Analysis of the impact of the structural adjustment programme on urban poverty and social work fieldwork in Zambia

A conference paper on the impact of economic structural adjustment policies on the urban poor in Zambia.This paper analyses the impact of the Structural Adjustment Programme(s) (SAPs) on urban poor and fieldwork in Zambia. Socio-economic analysts have come to terms with the reality that the decade of the 1980s in most African countries, including Zambia, should be considered as one of considerable economic adjustment which has provided difficult economic environments. In some cases the decade is considered a “lost decade” as any socio-economic progress made in the 1960s and early 1970s had been lost and undermined by the unprecedented economic crisis (Osei-Hwedie and Ndulo, 1989). Despite Africa’s abundant natural resources, African countries continue to suffer appalling socio-economic conditions. It is observed that sixteen of the World’s poorest twenty nations are in Africa. The trend towards economic and social disintegration is the stark outline being presented in the 1990s as most African countries approach their third decade of independence amid signs that even modest achievements of the early post-colonial era have been lost. Levy in Times of Zambia March 1,1993 observed that comparisons with other developing regions, most notably Asia, leave Africa staggering paces behind, despite the continent’s natural resources. Sub-Saharan Africa contributes only 1,5% of the world’s economic output, roughly equivalent to that of Belgium, and accounts for only 1% of world trade. This has occurred over a period when trade has become the motor of development for other developing countries and regions. Hence, to better understand the impact of the structural adjustment programme on Zambia, and in particular the urban poor and social work fieldwork, it is essential to draw attention to certain geographical, historical and political features. In the subsequent section a brief background to these features is given.Funded by Overseas Development Administration; British Development Division (Central Africa

Corporate Governance: A Conceptual Analysis

According to the Chartered Institute of Corporate Governance, the term corporate governance is the system of rules, practices and processes by which a company is directed and controlled. Corporate Governance refers to the way in which companies are governed and to what purpose. It identifies who has power and accountability, and who makes decisions. It is, in essence, a toolkit that enables management and the board to deal more effectively with the challenges of running a company. Corporate governance ensures that businesses have appropriate decision-making processes and controls in place so that the interests of all stakeholders (shareholders, employees, suppliers, customers and the community) are balanced. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to provide a conceptual analysis of the term Corporate Governance. The paper further reviews the state of corporate governance in State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in Zambia. The paper uses traditional or narrative literature review as the methodology. The paper concludes that Corporate Governance has been a central issue in developing countries long before the recent spate of corporate scandals in advanced countries. The paper concludes that Corporate Governance gained tremendous importance due to economic liberalization and deregulation of industry and business. It is against this background that it has gained so much prominence in the running of State-Owned Enterprises. Keywords: Corporate Governance; Indicators of Corporate Governance; State-Owned Enterprises; SOEs, Zambia DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/14-17-05 Publication date:September 30th 2023

The economic value of an improved malaria treatment programme in Zambia: results from a contingent valuation survey

BACKGROUND: Zambia is facing a double crisis of increasing malaria burden and dwindling capacity to deal with the endemic malaria burden. The pursuit of sustainable but equity mechanisms for financing malaria programmes is a subject of crucial policy discussion. This requires that comprehensive accounting of the economic impact of the various malaria programmes. Information on the economic value of programmes is essential in soliciting appropriate funding allocations for malaria control. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This paper specifically seeks to elicit a measure of the economic benefits of an improved malaria treatment programme in Zambia. The paper also studies the equity implications in malaria treatment given that demand or malaria treatment is determined by household socio-economic status. METHODS: A contingent valuation survey of about 300 Zambian households was conducted in four districts. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) was elicited for an improved treatment programme for malaria in order to generate a measure of the economic benefits of the programme. The payment card method was used in eliciting WTP bids. FINDINGS: The study reports that malaria treatment has significant economic benefits to society. The total economic benefits of an improved treatment programme were estimated at an equivalent of US$ 77 million per annum, representing about 1.8% of Zambia's GDP. The study also reports the theoretically anticipated association between WTP and several socio-economic factors. Our income elasticity of demand is positive and similar in magnitude to estimates reported in similar studies. Finally, from an equity standpoint, the constraints imposed by income and socio-economic status are discussed

