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Monetary Policy Implementation and Financial Performance of Commercial Bank in Rwanda: A Case of Equity Bank, Rwanda
No full textThis study analyzed the effect of monetary policy implementation on the financial performance of commercial banks in Rwanda. Descriptive research design was adopted to examine how monetary policy variables affect financial performance measured by return on assets and return on Equity in Equity Bank for a period of 5 years (2017- 2021). The Study is established on loanable fund theory, New Keynes model, and classical theory of interest rate and Efficiency theory. Regression coefficient, Analysis of variance, Regression analysis, descriptive statistics (Mean and Standard deviation) and inferential (Correlation and inferential analysis) were used to estimate the joint and effect of monetary policy variables measured by interest rate, reserve requirement and liquidity management on financial performance of commercial bank . The study revealed that the endogenous variables (interest rate, reserve requirement and liquidity management) were significantly related with the dependent variable (financial performance). Thus, these independent variables strongly have an effect on the financial performance of commercial banks in Rwanda. It is concluded that monetary policy implementation has been effective for commercial banks in Rwanda by increasing their financial performance. Therefore, the Study recommended that commercial Banks should consistently adopt monetary policy implementation that will help Rwandan banks to improve on their profitability.
Keywords: Monetary Policy Implementation, Financial Performance, Commercial Bank, Equity Bank, Rwand
Effect of Macroeconomic Factors on the relationship between Asset Liability Management and Profitability of Commercial Banks in Kenya
No full textThe study sought to establish the influence of macroeconomic factors on the relationship between asset liability management and profitability among commercial banks in Kenya. The study was anchored on liability management theory. The study also drew its theoretical support from commercial loan theory, the market power theory and the efficient structure theory. The study was guided by the positivism philosophical paradigm and a cross sectional descriptive design adopted. The population of the study was the 42 commercial banks in Kenya that were operational between 2015 and 2020. Secondary data was obtained from the annual reports of CBK and audited banks’ financial statements from 2015 to 2020. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicated that asset liability management had a statistically significant influence on the profitability among commercial banks in Kenya. Macroeconomic factors were found to have a statistically significant influence on the relationship between asset liability management and profitability among commercial banks in Kenya. The study has contributed to theory, policy and management in relation to how macroeconomic factors influences relationship between asset liability management and profitability among commercial banks in Kenya. In light of these findings, banks should ensure that asset liability management policies are crafted based on appropriate strategies for profitability enhancement. The study recommends that policy makers should enhance the economic growth and develop strategies to control inflation levels for the banking sector to thrive.
Keywords: Macroeconomic Factors, Profitability, Commercial Banks in Keny
Beneficiaries’ Engagement and Project Sustainability in Rwanda: A Case of Huguka Dukore Akazi Kanoze (Hdak)
No full textThe study generally aimed at assessing the role of beneficiaries' engagement in sustaining the project in Rwanda, with the following specific objectives: To determine beneficiaries' engagement in planning and design for the sustainability of the project; to assess beneficiaries' engagement in the implementation for the sustainability of the project; and to identify beneficiaries' engagement in monitoring and evaluation for the sustainability of the project. This research focused on 114 Huguka Dukore Akazi Kanoze youth leaders. It is used to probability-stratify, random, and purposeful sampling methods. Questionnaires were used to collect primary data, and a documentary review was used to collect secondary data. SPSS version 23 was used to analyze the data. The findings provided a strong mean of 4.38 and a standard deviation of 0.66 regarding beneficiary's participation in meetings for planning youth group activities. The findings generated by multiple regression analysis showed that beneficiaries' engagement in planning and design contributed to the sustainability of the Huguka Dukore Akazi Kanoze project by 99.9% (R2 = 0.999). On the beneficiaries' engagement in implementation and the project's sustainability, the findings showed that beneficiaries participated in making decisions about the project at a mean of 4.37 and a standard deviation of 0.72. The regression line showed that beneficiaries' engagement in implementation influences the Huguka Dukore Akazi Kanoze Project's sustainability at a positive, positive correlation of 94.7% (R2 = 0.947). The responses indicated that beneficiaries assess project performance, with a mean of 4.38 and a standard deviation of 0.71. The multiple linear regression indicated that the beneficiary's engagement in monitoring and evaluation contributes to the sustainability of the Huguka Dukore Akazi Kanoze project at a correlation coefficient of 99.4%, which is a very strong positive correlation. The study concluded that beneficiary engagement influences the sustainability of the Huguka Dukore Akazi Kanoze project at a strongly positive correlation of 97.6%. (R2=0.976), Following the Huguka Dukore Akazi Kanoze approach, the study recommends that project implementers and donors learn from the results on how to engage beneficiaries early in the project.
