Universities and knowledge-based development in sub-Saharan Africa: comparing university-firm interaction in Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa

Research on the changing role of universities in firm learning, innovation and national economic development has not extended systematically to low income countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing on an empirical survey of firms and case studies of university practices, the article examines conditions of universities, firms and their potential for interaction across a national system of innovation in three countries, Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa, in order to contribute to such analysis. In so doing, it attempts to open up a research agenda in terms of the specific challenges African countries face.

The adoption of energy efficiency measures by firms in Africa: case studies of cassava processing in Nigeria and maize milling in Kenya

This study investigates the uptake of energy efficiency (EE) measures in two important agro-industrial sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa, the cassava- and maize-processing industries in Nigeria and Kenya. These two countries represent regions with a weak environmental policy regime and rather weak innovation systems. An empirical investigation of problems associated with the adoption of energy efficiency measures and the responses of African actors and foreign suppliers to such problems is presented. The overall conclusions are that such measures are mainly undertaken for economic reasons of cost-efficiency, that few firms in the agro-industries studied have adopted sophisticated measures of energy saving, that many encountered problems, that there is a great reliance on foreign suppliers of EE technologies in the case of maize millers but less so in the case of cassava processing, that informal mechanisms of learning are an important source of learning, and that universities and public research institutes come out as relatively unimportant sources of knowledge. In the cassava sector, complex technological equipment is commonly supplied as part of package involving training and financial advice, with an important role being played by consultants and external advisors

The estimated ex ante economic impact of Bt cowpea in Niger, Benin and Northern Nigeria

Genetically modified (GM) crops could increase economic growth and enhance living standards in Africa, but political issues have slowed the use of biotechnology. This is the first study that assesses the potential impact of GM crops in Africa while considering the preferences of producers and consumers towards GMOs as well as the income and price risks they face. The study uses a choice experiment to estimate the ex ante economic impact of a novel technology, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cowpea, on producers and consumers in Benin, Niger and northern Nigeria. The experiment involves the simulation of a market transaction similar to those in open air markets in West Africa. During the market simulation, respondents are informed about the advantages and disadvantages, including health risks, of Bt cowpea. The results from the study suggest that cowpea growers and consumers in Benin and northern Nigeria prefer Bt to conventional cowpea for health safety reasons. The results estimate that social welfare in Benin, Niger and northern Nigeria would increase by at least US$11.82 per capita annually with Bt cowpea, if seed sectors are operating smoothly. With inefficiencies in seed sectors and the potential for cowpea acreage increase, the estimated social welfare increase in the region would be about US$1.26 per capita annually

Etude socio-economique de production d’une pate traditionnelle fermentee "gowe" fabriquee a base de maïs au Benin

Gowé est une pâte fermentée obtenue à base de maïs pré-germé. Il est légèrement blanc d’où son nom gowé qui signifie en langue locale Fon blanc ; il est  généralement consommé après dilution dans de l’eau sous forme de boisson lors des cérémonies de décès. Aujourd’hui il est consommé en tout temps et par une population de plus de 67,74% du Centre Bénin. Cependant, les conditions de sa production et de sa consommation restent traditionnelles et très peu étudier.  L’objectif de la présente étude est de faire ressortir l’intérêt du développement de la production de gowé au Bénin. Pour atteindre cet objectif, une enquête a été effectuée dans les Communes d’Abomey, de Bohicon et de Covè dans les Départements du Zou et des Collines. Ces Communes sont considérées comme des  zones à forte production, de vente et de consommation de gowé au Sud Bénin. Les enquêtes ont permis d’identifier, de caractériser les technologies traditionnelles de fabrication de gowé selon les productrices et de  connaître les raisons de commercialisation et de consommation du produit. Les résultats obtenus à l’issu de  ces travaux montrent que: les technologies utilisées à Abomey et Bohicon diffèrent de celle de Covè ; gowé est très apprécié par les consommateurs à cause de  ses fonctions désaltérantes ; gowé est souvent consommé quand il fait chaud ; il est à la fois légèrement acide et sucré. La production de gowé est une activité rentable qui procure en moyenne un bénéfice d’environ 240FCFA/Kg.Mot clés : Gowé, fabrication, vente, consommation. Gowe is a fermented paste gotten to basis of pre-germinated corn. It is slightly white from where its name gowe that means in language local white Fon; it is generally consumed after dilution in water as drink at the time of the ceremonies of death. Today it is consumed in all time and by a population of more than 67.74% of the Benin center. However, the conditions of its production and its consumption remain traditional and very little to study. The objective of the present survey is to make Benin take out again the interest of the development of the production of gowe. To reach this objective, an investigation has been done in the Townships of Abomey, Bohicon and Covè in the Departments of the Zou and Collines. These Townships are considered like zones to strong production, sale and consumption of gowe in the South of Benin. The investigations permitted to identify, to characterize the traditional technologies of  manufacture of gowe according to the producers and to know the reasons of merchandising and  consumption of the product. The results gotten to the descended of these works show that: the  technologies used in Abomey and Bohicon defer the one of Covè; gowe is appreciated very by the consumers because of its refreshing functions; gowe is often consumed when it is hot; it is at a time slightly acidic and sugary. The production of gowe is a profitable activity that procures a profit on average of about 240FCFA/Kg.Keywords: Gowe, manufacture, sale, consumption

Knowledge for development: university-firm interaction in sub-Saharan Africa: final report

Augus

Contextual policy framework for developing a National System of Innovation in Uganda

Working paper, Apri

Knowledge for developent: university-firm interaction in sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Uganda: working papers

AugustThe Research on Knowledge Systems (RoKS) 2006 competition provided funding that has opened up a new field and delineated the contours of a research agenda in relation to the changing role of the university in sub-Saharan Africa. Governments in developing countries are increasingly imitating developed countries, by adopting policy, incentives and programmes aimed to promote linkages between universities and firms. In sub-Saharan Africa, with the largest number of low-income countries, there is evidence to suggest that policy-borrowing to promote university-industry linkages is occurring, but in a manner that does not take sufficient cognizance of the specifics of the local context and conditions, which may have unintended deleterious consequences. There is as yet not a great deal of research on the changing role of universities, but what does exist often engages with the challenges in aspirational and normative ways. There has been little systematic analysis of the conditions of universities, firms and their potential for interaction to contribute to growth and development in the low income countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Such concerns inspired a study to examine systematically how university-firm interaction contributes to national development goals in three countries at different stages of development in sub-Saharan Africa, namely Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa. The study was also conducted in nine other countries, in Latin America (Brazil, Costa Rica, Argentina and Mexico) and Asia (Korea, China, India, Malaysia and Thailand), providing a basis for systematic comparative work across countries of the South