Strategic Fundamentals of Knowledge and Information Management for Social and Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan African Countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Nathaniel O. Agola
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Knowledge Society ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Individual Country ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
National Productivity ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Analysis Of Knowledge

This article critically analyzes the 10 fundamental pillars requisite for positive progression and creation of a knowledge society for socio-economic development in African countries. These pillars or basic rules, fundamental variables, and structures are identified based on the conceptualization of the key principles of knowledge management. The author asserts the transition to a knowledge society requires making investments and managing knowledge competently at the diverse micro-and-macro organizational levels within countries and even regions. However, doing so requires concurrent adherence to the rules and structures of knowledge management which form the fundamental pillars. The first part presents an empirical econometric analysis of knowledge-productivity nexus as an exposition of knowledge as a factor of production and national productivity. The second part presents a logical argumentation of the 10 fundamental pillars, supported by African regional and individual country data. This research then concludes by pointing out the 10 fundamental pillars in their extant state are inadequate and dysfunctional in most of the African countries and, therefore, socio-economic development efforts and resource allocation need to focus on nurturing and strengthening these pillars for the goal of transitioning to a high productivity and wealth creating knowledge society.

Energy, Environment and Socio-Economic Development

2012 ◽  
pp. 226-242
Author(s):  
Divine Odame Appiah ◽  
Francis Kemausuor
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Food Shortages ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Energy Environment ◽  
Sub Saharan

This chapter espouses the spatial relationships between energy, environment and socio-economic development, as some of the main challenges African countries are grappling with. Energy is the main driver of all forms of socio-economic activities occurring within the human space over time. In Africa, however, low access to energy has, to a greater extent, hampered the socio-economic development of the continent. Although the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) do not specifically stipulate on any energy target, the realization of all the goals stands threatened if households, commercial and industrial activities do not get the rightful access in terms of availability and affordability to energy systems, including their appropriate conversion technologies. The authors explore the dynamics of energy, socio-economic development and environmental sustainability in a nexus of the triple challenges facing Africa, from different African scenarios. In Africa, the obstacles opposing the continent’s bid to expand the energy frontiers from the traditional sources of wood and fossil fuels into other second and third generation energy forms have been constructed in the areas of intense competition for arable lands for food crops and feed stocks cultivation. Suffice to say that increasing population densities, food shortages and insecurity and malnutrition with associated diseases have culminated into acute forms of poverty in recent years in Africa; the problems have been aggravated by the wanton degradation of the environmental resource base and the over-dependence of particular energy mix at both the rural and the urban settings. The above disposition therefore, militates greatly against the socio-economic efforts of most countries in sub-Saharan Africa. From a systemic perspective, the energy sector which drives almost every sub-sector of the broader socio-economic activity needs to factor the environmental consequences of extraction and use, with the attending impacts of climate variability and change in a vicious cycle of sustainability.

Energy, Environment and Socio-Economic Development

2011 ◽  
pp. 166-182
Author(s):  
Divine Odame Appiah ◽  
Francis Kemausuor
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Food Shortages ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Energy Environment ◽  
Sub Saharan

This chapter espouses the spatial relationships between energy, environment and socio-economic development, as some of the main challenges African countries are grappling with. Energy is the main driver of all forms of socio-economic activities occurring within the human space over time. In Africa, however, low access to energy has, to a greater extent, hampered the socio-economic development of the continent. Although the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) do not specifically stipulate on any energy target, the realization of all the goals stands threatened if households, commercial and industrial activities do not get the rightful access in terms of availability and affordability to energy systems, including their appropriate conversion technologies. The authors explore the dynamics of energy, socio-economic development and environmental sustainability in a nexus of the triple challenges facing Africa, from different African scenarios. In Africa, the obstacles opposing the continent’s bid to expand the energy frontiers from the traditional sources of wood and fossil fuels into other second and third generation energy forms have been constructed in the areas of intense competition for arable lands for food crops and feed stocks cultivation. Suffice to say that increasing population densities, food shortages and insecurity and malnutrition with associated diseases have culminated into acute forms of poverty in recent years in Africa; the problems have been aggravated by the wanton degradation of the environmental resource base and the over-dependence of particular energy mix at both the rural and the urban settings. The above disposition therefore, militates greatly against the socio-economic efforts of most countries in sub-Saharan Africa. From a systemic perspective, the energy sector which drives almost every sub-sector of the broader socio-economic activity needs to factor the environmental consequences of extraction and use, with the attending impacts of climate variability and change in a vicious cycle of sustainability.

