Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Newman Amaning Author-X-Name-First: Newman Author-X-Name-Last: Amaning Author-Name: Reindolph Anim Osei Author-X-Name-First: Reindolph Anim Author-X-Name-Last: Osei Author-Name: Robertson Amoah Author-X-Name-First: Robertson Author-X-Name-Last: Amoah Author-Name: Peter Kwarteng Author-X-Name-First: Peter Author-X-Name-Last: Kwarteng Title: Gearing up for sustainability and climate change disclosures in Ghana: a qualitative study Abstract: Environmental degradation through greenhouse gas emission, irregular mining practices, sand winning, indiscriminate timber logging, bush-fire, etc. has reached alarming rate in Sub-Saharan Africa. Some studies blame the accounting profession for these threats. The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), in their quest to resolve the situation, through the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), have issued International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on sustainability and climate change disclosures. In this study, we assess how accountants in Ghana are geared up for the implementation of these standards using a qualitative study approach. The results of the study show that accountants in Ghana are generally aware of sustainability accounting. Nevertheless, most of them lack the requisite knowledge of the thematic areas of the IFRS sustainability disclosure and reporting standards issued by IFAC's ISSB to facilitate their implementation. The implications of the results are discussed. This study, thus, makes a significant contribution to the extant literature on sustainability reporting by soliciting the opinion of accountants in Ghana. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 11-40 Issue: 1 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: gearing up; implementation; IFRS sustainability disclosure standards; accountants; Ghana; qualitative study. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=143013 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:1:p:11-40 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Lwungili Justin Bationo Author-X-Name-First: Lwungili Justin Author-X-Name-Last: Bationo Author-Name: Omer Combary Author-X-Name-First: Omer Author-X-Name-Last: Combary Author-Name: Youssoufou Hamadou Daouda Author-X-Name-First: Youssoufou Hamadou Author-X-Name-Last: Daouda Title: Effect of education on adoption and continued use of improved maize seeds in Burkina Faso Abstract: This paper analyses the effect of education on the adoption and continued use of improved seeds in maize production. A bivariate probit model with sample selection was used on four years' panel data with 529 farmers per year-making a total of 2,116 observations. The results show that levels of primary and secondary education, agricultural supervision and adult literacy encourage the adoption of improved seeds. Secondary education, adult literacy and social capital were found to improve the continued use of improved seeds. The results suggest the need to strengthen extension services and literacy for adults working in agriculture. This could involve increasing the number of literacy centres as well as increasing the number of agricultural technical agents in rural areas. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 72-90 Issue: 1 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: adoption; Burkina Faso; education; extension services; improved seeds; continued use; bivariate probit model. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=143019 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:1:p:72-90 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mohammed Elyaagoubi Author-X-Name-First: Mohammed Author-X-Name-Last: Elyaagoubi Title: Urban agriculture between territorial anchoring and challenges of urbanisation: case of Guersif City (Eastern Morocco) Abstract: Faced with the rise of a neoliberal economy, urban agriculture is being put into contention with other, more profitable activities. Preserving urban agriculture in Guersif represents a real challenge for the city's various stakeholders. This article attempts to account for the decline in agricultural land in the town of Guersif, which is subject to galloping urbanisation, especially following the promotion of the town to the status of provincial capital following Morocco's administrative division in 2009. Based on sociological surveys of urban farmers, consumers, and local decision makers in Guersif, and assisted by technical data from the 1954 topographical map and sentinel-2 satellite images, this study identifies and quantifies the rate of loss of agricultural land between 1954 and 2021. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 1-10 Issue: 1 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: urban agriculture; territorial anchoring; Guersif; urbanisation; surveys. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=143027 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:1:p:1-10 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Khairun Nadiyah Author-X-Name-First: Khairun Author-X-Name-Last: Nadiyah Author-Name: Maria Isfus Senjawati Author-X-Name-First: Maria Isfus Author-X-Name-Last: Senjawati Author-Name: Lisa Nesti Author-X-Name-First: Lisa Author-X-Name-Last: Nesti Title: Comparative study of doing business in Kenya and Vietnam Abstract: The main objective of this research is to propose an analytical study for companies in expanding business to achieve beneficial outcome by comparing between two emerging countries, Kenya and Vietnam, in respect of their distinctive cultural norm and value system as well as the cultural differences and others supported data analysis. The method used is qualitative using secondary data from reputable sources such as reputable journals and websites, private institutions, and public institutions. The analysis is included cultural norms and value systems (language, social structure, religion, political philosophy, economic philosophy, education), cultural differences by adopting Hofstede study (power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, long term orientation and indulgence), geopolitical comparison and doing business criteria (working aged, GDP, GNI, FDI, inflation, corruption level and education). The result reveals that Vietnam is a better preferred destination for company to expand its business. