Countries In West Africa Research Articles

Malnutrition in Guinea-Bissau: a country wide representative cross-sectional study

Abstract Background According to the WHO, malnutrition refers to deficiency, excess, or imbalance in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. Children under five are especially vulnerable to malnutrition. The problem is widespread, but it is particularly prevalent in West African countries, where a prevalence of 30% stunting, 6.7% wasting and 2.4% overweight was described in 2022. In this study, we aimed to evaluate malnutrition in Guinea-Bissau (GB), a low-income country in West Africa. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study between May and June 2023 on a representative sample of 1608 children aged 6 to 59 months, who had access to health care in all 11 regions of GB. Nutritional status was assessed by evaluating weight for height/length, weight for age, height/length for age, and hemoglobin concentration was determined using a portable hemoglobin analyzer. Furthermore, semi-structured questionnaires were applied to children’s parents, including questions on sociodemographic and behavioral factors, such as ethnicity, parental literacy, health care, and dietary patterns. Results 802 boys and 806 girls were included in the study, with a mean age of 26 months. Malnutrition rates were comparable to those described in other West African countries. We found wasting rates of 8,3%, stunting rates of 24,3%, low weight rates of 17,4%, and overweight rates of 2,4% among children under five. Importantly, 55.9% of the children had anemia: 23.6% had mild anemia, 31.1% had moderate anemia, and 1.2% had severe anemia. Statistical analyses are underway to investigate factors associated with malnutrition. Conclusions An important challenge in global health is combating malnutrition in all its forms. The identified prevalence of malnutrition in GB is high and emphasizes the importance of developing strategies and policies with local authorities so that the Sustainable Development Goals and Global Goals of Nutrition can be achieved and health outcomes improved. Key messages • Collaboration essential: researchers, policymakers, healthcare, and local authorities must unite for targeted malnutrition interventions. • Sustainable development in GB hinges on addressing malnutrition among its children through concerted efforts.

Imported arboviral disease cases and entomological surveillance of Aedes albopictus in Valencian Autonomous Region (Spain) along 2022

Abstract The Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control (LEPC) of the University of Valencia, hired by the regional government of the Generalitat Valenciana, carried out the entomological surveillance of the Asian tiger mosquito along 2022 in the Valencian Autonomous Region, excepting the city of Valencia for which the surveillance was conducted by a private pest control company. The main purpose of this plan of action was both to continue the detection and monitoring of Aedes albopictus in the Valencian municipalities free of its presence until the end of 2021, and to carry out the entomological surveys related to imported arbovirus cases notified by the Regional Health System. The active search and detection of the mosquito breeding sites in both urban and peri-urban environments throughout the provinces of Alicante, Castellón and Valencia, has revealed the absence of new populations of this allochthonous mosquito in all those municipalities free of this species in December of 2021. Besides, the LEPC has conducted the mosquito surveys in 31 municipalities of the three provinces, in relation to the declaration of 33 cases of arthropod-borne diseases due to Chikungunya, dengue or Zika viruses, which were reported in travellers returning from countries of Latin America, Asia, or West Africa. The methods used to minimise the risk of local transmission of these viruses by Ae. albopictus were focused on detecting the presence of the tiger mosquito and other common native mosquito populations, at both adult and larval stages, in the surroundings of the residence of imported cases to guide the treatments of the detected resting and breeding sites. As result, tiger mosquito populations were recorded in 18 of the 33 municipalities where imported arbovirus cases were reported in 2022.

Using digital technologies to improve agricultural production in the Sahel countries of West Africa

Using digital technologies to improve agricultural production in the Sahel countries of West Africa

Variation in spatial population structure in the Anopheles gambiae species complex.

Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles coluzzii, and Anopheles arabiensis are three of the most widespread vectors of malaria parasites, with geographical ranges stretching across wide swaths of Africa. Understanding the population structure of these closely related species, including the extent to which populations are connected by gene flow, is essential for understanding how vector control implemented in one location might indirectly affect vector populations in other locations. Here, we assessed the population structure of each species based on a combined data set of publicly available and newly processed whole-genome sequences. The data set included single nucleotide polymorphisms from whole genomes of 2,410 individual mosquitoes sampled from 128 locations across 19 African countries. We found that A. gambiae sampled from several countries in West and Central Africa showed low genetic differentiation from each other according to principal components analysis (PCA) and ADMIXTURE modeling. Using Estimated Effective Migration Surfaces (EEMS), we showed that this low genetic differentiation indicates high effective migration rates for A. gambiae across this region. Outside of this region, we found eight groups of sampling locations from Central, East, and Southern Africa for which A. gambiae showed higher genetic differentiation, and lower effective migration rates, between each other and the West/Central Africa group. These results indicate that the barriers to and corridors for migration between populations of A. gambiae differ across the geographical range of this malaria vector species. Using the same methods, we found higher genetic differentiation and lower migration rates between populations of A. coluzzii in West and Central Africa than for A. gambiae in the same region. In contrast, we found lower genetic differentiation and higher migration rates between populations of A. arabiensis in Tanzania, compared to A. gambiae in the same region. These differences between A. gambiae, A. coluzzii, and A. arabiensis indicate that migration barriers and corridors may vary, even between very closely related species. Overall, our results demonstrate that migration rates vary both within and between species of Anopheles mosquitoes, presumably based on species-specific responses to the ecological or environmental conditions that may impede or facilitate migration, and the geographical patterns of these conditions across the landscape. Together with previous findings, this study provides robust evidence that migration rates between populations of malaria vectors depend on the ecological context, which should be considered when planning surveillance of vector populations, monitoring for insecticide resistance, and evaluating interventions.

PIDGINISATION AS LINGUOCULTURAL PHENOMENON (on the example of African linguoculture)

This article identifies the features of such a linguocultural phenomenon as pidginisation and creolisation on the example of African linguoculture. The scientific problem is caused by the influence of globalisation on the state of languages and cultures within the framework of intercultural and interlanguage interaction, on the one hand, and the need to preserve native languages and cultures, on the other hand. The purpose of the article is to identify the key properties of such hybrid languages as Pidgin English and Creole English which operate in the largest country in West Africa – Nigeria. The research work is based on a combination of linguistic and cultural analysis method, which revealed the peculiarities of language and culture in the process of historical development, and comparative analysis method, which is the key to distinguish similar and distinctive features of Nigerian Pidgin English in relation to British English. The research work systematised the key historical, linguistic and cultural factors that influenced the formation and Pidgin English and Creole English development in Africa, and identified its key characteristics. It was proved that English is a universal means of interethnic communication for all social groups, but Pidgin English has simple structure at all language levels – phonetic, grammatical, lexical ones – and suits for everyday communication perfectly. Adapting to local realities, Nigerian Pidgin English at the phonetic level is the subject to assimilation and dissimilation of consonants, quantitative and qualitative reduction of vowels. The grammatical structure of Nigerian Pidgin English is the subject to maximum simplification, this level is characterised by the omission of articles; the use of abstract nouns in the plural form; the formation of adjectives’ comparison degrees and adverbs on the principle of a monosyllabic adjective; the use of simple tense forms of verb. The lexical structure of Nigerian Pidgin English is characterised by the functioning of high-frequency lexemes of autochthonous languages, which is due to the desire to follow the norms of native culture. All deviations from British English are explained by the need to create an accessible form of communication for all social groups using minimal linguistic means.

SUCCEED Africa: protocol for a multi-method pilot study of a community-based intervention for people with psychosis in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Malawi

BackgroundRecent reviews have highlighted the need for participatory research to design and evaluate inclusive, community-based interventions that address the diverse needs of people with lived experience of psychosis, within and beyond the health sector. The SUCCEED Africa consortium aims to co-produce a 6-year programme of research across four countries in West (Sierra Leone, Nigeria) and Southeast Africa (Zimbabwe and Malawi). This protocol describes the pilot study in which SUCCEED’s intervention, research tools and processes will be tested on a small scale in each country in preparation for future evaluation research.MethodsThe SUCCEED intervention comprises peer support, case management and livelihood activities for people with lived experience of psychosis. The pilot uses a before-and-after study design investigating change in subjective quality of life in adults diagnosed with a primary psychotic disorder or another mental disorder with psychotic symptoms who are offered the SUCCEED intervention over a 4-month period. Nested within this study are the following: a baseline assessment of the feasibility, acceptability and face validity of the selected measurement tool and validity of proxy versus self-completion; and a multi-method process evaluation examining key process indicators and implementation, service and client-level outcomes. Methods include the following: baseline cognitive interviews; semi-structed observation and routine monitoring and evaluation of service delivery; endline interviews and focus group discussions; and a comparison of provider competencies at endline. At each of the four pilot sites, participants will include the following: ten people with lived experience of psychosis, recruited from either health services or community settings using purposive sampling to maximise variation; up to ten adult family members (one per participant with lived experience) involved in their care; the peer support worker, community support worker and supervisor responsible for delivering the intervention; and the data collectors. Recruitment will take place in July and August 2023.DiscussionTo the best of our knowledge, this will be the first study of a community-based intervention incorporating lay-delivered case management, formal peer support and livelihoods activities for people with lived experience of psychosis in sub-Saharan Africa. Findings will be relevant not only to SUCCEED but also to others interested in promoting rights-based approaches to community mental health in low-resource settings.Trial registrationUS National Library of Medicine (ClinicalTrials.gov), Protocol reference ID 28346. Initially registered retrospectively July 20/2023: In review.

