Pub Date : 2022-12-07DOI: 10.1163/09744061-bja10063
João Jungo, M. Madaleno, A. Botelho
The objective of this study is to contribute to the knowledge about the relationship between financial inclusion and credit risk in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, which remains relatively unexplored in the developing countries context. The result of panel vector autoregressive models (PVAR) estimation shows that there is no bidirectional causality between financial inclusion and credit risk, but there is unidirectional causality where financial inclusion improves credit risk. Furthermore, the feasible generalised (FGLS) estimation result confirms that financial inclusion reduces credit risk. Policymakers in SADC countries should implement measures that foster financial inclusion to achieve financial stability.
{"title":"The Effect of Financial Inclusion on Credit Risk in SADC Countries","authors":"João Jungo, M. Madaleno, A. Botelho","doi":"10.1163/09744061-bja10063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/09744061-bja10063","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The objective of this study is to contribute to the knowledge about the relationship between financial inclusion and credit risk in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, which remains relatively unexplored in the developing countries context. The result of panel vector autoregressive models (PVAR) estimation shows that there is no bidirectional causality between financial inclusion and credit risk, but there is unidirectional causality where financial inclusion improves credit risk. Furthermore, the feasible generalised (FGLS) estimation result confirms that financial inclusion reduces credit risk. Policymakers in SADC countries should implement measures that foster financial inclusion to achieve financial stability.","PeriodicalId":41966,"journal":{"name":"Africa Review","volume":"238 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77479469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-07DOI: 10.1163/09744061-bja10061
Onyanta Adama
The article provides insights into how a Private Sector Partnership (PSP) between government and local firms in Lagos, Nigeria, became enmeshed in local politics. Drawing largely on primary data, it reports that aided by a discourse which positioned the PSP as the embodiment of local interests, the partnership was deployed by politicians to generate political capital. Furthermore, Mega Infrastructure Projects (MIP s) paved the way for the government to intervene in the partnership. The hiring of a foreign firm by the government was seen by local firms as an attempt to marginalise them and by politicians as a challenge to entrenched local powers. Local firms fought back by creating strategic alliances and networks with politicians. Hence, the PSP was turned into a site of resistance politics. Ultimately, the saga led to the unravelling of the partnership. At the broadest level, the article highlights how globally circulating neoliberal urban visions are grounded within specific cities.
{"title":"Garbage Politics","authors":"Onyanta Adama","doi":"10.1163/09744061-bja10061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/09744061-bja10061","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The article provides insights into how a Private Sector Partnership (PSP) between government and local firms in Lagos, Nigeria, became enmeshed in local politics. Drawing largely on primary data, it reports that aided by a discourse which positioned the PSP as the embodiment of local interests, the partnership was deployed by politicians to generate political capital. Furthermore, Mega Infrastructure Projects (MIP s) paved the way for the government to intervene in the partnership. The hiring of a foreign firm by the government was seen by local firms as an attempt to marginalise them and by politicians as a challenge to entrenched local powers. Local firms fought back by creating strategic alliances and networks with politicians. Hence, the PSP was turned into a site of resistance politics. Ultimately, the saga led to the unravelling of the partnership. At the broadest level, the article highlights how globally circulating neoliberal urban visions are grounded within specific cities.","PeriodicalId":41966,"journal":{"name":"Africa Review","volume":"12 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72397188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-07DOI: 10.1163/09744061-bja10062
N. Tukur, Mohamad Saifudin Mohamad Saleh, Bahiyah Omar
The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of illegal gold miners and gold mining stakeholders in Zamfara, Nigeria, on the efficacy of a stakeholder collaboration in reducing illegal gold mining (IGM) activities. The study was conducted between 8 September 2020 and 16 March 2021, using a multilevel convergent mixed methods research design. Illegal gold miners identified in seven communities within Anka, Bukkuyum and Mara were invited to participate in a paper and pen survey, resulting in 605 returned questionnaires. Equally, eight stakeholders were sampled for interview. A joint display comparison of the results from the illegal gold miners and the stakeholders indicated mixed reactions in their perceptions. Both the illegal gold miners and stakeholders perceived that the short collaboration between the media and other stakeholders affected the prevention of IGM behaviour. However, compared to the miners, the stakeholders were more satisfied with the short media collaboration.
