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Contents Editorial Badar Alam Iqbal.........................................................................................v *** Can Africa Run? Industrialisation and Development in Africa Fiona Tregenna .................................................................................................. 1 [Revised Text of the Second Thandika Mkandawire Annual Memorial Lecture ] *** Selected Papers on Covid-19 Pandemic and African Economies Governance Issues and the Covid-19 Pandemic in West Africa: Are There Any Linkages? Félix Fofana N'Zue and Adjoua Math Komenan...................................................33 From Epidemic to Pandemic: Covid-19, Insecurity and Development in the Sahel Tope Shola Akinyetun ..............................................................................................61 Covid-19 Lockdown and the ‘Work-From-Home’ Approach: Effect on Nigerian Academics Tolulope Osinubi, Cleopatra Ibukun and Titus Ojeyinka..............................................87 Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Financial Performance of SMEs in Nigeria: A Study of the South East Geopolitical Zone Stella Ngozi Okoroafor.............................................................................107 Digital Learning Response in the Midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Case of Mauritius Verena Tandrayen-Ragoobur, Boopen Seetanah, Sheereen Fauzel and Viraiyan Teeroovengadum...................................129 Covid-19 Social Relief Programmes and Distribution Mechanisms in East Africa: Lessons Learned Ivan Kagimu...............................................................................159 Are the Covid-19 Pandemic and Public Procurement ‘Strange Bedfellows’? An African Perspective Ismail Abdi Changalima..............................................................175 Effets de la Covid-19 sur les entreprises du secteur informel agricole au Sénégal Sidia Diaouma Badiane, Amadou Tandjigora, Thierno Bachir Sy, Yessoufou et Mamoudou Dème ...................197
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Public procurement activities consume funds that necessitate procurement personnel to ensure that the procurement function is achieving the best value for money in all aspects. This paper focused on individual factors and value for money achievement. Various central government entities were included during data collection because these entities have large procurement volume and huge number of employees who are involved in procurement activities. A binary logistic regression model was used to determine the influence of variables related to the human capital theory that included skills (p=0.003), professional qualification (p=0.012), an education level (p=0.027) and integrity (p=0.023) on value for money achievement. The results showed that these variables were positively and significantly related to the achievement of value for money in procurement hence, individual factors positively influenced value for money achievement. Personnel who are directly involved in procurement activities must possess adequate skills, the highest level of education and professional qualifications should be well considered through training and career developments and integrity should be well adhered to when executing procurement functions as they are key determinants of value for money achievement in procurement activities. Employees should be well developed in the aspect of enhancing integrity skills and improvement of their knowledge.
L’objectif de cette étude est d’évaluer les effets de la Covid-19 sur le niveau d’activité des entrepreneurs du secteur informel de l’alimentaire dans la métropole de Dakar. Les données utilisées ont porté sur un échantillon de 1 888 agents évoluant dans la restauration, la distribution, la transformation et la commercialisation de produits agricoles. Pour ce faire, nous avons estimé un modèle de régression à effets fixes par la méthode des moindres carrés ordinaires. Les résultats révèlent que les mesures restrictives ont conduit à une perte significative des recettes journalières des commerçants (40,5%), des transformateurs (41,3%) et des restaurateurs (40%). Une analyse plus désagrégée montre que ce sont les commerçants grossistes et demi-grossistes qui ont plus subi les pertes de recettes que les détaillants. La baisse des recettes s’est traduite par une diminution significative de la contribution aux dépenses familiales plus prononcée chez les restaurateurs (11,3%) et les transformateurs (9,3%). Cette étude montre la vulnérabilité des entrepreneurs du secteur informel de l’alimentaire et les implications politiques qui en découlent soulignent l’importance du soutien financier direct du gouvernement pour les aider à se remettre des effets néfastes de la pandémie de Covid-19.
Mots clés : secteur informel ; recettes ; dépenses familiales ; Covid-19 ; Dakar
The revival of economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is all the more welcome for having followed one of the worst economic disasters—a quarter century of economic malaise for most of the region—since the industrial revolution. Six of the world’s fastest-growing economies in the first decade of this century were African. Yet only in Ethiopia and Rwanda was growth not based on resources and the rising price of oil. Deindustrialization has yet to be reversed, and progress toward creating a modern economy remains limited. This book explores the vital role that active government policies can play in transforming African economies. Such policies pertain not just to industry. They traverse all economic sectors, including finance, information technology, and agriculture. These packages of learning, industrial, and technology (LIT) policies aim to bring vigorous and lasting growth to the region. This collection features case studies of LIT policies in action in many parts of the world, examining their risks and rewards and what they mean for Sub-Saharan Africa.
While strategic procurement and supply chain function had evolved to achieve a level of complexity that was deemed favourable for global value chains, much of the complexity was not fashioned to withstand global supply chain disruptions. Long hailed strategic procurement and supply chain practices as effective and cost-efficient collapsed in the face of COVID-19, leaving massive global supply chain disruptions. This paper: (i)identifies strategic supply chain management practices that increased firms' vulnerability to supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19; (ii) reports the performance of strategic supply chain management under COVID-19 pandemic; and, (iii) identifies how strategic supply chain management may be refined post-COVID-19. This was achieved through a systematic literature review where two keywords namely supply chain and supply chain resilience, were used to search for empirical studies published between 2020 and 2021. The search was conducted on PubMed Central, Google Scholar, Taylor and Francis. The initial search in all the databases yielded over 200,000 articles, but only 125 articles containing at least the two keywords in the title were selected. Out of 125, only 69 were retained after eliminating duplicates, systematic literature reviews and articles not available in full text to the authors. A thorough review of the title and abstract was done on the 69 retained, and 21 articles were excluded based on title, while 25 on the abstract, leaving 23 articles. The remaining 23 articles were read in full and 21 articles selected due to their ability to answer the predetermined research questions. Four industry reports searched on google were also involved, leading to a total of 25 articles systematically reviewed. The findings indicate that post-COVID-19, firms are likely to embrace supply chain management practices that enhance resiliency over efficiency. As such, just-in-time may be replaced by just-in-case practices such as redundant inventory, extra production capacity, and multiple sourcing among others. Therefore, the study recommends that in the post-COVID-19 pandemic, companies should seek to balance efficiency with resiliency, rather than trading off one over the other.