Fiscal Policy, Institutional Quality, and Sustainable Development Goals: A Perspective of Anglophone Countries in West Africa

Fiscal Policy, Institutional Quality, and Sustainable Development Goals: A Perspective of Anglophone Countries in West Africa

Food security effects of forest sector participation in rural Liberia

Forests can help rural households cope with food insecurity challenges in the face of climate change while also sequestering carbon and advancing other sustainability objectives in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). As such, participation in the forestry sector can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially on hunger and food security (SDG 2) in forest rich, but economically poor areas of LMICs. However, analysis of the effects of forest sector participation on food security in such contexts remain limited. Here we estimate the effects of participation in forest-based activities like collection and processing of timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) on household food security in Liberia, the most forested country in West Africa. We applied endogenous switching poisson regression to data from 1408 households living in the proximity of forests included in Liberia’s 2019 national household forest survey to estimate the effect of forest sector participation on food security (in terms of reduction in the number of months households reportedly had insufficient food). Results show that forest-sector participation reduced the number of months households had insufficient food by 84% (about 2.7 months). Heterogeneity analyses show that NTFPs affected food security by 80% (about 2.5 months) compared to timber and wood products, which had a 66% effect size (about 2.1 months) on average. Our results provide new, national-scale evidence on the role of forests in enhancing food security in Liberia and suggest the importance of forest sector participation for food security and achieving SDG 2 more generally.

Modelling the dynamics of urbanization for urban sustainability in West Africa

The West African region, one of the largest urban agglomerations in Africa has over decades experienced rapid rate of urbanization. The urbanization processes have been associated with manifold environmental and socioeconomic challenges including inefficient urban infrastructure, unaffordable housing, poor sanitation and informal settlements. Urban scholars following the rise of urbanization and climate change in West Africa have advocated for policies and programmes towards the reduction of carbon footprints and sustainable human settlements, while emphasizing on the needs to plan for urban sustainability. Yet limited studies have so far analysed the dynamics of urbanization in West Africa, especially in relations to sustainability. Motivated by the evolving debates on urban sustainability, this study contributes to urban planning discourse, by exploring the dynamics of energy consumption, gross domestic product, employment levels and productivity in six countries in West Africa and demonstrate the implications for urban sustainability. Using the Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR)-Mean Group (MG) model, we analysed annual data from 1991 to 2018 of Urban Population Growth, Gross Domestic Product, Energy Consumption, and Greenhouse gas emissions. The study revealed variation across the selected countries in terms of rate of urbanization, productivity, and energy consumption. The results suggest the need for commonalities as well as differentiated approaches towards improving urban environmental quality for urban sustainability. Furthermore, while there is a need to promote green urban infrastructure, concerted efforts are required towards promoting sustainable urban environmental quality.

