Moroccan phosphates sector may see virus silver lining

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Value Added ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Western Sahara ◽  
The Past ◽  
Ongoing Work ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Silver Lining

Subject Outlook for Moroccan phosphates exports. Significance Phosphate rock prices have slumped over the past year and have since stabilised at 72.50 dollars per tonne, down almost 30% since early 2019. Morocco, the second-largest producer of phosphates after China and home to the vast majority of global reserves, has felt the resulting squeeze. The national phosphates company Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP) Group has managed to offset some of this by accelerating its shift to downstream production of acid and fertilisers, but margins have likely been hit and the company may lack the scope to continue scaling up value-added production without further investment. Impacts OCP's ongoing work to consolidate its position in sub-Saharan Africa will also help support Moroccan export revenues. At current extraction rates, Morocco may be the only major producing country with phosphate reserves to last beyond 50 years. Rabat's drive to increase revenue from mining other minerals and metals is likely to yield only modest results. A diplomatic shift over the status of Western Sahara (and thus key OCP mining locations) is unlikely.

Maghreb states' Africa ties turn on security, trade

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Sufficient Reason ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Union ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Western Sahara ◽  
Turn On ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Economic Engagement

Subject Maghreb-SSA relations. Significance Links between countries in the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have been growing steadily over the past decade. In different ways, Morocco and Algeria have both established themselves as essential partners for West Africa. Impacts The rivalry between Algeria and Morocco will play out in African political and economic engagement, notably over Western Sahara. However, sub-Saharan governments will remain uninterested in taking sides and will seek to maintain good relations with both Maghreb powers. Morocco might like to rejoin the African Union (AU), but does not regard this as sufficient reason to climb down on Western Sahara. Trans-Saharan drugs and people trafficking will remain a major concern.

R&D scope and quality in Africa mars economic goals

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Research Output ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Pharmaceutical Products ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Private Sector Investment ◽  
Return Home ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Support Research

Subject R&D in sub-Saharan Africa. Significance Sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) research output has more than doubled over the past decade. The capacity to support research and development (R&D) that is commercially relevant is critical for developing secondary and tertiary industries. However, skills deficits, quality problems and reliance on foreign support loom large -- undermining more resilient African economic growth. Impacts Opaque intellectual property protections in many African states discourage firms from committing large sums to local R&D. Local indigenous knowledge remains vulnerable to appropriation by non-SSA firms such as for pharmaceutical products. Where non-health research capacity improves, it will focus on areas aligned with the greatest private sector investment. New scholarships to Chinese universities may boost future SSA research capacity, but only if recipients return home.

Morocco and Sub-Saharan Africa: In the Shadow of the Western Sahara Dispute

2021 ◽  
pp. 234779892110175
Author(s):  
Michael B. Bishku
Keyword(s):  
Arab World ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Western Sahara ◽  
The Past ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Middle Powers

During much of the past several decades, Moroccan actions in Western Sahara have impacted on that country’s bilateral and multilateral ties, especially with other countries in Africa, though to a lesser degree in the Arab world. In recent years, Morocco has gained the upper hand in its conflict in Western Sahara and has been increasing its political and economic footprint on the continent of Africa, an area of interest since independence. At the same time, Morocco has regarded itself as a “gateway” to Africa for the USA and Europe, while the USA, France (and the Gulf states) have provided military and financial assistance as well as diplomatic support for Morocco as that country’s policies have served Western interests. While attention is given by academics in recent years to the involvement in Africa of other middle powers from the Middle East such as Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia and, in the past, of Nasser’s Egypt and Qaddafi’s Libya, as well as Israel, Morocco has not stirred the same sort of interest. This article seeks to address that issue by examining all political and economic factors that have influenced Moroccan policy toward Sub-Saharan Africa, those both connected and unconnected with the issue of the Western Sahara dispute.