scholarly journals Implications of Governance, Natural Resources, and Security Threats on Economic Development: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6236
Author(s):  
Husam Rjoub ◽  
Chuka Uzoma Ifediora ◽  
Jamiu Adetola Odugbesan ◽  
Benneth Chiemelie Iloka ◽  
João Xavier Rita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Short Run ◽  
Sub Saharan

Sub-Saharan African countries are known to be bedeviled with some challenges hindering the economic development. Meanwhile, some of these issues have not been exhaustively investigated in the context of the region. Thus, this study aimed at investigating the implications of government effectiveness, availability of natural resources, and security threats on the regions’ economic development. Yearly data, spanning from 2007 to 2020, was converted from low frequency (yearly) to high frequency (quarterly) and utilized. Data analysis was conducted using Dynamic heterogeneous panel level estimators (PMG and CS-ARDL). Findings show that while PMG estimator confirms a long-run causal effect of governance, natural resources, and security threats on economic development, only natural resources show a short-run causal effect with economic development, while the CS-ARDL (model 2) confirms the significance of all the variables both in the long and short-run. Moreover, the ECT coefficients for both models were found to be statistically significant at less than 1% significance level, which indicates that the systems return back to equilibrium in case of a shock that causes disequilibrium, and in addition, reveals a stable long-run cointegration among the variables in the model. Finally, this study suggests that the policy makers in SSA countries should place more emphasis on improving governance, managing security challenges, and effectively utilizing rents from the natural resources, as all these have severe implications for the economic development of the region if not addressed.

Creating Knowledge Society for Economic and Social Growth in Africa

2014 ◽  
pp. 135-154
Author(s):  
Nathaniel O. Agola
Keyword(s):  
Economic Activity ◽  
Knowledge Society ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
High Wage ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Critical Determinant ◽  
Social Growth ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
The One

Knowledge use in socio-economic activities is a critical determinant of the divide between countries and regions into low-productivity-low-wage and labour intensive socio-economic activity countries on the one hand, and high-wage-high-productivity and technology abundant countries on the other hand. Therefore, it is indisputable that the creation of knowledge society is imperative for African countries. Economic transformation from low-productivity-low-wage and labour intensive socio-economic activity countries to high-wage-high-productivity and technology abundant countries predominantly define the socio-economic policy aspirations of most African countries. However, it has never been very clear what are the fundamental pillars that must be built and constantly reinforced by these countries to transition to knowledge society stage. This chapter first presents an empirical connection and contribution of knowledge to higher productivity in economic activities. The importance of infusion of knowledge into diverse economic activities to ensure higher levels of productivity both at micro and macro levels is therefore demonstrated through quantification attempts that include knowledge as one of the variables in Total Factor Productivity (TFP) equation. This empirical discussion serves to illuminate the place of knowledge in economic transformation. The second part of the chapter presents an incisive exposition of the critical ten pillars of knowledge creation, sharing, and usage that African countries can leverage to transition from economies defined by low productivity to higher levels of productivity. The chapter concludes that it is the improvement in the collective stock of knowledge of the African countries that would determine whether they could make a transition to a high productivity knowledge society.

Rwanda as a Knowledge Society

2021 ◽  
pp. 63-84
Author(s):  
Rehema Baguma
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Cyber Security ◽  
Knowledge Society ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Fast Growing ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Natural Resource Base ◽  
Telecom Sector

Generating and developing knowledge societies is a key element for sustainable development as defined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. Based on a limited natural resource base, Rwanda chose to take an approach to development that differs from that of its neighbours by making ICTs the cornerstone of its development. With this focus, government of Rwanda (GoR) took a Pro-ICT led public policy that has led to several public reforms such as but not limited to liberalization of the telecom sector, enactment of laws to govern electronic messages, signatures, transactions, data protection, cyber-security and ICT usage, development of relevant infrastructure and establishment of key institutions such as the Rwanda Utilities and Regulatory Agency (RURA) and Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA). These reforms have in turn led to a fast-growing ICT sector in Rwanda compared to that of the neighbours. To-date, Rwanda is one of the fastest growing African countries in ICT. In 2015, Rwanda emerged as the third best ICT country in Sub-Saharan Africa behind South Africa and Seychelles. In 2016, it moved one position up and emerged 2nd behind Seychelles. The fast-growing ICT sector has stimulated entrepreneurial creativity and growth across the economy. This chapter examines the best practices that Rwanda has applied in her journey to a knowledge society that could possibly help other countries in the region pursuing the same objective. The chapter also briefly reviews challenges and gaps in Rwanda's journey to a knowledge society and suggests recommendations for further improvement.

