Personal Politics without Clientelism? Interpreting Citizen-Politician Contact in Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 28-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Mueller
Keyword(s):  
Public Goods ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Personal Contact ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Amount Of Information ◽  
Personal Politics ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Original Survey

Abstract:This study clarifies the meaning of clientelism and documents its extent in sub-Saharan Africa—a region that political scientists and policy makers often view as especially clientelistic. It proposes an understanding of clientelism as personal contact between citizens and politicians in which citizens request selective rather than public goods in exchange for political loyalty. It then suggests that assessments of clientelism in Africa are sensitive to the amount of information about personal contact that surveys provide. Closed-ended Afrobarometer surveys suggest that personal contact is mostly clientelistic, whereas the original open-ended questionnaires employed in an original survey from Niger suggest that the bulk of citizen requests are programmatic. Leveraging detail in Nigeriens’ qualitative accounts of visiting and calling politicians, the highly personalized contact of Nigeriens can be understood as an adaptation to limits on impersonal contact, not a sign that politicians are circumventing formal channels of communication in order to distribute patronage under the table.

scholarly journals Health technology assessment in sub-Saharan Africa: a descriptive analysis and narrative synthesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Hollingworth ◽  
Ama Pokuaa Fenny ◽  
Su-Yeon Yu ◽  
Francis Ruiz ◽  
Kalipso Chalkidou
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Main Theme ◽  
Narrative Synthesis ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are moving towards universal health coverage. The process of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) can support decisions relating to benefit package design and service coverage. HTA involves institutional cooperation with agreed methods and procedural standards. We systematically reviewed the literature on policies and capacity building to support HTA institutionalisation in SSA. Methods We systematically reviewed the literature by searching major databases (PubMed, Embase, etc.) until June 2019 using terms considering three aspects: HTA; health policy, decision making; and SSA. We quantitatively extracted and descriptively analysed content and conducted a narrative synthesis eliciting themes from the selected literature, which varied in study type and apporach. Results Half of the 49 papers identified were primary research studies and mostly qualitative. Five countries were represented in six of ten studies; South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Cameroon, and Ethiopia. Half of first authors were from SSA. Most informants were policy makers. Five themes emerged: (1) use of HTA; (2) decision-making in HTA; (3) values and criteria for setting priority areas in HTA; (4) involving stakeholders in HTA; and (5) specific examples of progress in HTA in SSA. The first one was the main theme where there was little use of evidence and research in making policy. The awareness of HTA and economic evaluation was low, with inadequate expertise and a lack of local data and tools. Conclusions Despite growing interest in HTA in SSA countries, awareness remains low and HTA-related activities are uncoordinated and often disconnected from policy. Further training and skills development are needed, firmly linked to a strategy focusing on strengthening within-country partnerships, particularly among researchers and policy makers. The international community has an important role here by supporting policy- relevant technical assistance, highlighting that sustainable financing demands evidence-based processes for effective resource allocation, and catalysing knowledge-sharing opportunities among countries facing similar challenges.

Extension education strategy for minimizing aflatoxin impact on sub-Saharan African agriculture and food systems

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ayeni
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Exchange ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Aflatoxin Contamination ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Extension Education ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Sub Saharan

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the most vulnerable region of the world to all aflatoxin-related problems including food insecurity, ill health and reduced foreign exchange earnings. Aflatoxin-contaminated maize, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum and other crops reduce human access to adequate calories from these staples; consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated foods results in severe health conditions, including liver cancer, that deny the region a significant amount of otherwise productive man-hours; while the reduction of grain quality below the international standards due to aflatoxin contamination drastically reduces income in foreign exchange earnings. Scientific knowledge of the causes of aflatoxins in agricultural systems and their mitigation abounds in research institutions in SSA and internationally, but most of this knowledge is unavailable to farmers, food consumers and policy makers in useful form due to poor extension education and ineffective extension services. A paradigm shift in the approach to extension in SSA is proposed, one driven by a sustainable mechanism that is sensitive to the needs of the people and proactive (rather than reactive) in providing solutions to aflatoxin-related problems the local community and policy makers have to deal with. This paper argues that such sustainable mechanism may only be found in a University-based and University-run ‘land grant’ type extension services adapted appropriately to SSA conditions.

Envisioning a National e-Medicine Network Architecture in a Developing Country

2011 ◽  
pp. 35-53
Author(s):  
Fikreyohannes Lemma ◽  
Mieso K. Denko ◽  
Joseph K. Tan ◽  
Samuel Kinde Kassegne
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Network Architecture ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Effective Delivery ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Medical And Healthcare

Poor infrastructures in developing countries such as Ethiopia and much of Sub-Saharan Africa have caused these nations to suffer from lack of efficient and effective delivery of basic and extended medical and healthcare services. Often, such limitation is further accompanied by low patient-doctor ratios, resulting in unwarranted rationing of services. Apparently, e-medicine awareness among both governmental policy makers and private health professionals is motivating the gradual adoption of technological innovations in these countries. It is argued, however, that there still is a gap between current e-medicine efforts in developing countries and the existing connectivity infrastructure leading to faulty, inefficient and expensive designs. The particular case of Ethiopia, one such developing country where e-medicine continues to carry significant promises, is investigated and reported in this article.

