Development In African Countries Research Articles

The African Peer Review Mechanism: Lessons from the pioneers, by Ross Herbert and Steven Gruzd

The African Peer Review Mechanism (the APRM) was created to improve governance by assessing democracy and political governance, economic governance and management, corporate governance, and socio-economic development in African countries. Herbert and Gruzd call it ‘unprecedented’ in scope and depth, and ‘the most innovative and audacious element’ (p. 4) in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). The authors describe the APRM in detail and give case studies of the initial country reviews of Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Mauritius, and South Africa. We are told that the requirements for the reviews are set out in several documents, with later documents contradicting earlier documents, which have not been repealed. Officials preparing reports for the APRM and others contributing to them are advised to rely on guidance from APRM Secretariat officials. Five steps are indentified for preparing reports. First, a country conducts its own in-depth assessment, with broad public input, leading to a country self-assessment report and Programme of Action to fix gaps in governance. To do this the country is expected to establish a Commission and Secretariat and identify a National APRM Focal Point (typically a government minister) and technical research institutions. The Africa regional APRM Secretariat and ‘Strategic Partners’ help by sending a support mission to ensure that ‘civil society’ and business take part fully, using an 88-page questionnaire ‘with 25 objectives, 58 questions on governance issues and 183 indicators’, with ‘many questions requiring in-depth research’.

Sustainable knowledge for sustainable development: challenges and opportunities for African development

Sustainable development is becoming increasingly a major concern for African Countries. They need a relatively high rate of growth of GDP to solve the many problems of poverty and underdevelopment, while insuring sustainability to their economies. At the same time, it is increasingly recognised that sustainability requires more and more knowledge assets and capabilities. This paper aims at showing the difficulty in attaining sustainable development for African countries with a weak technological and knowledge base. It deals first with the issue of knowledge systems and knowledge economy and their links with sustainability from a conceptual point of view. It highlights the specific situation of African countries stressing the difficulties they meet in this respect in a second section. This paper then shows how knowledge capabilities are highly correlated with levels of sustainability using knowledge and sustainability indexes. The discussion addresses technology transfer and innovation as key elements of knowledge, while the conclusion explores some of the opportunities.

How can economic and political liberalisation improve financial development in African countries?

The objective of this paper is to study the interactions between Economic liberalisation, Political liberalisation and Financial development in African countries. More specifically, we seek to establish the impact of Economic, Political and institutional openness on financial deepening. The empirical approach will be two-step procedure, first using a difference in difference method to show the various aspect of financial liberalisation on economic and political freedom while the second step will be using panel data techniques from period 1990 to 2005. The estimation results can be summarised as the following, first, Economic and financial liberalisation did account significantly for the financial development performance. While political stability show a positive overall effect on financial development, the association with Political freedom is consistent only after controlling the endogeneity of Political freedom on financial development. This result indicates that the transformation of the political and economic environment has improved the performance of the financial sector.

How can economic and political liberalisation improve financial development in African countries?

The objective of this paper is to study the interactions between economic liberalisation, political liberalisation and financial development in African countries. More specifically, we seek to establish the impact of economic, political and institutional openness on financial deepening. The empirical approach will be two-step procedure, first using a difference in difference method to show the various aspect of financial liberalisation on economic and political freedom while the second step will be using panel data techniques from period 1990 to 2005. The estimation results can be summarised as the following, first, Economic and financial liberalisation did account significantly for the financial development performance. While political stability show a positive overall effect on financial development, the association with Political freedom is consistent only after controlling the endogeneity of Political freedom on financial development. This result indicates that the transformation of the political and economic environment has improved the performance of the financial sector.

Promoting women and minorities owned enterprises in African countries.

This paper attempts to examine the key issues relating to African women and minority owned enterprises development in the context of its relationship with economic development. The analysis is further broadened to underscore the determinants of women entrepreneurship development and the environment conducive for its operations. In addition, the policies that are necessary to make this environment favorable are discussed. The generic constraints faced are also listed out. The paper shows the need to accelerate economic development in African countries through promotion of women and majorities owned enterprises. Entrepreneurial orientations should be based on stimulating local entrepreneurial talent and subsequent growth of indigenous companies. This in turn would create jobs and add economic value to the region and at the same time keep scarce resources within the region. The paper recommends that African women and minority owned enterprises should be encouraged and taught to develop new entrepreneurial life styles, capacities, develop global sensitivity and strategic thinking capabilities. Therefore, greater gender equality, better institutions and more efficient economic functioning could possibly lead to access to opportunities, rights and voice.

The impact of HIV/AIDS on human development in African countries

BackgroundIn the present paper, we consider the impact of HIV/AIDS on human development in African countries, showing that, beyond health issues, this disease should and must be seen as a global development concern, affecting all components of human development. Consequently, we stress the necessity of multidisciplinary approaches that model, estimate and predict the real impact of HIV/AIDS on human development of African countries in order to optimise the strategies proposed by national countries, international institutions and their partners.MethodsIn our search strategy, we relied on secondary information, mainly through National Human Development Reports of some African countries and regular publications released by the United Nations (UN), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank. We restricted ourselves to reports dealing explicitly with the impact of HIV/AIDS on human development in African countries.Results and discussionHIV/AIDS is affecting the global human development of African countries through its devastating impact on health and demographic indicators such as life expectancy at birth, healthcare assistance, age and sex distribution, economic indicators like income, work force, and economic growth, education and knowledge acquisition and other indicators like governance, gender inequality and human rights.ConclusionOn the basis of the national reports reviewed, it appears clearly that HIV/AIDS is no longer a crisis only for the healthcare sector, but presents a challenge to all sectors. Consequently, HIV/AIDS is a development question and should be viewed as such. The disease is impeding development by imposing a steady decline in the key indicators of human development and hence reversing the social and economic gains that African countries are striving to attain. Being at the same time a cause and consequence of poverty and underdevelopment, it constitutes a challenge to human security and human development by diminishing the chances of alleviating poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, reducing child and maternal mortality, and ensuring environmental sustainability.