Monetary policy effect on balance of payment in West Africa

The study examined monetary policy regimes and the balance of payment in West Africa. The study's objective was to examine the effect of monetary policy regimes on the balance of payment in West Africa. The study adopted an ex-post facto research design and obtained secondary data from documents of the Central Banks of the WAMZ countries, the World Bank Development Indicator (WDI), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) database from 2001 to 2021. The estimation technique employed was the Panel Autoregressive Distribution Lag model, complemented by the Juodis, Karavias, and Sarafidis (2021) granger-causality test. According to the findings, the various monetary policy regimes in West Africa had conflicting effects on the balance of payments. It demonstrates how that goal can be achieved in the short term using the money supply and monetary policy rate. However, over time, policy rate had a positive effect on the balance of payments, as the money supply was insignificant. These results are particularly importantcrucial given the goal of unifying the monetary policy regime in the ECOWAS in 2027. Based on the findings, the paper concluded and recommends that to achieve a balance of payment equilibrium in West Africa, the monetary policy rate is an effective tool, this is because it is significant in explaining the changes in the balance of payment in the countries in West Africa. Thus, monetary authorities should ensure a correct balance of the rate when to increase or decrease the policy rate with the hindsight of implications on the current account.

POLITICAL POWER, AUTHORITY AND LEGITIMACY: ANALYSING THE INCONSISTENCY OF MILITARY RULE WITH DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN WEST AFRICA

On January 28, 2024, the media came alive with the news of the three Francophone West African countries leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Before this, the military junta of the Niger Republic had approached the ECOWAS Court of Justice praying for the lift of sanctions imposed upon them by the ECOWAS, the quest to lift these sanctions failed because the court made it clear that it recognizes only democratic government as the only legitimate government. The three questions that this article seeks to answer are whether there is any country in West Africa with a democratic military government, whether the military juntas of these countries can withdraw from ECOWAS through media announcements, and whether their withdrawal from ECOWAS has implications. To answer these questions, this article examines the concept of political power, authority, and legitimacy by adopting theoretical and doctrinal study of primary sources and secondary sources. This study examines and evaluates information and provisions contained in international treaties, conventions and protocols, journal articles, books, newspapers, and materials sourced from the internet.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards yaws in endemic areas of Ghana, Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire.

Yaws, caused by Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue, remains a significant public health concern in tropical regions of West Africa and the South Pacific, primarily affecting children in remote areas with limited access to hygiene and sanitation. In this study, conducted in three endemic countries of West Africa where yaws remains a significant public health concern (Ghana, Cameroon, and Côte d'Ivoire), we aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to yaws among community members, community health workers (CHWs), and traditional healers. The study revealed variations in the perception of causes of yaws among community members: the majority or participants in Ghana attributed yaws to germs (60.2%); in Cameroon the most reported form of transmission was contact with or drinking infected water sources (44.6%); and in Côte d'Ivoire both of these answers were also the most prevalent (60.3% germs and 93.% water sources). A substantial proportion of participants in Côte d'Ivoire also associated yaws with witchcraft and divine punishment (44.8%). Only a small proportion of individuals in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire correctly identified contact with an infected person as a form of transmission (11.9% and 20.7%, respectively) and less than half in Cameroon (42.6%), although more than 98% of all participants reported avoidance behaviours towards yaws infected people due to fear of getting infected. Most participants expressed a preference for seeking care at hospitals (49.2%, 60.6%, 86.2%) or health care professionals including doctors and nurses (58.5%, 41,5% and 17.2%) if they were diagnosed with yaws, although a quarter of participants in Côte d'Ivoire also sought support from traditional healers. The CHWs interviewed were generally well-trained on yaws causes and treatment options, although they often reported low availability of treatment and diagnostic tests for yaws. Our findings underscore the need for community education, awareness campaigns, ongoing CHW training, and improved access to yaws treatment and diagnostic resources. The data also suggest that collaboration with traditional healers, who usually hold a highly esteemed position in the society, such as giving training on yaws causes and transmission or exchanging knowledge on treatment options, could be beneficial in certain regions, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire.

How can reading and writing be promoted in Anglophone West Africa? Evidence from new perspective: a word of mouth from experts in basic education

ABSTRACT The unintended consequence of primary school enrolment is to reduce illiteracy among pupils; however, increased school enrolment in sub-Sahara Africa yields fewer results of equipping pupils with reading and writing skills as many primary school pupils can hardly read and write. The study explores barriers influencing pupils’ poor reading and writing skills and strategies to promote reading and writing using qualitative inquiry. Thus, a semi-structured interview was administered to collect data from experts in primary education from the two most populated countries in West Africa (Ghana and Nigeria) that share similar educational policies, priorities, and challenges. The study's finding indicates that the illiteracy of parents, inadequate school facilities, and lack of community support for reading and writing activities were the fundamental barriers. The study suggests that schools adopt reading promotion tools used in Eastern Asia and Pacific countries as a national strategy. Parental involvement and community support for reading promotion activities should be encouraged, and primary schools should be resourced with reading materials, cheaper internet for schools, and digital learning facilities should be provided, which will make reading and writing less stressful and fun for pupils.

