The governance of global forest statistics: case study on forest products trade between Sub-Saharan Africa and China

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 408-424
Author(s):  
Y. Zhao ◽  
Y.M. Krott ◽  
S. Ongolo
Keyword(s):  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Production Quality ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Data Governance ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Forest Statistics

What drives discrepancies and inconsistencies in global forest statistics? The use of global statistics has influenced academic research and sectoral policies of forest ecosystems since the first global forest assessment was conducted in 1948 or even earlier. Very little work has been done to provide a comprehensive analysis of the governance structure and the quality of predominant international forest databases. Furthermore, very little is known about the attractiveness and/or repulsiveness of global forest statistics platforms to scholars, policy-makers and other users. To reduce knowledge gap, this article examines the governance structure and strategies of three major databases which provide data on global forest products trade including timber export/import flows data, namely FAOSTAT, the United Nations Comtrade, and Chatham House's Resource Trade Earth. This paper uses conceptual and theoretical frameworks of data governance and nudge theories are used to study the production, quality, attractiveness and repulsiveness of global forest statistics and the related platforms through research on a qualitative and quantitative methodological approach. The main findings show that among the above three data platforms, only Comtrade received first-hand data directly from UN producing member states' offices, while the other organisations depend on Comtrade, transform second-hand data. More importantly, the article reveals that the levels of quality and attractiveness of the forest databases in our study are unequal and that database attractiveness is not based on quality. As a result, global forest statistics providers may be motivated to put more effort into improving database attractiveness rather than quality, which is more challenging. Consequently, it is likely that the governance structure and strategies reported in these databases can substantially affect the reliability of numbers used in academic research and policy-decisions since they are generated from the related global forest statistics.

scholarly journals Hydrological education and training needs in Sub-Saharan Africa: requirements, constraints and progress

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 10565-10587
Author(s):  
D. A. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Critical Mass ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Institutional Support ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Training Needs ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Hydrology And Water Resources ◽  
And Training

Abstract. This paper represents a perspective on the education and training needs related to hydrology and water resources science within the sub-Saharan Africa region and discusses the requirements of the region, some of the relatively recent developments and initiatives and some of the constraints that exist and remain difficult to surmount. The requirements include the development of academic research capacity and technical skill for both the private and public sector at a variety of levels. Some of the constraints that exist include a lack of adequate funding, lack of follow-up after short training courses, lack of institutional support to continue training, and competition for major water resources development projects from organizations outside the region. One of the main conclusions is that to sustain both educational and practical expertise in hydrology and water resources science within the region there is a need to build a "critical mass" of local expertise. Part of this could be achieved by increasing networking within the region and promoting the sharing of information, tools and expertise. There is also a need to promote institutional support.

scholarly journals Hydrological education and training needs in sub-Saharan Africa: requirements, constraints and progress

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 861-871 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Critical Mass ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Institutional Support ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Training Needs ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Hydrology And Water Resources ◽  
And Training

Abstract. This paper represents a perspective on the education and training needs related to hydrology and water resources science within the sub-Saharan Africa region and discusses the requirements of the region, some of the relatively recent developments and initiatives and some of the constraints that exist and remain difficult to surmount. The requirements include the development of academic research capacity and technical skill for both the private and public sector at a variety of levels. Some of the constraints that exist include a lack of adequate funding, lack of follow-up after short training courses, lack of institutional support to continue training, and competition for major water resources development projects from organizations outside the region. One of the main conclusions is that to sustain both educational and practical expertise in hydrology and water resources science within the region there is a need to build a "critical mass" of local expertise. Part of this could be achieved by increasing networking within the region and promoting the sharing of information, tools and expertise. There is also a need to promote institutional support.

A borrowing cost model for effective performance of SMEs in Uganda

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sulait Tumwine ◽  
Richard Akisimire ◽  
Nixon Kamukama ◽  
Gad Mutaremwa
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rate ◽  
Cost Model ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Effective Performance ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
And Performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop an effective cost borrowing model of qualitative factors that are relevant to micro and small enterprises (SMEs) better performance. Design/methodology/approach – A valid research instrument was utilized to conduct a survey on 359 SMEs (131 retail businesses, 125 service businesses, 48 farming businesses and 55 other businesses) and 897 respondents that are representative of 397 SMEs and 1,087 respondents. Correlation and regression analysis were conducted to ascertain the validity of the hypotheses. Findings – It was established that cost of borrowing elements (interest rate and loan processing costs) are associated with SME performance. Furthermore, cost of borrowing as a whole accounts for 31.1 percent of the variation in performance Uganda’s SMEs. Research limitations/implications – Only a single research methodological approach was employed, future research through interviews could be undertaken to triangulate. Multiple respondents in SMEs (owner, manager and cashier) were studied neglecting others. Furthermore, the study used the cross-sectional approach – a longitudinal approach should be employed to study the trend over years. Finally, cost of borrowing was studied and by the virtual of the results, there are other factors that contribute to SME performance that were not part of this study. Practical implications – There is need to intensify initiatives to encourage greater understanding and acceptance of cost of borrowing, select appropriate elements that includes interest rate and loan processing costs in order to have affordable source of financing to establish and grow SMEs, provide employment, competitive and contribute to countries GDP. Originality/value – This is the first paper in Sub-Saharan Africa to test empirically the relationship between cost of borrowing and performance of SMEs in the Ugandan context.

