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Lessons for long-acting lenacapavir : catalysing equitable PrEP access in low-income and middle-income countries
(Elsevier, 2025) Lynch, Sharonann; Cohen, Rachel M.; Kavanagh, Matthew; Sharma, Agrata; Raphael, Yvette; Pillay, Yogan; Bekker, Linda-Gail
Despite substantial advances in biomedical HIV prevention, including long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) options such as cabotegravir, barriers to widespread adoption and scale-up persist in low-income and middle-income countries. Long-acting injectable lenacapavir is a potentially transformative HIV prevention tool, providing an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate progress. However, the global HIV response is under threat like never before, with drastic funding cuts undermining the gains of the past 25 years. The challenges of introducing and scaling up long-acting lenacapavir and other PrEP innovations are numerous. Without deliberate policy, programmatic, and financing interventions, new prevention technologies risk following slow adoption patterns of previous innovations, weakening a needed transformation of the HIV response. Drawing on lessons from the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy, and experience with previous biomedical prevention tools, a new ten-point framework should be adopted to accelerate individual and epidemiological impact—even at this time of extraordinary uncertainty.
The implications of integrating artificial intelligence into data-driven decision-making
(South African Institute of Industrial Engineers, 2024-11-29) Sutherns, J.; Fanta, Getnet Bogale
Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into data-driven decision-making offers advantages like increased performance, reduced costs and improved organisational efficiency; however, there are associated risks. The study employs a PRISMA protocol to systematically review academic articles from Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases to determine whether the risks AI pose are worth the rewards they offer. Literature trends reveal a growing interest in AI-driven decision-making, with significant research gaps in African contexts. The study indicates that AI is highly utilized for decision-making to foster competitiveness in manufacturing, finance, healthcare, education, and transport. Identified risks include bias, discrimination, privacy issues, and cybersecurity threats. It is highlighted that businesses need to address concerns about privacy, fairness, and transparency. Policymakers must develop ethical and legal standards besides regular monitoring and auditing of AI uses to mitigate risks.
Navigating market turbulence : a configurational perspective of ambidextrous innovation in strengthening organizational resilience in sub- Saharan Africa
(NISC Pty (Ltd) and Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group, 2025-07) Okrah, Andrews Osei; Boso, Nathaniel; Mensah, Henry Kofi
This study investigates the relationship between ambidextrous innovation capabilities and organizational resilience in Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Ghana, with a focus on the moderating role of external market turbulence. Drawing on data from 285 MSMEs, the research adopts a quantitative approach, employing confirmatory factor analysis and Hayes PROCESS Macro to test the hypotheses. The findings reveal that ambidextrous innovation – comprising both exploitative and exploratory dimensions – positively influences organizational resilience, enabling firms to adapt to challenges and capitalize on opportunities. Additionally, the study highlights the significant moderating effect of external market turbulence, wherein higher turbulence levels strengthen the positive impact of ambidextrous innovation on resilience. These results contribute to the literature on innovation and resilience by providing empirical evidence from the sub-Saharan African context, particularly in MSMEs operating in volatile markets. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, with recommendations for MSMEs to foster balanced innovation capabilities to enhance their resilience in uncertain environments. The study also identifies areas for future research, including exploring additional contextual variables and expanding similar studies to other regions.
Navigating the waves of change and ripples of challenges in the water supply chain sector
(South African Institute of Industrial Engineers, 2024-11-29) Naidoo, Kelsi; Van der Lingen, Elma
ENGLISH : The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has ushered in a transformative era for industries worldwide, including the water sector. This paper investigates the difficulties that are encountered and the changes that are required in water sector supply chain management amid the 4IR. A comprehensive analysis of scholarly articles, research papers, and industry reports provides insights into the evolving dynamics of water supply chains. The review identifies challenges such as data integration complexities, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, budget constraints, regulatory intricacies, skills gaps, environmental sustainability concerns, infrastructure compatibility issues, data privacy dilemmas, resource limitations, socio-political factors, and geographical disparities. These are critically examined within their contextual frameworks, highlighting their significance for the water sector. This paper is valuable for researchers, policymakers, water utility professionals, and stakeholders seeking a comprehensive understanding of water sector supply chain management’s intricate challenges and transformative changes during the 4IR. This paper could also assist in illuminating water-related problems and solutions.
Developing an industrial engineering capabilities framework for the adoption of engineered wood products in the South African construction industry
(South African Institute of Industrial Engineers, 2024-11-29) Hassan, Ferdinand S.; Grobbelaar, Schalk
ENGLISH : The construction industry is embracing sustainable practices to combat environmental degradation and climate change, and engineered wood products (EWPs) offer promise as structural materials for sustainable infrastructure. Despite the benefits of EWPs, challenges such as supply chain integration and market acceptance have limited their use. This paper explores how industrial engineering could facilitate the adoption of EWPs in the South African construction industry, and provides a framework for developing critical industrial engineering capabilities that the South African timber construction sector should possess to integrate EWPs efficiently into construction projects. We used a comprehensive literature review and a curriculum analysis to achieve the study’s objectives. By drawing upon these capabilities, the study identified where industrial engineering as an expertise could drive innovation adoption.