scholarly journals Diaspora Remittances and Financial Inclusion in Kenya

Author(s):  
Emmanuel Kwesi Arthur ◽  
Salome Mwongeli Musau ◽  
Festus Mithi Wanjohi

This study examined the effect of  diaspora remittances on financial inclusion in Kenya for a quarterly period from 2008 to 2018. The Kenyan government’s commitment to include the Kenyan diaspora into the national development process led to the launching of Kenyan Diaspora Policy in 2015 as part of the Kenya’s vision 2030 blue print of which financial inclusion is a pillar. This study sought to check if the policy interventions achieved its objective by testing the moderating effect of Diaspora Policy on the relationship between diaspora remittances and financial inclusion. The descriptive research design specifically longitudinal and explanatory non-experimental designs were employed in this study. The target population for this study comprised the three million Kenyans living at the diaspora. The census and stratified sampling design were utilised where census method was first used to include the formal diaspora remittance inflows for the forty four quarterly period and then stratified into corridors for the period under study. Data from the Central Bank of Kenya and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics were analysed using time series multiple regression model. The results of the study showed that formal diaspora remittances received had a positive and statistically significant effect on financial inclusion. Formal diaspora remittances from Rest of the World greatly influenced financial inclusion. Remittance inflows from North America also influenced financial inclusion to some extent while formal diaspora remittances from Europe had no effect on financial inclusion in Kenya. Further, the study established that the moderating effect between formal diaspora remittances and financial inclusion was positive and statistically significant implying that the diaspora policy implemented by government greatly influenced diaspora remittances and financial inclusion in the right direction in Kenya. The study recommended among others, that government of Kenya continues to strategically strengthen the diaspora policies in order to increase the flow of diaspora remittances into the country to boost financial inclusion.

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-81
Author(s):  
Gatta Ouyabaka Marius

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the nature of procurement process followed by MONUSCO and the involvement of stakeholders in this process.Methodology: The study employed a descriptive case study design. The target population comprised of 261 employees of MONUSCO Entebbe Support Base holding international, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and National contracts. Random and purposive sampling techniques were specifically used to select samples for this study. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview guides. The quantitative data collected was further analysed using SPSS for descriptive and inferential statistics while the qualitative data was analysed using content analysis.Findings: The study findings showed that there is procurement planning in most MONUSCO sections; that funds are available before planning; that staff are involved in procurement planning in their respective sections; and that procurement planning contributes to achieve the maximum value for expenditures on goods/services and works to be delivered at MONUSCO sections. The study found that procurement planning had led to improved levels of MONUSCO operations in the areas of humanitarian relief, peacekeeping, development assistance to affected communities. The study further found that staff are involved in the identification and definition of the needs of user sections and that the Statement of Requirements (SOR)/or Scope of Work (SOW) was important in their respective sections. These had aided in full scale involvement of relevant stakeholders in the procurement planning activities of MONUSCO ESB.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends a clear determination of specifications in terms of required quality and quantities by the end-user departments in MONUSCO ESB. Planning and determination of needs should be done early to allow enough time to initiate the procurement process. The study further recommends that the procurement department should always engage all concerned stakeholders in determining the materials and service specification for quality assurance during service delivery. This will enable the sections to always get the quantity of items as requested by end-users, in their right quantity, right quality and at the right time.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gatta Ouyabaka Marius

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the nature of procurement process followed by MONUSCO and the involvement of stakeholders in this process.Methodology: The study employed a descriptive case study design. The target population comprised of 261 employees of MONUSCO Entebbe Support Base holding international, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and National contracts. Random and purposive sampling techniques were specifically used to select samples for this study. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview guides. The quantitative data collected was further analysed using SPSS for descriptive and inferential statistics while the qualitative data was analysed using content analysis.Findings: The study findings showed that there is procurement planning in most MONUSCO sections; that funds are available before planning; that staff are involved in procurement planning in their respective sections; and that procurement planning contributes to achieve the maximum value for expenditures on goods/services and works to be delivered at MONUSCO sections. The study found that procurement planning had led to improved levels of MONUSCO operations in the areas of humanitarian relief, peacekeeping, development assistance to affected communities. The study further found that staff are involved in the identification and definition of the needs of user sections and that the Statement of Requirements (SOR)/or Scope of Work (SOW) was important in their respective sections. These had aided in full scale involvement of relevant stakeholders in the procurement planning activities of MONUSCO ESB.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends a clear determination of specifications in terms of required quality and quantities by the end-user departments in MONUSCO ESB. Planning and determination of needs should be done early to allow enough time to initiate the procurement process. The study further recommends that the procurement department should always engage all concerned stakeholders in determining the materials and service specification for quality assurance during service delivery. This will enable the sections to always get the quantity of items as requested by end-users, in their right quantity, right quality and at the right time.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiemeka Onyema