In this paper, we analyze the drivers of firm innovation in 35 African and Latin American countries. We investigate how firm-level capabilities and national country characteristics affect firm innovation activities and innovation outputs. Using data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys, we analyze the factors driving firm-level innovation distinguishing two stages in the innovation process: firm engagement with innovation inputs and the translation of innovation inputs into innovation outputs. The paper provides empirical support for the importance of country-level macro and institutional characteristics, in addition to firm-level capabilities, across a large number of countries in determining firm-level innovation. We demonstrate that capital investment and training are just as important innovation activities as research and development spending in developing economies. We highlight the heterogeneity in firm innovation across firm size, country- and firm-level characteristics, and economic sectors.
This paper investigates the relationship between supplier development and procurement performance in the public sector. Furthermore, the paper examines the moderating role of contract management difficulty on the relationship between supplier development and procurement performance. Using cross-sectional data collected from 179 public procuring entities, the main findings of the study are two-fold. Firstly, the relationship between supplier development and procurement performance in public sector is positive and significant (β = 0.2343 and p = 0.0014). Also, contract management difficulty negatively and significantly moderates the relationship between supplier development and procurement performance (β = −0.1447 and p = 0.0190). In this aspect, the influence of supplier development on procurement performance is negatively affected by contract management difficulties. The study contributes to the supplier management, procurement performance, and contract management literature by providing empirical evidence on the role of supplier development on procurement performance in developing countries like Tanzania. Also, the conditional effects of contract management difficulty on the relationship between supplier development and procurement performance matter. The study’s findings have important implications for procurement practitioners in the public sector and policy makers.
Purpose
While empirical studies establish the importance of procurement planning in achieving value for money (VfM) in procurement, there is scant evidence demonstrating a link between procurement planning and procurement regulatory compliance, and thus VfM. As a result, this study examined how procurement regulatory compliance can be applied when procurement practitioners in Tanzania seek to maximize VfM through procurement planning.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional research design was adopted from which data were collected once through a structured questionnaire. The structural equation modeling (SEM) and Hayes' PROCESS macro test for mediation analysis were used to analyze the collected data.
Findings
Procurement planning has a significant and positive relationship with procurement regulatory compliance ( ß = 0.491, p < 0.001). Procurement regulatory compliance has a significant and positive relationship with VfM in procurement ( ß = 0.586, p < 0.001). Results also show that procurement planning is a significant positive predictor of VfM ( ß = 0.257, p = 0.005). Furthermore, the bootstrapping confidence intervals revealed that procurement regulatory compliance significantly mediates the relationship between procurement planning and VfM in procurement.
Research limitations/implications
Although the study was able to accomplish its overall objective, it is limited in terms of the geographical setting under which the study was conducted. Hence, the generalization of research results should be made with caution as each country has specific public procurement laws and regulations governing the conduct of procurement activities in the public sector.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the growing debate on achieving VfM in procurement activities. The study adds to the literature on public procurement by establishing the mediation effect of procurement regulatory compliance on the quest toward achieving VfM in public procurement.
The COVID-19 pandemic undesirably affected the hospitality industry, and therefore, preventive measures have been advocated as crucial when revitalizing or rejuvenating the industry. This study investigated the interplay of predicting role of COVID-19 preventive measures, perceived brand ethicality, and brand legitimacy in the hospitality industry in Tanzania during the period of reviving the industry. Furthermore, the study examines the mediating role of perceived brand ethicality in the relationship between COVID-19 preventive measures and brand legitimacy. Data were collected from a total of 405 customers of hospitality organizations recruited via an on-site survey. Data analyses were done using structural equation modeling. Overall, the results have shown that COVID-19 preventive measures had a direct positive effect on brand legitimacy. Additionally, COVID-19 preventive measures could enhance brand legitimacy indirectly via perceived brand ethicality. The study has significant implications for different hospitality organizations and operators in Tanzania and other countries during post the COVID-19 period.
Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, online learning had become a fundamental part of post-secondary education. At the same time, empirical evidence from the last decade documents higher dropout online in comparison to face-to-face courses for some students. Thus, while online learning may provide students access to post-secondary education, concerns about academic momentum and degree attainment dominate the higher education online learning landscape. Because course completion is often used as a measure of effectiveness, there is a strong need for institutions to be able to predict the potential persistence of online students to direct efforts towards ameliorating dropout. Yet currently, a widely tested and validated archetypical predictive model of retention and success does not exist for undergraduate online learning. This integrative review of the literature examines evidence gathered over the last decade, organizing and summarizing major findings, to help identify potential undergraduate student characteristics for inclusion in such a model. The body of literature collected in this review suggests ten factors for consideration.
