Book Review

Microcredit’s Real Revolution (La vraie révolution du microcrédit) Jean-Michel Servet. Odile Jacob, Paris, 2015, 256 pp.ISBN: 978 2 73813246

COVID-19 Global Pandemic, Financial Development and Financial Inclusion

This chapter examines how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected financial development and financial inclusion in African countries. The study provides both broad perspectives and country-specific frameworks based on selected country cases studies. Some emphasis is placed on the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) that are related to financial inclusion. The study aims to understand what immediate challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has represented to the economies and societies on the one hand and on the other, the effect of the COVID-19 on the interconnected financial systems in terms of consequences of the pandemic. The relevance of the study builds on the importance of these insights in helping both scholars and policy makers understand how the effect of the pandemic on the financial system and by extension, the global economy can be mitigated for more financial inclusion

Inclusive Green Growth Dataset for African Countries

Tracking the progress of countries in inclusive green growth (IGG) is crucial for shaping effective sustainable development policies. However, comprehensive IGG data is often inaccessible. Accordingly, rigorous empirical contributions in this direction in the context of Africa remain sparse. To address this, we computed IGG scores for 22 African countries from 2000-2020. Our data reveal that only nine of these countries are achieving green and inclusive growth. This dataset equips researchers and institutions to assess IGG progress and identify pathways for African governments to promote sustainable developmen

Central Banks’ responses to the Covid-19 pandemic: The case of the Bank of Central African States

This study explores the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), which is the central bank for countries in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), that is, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, and the Republic of Congo. While hitherto, BEAC had fundamentally focused on fighting inflation and promoting monetary integration and financial stability in its member states, the COVID-19 pandemic, among other factors, has motivated it to also shift its policies towards targeted credit programmes and more economic growth. This study sheds light on four core aspects: (i) the socio-economic context of the CEMAC region prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, (ii) BEAC as a lender of last resort, (iii) historical, contemporary, and future insights surrounding targeted credit programmes, and (iv), suggestions for the path forward in terms of reforms, with emphasis on inclusive growth and monitoring economic development at the regional level

Towards sustainability: The relationship between foreign direct investment, economic freedom and inclusive green growth

This study contributes to the environmental and socioeconomic sustainability literature by examining three important issues. First, the study examines the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic freedom on inclusive green growth (IGG) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Second, we investigate whether economic freedom interacts with FDI to promote IGG. Third, we identify minimum thresholds required for economic freedom to cause FDI to foster IGG. The findings are based on macro data for 20 SSA countries. Evidence, based on instrumental variable regression, shows that, unconditionally, FDI is not statistically significant for promoting IGG. Second, the study finds that SSA’s ‘Mostly unfree’ economic architecture conditions FDI to reduce IGG. Third, results from our threshold regression reveal that the minimum threshold required for economic freedom to cause FDI to foster IGG is 66.2% (Moderately free). The study sheds new light on investments necessary for SSA’s economic architecture to form relevant synergies with FDI to promote IGG

Foreign Direct Investment and Inclusive Green Growth in Africa: Energy Efficiency Contingencies and Thresholds

Despite the growing number of empirical studies on foreign direct investment (FDI) and energy efficiency (EE) as they relate to green growth, there remains an empirical research gap with respect to whether EE can engender positive synergy with FDI to foster inclusive green growth (IGG) in Africa. Also, little has been done to show the IGG gains from improving EE in both the short and long terms. Thus, this paper aims to investigate whether there exists a relevant synergy between EE and FDI in fostering IGG in Africa by using macrodata for 23 countries from 2000 to 2020. According to our findings, which are based on dynamic GMM estimator, FDI hampers IGG in Africa, while EE fosters IGG. Notably, in the presence of EE, the environmental-quality-deterioration effect of FDI is reduced. Additional evidence by way of threshold analysis indicates that improving EE in Africa generates positive sustainable development gains in both the short and long terms. This study suggests that a country’s drive to attract FDI needs to be accompanied by appropriate policy options to promote energy efficiency

Solar Home Systems in South Asia: Examining Adoption, Energy Consumption, and Social Practices

Renewable electricity generation from solar energy has rapidly increased in South Asia. This paper presents a systematic review of 79 scholarly papers on the topic of solar home system adoption, energy consumption, and social practices in South Asia. Using an intersectionality lens, the paper demonstrates that various categories of difference, such as gender, age, class, and ethnicity, intersect and shape the adoption of this technology in South Asia. Utilizing a social practice theory lens, the paper shows that solar home systems shape the spatial and temporal arrangements and practices of members of households that have adopted the technology, as well as their counterparts who have not. This technology has a practical but also symbolic function; the symbolic function and social meaning are derived from the economic and socio-cultural contexts. As this renewable energy technology is embedded in economic and socio-cultural contexts, people reconfigure it in creative ways to meet their everyday energy needs. The paper identifies research gaps and suggests future research agendas

