Industrialization In Sub-Saharan Africa Research Articles

The Influence of Uber on the Tourism Industry in Sub-Saharan Africa

An unreliable and inefficient public transportation system can be a barrier to the successful development of a destination’s tourism industry. Uber, a convenient ride-hailing service, can complement underdeveloped public transport and play a significant role in stimulating the tourism economy by increasing tourists’ mobility and accessibility to attractions and service facilities. Using the data of 48 sub-Saharan African countries, this study conducted propensity score matching and difference-in-differences analysis to empirically examine the influence of Uber on a country’s tourism industry. The results showed that Uber contributed $20 million annually in total tourist spending—$24 per tourist spending—on average, to a country’s economy between 2013 and 2016. However, it did not have a significant influence on the number of international arrivals. The findings of this study provided insights into the benefits of Uber service in promoting per tourist spending by providing a reliable and efficient means of travel.

Rural Healthcare Delivery in Sub-Saharan Africa

Access to quality healthcare is a major problem in Sub-Saharan Africa with a doctor-to-patient ratio as high as 1:50,000, which is far above the recommended ratio by the World Health Organization (WHO) which is 1:600. This has been aggravated by the lack of access to critical infrastructures such as the health care facilities, roads, electricity, and many other factors. Even if these infrastructures are provided, the number of medical practitioners to cater for the growing population of these countries is not sufficient. In this article, how information and communication technology (ICT) can be used to drive a sustainable health care delivery system through the introduction and promotion of Virtual Clinics and various health information systems such as mobile health and electronic health record systems into the healthcare industry in Sub-Saharan Africa is presented. Furthermore, the article suggests ways of attaining successful implementation of telemedicine applications /services and remote health care facilities in Africa.

The effect of dietary Marula nut meal on the physical properties, proximate and fatty acid content of Japanese quail meat

Soyabean meal (SBM) is the major dietary protein source for the poultry industry in sub-Saharan Africa. Due to inadequate local soyabean production, alternative protein sources are required. Two hundred 9-day old Japanese quail chicks were randomly allocated to grower diets wherein Marula nut meal (MNM) substituted SBM on a crude protein (CP) basis at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% and fed for 4 weeks, followed by being fed on similarly formulated finisher diets for 2 weeks, and thereafter they were humanely slaughtered and dressed. Initial pH (pHi) and ultimate (pHu), colour, thawing loss (TL), cooking loss (CL), tenderness, proximate and fatty acid (FA) composition of the breast and thigh meat were determined. The results showed that pHi and pHu of meat from carcasses of quail fed diet 1 was lower, but had lighter and less red meat than that from counterparts fed diet 5 (P < 0.01). Dietary MNM had no effect (P>0.05) on TL, CL and tenderness of the meat. The ash content of the meat increased with an increase in dietary MNM, but its CP and fat decreased (P < 0.05). In addition, the total saturated FA content of meat from birds fed diet 4 was lower (P < 0.05) than other counterparts. Meat from birds fed diets 1 and 2 had a lower oleic acid (OA) content in comparison to meat from birds fed diets 3, 4 and 5. MNM can potentially be utilised in quail feeds without compromising the physical and proximate properties of the meat. Also, it can be used to produce lean but OA-rich meat with possible potential health benefits to consumers.

Renewable energy as a factor of sustainable development and regulation of ecological problems in Africa

The analysis of the main directions of renewable energy in Africa, as a factor in sustainable development and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is performed. The ecological problems of the modern and prospective development of the energy complex of African countries are considered. For African countries the issue of ensuring reliable and environmentally friendly access to electricity for the population is extremely acute. It is shown, that the electricity demand for industry in Sub-Saharan Africa the most problematic region is growing on a very large scale. The construction of new large coal-fired thermal power plants in the required volumes will lead to serious environmental and climatic consequences. The study of regional data allowed us to conclude that PV solar systems are of priority importance for increasing people’s access to electricity in rural SubSaharan Africa. Based on numerous materials from international energy structures the estimates and calculations of volumes of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions due to the use of renewable energy sources as an alternative to carbon fuel are carried out. The study has shown that of particularly great importance for reducing CO2 emissions in Kenya is the development of geothermal energy.

Corporate Social Responsibility as Legitimacy in the Oil and Gas Industry in Sub-Saharan Africa

The oil and gas industry is viewed as controversial because of its adverse impacts on the environment. This study draws on legitimacy theory to analyze how CSR factors (including GRI compliance, EITI membership, and internal and external factors of gender diversity on the board and management team, and spending on social projects in the host sub-Saharan countries,) correlate with an increase or decrease in stock prices from 2006 – 2019.