The continuing crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has raised significant challenges for the higher education community globally. In South Africa, the government-forced lockdown measures and social distancing containment policy changed working arrangements across sectors and organisations. As a result, academics were forced to work from home (WFH), a task for which they were hardly prepared. Several researchers have engaged the WFH situation of academics to understand the relationship between WFH and productivity. As far as we know, very few studies have tried to describe academics’ WFH experiences in relation to the challenges, including determining possible ways of improving their satisfaction with working from home. We examine in this article the experiences of academics working from home across selected universities in South Africa. Using a qualitative approach and applying Atlas.ti for data analysis, our findings show that working from home in academia is a daunting task requiring extensive organisational, personal, and social adjustments. The population comprised all academics irrespective of any demographic or personality characteristic within the management faculty of the participating universities. Five themes—inability to adapt, lack of a home office, loneliness and isolation, inability to balance family and work, and improving satisfaction with work from home—were identified as significant variables from the participants’ responses. Our analysis suggests that organisations need to customise approaches to engage with the experiences of academics who work from home during COVID-19 and to develop fit-for-purpose support for these academics. The study contributes to the growing research exploring the relationship between COVID-19 lockdown and work in higher education.
The African Sahel countries are inherently fragile, environmentally insecure and economically weak. This paper underscores the compounded impacts brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic on resource supply security and, hence, the long-term development of the region. It outlines the Sahel-specific COVID-19 scenario by firstly highlighting the underlying vulnerabilities and later linking the health sector outcomes to increased political instability and environmental insecurity, particularly the deterioration of food security. In this sense, this paper shows from a region-wide perspective how COVID-19 in the Sahel is associated with enlarged sociopolitical developmental perils. Lower remittance sent by expatriates, violent conflicts, increased cross-border terrorism and migration, discriminant mobility restrictions of people and goods, weak national healthcare infrastructures, bottlenecks in international aid, pressures on the education system and recent climate extremes are some revealing examples of aggravators of the impacts on the supply of vital resources, such as food. This paper also shows the importance of considering the close interlinks between health, food and political stability in the Sahel. There is a paramount need for more comprehensive approaches linking human health to other sectors, and for re-considering local sustainable agriculture. To avoid prolonged or recurrent humanitarian crises, the Sahel countries need to strengthen response capacities through public sector-led responses. Examples of these responses include reinforced national disaster programs for the vulnerable, support to sustainable agriculture and food markets, improved performance and communication of public sector relief, state-based cooperation, building of regional alliances and peacemaking efforts.
RESUME : Ce papier a pour objectif de contribuer à la compréhension des stratégies de résiliences développées par les acteurs du secteur informel fortement impactés par la pandémie de la COVID-19. La Grounded Theory utilisée comme méthode de traitement et d'analyse des données issues d'entretiens effectués avec dix (10) propriétaires dirigeants, a permis de constater que les acteurs qui sont dans la restauration, le commerce, et la coiffure se sont confrontés à plusieurs difficultés tels que la perturbation des heures de travail, un ralentissement des activités, des problèmes d'approvisionnement, des conflits sociaux etc., suite aux mesures de restriction prises par l'Etat du Sénégal pour faire face à la crise sanitaire. Les spécificités des très petites entreprises (TPE) de l'informel fortement ancrée dans les relations sociales et leurs capacités d'adaptation ont aidé tant bien que mal les acteurs de ce secteur à faire face aux difficultés rencontrées. Des mesures telles que la rationalisation des commandes, la production sur commande, la livraison à domicile, la stabilisation des emplois etc., ont été prises durant cette période pour assurer la survie des TPE et aussi garder l'équilibre et les relations sociales dans ce contexte de crise économique et sociale. ABSTRACT : This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the resilience strategies developed by actors in informal sector strongly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Grounded Theory used as a method of processing and analyzing data from interviews with ten (10) owner-managers, has shown that the actors who are in catering, trade, and hairdressing are confronted with several difficulties such as the disruption of working hours, a slowdown in activities, supply problems, social conflicts, etc., following the restrictive measures taken in Senegal to deal with the health crisis. The specificities of informal very small enterprises (VSEs) strongly rooted in social relations and their ability to adapt have somehow helped the actors in this sector to cope with the difficulties encountered. Measures such as the rationalization of orders, production to order, home delivery, stabilization of jobs, etc., were taken during this period to ensure the survival of VSEs and also to maintain balance and social relations in this context of economic and social crisis.
COVID -19 virus can be described as one of the worst global pandemic ever experienced in the 21st Century. Focusing on the pandemic the study main objective was to analyze direct and indirect economic effect of COVID -19 pandemic and establish the extent to which the virus has affected Kenya’s key economic sectors contributing to the country’s GDP . The study adopts a content analysis approach whose aim is to describe COVID -19 phenomenon. The study relies on diverse secondary database not limited to: World Health Organization ( WHO ) on COVID -19 trends, IMF, UNDP , Central Bank of Kenya ( CBK ), KNBS, IPAR, ICA and KIPPRA among others. Data Analysis results reveal that COVID -19 poses an unprecedented shock by disrupting economic activity. Kenya’s current account deficits has declined drastically in capital flows. The GDP in 2020 shrank to 1.1% from. 5.7% .The country is also experiencing risk of collapse of health systems that is under pressure from spread of the virus; households have fallen into poverty; and a huge number of losses of employment have been experienced across all sectors estimated to about 4.64 million. Whereas the Kenyan Government focuses on re-engineering the economy by implementing economic stimuli package of fiscal, monetary, wage, and social protection policies aimed to arrest the economic recession. The study recommends that the government may consider sovereign debt restructurings; expansion of loan programs to firms and households in the formal sector and cash transfers to cushion vulnerable households in the informal sector and promote recovery of the economy.
This paper seek to examined income tax and financial performance of Small and medium enterprises in Nigeria. Interview various taxes in operations as it affects the Financial performances of Small and Medium Enterprises in the country. Since SME'S plays a Pivotal role in any nation Economic growth and developments and various comments and issues has risen on the impacts of too much taxes on their Financial performances but the paper was able to bring to fore that the imposition of this taxes rarely have any significant effects on the Financial performances of Small and Medium Enterprises especially the taxes due from Federal government. it is recommended that, government should look into various taxes imposed especially by States and Local governments as it affects the performances of SME's by trying to harmonised them through Joint tax board in all level of governance so as not hampered the growth and in order to achieve the main objectives of establishment of SME's for economic growth. Finally, the study recommends a strong overhauling of the foundation of SME's all over the country, with strong backing of the Law for sustainability for the achievement of the economy goals.
