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In this paper, we analyse the effect of fiscal policy volatility on capital flight. Based on a sample of 27 African countries over the period 1970–2018 and using System generalised method (GMM) of moments, we show that fiscal policy volatility increases capital flight. Specif‐ically, our baseline results indicate that an increase in fiscal policy volatility by 1% increases capital flight by 1.4%. In other words, an increase in fiscal policy volatility by 100% increases capital flight by 140% or by 40% above the increase in the cause, that is, fiscal policy volatility. These results are robust to additional control variables, alternative methods, samples, and specifications, and may vary with the initial level of capital flight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an analysis and comparison of the health security practices (HSP) of 47 African countries based on 2019 and 2021 data. Its objective is to assess, rank, and cluster the countries based on their HSP performance and progress over this period. A comprehensive Entropy-TOPSIS-K-means-based evaluation system was constructed for this purpose. Initially, the entropy method was utilised to analyze and compare investment priorities. Subsequently, the Entropy-TOPSIS was used to evaluate and compare the level of health security (HS) performance and the degree of improvements made by countries over the study period. Finally, the K-means cluster analysis method was applied to classify countries based on their comprehensive evaluation scores. Among the six identified criteria, prevention, detection, reporting, and health system practices were deemed crucial for HS decision-making in both cases. The study revealed significant differences in HSP levels and changes in countries' improvement levels between their practices in 2019 and 2021. The study classifies the security levels of African countries into five clusters and provides a detailed analysis, implications, and recommendations to aid decision-makers in enhancing HS outcomes. Its results offer empirical evidence to support planning, resource allocation, and reallocation for strengthening HSP in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the causes and consequences of the post-Soviet breakdown of economic ties between Russia and Africa. The post-Soviet period (since 1991) has led to a breakdown of economic ties between them. It means that trade, investment, and other forms of economic cooperation between the two sides have been significantly reduced or stopped completely. After the collapse of the Soviet Union at the initiative of Mikhail Gorbachev, Africa really became a “non-subject” for diplomats and military personnel stationed in the region, and some economic actors witnessed Moscow’s first initiatives. It was only in early 2018, on the occasion of the arrival of the first shipments of Russian weapons and dozens of “advisers” from Moscow in Bangui, that the French media learned of Russia’s “great comeback” in Africa. This Central African prism powerfully shaped perceptions in Paris: Russian involvement would be a new phenomenon echoing the confrontation between East and West, and Central Africa would be a crucial link in a grand strategy on a continental scale, where Russia would be on its way to establishing itself as a major player. The severing of economic ties between Russia and Africa has negative consequences for both regions, including reduced trade, investment, and political influence, and Russia’s lack of resources and changing political priorities since the collapse of the Soviet Union are the main reasons for it.

The article analyzes current state of international economic relations among Russia and African countries and reveals their prospects. To date, these relations can be characterized as actively developing, but still relatively insufficiently intensive. Progress has been made in recent years, when Russia has increased its presence on the continent through various forms of economic cooperation. One important area of cooperation is trade. In 2023, trade turnover between Russia and African countries amounted to about 20 billion USD, which is a significant increase compared to previous years. However, compared to other global players such as China, European Union countries or the United States of America, economic interaction level among Russia and African countries is still not high enough. One of the main reasons for this is that Russian economic cooperation with Africa is dominated by the energy sector, especially supplies and infrastructure projects in the oil and gas industry. Meanwhile, other sectors such as agriculture, production of goods and services, and infrastructure investments remain less developed. One of the obstacles to deepening economic relations is also the lack of information and education about the opportunities for cooperation between Russia and Africa. There are also difficulties in securing financing for projects, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.

This study investigates the impact of innovation on trade participation between selected African countries and key global economic regions. The study used panel data on 25 African countries from 1996 to 2021. Non-stationary heterogeneous panel model of pooled mean group, mean group, and dynamic fixed effect estimators. The results reveal the significance of trademarks, patents, industrial design, and efficient logistics in enhancing trade competitiveness and market presence for African nations. The results suggest that fostering innovation ecosystems, investing in design capabilities, and strengthening intellectual property protection are essential for sustained trade growth. Policy recommendations suggested the need for investment in research and development, promotion of industrial design capabilities, and balanced trade policies to stimulate economic growth. Moreover, incentivizing SME participation in trade activities and prioritizing regional economic integration are crucial steps towards fostering sustainable trade relations. By implementing these recommendations, African countries can harness innovation to propel their economies into the global market, fostering trade relations that are mutually beneficial and sustainable.