Economia social e solidária e acesso aos alimentos: perspectivas de Camarões

The social and solidarity economy has an increasingly important role in the issue of access to food. This article examines food solidarity in various low-income communities in Cameroon. In the foreground is a nuanced perspective on food distribution practices in the country; such practices allow the low-income population to have access to food. The methodology is qualitative; Interviews were conducted with the participants in English, French, and Pidgin. To facilitate the disclosure of information, it was clarified that the data provided will be anonymous (pseudonyms are used). In addition, for confidentiality reasons, no information that could reveal the identity of the participants is disclosed.La economía social y solidaria tiene un papel cada vez más importante en el tema del acceso a la alimentación. Este artículo examina la solidaridad alimentaria en varias comunidades de bajos ingresos en Camerún. En primer plano se encuentra una perspectiva matizada sobre las prácticas de distribución de alimentos en el país; tales prácticas permiten que la población de bajos ingresos tenga acceso a los alimentos. La metodología es cualitativa; Las entrevistas se llevaron a cabo con los participantes en inglés, francés y pidgin. Para facilitar la divulgación de información, se aclaró que los datos proporcionados serán anónimos (se utilizan seudónimos). Además, por razones de confidencialidad, no se divulga información que pueda revelar la identidad de los participantes.L’économie social et solidaire joue un rôle de plus en plus important dans le domaine de l’accès à l’alimentation. Cet article examine la solidarité alimentaire dans plusieurs communautés à faible revenu au Cameroun. Au premier plan se trouve une perspective nuancée sur les pratiques de distribution alimentaire dans le pays ; de telles pratiques permettent aux populations à faible revenu d’avoir accès à la nourriture. La méthodologie est qualitative ; les entretiens ont eu lieu avec les participants en anglais, français et Pidgin. Pour faciliter la divulgation d’informations, il a été précisé que les données fournies seront anonymes (pseudonymes utilisés). En outre, pour des raisons de confidentialité, aucune information susceptible de révéler l’identité des participants n’est divulguée.A economia social e solidária desempenha um papel cada vez mais importante na questão do acesso à alimentação. Este artigo examina a solidariedade alimentar em várias comunidades de baixa renda em Camarões. Em primeiro plano encontra -se uma perspectiva matizada sobre as práticas de distribuição de alimentos no país; tais práticas permitem que a população de baixa renda tenha acesso aos alimentos. A metodologia é qualitativa; As entrevistas foram realizadas com os participantes em inglês, francês e pidgin. Para facilitar a divulgação das informações, foi esclarecido que os dados fornecidos serão anônimos (são utilizados pseudônimos). Além disso, por motivos de sigilo, não são divulgadas informações que possam revelar a identidade dos participantes

Healthcare Financing in Rural Cameroon

In the global South, low-income populations are faced with frequent health shocks. Formal mechanisms to protect them against these shocks are absent or limited. Thus, what are the mechanisms used by low-income rural populations to finance healthcare? This paper draws on a qualitative study to examine the healthcare financing mechanisms of low-income rural populations in Cameroon. The findings suggest that low-income populations use 13 mechanisms to finance healthcare. Depending on several factors, people may use more than one of these mechanisms. In addition, social factors shape people’s patterns of usage of these mechanisms. Patterns of usage of these mechanisms are embedded in the principle of reciprocity. The notion of reciprocity does seem to discourage people from enrolling in the limited voluntary health insurance programmes which exist in various communities. Newly insured people were more likely to drop out if they did not receive a payout

Solar Power and the Struggle for Electrification in Africa

This article is published under Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 licence.Off-grid solar technologies have emerged as one of the remedies to Africa’s severe lack of access to electricity. Evidence from Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, and Kenya suggests that these systems positively affect income generation, education, health, and safety and security. Despite its potential, off-grid solar power’s technical limitations, combined with concerns about durability and environmental impact, underscore the need for more comprehensive solutions. Addressing Africa’s electrification crisis requires a multifaceted approach involving collaboration among various stakeholders to ensure sustainable, reliable, and inclusive energy access.This article is based on research funded by an SSHRC Insight Development Grant (#430-2021-00930)