The subject of COVID-19 vaccines has generated debate across the globe as it has created a fecund ground for a plethora of dynamics such as vaccine diplomacy, misinformation, and struggle for dominance among global powers to mention but a few. Thus, the vaccine subject has taken-center stage in global discourses, resulting in developing and developed nations experiencing challenges in respect to purchase, transparency, and accountability in the administration of vaccines. The subject of vaccines in Zimbabwe has provoked public skepticism indicative of the existing trust deficit between government and the citizens. This emanates from strong evidence of abuse of public resources and hence questions of transparency and accountability especially in relation to disaster situations. To this end, this paper seeks to bring to light the trends and dynamics in vaccine procurement and distribution in Zimbabwe. The study examines the correlation between vaccine diplomacy (donation-trap diplomacy) and vaccine purchases. A chronological analysis of the approved vaccines, rejection of Johnson and Johnson and sudden acceptance, natural resource implications of the donations from ALROSA, poor public resource management, vaccine shortages, vaccine misinformation and vaccine cheating. Possible ways of enhancing vaccine intake through quality information are also discussed and Zimbabwe`s performance against other African nations is examined. The research ends by proposing a series of questions which should be embraced to fully comprehend the trends and dynamics of vaccine procurement and distribution.
How do public health crises affect peace? Guided by the understanding that peace has situational and relational dimensions, this study explored the impact of public health crises on peace using the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria as a case study. Data collected between March and July 2020 through in-depth interviews with 37 Nigerians, Nigerian media sources, and the website of Nigeria Interreligious Council (NIREC) indicate that the COVID-19 outbreak and state response to it had mixed effects on peace in Nigeria. The article argues that this has major implications for interreligious peace in Nigeria and other religiously diverse societies.
This article synthesizes current insights into supplier management practices that professional buyers can apply in the public procurement context. Specifically, it discusses the practices, rationale, and challenges associated with implementing supplier development as an important activity within supplier management practices. Drawing from the literature, the main arguments are on the applicability of indirect supplier development practices in the public procurement context. Therefore, it is concluded that public buyers can consider applying these practices in public organizations. However, caution should be exercised regarding the legal and regulatory structure that governs the country’s public procurement system. It further recommends empirical studies to be done on supplier development practices for local suppliers in specific public procurement projects.
Background: In response to calls for actionable research that considers ongoing pandemic risk dynamics, we explore how risks experienced and risk mitigation techniques used have changed during the first year of the pandemic. Methods: We used a survey and studied six cases; data were collected both at the start of the pandemic and one year into the pandemic. This paper offers the first empirical exploration of the first full year of the pandemic and provides data points from both early and one year into the pandemic. Results: Our findings indicate that not only are pandemic risks far from mitigated, several types of risks have also increased in severity. Multifaceted and multidirectional approaches have been adopted, going well beyond demand and supply risks (the risks most widely considered in the literature) and much more work remains for supply chain managers to mitigate risks and improve supply chain resilience. Conclusions: We find that in addition to the risk management techniques, considering behavioral aspects is key for navigating a pathway towards risk mitigation.
When COVID-19 hit South Africa’s shores, municipalities had to think on their feet, adapt and find alternative ways of performing their constitutional functions. Transparency in local government procurement is pivotal as it enables communities to monitor the delivery of public services and hold municipal authorities accountable. The issue of transparency was heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic, where local government was at the forefront of providing the much-needed basic services such as the distribution of personal protective equipment and other public equipment required by local citizens in the short term. This article explores the extent to which procurement processes at the local sphere of government during the current period of COVID-19 are transparent. Using a qualitative approach, the study relied on secondary data, including government reports, journal articles, newspaper articles and government legislation relating to local government procurement processes during the COVID-19 era. The analysis suggests that government needs to find more innovative means of ensuring transparency, especially in the supply chain processes, as municipalities rely heavily on outsourcing to provide public services to the communities they serve. Appropriate preventative measures will help to manage the growing perceptions of corruption in municipalities in South Africa.
ABSTRACT
Background: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is currently a very important topic, probably the most overlooked
and emotive subject, for front-line healthcare staff working with Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) patients. With
these regards, there are two main problems: shortages, and inappropriate utilization. Therefore, the purpose of this
study was to assess the logistics management of COVID-19 PPEs and its challenges at public hospitals of Benchisheko, Kafa, and Sheka zones, southwest Ethiopia. Method: Hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional quantitative
and qualitative study was conducted using a checklist, structured and semi-structured questionnaire, and interview
guide. Quantitative data were analyzed by Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Qualitative data were analyzed manually,
using thematic analysis techniques. Results: All hospitals had Bin cards, reporting and resupply forms, and model 19
(receiving models), and model 21 (issue model). But they were not utilizing the majority of these forms for logistics
management of PPEs. All the assessed hospitals had N-95 respirator masks, surgical masks, gowns, surgical gloves,
and aprons in their inventory. But the quantities were not sufficient for available human power, especially since
both N-95 respirator and surgical masks were below emergency order points. All hospitals were not used logistics
record-keeping tools (bin cards) for PPEs, except for surgical gloves and disposable gloves. Among the expected
44 bin cards only seven (16%) items had Bin cards and only 6 (13.75%) bin cards were updated. None of them had
submitted a report to the supplier and put an order for personal protective equipment. Shortage at supplier source,
budget constraint, and complexity of the procurement process, overconsumption, and transportation restrictions was
challenged contributed to a shortage of these items. Conclusion: Even though personal protective equipment is very
important during this crisis, all assessed hospitals had an insufficient quantity of personal protective equipment and
poorly managing the inventory of available equipment.