The right to housing is a fundamental human right, but the paucity of context-specific legislation and policies on the right to housing makes housing inaccessible to a significant number of people residing in African cities. This review article explores the challenges of inclusivity and equity in the provision of housing within the framework of the pan-African city to provide legal frameworks for policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders committed to realising the right to housing and the vision of the pan-African city. Specifically, it focuses on four diverse African nations – South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, and Nigeria – for insights into the multifaceted nature of housing rights. The article begins with a review of the key concepts (housing, pan-African city, equity, inclusivity, policy planning), followed by a review of the challenges of inclusivity and equity in each of the selected countries within the context of the right to housing and the pan-African city. The article then reviews the selected countries’ efforts to address the challenges within the framework of relevant international human rights instruments and the various countries’ constitutional, legislative, and policy frameworks. It is concluded that the right to housing in the pan-African city remains an ambitious goal, with numerous challenges in achieving inclusivity and equity. It is recommended that African countries pay more attention to the right to housing within the pan-African city, emphasising the need for collaborative efforts to ensure access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing. This can be done through information and knowledge sharing, joint infrastructure development, cross-border collaborations, technology transfer, and regional financing mechanisms, among others.

Taking 35 African countries as examples, based on GDELT and using sentiment analysis, spatial analysis, visualization and dynamic panel econometric model, this paper con‐ structs global attention and reputation indicators in African countries and explain foreign direct investment behavior (FDI). It is found that, in terms of time trends, there are four types of FDI curves in African countries,including high investment, rising investment, falling investment and low investment. Spatially, there are marked regional differences of FDI in Africa. The econometric model shows that FDI in African regions is influenced by global attention and reputation. Besides, the size of the influence effect of global attention is about 11. 6% of the economic development level and equivalent to the influence effect of the policy superiority. The effect size of global reputation on FDI is about 7. 54% of economic factors and about half of that of policy fac‐ tors. This paper is a macro-quantitative analysis based on big data to expand and extend the theory of FDI from the perspective of socio-cultural communication, which is a useful combination of big data and computational social science methods with traditional quantitative research methods. This paper also provides data and theoretical support for enhancing national image development strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to fill the existing literature gap by exploring tourism's effect on women's employment in 42 African countries while considering advanced econometric modelling. This study applies the panel GLS model, the two-step system GMM, and quantile regression (QR) to evaluate the data from 1996 to 2020. There is evidence to suggest that tourism has a substantial impact on women's employment. Some models are also run to examine how tourism affects women's work in agriculture, industry, and the service sector. Although tourism increases overall female labour force participation, it has a negative coefficient for explaining female labour force participation in agriculture. In fact, tourism has a substantial positive effect on the number of working women in both the service and manufacturing sectors. This research adds to the literature by highlighting the role that tourism plays in facilitating the transition of women from the agricultural workforce to those in the industrial and service sectors. The findings of this study have valuable contributions for future research since they show the importance of women's employment opportunities in agriculture, industry, and service sectors and inform policy discussions on the impact of the tourism industry on women's employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural resources are vital resources given by nature and are responsible for promoting a nation's economic development. However, with the existence of two opposing theories, it is essential to provide state‐of‐the‐art research that ascertains the association between natural resources and economic growth. The Rostow hypothesis presents the importance of natural resources in promoting economic growth, while the resources curse hypothesis alludes that natural resources, in the developing countries, reduce economic growth. The present research uses the contemporary Methods of Moments Quantile Regression method to explore on this relationship in the fifteen natural resources‐rich African countries. The data used are annual data for the period 1990 to 2021. The major results presented in this research show that natural resources rent significantly promotes economic growth in this region, supporting the postulations of Rostow's hypothesis. Renewable energy is also observed to play a significant role in raising economic growth of this region. However, labor force participation rate is determined to reduce economic growth and this can be explained by high levels of unemployment in this region. Capital provides a positive but insignificant effect on economic growth of the natural resources‐rich African countries. The study results also show that economic growth, capital, trade openness, and labor force enhance natural resources rent. The study calls for the improvement in the use of renewable energy and natural resources in order to attain sustainable economic development in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Africa, home to the world's second-largest population of approximately 1.3 billion, grapples with significant challenges in meeting its medical needs, particularly in accessing quality healthcare services and products. The continent faces a continuous onslaught of emerging infectious diseases, exacerbating the strain on its already fragile public health infrastructure. The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the urgency to build local vaccine production capacity and strengthen the health infrastructure in general. The risks associated with a heavy reliance on imported vaccines were exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating the need to nurture and strengthen the local manufacturing of vaccines and therapeutic biologics. Various