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    Ecology of infectious diseases in wild bats : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Sciences at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Hranac, Carter Reed
    Emerging infectious diseases present significant threats to the health of humans and wildlife. The ecology of emerging infectious diseases is a data hungry field in a world of rare events. Bats are both the source of human pathogens globally and the victims of a novel fungal pathogen causing continent-wide population declines in North America. By using the principals of iterative model design and model guided field work I leverage the mechanistic relationships between seasonally limiting biotic and abiotic factors of wild bats to understand spatio-temporal disease emergence dynamics from and within bat populations. I first use a novel ecological niche modeling technique to relate the seasonal availability of resources to predict African bat birthing events. I then use these model results to test hypotheses that Ebola virus disease (EVD) transmission to humans and non-reservoir animal hosts are related to the birthing events of bats through the use of a spatiotemporal Poisson point process model. The results suggest EVD emergence in Africa may be driven in part by the pattern of births among bats, especially fruit bats. Further, the identified temporal lag terms between bat birthing terms and EVD emergence are consistent with hypothesized viral dynamics in bat populations. Out of sample testing on the two most recent EVD outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reveal a high predictive model performance and suggest the existence of both strong regional seasonality and locations persistently at risk of EVD outbreaks in humans and susceptible wildlife. Finally, I model North American winter duration and incorporate spatial variation in host traits related to body mass and composition to update survival estimates for hibernating Myotis lucifugus infected with Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of the emerging disease white- nose syndrome (WNS) killing bats in Eastern North American populations. Results indicate that hibernating M. lucifugus in the West are likely to suffer populations declines similar to those observed in the East. All my findings will require further ground-truthing to validate the results, yet demonstrate the predictive power of identified mechanistic relationships on complex infectious disease systems.
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    Healing from the horror of war : a study of a post-conflict psychosocial program for refugees in Uganda : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of International Development at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) Manson, Tim
    Uganda, a landlocked African nation of 41 million people, currently hosts 1.1 million refugees from surrounding nations including South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. Many of these refugees have suffered significant psychological trauma as a result of their conflict experiences and through the process of fleeing from their homes and communities. Tutapona is a non-profit organisation that provides group based psychosocial trauma rehabilitation support among war affected populations. This research report examines the effectiveness of the ‘Grow’ program at empowering refugees. The study was carried out in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement in Western Uganda, which is home to 64,000 people from the DRC. Four refugees who had attended Tutapona’s Grow program were interviewed in depth about their experience and subsequent decisions to ascertain the extent to which empowerment had taken place. The research report concludes that Tutapona’s Grow program has achieved a high degree of success at empowering refugees, especially on the individual and relational levels. More broadly, it suggests that psychosocial interventions in post- conflict settings should be more highly prioritized by humanitarian and development actors.
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    Re-thinking development in conflict : lessons and impressions from the African great lakes : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1998) Andrews, Jonathan David
    Based on a review of contemporary development literature and substantial experience in relief work in the Great Lakes Region of Central Africa, this thesis asserts the need to 're-think' development and relief work in conflict situations. Recent 'development' has been a process of prescriptive global modernisation based on models created following World War II when periods of conflict and resolution were well-defined. Western ideas became institutionalised into the form that many international development agencies remain in today. Much development in practice is not only inappropriate, but also increases the vulnerability of poor communities and adds to the likelihood of conflict. Colonial powers imposed western systems upon traditional orders, distorting and exploiting issues of kinship and ethnicity for short-term economic gain. With a focus on the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre), and recent events in the Great Lakes Region of Central Africa, links between power, poverty and conflict are discussed and social and economic consequences examined. Contemporary humanitarian emergencies are complex, caused by and resulting in a multitude of social, political and economic issues. Conflict permeates society, exacts a high toll on civilian population and further impoverishes vulnerable communities. Such emergencies require comprehensive solutions. Poverty and conflict, and accordingly relief and development work, are inextricably linked. Localised long-term 'vulnerabilities', rather than short-term 'emergency needs', should be the focus of relief assistance. Peace is essential for true sustainable development, but the international community does not act as a cohesive whole for the elimination of global conflict and poverty. Some political leaders also promote conflict to their own ends. Therefore, continued conflict is a likelihood and appropriate interim interventions to safeguard community welfare must be continued. NGOs and individuals have a crucial role and must remain committed and open-minded in order to promote truly beneficial development in a local context. Individual recognition of the historical, social and cultural dimensions of contemporary crises and understanding of the root causes of conflict are crucial for the effectiveness of international relief and development work towards long-term peace and local prosperity.