Cet article analyse par des faits stylisés les activités non agricoles qui sont classifiées sous forme d’industries et de services ruraux. Une étude comparative sur le niveau de pauvreté entre les ménages agricoles et les ménages non agricoles a été faite. Les résultats ont ainsi montré que parmi les individus de l’échantillon qui se sont déclarés pauvres, 72% exerçaient l’agriculture et les métiers connexes comme principale activité et 28% exerçaient les activités non agricoles. Le ratio « pauvre/non pauvre » du secteur agricole évalué à 3,17 traduit toute la difficulté de l’agriculture bien qu’elle continue d’employer le maximum de ménages en zone rurale. Ce ratio est au même moment égal à 1,30 pour les industries rurales et 1,27 pour les services, ce qui signifie en outre que les pratiquants des industries et services ruraux sont moins sensibles à une insuffisance de ressources monétaires, comparé aux agriculteurs.
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic and country measures to control it can lead to negative indirect health effects. Understanding these indirect health effects is important in informing strategies to mitigate against them. This paper presents an analysis of the indirect health effects of the pandemic in Kenya.
Methods
We employed a mixed-methods approach, combining the analysis of secondary quantitative data obtained from the Kenya Health Information System database (from January 2019 to November 2020) and a qualitative inquiry involving key informant interviews ( n = 12) and document reviews. Quantitative data were analysed using an interrupted time series analysis (using March 2020 as the intervention period). Thematic analysis approach was employed to analyse qualitative data.
Results
Quantitative findings show mixed findings, with statistically significant reduction in inpatient utilization, and increase in the number of sexual violence cases per OPD visit that could be attributed to COVID-19 and its mitigation measures. Key informants reported that while financing of essential health services and domestic supply chains were not affected, international supply chains, health workforce, health infrastructure, service provision, and patient access were disrupted. However, the negative effects were thought to be transient, with mitigation measures leading to a bounce back.
Conclusion
Finding from this study provide some insights into the effects of the pandemic and its mitigation measures in Kenya. The analysis emphasizes the value of strategies to minimize these undesired effects, and the critical role that routine health system data can play in monitoring continuity of service delivery.
Nigeria runs a mono-petrodollar economy, and the government has persistently ignored the calls for diversification except for when the price of oil plummets. Indeed, there has not been a tangible effort to sincerely shift the focus from being perpetually oil-dependent to developing the non-oil sectors of the economy and increase foreign exchange earnings. However, the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic revealed the volatility of the Nigerian economy and its susceptibility to oil shock and natural disasters. Situated within the context of the Cobweb Theorem, this paper explores how oil dependence has exposed the Nigerian economy to oil price fluctuation and the threat of an impending recession. The paper which relied on secondary data also examines the imperativeness of diversification as a way forward in Nigeria and concludes that the government must take advantage of her abundant resources and pay critical attention to other sectors of the economy such as agriculture.
The COVID-19 pandemic has generally induced mass panic and threat across the world, including Nigeria, due to the perceived uncertainties, fears and insecurities in the communities. Based on this backdrop, this study examined COVID-19 pandemic and insecurity in Nigeria. Convenience accidental sampling was used to administer 1671 copies of a questionnaire on residents through an online/electronic survey. Data collected were analysed descriptively and inferentially. Findings revealed that the spike in crime during the COVID-19 lockdown period is relatively higher than usual with disruption of public peace, theft and rape accounting for the most prominent crime. Meanwhile, most respondents experienced crime incidence between 6 pm and 12 midnight. Ironically, idleness, poor spatial arrangement/planning, poor governance and poverty were the major catalysts for the crime spike during the lockdown, while fear-of-fear (phobophobia) and declined socio-economic capacity were predominant effects of crime experienced. The Fisher’s exact test results revealed a significant relationship between the surge in crime and COVID-19-restrictive measures. The study concludes that the insecurities during lockdown periods have caused both temporary and permanent physical and psychological havoc; hence, it recommends quick advancement of the built environment with smart security measures and social supports for the citizenry during the pandemic.
Introduction: Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines is critical to personal health, protecting vulnerable populations, reopening socio-economic life, and achieving population health and safety through immunity. The primary aim of this review was to investigate the extent and determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in South Africa to inform the development of strategies to address it. A secondary aim was to enhance understandings of and responses to vaccine hesitancy more generally in South Africa, with potential positive effect on vaccination uptake during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Areas covered: We reviewed the findings from surveys conducted in South Africa from February 2020 to March 2021 that investigated acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines. Surveys were identified through searching electronic databases of peer-reviewed and gray literature and contacting experts.
Expert opinion: The review reveals the inherently social nature of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in South Africa, potentially influenced by age, race, education, politics, geographical location, and employment. Along with the provision of information, COVID-19 vaccine communication strategies need to form part of broader trust-building measures that focus on relationships, transparency, participation, and justice. The pandemic also provides a unique opportunity to positively intervene and reduce vaccine hesitancy trends more generally in South Africa and potentially elsewhere.
Purpose
This paper aims to determine the responses of construction organisations to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its associated lockdown and the impact on the South African construction industry (SACI).
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a quantitative survey with responses sought from 825 contracting organisation’s representatives drawn from the database of the construction industry development board. The data gathered were analysed using percentage, mean item score and one-sample t -test. The reliability of the research instrument was also tested using the Cronbach alpha test.
Findings
Findings revealed that most construction organisations implemented a complete travel ban and halting all business operations on sites and offices in a bid to curb the spread of the virus. Furthermore, whilst most construction organisations envisage significant disruption in their project delivery, the problem of job losses was regarded as a short, medium and long-term impact of the pandemic. Loss of revenue, a decline in the economy and business interruption are also some of the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the SACI.
