Economics †production possibilities curves Essay

â€Å"Explain how production possibilities curves can be used to demonstrate the problem of unemployment, the effects of technological change and the benefits of economic growth.†A production possibility frontier (also known as production possibility curve) represents all the possible combinations of the production of two types of goods and services that the economy can produce at any given time through graphical means. It is used to clearly demonstrate the problem of unemployment, the effects of technological change and the benefits of economic growth of a modified view of an economy. A typical production possibility frontier is based on four simplifying assumptions:1.The economy only produces two types of goods and services2.The state of technology remains unchanged3.The quantity of resources remains unchanged4.All resources are fully employedUsing the given assumptions, a production possibility frontier may be constructed. Fig 1.1 shows all the maximum possible combination of the production of wheat and cars in an economy when all resources are employed. Society must make decisions on which combination is most desirable, and thus, involving an opportunity cost. This is shown at point C on the line where in order to obtain 40 units of clothing, 50 units of food must be given up. The line AB shows the ideal spot in which an economy should lie as it signifies that all resources are efficiently employed, however in reality, this is often not the case and the problem of unemployment arises. Unemployment in an economy can be clearly identified in a production possibility frontier as the position of the economy would be shifted into the area within the curve. This is demonstrated in Fig 1.1 by X. Economy X is illustrated as producing 100 units of wheat and 40 units of cars, significantly reduced from the potential production of 150 units of wheat or 80 units of cars. This inefficient use of resources negatively impacts on the economy as the potential profit of the whole economy is reduced and resources are wasted. The production possibility frontier is able to clearly visualise the relationship between the production of two goods and services and indicate the state of an economy and its allocation of resources thus demonstrate the problem of unemployment and how it affects the economy’s profit and future implications. A change in the production possibility frontier may occur with technological improvements. This would often shift the curve in an outward direction, signifying the economy being able to develop a high quantity of goods or services with the same number of resource. In many cases, the technological advancement may only benefit to one of the goods or services. For example, the discovery of a genetic code to harvest wheat faster will benefit the production of wheat however, having no effect on the production of cars. This is shown in Fig 1.2 by the line DB where the line is shifted outwards from point A to point D and gradually declining to point B. In this case, 250 units of wheat may be produced as opposed to the original 200 units, providing a gain in production, and thus, the economy’s profits. On the other hand, if the technological advancement benefit both of the goods or services equally, it will cause the curve to shift outwards parallel to the original. An example may be new machinery developed that aids in the production of cars and wheat. This is demonstrated in Fig 1.3 where line AB shifts outwards to line DE. However, this parallel movement of the curve usually occurs with the discovery of new resources. Economic growth refers to an economy’s capacity to produce more goods and services. Factors of economic growth includes: technological improvement; discovery of new resources; increase in population, thus increase in labour. This may be clearly presented with the production possibility frontier by comparing the curves of a past or present economy to a present or future economy. This may be seen in Fig 1.4 where the curve is stretched outwards and the potential production rate is increased. For example point C on the line AB producing 150 units of wheat and 40 units of cars will be shifted to point F, producing 200 units of wheat and 50 units of cars. Economic growth indicates a benefit to our society as more wants and needs will be satisfied in the society, thus improving the standard of living of individuals in the economy. This implicates that the economy will be able to  support a larger population and provide better facilities or environment. A production possibility frontier may be described as one of the essential tools in economics. It allows the viewer to graphically identify the relationships of two different types of goods or services, compare the past/present/future status of an economy and identify the position of the economy in relations to the curve. It demonstrates the problem of unemployment, the effects of technological changes and the benefits of economic growth. bibliography: tim dixon economics textbook