Urbanization and Electric Power Crisis in Ghana

2018 ◽  
pp. 262-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Brandful Cobbinah ◽  
Ellis Adjei Adams
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Urban Growth ◽  
Urban Poverty ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
History Of

Traditionally, urbanization is hailed as an important force for socio-economic development of countries. In fact, recent research on Africa suggests that urbanization has the potential to stimulate socio-economic development. Yet, many African countries experiencing rapid urban growth continue to bear a disproportionate amount of the costs associated with urbanization (e.g., increased urban poverty, and energy crisis among others). This is in sharp contradiction to the popular notion that urbanization is a stimulus for socio-economic development. Using Ghana as a case study, this chapter discusses the extent to which rapid urbanization influences power supply and the implications on socio-economic development. The chapter focuses on four issues: (1) the history of power and urbanization in Ghana; (2) the influence of urbanization on power crisis in Ghana; (3) the socio-economic implications of urbanization-induced power crisis; and (4) the policies available in addressing the power crisis. Recommendations to address the ever-growing demand for electrical power are proffered

scholarly journals Estudo de usuários e modelos de busca da informação

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 120
Author(s):  
Francisco Carlos Paletta ◽  
Bárbara Pelissaro
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Knowledge Society ◽  
Library Science ◽  
Social Interests ◽  
Information Professionals ◽  
Information And Knowledge Management

A Sociedade do Conhecimento se configura por trazer como características intrínsecas à sua definição a associação das dinâmicas das ações voltadas à organização da informação com os aparatos tecnológicos da comunicação, ganhando força na produção do conhecimento. Ter e fornecer acesso a essas informações condiz com o desenvolvimento econômico de cada país e seus interesses sociais, funcionando como agente determinante de desenvolvimento sustentável. O que então poderia servir para unir nações e conhecimento tem servido cada vez mais para consolidar uma separação de caráter estritamente financeiro. Daí a importância de investir no uso das tecnologias e nos profissionais da informação, área que representa status avançado na evolução da sociedade e, na mesma medida, investir em estudos voltados à informação e à gestão do conhecimento, para entender as diferentes necessidades de quem anseia por informação, as dificuldades de quem a procura e os caminhos a trilhar para facilitar ou tornar menos árdua a busca pelo conhecimento.AbstractThe Knowledge Society is based on having features intrinsic to its own definition the combination with the dynamics of actions for the organization of information with technological devices of communication, gaining strength in the production of the knowledge. Having and providing the access to such information is in accordance with the economic development of each country as its social interests, working as a crucial role of sustainable development agent. What could contribute as a basis for bringing knowledge and nations together, in the reality it has been used more and more as a reason to strengthen the separation strictly financial nature. Then, it is clear the importance of investments in the employment of technologies and information professionals, area which represents a valuable status in the development of the society and also, at the same level, continuous investments in studies on information and knowledge management in order to understand different needs of those looking for information and their difficulties and the ways to make it easier the hard search for knowledge.KeywordsUser studies. Information seeking model. Information sciences. Library science. Knowledge society.

scholarly journals Critical assessment of Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPIC) Initiative in Africa and the Implication of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) (2001-2016): a theoretical perspective

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 380-386
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Innocents Edoun ◽  
Dikgang Motsepe
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Debt Relief ◽  
Jel Classification ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
The International Monetary Fund

Many African countries have been struggling to achieve sustainable economics in order to contribute in putting Africa in the path for socio-economic development. This is partly due to the burden of debt that hangs over many African countries that borrowed funds from multilateral partners irresponsibly. As a result of this, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank put in place in 1996 a strategy to provide debt relief to countries that were struggling to repay their debts. This debt relief initiative was reviewed in 1999 to provide adequate results. This paper is, therefore, a critical assessment of HIPIC and the implication of NEPAD from 2001 to date. Keywords: HIPIC, NEPAD, IMF, World Bank, socio-economic development. JEL Classification: H62, H63

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document