Originality/value
The study’s findings give practical insights on the potential impact of the pandemic on the construction industry and the possible approach needed to help cushion the effect on the industry.
Online learning is negatively associated with student connectedness. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Higher Education (HE) institutions have pivoted to blended and online learning. Subsequently, HE institutions have seen a shift in student connectedness resulting in loneliness, isolation, social and psychological distance. Consequently, it is essential for teacher practitioners to respond with innovative digital learning resources that aim to develop student connectedness. The current systematic review aimed to explore the research question: what are the characteristics of effective digital teaching resources when the aim of the resource is to build student connectedness? This systematic literature review was conducted in line with published guidance for undertaking reviews (Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, 2009). Successively, 17 papers met the inclusion criteria and were analysed using a thematic synthesis approach. Results identified five key themes that are important when designing digital resources to build connectedness: usability; teacher interaction; immediacy; synchronicity; and community. The findings of this research are expected to provide a template to assist teacher practitioners in creating innovative digital resources that facilitate connectedness.
To date, the response to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in many African countries
has been quick, forward-looking and adjustable in spite of the continent’s limited
resources. These responses were triggered by the continuous increase in cases and
deaths, which have necessitated speedy development of an effective vaccine. It is
anticipated that African governments and public health officials will show more
transparency, and provide evidence-based strategies to support COVID-19 vaccines
and design equitable as well as effective vaccine delivery plans for the populace. To
this end, this review analysed Africa’s preparedness and response towards COVID19 vaccines, potential demand, acceptability and distribution challenges related to
the management of the virus. The review takes stock of context-specific vaccine
preparedness; the demand for vaccine and associated challenges; vaccine
accessibility and its distribution. The review offers insightful approaches and
strategies by which African countries can maximize benefits from the COVID-19
vaccines to overcome the virus. These include the pursuance of vaccines that may
help confer immunity or protection against the virus in the light of contextual
circumstances of specific African countries, including sociocultural and economic
issues among other factors.
Introduction : As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines become available, it becomes important to understand public perceptions of the vaccines and implementation plans. The social media platform Twitter TM , which publicly shares information, serves as an important source of content related to COVID-19 vaccines. This study employed a qualitative descriptive design to examine content related to COVID-19 vaccines posted by Twitter users located in Africa.
Methods : Data were collected from Twitter between the 11 th and the 16 th of December 2020 using the NCapture tool. We searched Twitter using the terms 'coronavirus', 'COVID-19 vaccine' and 'Africa' to identify the nature and content of tweets related to COVID-19 and vaccines shared by Twitter users from the African region. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of Twitter accounts and thematic analysis helped determine, analyse, and clarify patterns of meaning (themes) emerging from the tweets.
Results : The study found n=208 Twitter accounts, the majority (n=69; 33%) from South Africa and most (42%; n=87) from news agencies. The final dataset included n=212 tweets. The most used hashtag was #Covid19vaccine(s). Four themes were identified: i) capacity for vaccine production, ii) vaccine procurement, iii) vaccine logistics, and iv) perceived safety and efficacy of vaccines. The capacity of countries in Africa to manufacture a COVID-19 vaccine was deemed minimal and most tweets questioned Africa’s ability to procure vaccines based on the costs. Tweets also centred around the distribution of vaccines, storage and roll-out and the need to leverage existing solar-powered technologies to enhance the cold supply chain in Africa's remote locations. Questions about the safety and efficacy of vaccines developed in under one year were also raised.
Conclusions: Concerns about vaccine procurement and readiness for distribution were dominant topics. These public concerns can be important in informing policymakers in preparation for the roll-out of vaccines in these contexts.
Online learning has become the new normal in many medical and health science schools worldwide, courtesy of COVID-19. Satisfaction with online learning is a significant aspect of promoting successful educational processes. This study aimed to identify factors affecting student and faculty satisfaction with online learning during the new normal. Online questionnaires were emailed to students (n = 370) and faculty (n = 81) involved in online learning during the pandemic. The questionnaires included closed- and open-ended questions and were organised into two parts: socio-demographic information and satisfaction with online learning. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the responses to the satisfaction scales. Students’ and faculty responses to the open-ended questions were analysed using the thematic analysis method. The response rate was 97.8% for students and 86.4% for faculty. Overall satisfaction among students was 41.3% compared to 74.3% for faculty. The highest areas of satisfaction for students were communication and flexibility, whereas 92.9% of faculty were satisfied with students’ enthusiasm for online learning. Technical problems led to reduced student satisfaction, while faculty were hampered by the higher workload and the required time to prepare the teaching and assessment materials. Study-load and workload, enhancing engagement, and technical issues (SWEET) were the themes that emerged from the thematic analysis as affecting student and faculty satisfaction. Adopting a combination synchronous and asynchronous approach, incorporating different applications to engage students, and timely feedback are imperative to increasing student satisfaction, while institutional support and organisational policy could enhance faculty satisfaction.
Text of the Inaugural Thandika Mkandawire Annual Memorial Lecture presented at the 3rd edition of the Social Policy in Africa Conference convened virtually from 22–24 November 2021. Fantu Cheru, Emeritus Professor of International Political Economy, American University, Washington, DC. Email: cherufantu@gmail.com
COVID-19 outbreak surprised the world completely since it is affecting lives, businesses and supply chain operations tremendously. Businesses have been closed, production operations disrupted and physical distribution halted. Given that, the study aimed to determine the distortions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in upstream and downstream supply chains as well as identify approaches for building resilience in the supply chain. The study was guided by the Principal-Agent Theory and Resource Dependence Theory. A qualitative approach based on literature survey methodologies guided the study whereby systematic literature synthesis was conducted to collect secondary data from published scholarly articles and grey literature. A total of 58 published articles were reviewed after a rigorous screening in line with the pre-established objectives and theoretical underpinnings. Basic coding was done based on the key themes and thereafter constant comparison analysis was performed for data analysis. Findings indicate that the outbreak has caused disruptions throughout the global supply chains and paralysed several businesses, particularly in the manufacturing, transportation, and hospitality sectors. The majority of global manufacturing companies are currently facing serious shortages of supplies from their supply networks. Transportation and third party logistics have been largely distorted since cross-border and domestic freights are hardly working or operational. Therefore, to build resilience companies should consider resorting to local sourcing and/or multiple sourcing, increase supply chain agility and build inventory buffers. Likewise, there is a need for developing partnerships or strategic alliances to share resources towards building resilience jointly but also diversification of business operations where possible to produce the required supplies for fighting against COVID-19.
