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on Africa |
| By: | Hobson,Emma Sameh Wadie; Kilfoil,Craig Patrick; Martin,Andrea |
| Abstract: | There is currently a major focus on digitization within African countries, with the interest of,on the one hand, increasing efficiency and lowering the cost-of-service delivery, and on the other hand, increasingfinancial inclusion for excluded parts of the population. Zambia provides an important case study of digitization ofsocial protection transfers. Whilst Zambia is sparsely populated with remote rural populations often living up to100 km from the nearest town, making beneficiaries hard to reach with digital services, the country has successfullydemonstrated that cash transfers can be digitized for remote rural populations to varying extents, tailored to theirparticular context. This Discussion Note presents challenges faced and solutions found in digitizing cash transferpayments in Zambia, which may be of interest to other countries embarking on similar endeavors. |
| Date: | 2022–09–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:hdnspu:177338&r=afr |
| By: | Gibogwe, Vincent; Nigo, Ayine; Kufuor, Karen |
| Abstract: | The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has continued to experience an unprecedented increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows for the past three decades. Evidence on their quantitative impact on the economy is still quite mixed. We use panel data methods on data from the (SADC) for the 1980–2020 period where our results show that FDI has a positive and statistically significant effect on economic growth; thus agreeing with some work that has been done on the community and in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our study calls for the development of human capital, promotion of market liberlisation, the improvement of financial sector and the need for policy measures that prioritise productive investment that is supportive of local private as well as foreign sector; the latter does provide positive spillovers to other sectors. |
| Keywords: | Foreign Direct Investment, Liberalisation, investment, economic growth |
| JEL: | O55 |
| Date: | 2022–09–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:115029&r=afr |
| By: | Beber, Bernd; Scacco, Alexandra |
| Abstract: | Policy projections and recent research suggest that large numbers of irregular migrants from sub-Saharan Africa will continue to attempt to make their way to Europe over the next few decades. In response, European countries have made and continue to make significant investments in information campaigns designed to discourage irregular African migration. Despite the ubiquity of these campaigns, we know relatively little about potential migrants' prior knowledge and beliefs. To what extent are potential migrants actually misinformed about the migration journey and destination countries? We bring representative survey data collected in Benin City, Nigeria - a center of irregular migration - to bear on this question. Three key insights emerge. First, potential migrants are better informed about destination contexts than is commonly assumed, and if anything appear to underestimate the economic benefits of life in Europe. Second, they are relatively less well informed about specific risks and other features of the irregular migration journey. Third, we find evidence of optimism bias. Respondents are generally hopeful when asked about Nigerian irregular migrants' prospects of being able to reach and stay in Europe, but they are especially optimistic when asked about their own chances. Taken together, these findings suggest that existing migration-related information campaigns, and with them a central component of migration policies in countries across the Global North, rest on shaky foundations. Most problematically, our study suggests that campaigns risk becoming misinformation campaigns, particularly when they suggest to potential migrants that they are overestimating the benefits of living in Europe. |
| Keywords: | Migration,information campaigns,beliefs,Nigeria |
| JEL: | F22 O15 D83 D91 |
| Date: | 2022 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:rwirep:957&r=afr |
| By: | Di Giorgio,Laura; Evans,David; Lindelow,Magnus; Nguyen,Son Nam; Svensson,Jakob; Wane,Waly; Tarneberg,Anna Welander |
| Abstract: | This paper assesses the quality of health care across African countries based on health providers' clinical knowledge, their clinic attendance, and drug availability, with a focus on seven conditions accounting for a large share of child and maternal mortality: malaria, tuberculosis, diarrhea, pneumonia, diabetes, neonatal asphyxia, and postpartum hemorrhage. With nationally representative, cross-sectional data from 10 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, collected using clinical vignettes, unannounced visits, and visual inspections of facilities, this study assesses whether health providers are available and have sufficient knowledge and means to diagnose and treat patients suffering from common conditions amenable to primary health care. The study draws on data from 8,061 primary and secondary care facilities in Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda, and 22,746 health workers. These data were gathered under the Service Delivery Indicators program. Across all conditions and countries, health care providers were able to correctly diagnose 64 percent of the clinical vignette cases, and in 45 percent of the cases, the treatment plan was aligned with the correct diagnosis. For diarrhea and pneumonia, two common causes of under-five deaths, 27 percent of the providers correctly diagnosed and prescribed the appropriate treatment for both conditions. On average, 70 percent of health workers were present in the facilities to provide care during facility hours when those workers were scheduled to be on duty. Taken together, the estimated likelihood that a facility has at least one staff present with competency and the key inputs required to provide child, neonatal, and maternity care that meets minimum quality standards is 14 percent. Poor clinical knowledge is a greater constraint in care readiness than drug availability or health workers' absenteeism in the 10 countries. However, the paper documents substantial heterogeneity across countries. |
| Keywords: | Health Care Services Industry,Health Service Management and Delivery,Malaria,Leprosy,Communicable Diseases,Cholera,Tuberculosis,Pharmaceuticals Industry,Pharmaceuticals&Pharmacoeconomics |
| Date: | 2020–10–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:9440&r=afr |
| By: | Abreha,Kaleb Girma; Lartey,Emmanuel Kwasi Koranteng; Mengistae,Taye Alemu; Owusu,Solomon; Zeufack,Albert G. |
| Abstract: | Africa's linkages in manufacturing global value chains are reasonably high compared with other developing regions. Still, linkage rates have declined steeply in recent years in non-resource rich countries in the region although they have increased sharply in countries that are rich in natural resources. Moreover, the level and dynamics of linkages to manufacturing global value chains vary significantly between countries within each group of natural resource endowments. The current levels, activity structure, and geographic configuration of linkage rates evolved over the past 20 years. In addition, these linkages cut across broad activity categories, including manufacturing textiles and apparel, metal products, transport equipment, and electrical goods. This paper analyzes the sources of the variation in linkage rates in the framework of an estimated gravity and linear probability model. It is shown that the domestic actors in these linkages are typically relatively large establishments (100 or more employees) and have been in operation for five years or longer. These manufacturers are also more likely to have foreign equity holders or foreign technology licenses. These findings should be seen in the light of policies that promote industrialization by facilitating integration into manufacturing global value chains at links that maximize job and productivity gains. |
| Keywords: | Common Carriers Industry,Food&Beverage Industry,Business Cycles and Stabilization Policies,Pulp&Paper Industry,Plastics&Rubber Industry,Construction Industry,General Manufacturing,Textiles, Apparel&Leather Industry,International Trade and Trade Rules,Industrial and Consumer Services and Products,Transport and Trade Logistics,Transport Services |
| Date: | 2020–10–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:9439&r=afr |