Corporate Governance: A Theoretical Review

The aim of this paper is to review selected theories of corporate governance. The theories reviewed include the following: Agency Theory; Stewardship Theory; Stakeholder Theory; and Resource-Dependency Theory. The research methodology is anchored on critical narrative literature review which is popularly known as traditional literature review. The review concludes that for the several years, the Agency theory has been one of the major microeconomic trends. It has been applied to banking, industry and the work economy and has been the basis of the economic reward model. For instance, incentives, risk, and employee selection are studied by the Agency. Further, it is concluded that the stewardship theory expresses that stewards ensure and augment investor riches through organization performance. Stewards are corporate chiefs and directors who work for investors and furnish investors with insurance and benefit. Furthermore, it is determined that the nature of Stakeholder theory lies in assumption that the company is a stakeholder system, and these stakeholders operate in a broader system in which each stakeholder and the entire society provide the laws and market infrastructure to allow the company's activities and capabilities to create wealth and shareholder value. In respect of the Resource-Dependent Theory (RDT), it is concluded that Resource dependence theory is concerned with power relations. It analyzes how managers deal with parties that have power over the company because they control resources that the firm needs to operate Keywords: Corporate Governance Theories; Agency Theory; Stewardship Theory; Stakeholder Theory; Resource-Dependency Theory (RDT). DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/15-16-08 Publication date:September 30th 202

Disseminating research results to research participants and their communities

No abstractMalawi Medical Journal Vol. 20 (2) 2008: pp. 64-6

Ethical challenges in obtaining informed consent for the genomic study of rheumatic heart disease: a qualitative study

INTRODUCTION: Advances in genetic and genomic research have introduced new challenges in obtaining informed consent for research in low and middle-income settings. However, there are only few studies that have explored challenges in obtaining informed consent in genetic and genomic research in Africa and none in South Africa. To start filling this gap, we conducted an empirical study to investigate the efficacy of informed consent procedures for a genomic study on Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHDGen) at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. The main aim of the study was to understand the ethical challenges in obtaining informed consent in the RHDGen study. METHODS: We used a qualitative study methodology involving in-depth interviews and participant observations. Our research participants were RHDGen cases and controls as well as research staff involved in the recruitment of RHDGen research participants. In total, we conducted 32 in-depth interviews with RHDGen research participants, 2 in-depth interviews with research staff and 57 direct observations of the consent procedures of RHDGen research participants. The in-depth interviews were conducted in English, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. All the data were analysed using thematic content analysis. The study was conducted in 3 sites within Cape Town, South Africa, and these sites were the Groote Schuur Hospital in Observatory, the Vanguard Community Health Centre in Bonteheuwel and the Heideveld Community in the Cape Flats

Cost-effectiveness analysis of the available strategies for diagnosing malaria in outpatient clinics in Zambia

BACKGROUND:Malaria in Zambia accounts for about 4 million clinical cases and 8 000 deaths annually. Artemether-lumefantrine (ACT), a relatively expensive drug, is being used as first line treatment of uncomplicated malaria. However, diagnostic capacity in Zambia is low, leading to potentially avoidable wastage of drugs due to unnecessary anti malarial treatment. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness evaluation of the three current alternatives to malaria diagnosis (clinical, microscopy and Rapid Diagnostic Tests- RDT) was conducted in 12 facilities from 4 districts in Zambia. The analysis was conducted along an observational study, thus reflecting practice in health facilities under routine conditions. Average and incremental cost effectiveness ratios were estimated from the providers' perspective. Effectiveness was measured in relation to malaria cases correctly diagnosed by each strategy. RESULTS: Average cost-effectiveness ratios show that RDTs were more efficient (US$6.5) than either microscopy (US$ 11.9) or clinical diagnosis (US$17.1) for malaria case correctly diagnosed. In relation to clinical diagnoses the incremental cost per case correctly diagnosed and treated was US$ 2.6 and US$ 9.6 for RDT and microscopy respectively. RDTs would be much cheaper to scale up than microscopy. The findings were robust to changes in assumptions and various parameters. CONCLUSION: RDTs were the most cost effective method at correctly diagnosing malaria in primary health facilities in Zambia when compared to clinical and microscopy strategies. However, the treatment prescription practices of the health workers can impact on the potential that a diagnostic test has to lead to savings on antimalarials. The results of this study will serve to inform policy makers on which alternatives will be most efficient in reducing malaria misdiagnosis by taking into account both the costs and effects of each strategy