The experiences of participatory budgeting on the backdrop of the COVID -19 pandemic in Zimbabwe is widely discussed and acknowledged, yet there is paucity of literature of the interface between the two variables. This study therefore seeks to examine how Chitungwiza Municipality has interfaced with Residents and Stakeholders in the participatory budgeting processes during the COVID -19 pandemic. Using informant interviews, non-participant observation, focus group discussions and analytical desk research, the paper argues that COVID -19 pandemic and associated lockdowns has become the most recent threat to the practice of local democracy, particularly to those local government institutions that largely rely more on physical meetings as engaging platforms for participatory budgeting. The study prescribes policy recommendations to improve urban participatory governance within the context of COVID -19 pandemic situation.
Industrialisation is an important engine of growth and ‘catch up’, but also associated with harmful carbon dioxide emissions and hence with climate change. This poses a challenge for sustainable industrial development, particularly for late industrialisers on how to industrialise while also mitigating carbon dioxide emissions. This paper investigates the effect of technology intensity across manufacturing industries on carbon dioxide emissions: are medium- and high-technology manufacturing industries less emissions-intensive than low-technology manufacturing industries in developing countries? The paper analyses this relationship for a panel of 68 developing and emerging economies over the period 1990–2016, by adapting the environmental Kuznets curve and the stochastic effect by regression on population, affluence and technology approaches. Using two alternative measures of emissions and estimating generalised method of moments model, the results show that medium- and high-technology manufacturing industries are associated with lower carbon dioxide emissions than low-technology manufacturing industries. The results also show that these differences vary by the income levels of countries. These findings have important policy implications, suggesting that a shift towards more technology-intensive manufacturing production processes may be a more environmentally sustainable industrialisation path for developing countries.
Purpose
This paper aims to develop a framework for switching a service supplier in a supply network.
Design/methodology/approach
The study builds on existing literature in the field of purchasing and supply management, public procurement (PP) and the Industrial Marketing and Purchasing approach, as well as on an illustrative example case, from the PP context, of a supplier switch in a service delivery process.
Findings
During a switching process, the buyer must simultaneously manage the ending of a relationship with the incumbent supplier and the beginning of a relationship with a new supplier. Collaboration with the focal suppliers to develop a service process with standardized components prevents disruptions in the service processes and reduces the impact of the switch on the wider network.
Research limitations/implications
The conceptualization suggested in this paper needs to be further explored in different empirical contexts to assess its practical adequacy.
Practical implications
Practitioners responsible for service procurement can use the findings to develop collaboration with suppliers, both when it comes to service process development and to the switching process. Furthermore, the authors highlight the importance of ending competencies and the development of an exit plan to conduct a “beautiful exit.”
Originality/value
The paper integrates relationship initiation and ending studies, as well as procurement process models to develop a refined switching process framework. Many PPs rely on short-term relationships due to the legal obligation to frequently invite suppliers to tender, thus understanding the supplier switching process is important both for private and public sector actors.
Purpose
This study aims to examine the influence of market logics on tendering capabilities and small and medium enterprise (SME) involvement in public procurement, the influence of SME governance mechanisms on tendering capabilities and SME involvement in public procurement and the influence of tendering capabilities on SME involvement in public procurement.
Design/methodology/approach
Data was collected from owners/managers of SMEs registered by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority. The SPSS software and CB-SEM software were used to obtain results on the influence of market logics on tendering capabilities and SME involvement in public procurement, the influence of SME governance mechanisms on tendering capabilities and SME involvement in public procurement and the influence of tendering capabilities on SME involvement in public procurement.
Findings
Findings indicated that SME involvement in public procurement is mainly influenced by their governance mechanisms whilst both market logics and governance mechanisms had a positive influence on tendering capabilities of SME firms. Market logics and tendering capabilities had no effect on SME involvement.
Research limitations/implications
The study mainly focussed on SMEs’ involvement in public procurement. The research has implications for decision makers in government and SME firms concerned with enhancing levels of SME involvement in public procurement activities.
Originality/value
Many governments are now focussing on procurement lot sizing so as to increase SME involvement in public procurement. Despite the use of lot sizing, SME involvement in public procurement is still low in many developing countries and also declining in others. Aspects such as market logics and governance mechanisms that may help understand the variations in involvement have not been given significant attention.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment prevents illness, death, and transmission. The 90-90-90 disease control target is only 73% of people living with HIV virally suppressed. For 2010 to 2019, we abstracted HIV funding data for 40 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (70% of global HIV burden and >99% of HIV burden in the region in 2018). During 2010–2019, there was ∼0 to 32 billion (average 0.089–4.3 billion) among 22 countries. Global Fund averaged 1.9 million to $1.1 billion) for 40 countries. Among PLHIV, known HIV status averaged 80% (11% to 94%). ART coverage averaged 64% (9% to 90%). Viral suppression among PLHIV ranged from 8% to 87%. Of the 40 countries, 21 reported under 60% of PLHIV to be on treatment and 13 did not report viral suppression for 2018. Achieving 90-90-90 is feasible in challenging settings if resources are used efficiently. Despite the significant investment in the HIV response, many countries have not reached the 90-90-90 target. Greater attention to efficiency and prioritizing important targets will be required to end AIDS in Africa.
