African Journal of Empirical Research
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Macroeconomic stability factors and trade competitiveness Nexus Kenya
Get PDFThis study investigates the influence of key macroeconomic stability factors—exchange rate, inflation, foreign direct investment (FDI), and gross domestic product (GDP)—on trade competitiveness in Kenya. Using annual time-series data from 1993 to 2023 sourced from the World Bank and the Central Bank of Kenya, the study employs a quantitative research design guided by the New Open Economy Macroeconomics (NOEM) framework. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit root tests, Johansen cointegration, Granger causality, and regression analysis. The findings indicate that all variables are integrated of order one and share a long-run equilibrium relationship. Granger causality tests show that there is a two-way relationship between the exchange rate and trade competitiveness and between GDP and competitiveness. There is only one way for FDI to affect competitiveness. Regression estimates demonstrate that a 1% depreciation in the exchange rate and a 1% rise in inflation reduce trade competitiveness by 0.642% and 0.488%, respectively. Conversely, a 1% increase in FDI and GDP enhances competitiveness by 0.521% and 0.491%, respectively. The study concludes that macroeconomic stability is a critical determinant of Kenya\u27s trade performance. Policy recommendations include maintaining a stable and competitive exchange rate, anchoring inflation expectations, attracting targeted FDI, and fostering GDP growth through economic diversification to bolster Kenya\u27s position in regional and global markets
The role of digital platforms in amplifying silenced voices
Get PDFThe paper examines the role of digital platforms in amplifying the voices of marginalized Muslim women, as presented in Sherine Hafez\u27s (2018) biographical memoir, Women of the Midan, as a central case study. The aim is to analyse how digital platforms facilitated the articulation of political aspirations, challenge patriarchal structures and construct alternative narratives of selfhood and agency among Egyptian Muslim women during the Egyptian revolution. The paper analyses how platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and blogs enabled Muslim women activists to bypass state-controlled media. It also documents human rights abuses and share personal experiences of these women with a global audience. This highlights the complexities and limitations of digital activism in this context and assesses the overall impact of digital platforms in empowering Muslim women in Egypt to reclaim their voices, assert their agency and contribute to broader social and political change. This study adopts a qualitative interpretive approach, drawing on critical discourse analysis (CDA) and feminist media studies and entails close reading and textual analysis of Hafez\u27s (2018) biographical memoir. Ultimately, the paper argues that digital platforms, despite their inherent risks and limitations, provides a crucial space for these women, offering valuable lessons for understanding the evolving dynamics of gender, religion, and digital activism in contemporary society
Impact of the Meru KOPIA project on poultry farmers’ income in Meru County, Kenya
Get PDFMost farming households in Kenya keep indigenous chickens in scavenging systems characterized by low productivity. In response to this, the Korea Program on International Agriculture (KOPIA) center in Nairobi collaborated with the County Government of Meru to disseminate localized technologies and provide technical support to indigenous poultry farmers using the model village approach. The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of the project on participating poultry farmers’ income in Meru County, Kenya, as promoted by the KOPIA. Descriptive cross-sectional survey research was adopted to achieve the objectives of the paper. Data was collected from beneficiaries and a control group through a survey of 236 households using researcher-administered questionnaires sampled from a population of 400 farmers drawn from the 4 participating villages. The study was based on the rational choice theory. Propensity score matching was used to compute the average treatment effect on the treated. Using the nearest neighbor, caliper-based, and kernel-based matching methods, the results showed evidence that program beneficiaries increased their annual income from poultry production, ranging from Kshs 66,616 to 81,674. Being located in Mbaria, Ng’onyi, and Ntalami model villages, the number of livestock enterprises, the number of eggs sold, the number of hens sold, and egg production per hen influenced the impact of the project. The study recommends the establishment of more model villages so as to spread the benefits to a wider area. Future efforts should include addressing constraints in marketing and group cohesion so as to increase the benefits to the participating farmers. Assisting farmers to form a marketing cooperative will not only increase market participation but also benefit farmers from collective procurement of inputs as well as credit for enterprise expansion
The effect of employee engagement on organisational performance: A case study of Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI), Tanzania
Get PDFThis study intended to assess the impact of employee engagement on organisational effectiveness, using the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute in Tanzania as a case study. Specifically, it investigated the effect of employee engagement on organisational performance. Guided by Human Capital Theory, the study adopted a case study design within a quantitative research framework. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 222 respondents. Analysis was conducted using SPSS version 21, employing correlation techniques, with results presented in statistical tables. The findings indicated a significant positive correlation between employee engagement and organisational performance, underscoring their critical role in enhancing institutional effectiveness. Based on these results, the study recommends that Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute establish clear key performance indicators (KPIs). These KPIs should link training outcomes with patient satisfaction, staff productivity, and surgical success rates. The study also recommends connecting engagement initiatives directly with organisational performance. Furthermore, it advocates for a National Health Workforce Engagement Policy. This policy should promote employee involvement, recognition, and well-being across public health institutions. The Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute can serve as a model for its implementation