scholarly journals Institutional shareholder activism in Nigeria

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 680-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chinyere Uche ◽  
Emmanuel Adegbite ◽  
Michael John Jones
Keyword(s):  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Institutional Arrangement ◽  
Shareholder Activism ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Governance Practices ◽  
The Status ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
And Performance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate institutional shareholder activism in Nigeria. It addresses the paucity of empirical research on institutional shareholder activism in sub-Saharan Africa. Design/methodology/approach This study uses agency theory to understand the institutional shareholder approach to shareholder activism in Nigeria. The data are collected through qualitative interviews with expert representatives from financial institutions. Findings The findings indicate evidence of low-level shareholder activism in Nigeria. The study provides empirical insight into the reasons why institutional shareholders might adopt an active or passive approach to shareholder activism. The findings suggest the pension structure involving two types of pension institutions affects the ability to engage in shareholder activism. Research limitations/implications The research study advances our understanding of the status quo of institutional shareholder activism in an African context such as Nigeria. Practical implications The paper makes a practical contribution by highlighting that regulators need to consider how the financial market conditions and characteristics affect effective promotion of better governance practices and performance through shareholder activism. Originality/value This study draws attention to the implication for shareholder activism of complexities associated with an institutional arrangement where two types of financial institutions are expected to operate and manage the private pension funds in a country.

Popular expectations are high after Burkina Faso poll

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Regional Security ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sub Saharan

Significance The emergence of a clear victor will go a long way towards restoring political stability in a country marked by turbulence since a popular uprising ousted the autocratic government of Blaise Compaore more than a year earlier. However, the new government now faces popular expectations that are strikingly different from the past. Impacts The government's electoral mandate will help the country regain its formerly constructive role in regional affairs. Growing regional security threats from neighbouring Mali and Niger will be high priorities for the new administration. The visibly democratic and transparent nature of the election may inspire pro-democracy activists elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa.

African ties may bolster Moroccan economy and policies

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Soft Power ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Free Access ◽  
National Interests ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Western Sahara ◽  
Economic Diplomacy ◽  
International Standing ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Special Zone

Subject Moroccan outreach in Africa Significance Following the instability caused by the 2011 uprisings as well as Morocco’s loss of confidence in its traditional allies in Europe and the Gulf, the kingdom has shown willingness to involve itself materially and diplomatically in Sub-Saharan Africa. This re-direction towards Africa provides Morocco with an opportunity to diversify its economy, boost growth and protect its national interests. To achieve these goals, Morocco is deploying its economic diplomacy, religious soft power and security know-how. Positioning itself as the West’s gateway to Africa and an active opponent of terrorism, Morocco is enhancing its international standing and shoring up support for its claim over the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Impacts Casablanca Finance City, a special zone with tax incentives, will attract European companies seeking to do business in Africa. ECOWAS may be more welcoming of Moroccan membership if Rabat offers economic compromises like tariff-free access. The monarchy will retain control of Morocco’s reconnection with Africa, which it initiated.

scholarly journals Assessment of procurement capacity challenges inhibiting public infrastructure procurement

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 386-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Manu ◽  
Abdul-Majeed Mahamadu ◽  
Colin Booth ◽  
Paul Olomolaiye ◽  
Ahmed Doko Ibrahim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Public Infrastructure ◽  
Public Agencies ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status ◽  
National Environment ◽  
Sub Saharan

Purpose Public procurement capacity is composed of three facets: individual, organisational and an enabling national environment which encapsulates national legislation, policies and institutional arrangements that can facilitate or hamper the effectiveness of procurement. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which procurement capacity challenges in the national environment affect the effectiveness of infrastructure procurement by public agencies in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach A total of 30 procurement capacity challenges drawn from literature were operationalized in a survey of infrastructure procurement personnel in different tiers of public agencies (i.e. local and state government) in order to ascertain the critical challenges affecting the effectiveness of infrastructure procurement. The survey yielded 288 responses, which were analysed using descriptive statistics, one-sample t-test and independent-samples t-test. Findings Challenges related to transparency, integrity and accountability are amongst the topmost challenges adversely affecting the effectiveness of public infrastructure procurement. There is limited difference in the extent to which the challenges affect the effectiveness of infrastructure procurement in different tiers of public agencies in Nigeria. Originality/value Whilst various procurement capacity challenges have been identified in the extent literature, this study has shown that an assessment of their effect on the effectiveness of infrastructure procurement could reveal valuable insights regarding the status of public infrastructure procurement within a country, particularly countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions where there is acute infrastructure deficits. Such insights could inform appropriate infrastructure procurement reforms by policy makers, procurement entities and infrastructure funders.