Keywords: Beneficiaries,’ Engagement, Project, Sustainability Rwanda
 
Gender Considerations and Entrepreneurship Development in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates
No full textEntrepreneurship development refers to the process of creating an environment that fosters entrepreneurship and supports the growth and success of entrepreneurial ventures. It plays a critical role in driving economic growth and job creation, as well as promoting innovation and competitiveness In the UAE, women make up only a small percentage of entrepreneurs, with the majority of businesses owned and operated by men. Gender considerations in entrepreneurship development requires promoting women's leadership and representation in the business community. It was found that UAE Gender Balance Council was set up with the aim of promoting gender balance across all sectors of society, and the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative, which provides financial and non-financial support to women entrepreneurs. There are also several private sector initiatives aimed at supporting women's entrepreneurship in the UAE, including the Dubai Business Women Council, which provides business training and support to women entrepreneurs, and the Women's Angel Investor Network, which provides funding and mentorship to women-led businesses. Promoting gender diversity and inclusion in business can have a positive impact on the wider economy, by promoting innovation and growth. In conclusion, it is important to address the challenges that women entrepreneurs face in balancing their entrepreneurial activities with their family responsibilities. Beauracracy in accessing mentorship and networking opportunities, accessing technology and digital resources, accessing information and resources related to entrepreneurship and in accessing business incubators and accelerators. The study recommended that the government should encourage more women to participate in entrepreneurship by promoting female role models and highlighting the successes of women entrepreneurs in the UAE. Develop mentorship and networking programs that are specifically tailored to the needs of women entrepreneurs. Provide opportunities for women entrepreneurs to connect with international networks and markets. Increase the representation of women on boards and in senior leadership positions in businesses and organizations. This can help to create a more inclusive and diverse business environment in the UAE. Encourage the development of women-led and women-owned businesses in the UAE.
Keywords: Gender Considerations, Entrepreneurship Development, United Arab Emirate
Factors Affecting Cost and Execution Period of Trail Bridge Construction Project in Nyamagabe District, Rwanda
No full textThe general objective of this study was to assess the factors affecting execution period (delays) of trail bridge construction project in Nyamagabe district of Rwanda, in southern Province. The study was guided by the following objectives: To assess the effects of environmental factors on bridge completion period in Nyamagabe district, to assess the effect of financial factors on bridge completion period in Nyamagabe district and to assess the effect of changes on bridge completion period in Nyamagabe district. A sample of 80 individuals was selected from a pool of 396 participants involved in the construction of bridges. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS Version 23, and the primary tool for data collection was a questionnaire. Linear regression analysis was employed to identify the factors that influence the delays in the execution period, with a 95% confidence interval and a statistically significant threshold set at a P-value of less than 0.05. The study revealed a significant negative influence of environmental factors on the completion of bridge construction projects, as evidenced by the regression coefficient of 0.425 and the t-value of -0.343. This statistical significance was confirmed by the p-value of 0.002, which is below the threshold of 0.05. The study also identified that financial issues may have an impact on the timely completion of the project, as indicated by the regression coefficient of -0.142 and the t-value of 1.655. However, the statistical analysis showed that this relationship was not statistically significant, as the p-value of 0.102 is above the significance level of 0.05. Furthermore, the study revealed negative effects of changes that occur during the implementation of bridge projects in Nyamagabe District. This is evident from the regression coefficient of -0.294 and the t-value of -3.318, both of which are statistically significant. The p-value of 0.001 is less than the threshold of 0.05, indicating a significant impact of changes on the project.his study concluded that environmental factors and changes related factors have a negative influence on the project execution. This means that those factors contribute more in the delaying and execution of project. Through this, the project stakeholders should conduct deep situational analysis in order to avoid cost and time overrun.