Do Energy Access and Climate Change Worsen Poverty in West Africa? Empirical Evidence using Panel Analysis

This study examined how access to energy and climate change affect poverty level in some selected West African countries. To achieve the objectives of this study, the researchers collected data on energy access, electricity generated, electricity consumed, price of electricity, climate change (carbon emission) and poverty index from the six selected countries. The selected six (6) countries in west Africa for the study are: Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone based on energy consumption and population size. The period covered by the study is 1995-2022. Both statistical and econometric techniques were adopted for the analysis of the data. Based on the analysis of the data using the Arellano-Bond two-step GMM Dynamic Panel econometric technique, some key empirical findings were made are: Volume of electricity generated had positive and insignificant impact on poverty index. This shows that volume of electricity generated as measure of energy access was not a significant predictor of poverty reduction among the selected west African countries during the period reviewed. Electricity consumed had a positive but insignificant impact on poverty index. This implies that electricity consumed was not a significant predictor of poverty rate among selected west African countries during the period reviewed. Access to electricity had a negative but insignificant impact on and poverty index. This implies that access to electricity was not a significant predictor of poverty reduction among selected countries in west African sub region during the period reviewed. Also, carbon emission as a proxy for climate change impacted negatively but insignificantly on poverty level. This implies that climate change was not a significant predictor of poverty eradication among selected west African countries during the period reviewed. Based on these findings the study recommended effective policies that will address electricity pricing, electricity subsidy and electricity metering in the selected west African countries as possible measures of eradicating poverty in the sub region.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on ART Initiation and Access to HIV Viral Load Monitoring in Adults Living With HIV in West Africa: A Regression Discontinuity Analysis.

Efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic have potentially compromised the availability and/or quality of HIV services. We aimed to assess the pandemic's impact on antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and HIV viral load (VL) monitoring in 3 West African countries. We used routinely collected data from 5 clinics contributing to the International epidemiologic Database to Evaluate AIDS collaboration in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, and Nigeria. We included ART-naïve adults living with HIV initiating ART from January 1, 2018. We conducted regression discontinuity analysis to estimate changes in the number of ART initiations and VL measures per week, before and during the pandemic period in each country. In clinics in Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire, ART initiations per week remained constant throughout the studied periods (-0.24 points (p) of ART initiations/week 95% CI: -5.5 to 5.9, -0.9 p, 95% CI: -8.5 to 8.6, respectively), whereas in Nigeria's clinic, they decreased significantly (-6.3 p, 95% CI: -10.8 to -1.7) after the beginning of the pandemic. The volume of VL tests performed decreased significantly in all 3 countries (-17.0 p, 95% CI: -25.3 to -8.6 in Burkina Faso, -118.4 p, 95% CI: -171.1 to -65.8 in Côte d'Ivoire and -169.1 p, 95% CI: -282.6 to -55.6 in Nigeria). HIV clinics in two out of three countries in West Africa demonstrated resilience as they successfully maintained access to ART for ALWH despite the challenges imposed by the pandemic. However, VL monitoring was severely disrupted and did not return to prepandemic levels approximately 1 year after the beginning of the pandemic. Continued monitoring of the HIV care continuum in the postpandemic period is essential to mitigate potential enduring effects on ALWH's virological and clinical outcomes.

Why Do Small Earth Dams Deteriorate: Insights from Physical Investigations in the West African Sahel