{"title":"The Relevance of Duration in Stakeholder Collaboration to Prevent Illegal Gold Mining in Nigeria","authors":"N. Tukur, Mohamad Saifudin Mohamad Saleh, Bahiyah Omar","doi":"10.1163/09744061-bja10062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/09744061-bja10062","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of illegal gold miners and gold mining stakeholders in Zamfara, Nigeria, on the efficacy of a stakeholder collaboration in reducing illegal gold mining (IGM) activities. The study was conducted between 8 September 2020 and 16 March 2021, using a multilevel convergent mixed methods research design. Illegal gold miners identified in seven communities within Anka, Bukkuyum and Mara were invited to participate in a paper and pen survey, resulting in 605 returned questionnaires. Equally, eight stakeholders were sampled for interview. A joint display comparison of the results from the illegal gold miners and the stakeholders indicated mixed reactions in their perceptions. Both the illegal gold miners and stakeholders perceived that the short collaboration between the media and other stakeholders affected the prevention of IGM behaviour. However, compared to the miners, the stakeholders were more satisfied with the short media collaboration.","PeriodicalId":41966,"journal":{"name":"Africa Review","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85185078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-07DOI: 10.1163/09744061-bja10059
Ramzi Farhani
The world faces two main problems: environmental degradation and the growing number of terrorist attacks. This study provides new perspectives by evaluating the links between environment quality, renewable energy consumption, terrorist attacks and the rents of natural resources for forty-six African countries over the period 1991–2017. We applied a heterogeneous panel data approach and second-generation econometric techniques, which took into account cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity. The long-term effects were obtained by AMG and CCMG estimators. The results confirmed the existence of a cross-sectional dependence between the individuals in the panel. In addition, the long-term relationship confirms the existence of an inverted U-shaped curve between CO2 emissions and the level of GDP. Renewable energies stimulate the improvement of environmental quality in the long term whereas terrorist attacks contribute to environmental degradation. Thus, policymakers are called upon to promote renewable energies and to implement good governance of rents.
{"title":"The Dynamic Links between Renewable Energy and Environmental Quality in an Insecure Situation","authors":"Ramzi Farhani","doi":"10.1163/09744061-bja10059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/09744061-bja10059","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The world faces two main problems: environmental degradation and the growing number of terrorist attacks. This study provides new perspectives by evaluating the links between environment quality, renewable energy consumption, terrorist attacks and the rents of natural resources for forty-six African countries over the period 1991–2017. We applied a heterogeneous panel data approach and second-generation econometric techniques, which took into account cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity. The long-term effects were obtained by AMG and CCMG estimators. The results confirmed the existence of a cross-sectional dependence between the individuals in the panel. In addition, the long-term relationship confirms the existence of an inverted U-shaped curve between CO2 emissions and the level of GDP. Renewable energies stimulate the improvement of environmental quality in the long term whereas terrorist attacks contribute to environmental degradation. Thus, policymakers are called upon to promote renewable energies and to implement good governance of rents.","PeriodicalId":41966,"journal":{"name":"Africa Review","volume":"20 1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86688225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-07DOI: 10.1163/09744061-tat00010
E. Botlhale
Human Resource Development (HRD) is key for the achievement of macroeconomic outcomes such as economic growth and development. This is particularly true in development-deficient sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In addition, HRD is vital for the successful delivery of international commitments such as Agenda 2030 and aspirations such as national visions. In SSA countries, largely due to increased demand for HRD in the face of post-2007 and Covid-19 fiscal strictures, the public financing of pre-service HRD is problematic. The purpose of the paper is to test the applicability of this situation in Botswana. The paper, rooted in interpretive research philosophy, adopted the qualitative case study approach. This was a desktop study that used secondary data sources. It concluded that the Botswana case mirrors the SSA situation. Concluding, the general lesson ensuing from this case is that there is a need for sustainable HRD financing in the sub-region.
{"title":"Sustainable Financing for Human Resource Development in Botswana","authors":"E. Botlhale","doi":"10.1163/09744061-tat00010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/09744061-tat00010","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Human Resource Development (HRD) is key for the achievement of macroeconomic outcomes such as economic growth and development. This is particularly true in development-deficient sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In addition, HRD is vital for the successful delivery of international commitments such as Agenda 2030 and aspirations such as national visions. In SSA countries, largely due to increased demand for HRD in the face of post-2007 and Covid-19 fiscal strictures, the public financing of pre-service HRD is problematic. The purpose of the paper is to test the applicability of this situation in Botswana. The paper, rooted in interpretive research philosophy, adopted the qualitative case study approach. This was a desktop study that used secondary data sources. It concluded that the Botswana case mirrors the SSA situation. Concluding, the general lesson ensuing from this case is that there is a need for sustainable HRD financing in the sub-region.","PeriodicalId":41966,"journal":{"name":"Africa Review","volume":"1275 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86483357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-11-14DOI: 10.1163/09744061-bja10021
A. A. Ugwuja
{"title":"African Politics and Ethics: Exploring New Dimensions , by Munyaradzi Felix Murove","authors":"A. A. Ugwuja","doi":"10.1163/09744061-bja10021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/09744061-bja10021","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":41966,"journal":{"name":"Africa Review","volume":"59 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87053934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-11-14DOI: 10.1163/09744061-bja10018
Abhiruchi Ojha
{"title":"Does Democracy Help Africa? An Inquiry Into Multiparty Democracy, Political Settlement, and Economic Development in Africa , by Martin Koper","authors":"Abhiruchi Ojha","doi":"10.1163/09744061-bja10018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/09744061-bja10018","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":41966,"journal":{"name":"Africa Review","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86064573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-04DOI: 10.1163/09744061-tat00009
L. Omolo
China–Africa relations have been a topic of huge interest in international relations, as well as the subject of wide scepticism and criticism. Drummond and Liu (2013) observe that more than half of sub-Saharan African countries have a trade deficit with China and that China remains a dominant actor in China–Africa relations. However, is this so? Are African states mere spectators in China–Africa relations or do they also have a strategy to gain something from the engagement? This study examines the role that African agency plays in Sino-African relations under the FOCAC framework. It highlights the main features of Sino-African relations and specifically assesses why China is important to African states. It examines FOCAC objectives for Africa, FOCAC conferences, the decisions adopted and their impact on Sino-African relations. The paper offers recommendations that will allow African states to better leverage their relations with China.