TED Tallk

In my opinion, all of the videos that I watched was very informative and helpful for a person like me who is still not fully confident when speaking in public, engaging in arguments and when presenting a thesis or a report. Honestly, It's hard to maintain confidence but hearing those strategies on how to face and communicate with people helps me to challenge myself more because I believe that if it doesn't challenge me, it won't change me. In other words, if it doesn't challenge me, it won't improve me. The TEDtallk videos are very inspiring, most of them helped me realize that every one of us is a teacher. Whoever we meet/met has something to do in our lives that can teach and put a big impact on us, especially with those people who are more experienced, with those people who started as an ordinary people to embracing their uniqueness as an individual. I know I'm not the only one who thinks that people who gives advices are the people who fall all over again, life knocked them down so many times but they decided to get up and believes that they must scare their own fears. Why? Because we are bigger than our fears. Look at them, standing in stage, speaking in front of thousands of people because they carry so much lessons that life taught them. This is not from TEDtalk videos but he is one of the best examples on how to embrace our own identity and individuality, his name is Norman King an aeta who graduated from University of the Philippines Manila. I carry some of his words of wisdom in my daily life because I find it powerful and it enlightens me every day, that when you connect to his words you will feel and find the soul of dedicated and a hard-working man who have nothing to lose and who keeps fighting for their rights even though some of aetas have disregarded their culture.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Psychological Contract

Advantages and Disadvantages of Psychological Contract Outline and critically evaluate the concept of the ‘psychological contract’. Why is an understanding of the psychological contract considered to be important to the management of the contemporary employment relationship? The concept of psychological contract Introductions There are two kinds of contracts which are the formal, written economic contract as well as the euqally important, informal and unwritten psychological contract. It’s all about how people think they should be treated. Both involve rights, obligations and expectations on the part of employer and the employee. The key feature of the word ‘contracts’ is exchange in term of reward or the effort that employee puts in etc. For instance, the level of effort which employee puts in or employee’s perception can be affected by how they are being treated by the organization. A quite large research literature on the psychological contract has been produced in only a short time with the ke y players being, in the United States, Denise Rousseau (Rousseau, 1995, 2001), Schein (1980) etc. Although much of the interest in the psychological contract is recent, its roots go back a long time, it having originally been discussed by Argyris (1960). History The concept of a â€Å"psychological contract† was first coined by Argyris (1960); it refers to employer and employee expectations of the employment relationship as well as represents the mutual beliefs, perceptions and informal obligations between an employer and an employee. Expanding the concept of the contract was Schein (1980). According to Schien it may be defined as an†Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦unwritten set of expectations operating at all times between every member of an organization and the various managers and others in that organization.† More recently Rousseau and her co- workers (Robinson and Rousseau, 1994) have suggested a more specific definition of the psychological contract. According to them, the psychological contract is characterised not only by expectations, but by promissory and reciprocal obligations. When these obligations are broken, they produce more emotional and extreme reactions than weaker expectations produce feelings of disappointment. Broken obligations lead to feelings of anger and reassessment of the individual’s relationships with the organization. Content The term psychology is derived from the Greek, meaning ‘mind, spirit or soul’ and contract is that the expectations concern non- tangible, psychological issues. There are significant elements of all definitions of the psychological contract include: 1.3.1 integration of beliefs, values, expectations and aspirations of employer and employee, the beliefs of implicit promises and obligations are included, the level to which these are perceived to be met or violated and the level of trust within the relationship. 1.3.2 All the expectations must not be made explicit. It could be the implici t deal between employers and employees. Fairness and good faith are involved. 1.3.3 An significant feacture of the concept is it can be repeatedly re-negotiated, changing with an individual’s, and an organisation’s, expectations, and in shifting economic and social contexts. Yet, a snapshot of one point in time was only provided thus capturing only one stage in this social process. 1.3.4 Because it is based on individual perceptions individuals in the same organisation or job may perceive different psychological contracts, which will, in turn, influence the ways in which they perceive organisational events for instance redundancies or developing or modifying a flexitime system.

Women in Policing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Women in Policing - Research Paper Example Their only source of help was from the temperance leaders, progressive era reformers, social workers, and social hygienist (Archbold &Schulz, 2012). With time, the number of women and their role in law enforcement increased. This was evident in the World War II. However, the gains were affected by the economic downturn experienced in the first half of the 20th century. However, there was more hope for women in the second half of the century (Archbold &Schulz, 2012). In the 1960s, women surfaced from their traditional roles to become patrol officers (Archbold &Schulz, 2012). At this period, there was more concern about their safety and that of their colleagues. The focus now shifted on how women policing styles would be different from men and whether they might change the nature of the police organization (Archbold &Schulz, 2012). Currently, women have been assigned roles similar to male officers within police departments. Today, women comprise 11.9 percent of all sworn position in po lice agencies, in various parts of United States (Langton, 2010). The history of women in policing begins in the last half of 19th century. In this period, women were hired to protect and administer to women and juveniles in prison. New York was the first city to hire two women in 1845. Women worked as matrons in the city’s two jails (National Center for Women and Policing, 2013). This was after a comprehensive campaign by the American Female Moral Reform Society for the creation of matron position. Their hope was that police would find it prudent to hire matrons for the police stations. However, this was not the case, and the idea received opposition from the police department. One of the notable women in the era was Mary Owens. Owens received the rank of a police officer from the Chicago Police Department in 193 (National Center for Women and Policing, 2013). She gained this position due to the death of her husband who had been an officer for the