initiatives addressing training, manufacturing, and regulatory affairs are underway, and these require increasing dedicated and purposeful financial investment. Building vaccine manufacturing capacity requires substantial investment in training and infrastructure. This manuscript examines the current state of education in vaccinology and related sciences in Africa. It also provides an overview of the continent's efforts to address educational needs in vaccine development and manufacturing. Additionally, it evaluates the initiatives aimed at strengthening vaccine education and literacy, highlighting successful approaches and ongoing challenges. By assessing the progress made and identifying the remaining obstacles, this review offers insights into how Africa can enhance its vaccine manufacturing capacity to respond to vaccine-preventable disease challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalisation has been transforming industries around the world and impacting economies. The pace of digital transformation across countries has been asymmetric. This study examines digitalisation's impact on African countries' economic growth. Digitalisation is expected to improve operational efficiency, productivity, better communications, and enhanced consumer experience, catalysing economic growth for African countries. For our research objectives, we employ data from forty African countries for the period of 2000-2020. Our results indicate that investments in digitalisation are expected to contribute to economic growth in African countries. Key proposals are provided in the paper's conclusion to promote Africa's sustainable economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the association between early sexual debut and HIV infection among adolescents and young adults. Analyzing data from nationally representative Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA) surveys in 11 African countries, the research employed a multivariate logistic regression model to assess the relationship between the early sexual debut and new HIV infections in the age group of 10–24 years. The results revealed a significant and robust association, indicating that young individuals who experienced early sexual debut were approximately 2.65 times more likely to contract HIV than those who did not, even after accounting for other variables. These findings align with prior research suggesting that early initiation of sexual activity may increase vulnerability to HIV infection due to factors such as biological susceptibility and risky behaviors like low condom use and multiple sexual partners. The implications of these findings for HIV prevention strategies are substantial, suggesting that interventions aimed at delaying sexual debut could be an effective component in reducing HIV risk for this population. Targeted sex education programs that address the risks of early sexual debut may play a pivotal role in these prevention efforts. By employing a comprehensive approach, there is a possibility to advance efforts towards ending AIDS by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This paper aims to highlight the vital importance of investing in advanced practice nursing (APN) for enhancing emergency care throughout Africa. Background: APN's role is increasingly recognized as pivotal in optimizing healthcare, particularly in emergency settings in Africa. It offers improved patient care quality and strengthens the healthcare workforce. Sources of evidence: Evidence is drawn from successful implementations of APN in various healthcare environments. This includes the development of APN‐specific curricula and training, mentorship initiatives, clinical supervision, and defining advanced nursing roles within healthcare organizations. Investing in APNs in emergency care in Africa can lead to improved quality and access to care, cost‐effectiveness, enhanced patient outcomes and satisfaction, and opportunities for professional development and career advancement in the healthcare workforce. Discussion: Despite facing barriers in implementation, APN in emergency care presents innovative solutions. Investing in APN can help healthcare entities and policymakers surmount these challenges, providing specialized patient care and improving health outcomes. The discussion emphasizes the benefits such as enhanced access to care, reduced healthcare costs, and improved patient outcomes, alongside bolstering the healthcare workforce. Conclusion: The necessity and benefits of investing in APN for emergency care in Africa are clear. It is crucial for improving healthcare delivery and outcomes. Implications for nursing practice: APN investment leads to a more competent and efficient nursing workforce, capable of addressing complex emergencies and improving patient care. Implications for nursing policy and health/social policy: The paper advocates for policies that support APN development and integration into the healthcare system, emphasizing the need for research to assess APN's long‐term impact and establish best practices for its implementation in emergency care across Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data for 22 sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries, this paper investigates the effects of public debt on economic growth in SSA countries covering the period 1990–2021. Relying upon the estimation of Panel Smooth Transition Regression and generalized method of moments method, our findings offer strong evidence that public debt nonlinearly impacts economic growth. More specifically, there exists a threshold beyond which public debt exerts a negative effect on growth. These results can be used to formulate economic recommendations that the public authorities could implement to improve public debt management and maintain stable economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a context marked by an upsurge in the scale of climate change and its consequences in Africa, this article explores ways to increase the resilience of African economies. It aims to analyze the effect of industrialization on the continent's vulnerability to climate change (VCC). The sample used for this purpose consists of 41 African countries from 2010 to 2021. A dynamic panel model is estimated using the system generalized method of moments. Results show that industrialization reduces the VCC in African countries. It reduces their sensitivity to climate change while increasing their adaptive capacity. Furthermore, results show that industrialization is more likely to reduce the VCC in sectors such as ecosystems, habitat, health, and infrastructures whereas it increases vulnerability to climate change in the food and water sectors. The results, however, reject the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis between industrialization and VCC. These results are robust to the change in industrialization measures. Therefore, African countries