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The authors’ contributions in this book suggest that the success of New Public Management (NPM) in Africa is not comprehensive, and the expected outcomes are far from being attained. A common thread of narrative that cuts across all the chapters is that NPM does not conform to the internal and external realities of the African environment, and the implication is that public sector management in Africa requires a new management approach. The success of public sector institutions is crucial to achieving the socio-economic goals of African nations, and there is a need for the adoption and application of management practices that fit and respond to the continent’s context-specific problems. This chapter presents the contextual issues in the management of public sector institutions in Africa identified in this book. An attempt is also made to chart a way forward for the performance of public sector institutions in Africa based on the issues identified.

The challenges associated with the Weberian model of Public Administration (PA) led to the development of New Public Management (NPM), believed to offer a better and more direct approach to public sector management that will eradicate corruption, inefficiency, and ineffectiveness—which had characterised PA. Thus, the failure of the practices of PA encouraged countries across the globe to adopt the principles of NPM. African countries were not left out of this movement, and decades have passed since countries in Africa adopted the principles of the NPM; it is crucial that the success and challenges of NPM in Africa are reassessed and evaluated. This chapter introduces the concept of NPM and assesses the current issues on the subject in Africa.

Purpose This study examines consumer online purchase behaviour in the Nigerian fashion industry. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total useable sample size of 241 respondents contacted through on-site visitation. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to test the influence of customer value on online purchase behaviour in the fashion industry. Findings Consumer values are categorised into terminal (happiness, love and satisfaction) and instrumental (time-saving, price-saving discount, service convenience and merchandise assortment) values. The findings show that both values have significant influence on online consumer purchase behaviour, while fashion consciousness moderates the relationship between consumer values and online purchase behaviour. Practical implications Online fashion retailers should focus on increasing the terminal and instrumental values of their products and making available goods that meet the needs of different generational cohorts in society. Originality/value Studies have examined various factors, for example, consumer values that are determinants of consumer online purchase in the fashion industry; however, there has been limited focus on the nature of fashion and online purchasing in emerging markets, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Environmental concerns, such as global warming and pollution, have heightened the need for sustainable practices. Businesses are required by governments and international organisations to adopt not only practices that safeguard the environment, but also those that meet the demand of the consumers. In Africa’s emerging economies, there has been an increase in environmental problems arising from industrialisation; these have led to health and economic challenges. Green marketing, which involves the marketing of environmental-safe products, is a crucial aspect of sustainable business practices, in the twenty-first century. Through the generational cohort theory, we propose that the adoption of green marketing practices will result in the needed social, economic and environmental changes in attitude, towards sustainable development. We conclude that the success of green marketing in Africa’s emerging economies depends on how businesses in these economies harness the potential of the generation green, a cohort of environmentally conscious people.

The increased industrialisation in emerging markets has its associated consequences. One of such consequences is environmental pollution and degradation because of unsustainable business activities. To curb environmental pollution and encourage practices that promote environmental sustainability, organisations must adopt innovations, such as green marketing. Green marketing is the application of sustainability initiatives to marketing activities, for organisational performance and environmental safety. Achieving green-marketing goals requires a focus on people and people management functions, which has received less attention in the marketing literature. In this chapter, we introduce the concept of green marketing and the need to focus on people as a crucial resource for successful green marketing practices in emerging markets.

The relevant question, “Can we be green and profitable simultaneously?” will continue to arise in the minds of entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners whenever the discussion of green marketing is raised. Ensuring that the business goals of profit maximisation, the health of the populace, and the preservation of environmental resources for future generations are achieved will require an understanding of green marketing practices in organisations and amongst stakeholders. This chapter identifies the drivers of green marketing as a sustainable practice in organisations and the implications for theory and policy formulation in emerging markets. Organisations in emerging markets must integrate green initiative into their strategic business positioning if they desire to achieve operational success in green marketing practices. It is pertinent to note that attaining green marketing goals demands a strategic and operational commitment from organisations in emerging markets.

Growing concerns on environmental issues have led to several calls for sustainability practices. Organisations are expected to adopt business-related sustainability practices that meet consumer needs without damaging the environment; one such demand is the call to practice green marketing. The quest for a sustainable environment in emerging markets requires strategic and efficient actions; with practices, such as green marketing, businesses can reduce the hazards they create on the environment. Through a review of related literature, this chapter examines green-marketing planning in an emerging market context. The authors propose that with appropriate investments in production processes and people, green marketing goals and objectives can be achieved for a sustainable economy.

In recent years, the concept of green marketing has gained prominence due to the increasing need for environmentally conscious practices in organisations. In emerging markets, the increase in industrial activities puts countries in unsustainable conditions, necessitating organisations and other stakeholders to put in place measures to address environmental concerns. However, adopting green practices to promote social and economic sustainability requires an understanding of the concept of green marketing, the benefits and importance of going green, the critical components of green marketing, and how the practice can be conceived and effectively implemented in emerging economies. This chapter introduces green marketing and emphasises its strategic and operational imperatives to organisations in emerging economies. Organisations must go beyond adopting green marketing practices to become advocates of green practices in emerging markets.

Human rights constitute an inherent attribute of every human being regardless of social, economic, biological and geographical differences. It is expected that no person in any region should experience anything contrary to the prescription of nature and law. Sadly, that is not the reality in the world. The realities of African women paint an even worse picture. This chapter reviewed the realities of African women regarding human rights, their challenges and the implications of gender inequality for Africa. Most African women are still denied basic rights, and they experience discrimination in every sphere of life. The socio-cultural and political structure of the African countries ensures this is a continuing experience even after world leaders have initiated policies to reduce gender inequalities. Appropriate recommendations are made in this chapter to change the status quo.