The goal of berthing Nigeria’s full-scale industrial revolution is yet to be achieved. All the industrial development plans have so far failed to accelerate the nation’s industrialization, hence the country’s low industrial base which has kept her in the league of developing nations. In fact, Nigeria has in recent times been experiencing deindustrialization, as several industries have collapsed and some others, such as Unilever and Michelin, have relocated to other countries. Several factors are responsible for Nigeria’s low industrial development and they include: inadequate infrastructure (particularly, energy), poor technological base, multiple taxes and levies, and, the shortage and high cost of foreign exchange. Despite a growing body of literature on industrialization in Nigeria, not much has been written about the link between Public Service Reforms and industrialization in Nigeria. This paper examines the links between the implementation of the Service Compact (SERVICOM) Charter and the achievement of Nigeria’s industrial development policies, especially the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ Policy. The paper makes the case that the goal of industrializing Nigeria will not be fully realised without an efficient Public Service. Furthermore, the paper highlights the need for Nigerian public servants to have the right work attitude, and to be morally upright and patriotic, in order to create a business-friendly environment and to build investor confidence, so as to facilitate and accelerate the country’s industrialization and overall national development. The author recommends that the Nigerian government should strengthen the implementation of the Servicom Charter and also incorporate the Charter into the industrialization plan.


Author(s):  
Stephany Griffith-Jones ◽  
José Antonio Ocampo ◽  
Paola Arias

Based on the seven case studies analysed in this volume, this chapter concludes that national development banks (NDBs) have been successful in many cases in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, key new sectors like renewable energy, and financial inclusion. They have developed new instruments, such as far greater use of guarantees, equity (including venture capital) and debt funds, and new instruments for financial inclusion. The context in which they operate is key to their success. Active countercyclical policies, low inflation, fairly low real interest rates, a well-functioning financial sector, and competitive exchange rates are crucial. They are also more effective if the country has a clear development strategy, linked to production sector strategies that foster innovative sectors. Under these conditions, the chapter argues that there is great need for a larger scale of NDB activity in Latin America and in developing countries in general.


Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 411
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Shanika Boyce ◽  
Tanja Jovanovic

Aim: This study tested sex differences in the association between hippocampal volume and working memory of a national sample of 9–10-year-old children in the US. As the hippocampus is functionally lateralized (especially in task-related activities), we explored the results for the right and the left hippocampus. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study data. This analysis included baseline ABCD data (n = 10,093) of children between ages 9 and 10 years. The predictor variable was right and left hippocampal volume measured by structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI). The primary outcome, list sorting working memory, was measured using the NIH toolbox measure. Sex was the moderator. Age, race, ethnicity, household income, parental education, and family structure were the covariates. Results: In the overall sample, larger right (b = 0.0013; p < 0.001) and left (b = 0.0013; p < 0.001) hippocampal volumes were associated with higher children’s working memory. Sex had statistically significant interactions with the right (b = −0.0018; p = 0.001) and left (b = −0.0012; p = 0.022) hippocampal volumes on children’s working memory. These interactions indicated stronger positive associations between right and left hippocampal volume and working memory for females compared to males. Conclusion: While right and left hippocampal volumes are determinants of children’s list sorting working memory, these effects seem to be more salient for female than male children. Research is needed on the role of socialization, sex hormones, and brain functional connectivity as potential mechanisms that may explain the observed sex differences in the role of hippocampal volume as a correlate of working memory.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weihong Yuan ◽  
Jonathan Dudley ◽  
Alexis B Slutsky-Ganesh ◽  
James Leach ◽  
Pete Scheifele ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) personnel who practice breaching with blast exposure are at risk for blast-related head trauma. We aimed to investigate the impact of low-level blast exposure on underlying white matter (WM) microstructure based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neurite orientation and density imaging (NODDI) in SWAT personnel before and after breacher training. Diffusion tensor imaging is an advanced MRI technique sensitive to underlying WM alterations. NODDI is a novel MRI technique emerged recently that acquires diffusion weighted data from multiple shells modeling for different compartments in the microstructural environment in the brain. We also aimed to evaluate the effect of a jugular vein compression collar device in mitigating the alteration of the diffusion properties in the WM as well as its role as a moderator on the association between the diffusion property changes and the blast exposure. Materials and Methods Twenty-one SWAT personnel (10 non-collar and 11 collar) completed the breacher training and underwent MRI at both baseline and after blast exposure. Diffusion weighted data were acquired with two shells (b = 1,000, 2,000 s/mm2) on 3T Phillips scanners. Diffusion tensor imaging metrices, including fractional anisotropy, mean, axial, and radial diffusivity, and NODDI metrics, including neurite density index (NDI), isotropic volume fraction (fiso), and orientation dispersion index, were calculated. Tract-based spatial statistics was used in the voxel-wise statistical analysis. Post hoc analyses were performed for the quantification of the pre- to post-blast exposure diffusion percentage change in the WM regions with significant group difference and for the assessment of the interaction of the relationship between blast exposure and diffusion alteration. Results The non-collar group exhibited significant pre- to post-blast increase in NDI (corrected P &lt; .05) in the WM involving the right internal capsule, the right posterior corona radiation, the right posterior thalamic radiation, and the right sagittal stratum. A subset of these regions showed significantly greater alteration in NDI and fiso in the non-collar group when compared with those in the collar group (corrected P &lt; .05). In addition, collar wearing exhibited a significant moderating effect for the alteration of fiso for its association with average peak pulse pressure. Conclusions Our data provided initial evidence of the impact of blast exposure on WM diffusion alteration based on both DTI and NODDI. The mitigating effect of WM diffusivity changes and the moderating effect of collar wearing suggest that the device may serve as a promising solution to protect WM against blast exposure.