would benefit from pursuing their industrial development through greater use of renewable energy. This can help them to sustainably reduce their VCC. In addition, they need to implement specific measures to adapt to climate change in the food and water sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the short-run and long-run impacts of foreign aid and remittances on economic growth in a panel of 31 African countries from 1980 to 2019 utilizing the ARDL Pool Mean Group (PMG) estimation technique. The PMG is utilized based on the outcome of the Hausman test which justifies it appropriateness. There is long-run association among the regressors and the regressand in the model. Our results indicate that, in the short-run, remittance and foreign aid respectively have a negative impact on economic growth but that impact is statistically insignificant. In the long-run, however, remittances have a positive and significant impact on economic growth while foreign aid has a positive but insignificant effect on economic growth on the continent. These results have substantial policy implications. African governments should adopt effective policies to maximize the usefulness and effectiveness of foreign capital, such as foreign aid and remittances, in boosting economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundTransfusion Transmitted Infections (TTIs) are still a growing public health problem in Africa. Studies that synthesize the available evidence on the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) among African blood donors are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize qualitatively and quantitatively the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen (HBsAg) among blood donors in Africa.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis where we included all studies that reported the seroprevalence of HBsAg among blood donors in Africa. The references were searched from electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, WHO research database-HINARI, Global Index Medicus and ClinicalTrials.gov. We further analyzed the full list of references of all included studies. The pooled seroprevalence was estimated through random effect model. The heterogeneity was assessed through Cochrane’s Q test and I2, respectively. Meta-regression, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted.ResultsWe obtained 124 studies that met our inclusion criteria, comprising 3,573,211 blood donors tested for HBsAg. The pooled seroprevalence of HBsAg among blood donors in Africa was 6.93% (95% CI: 5.95–7.97%; I2 = 100%; p

The study investigated the impact of intellectual property rights on foreign direct investment (FDI) in selected African countries (Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Kenya, Burundi, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania). The purpose of the study is to develop property rights policies that encourages FDI in African countries. How FDI is influenced by the combination of trade openness and intellectual property rights was also examined using the same data set and econometric methods such as the dynamic generalized method of moments (GMM), fixed effects, and pooled ordinary least squares (OLS). Panel data ranging from 2005 to 2019 were used for the purposes of this study. A 1% increase in intellectual property rights led to a 22.73% increase in FDI inflows under the dynamic GMM and a 45.55% increase in FDI inflows under the random effects. These results show that intellectual property rights significantly enhanced FDI under the random effects and dynamic GMM. FDI was insignificantly enhanced by intellectual property rights under the pooled OLS and fixed effects methods. A 1% increase in complementarity between intellectual property rights and trade openness (complementarity term) pushed up FDI inflows by 17.78% under the dynamic GMM, whilst a 1% increase in the complementarity term increased FDI inflows by 16.72% under the fixed effects. In other words, dynamic GMM and fixed effects approaches show that the complementarity component significantly improved FDI inflows. The paper recommends implementing the best property rights strategies to improve FDI inflows into African countries. AcknowledgmentThe author appreciates the moral support from the University of South Africa, his employer.

Abstract Background Maternal deaths are concentrated in low and middle-income countries, and Africa accounts for over 50% of the deaths. Women from socioeconomically disadvantaged households have higher morbidity and mortality rates and lower access to maternal health services. Understanding and addressing these inequalities is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and improving maternal health outcomes. This study examines the demographic and economic disparities in the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) in four countries with high maternal mortality rates in Africa, namely Nigeria, Chad, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Method The study utilised data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) from Nigeria, Chad, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The data was obtained from the Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) database. The study examined ANC service utilisation inequality in four dimensions such as economic status, education, place of residence, and subnational region across different subgroups by using four summary measures (Difference (D), Absolute Concentration Index (ACI), Population Attributable Risk (PAR), and Population Attributable Factor (PAF)). Result A varying level of inequality in ANC coverage across multiple survey years was observed in Nigeria, Chad, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Different regions and countries exhibit varying levels of inequality. Disparities were prominent based on educational attainment and place of residence. Higher level of inequality was generally observed among individuals with higher education and those residing in urban areas. Inequality in ANC coverage was also observed by economic status, subnational region, and other factors in Nigeria, Chad, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. ANC coverage is generally higher among the richest quintile subgroup, indicating inequality. Nigeria and Chad show the highest levels of inequality in ANC coverage across multiple measures. Sierra Leone displays some variation with higher coverage among the poorest quintile subgroup. Conclusion and recommendation Inequalities in ANC coverage exist across age groups and survey years in Nigeria, Chad, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Disparities are prominent based on education, residence, and economic status. Efforts should focus on improving access for vulnerable groups, enhancing education and awareness, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and addressing economic disparities.