Exploring the perceived level of satisfaction with the quality of library services in university libraries in Tanzania
Get PDFThis study explores the perceived level of satisfaction with the quality of library services (QLS) in university libraries in Tanzania. Specifically, the study analyzed the extent to which services influence library users’ level of satisfaction and assessed how users perceive their satisfaction with the quality of library services. The study was guided by the SERVQUAL model, and it used a cross-sectional research design. The population of this study involved academic staff, students, heads of higher learning institutions, directors of libraries, quality assurance officials, heads of departments in the libraries, and library staff, amounting to 64,988 and Simple random sampling and purposive sampling procedures were used to select 397 respondents and 68 key informants. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data and were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) tool version 20 and content analysis for qualitative data. The key findings revealed that 75% of library staff were approachable, polite, friendly, empathetic, and available to respond timely to users’ needs. Moreover, 61.2% indicated that time provided for using the library was adequate for users, and results from binary logistic regression show that noise, poor photocopy services, lack of air conditioning, lack of weekend services, and early closing time had a statistically significant influence on users’ satisfaction with library services. Moreover, the study found that 38% opined that a good library provides users with advisory services; sufficient collection was mentioned by 33.8%. Seating arrangements and an attractive environment to learn were rated at 47.9%. However, 13% disagreed that a good library provides reservation/booking services. The study therefore concluded that library users were satisfied by the university libraries\u27 services in terms of collection, environment, staff, facilities, and services provided. Library management should have a current collection/facilities, a conducive environment, trained staff, and adequate furniture
The effect of technology readiness on e-procurement adoption in Zanzibar’s public sector: A case of the Zanzibar Public Procurement Regulatory Authority
Get PDFEven while e-procurement technologies have become more widely used worldwide, many underdeveloped nations, including Zanzibar, still struggle to fully digitize their procurement procedures. This study looked at how technology readiness affected the Zanzibar Public Procurement Regulatory Authority\u27s (ZPPRA) adoption of e-procurement. Based on the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) architecture and Parasuraman\u27s Technology Readiness Index (TRI), the study evaluated how e-procurement adoption is influenced by optimism, innovativeness, discomfort, and insecurity. 85 employees completed structured questionnaires as part of a quantitative research design, and 70 valid responses were evaluated using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS (version 28) and AMOS (version 26). The results showed that e-procurement adoption is positively and significantly impacted by technical readiness. In particular, while discomfort and uneasiness limited adoption, optimism and inventiveness increased user confidence and system utilization. However, effective implementation is still hampered by institutional and governance issues such as inadequate Information and Communication Technology [ICT] infrastructure, conflicting oversight agency mandates, and political meddling. The findings show that stronger optimism and innovativeness, coupled with lower discomfort and insecurity, enhance the effective use of the E-ProZ system. This highlights that e-procurement success in Zanzibar depends equally on users’ readiness and supportive technology. The study suggests that in order to improve technology-driven procurement reforms in Zanzibar and other developing contexts, ICT capacity should be increased, staff digital competency should be strengthened, institutional autonomy should be ensured, and governance structures should be aligned
Effectiveness of ward education officers’ supervisory roles on enhancing teachers’ work performance in public secondary schools in Arusha District Council, Tanzania
Get PDFThe study was looking at the role of Ward Education Officers (WEOs) in ensuring the improvement of performance of teachers at public secondary schools in the Arusha District Council in Tanzania. The massive growth of secondary schools due to national education policies requires high supervisory practices to provide quality education. The actual performance of the students in academics is very poor while WEOs are present, which indicates that there is a need to have a new approach at the supervisory level. The study was governed by the Clinical Supervision model (CSM), which encourages teaching by use of systematic steps, and Total Quality Management (TQM), which is based on the principles of continuous improvement and focused on quality assurance in different aspects. A concurrent triangulation design was used to collect data from 135 respondents who were DSEOs, WEOs, heads of schools, and teachers by using simple random and purposive sampling. The study demonstrates that WEOs have crucial responsibilities of monitoring the number of enrolled students, examining school management systems, and providing teaching assistance to teachers. The WEOs face some challenges during the implementation of their responsibilities, which limit their service delivery since they lack adequate transport, lack training, and work in poor facilities. The study revealed that WEOs should have resources and encouragement to accomplish improved teacher performance, which will result in increased student outcomes. Also, the study suggests improving the effectiveness of WEO by providing superior logistical assistance, enhancing ongoing professional growth, and resolving the issue of supervision