Keywords: Cost, Execution Period, Trail Bridge Construction Project, Nyamagabe District, Rwand
Inventory Management Practices and Patient Satisfaction: A Case of Gihundwe District Hospital
No full textThe main objective of this research was to determine the role of inventory management practices and factors associated with patient satisfaction in Gihundwe District Hospital. Specific objectives were to evaluate the patient satisfaction level regarding the Medical Supplies acquisition and provision among patients of Gihundwe District Hospital; to assess the role of medical supplies stock movement to the patient satisfaction among employees of Gihundwe District Hospital, and to determine the factors associated with patient’s non-satisfaction regarding medical supplies acquisition and provision among patients of Gihundwe District Hospital. This study was a cross-section study design, and the target population of this research comprises 147 employees and 90 patients of Gihundwe District Hospital. This study included the sample size of 107 employees of Gihundwe District Hospital from 147 employees and 73 patients from 90 patients by using Yamane’s formula. The sample selection was carried out by using simple random sampling as the sampling technique. The quantitative data analysis, researcher use SPSS 21.0 version for producing table, figure. Bivariate and multivariate data analysis were carried out to determine the factors associated with patients’ satisfaction. The significance level was set at the p-value less than 0.05 with 95% CI. The findings revealed that the majority of the respondent (72.6%) has a high level of satisfaction while 21.4% has low level of satisfaction. The overall mean score was 4.3 for the role and 4.1 for the importance of medical supplies acquisition to patient satisfaction. The overall mean score for inventory transaction records to patient satisfaction was 4. The overall score was high for all inventory actions parameters among employees of Gihundwe District. After the elimination of non-significant factors and Odd Ratios adjustment, insufficient health providers, Missing medication, and Missing reagent were all significantly associated with overall patients' low satisfaction regarding the medical supplies acquisition and provision. Their respective results were (AoR: 6.3, 95%CI: 2.033-19.703, p=0.18, AoR: 15.2, 95%CI: 4.991-26.476, p=0.04, and AoR: 4.2, 95%CI: 1.598-10.99, and p=0.25, respectively), including the stockout with p=0.04. This study concluded that insufficient health providers, missing medication, and missing reagent were significantly associated with low patient satisfaction regarding medical supplies acquisition and provision and are very important elements to improve the level of patient satisfaction in Gihundwe District hospital. These points could be based on to plan and create exquisite medical supplies acquisition and provision services and healthcare training.
Keywords: Inventory management Practices, Patient, Patient satisfaction
Effect of Financial Planning on Resource Mobilization of Humanitarian Non-Governmental Organizations in Nairobi County
No full textNGOs in Kenya play major roles in a number of developmental areas; socially, politically, economically and culturally. However, the NGOs in Kenya have been characterized with poor relations towards the citizens, which has been brought about by problems in political, historical and cultural aspects. This study sought to determine the effect of financial planning on resource mobilization of humanitarian non-governmental organizations in Nairobi County. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population of the current study was 64 humanitarian NGOs that are based in Nairobi County. While the unit of analysis was the 64 humanitarian NGOs, the unit of observation were two respondents from finance and project management departments of these organizations. The study adopted a census sampling technique where the entire sample size of 128 was used. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire. A regression model was used to test the effect of financial planning on the resource mobilization of Humanitarian NGOs in Nairobi County. The results indicated that financial planning has a negative and insignificant effect on resource mobilization of Humanitarian Non-Governmental Organizations in Nairobi County (B = -0.068; t = -0.890 < 1.96, = p-value = 0.375 > 0.05). These results imply that efficient financial planning practices do not improve resource mobilization of Humanitarian Non-Governmental Organizations in Nairobi County. The null hypothesis developed on the non-significance of financial planning on resource mobilization of Humanitarian Non- Governmental Organizations in Nairobi County was not rejected. The study findings led to a conclusion that the null hypothesis on the insignificance of the influence of financial planning on the resource mobilization of Humanitarian Non-Governmental Organizations in Nairobi County was not rejected. The study found that the current financial planning measures adopted by Humanitarian Non-Governmental Organizations do not improve their financial accountability. Thus, the study recommends that there is need for these organization to pay keen attention to their financial planning around budgeting, financial practices, and financial forecasting, in order to improve their financial accountability.
Keywords: Financial Planning, Resource Mobilization & Humanitarian Non-Governmental Organization
Financial Regulations and Stability of Banking Systems: A Case Study of Citibank in Singapore
No full textFinancial regulations are essential for maintaining the stability and soundness of banking systems. These regulations establish guidelines and requirements for banks to ensure they have sufficient capital, manage liquidity effectively, and mitigate risks. By enforcing financial regulations, regulatory authorities promote transparency, protect depositors' interests, and prevent financial crimes. Ultimately, a robust regulatory framework contributes to a stable banking system that can withstand economic shocks and safeguard the overall financial health of an economy. The study found that the financial regulations imposed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have proven to be effective in ensuring the stability and resilience of the banking system in Singapore. Citibank has implemented robust risk management practices in accordance with the financial regulations in Singapore. Regular audits, inspections, and compliance assessments conducted by the MAS help maintain the integrity of Citibank's operations and promote a culture of compliance within the bank. The MAS actively participates in international forums, exchanges knowledge, and harmonizes regulatory standards to address cross-border risks and maintain the stability of the financial system. The study concluded that the MAS plays a crucial role in overseeing and regulating the financial sector in Singapore, with a primary focus on maintaining stability, ensuring sound governance, and protecting the interests of stakeholders. Excessive regulations may hinder innovation and impede the competitiveness of banks, while inadequate regulations may leave the financial system vulnerable to risks. The study recommended that financial regulations should emphasize the importance of transparency and disclosure, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions. The MAS should encourage banks to provide clear and accurate financial statements and disclosures that adhere to international accounting standards. The regulatory framework should encourage banks to adopt and leverage emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital identity, while ensuring robust cybersecurity measures and stringent data protection standards.