Sector reforms and institutional corruption: Evidence from electricity industry in Sub-Saharan Africa

In order to reduce the influence of corruption on electricity sector performance, most Sub-Saharan African countries have implemented electricity sector reforms. However, after nearly two and half decades of reforms, there is no evidence whether the reforms have mitigated corruption. Neither is there evidence of performance improvement of the reforms in terms of technical, economic or welfare impact. This paper aims to fill this gap. We use a dynamic panel estimator with a novel panel data of 47 Sub-Saharan African countries from 2002 to 2013. We analyse the impact of corruption and two key aspects of electricity reforms – creations of independent regulatory agencies and private sector participation – on three key performance indicators: technical efficiency, access to electricity and income. We find that corruption can significantly reduce technical efficiency of the sector and constrain the efforts to increase access to electricity and national income. The adverse effects are reduced where independent regulatory agencies are established and privatisation is implemented. These findings suggest that well-designed reforms not only boost the performance of the sector directly, but also indirectly reduce the negative effects of macro level institutional deficiencies such as corruption on micro and macro performance indicators.

FinTech in Sub-Saharan African Countries

FinTech is a major force shaping the structure of the financial industry in sub-Saharan Africa. New technologies are being developed and implemented in sub-Saharan Africa with the potential to change the competitive landscape in the financial industry. While it raises concerns on the emergence of vulnerabilities, FinTech challenges traditional structures and creates efficiency gains by opening up the financial services value chain. Today, FinTech is emerging as a technological enabler in the region, improving financial inclusion and serving as a catalyst for the emergence of innovations in other sectors, such as agriculture and infrastructure.

Nutritional Value of the Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) Meal for Aquaculture Feeds in South Africa

The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) aquaculture industry, primarily for the production of skins, is amongst the largest aquaculture industry in sub-Saharan Africa and produces a range of meat waste products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value of raw and cooked meal derived from different parts of Crocodylus niloticus carcasses as a potential source of protein in animal feed production, especially fish. Proximate composition of major nutrients such as moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, ash and selected minerals were analysed in October-November 2018 for comparison with other meal sources. Results indicated that Crocodylus niloticus derived meal is of a comparable quality for use in aquaculture feeds, compared to by-product meal quality reported for meal derived from bovine bones and meat, feathers, blood and other poultry by-products. Crocodile meal is hypothesised to be a suitable fishmeal replacement in the production of aquaculture feeds.

Addressing Human Rights Concerns in the Extractive Resource Industry in Sub-Saharan Africa using the Lens of Article 46 (C) of the Malabo Protocol

Abstract In June 2014, the African Union, Heads of States and Government adopted the Protocol on Amendments to the Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights (known in short as the Malabo Protocol). If ratified, the Protocol would expand the jurisdiction of the proposed African Court of Justice and Human Rights to adjudicate matters of corporate criminal liability in Africa. This paper analyses the prospects of advancing corporate respect for human rights and access to judicial remedies by victims of corporate human rights abuse through the lens of Article 46 (C) of the Malabo Protocol. The departure point is that the adoption and ratification of the Protocol would be an important step in preventing or stopping human rights violations by corporate actors in Africa’s extractive resource industry. This position is predicated on the inference that the expanded jurisdiction provided by the Malabo Protocol is consistent with the commitment of African countries to implement Pillar II of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (Guiding Principles) on respect for human rights by corporate entities. In addition, the Malabo Protocol’s proposal to adjudicate corporate criminal liability is consistent with Pillar III of the Guiding Principles on the provision of remedies for human rights violations. Creating a regional approach to address corporate criminality is an important African solution to a pressing African problem.

The Link between Market Orientation and Customer Satisfaction in the Tourism Industry: A Situational Analysis of Sub-Saharan Africa

This literature study provides a review of research in the fields of market orientation and customer satisfaction in the tourism industry. The objective of this research is to assess the link between market orientation, customer satisfaction and tourism business development in SubSaharan Africa. This link has not been studied in this region before and this research gives a situational analysis of the conducted research. The assumption supported in the literature is that market orientation promotes business performance, and ultimately improves customer satisfaction and loyalty to the products/services offered by the organization. Both market orientation and customer satisfaction are supposed to create value for customers. However, there are few studies of this kind in Africa and very few, in Sub-Saharan Africa. Studies linking market orientation to customer satisfaction are mainly in the form of consultancy reports and a few are academic in nature. The focus on tourism industry is due to its importance for the region. The tourism industry is fast growing, internationally competitive, generates foreign currency and creates employment. The findings are that no research has been conducted in the tourism industry in Sub-Saharan Africa linking market orientation to customer satisfaction.