Assessing continuous professional development practices for TVET trainers of trainers in Uganda: A mixed-methods study
Get PDFTechnical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is central to equipping learners with practical and employable skills in Uganda. The quality of this training hinges on the competence of TVET master trainers, which is sustained through Continuous Professional Development (CPD). This study assessed the current CPD practices available for TVET master trainers in instructor training institutions in Uganda and examined their relationship with the professional competences of TVET master trainers. This study was grounded in the Experiential Learning Theory (ELT). A convergent parallel mixed-methods research design within a descriptive framework was employed, collecting data via questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis from 166 master trainers, administrators, trainees, and policymakers, achieving an 87.5% response rate. The findings reveal that CPD programs are regularly organized and perceived as relevant, yet their implementation is fragmented, inaccessible to many, and heavily reliant on donor support and individual initiative. A significant positive correlation was found between CPD practices and trainer competences (r = 0.459). Critically, regression analysis established that current CPD practices explain 21% of the variance in the professional competences of TVET master trainers (R² = 0.211). This underscores the substantial, yet under-optimized, role of CPD. The study concludes that, despite a positive relationship, CPD delivery in Uganda remains inconsistent. It recommends the establishment of a robust national CPD framework, formalized industry partnerships, improved accessibility through blended learning, and the integration of CPD participation into career progression and reward systems to enhance its effectiveness and impact
Enhancing community engagement in conflict resolution among secondary school students in Sumbawanga Municipal Council, Tanzania
Get PDFThis study examined the enhancement of community engagement in conflict resolution among secondary schools’ students in Sumbawanga Municipal Council. Specifically, the study focused on identifying the conflict resolution strategies utilized by the community in addressing conflicts, assessing the role of local community leaders in conflict resolution, and exploring the impact of community involvement on students’ academic performance. The study employed Social Capital Theory (SCT). A qualitative approach utilizing case study design was utilized. The target population included students (class monitors), discipline teachers, and community leaders, from whom 20 participants were picked purposively for interviews. Further, data were thematically analyzed. The findings revealed mediation, counseling, and dialogue were commonly used by the community to resolve student conflicts. Moreover, local leaders played a pivotal role in promoting peace and restoring relationships as well as strengthening collaboration among students at schools. On top of that, it was demonstrated that active community participation in conflict resolution positively influenced students’ academic performance, as a conducive learning environment with fewer disruptions encouraged discipline. The study concludes that sustainability of conflict resolution requires active participation of competent stakeholders alongside school management. The study recommends strengthening school-community partnerships, capacity-building for community leaders for conflict management and policy support for community participation in academic settings
Building sustainable workplaces: A systematic review of green human resource management (GHRM) practices and their impact on organisational sustainability
Get PDFThis is a systematic review of a total of eighteen empirical studies, which explore the role of green human resource management (GHRM) practices in organisational sustainability in different sectors and national settings. Using PRISMA 2020 and a protocol registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251229461), the review finds a consistent positive impact of green recruitment, green training, green performance management, and green reward systems on environmental performance, green innovation, and pro-environmental behaviour by employees. The results suggest that a significant number of these relationships are mediated by behavioural mechanisms, specifically green organisational culture, environmental felt responsibility, and green work engagement, while being moderated by leadership style, HR competencies, and contextual factors related to the implementation outcomes. Although the strategic role of GHRM has been strongly supported by empirical evidence, the review notes that the methodology has methodological weaknesses, including cross-sectional designs and the geographic focus of the study in Asia and the Middle East. On the whole, the review shows that GHRM is an important organisational lever to be used in embedding sustainability in workforce systems and offers clear theoretical, practical, and methodological guidelines on how to develop the field. Therefore, it is recommended that Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices should be adopted in organisations to improve their performance in increasing sustainability. Policymakers and practitioners should restructure these practices to suit their contextual situations, thereby making the transformation effective in the workplace