Emmanuel Bamfo-Agyei – författare

This book examines an issue of constant concern in the construction industry, that of productivity. Using data from Ghana and South Africa, it presents research into the productivity of local contractors in these countries whilst examining the predominance of labour-intensive production methods.

The book begins by considering the theoretical and conceptual perspectives on labour productivity in the construction industry in the existing literature, before reviewing current productivity measurement frameworks. The book then explores the productivity of labour-intensive public works projects in South Africa and Ghana alongside a general discussion of key factors affecting construction productivity in these countries. Whilst the focus is on road construction, the framework developed can be applied to any number of construction projects to measure, and ultimately improve productivity.

This book is useful reading for researchers and practitioners looking to understand the factors influencing labour productivity in construction at both the industry and the project level, including construction managers, quantity surveyors, cost engineers and project managers.

This book examines an issue of constant concern in the construction industry, that of productivity. Using data from Ghana and South Africa, it presents research into the productivity of local contractors in these countries whilst examining the predominance of labour-intensive production methods.

The book begins by considering the theoretical and conceptual perspectives on labour productivity in the construction industry in the existing literature, before reviewing current productivity measurement frameworks. The book then explores the productivity of labour-intensive public works projects in South Africa and Ghana alongside a general discussion of key factors affecting construction productivity in these countries. Whilst the focus is on road construction, the framework developed can be applied to any number of construction projects to measure, and ultimately improve productivity.

This book is useful reading for researchers and practitioners looking to understand the factors influencing labour productivity in construction at both the industry and the project level, including construction managers, quantity surveyors, cost engineers and project managers.

This book presents papers from the 10th Applied Research Conference in Africa (ARCA), showcasing the latest research on education and inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable communities. The conference is focused on applied research discussion and its dissemination, developing understanding about the role of research and researchers in the development of the continent. 

Education is a key driver to transform lives, build peace, eradicate poverty and drive sustainable development in Africa. Researchers face large challenges to making a meaningful contribution to the development of Africa. It is a continent where research can at time be not viewed directly related to development. The aim of the Applied Research Conference in Africa is to provide a platform for capacity building and networking among researchers in Africa. 

This book presents papers from the 11th Sustainable Education and Development Research Conference on the theme: "Build Resilient Infrastructure, Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization, and Foster Innovation." Papers related to the sub-themes were presented: i. Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. ii. Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry''s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in the least developed countries. iii. Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets. iv. By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities. v. Enhance scientific research and upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing productivity.

SEDRC gathers papers that explain how key education on the Sustainable Development Goals is transforming lives, eradicating poverty, professing solutions to the infrastructural deficit in Africa, and providing innovative ways to provide affordable housing in Africa.

This book will be of interest to academics, postgraduate students, and industry professionals.

This book is Volume 1 of the proceedings of 2023 Sustainable Education and Development Research Conference. This volume concentrates on papers in the area of clean energy.

Despite considerable progress, more than 700 million people worldwide still lack access to electricity, and around 2.4 billion people continue to use harmful and polluting fuels for cooking. While efforts have been made to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, they have not been fast enough to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7. Adding to the challenge, the ongoing war in Ukraine has contributed to rising global energy prices and heightened energy insecurity in Europe. In response to the energy crisis, some European countries are planning to accelerate the transition to renewables and increase investments in clean energy and energy efficiency. However, others are considering a resurgence of coal, which poses a risk to the overall green transition.

Between 2010 and 2020, the percentage of the global population with access to electricity increased from 83% to 91%, with 1.3 billion people gaining access. Nevertheless, this leaves approximately 733 million people still without electricity, and most of them reside in sub-Saharan Africa. Achieving universal access by 2030, the annual growth rate in access needs to accelerate from 0.5 percentage points to 0.9 percentage points, necessitating significant efforts in low-income, fragile, and conflict-affected countries. In 2020, 69% of the global population had access to clean cooking fuels and technologies. While more than half of those without access to clean cooking fuels live in Asia, the 20 countries with the lowest percentage of people having access to clean cooking were predominantly least developed countries in Africa.

The share of renewable sources in total final energy consumption reached 17.7% globally in 2019, just slightly higher than the figure for 2015. The electricity sector leads in the adoption of renewables, accounting for 26.2% of total final energy consumption in 2019, while the heat and transport sectors have made limited progress.