We used the Markov switching regression model to establish a relationship between the conditional stock market returns and macroeconomic volatilities. Monthly data from thirteen (13) African stock markets and macroeconomic variables (exchange rate, inflation, interest rate, money supply, and crude oil price) from 2003 to 2022 were employed. We confirmed the existence of two distinct regimes: An economic expansion or a "tranquil" state with less volatility and an economic decline or a "crisis" state with high volatility. Our findings indicated that macroeconomic variables significantly affect both expansion and crisis periods. However, the estimated coefficients were more significant in a tranquil than in a crisis state. The findings of the study were consistent with macroeconomic theory and pointed out policy implications.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has developed numerous conventions, protocols, and recommendations on minimum labour standards, with the majority relating to occupational safety and health systems (OSH). However, environmental issues like deforestation, desertification, flooding, erosion, oil spills, and air and water pollution, particularly in Nigeria, pose a threat to the health and safety of the many organizations in developing nations. Using a hybrid of research designs such as survey and content analysis and based on the Risk Society Theory and Sense-making Theory, this paper reviews, environmental health and occupational safety at workplaces in Nigeria. This study aims to identify environmental health and occupational safety issues in Nigeria's manufacturing sector, specifically in the iron and steel and aluminium industry, by examining inaccurate data on male and female workers. Using in-depth interviews with a total of 17 participants, the primary data was gathered from managers and senior staff members of chosen firms in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, and Lagos State, Nigeria. These were Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) and Alumaco Aluminium Manufacturing Co. of Nigeria Ltd., Ikeja, Nigeria. It discovers a high level of occupational health awareness, insufficient funding for safety intelligence initiatives, and a high frequency of workplace dangers. The study also finds that Nigeria was among the signatories in Africa who failed to comply with this directive. It recommends promoting occupational health services, training doctors to recognize work-related diseases, and complying with the ILO's Convention 155. The article also suggests updating laws, conducting education campaigns, investing in training, and holding employers accountable for non-compliance

This study investigates the influence of economic policy uncertainty on climate change in selected African countries within asymmetric settings. Although previous research has examined the impact of various economic factors on climate change, the asymmetric effects of economic policy uncertainty have not been thoroughly explored, particularly in African countries. We analyze annual data spanning from 1980 to 2017 by utilizing three models: Panel Pooled Mean Group-Autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL-PMG), Panel Pooled Mean Group-non‐linear autoregressive distributed lag model (NARDL-PMG), and Dumitrescu-Hurlin asymmetric causality tests. According to the results of ARDL-PMG estimation, economic policy uncertainty has a detrimental impact on climate change in the long run. However, the NARDL-PMG estimation suggests that a positive shock in economic policy uncertainty negatively affects long-term climate change mitigation. However, a negative shock has a beneficial effect on climate change in the long term. In African nations, positive and negative changes in economic policy uncertainty failed to generate any significant climate change effects in the short run. The results also reveal that both positive and negative shocks in economic policy may cause climate change in a one-way direction. Based on the findings of our study, we recommend that African policymakers implement programs aimed at reducing economic policy uncertainties to help mitigate the effects of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal deaths are concentrated in low and middle-income countries, and Africa accounts for over 50% of the deaths. Women from socioeconomically disadvantaged households have higher morbidity and mortality rates and lower access to maternal health services. Understanding and addressing these inequalities is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and improving maternal health outcomes. This study examines the demographic and economic disparities in the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) in four countries with high maternal mortality rates in Africa, namely Nigeria, Chad, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Method: The study utilised data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) from Nigeria, Chad, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The data was obtained from the Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) database. The study examined ANC service utilisation inequality in four dimensions such as economic status, education, place of residence, and subnational region across different subgroups by using four summary measures (Difference (D), Absolute Concentration Index (ACI), Population Attributable Risk (PAR), and Population Attributable Factor (PAF)). Result: A varying level of inequality in ANC coverage across multiple survey years was observed in Nigeria, Chad, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Different regions and countries exhibit varying levels of inequality. Disparities were prominent based on educational attainment and place of residence. Higher level of inequality was generally observed among individuals with higher education and those residing in urban areas. Inequality in ANC coverage was also observed by economic status, subnational region, and other factors in Nigeria, Chad, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. ANC coverage is generally higher among the richest quintile subgroup, indicating inequality. Nigeria and Chad show the highest levels of inequality in ANC coverage across multiple measures. Sierra Leone displays some variation with higher coverage among the poorest quintile subgroup. Conclusion and recommendation: Inequalities in ANC coverage exist across age groups and survey years in Nigeria, Chad, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Disparities are prominent based on education, residence, and economic status. Efforts should focus on improving access for vulnerable groups, enhancing education and awareness, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and addressing economic disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used