Dr. William G. M. Brandful, born on December 04, 1952 in Cape Coast, Ghana, will turn sixty years old on December 04, 2012, when he will launch his book Personal Reflections of a Ghanaian Foreign Service Officer - Whither Ghanaian Diplomacy? The book chronicles Dr. Brandful¿s experiences as a Foreign Service Officer in a way that those experiences serve to mirror the diplomacy of Ghana which then gets examined to see how it may have excelled in the past; how it is being confronted currently with challenges to the point of sometimes blunting its efficacy; and how it could be ¿re-engineered¿ towards greater future achievement. The attempt may be ambitious, but it is motivated by a passionate sincerity, only equaled by the other commitment to also contribute through the book to the creation of institutional memory for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana. Currently the Ambassador of Ghana to Japan with concurrent accreditation to Singapore as non-Resident High Commissioner, the author served previously at the Ghanaian Missions in Zambia, Mali, Germany, and Benin. Between the date of joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in May 1977, and the specified diplomatic assignments, Ambassador Brandful worked at various positions at the Ministry in Ghana, including Chief of Protocol and later as Supervising Director, Policy Planning, Research and Monitoring. Dr. Brandful had his Secondary education in Ghana at Mfantsipim School from 1964 to 1971 and pursued his initial university studies at the University of Ghana (1971-75, including one year abroad 73/74 at the University of Dakar, Senegal), followed by post-graduate studies successively at the Polytechnic of Central London; University of Nairobi, Kenya; International Institute for Public Administration in Paris (I.I.A.P); The Hague Academy of International Law; and the University of Paris XI, Sceaux Faculty, France, from where he obtained a ¿Doctorat de Troisieme Cycle¿ in International Relations in January, 1986. Dr. Brandful is married to Dinah Brandful (née Coleman); has four daughters and three grandchildren. He speaks French. As hobbies, Ambassador Brandful plays squash, tennis, piano and golf.

Focusing the 2015 Annual Trends and Outlook Report (ATOR) on nutrition will contribute to a broader understanding of the critical role of nutrition in achieving international, continental, and national economic growth targets through agriculture, food security, and nutrition. This report presents information and analysis in support of evidence-based policy making that should inform the second generation of CAADP national investment plans now being developed. This is an important moment for shaping the region’s future and ensuring that the much-needed agriculture-led growth and development agenda can simultaneously deliver on improving nutrition, saving lives, improving productivity and health, and curbing nutrition-related diseases and the associated public health expenditures. These investment plans should address not only the usual elements of undernutrition but also widespread micronutrient deficiencies (termed “hidden hunger”) and the growing problem of overweight and obesity that is associated with economic growth.

China’s relations with African nations have changed dramatically over the past decade. African oil now accounts for more than 30% of China’s oil imports, and China is Africa’s second-largest single-country trading partner, as well as a leading lender and infrastructure investor on the continent. Yet these developments are bringing challenges, not only for Africa and the West, but for China as well. This book examines these challenges, considering Africa as a testing ground, both for Chinese companies ‘going global’ and for a Chinese government that is increasingly having to deal with issues beyond its shores and immediate control. What does China need to do to protect and develop its African engagements, against a backdrop of mounting African expectations, concerns from Western actors in Africa, and the rival presence of other emerging actors? How sustainable is the momentum that China has established in its African ventures? China’s adaptations to the challenges it is facing in Africa are examined and assessed, as are the implications of these changes for China, Africa and the West. China’s African engagements are certainly changing Africa, but could they also be changing China?

Provides an analytical framework to help policy makers interpret the potential impacts and significance of drought and weather extremes as they intersect with other development challenges and difficult developmental trade-offs.