Motivation-related values across cultures

There has been general upsurge in cultures and managerial research in the last decades or so. Despite this fact, empirical studies on culture dimensions to management practices across cultures have been limited in numbers and scope. In Africa, for example, we have very limited knowledge about its cultural values and the consequences it poses for motivation. In order to address this very crucial and important issue, motivation-related values were studied in four European countries (France, Italy, Netherlands and Scotland) and one African (Nigeria) country through survey questionnaire. A major research question was whether the results could help to explain the disappointing economic development of African countries, including Nigeria. The findings do confirm profound differences in cultural values for motivation among the five countries with collective interest playing a more important role in Africa-Nigeria. In view of these differences, untrimmed Western management models may not be very appropriate for adoption in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general without recourse to the prevailing local cultural values. The suggestion is made to look for appropriate and suitable African management models by studying the relatively more successful local companies and institutions. Key words: Motivation, management, cultures, values.

‘We need more independent women’

The increase of women's participation in all sectors of life is not only needed for the development of African countries it is also crucial to ensuring that both women and men can fully exercise their human rights. The importance of competent women in policymaking positions at all leadership levels can therefore not be over-emphasised when it comes to creating ways of promoting women's emancipation in Africa.

Globalization and Nepad’s Development Perspective

This article describes the cultural and political history of Africa’s contribution to the globalization process, revisits the conceptual and pragmatic relationship between globalization and development, and offers solutions, drawing from published materials retrieved from the Web, libraries, and original New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)sources. Further, it examines the connection between audience agenda setting, international investment, and NEPAD’s plan for the application of information and communication technology toward the social and economic development of African countries and offers suggestions to NEPAD governing bodies on how to use local sites, business entities, and technology to realize its objectives

TICAD after 10 Years: A Preliminary Assessment and Proposals for the Future

Abstract Ten years have passed since the first Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) was held in 1993. Since then, TICAD II, III, and Ministerial Level Meetings followed with each meeting producing either internationally agreed upon documents or action plans. There are many similar initiatives for development of African countries. In fact, cynics in and out of Africa castigate TICAD and other international initiatives as waste of time and energy because they have not been associated with any useful and concrete projects and the overall growth of Africa. This paper sets out to assess positive contributions that have been made by international initiatives including TICAD. The premise of this paper is that we are all in the game of globalization and development of Africa is a sub-game of globalization. Any game is played by the rules. Functions of international conferences for development could be defined in terms of setting development rules, guiding strategies and providing opportunities to build capacity for development. The paper examines what TICAD has offered to African countries as well as international community over ten years within this simple framework of analysis.

Science, technology and mathematics: the problem of developing critical human capital in Africa

Since independence in the late 1950s and the 1960s, African countries have made significant efforts toward the development of their scientific and technological humanpower. This effort is exemplified most in curriculum development in school science, technology and mathematics. Also, concerted attempt has been made towards policy formulation and implementation. However, due to various socio‐economic factors, African states have not been able to achieve the goal of self‐reliance with respect to scientific and technological humanpower development. The focus of this paper is to identify some of these factors, highlight their implications, as well as to suggest measures to ameliorate their overall negative effect. Lastly, possible areas for future research are identified. The aim of such research endeavours is to collect baseline data for planning and decision‐making with respect to human capital development in African countries.

Increasing Food Production in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Comment

American Journal of Agricultural EconomicsVolume 68, Issue 4 p. 998-999 Comments and Replie Increasing Food Production in Sub-Saharan Africa: Comment Arthur J. Dommen, Arthur J. Dommen Research Section Leader Africa and Middle East Branch, International Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of AgricultureSearch for more papers by this author Arthur J. Dommen, Arthur J. Dommen Research Section Leader Africa and Middle East Branch, International Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of AgricultureSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 November 1986 https://doi.org/10.2307/1242148Citations: 1AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume68, Issue4November 1986Pages 998-999 RelatedInformation

Literature and Development : How The Study of African (English) Literature in Schools and Universities Can Help Social Development in African Countries

Literature and Development : How The Study of African (English) Literature in Schools and Universities Can Help Social Development in African Countries

Museum development in African countries

(1976). Museum development in African countries. Museum International: Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 196-202.

Women and National Development in African Countries: Some Profound Contradictions

Women and National Development in African Countries: Some Profound Contradictions

Occupational health and economic development in African countries.

Although industrialization has resulted in diseases associated with exposures to various substances, it has also produced enormous benefits. It should be possible in underdeveloped countries to plan a program of technological development that would insure maximum health benefits with minimum injurious consequences. Several examples of first-phase industrialization that would meet these criteria are furnished.

Seminar on Regional Cooperation in Africa: prospects and problems

The eighth inter-African public administration seminar, sponsored jointly by the Government of Liberia and the Ford Foundation, was attended by 37 leading civil servants from English-speaking Africa, as well as by observers from I.D.E.P., C.A.F.R.A.D., and U.N. E.C.A.President Tubman delivered the keynote address, in which he recognised the need for regional economic co-operation, urged the investigation of the problems and difficulties on the way, and stressed the essential role of civil servants in bringing about such co-operation. In the discussion that followed many participants expressed the view that goals and objectives must be denned as carefully and realistically as possible if both short- and long-term results are to be achieved. It would also be important to take into account the current level of development in African countries.