Suchergebnisse

This paper is about the effect of climate change on Sub-Sahara African (SSA) agricultural production in a post-colonial setting. While agricultural production certainly is the result of a multi-dimensional process (influenced by diverse branches of politics, by technology, and also by trade patters and violent conflicts, among others), already the partial analysis of the most obvious factors of influence is certainly valuable in the African case. Since agriculture is not only the single most important sector for the greatest majority of people there, but also a low-tech endeavor in Africa, the impact of temperature and particularly rainfall is crucial - to the point of life-threatening crop failure. In sum, we are able to shown that climate change influenced agricultural production in Sub-Sahara Africa in an unfavourable way. When considering traditional and modern inputs (labour, land and livestock, as well as capital and fertilizer, respectively) in a fixed-effects-model, particularly the effect of rainfall is significantly positive and important. Further, by separating countries into a low- and a med-tech group (with respect to modern inputs), different relationships between the standard factors can be revealed, and by refining the specification with respect to regional climatic differences some complexities in these general patterns can be shown.

This paper estimates the impact of market access liberalization in high-income countries on sub-Saharan African exports. The methodology exploits the large reduction in trade barriers that was induced by three unilateral trade liberalization initiatives: (1) the dismantling of the Multi-Fiber Arrangement, (2) the African Growth and Opportunity Act in the United States, and (3) the extension of EU trade preferences for developed countries through its Everything-but-Arms program and the General System of Preferences. Using detailed product-level information at the 6-digit level of the Harmonized System and a triple-difference empirical specification, the usual endogeneity-of-policy critique is flexibly controlled for. The results indicate strongly positive export effects, which are especially large for textile, apparel, and leather products, and tend to be realized fully within 5 years. Each percentage point reduction in import tariffs raises exports to the EU by 0.73 percent and to the United States by 0.30 percent; effects are two to three times as large for textiles. The presence of strong Chinese imports has ambiguous effects on countries' ability to take advantage of trade liberalization as the impact on the export effects to the EU and the United States show an opposite sign.

This Spotlight discusses the resurgence of military coups in Sub-Saharan Africa. We argue that an analytical and political focus on coup events misses out on the bigger picture of military influence in politics. Introducing the new Multidimensional Measures of Militarization (M3) dataset, we demonstrate that African countries that were part of the recent wave of coups, previously showed signs of political militarization such as military veto powers and impunity. We conclude that these subtle forms of military influence can serve as early warning indicators for military coups.

AbstractAs a policy tool for development, special economic zones (SEZs) are rapidly proliferating globally, mainly due to the new industrialization wave and competition for FDIs. However, their performance is quite mixed. What drives their heterogeneous performance? This paper intends to define a 'quality framework' for SEZs based on the key drivers for their success, and validates its effectiveness in a quantitative way through a 'quality‐performance' matrix using thirteen SEZ cases in Sub‐Sahara Africa. The research identifies seven key drivers and derives a 'quality score' for each zone based on its level at each driver. The score is then used to map with the zone's performance (mainly the jobs and investments in this paper). The regression result shows that the 'quality' of a SEZ is highly correlated with its 'performance', which provides important empirical evidence for effective SEZ policies. Based on this research, the paper also offers some key policy lessons.

How has Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) experienced the COVID-19 pandemic? This article seeks to examine the challenges faced by a region that was earlier expected to be the epicenter of the pandemic. The study identifies three critical stages that pose challenges for governments and development partners operating in SSA trying to avoid mass infections and the subsequent negative socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic. First, the article begins by examining the challenges experienced in restraining the spread of COVID-19 such as the lack of adequate resources and technology to effectively pursue contact tracing, the dilemma of implementing lockdowns, and the impact of fake news. Second, the article looks at the challenges arising from technical and capacity elements of testing, treatment, and the development and access to vaccines. Finally, the study examines the potential obstacles to a smooth post-COVID-19 recovery. The author argues that although some positive actions have been taken by governments in SSA during the pandemic, the challenges that are emerging as a result of the direct and indirect impacts of the disease cannot be overlooked. The authors therefore offer several recommendations that can guide policy responses against pandemics in the short and long-run.

The dispute cannot be avoided among human beings, what is important is its resolution to sustain peace and tranquility for a cordial relationship between the disputing parties. There are several methods of dispute resolution, these include mediation, conciliation, and negotiation. The negotiation afford both parties a situation of openness and free expression for sustainable peace and harmony among the disputing parties. But this can only be achieved by being sincere, honest and resolute with the agreement reached, that is, holding on to, and abiding by the terms of the agreement. The success and failure of negotiation depend much on disputants behavior and perceptions during the negotiation process. Disputants struggle to resolve their differences by themselves at the bargaining table, unlike mediation and conciliation where disputing resolve their misunderstanding through the assistance of the neutral third party known as the mediator or the conciliator.