Torture and Ethics Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Torture and Ethics - Research Paper Example The paper further examines if torturing violates the basic human rights provided in the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights. Eventually, it determines if the act of torture is justifiable under any ethical theory. Torturing Enemy Combatants or High-value Targets and Standards of Morality in America Torturing of enemies or criminals has been contrary to the values and morals of the Americans for long time. The Bill of Rights under the American Constitution prohibited bizarre and cruel punishments (Greenberg, 2006). Furthermore, the United States’ government, besides Americans, has condemned countries across the world that practices any act of torture. This is exemplified by the country granting asylum to individuals fleeing their countries for fear of acts of torture (Wijze, 2006). In the history of criminology and jurisprudence, the act of torture always has been distinctive. Torture forms part of the ancient techniques of punishment, which are severe. Torture is regarded a s capital punishment in which the captors apply force and brutality to obtain compliance from the criminal suspect (Ginbar, 2008). A section of the society has argued always that people who torture suspects are sadists, deriving pleasure from agony and pain of other persons. Any form of physical or psychological coercion is unacceptable for use on terrorist criminals or suspects because it amounts to inhuman and undignified treatment, diminishing the mental abilities of the targets. Depriving fellow humans of their rights and liberties of which individuals should be custodians to is morally unacceptable. Acts of torture remain evil practices to be detested and avoided (Wijze, 2006). A majority of the civilized societies across the world perceive torture as an inhuman and savage act that should not be practiced on humans. Consequently, the use of torture has received massive criticism and condemnation as well as protests (Wendel, 2005). The emergence of increased terrorist attacks af ter the 9/11 attacks, which led to the American government to adopt the policy of torture, has witnessed mixed reactions from the society over torture of suspected terror attack criminals or war prisoners (Ginbar, 2008). The international community prohibits torture through the conventional legal agreements, such as the Geneva Conventions, of which America is party to. Practicing acts of torture is a violation of the morality standards set out by the international agreements, which embody universally true and indefeasible human dignity values. Treating terrorist criminals and suspects in an inhumane way is morally irrelevant. All humans are equal and entitled to some incontrovertible rights of which dignity, found within life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, is among them (Greenberg, 2006). The United States breaches the principle of standards of morality that it advocates for and loses its moral authority when it practices acts of torture in any circumstances (Davis, 2005). The totalitarian states find a loophole in resisting the changes demanded of them by the international community. The application of coercion is morally repugnant because it exposes America to allegations of hypocrisy, undermining its efficacy. Act of Torture: Violation of Basic Human Rights and Global Implications The use of torture to obtain crucial and critical information from criminal suspects,