the Markov switching regression model to establish a relationship between the conditional stock market returns and macroeconomic volatilities. Monthly data from thirteen (13) African stock markets and macroeconomic variables (exchange rate, inflation, interest rate, money supply, and crude oil price) from 2003 to 2022 were employed. We confirmed the existence of two distinct regimes: An economic expansion or a "tranquil" state with less volatility and an economic decline or a "crisis" state with high volatility. Our findings indicated that macroeconomic variables significantly affect both expansion and crisis periods. However, the estimated coefficients were more significant in a tranquil than in a crisis state. The findings of the study were consistent with macroeconomic theory and pointed out policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Energy usage and disparities in income have emerged as the major threats that hinder the achievement of sustainable development goals in Africa. This study aims to assess the time‐varying impact of income inequality on both renewable and nonrenewable energy consumption, utilizing both parametric and nonparametric models across a panel of 18 African countries from 1990 to 2015. We find that, according to the parametric model, income inequality does not affect energy consumption. However, the nonparametric estimates point the presence of both positive and negative relationship between the two variables at different time period. The time varying impacts reveal that unfair income distribution affects renewable energy consumption via the dominance of some channels at specific times. Accordingly, the findings of this study emphasize that policymakers in African countries need to give particular heed to the role played by the income inequality in designing cleaner and greener energy transition policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are critical climate policy documents formulated by the Party countries, under the UNFCCC Paris Agreement, to communicate their goals and commitments to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. As an emerging discourse genre, it has attracted increasing attention from discourse analysts. However, few studies have specifically focused on the NDCs of African countries as a whole, leading into the situation in which their positions and voices are largely underrepresented in the current climate negotiation. Using a combined method of positioning theory and critical discourse analysis, this paper aims to explore the African countries' positioning in the climate change agenda by examining the discursive narratives around three prominent thematic categories in their NDCs, i.e. responsibility, vulnerability and conditionality. It is found that the African countries intend to position themselves as non-villains, victims, and demi-heroes by strategically highlighting their insignificant historical responsibility, exceptional vulnerability, and conditionality of implementation on the external support from the international community. Furthermore, it is argued that the commonality of their self-positioning is conducive to forming a collective identity to resist the hegemonic discourses of inequality and struggle for equity in the current climate negotiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge has emerged as a potentially key driver of economic growth and competitiveness, thereby attracting more attention in Africa than before because it is crucial to understand the factors and policies that influence the knowledge economy (KE) process and economic performance. This study examines the existence and nature of the relationship between the KE and economic performance in 46 African countries. Assuming implicitly that the conditions leading to a KE include a modern Information and Communication Technologies infrastructure, a skilled labor force, an effective innovation system, and a proper institutional framework, we model technology as a key element of KE through which human capital affects both KE and economic performance. We then estimate the baseline model and find that Ordinary Least Squares results illuminate the existence of a relationship between the KE and economic performance. To check for the nature of the relationship and the robustness of the results, we estimate a seemingly unrelated regression equation (SURE) model and a recursive simultaneous equation model. Both models firmly establish the existence of a dynamic relationship between KE and economic performance. We conclude that African countries should first strengthen the KE components to prevent them from negatively affecting economic performance. We also conclude that for these countries, the transformation from resource-based into KE-led economies requires strong economic performance to put in motion the full force of the KE for even stronger economic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One Health research has gained attention over the past few decades due to its potential to improve health challenges across the globe. However, obtaining ethics approvals for timely implementation of One Health research is a challenge in some contexts. Our study was undertaken to describe various challenges faced by researchers, research ethics committees (RECs) and members of regulatory bodies in Africa. An online survey was conducted between March and June 2021. The effect of predictors, including respondents' role (e.g., REC member, regulator and/or One Health researcher), sex, education, age, and country, on the perception of challenges and opportunities when conducting and reviewing One Health research, was investigated using multivariable linear regression models. Participants with different roles did not perceive any of the examined challenges differently during review of One Health-related research; but female participants (p = 0.026) and those with ten or more years of experience (p = 0.0325) perceived insufficient One Health knowledge as less of a challenge. Professional role was an important predictor (p = 0.025) for the perception of the establishment of a mandatory One Health review system. Respondents with multiple roles perceived the creation of ad hoc committees for review of One Health research under emergency situations to be less important (p = 0.02); and REC members perceived the creation of such committees to be less feasible (p = 0.0697). Our study showed that perceptions of the importance and feasibility of opportunities for improvement of One Health research ethics review under emergency and non-emergency situations varied across professional roles. This emphasizes the need to consider such improvement strategies; and the need for continuous and timely evaluation for improvement of ethics review of One Health and emergency research in Africa.