African Politics at American Colleges and Universities: Topics, Approaches and Readings

1989 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Mark DeLancey ◽  
December Green ◽  
Kenneth Menkhaus
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Comparative Politics ◽  
Colleges And Universities ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Historical Overview ◽  
African Politics ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Popular Method ◽  
Sub Saharan

In 1987 we surveyed a number of teachers of African politics in order to examine the topics, theoretical frameworks and textbooks/readings treated in those courses. The information presented below was derived from responses to 42 questionnaires and from analysis of 35 syllabi. Reference is also made to a similar 1978 study.About three-fourths of the courses reported were defined as “comparative politics” with international relations treated secondarily; the remaining courses combined comparative and international politics. Sixty-five percent of the courses were offered exclusively to undergraduates. Sixty-seven percent concentrated on sub-Saharan Africa, 14% the entire continent, and 19% southern Africa.Instructors vary widely in their course introduction. The most popular method is historical, but nine spend one to two weeks “setting the scene” of contemporary Africa before the historical overview. Twenty-two percent explicitly address approaches to the study of African politics. Some treat competing approaches to “development” or approaches to the causes and cures of poverty in Africa. This roughly compares to the percent of respondents who indicated a desire to expose students to competing paradigms. Although the low percentage of direct treatment of competing approaches is surprising, the syllabi indicate that many teachers integrate the issue throughout the course.

scholarly journals The Role of Feminist Standpoint and Intersectionality Epistemologies in Providing Insights into the Causes of Gender Disparity in Higher Education

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Enyonam Brigitte Norgbey
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Gender Disparity ◽  
Gender Disparities ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Feminist Standpoint ◽  
Sub Saharan

Higher education plays a critical role in society’s development, particularly in the current era of globalization in which knowledge-based innovations are critical for development. However, women’s underrepresentation in higher education remains a persistent issue of concern, particularly, in sub-Saharan Africa. The gender gap in higher education is created by complex interconnected sets of deep-rooted factors. A clear understanding of the underlying causes of gender inequality in higher education is necessary to develop effective interventions to overcome this disparity. Feminist standpoint and feminist intersectionality epistemologies have been used to provide insights into gender disparities in higher education. Drawing on existing published literature, I will discuss the conceptual and theoretical frameworks of these two feminist epistemologies and explore the methodological implications of these epistemologies for critically examining gender disparities in higher education in the context of sub-Saharan Africa. Keywords: epistemology, feminism, gender, higher education, intersectionality

scholarly journals Youth empowerment in non-timber forest products (NTFPs) of sub-Saharan Africa: the role of corporate social responsibility in Niger Delta, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 729-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Ikechukwu Uduji ◽  
Elda Nduka Okolo-Obasi
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Timber Forest Products ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Research Assistants

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the multinational oil companies’ (MOCs’) corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in Nigeria. Its special focus is to investigate the impact of Global Memorandum of Understandings (GMOUs) on rural young people involved in non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for sustainable livelihood in Niger Delta, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach Data for this study were collected from primary sources, using participatory rural appraisal technique of semi-structured interview questionnaire. The use of participatory research techniques in collecting CSR impact data especially as it concerns the rural young people is because it involves the people being studied, and their views on all the issues are paramount. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Inferential statistical tool – estimation of logit model was used to test the two research hypothesis. Findings The results indicate that GMoUs have not given adequate attention to young people as a special target sub-group who live in rural areas and depend mostly on NTFPs. Results also show that a number of factors hindering rural young people from the use and development of NTFPs include a policy vacuum, non-destructive harvesting, and destruction of natural habitats, bushfires, population growths and high demands. Research limitations/implications The semi-structured interview questionnaire was directly administered by the researchers with the help of research assistants. The use of local research assistants was because of the inability of the researchers to speak the different local languages and dialects of the many ethnic groups of Ijaws, Ogonis, Ikweres, Etches, Ekpeyes, Ogbas, Engennes, Obolos, Isokos, Nembes, Okirikas, Kalabaris, Urhobos, Iteskiris, Igbos, Ika-Igbos, Ndonis, Orons, Ibenos, Yorubas, Ibibios, Anangs, Efiks, Bekwarras, Binis, Eshans, Etsakos, Owans, Itigidis, Epies, Akokoedos, Yakkurs, etc., in the sampled rural communities. Practical implications An appropriate GMoU-intervention framework for sustainable promotion of NTFPs, domestication of NFTPs, improving harvesting and processing techniques are necessary to facilitate good security, reduction of poverty and improved livelihoods, particularly for the economically-marginalized and forest-dependent rural young people is imperative. Social implications Sustainable livelihoods of the forest-dependent rural young people in sub-Saharan Africa would require some focussed CSR interventions on the NTFPs for sustainable livelihood. Facilities pertaining to storage, grading, processing and value addition through the convergence of existing schemes and programmes should be promoted and created. MOCs are in a position to empower the rural young people with information about the market, policy and products to enable the rural people strategizing and accessing returns from NTFPs in sub-Saharan Africa. Originality/value This research adds to the literature on multinational enterprises’ CSR initiatives in developing countries and rationale for demands for social projects by host communities. It concludes that business has an obligation to help in solving problems of sustainable livelihood.

OHADA and the Making of Transnational Commercial Law in Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 371-395
Author(s):  
Jonathan Bashi Rudahindwa
Keyword(s):  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Comparative Law ◽  
Business Development ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Business Law ◽  
Commercial Law ◽  
Law And Development ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract The Organisation for Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) was established in October 1993 with the ambitious aim of inciting economic development in its Member States. Through the adoption of Uniform Commercial Laws, the organisation is expected to create an enabling environment for business development, thereby providing for a path to economic growth and subsequent development. In light of this professed aim, both the transnational methodological approach and comparative law theories are used in this paper to critically analyse the various processes conducted under the OHADA banner and to engage in discussions on the highly debated role of law as a vehicle for development in sub-Saharan Africa. This exercise, which proves crucial in order to trace its origin within the global governance and law and development theories, allows us to present OHADA as a transnational legal system, while also highlighting both its strengths and limitations.

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