Abstract
Growing plants along the vertical axis of a building façade is currently re-emerging as a technique for (re)integration of greening into the urban fabric. This article reports an exploratory study that involved the design, development and evaluation of vertical greening within low-income communities in Lagos, Akure (Nigeria) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania). We highlight the vertical gardens' contributions to food production (vegetables). Challenges identified include high maintenance, pests, vandalism, tenure status and socio-cultural misgivings about growing vegetables on walls. It is crucial to evolve policy initiatives and programmes that promote citizen-led, community-based vertical farming within the urban fabric in sub-Sahara Africa.

In Subsahara-Afrika sieht man sich sehr deutlich mit dem Problem staatlicher Erosion, also mit dem Thema 'Staatszerfall' bzw. 'Staatsversagen' oder 'erodierende Staatlichkeit' konfrontiert. Für die Entwicklungspolitik stellt sich vor diesem Hintergrund die Frage, in welchem konzeptionellen Rahmen Handlungsoptionen für ein weitgehend präventives, und nicht nur reaktives, Vorgehen in erodierenden Staaten gefunden werden können. Hierzu bedarf es einer entwicklungspolitisch zugeschnittenen Grundorientierung. Ziel der Studie ist es somit, einen konzeptionellen Orientierungsrahmen für entwicklungspolitische Überlegungen vorzustellen, der zur Beantwortung strategischer Handlungsfragen beitragen kann. Dazu werden die folgenden Aspekte erörtert: (1) Kategorisierung erodierender Staaten, (2) das Ziel entwicklungspolitischen Handelns im Kontext der Erosion von Staatlichkeit, (3) bisherige entwicklungspolitische Handlungsansätze in erodierenden Staaten, (4) entwicklungspolitische Partnerschaftsfähigkeit und Identifikation von Partnerschaftstypen sowie (5) eine Matrix entwicklungspolitischer Partnerschaftsfähigkeit als Orientierungsrahmen für entwicklungspolitische Handlungsfelder. In Zukunft, so die Autorin abschließend, wird vor allem noch eine stärkere Operationalisierung bisheriger Überlegungen zu den jeweiligen Handlungsfeldern stattfinden müssen. Entwicklungspolitische Handlungsstrategien müssen anhand eines leitenden Orientierungsrahmens von Fall zu Fall entwickelt werden. Generell sind die Handlungsmöglichkeiten in den jeweiligen Ländern allerdings umso geringer, je weiter staatliche Erosion fortgeschritten ist. Auch kann allein Entwicklungspolitik im politisierten Kontext erodierender Staaten nur begrenzte Wirkungen haben. Im Anhang findet sich Material, der interessierten Personen vertiefende Informationen zu dem Thema liefert. (ICG2)

PurposeThe authors propose a strategic-balance approach to local content laws in which less developed economies in sub-Sahara Africa can develop investment incentive policies for attracting multinationals and direct foreign investment but, at the same time, have a structured and operational framework for the enforcement of local content laws. The purpose of the paper is to identify the elements involved in the equation: the incentives, the potential spillovers and the criteria for evaluation.Design/methodology/approachThe approach involves a review of the literature and the operational details and limitations of local content laws in sub-Sahara Africa.FindingsThe paper develops a conceptual model for a holistic understanding and management of this dilemma by policymakers and development practitioners to maximize the benefits of natural resources to less developed countries in sub-Sahara Africa towards the fight against poverty and underdevelopment.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper provides the opportunity to influence policy direction in relation to the adoption of investment incentive policies and programs and the enforcement of local content policy guidelines and regulations in sub-Sahara Africa.Practical implicationsMultinational companies (MNCs) operating in less developed and emerging economies in sub-Sahara Africa should consider how their economic and corporate social responsibility activities can help develop the capabilities of the local workforce through training and development activities; develop domestic firms' capabilities via enterprise development programs; and develop local firm's absorptive capacities through knowledge transfers and innovation systems to support development activities.Social implicationsPolicymakers in less developed and emerging economies in sub-Sahara Africa need to strike a balance in adopting investment incentives policies towards attracting foreign investments and the enforcement of local content regulations to make sure they derive the maximum benefits from their strategic resources. It is important for policymakers to understand that the mere attraction of MNCs into an economy does not explicitly guarantee domestic job creation; rather, it depends on how MNCs respond to local content policy regulations through their business strategies. Linking investment incentives with local content policy regulations at a critical point could potentially support and strengthen industrial development in sub-Sahara Africa.Originality/valueThis paper is among the first to examine the challenges of both attracting foreign direct investment and enforcing local content laws and regulations in sub-Sahara Africa. This paper contributes to the understanding of this dilemma and how less developed economies can manage such a crucial and important issue using our proposed strategic-balance approach. The contribution of local content laws and the design and adoption of investment incentives policies and programs to attract foreign investment to promoting sustainable domestic growth and development must depend on the balance between the enforcement of local content policy guidelines and the provision of such investment incentive packages to attracting foreign investment.