Animals for drug testing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Animals for drug testing - Essay Example The anti-animal testing campaigners argue the exact opposite, not only insisting that the use of animals for drug testing is completely inadequate for drug-safety testing but that safer alternatives exist. While conceding to the fact that the use of lab animals for drug and medical research may have been at the core of some medical advances, the fact is that the use of animals for drug testing is unethical, costly and unsafe, in addition to which, ethical, less expensive and safer alternatives are available. The proponents of animal testing maintain that without the use of live specimens, the medical and pharmaceutical communities would not have been able to acquire the anatomical knowledge of the human body, they currently possess. There is no doubt that this claim is partially valid. As Joan Dunayer, a medical researcher notes, the similarities between the human and the ape anatomy have allowed medical researcher, through vivisection, to explore the ape anatomy and through that, acquire an expanded understanding of the human one. Certainly, one cannot ignore the fact that the dissections carried out on human corpses have been the primary contributors to the mapping of the human body but, the fact remains that the observation and examination of a live human specimen is, or was up until a certain time, impossible. The use of apes provided the medical research community with the ability to conduction vivisections on live specimens and, in so doing, acquire a significant, and invaluable, u nderstanding of the human body at work.... Similarly, the medical and pharmaceutical communities claim that without the use of lab animals they would not have been able to develop much of the chemical and drug cures now being routinely used to save millions of human lives. As Jones argues, live animals are used in the research lab setting in order to determine whether or not the introduction of a certain chemical compound into the body reacts with specific viruses, bacteria and disease, resulting in their elimination. Secondly they are further used to test whether the cure, or the chemical compound which has been determined to successfully eliminate a particular disease, virus or bacteria, has any side effects, both long term and short-term, harmful or benign (Jones). In other words, animal testing is essential for both the development of effective drug cure and their later testing for safety before production and licensing for human use. While the pro-animal testing argument appears strong, the fact remains that the practice is inhuman and incontrovertibly unethical. Alan M. Goldberg and Thomas Hartung, both science researchers, note that over the past four decades "hundreds of millions of animals" were sacrificed in the name of medical and chemical research. The unethical aspect of the stated is better clarified when the method of their death, invariably involving prolonged and senseless torture and suffering, is considered (Goldberg and Hartung). Irrespective of its best intentions, animal testing is fundamentally based on the deliberate infliction of pain, suffering, disease and death on countless of millions of animals. Despite the undeniably unethical character of animal testing, proponents have claimed it

KNOW HOW HUMAN RESOURCES ARE MANAGED Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

KNOW HOW HUMAN RESOURCES ARE MANAGED - Assignment Example This description generally offers comprehensive information about the duties, purpose, scope, responsibilities and the working conditions of that particular job during the term or time period. The job description also offers information about the designation of the person whom the potential candidate is supposed to report for the duration of the job. In addition to that, he is offered all this information before the commencement of the interview regarding the job. When the employers are looking for filling up a specific post in their organization, they are looking for various qualities pertaining to that specific post. Take an example, if the employers are looking for filling the post of General Manager for a consumer products company. The first quality they look for is the management degree in that specific area. The second quality they look for is the experience in a similar company for 6-7 years. Also, they look for various personal skills such as team player, communication skills, flexibility, their initiative or record of management (Legace, 2007). Employment contract can be broadly defined as the contract between the employer and the employee that spells out the particulars and understanding between both parties regarding all matters and protect both parties in event of any issue (Withrow, 2015). There are many key features of the employment contract such as length of the contract, nature of compensation, specifics of the job, type of performance, position of both parties, benefits and other elements and most important, procedure regarding termination of contact and its terms. The skilled and experienced human resource plays a vital role in progress of any organization. So, these organizations do their best to attract the best candidates (Baird & Meshoulam, 1988). There are many methods with which any organization can attract the potential candidates. Some of them are salaries, bonuses, incentives and stock options, increasing facilities in the

Brand Analysis of the Body Shop Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Brand Analysis of the Body Shop - Assignment Example Due to such activities the company has been able to position its brand in a better way in comparison to its competitors. The brand characteristics with regard to the products were found to have greatly influenced the customers purchasing decisions for the products which have enabled the company to demand premium price for its products. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Table of Contents 3 Brand Positioning and Values 6 Against Animal Testing 8 Support Community Fair Trade 8 Activate Self Esteem 8 Defend Human Rights 9 Protect the Planet 9 Brand Characteristics 10 Customers Benefits 11 Brand Community 12 Brand Equity 13 Conclusion 15 Reflection 16 References 17 Bibliography 19 Introduction The report would attempt to deal with â€Å"The Body Shop† values and its impacts on brand development. The Body Shop was first established by Antia Roddick in the year 1976 as one small shop in Brighton, England for selling beauty products. The company started its business with 25 produc ts that were created with natural ingredients. It was able to attain rapid growth and expand itself in the European market as well as internationally inspite of pursuing the strategy of â€Å"no money spent on advertising†. ... The company mainly produces toiletries and cosmetic products internationally. It offers a wide assortment of beauty products such as body gels and oils, make up products, moisturizers baby care products, hair care products, massage products, skincare products, bath and body products and even fragrances (Carlson, 2011). The products are made from natural ingredients which are supposed to be ethical and environmental friendly such as banana shampoo and coconut milk body lotions. The company primarily aims at combining activism with marketing and encourages women to concentrate on self-esteem along with environmental and social causes. The company strongly criticizes the idea of testing products on animals and ensures that the ingredients used in its prod ucts have not been tested on animals in any possible way. In addition to this, the company also restricts the use of harmful chemicals in the form of ingredients for its products. Furthermore, it believes in the principle of producing eco-friendly products and wishes to establish its identity as an eco-conscious company. The company sells its products both through online and established shopping houses. The company strives to ensure greater degree of cooperation from its suppliers in order to boost its innovations for the development of new and ethical products. The company has been able to retain its customers even after it was taken over by the L’Oreal Company in 2006 (Carlson, 2011). The company’s aim always has been to expand its business by satisfying its customers’ needs with natural and ethical products. It further emphasizes to deliver superior quality beauty products at affordable prices to its loyal customers in contrast to its existing competitors (Fi tness Health, 2012).