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 91-110 Issue: 1 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: expand; doing business; Kenya; Vietnam; Hofstede; cultural; norm; value system; comparative study. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=143039 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:1:p:91-110 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Abel Mawuko Agoba Author-X-Name-First: Abel Mawuko Author-X-Name-Last: Agoba Author-Name: Odunayo Magret Olarewaju Author-X-Name-First: Odunayo Magret Author-X-Name-Last: Olarewaju Title: Foreign aid towards accelerated economic growth in Africa: the role of independent central banks, political institutions and monetary integration Abstract: We explore the impact of various dimensions of foreign aid and central bank independence (CBI) on economic growth in Africa. The aim is to highlight which types of aid and central bank reforms will be most beneficial for Africa. The study also examines the impact of monetary integration on aid and CBI's effectiveness. We achieve these using two stage GMM and error correction two stage least squares estimators with data spanning 1970-2017. We find that, aside economic, infrastructure and services aid, other forms of aid had a direct negative impact on economic growth. Goal, personal, instrument and financial independence did not have any significant impact on economic growth. CBI does not enhance the impact of foreign aid on economic growth except in the presence of high levels of political institutional quality. Financial independence had the strongest impact on enhancing aid effectiveness. Foreign aid has a stronger impact in fixed exchange regimes. CBI impacts economic growth more in the non-CFA Zone, reflecting the role of flexible exchange regimes in improving CBI effectiveness. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 41-71 Issue: 1 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: foreign aid effectiveness; central bank independence; CBI; economic growth; monetary integration; institutions; developing countries; Africa. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=143057 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:1:p:41-71 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Cheikh Ahmed T. Sall Author-X-Name-First: Cheikh Ahmed T. Author-X-Name-Last: Sall Title: Private investment in Guinea-Bissau: main determinants and key reforms Abstract: There is a dearth of knowledge on the determinants of private investments in Guinea-Bissau. This paper aims to fill this gap, using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach, in order to identify short-term and long-term determinants. Our results reveal an increasing importance of international drivers, in particular remittances and foreign direct investment. Demand, proxied by real GDP, is significant only in the short term and, socio-political instability negatively affects private investment. These results confirm the need to accelerate reforms aimed at improving the business environment and promoting the diversification of the financial sector. Indeed, domestic credit to the private sector generally stimulates private investment, but its impact does not appear to be significant in Guinea-Bissau according to our estimation results. Therefore, it may be useful to put in place more suitable financing structures, in particular a viable micro-credit infrastructure, and sectoral banks for agriculture, housing and investment. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 111-131 Issue: 2 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: private investment determinants; low-income country; model ARDL; break tests; Guinea-Bissau. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=145452 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:2:p:111-131 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jacqueline Agesa Author-X-Name-First: Jacqueline Author-X-Name-Last: Agesa Author-Name: Richard U. Agesa Author-X-Name-First: Richard U. Author-X-Name-Last: Agesa Title: Household savings in informal social groups in Kenya: does accountability matter? Abstract: Social groups play a vital role in providing informal financial services in sub-Saharan Africa. This study offers the first examination of the impact of social group accountability on savings contributions to informal market social groups (<i>Chamas</i>) in Kenya. Specifically, we utilise a national dataset to examine the impact of accountability on household contributions to Kenyan <i>Chamas</i>. We find evidence that low-cost accountability initiatives such as securing <i>Chama</i> funds in a money lock box, or a bank account, and the separation of the <i>Chama</i> chair and treasurer positions increase <i>Chama</i> contributions. These findings provide insight into how low-cost accountability initiatives enhance contributions in informal financial markets. By contrast, registering a <i>Chama</i> with the Kenya government significantly reduces <i>Chama</i> contributions. Moreover, <i>Chama</i> registration is accompanied by non-trivial costs and members of registered <i>Chamas</i> are required to pay the appropriate tax liability on their portion of <i>Chama</i> generated income. Such findings serve as a cautionary tale that cost inducing accountability initiatives may inadvertently suppress households' willingness to contribute to informal social groups, possibly stifling households' propensity to save. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 132-146 Issue: 2 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: Chamas; informal social groups; informal financial markets; rotating savings and credit organisations; ROSCAs; accumulated savings and credit associations; ASCAs; Kenya; Africa. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=145454 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:2:p:132-146 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Nohoua Traore Author-X-Name-First: Nohoua Author-X-Name-Last: Traore Title: Effect of taxation on the productivity of firms in Ivory Coast Abstract: This paper analyses the effects of taxation on the firm productivity using a Probit model with instrumental variables based on data collected from 560 firms in Ivory Coast. Results indicate that the taxation and the performance of the firm are not antinomic objectives contrary to neo-liberal thinking. On the contrary, there is a positive correlation between these objectives. Informal enterprises which partially formalise themselves also improve their labour productivity of 40.2%, and this increase in productivity is greater (54%) when the enterprise is fully taxed. Moreover, analyses show a greater positive effect of taxation on the labour productivity by an average of 48.9% when the manager is a man rather than a woman (41.7%). Thus, the analysis is unequivocal about the idea that tax levies would reduce the productivity efforts of enterprises in the same way as any cost of legality. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 170-189 Issue: 2 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: effect; taxation; firm; productivity; Ivory Coast. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=145465 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:2:p:170-189 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Klaus S. Friesenbichler Author-X-Name-First: Klaus S. Author-X-Name-Last: Friesenbichler Author-Name: Ina Meyer Author-X-Name-First: Ina Author-X-Name-Last: Meyer Title: Who is aware of circularity? Firm-level survey evidence from Uganda Abstract: This paper presents an analysis of the distribution of knowledge about the circular economy as a business concept. Knowledge is a prerequisite for the diffusion of innovation and, consequently, the incorporation of a higher degree of circularity into economic processes. The study examines the economic factors influencing the distribution of knowledge across firms. Using novel survey data from Ugandan enterprises, we present empirical evidence of circularity in a developing country context. In line with the resource-based view of the firm, the findings indicate that larger and more economically productive firms, as well as firms with proactive business strategies, are more likely to be informed about circularity. Exposure to environmental barriers, such as adverse climate change impacts or high energy intensity, does not affect awareness. Policy makers should improve environmental regulation, inform entrepreneurs about opportunities in circular business models, and facilitate the establishment of a waste sector. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 190-210 Issue: 2 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: circular economy; awareness; innovation; diffusion; Uganda; firm; survey; resource-based view. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=145467 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:2:p:190-210 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Abdullahi Baba Mohammed Author-X-Name-First: Abdullahi Baba Author-X-Name-Last: Mohammed Title: Trade-off between food security, climate change and rice productivity in Nigeria: evidence from linear and nonlinear ARDL Abstract: Plagued with existing low productivity, the rice sector in Nigeria fails to meet up with rising demand. Further worsened by climate change, food security continues to deteriorate. Therefore, this study considered the complex and dynamic relationship to assess the asymmetric and non-asymmetric impact of climate change (CO<SUB align="right"><SMALL>2</SMALL></SUB> emission), food insecurity, agricultural promotion policy (DumAPP), and population growth on rice productivity (RP). Using data spanning from 1961 to 2018, the linear and nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag models (ARDL and NARDL) were employed for the analysis. The ARDL model indicates a negative and significant long run impact of the food insecurity, CO<SUB align="right"><SMALL>2</SMALL></SUB> and DumAPP, while population had a positive impact. Alternatively, the NARDL affirms the existence of long run asymmetric relationship between depth of hunger, DumAPP and population. The study recommends sectoral policies that take into account climate smart agriculture, and the non- linearity of the relationship between examined factors and RP. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 147-169 Issue: 2 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: NARDL; climate change; policies; rice productivity; food insecurity; Nigeria. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=145485 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:2:p:147-169 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Isaiah Sikayena Author-X-Name-First: Isaiah Author-X-Name-Last: Sikayena Author-Name: Kwadwo Ankomah Author-X-Name-First: Kwadwo Author-X-Name-Last: Ankomah Author-Name: Georgina Katakity Author-X-Name-First: Georgina Author-X-Name-Last: Katakity Author-Name: Frank Gyimah Sackey Author-X-Name-First: Frank Gyimah Author-X-Name-Last: Sackey Title: Public spending efficiency on human capital and income inequality in selected African countries Abstract: This study examines the relationship between the efficiency of public spending on human capital, specifically education and health and income inequality in Selected African Countries, using system GMM with robust standard errors over the period 2006-2017. The findings reveal that efficient public spending on health reduces income inequality, while efficient spending on education initially increases inequality, forming an 'n-shaped' relationship. However, after a certain threshold, further improvements in education spending efficiency help reduce inequality. Based on these findings, the study recommends that African governments, along with ministries of health and education, prioritise maintaining high efficiency in public spending to effectively address income inequality and foster equitable development across the continent. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 211-230 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: income inequality; efficiency of public spending; human capital; health; education. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=149243 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:3:p:211-230 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Defferew Kebebe Tessema Author-X-Name-First: Defferew Kebebe Author-X-Name-Last: Tessema Title: Micro and small enterprises and their role in local economic development: the case of Adama City, Ethiopia Abstract: This study examines the role of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in local economic development (LED) in Adama City, focusing on employment creation, capital mobilisation, poverty reduction, and local government revenue generation. Based on data from 89 MSEs in metal, woodwork, and agro-processing sectors, the findings show that MSEs significantly contribute to job creation, capital growth, and improved living standard of owners and employees. However, gaps were observed in generating sufficient revenue for the city government. The study also attests that the potential contribution of the sectors to LED was challenged mainly due to the institutional capacity constraints, lack of adequate work experience, insufficient working capital, lack of working premises, and poor management and technical skills of owners and employees. Thus, the study highlights the need for all-rounded efforts (both from the sector themselves and concerned stakeholders including city government) to maximise the potential contribution of the sector towards LED. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 231-262 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: micro and small enterprises; MSEs; local economic development; LED; Adama City; Ethiopia. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=149249 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:3:p:231-262 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Daniel Abayaakadina Atuilik Author-X-Name-First: Daniel Abayaakadina Author-X-Name-Last: Atuilik Title: How has government interventions affected income inequality and poverty in Ghana? Abstract: Poverty and income inequality have the capacity to undermine social welfare initiatives and undermine earlier growth. Therefore, policy changes are required to lessen or eliminate these issues. Moreso, Ghana has implemented series of interventions without any empirical examination. The study therefore aims to examine how the government interventions affect income inequality and poverty in Ghana. Using both primary and secondary annual data (ranging from 1987 to 2019), the study applies the logistic regressions and machine learning approach. The main findings from the survey results showed that except for education policies, policies such as agricultural, transport, health and social protection can have either positive or negative impact on poverty depending on the kind of policy and implementation. The main findings from the machine learning approach (secondary data) indicate that agricultural, educational and health policies widen the income inequality whilst transport and social protection policies reduces the income inequality gap in Ghana. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 307-333 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: income inequality; poverty; government interventions; machine learning; Ghana. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=149252 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:3:p:307-333 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Arcade Ndoricimpa Author-X-Name-First: Arcade Author-X-Name-Last: Ndoricimpa Author-Name: Michel Armel Ndayikeza Author-X-Name-First: Michel Armel Author-X-Name-Last: Ndayikeza Author-Name: Esther Leah Achandi Author-X-Name-First: Esther Leah Author-X-Name-Last: Achandi Author-Name: Jean Claude Nyamweru Author-X-Name-First: Jean Claude Author-X-Name-Last: Nyamweru Author-Name: Charles Kabwigiri Author-X-Name-First: Charles Author-X-Name-Last: Kabwigiri Title: Factors influencing women's participation in savings groups in the peri-urban area of Gatumba in Burundi Abstract: Savings groups are a pathway to women's financial inclusion, which is still very low in Burundi. Savings groups enhance women's empowerment through enabling their participation in income-generating and other entrepreneurial activities. This study examines the factors affecting women's participation in savings groups in the peri-urban area of Gatumba in Burundi. The study uses survey collected data on 441 women. A binary logit model for women's participation in savings and credit groups is specified. The results indicate that individual and community characteristics such as age, education, occupation, distance to the nearest bank, presence of a loan shark, and presence of a cooperative, are the main determinants of women's participation in savings groups. The findings from this study may help policymakers to promote women's participation in savings groups in Burundi. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 284-306 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: savings groups; women; Gatumba; Burundi. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=149253 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:3:p:284-306 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Windinkonté Séogo Author-X-Name-First: Windinkonté Author-X-Name-Last: Séogo Author-Name: Windbeneti Arnaud Zahonogo Author-X-Name-First: Windbeneti Arnaud Author-X-Name-Last: Zahonogo Title: The impact of the fertiliser subsidy program on maize yield in rural Burkina Faso: do agro-ecological zones matter? Abstract: There is substantial empirical evidence that input subsidy programs have a significant impact on agricultural productivity in Africa. However, the association between agro-ecological conditions and the magnitude of the impact of these public interventions remains unknown. This study takes into account differences in agro-ecological conditions to assess the impact of the fertiliser subsidy program on maize yield in Burkina Faso. By relying on an endogenous switching regression and using a nationally representative household data collected by the ministry of agriculture in 2012, we find that the fertiliser subsidy increases maize yield by about 222.82 kg/ha. Furthermore, the impact of the program is found to be largely higher in the Sudanian zone (267.88 kg/ha) than in the Sudano-Sahelian zone (151.00 kg/ha). To accelerate agricultural growth for poverty reduction in rural Burkina Faso, our findings suggest policy makers to adjust this policy regarding agro-ecological zones for more effectiveness. Journal: African J. of Economic and Sustainable Development Pages: 263-283 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2025 Keywords: fertiliser subsidy program; maize productivity; agro-ecological zones; Burkina Faso. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=149256 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ajesde:v:10:y:2025:i:3:p:263-283