Implications of shocks in energy consumption for energy policy in sub-Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 1077-1097 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwasola E Omoju ◽  
Jinkai Li ◽  
Jin Zhang ◽  
Abdul Rauf ◽  
Victor Edem Sosoo
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Policy ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Lm Tests ◽  
Lm Test ◽  
Sub Saharan

Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest energy consumption per capita in the world, and this has undermined socioeconomic development in the region. The stationarity of energy consumption in the region has important implications for energy policy, forecasting and macroeconomic developments. This paper investigates the stationarity properties of energy consumption in 48 sub-Saharan Africa countries using the Augment Dickey–Fuller, Zivot–Andrews, Clemente–Montanes–Reyes and Lee–Strazicich LM tests. Using the Lee-Strazicich LM test as a benchmark, the study shows that energy consumption is stationary in 41 countries. This implies that energy policy makers should not be concerned about shocks in energy consumption in these countries because the shocks will be temporary and not transmitted to the macroeconomy. Also, energy policies will not have long-term effects. Policies that exert one-time temporary shocks on energy consumption would be more effective in these countries.

Countering Violent Extremism in Sub-Saharan Africa: What Policy Makers Need to Know

World Affairs ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 182 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin A. Hardy
Keyword(s):  
Financial Support ◽  
Muslim World ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Boko Haram ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Counter Terrorism ◽  
Violent Extremism ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Over Time

This essay addresses recurring and growing inaccurate reports from political officials as well as counter-terrorism analysts and journalists that the Sahara-Sahel group Boko Haram is a defeated entity. Notwithstanding concerted efforts to rout the movement, Boko Haram and its network of jihadists have expanded. Crucial misunderstandings surrounding what fostered and sustains the phenomenon—as well as a general naivety regarding the organization’s flexibility to adapt to attract combatants, financial support, and weaponry beyond Nigeria’s borders—have made performing basic adequate risk assessments overwhelmingly challenging. Policy makers and CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) practitioners would be wise to recognize that not only has Boko Haram morphed but its growing affiliates also terrorize increased territory. The threat of militant Islam in the Sahara-Sahel, therefore, has not been contained as some would have us believe. Rather, Muslim extremism has become entangled and more complex not only in Africa but across the Muslim world. When jihadists in one territory have taken a beating, surviving fighters have simply relocated to other geographies accompanied by connections for capital and munitions. In this way, Boko Haram—the fulcrum of violent Islam in the Sahara-Sahel—has become, over time, an international jihadist actor.

Envisioning a National E-Medicine Network Architecture in a Developing Country

2011 ◽  
pp. 306-326
Author(s):  
Fikreyohannes Lemma ◽  
Mieso K. Denko ◽  
Joseph K. Tan ◽  
Samuel Kinde Kassegne
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Network Architecture ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Effective Delivery ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Medical And Healthcare

Poor infrastructures in developing countries such as Ethiopia and much of Sub-Saharan Africa have caused these nations to suffer from lack of efficient and effective delivery of basic and extended medical and healthcare services. Often, such limitation is further accompanied by low patient-doctor ratios, resulting in unwarranted rationing of services. Apparently, e-medicine awareness among both governmental policy makers and private health professionals is motivating the gradual adoption of technological innovations in these countries. It is argued, however, that there still is a gap between current e-medicine efforts in developing countries and the existing connectivity infrastructure leading to faulty, inefficient and expensive designs. The particular case of Ethiopia, one such developing country where emedicine continues to carry significant promises, is investigated and reported in this article.

Envisioning a National e-Medicine Network Architecture in a Developing Country

2011 ◽  
pp. 1322-1341
Author(s):  
Fikreyohannes Lemma ◽  
Mieso K. Denko ◽  
Joseph K. Tan ◽  
Samuel Kinde Kassegne
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Network Architecture ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Effective Delivery ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Medical And Healthcare

Poor infrastructures in developing countries such as Ethiopia and much of Sub-Saharan Africa have caused these nations to suffer from lack of efficient and effective delivery of basic and extended medical and healthcare services. Often, such limitation is further accompanied by low patient-doctor ratios, resulting in unwarranted rationing of services. Apparently, e-medicine awareness among both governmental policy makers and private health professionals is motivating the gradual adoption of technological innovations in these countries. It is argued, however, that there still is a gap between current e-medicine efforts in developing countries and the existing connectivity infrastructure leading to faulty, inefficient and expensive designs. The particular case of Ethiopia, one such developing country where emedicine continues to carry significant promises, is investigated and reported in this article.

scholarly journals The Impact of Wood Fuel Energy on Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Dynamic Macro-Panel Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chindo Sulaiman ◽  
A.S. Abdul-Rahim
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Wood Fuel ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Interaction Term ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Solar Powered ◽  
The Impact

This study estimates the impact of wood fuel consumption on economic growth in 19 sub-Saharan African countries over the 1979-2017 period. The study employs dynamic macro-panel estimators, which comprises pooled mean group (PMG), mean group (MG), and dynamic fixed effects (DFE). The estimated result reveals that PMG is the most efficient estimator among the three estimators based on the Hausman h-test. The results from PMG model reveal that wood fuel consumption has significant negative impact on economic growth. Also, when an interaction term between labor and wood fuel consumption was included in the model and estimated, the coefficient of wood fuel consumption yields negative and significant coefficient. This suggests that the interaction term has a negative and significant effect on economic growth. These results unveil that wood fuel consumption negatively and significantly affect economic growth, both directly and indirectly. The policy recommendations from this study are as follows: (1) Governments of these countries should provide adequate and affordable modern fuels to the populace; especially rural dwellers to decrease the use of wood fuel for cooking and heating (2) policy makers should intensify awareness campaign on the risk and danger wood fuel poses to economic growth so as to discourage its use and (3) policy makers should provide adequate solar powered stoves and solar-powered room heaters as cheap substitutes to the use of wood fuel for cooking and heating. These recommendations will assist in negating the negative effects of wood fuel consumption on economic growth of the region.

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