This study empirically examined the role of the country’s absorptive capacity on the impact of domestic investment on economic growth in the selected five African countries over the study period of 1970 to 2019. In specific, the study examined the impact of domestic investment on economic growth from two models, without the country’s absorptive capacity and with the country’s absorptive capacity. Further, a robust linear ordinary least squares (OLS) methodology including static panel OLS and panel cointegration estimators was employed. The study found that only changes in financial development and infrastructures positively cause changes in the domestic investment-economic growth nexus in the short run while in the long run, trade openness enhances the positive impact of domestic investment on economic growth in African countries. In addition, the study found that domestic investment retards economic growth without the country’s absorptive capacity in the short run and long run respectively in African countries. Therefore, the study recommended that policymakers should invest heavily in infrastructure and financial development systems as well as encourages trade openness for a stable domestic investment-economic growth nexus in African countries.

The informal sector and inclusive growth have a very close relationship that fuels an extremely fertile literature. The objective of this paper is to determine the effects of the size of the informal sector on inclusive growth in Africa using data for 43 countries from Medina and Schneider (International Monetary Fund, 2018) and the World Bank (World Development Index, 2021). After constructing the inclusive growth index based on an appropriate methodology, we specified and estimated respectively a panel data, fixed effects Driscoll and Kraay model with robustness via Lewbel 2SLS and system generalized method of moments (S-GMM) over the period 1995–2019. Our results show that the informal sector significantly and statistically reduces inclusive growth in Africa. Furthermore, our results show the existence of a U-shaped relationship between the size of the informal sector and the level of growth inclusiveness. These results are robust to alternative specifications. We suggest that governments introduce less stringent forms of regulation to encourage firms operating on the edge of legality to evade taxes to better regulate themselves and thereby contribute to growth, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability, rather than encouraging (or discouraging) the informal sector per se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing emergence of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) HIV drug resistance in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) led to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommending, in 2018, a transition to dolutegravir (DTG) as a first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in SSA. The broad HIV-1 genetic diversity in SSA could shape DTG effectiveness and the pattern of drug resistance mutations (DRMs) in this region. This study evaluated HIV-1 integrase (IN) DRMs and conserved regions among published groups M, N, O, and P HIV-1 sequences spanning forty years of the HIV epidemic during the transition of DTG-based ART. Overall, we found low levels of integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-DRMs (<1%) across HIV groups between the years 1983 and 2023; however, it was unexpected to detect DRMs at statistically significantly higher frequencies in pre-INSTI (1983–2007) than in the INSTI (2008–2023) era. The variability of accessory INSTI-DRMs depended on the HIV subtypes, with implications for susceptibility to DTG. Our findings provide new perspectives on the molecular epidemiology and drug resistance profiles of INSTIs in SSA, emphasizing the need for ongoing surveillance and customized treatment approaches to address the continent's varied HIV subtypes and changing resistance patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores Russia's influence in Africa, which poses a significant challenge to the West. In recent years, Moscow has gained momentum on the continent, becoming a formidable rival to Western powers. It has formed strategic alliances with key African nations, solidifying its foothold. Many African countries now see Russia as an alternative to Western partners. To establish this influence, Moscow prioritises military and economic partnerships, offering trade, investments and security assistance in exchange for political support. The West has been slow to respond, either preoccupied with domestic issues or disengaged from Africa, allowing Russia to gain the upper hand. The implications of Russia's African influence are far-reaching, posing a significant challenge to Western interests. This situation could escalate geopolitical tensions and potentially lead to conflict with the West. We aim to explore Russia's motives and its impacts on African nations, shedding light on how they affect Western interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The right to housing is a fundamental human right, but the paucity of context-specific legislation and policies on the right to housing makes housing inaccessible to a significant number of people residing in African cities. This review article explores the challenges of inclusivity and equity in the provision of housing within the framework of the pan-African city to provide legal frameworks for policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders committed to realising the right to housing and the vision of the pan-African city. Specifically, it focuses on four diverse African nations - South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, and Nigeria - for insights into the multifaceted nature of housing rights. The article begins with a review of the key concepts (housing, pan-African city, equity, inclusivity, policy planning), followed by a review of the challenges of inclusivity and equity in each of the selected countries within the context of the right to housing and the pan-African city. The article then reviews the selected countries' efforts to address the challenges within the framework of relevant international human rights instruments and the various countries' constitutional, legislative, and policy frameworks. It is concluded that the right to housing in the pan-African city remains an ambitious goal, with numerous challenges in achieving inclusivity and equity. It is recommended that African countries pay more attention to the right to housing within the pan-African city, emphasising the need for collaborative efforts to ensure access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing. This can be done through information and knowledge sharing, joint infrastructure development, cross-border collaborations, technology transfer, and regional financing mechanisms, among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Following global warming and climate change issues, environmental policies are receiving renewed interest in the context of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Using