MDGs, inclusive and sustainable development today and after 2015: reflections on Eastern and Southern African countries and role of social science research

A conference paper presentation in IPAR's Annual research conference 201

Capacity Building Interventions, Entrepreneurship, Promotion of SMEs in Rwanda

There has been a vibrant policy framework for capacity building interventions to improve investment climate and business environment in Rwanda. This has affected the promotion of SMEs and entrepreneurship in Rwanda. But the effect and magnitude of capacity building interventions has not been studied. A survey of 414 SMEs in Rwanda indicates a considerable need large need (by more than 50 per cent f all SMEs) for capacity building interventions. More than 72 per cent of SMEs still tend to cluster in commerce and business. Finance and financial services tops the list of most binding capacity need (binding to 80.7 per cent of the firms) followed by training. Barriers to entrepreneurship and starting new business is risk by 20.3 per cent, financial constraints by 51.4 per cent, education 4 per cent and market conditions 10.4 per cent. Multiple institutions are involved in capacity building interventions but need to be better coordinated for better promotion of SMEs and entrepreneurship. There is still opportunity to diversify the types and location of SME

A Comparative Study of Crank-Nicolson scheme and Monte-Carlo Option Pricing

A Research project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Business Science in Financial Economics at Strathmore UniversityThis study examines the rate of convergence and the accuracy of the two primary option pricing methods used currently by professionals; Monte-Carlo and Crank-Nicolson scheme using the Black-Scholes price as the benchmark price. We also introduce the Antithetic variates to the Monte Carlo, to check how much the technique improves the accuracy of the model. A model that converges faster and is accurate will be important in the valuation of large number of options, this will be beneficial to the current and potential investors dealing with large number of options, usually this is the case in practice. Similarly, by control variates technique, we can use our result to improve the accuracy of pricing options that do not have closed form solution such as American options or other exotic options

Inclusive Growth and Development Issues in Eastern and Southern Africa

Dictated by overall (economic, social, political, technological, etc) realities that unfold at different times, the growth and development dictums have been reshaped and reframed continually, in an effort to accommodate and respond to emerging issues. Within the overarching theme of sustainable development, human development and inclusive growth and development are, for example, among the recent focuses of the global and national development agenda. The backdrop to this is that as individuals, communities, and societies get richer, the worrying levels of inequalities, exclusion and disparities are becoming an area of concern, drawing the attention of governments, planners, civil societies, researchers and academia. An overarching current issue has been an appreciation of high economic growth in the last 10 years, but which is marred by pervasive levels of poverty and inequality. Indeed, Africa, through Agenda 2063, has acknowledged the need for inclusive and sustainable development, as is also the commitment of the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030) of the United Nations.Edited by Prof. Herman Musahara, this anthology entitled Inclusive Growth and Development Issues in Eastern and Southern Africa presents issues, challenges and progress in Rwanda, Mauritius, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Uganda. The issues covered include: trade; rural-urban linkages; the dynamics of poverty, vulnerability, and welfare; social policies for inclusive and sustainable development; productivity and informality; and financial direct support systems to the poor. The chapters are based on first-hand data, secondary data from different databases and systematic reviews of academic literature. Drawing on the findings and conclusions of the individual chapters, the book distills together the key lessons and also puts forth recommendations for policy and practice. As such, it is a good reading for researchers, policy and decision makers, academia and graduate students

Ethnicity, land and conflict in Eastern Africa

The table of contents for this item can be shared with the requester. The requester may then choose one chapter, up to 10% of the item, as per the Fair Dealing provision of the Canadian Copyright ActCutting across these papers is the theme of ethnicity and land related conflicts in Eastern Africa. Land is still the basis of a mainly agrarian economy and the focal point of identity contests, especially within and between ethnic groups. Moreover, postcolonial land reforms have largely failed to address historic injustices to ensure broad-based access to this vital resource. The studies identify commonalities and differences in land reform initiatives in the region. Conflicts that pit the state against the people show clear evidence of elite manipulation in relation to ownership, access and use of resources

Poverty and government expenditure: an assessment of the impact of government expenditure and interventions on poor groups with a focus on Rwanda

Philosophiae Doctor - PhDIn this thesis the author undertook a poverty and policy analysis. It is argued that it is important to understand the nature, magnitude and context of poverty before one can undertake an informed policy prescription. Existing theories of poverty, welfare regimes and social policies offer a lot of useful lessons for policy, but have limitations in offering a single model for Rwanda. The thesis demonstrated that, not only is Rwandan poverty multifaceted and deep, but it is characterized by a poverty conflict trap that can be traced back to the entire post colonial period. The author argued however that the current policy is not only inefficient in targeting poverty, but it may be unable to meet the challenges of growth, redistribution and conflict mitigation. The thesis, after further analyzing policy options, puts forward a package that is needed to reduce poverty in Rwanda in the long term and to break the poverty conflict trap. The prescribed package is put forward as a comprehensive and institutionalized social policy, which Rwanda so far does not have.South Afric

Innovations in Achieving Sustainable Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa

Innovations in Achieving Sustainable Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa addresses roles and issues related to social and institutional innovations and approaches in food security in Southern and Eastern Africa. They include implementation of food security policy, rural livelihood and agricultural innovation, land consolidation for food security, interdisciplinary school-based health for food security, harnessing indigenous and modern knowledge for food security, household food resource handling for food security, institutions for technological innovation, role of land tax in food security, trade protectionism and food security, and gender-power relations in food security