{"title":"Assessing China–Africa Relations under the Forum for China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) (2000–2019)","authors":"L. Omolo","doi":"10.1163/09744061-tat00009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/09744061-tat00009","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 China–Africa relations have been a topic of huge interest in international relations, as well as the subject of wide scepticism and criticism. Drummond and Liu (2013) observe that more than half of sub-Saharan African countries have a trade deficit with China and that China remains a dominant actor in China–Africa relations. However, is this so? Are African states mere spectators in China–Africa relations or do they also have a strategy to gain something from the engagement? This study examines the role that African agency plays in Sino-African relations under the FOCAC framework. It highlights the main features of Sino-African relations and specifically assesses why China is important to African states. It examines FOCAC objectives for Africa, FOCAC conferences, the decisions adopted and their impact on Sino-African relations. The paper offers recommendations that will allow African states to better leverage their relations with China.","PeriodicalId":41966,"journal":{"name":"Africa Review","volume":"43 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73307745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-16DOI: 10.1163/09744061-tat00007
Alexander Preko
International migration is regarded as one of the major challenges facing regions, nations and continents around the globe. This study aims to describe the lived experiences of undocumented West African migrants (WAM) along their journey to Europe, transiting through North African countries and crossing the Mediterranean Sea by boat. The study adopts a phenomenological research approach, using Google News articles and interviews as the data sources to explore undocumented migrant experiences, and thematic analysis. The results show that the journey is contextualised by perspectives of extortion, slavery and life-threatening incidents. Furthermore, the findings reveal experiences of torture, abuse and violence in the form of beatings, burning, gang-rape, forced labour and imprisonment. The article provides the first insight into the lived experiences of WAM on the Mediterranean routes in context. It will be valuable to migration authorities, academics and practitioners in enhancing policy formulation and implementation.
{"title":"The West African Illegal Migrant Experience in Transit and across the Mediterranean Sea, 2015–2020","authors":"Alexander Preko","doi":"10.1163/09744061-tat00007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/09744061-tat00007","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 International migration is regarded as one of the major challenges facing regions, nations and continents around the globe. This study aims to describe the lived experiences of undocumented West African migrants (WAM) along their journey to Europe, transiting through North African countries and crossing the Mediterranean Sea by boat. The study adopts a phenomenological research approach, using Google News articles and interviews as the data sources to explore undocumented migrant experiences, and thematic analysis. The results show that the journey is contextualised by perspectives of extortion, slavery and life-threatening incidents. Furthermore, the findings reveal experiences of torture, abuse and violence in the form of beatings, burning, gang-rape, forced labour and imprisonment. The article provides the first insight into the lived experiences of WAM on the Mediterranean routes in context. It will be valuable to migration authorities, academics and practitioners in enhancing policy formulation and implementation.","PeriodicalId":41966,"journal":{"name":"Africa Review","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78608947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-16DOI: 10.1163/09744061-tat00008
Ebes Aziegbe-Esho, G. Verhoef
Africa’s Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) aims to boost intra-Africa trade and to ultimately improve the lives and welfare of Africans. Through a discursive analysis of human capital theory and its relationship with gains to trade, this paper analyses the state of Africa’s human capital in readiness for AfCFTA and provides some policy recommendations. Gains to trade are theoretically and empirically more beneficial to countries with human capital accumulation. Most African countries still have low human capital levels and may not be able to reap the benefits of an integrated free trade area that AfCFTA portends, in terms of employment generation. African countries require a coherent human capital development strategy. This paper recommends a three-pronged approach that includes identifying specific areas of comparative advantage, shifting focus away from the export of natural resources and primary products and developing the knowledge and skills required in the areas of comparative advantage identified.
{"title":"Reaping the Benefits of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)","authors":"Ebes Aziegbe-Esho, G. Verhoef","doi":"10.1163/09744061-tat00008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/09744061-tat00008","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Africa’s Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) aims to boost intra-Africa trade and to ultimately improve the lives and welfare of Africans. Through a discursive analysis of human capital theory and its relationship with gains to trade, this paper analyses the state of Africa’s human capital in readiness for AfCFTA and provides some policy recommendations. Gains to trade are theoretically and empirically more beneficial to countries with human capital accumulation. Most African countries still have low human capital levels and may not be able to reap the benefits of an integrated free trade area that AfCFTA portends, in terms of employment generation. African countries require a coherent human capital development strategy. This paper recommends a three-pronged approach that includes identifying specific areas of comparative advantage, shifting focus away from the export of natural resources and primary products and developing the knowledge and skills required in the areas of comparative advantage identified.","PeriodicalId":41966,"journal":{"name":"Africa Review","volume":"83 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76300188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}