2019 ◽  
Vol 131 (5) ◽  
pp. 1423-1429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna Chaitanya Joshi ◽  
Ignacio Larrabide ◽  
Ahmed Saied ◽  
Nada Elsaid ◽  
Hector Fernandez ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEThe authors sought to validate the use of a software-based simulation for preassessment of braided self-expanding stents in the treatment of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms.METHODSThis was a retrospective, observational, single-center study of 13 unruptured and ruptured intracranial aneurysms treated with braided self-expanding stents. Pre- and postprocedural angiographic studies were analyzed. ANKYRAS software was used to compare the following 3 variables: the manufacturer-given nominal length (NL), software-calculated simulated length (SL), and the actual measured length (ML) of the stent. Appropriate statistical methods were used to draw correlations among the 3 lengths.RESULTSIn this study, data obtained in 13 patients treated with braided self-expanding stents were analyzed. Data for the 3 lengths were collected for all patients. Error discrepancy was calculated by mean squared error (NL to ML −22.2; SL to ML −6.14, p < 0.05), mean absolute error (NL to ML 3.88; SL to ML −1.84, p < 0.05), and mean error (NL to ML −3.81; SL to ML −1.22, p < 0.05).CONCLUSIONSThe ML was usually less than the NL given by the manufacturer, indicating significant change in length in most cases. Computational software-based simulation for preassessment of the braided self-expanding stents is a safe and effective way for accurately calculating the change in length to aid in choosing the right-sized stent for optimal placement in complex intracranial vasculature.


Author(s):  
Fahreza Nasril ◽  
Dian Indiyati ◽  
Gadang Ramantoko

The purpose of this study was to answer the research question "How is the prediction of Talent Performance in the following year with the application of People Analytics?" and knowing the description of employees who are potential talents, the resulting performance contributions, to the description of the development and retention efforts needed by Talent in order to be able to maintain their future performance and position as Talents compared to the previous People Analytics method using predictive analysis, namely prediction of Talent Performance in the year next. In this study, data analysis using the Multivariate Logistic Regression method is used to get the Prediction of the Performance of Talents who become the object of research in the form of individual performance quickly and precisely in accordance with the patterns drawn by individual Performance score data in previous years. And can provide insight regarding the projected strategies that need to be done to maintain the improvement of individual talent performance in the years of the assessment period. It also helps management in making decisions about the right Talent development program and determining which Talents are priorities. The population in this study were the talents of employees of PT. Angkasa Pura II (Persero) with a managerial level consisting of: Senior Leader, Middle Leader, and First Line Leader who has a Person Grade (PG) range of 13 to 21. The sample used is Middle Leader level talent with specified criteria and through a process data cleansing. The results of this study indicate that the variable that significantly affects the performance of the following year is the performance of the previous 2 years. Then prediction analysis can be done using these independent variables with the Multinomial Logistic Regression method, and to get prediction results with better accuracy can be done by the Random Forest method.


Author(s):  
Saim Aksnudin

In the national development the role of land for the fulfillment of various purposes will increase, either as a place to live or for business activities. In relation to that will also increase the need for support in the form of guarantee of legal certainty in the field of land. The result of the research is the conception of the state of Indonesia is a state law, which contains the meaning in the administration of government and the state based on the law, the protection of the law is a universal concept of the rule of law. The legal certainty on land rights as intended by the UUPA encompasses three things, namely the certainty of the object of land rights, certainty on the subject of land rights and certainty about the status of landrights. Legal conception of land title certificate is a proof that issued by authorized legal institution, containing juridical data and physical data which isused as evidence of ownership of land rights in order to provide assurance of legal certainty and certainty of rights to a plot of land owned or possessed by a person or legal entity. With the certificate of rights, it is expected that the juridical can guarantee the legal certainty and the right by the state for the holder of the right to the land. This country's guarantee is granted to the owner or the holder of the certificate may be granted because the land is already registered in the state land administration system.


Author(s):  
Loice Koskei

Interest rates play a key role in attracting foreign investor activity in the country. This study investigated the effect of interest rates on foreign investor activity at Nairobi Securities Exchange in Kenya. Monthly data was collected from Nairobi Securities Exchange, Central Bank of Kenya and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Time series data for eleven year period spanning from January 2009 to December 2019 was used.  The multiple regression model results disclosed that interest rates as measured by lending rate had a positive and statistically significant effect on foreign investor. Inflation rate results had a negatively but statistically significant effect on foreign investor. The results for exchange rate had a negative but statistically insignificant effect on foreign investor activity. The deposit rate results indicated a negative and statistically significant effect on foreign investor activity implying that commercial banks deposit rate has an effect on foreign investor activity. The results for 91-day treasury bills specified a positive and non-statistically insignificant relationship with foreign investor activity pointing that for 91- day treasury bills do not affect the foreign investor activity at Nairobi securities exchange in Kenya.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document