Analysis the case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analysis the case study - Essay Example â€Å"The second phase of the research was based on short personal interviews with members of the public, carried out in the streets of Central Manchester† (Peter W. Tumbull, Sheena Leek and Grace Ying, (2000), p.152)A mixture of open and closed-ended questions were used for this purpose. The above research philosophy succeeded in bringing out some statistics about the customers confusion over buying a mobile phone. The research was successful in establishing the earlier findings about the customer confusion once again. Because of the over dependence of secondary data, there may be some errors in the statistics. Most of the companies will never submit original data to the government agencies and The research succeeded in predicting a bright future growth to the mobile the mobile phone industry. It provided important statistics about the different age group preferences in purchasing mobile phones which will be useful for the manufacturers to change their designs to target specific segments in the consumer industry. Among the percentage of users, the result finds that users are still inclined to be younger age groups, with a peak among 25-34-year-olds. In addition, the findings also found that there are differences in the buying criteria and the usage amongst consumers (See Table 6.1). This infonnation could be used to produce specific market strategies for different types of consumers. The results further support the applicability of past research (Peter W. Tumbull, Sheena Leek and Grace Ying, (2000), p.161). The research failed to collect data about consumer’s confusion over the usage of mobile phones with respect to health related issues. The fear about the dangers caused by the mobile phone and tower radiations is growing among the public. At least a small percentage of the public is reluctant in using mobile phones due to their fear about the health issues. This research failed to address such people. The main objective of the research was to