a panel of 17 African countries over the period 2000–2019 and based on ordinary least squared, Driscoll and Kraay standard error and generalized method of moment, this paper empirically analyses the effect of environmental tax regulation on industrialization. Our results establish a negative and significant effect of environmental regulation through green tax scheme on industrialization. These findings are consistent and robust to the use of an alternative dependent variable (Manufacturing) and other estimation methods. Also, by splitting the sample into monetary zone, the initial result is found to be consistently significant only in Non FCFA zone. Moreover, Quantile analysis reveals some heterogeneity across the industrialization distribution. Indeed, there is a threshold discrepancy between lower (0.25)–median (0,50) income countries in which the effects of environmental tax on industrialization is confirmed to be significantly negative and upper-income countries (0.75) where the effect is positive but not significant. These findings suggest that green tax regulations in our sample of selected African countries, destroy more industries than they could create. We therefore recommend that environmental tax policies should be moderate on African countries at least in the short run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is interested in explaining the causes of the simultaneous evolution between economic and informality growth. Using a large annual panel of African countries with a time series of 25 years, our results are paradoxical: the effect of growth on the informal sector becomes contradictory in the presence of high corruption rates. When the corruption rate is low (>1.3577), growth is indirectly related to the informal sector and vice versa when it is high (<1.3577). The results, which highlight a previously unknown paradox, contribute significantly to the existing literature on the subject and are robust to alternative specifications. It is therefore desirable for policymakers to improve the transparency of interactions between firms, public and private agents to fight corruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Armed violence targeting police personnel and police facilities has conspicuously emerged as one of the dominant challenges confronting many police agencies in Africa. Consequently, police officers in African countries are increasingly becoming vulnerable to violent deaths and attacks in the line of duty. In view of this prevailing situation, this paper critically interrogates the nexus between institutional legacy and armed attacks targeting the police in African countries. Tom Tyler's theory of procedural justice was employed as the conceptual framework for the discourse (Tyler, 1990; 2003). The paper argues that the negative labelling that is generally associated with policing and police image in both colonial and post-colonial Africa confers the oppressor identity on police officers and makes them attractive for violent attacks by separatist groups and terrorist organisations. Therefore, it is pertinent for law enforcement agencies in African countries to strategically work on their public legitimacy to effectively mitigate the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The misallocation and scarcity of food, energy and water resources have been a challenge for African countries, mainly as they try to achieve long-term future sustainable development. This study explores the dynamic relationship between water, energy, food and economic conditions in Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Since the water-energy-food nexus underpins the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6, 7 and 2), respectively the study uses SDG indicators to proxy food, energy and water. To do so, the study employs a Generalised Methods of Moments panel data technique for the period from 2000 to 2015. For the whole group of countries, a sub-nexus was concluded from Food to Water, Water to Food and Water to Energy for Ethiopia was confirmed, Energy to Water for Kenya and Water to Food for Angola. This study explains these important interlinkages appreciating the growing demand for the three resources as population in the continent keeps growing. The findings indicate synergies between the three sustainability demonstrations for the five countries that have important policy implications for the continent's current and future developmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relationship between governance quality and economic growth for 54 African countries over the period 1996–2019. The panel smooth threshold regression (PSTR) model was applied to determine the optimal level of global governance index, which, once attained, will induce the positive impact of governance quality on economic growth. Results proved that the nexus between governance quality and economic growth is non-linear. Besides, it showed that there exists a statistically positive relationship between governance quality and economic growth above the threshold level of 0.2, above which governance quality starts increasing the GDP per capita growth rate in African countries. The findings revealed, too, that the impact of other macroeconomic variables on economic growth has improved once global governance index reaches a threshold level of 0.2. Finally, it was found that only 6 out of 54 African countries have a global governance index above the threshold of 0.2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Africa, home to the world’s second-largest population of approximately 1.3 billion, grapples with significant challenges in meeting its medical needs, particularly in accessing quality healthcare services and products. The continent faces a continuous onslaught of emerging infectious diseases, exacerbating the strain on its already fragile public health infrastructure. The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the urgency to build local vaccine production capacity and strengthen the health infrastructure in general. The risks associated with a heavy reliance on imported vaccines were exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating the need to nurture and strengthen the local manufacturing of vaccines and therapeutic biologics. Various initiatives addressing training, manufacturing, and regulatory affairs are underway, and these require increasing dedicated and purposeful financial investment. Building vaccine manufacturing capacity requires substantial investment in training and infrastructure. This manuscript examines the current state of education in vaccinology and related sciences in Africa. It also provides an overview of the continent’s efforts to address educational needs in vaccine development and manufacturing. Additionally, it evaluates the initiatives aimed at strengthening vaccine education and literacy, highlighting successful approaches and ongoing challenges. By assessing the progress made and identifying the remaining obstacles, this review offers insights into how Africa can enhance its vaccine manufacturing capacity to respond to vaccine-preventable disease challenges.