In West Africa, the construction of small earth dams is common against water scarcity. Burkina Faso, an inland country in West Africa, is home to 1001 dams that serve agricultural and pastoral needs. These embankments are predominantly made of compacted laterite, a cost-effective material abundant in over 2/3 of the country. However, these dams degrade over time, hindering their functionality. This study aims to establish a catalog of typical degradation occurring on small dams in Burkina Faso, which is virtually non-existent in the region while identifying and analyzing the potential causes. The study uses a diagnostic analysis followed up with technical visits on a representative sample of 24 dams in the Centre and Centre-South regions as a basis for future studies. The results reveal that these dams were constructed between 1965 and 2018, with capacities ranging from 150,000 to 4,740,000 m3. 33% of these dams have undergone total failure, likely attributed to factors such as internal erosion, pore overpressures, settlement, and deformation. Although 67% of the dams remain functional, their structural integrity could be improved. Erosion observed in riprap indicates vulnerability during high flood periods. Additionally, the absence of proper maintenance, as shown by the vegetation development weakening embankments, contributes to deterioration. The analysis also suggests that variability in construction techniques and lateritic material properties across time and regions may further exacerbate degradation. These findings inform infrastructure improvements and policy development for sustainable water resource management in Burkina Faso and similar regions.

Prognostic factors and overall survival of breast cancer in Benin: a hospital-based study

BackgroundIn Benin, a country in West Africa, breast cancer is the leading cancer in women, both in terms of incidence and mortality. However, evidence on the mortality of breast cancer and its associated factors is lacking in this country. Our aim was to describe and analyze the clinical, histopathological, and prognostic aspects of breast cancer in Benin.MethodsA descriptive and analytical study was carried out at the CNHU-HKM and the CHU-MEL, two major tertiary referral hospitals for breast cancer management located in Cotonou, the capital city of Benin. All breast cancer medical records with histological evidence and immunohistochemistry studies were retrospectively collected between January 1, 2014, and September 30, 2020, in these two tertiary referral hospitals and analyzed in the current study.ResultsFinally, 319 medical records were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 48.74 years. The tumors were most frequently classified as T4 (47.6%) with lymph node involvement N2 (34.5%), and metastases were clinically noted in 21.9% of cases. Stage was reported in the medical records of 284 patients. Tumors were diagnosed at very late AJCC stages: stage III (47.5%) and stage IV (24.7%). Grades SBR 2 (49.2%) and SBR 3 (32.6%) were the most frequent grades. Triple-negative breast cancer (31.3%) was the most common molecular type. The overall 5-year survival was 48.49%. In multivariable analysis, the poor prognostic factors were lymph node invasion (HR = 2.63; p = 0.026; CI: [1.12, 6.17]), the presence of metastasis (HR = 3.64; p < 0.001); CI: [2.36, 5.62] and the immunohistochemical profile (HR = 1.29; p < 0.001; CI: [1.13, 1.48]).ConclusionsBreast cancer in Beninese is predominant in young adults and is often diagnosed at a late stage. The survival of breast cancer patients in Benin can be improved by enhancing early diagnosis and multidisciplinary management.

Incidental Vocabulary Learning in a Postcolonial English Second Language Context

This study investigated the incidental English second-language (ESL) vocabulary development of 125 science university students over two years, as well as their productive vocabulary knowledge in relation to academic achievement. The study was conducted in Ghana, a typical postcolonial ESL country in West Africa. Results showed that productive knowledge of vocabulary at the 2000, 3000, and 5000-word levels was not mastered in academic year one. In spite of the poorly resourced educational context with limited print exposure, students’ longitudinal incidental vocabulary growth at the 3000-word level and academic word level was significant. Academic achievement was significantly predicted by word knowledge at these two levels. The study contributes to our understanding of incidental vocabulary learning in a “natural” ESL context, without language interventions. Given the predict ive factor of vocabulary knowledge on academic achievement, the integration of vocabulary instruction into the curriculum and establishm ent of required vocabulary thresholds seems warranted.

Investigation of drought and flooding areas in coastal countries of West Africa in the context of global warming

Investigation of drought and flooding areas in coastal countries of West Africa in the context of global warming

Beyond the law-in-the-books: Labour enforcement in Senegal

Abstract Extant research often assumes that the letter of labour codes is an adequate proxy for effective regulation. This paper empirically shows that such an assumption makes little sense for Senegal. We collect new objective measures of private and public labour enforcement, including workers’ awareness of their rights, access to the judiciary, penalties, and labour inspection resources and activities. We document that Senegal, as well as other countries in Francophone West Africa, is characterised by a combination of protective/stringent in-form labour codes and little enforcement efforts. Furthermore, we show that labour inspections target large and registered firms, while labour violations are more prevalent in small and unregistered firms, implying that the problem is substantially more complex than a lack of public inspection funding. We speculate it is mostly about the lack of effective representation of vulnerable workers in the policymaking process.