Discuss the causes of desertification Essay Example for Free

Discuss the causes of desertification Essay Desertification, term applied to land degradation in dry lands resulting mainly from adverse human impact. Land in these terms includes soil and local water resources, the land surface and vegetation or crops, while degradation implies a reduction of resource potential. Desertification has subsequently been recognized as one of a series of processes that affect dry lands all over the world. These processes include water erosion and wind erosion, as well as sedimentation by those agents, long-term reduction in the amount or diversity of natural vegetation, and salinization and sodication. Desertification was arguably the first environmental issue to be recognized as taking place on a global scale, a recognition that was formalized at the United Nations (UN) Conference on Desertification, held in Nairobi in 1977. CAUSES OVER GRAZING So-called overgrazing is a result of too much livestock being kept on a given area of pasture resulting in the loss of edible species and the consequent encouragement of inedible species. If excessive grazing pressure continues, the loss of vegetation cover can result in soil erosion. OVER CULTIVATION Other commonly quoted ways in which human mismanagement causes desertification include over cultivation, in which soil is exhausted by nutrient loss and erosion, the excessive clearance of vegetation, often for fuel wood, and poor management of irrigation schemes which results in salinization of soils. Over cultivation occurs due to the shortening of periods when the land is left free from cultivation (fallow), or from the use of mechanical techniques, which cause widespread loss of soil. A classic case of over cultivation leading to large-scale wind erosion of soils occurred in the infamous Dust Bowl of the Great Plains of the United States in the 1930s. DEFORESTATION Forest and woodland is cleared for a variety of motives, to create agricultural and pasture land for example, but the most serious cause of desertification in this respect is the so-called fuel wood crisis which is characteristic of many dry lands in the developing world. The collection of fuel wood from urban hinterlands in the Sahel, the most severely affected region, has resulted in the almost total loss of trees around major cities. Examples include Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and Dakar (Senegal), while the radius of the treeless zone around Khartoum in Sudan is 90 km (56 mi). SALINIZATION Salinization is one of the clearest examples of human-induced desertification, affecting about one-fifth of all irrigated cropland in Australia and the United States, and one-third in countries such as Egypt, Pakistan, and Syria. The proportion is one-half in Iraq. Excessive concentrations of salts in irrigated soils adversely affect crop yields and can ultimately kill plants. SAHEL Sahel a region in western Africa, forming a transition zone between the arid Sahara on the north and the wetter tropical areas to the south. The Sahel runs from Senegal in the west to Sudan in the east. A relatively sparse savannah vegetation of grasses and shrubs predominates. Rainfall averages between 102 and 203 mm (4 and 8 in) a year and falls mostly from June to September; periods of low rainfall and drought are common, however. An extended drought in the Sahel, lasting from the late 1960s until the early 1980s, the worst in 150 years, suggested an increasingly arid regional climate and increased desertification, bringing the Sahara further south. EFFECTS Desertification reduces the ability of land to support life, affecting wild species, domestic animals, agricultural crops and people. The reduction in plant cover that accompanies desertification leads to accelerated soil erosion by wind and water. South Africa losing approximately 300-400 million tonnes of topsoil every year. As vegetation cover and soil layer are reduced, rain drop impact and run-off increases. Water is lost off the land instead of soaking into the soil to provide moisture for plants. Even long-lived plants that would normally survive droughts die. A reduction in plant cover also results in a reduction in the quantity of humus and plant nutrients in the soil, and plant production drops further. As protective plant cover disappears, floods become more frequent and more severe. Desertification is self-reinforcing, i. e. once the process has started, conditions are set for continual deterioration. STEPS TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION Many organizations have been formed to try and combat desertification. One project is the Eden Project, by the Eden Foundation. The Eden Foundation has a field station loca ted in Niger (North Western Africa), which is researching different ways of revegetating land. Two ways The Eden Foundation has found of revegetating land are direct seeding and natural revegetation. Desertification is becoming a problem that is drawing a lot of attention. One of the larger responses to it seems to be the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD), which has been joined by many countries. Although it is extremely lengthy in description, it is very vague and general.