The prevalence of cybercrime in Nigeria continues to increase as the use of the internet is popularized among youths. Observably, the rate of cybercrime in Nigeria which has been a major challenge to national security before the covid-19 pandemic has increased tremendously due to the economic scourge of the virus. It is believed the pandemic increased the incidence of unemployment in the country and exposed more youths to cybercrime activities. The study adopted a quantitative approach and sampled 1047 participants selected from Nairaland. The analysis shows that given the Covid19 crisis, the penchant for cybercrime by Nigerian youths has increased, while the threat to national
Purpose
COVID-19 came as a surprise to the global economy and devastated many sectors worldwide, including the construction sector. Small construction firms are believed to be an engine of growth in many developing countries, including Ghana; thus, their survival cannot be trivialized. This study explored the impact of the COVID-19 on the businesses of the small confirms in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative research approach was adopted for this study. Open-ended interview questions were distributed via email to 45 small construction firms (D3K3 and D4K4) purposefully selected. Thematic contents analysis was used to analyze 30 interview questions received.
Findings
This study has revealed that the COVID-19 has severely affected small construction firms in Ghana. Small construction firms are struggling in their finances; their cash flow/payments for work done are severely affected; they cannot secure contracts and management site efficiently. Their worker's productivity level has dwindled, which has subsequently escalated their project cost and completion time. These effects identified are significantly affecting the survival of these small construction firms.
Research limitations/implications
The study included small construction operating in the Central, Western and Greater Accra regions of Ghana during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the findings may be applicable to construction sites outside these regions.
Practical implications
The implication is the COVID-19 pandemic hugely impacts the small construction firm's business operations. Therefore, they must be mindful of the new norm (COVID-19) and institute strategies to help them overcome the challenges and sustain their businesses.
Originality/value
The study gives insight into the effects of the COVID-19 on the businesses of small construction firms in Ghana and proposes strategies that they must implement to overcome their challenges and sustain their businesses.
Tanzania has not been unique amid the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of economic impact. Since the first case was announced in March 2020, several thousand cases have been confirmed with several hundred deaths (real-time data). There were a number of transmitting factors and effects that exposed Tanzanian national revenue systems to great economic risk if COVID-19 was not well managed. The paper assesses the level of risks on the total government revenue resource systems, government revenue collections from the extractive industries and national expenditure budget performances. This descriptive paper uses results from the HakiRasilimali field research survey, 2020. The paper found high and increasing levels of negative and perceived risks on the government revenue mobilization, collection and utilization due to the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority perceived that the COVID-19 pandemic has high levels of risks and negative effects on the national budget expenditure frameworks in medium- and long-term periods. In the short run it is not easy to cut down and stop major recurrent government expenditures in developing economies. The public expenditure resources allocated to the Ministry of Minerals have been increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic to support the on-going mining reforms in Tanzania. Also, the government was compelled to allocate more financial resources to the health sector in order to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath, as well as support other most affected sectors. The paper recommends that the best way of preventing and combating the COVID-19 risks and related public health threats or possibilities is to protect and give capacity to socio-economic entities, sectors and actors’ abilities in achieving their desired short-, medium- and long-term objectives. To support a robust health and economic policy response, Tanzania has in its potential fiscal space relative to other East African countries, stable political environment, high international reserves, larger domestic market and favorable mineral commodity price movements. Tanzania has enhanced political preparedness and containment capacity through measures to strengthen detection, surveillance and combating the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Most African countries implemented measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 during 2020, such as restrictions on business activity and travel, school closures and stay-at-home lockdowns for several months. These restrictive policies had adverse economic and social consequences that triggered a follow-up wave of expansionist public interventions intended to mitigate these effects. ‘Shock-responsive’ social protection measures included increased benefits to existing beneficiaries (vertical expansion) and registration of new beneficiaries on existing programmes (horizontal expansion). These approaches had the advantages of being quick and administratively simple, but the disadvantage of bypassing people who were made most vulnerable by COVID-19, notably retrenched and informal workers with no access to social insurance. On the other hand, setting up new humanitarian relief or temporary social assistance programmes was slow and susceptible to targeting errors and corruption. COVID-19 also prompted a reassessment of the social contract regarding social protection, with some governments recognising that they need to become better coordinated, more inclusive and rights-based.
Mukhtar and Khogali discuss the many challenges Sudan has faced in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Purpose
With its impact already felt, the construction industry worldwide is gradually reviving following the lifting up of lockdowns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Though some articles have been written regarding its impact on the construction industry in other countries, much is yet to be known concerning the current impact in Ghana. This study aims to examine the impact of COVID-19 on Ghana’s construction industry and assess how construction companies are contributing to the fight against COVID-19.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews with nine key professionals working with D1K1 firms currently working on projects of almost similar sizes within the confines of a reputable tertiary institution in Ghana were conducted over a span of three weeks. Thematic analysis was conducted with Nvivo 12 Pro Application software.
Findings
From the findings, the major impact includes: a decrease in work rate, delays in payments and an increase in the cost of materials arising from border closure. On the measures by construction companies in contributing to the fight against the pandemic, findings indicated: educating the workforce on the virus, the provision of PPEs, regular and effective checks on entry and exit from the site.
Practical implications
The study is significant, as knowledge of the impact posed by the pandemic will provide some idea of the measures to put in place to ensure the gradual to full recovery of the industry.
Originality/value
The originality of this study lies in the fact that it is a pioneering study on the impact of COVID-19 on the Ghanaian construction industry.