Characterisation of pig manure for methane emission modelling in Sub-Saharan Africa

There is limited information in the literature regarding models or direct measurements of CH4 emissions from the rapidly growing pig industry in Sub-Saharan Africa. Measurements were conducted in pig fattening barns with slated and concreted floors in Cameroon to measure manure parameters and to subsequently model CH4 emissions. Each barn was partitioned into pens containing pigs of a similar body mass range. Manure, collected over 24 h from each pen was weighed to calculate the average daily production per pig. Manure collected from each pen was mixed homogenously, subsampled into 60 ml vials for subsequent analyses of its moisture, dry matter (DM), ash and volatile solid (VS) contents. The daily VS excretion rate was used to model CH4 production. On average, a 50 kg pig produced about 3 kg of manure day−1, of which 2.09 kg (∼70%) was the moisture content and 0.91 kg (∼30%) was the DM. The ash content of the manure was 17% DM (0.14 kg pig−1 day−1) while the VS was 83% DM (0.77 kg pig−1 day−1). A 28 kg pig produced about 0.21 kg VS pig−1 day−1, which is lower than the 0.30 kg VS pig−1 day−1 value recommended by IPCC, 2006 for Africa. The average CH4 production rate was estimated as 1.68 ± 1.14 kg pig−1 day−1. Exponential equations with coefficients of determinations (R2) > 88% were used to describe the relationships between manure, DM and VS excretion rates, as well as CH4 production rates as a function of the mass of the pigs.

Structural basis for the high specificity of a Trypanosoma congolense immunoassay targeting glycosomal aldolase.

BackgroundAnimal African trypanosomosis (AAT) is a neglected tropical disease which imposes a heavy burden on the livestock industry in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its causative agents are Trypanosoma parasites, with T. congolense and T. vivax being responsible for the majority of the cases. Recently, we identified a Nanobody (Nb474) that was employed to develop a homologous sandwich ELISA targeting T. congolense fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (TcoALD). Despite the high sequence identity between trypanosomatid aldolases, the Nb474-based immunoassay is highly specific for T. congolense detection. The results presented in this paper yield insights into the molecular principles underlying the assay’s high specificity.Methodology/Principal findingsThe structure of the Nb474-TcoALD complex was determined via X-ray crystallography. Together with analytical gel filtration, the structure reveals that a single TcoALD tetramer contains four binding sites for Nb474. Through a comparison with the crystal structures of two other trypanosomatid aldolases, TcoALD residues Ala77 and Leu106 were identified as hot spots for specificity. Via ELISA and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), we demonstrate that mutation of these residues does not abolish TcoALD recognition by Nb474, but does lead to a lack of detection in the Nb474-based homologous sandwich immunoassay.Conclusions/SignificanceThe results show that the high specificity of the Nb474-based immunoassay is not determined by the initial recognition event between Nb474 and TcoALD, but rather by its homologous sandwich design. This (i) provides insights into the optimal set-up of the assay, (ii) may be of great significance for field applications as it could explain the potential detection escape of certain T. congolense strains, and (iii) may be of general interest to those developing similar assays.

A soil water and solute learning system for small-scale irrigators in Africa

Better yields of high-value crops are necessary for a profitable irrigation industry in sub-Saharan Africa. We introduced two simple tools, the Chameleon soil moisture sensor and the FullStop wetting front detector, which represent soil water, nitrate and salt levels in the soil by displaying different colours. These tools form the basis of an experiential learning system for small-scale irrigators. We found that farmers quickly learned from the tools and changed their management within a short time. The cost of implementing a learning system would be a small fraction of that of building or revitalizing irrigation schemes.

Milk Hygiene in Rural Southwestern Uganda: Prevalence of Mastitis and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Bacterial Contaminants of Milk and Milk Products.

Mastitis and antimicrobial resistance are a big challenge to the dairy industry in sub-Saharan Africa. A study was conducted in Kashongi and Keshunga subcounties of Kiruhura District (in Uganda) where the government and private sector have deliberate programs to improve production efficiency, quality, and safety of milk and its products. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of mastitis, its common causative agents, antimicrobial sensitivity of mastitis causing organisms, and contaminants of processed milk products: yoghurt and ghee. Seventy-one milk, fourteen yoghurt, and three ghee samples were collected from nine farms. Of the 71 cows tested, 54 (76.1%) had mastitis. The mastitis cases from Keshunga were 32 (59.3%) and Kashongi contributed 22 (40.7%) of the cases. The common mastitis causative agents were Staphylococcus spp. (30.8%), Streptococcus spp. (12.3%), Corynebacterium spp.(15.4%), and E. coli (7.7%). Some of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline and penicillin. Prevalent contaminants of yoghurt were Staphylococcus spp. (8.3%), Streptococcus spp. (8.3%), Corynebacterium spp. (8.3%), and E. coli (8.3%), whereas all ghee contained Streptococcus spp. (100%). Prevalence of mastitis, antimicrobial resistance, and contamination of milk products are high in the study area. Targeted programs to prevent and control mastitis as well as antibiotic resistance are recommended.