scholarly journals Promoting Scale-Up Across a Global Project Platform: Lessons from the Evidence to Action Project

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Ghiron ◽  
Eric Ramirez-Ferrero ◽  
Rita Badiani ◽  
Regina Benevides ◽  
Alexis Ntabona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Health System Strengthening ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Look Ahead ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

AbstractThe USAID-funded flagship family planning service delivery project named Evidence to Action (E2A) worked from 2011 to 2021 to improve family planning and reproductive health for women and girls across seventeen nations in sub-Saharan Africa using a “scaling-up mindset.” The paper discusses three key lessons emerging from the project’s experience with applying ExpandNet’s systematic approach to scale up. The methodology uses ExpandNet/WHO’s scaling-up framework and guidance tools to design and implement pilot or demonstration projects in ways that look ahead to their future scale-up; develop a scaling-up strategy with local stakeholders; and then strategically manage the scaling-up process. The paper describes how a scaling-up mindset was engendered, first within the project’s technical team in Washington and then how they subsequently sought to build capacity at the country level to support scale-up work throughout E2A’s portfolio of activities. The project worked with local multi-stakeholder resource teams, often led by government officials, to equip them to lead the scale-up of family planning and health system strengthening interventions. Examples from project experience in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda illustrating key concepts are discussed. E2A also established a community of practice on systematic approaches to scale up as a platform for sharing learning across a variety of technical agencies engaged in scale-up work and to create learning opportunities for interacting with thought leaders around critical scale-up issues.

Cross-cultural communication imperatives

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 170-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Baba Abugre
Keyword(s):  
Business Environment ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Work Outcomes ◽  
Cultural Communication ◽  
Global Business ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Staff ◽  
Cross Cultural Communication ◽  
Sub Saharan

Purpose Given the rising expansion of Western multinational companies (MNCs) to the African contexts, the development of expatriates and local employees has become increasingly important to the human resource management of these MNCs. This paper aims to provide critical lessons on cross-cultural communication competences for Western expatriates working in the sub-Saharan Africa business environment. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a qualitative phenomenology that makes use of lived experiences of senior expatriate staff working in Ghana in the form of direct interviews. Findings Results showed that cross-cultural communication competence is very important for Western expatriates’ functioning in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings also established a plethora of cross-cultural communication skills that are essential for Western expatriates’ successful adaptation and work outcomes in Africa. Practical implications This research argues that there is the need for the appreciations of the differing cultural patterns of expatriates and local staff, and this provides the underlying assumptions of intercultural and cross-cultural communication in global business. Originality/value A critical perspective of international business that has scarcely been studied offers lessons for Western expatriates working in sub-Saharan Africa.

A comparison of global suicide terrorism by region before and after 9/11 terrorist attacks

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmet Guler ◽  
Mustafa Demir
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Terrorist Attacks ◽  
Suicide Terrorism ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Global Terrorism Database

Purpose This study aims to examine the effect of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on suicide terrorism in different regions of the world and changes in the trends in suicide terrorism according to regions before and after 9/11. Design/methodology/approach Using the data obtained from the Global Terrorism Database from 1981 to 2019, the descriptive statistics were computed first and then, independent samples t-tests were run to compare the monthly mean percentage of suicide-terrorism incidents that occurred in each region between the pre-9/11 and the post-9/11 periods. Finally, to statistically assess the effect of the 9/11 attacks and changes in the trends for the dependent variables over time, monthly interrupted time-series analyzes were conducted. Findings The results of monthly interrupted time series analyzes showed that after the 9/11 attacks, the trends for suicide-terrorism rates decreased significantly in three regions including South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa and Europe, while the trend for suicide-terrorism rates increased significantly in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, no statistically significant changes in the trends in suicide-terrorism rates occurred in three regions including North America, East Asia and Central Asia and Southeast Asia before 9/11, during November 2001 or after 9/11. Originality/value This study indicates the critical importance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in suicide terrorism and its impact on these events in different regions of the world. The research also provides some recommendations concerning the effectiveness of defensive and offensive counterterrorism policies against suicide terrorism.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document