Keywords: Financial Regulations, Stability, Banking Systems, Singapor
Effect of Credit Risk Management on the Performance of Commercial Banks in Rwanda: A Case of Cogebank Rwanda Plc
No full textThe research focused on the effect of credit risk management on the performance of commercial banks in Rwanda. A case of Cogebank Rwanda PLC. The study specifically analysed the effects of credit appraisal, credit risks identification, credit risks monitoring and control and credit collection on the performance of Cogebank, Rwanda PLC. The study covered the period of four years from 2018 up to 2021. In term of research methodology, the study adopted a cross section research design and used questionnaire, interview and documentation as main tools of data collection. The study adopted censes approach and considered all 35 staff from two departments accounting and credit departments which were purposively selected. Researcher also analyzed the collected data using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS). The results showed that the bank granted loans of 95.8%; 97.3%; 92.4% and 85.0% respectively of their deposits from 2018 to 2021. And looking at BNR’s regulations on the loan granting it is clear that the commercial bank must not exceed 80% of deposit collected when granting loans. From 2018 up to 2021 the ratio of Return on Equity was as following: 12.62%; 13.63%; 12.24% and 13.79% respectively. The results show the value of adjusted R2 is 0.650 implying that there was a variation of 65% of performance of Cogebank Rwanda PLC which was explained by the four credit risk management strategies adopted by the bank namely credit risk appraisal, credit risk identification, credit risk analysis, and credit risk monitoring. This implies that, credit risk appraisal, credit risk identification, credit risk analysis, and credit risk monitoring explained 65% of performance at a confidence level of 95%. This study recommends that Cogebank Rwanda Plc should improve loan recovery procedures for better loan management, should improve the implementation of guarantee policies for better loan management and since the latter has significant effect on performance of the bank.
Keywords: Credit Risk Management, Commercial Banks Performance, Cogebank Rwanda Plc. Rwandan Banking Sector, Financial Stabilit
Non-Financial Disclosure Policies and Their Influence on the Investor Behavior in NYSE-Listed Financial Firms
No full textThis comprehensive research study delved into the impact of Non-Financial Disclosure (NFD) policies on investor behavior in firms listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The premise of the research was grounded on the hypothesis that exhaustive NFDs, covering a broad spectrum of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) parameters, exert a significant influence on the decision-making process of investors. The research design was longitudinal, examining the unfolding of NFD practices of firms listed on the NYSE over an eight-year period from 2015 to 2023. The methodology hinged on a robust econometric analysis, where a comprehensive dataset compiled from numerous sources such as annual reports, sustainability disclosures, and patterns of investor behavior, was subjected to rigorous statistical scrutiny. The findings of the study provided compelling evidence of a strong positive correlation between the robustness of NFD practices and investor confidence. Particularly, disclosures that pertained to social and environmental impact seemed to trigger a considerable shift in investment patterns, highlighting the growing role of ESG factors in contemporary financial markets. What stood out in the research results was the fact that firms that demonstrated a strong commitment to NFD policies managed to attract a more diversified and stable investor base. This observation signals a clear shift in the financial landscape towards sustainable investment, driven by a growing consciousness among investors about the importance of ESG factors in ensuring long-term investment value. The implications of this study for the wider financial community are significant. Firstly, it adds substantial empirical weight to the growing body of literature underlining the importance of NFDs in contemporary financial markets. Secondly, it underscores the crucial role that regulatory bodies can play in fostering a more transparent and accountable financial ecosystem. It suggests the need for these bodies to enforce comprehensive NFD policies to ensure that investors have access to the information they need to make informed and sustainable investment decisions.
Keywords: Non-Financial Disclosure Policies, Investor Behavior, NYSE-Listed Financial Firms, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Factors, Sustainable Investment Practice