The Sustainability of the Construction Industry in Sub-saharan Africa: Some New Evidence from Recent Data

The relationship between a country's level of construction activity and its stage of economic development has been the subject of study at the macroeconomic level for a number of years. The dominant paradigm in the field is that the construction industry follows an inverted U shaped development pattern i.e. the share of construction in national economy first increases in the early stages of development and ultimately decline in the latest stages of development. An examination of construction indicators in two categories of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa is made and the link between construction investment and the economic and social targets of the sustainable development goals is considered.

English

Malawi is one of the landlocked countries within sub-Saharan Africa which faces serious challenges in managing her transport logistics. The provision of predictable, reliable and cost effective transport logistics is constrained due to deficiencies in road and rail infrastructure, inefficient port and transit border operations that contribute to very high transport cost. This study was undertaken to analyse the challenges facing the transport logistics industry in sub-Saharan Africa specifically Malawi. Data was solicited from a structured questionnaire that was circulated to purposely selected members from the population of the business community with expertise in transport logistics. Results from the study are also supported by literature and indicated that high transport cost, deficiencies in road and rail infrastructure, inefficient port and transit border delays pose serious challenges to transport logistics. Key words: Transport logistics, infrastructure, trade facilitation, landlocked countries.

Regionalism, end markets and ownership matter: Shifting dynamics in the apparel export industry in Sub Saharan Africa

This paper shows the importance of ownership, end markets and regionalism within the global value chain and related conceptual frameworks. This is done through unpacking the development trajectories of the major Sub Saharan African apparel export industries against the backdrop of trade regime changes. Ownership characteristics of supplier firms shape the ability to shift between different end markets and respond to lead firm requirements; and the level of their local and regional embeddedness impacts on different forms of upgrading. The emergence of new regionalism centred around investment and end markets provides pathways for new trajectories of more sustainable value chains and local industrialization. More locally and regionally embedded firms have been able to shift with uneven success to new, and in particular regional, markets. In contrast, Asian-owned transnational producers remain focused on the US market with limited market opportunities and upgrading potential. Different types of ownership and embeddedness dynamics are therefore important to explain the co-evolution of highly differentiated value chain dynamics creating a variety of apparel industrialization trajectories in the apparel export industry in Sub Saharan African.

Criminals by necessity: the risky life of charcoal transporters in Malawi

The charcoal industry in sub-Saharan Africa plays a substantial role providing growing urban populations with domestic energy. However, concerns about its environmental impacts have led to punitive policies, resulting in the criminalisation of charcoal-based livelihoods. One factor constraining the development of more effective policy approaches is limited data on the impacts of regulations on the socio-economic outcomes of different value chain actors. We focus on one group of actors: charcoal transporters, who supply charcoal to Zomba, a medium-sized city in Southern Malawi. Drawing on a survey of 201 transporters, we find that they are attracted by fast cash-in-hand, low capital requirements and the lack of alternative local employment opportunities. Both men and women participate, yet transport methods are gendered. Men, who typically transport charcoal on a bicycle, earn three times as much per week as those who carry charcoal on their heads, the main method used by women. However, bicycle users incur higher financial risk due to costs associated with confiscations and damage to bicycles. Unlike in larger cities, an urban elite does not dominate the supply chain in Zomba. We argue that punitive targeting of small-scale charcoal transporters serves only to push them deeper into poverty and does nothing to contribute to sustainable resource management.

Safety aspects and recommendations for surface artisanal mining

Artisanal mining is a significant industry in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting anywhere from 2% to 20% of a country’s gross domestic products (GDP). Safety concerns in artisanal mining are often overlooked due to the nature of the business, which is largely a subsistence occupation. This paper presents some of the risks commonly observed in surface artisanal mining operations and provides basic safety recommendations for operators to follow to prevent serious accidents or fatalities. The five most frequently cited causes of serious accidents are rockfalls and collapses, lack of ventilation, misuse of explosives, lack of knowledge and training, and obsolete and poorly maintained equipment.

Dependency in international regimes: the case of the apparel industry in sub-Saharan Africa

This paper shows the relationship between regime and dependency theories. Its central argument is that international regimes primarily serve the accumulation interests of metropolitan capitalism, and hence perpetuate dependency. Using the case of the apparel industry in sub-Saharan Africa, it brings to the fore both the dependency and struggle in international regimes that mainstream regime theory masks. The paper concludes that, in its struggle to embed industry, Africa will need to clearly interpret the parameters of a more complex international political economy than that described in the classic dependency literature of the 1970s, and respond to them with cleverness and alacrity.