armed conflict that lasted from 1966 to 1986, Uganda relied on Kenya for the majority of its consumer goods. Since 1986 the country has focused its efforts on recovery, with socioeconomic activities and public policies geared towards development in key sectors such as roads, energy, agriculture, health, education, and security. Uganda’s recent progress in the Global Innovation Index (GII) is the result of nearly 30 years of consistent and relatively predictable socioeconomic policies aimed at transforming the country from a peasant society to a middle-income economy by the year 2040.
Enhancing Innovation in the Ugandan Agri-Food Sector: Progress, Constraints, and Possibilities
(The Global Innovation Index 2017, 2017) Lybbert, Travis; Ecuru, Julius; Kawooya, Dick; Wunsch-Vincent, Sacha
Uganda’s performance as an innovation economy has been improving consistently, particularly in comparison with other low-income and SubSaharan African countries. Since 2015, the Global Innovation Index (GII) has ranked Uganda as an ‘innovation outperformer,’ a title given to countries that, over a number of years including the two most recent, have been identified as innovation achievers and pillar outperformers. This laudable progress stems from sustained economic growth coupled with a commitment to private-sector development and innovation policy reforms. Though encouraging, this nascent progress will translate into real benefits for the broader Ugandan population only if policy makers understand and address specific constraints in the innovation systems of the agri-food sector—the largest sector in the Ugandan economy
Fostering Growth in Uganda’s Innovation System
(Blekinge Institute of Technology, 2011) Ecuru, Julius
Research and innovation are key drivers for economic growth and competitiveness of countries. Of recent research and innovation-related initiatives have arisen in Uganda pointing to an evolving innovation system in the country and to the need to deepen understanding of the transformations taking place therein. This thesis provides evidence of this evolving innovation system in the country and makes recommendations to foster growth in it. A participatory research approach was employed using a combination of both qualitative and quantitative tools including key informant interviews and review of key policy documents, organizational reports and publications. Findings show that the role of research and innovation in driving economic growth and development was recognised in Uganda as early as the 1950s and 60s. But practical measures on how to integrate them into the national development planning process were lacking. It was not until the 1990s and 2000s that a realistic number of research and innovation initiatives started to emerge. These initiatives ranged from increased support to research, science policy development to supporting innovative business clusters. Arguably gains from these and other efforts would be enhanced, if government adopts a dual funding strategy for research and innovation, which on the one hand involves annual competitive grants and on the other hand increased core support to universities and research institutes. The public organizations create within them enabling conditions for creativity and enterprise development. The quality of education is improved at all levels to maintain a constant supply of a skilled scientific workforce. Ultimately, these efforts require inclusive innovation policies, which promote linkages and interactions between actors engaged in innovation processes both in country and abroad.
How Managers of Kenyan-based Agribusiness Firms Perceive Matching Funds for Innovation Financing
(Research Square, 2022) Amukoa, Susan Akinyi; Ecuru, Julius; Lagat, Job Kibiwot
Agribusiness innovation is vital for economic growth and diversification, and funds to support it are a major point of debate among innovation scholars and policy makers. Most investors or donors require agribusiness firms to provide matching funds contribution either in kind or cash to the innovation projects they finance. An explorative study of 12 Kenyan based agribusiness firms providing matching funds contributions revealed that managers of the firms perceive matching funds for financing their innovation to be a good thing because it shows their commitment to the project, promotes ownership, and contributes to longer term utilization of project results. This notwithstanding, the study further showed that majority of the agribusiness firms did not have policies to inform their decisions on matching funds contribution. Managers considered future business opportunity the project would create, and if the project was well aligned with the firm’s core business. The study established that matching funds contributions can be improved if firms properly quantify in-kind matching funds, and by strengthening enforcement of matching funds requirement. The paper provides preliminary empirical evidence of feasibility of implementing a matching funds scheme for agribusiness innovation financing in Kenya.
Improving the Quality of Host Country Ethical Oversight of International Research: The Use of a Collaborative ‘Pre-Review’ Mechanism for a Study of Fexinidazole for Human African Trypanosomiasis
(Developing World Bioethics, 2015) Coleman, Carl H.; Ardiot, Chantal; Colonna, Pierre; Ecuru, Julius; Edielu, Andrew; Strub-Wourgaft, Nathalie
Developing countries face numerous barriers to conducting effective and efficient ethics reviews of international collaborative research. In addition to potentially overlooking important scientific and ethical considerations, inadequate or insufficiently trained ethics committees may insist on unwarranted changes to protocols that can impair a study's scientific or ethical validity. Moreover, poorly functioning review systems can impose substantial delays on the commencement of research, which needlessly undermine the development of new interventions for urgent medical needs. In response to these concerns, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), an independent nonprofit organization founded by a coalition of public sector and international organizations, developed a mechanism to facilitate more effective and efficient host country ethics review for a study of the use of fexinidazole for the treatment of late stage African Trypanosomiasis (HAT). The project involved the implementation of a novel ‘pre-review’ process of ethical oversight, conducted by an ad hoc committee of ethics committee representatives from African and European countries, in collaboration with internationally recognized scientific experts. This article examines the process and outcomes of this collaborative process.