Global primary energy intensity, defined as global total energy supply per unit of GDP, improved from 5.6 megajoules per dollar (2017 purchasing power parity) in 2010 to 4.7 megajoules in 2019. However, the rate of improvement (1.6% per year on average since 2015) falls short of the 3.2% annual rate needed to reach Sustainable Development Goal 7.3.

International financial flows to support clean and renewable energy in developing countries reached $10.9 billion in 2019, a 23.6% decrease from 2018. This decline occurred even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over a longer five-year moving average, average annual commitments decreased for the first time since 2008, from $17.5 billion in 2014-18 to $16.6 billion in 2015-19.

Although developing countries achieved a record of 245.7 watts per capita in installed renewable energy-generating capacity in 2020, small island developing States, least developed countries, and landlocked developing countries have lagged behind. It would take least developed countries and landlocked developing countries nearly 40 years and small island developing States almost 15 years to reach the same level of progress as the average developing country in 2020.

The 2023 SEDRC conference, titled "Sustainable Development and Education," aims to redefine the understanding of research in the continent''s development and the role of researchers. The conference focusses on applied research discussions and its dissemination. Researchers from research institutions, academicians, postgraduate students, politicians, and industry representatives will be the primary audience for the conference proceedings.

This book is Volume 2 of the proceedings of 2023 Sustainable Education and Development Research Conference. This volume concentrates on papers in the area of green buildings.

Despite considerable progress, more than 700 million people worldwide still lack access to electricity, and around 2.4 billion people continue to use harmful and polluting fuels for cooking. While efforts have been made to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, they have not been fast enough to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7. Adding to the challenge, the ongoing war in Ukraine has contributed to rising global energy prices and heightened energy insecurity in Europe. In response to the energy crisis, some European countries are planning to accelerate the transition to renewables and increase investments in clean energy and energy efficiency. However, others are considering a resurgence of coal, which poses a risk to the overall green transition.

Between 2010 and 2020, the percentage of the global population with access to electricity increased from 83% to 91%, with 1.3 billion people gaining access. Nevertheless, this leaves approximately 733 million people still without electricity, and most of them reside in sub-Saharan Africa. Achieving universal access by 2030, the annual growth rate in access needs to accelerate from 0.5 percentage points to 0.9 percentage points, necessitating significant efforts in low-income, fragile, and conflict-affected countries. In 2020, 69% of the global population had access to clean cooking fuels and technologies. While more than half of those without access to clean cooking fuels live in Asia, the 20 countries with the lowest percentage of people having access to clean cooking were predominantly least developed countries in Africa.

The share of renewable sources in total final energy consumption reached 17.7% globally in 2019, just slightly higher than the figure for 2015. The electricity sector leads in the adoption of renewables, accounting for 26.2% of total final energy consumption in 2019, while the heat and transport sectors have made limited progress.

Global primary energy intensity, defined as global total energy supply per unit of GDP, improved from 5.6 megajoules per dollar (2017 purchasing power parity) in 2010 to 4.7 megajoules in 2019. However, the rate of improvement (1.6% per year on average since 2015) falls short of the 3.2% annual rate needed to reach Sustainable Development Goal 7.3.

International financial flows to support clean and renewable energy in developing countries reached $10.9 billion in 2019, a 23.6% decrease from 2018. This decline occurred even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over a longer five-year moving average, average annual commitments decreased for the first time since 2008, from $17.5 billion in 2014-18 to $16.6 billion in 2015-19.

Although developing countries achieved a record of 245.7 watts per capita in installed renewable energy-generating capacity in 2020, small island developing States, least developed countries, and landlocked developing countries have lagged behind. It would take least developed countries and landlocked developing countries nearly 40 years and small island developing States almost 15 years to reach the same level of progress as the average developing country in 2020.

The 2023 SEDRC conference, titled "Sustainable Development and Education," aims to redefine the understanding of research in the continent''s development and the role of researchers. The conference focusses on applied research discussions and its dissemination. Researchers from research institutions, academicians, postgraduate students, politicians, and industry representatives will be the primary audience for the conference proceedings.