Analysis of Child Feeding and Care Practices in Certain Area

Analysis of Child Feeding and Care Practices in Certain Area INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING AND CARE PRACTICES OF CAREGIVERS IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBAY, PHILIPPINES Joyce Louise Cruz Ignacio, RND Registered Nutritionist-Dietitian Summary of the present status of the study Description of the status of the research work The study has two basic objectives: 1) To assess the caregivers’ current Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) and care practices; and 2) To assess the nutritional status of the 0-24 month-old children in the province of Albay. As stated in the proposal, the study is composed of two phases. phase executed the process to meet the first objective of the study, whereas the second phase involved a carefully-designed capacity-building program for the community health and nutrition workers. The survey component of Phase 1 was conducted in the province of Albay from March 2014 to June 2014. It covered six of Albay’s municipalities Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Oas, Libon, Malilipot, and Tiwi and three of its component cities Legazpi, Ligao and Tabaco – altogether creating a scope of 24 different barangays. 280 caregivers, all of whom were randomly selected via systematic sampling, participated in a two-day survey that used a pretested questionnaire to obtain the household and caregivers’ socio-economic and demographic information. That information included age, educational attainment, occupation, household income, household size and their hygiene and sanitation practices. Also recorded about infants and young children were their participation in health and nutrition programs, their access to health and medical services (e.g. immunization, deworming, micronutrient supplementation), their two non-consecutive 24-hour food recalls, the frequency and duration of their breastfeeding sessions, and their anthropometric measurements that were taken using a calibrated salter weighing scale and head board. Furthermore, six (6) Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), three for disaster-prone areas and three for non-disaster-prone areas in Albay, were conducted using a structured set of questions as a guide. Topics included in the FGDs were generally focused on the IYCF and care practices and their coping mechanisms during emergencies. Phase 1 of the study, now in its final component, is undergoing analysis of the following variables: socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the households and caregivers, hygiene and sanitation practices, participation in health and nutrition programs, access to health services, and dietary intake of children. It also evaluated their relationship with each other, and their impact on both existing IYCF and care practices and the nutritional status of 0-24 month-old children in the community. Respondents who either failed to complete the two-day data collection or have incomplete data and/or answers to the questionnaires administered will be excluded from the analysis of the study. The results of Phase 1 will serve as the empirical basis for the planning and implementation of Phase 2. Phase 2, the capacity-building component of the project, will render substantial inputs for the local government of Albay. This will not only aid in their development of appropriate programs, b ut also, through the advocacy of proper IYCF and care practices of caregivers, facilitate interventions on malnutrition in young children. The National Nutrition Council in the Bicol region (NNC-Bicol) and the local government of Albay have expressed great support and enthusiasm in the study. During the development of the study, they provided substantial insights and suggestions, all of which were incorporated in the final design of the study. They also helped in the planning and implementation of the data collection in the field. They directed me in the proper channels which made the facilitation of the data collection more effective and efficient. NNC-Bicol and the local government of Albay are continuously providing all the necessary assistance that will help in better understanding and analyzing gathered data. They have also been very committed all throughout the project and worked closely with me during the capacity building phase of my study. As originally proposed, the capacity building component of this study will supplement the existing guidelines and recommendations of the local government in Albay. Based on the initial communication with the regional and provincial nutrition office, there were several training sessions for the community health and nutrition workers, all of which focused on IYCF. However, there is a high turnover rate of community health and nutrition workers which can be attributed to several factors: 1) Community health and nutrition workers serve as volunteers so they spend a lot of their time with the community; 2) They have no salaries since the source of funds is unsustainable, and the idea of it destroys the spirit of volunteerism; and 3) Community health and nutrition workers, though mandated by law to be non-partisan, tend to be affiliated to specific political parties, which is why their posts may be filled by other volunteers when there are changes in political leadership in the community. Yet despite their selflessness in service, they are often taken for granted and underappreciated which lead them to leave their posts. High turnover rates of community health and nutrition workers often lead to the disruption of the co-worker’s relationships with the community and each other. When these workers leave their posts, the opportunity to build on their experience and further develop their skills through refresher training is lost. Due to these circumstances, the recommended course of action is to have a consultative meeting with the key persons in Albay in order to address the problem in sustaining said workers. However, realigning the concept and purpose of community health and nutrition workers is necessary before conducting any form of training. A strategic and concrete plan of action is also needed to answer questions hindering the sustainability of community health and nutrition workers. These may include about the most efficient way to monitor these workers, how turnover rates can successfully be reduced, and what incentive system should be used to ensure that community health and nutrition workers are properly motivated. Furthermore, training and retraining are recommended for the health and nutrition workers of the barangays covered in Phase 1. Continuous training has been known to be an essential prerequisite in effective community health and nutrition work, and is an important factor in retaining the motivation of workers. This latter part is crucial, especially in light of the short training periods available and the low levels of education of most workers. Retraining allows them to learn and develop new skills, take on new challenges, and interact with peers, keeping the job interesting as well as promoting personal development. Upon completion of Phase 1, strengths and weaknesses of the current IYCF will be identified, and incorporating findings of the study in the capacity building component can further strengthen the technical capacity of health and nutrition workers in the community. Firsthand knowledge and experience on the field will make them more equipped in planning, service delivery, and monitoring of existing IYCF programs. Publications No publication has been published based from this research study. Upon the completion of the project, I intend to submit a scientific journal article to publishers with international reputation for greater reach. Summary of the expenses during the report period Summary of the financial statement from the Administrative Offices of the University / Institution Enclosed in this first intermediary report is the Financial Statement as of August 22, 2014 from the University of the Philippines Los Banos Foundation, Inc. (UPLBFI, Inc.), which is certified corrected by the Accounting Supervisor Ms. Marilou C. Atanante and signed by Dr. Cecilio R. Arboleda, Director of UPLBFI, Inc. Gross salaries Breakdown of positions and salaries for the report period Breakdown of major equipment for the report period Breakdown of operating expenses during the report period 4.6 Breakdown of travel expenses for the report period Cont. 4.6 Breakdown of travel expenses for the report period Summary of budget for the report period (In the preferred currency and US $ for the total) GRAND TOTAL: PhP 425,658.19 / US $ 10,134.71 Intermediary to the Nestlà © Foundationpage 1