Payments and Direct Benefits in HIV/AIDS Related Research Projects in Uganda
(Ethics & Behavior, 2010) Kwagala, Betty; Wassenaar, Douglas; Ecuru, Julius
Paying research participants in developing countries like Uganda raises ethical concerns over potential for undue inducement. This article, based on an exploratory study, reviewed 49 research protocols from a national HIV/AIDS research ethics committee database. Payments mainly adhered to the reimbursement and compensation payment models. Offers made were diverse but basic in order to limit undue inducement. Implications in terms of undue inducement and possible impact on participants and research are discussed. We end by recommending standardization across comparable studies in the interests of promoting high-quality research, altruism, voluntariness, and restraining unfair reimbursement practices in research.
Research site monitoring for compliance with ethics regulatory standards: review of experience from Uganda
(BMC Medical Ethics, 2013) Ochieng, Joseph; Ecuru, Julius; Nakwagala, Frederick; Kutyabami, Paul
On site monitoring of research is one of the most effective ways to ensure compliance during research conduct. However, it is least carried out primarily for two reasons: presumed high costs both in terms of human resources and finances; and the lack of a clear framework for undertaking site monitoring. In this paper we discuss a model for research site monitoring that may be cost effective and feasible in low resource settings. Methods: This was a retrospective review of research site monitoring reports covering a period of four years. Results: The monitoring was conducted by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology, the National Drug Authority and the National HIV/AIDS Research and Ethics Committee over the period 2007 to 2010. The monitoring team was usually three members comprising of two experts in research ethics and an assistant. A total of 28 site monitoring visits covering 40 research projects were reviewed. 25% of the site monitoring reports revealed violation of the regulatory requirement for valid ethical approval. 36% of the site reports showed some instances of informed consent violation, 28% showed violation of the rights and welfare of research participants, 38% revealed that sites did not report SAEs to regulatory authorities and many sites lacked adequate GCP and GCLP. However, most of the sites monitored had adequate facilities to conduct the respective studies and good working practices. Conclusion: This model employed by the monitoring teams to evaluate research compliance is effective in auditing ethical practice. Compliance monitoring is feasible and affordable in a resource limited setting. Research protocol non compliance is still a major problem in Uganda, and there is need for a pro-active approach to this vice by all stake holders if ethical conduct of research is to be achieved.
Supporting Bioscience Innovation in Eastern Africa
(Stockholm Environment Institute, 2016) Virgin, Ivar; Ecuru, Julius; Alemu, Abebe; Gasingirwa, Christine; Karembu, Margaret; Opati, Linda; Nyange, Nicholas; Omari, Jane; Teklehaimanot, Haileselassie
Bioscience innovations have significant potential to contribute to sustainable development and economic growth in Eastern Africa. The study is focused on bioscience innovation in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. We examine a selection of bioscience technology clusters and the emerging innovation systems that correspond to each, from the perspective of technological innovation systems. We then identify barriers and enabling conditions for moving bioinnovations from the laboratory to the market in Eastern Africa.
A Technological Innovation Systems Perspective On The Emerging Shea Butter Cluster In Uganda
(IJTD, 2014) Ecuru, Julius; Lating, Peter Okidi
This paper uses a technological innovation systems perspective to analyse the emerging shea butter cluster in east and northern Uganda. The aim of the paper is to describe the structure of the innovation system for shea butter and its associated products. In so doing, it highlights the system‟s functionality and the underlying policy issues affecting growth of the shea butter cluster in the region. Data was collected through interviews with 20 key informants in the shea districts, three focussed group discussions with farmers‟ group leaders, processors, local government officials, private sector and development aid practitioners, and observations of shea butter processing in firms. Findings reveal that shea butter production and processing is very much a cottage industry, which is supported mainly by women groups. It could evolve rapidly into a dynamic business cluster if actors and institutions, which currently exist in isolation, start to interact more intensely It means that local governments, universities, private businesses and the community in the shea districts should be willing to interact and learn from each other. The findings point to the need for universities and research organizations in the area to work collaboratively with local government, businesses and the community to promote growth of the shea butter cluster.

Browsing by Author "Ecuru, Julius"

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