ATDC Abstracts

Keynote 1 (Friday, 9:15 - 10:15 am)
"Harnessing the Power of Globalization for African Development,"
Prof. Kwabena Gyimah-Brempong
Professor and Chair
Economics Department
University of South Florida.

This address highlights how Africa can take advantage of the current wave of globalization to accelerate its development efforts. The central theme is that African countries should not be afraid to open up their economies to globalization for openness confers several benefits, including technology transfers, expanding markets for African exports, and employment creation. However, to be able to take advantage of the benefits of globalization, African countries need to improve their domestic environments, especially in the areas of governance, institutions for policy formulation and implementation, resource allocation, and the training and use of human capital. These efforts only require enlightened political leadership and economic governance to succeed.

 

Keynote 3 (Saturday, 9am - 10am)
"Trade is Not the Enemy--Nor is it a Magic Bullet"
Richard E. Mshomba,
Professor
Economics Department
La Salle University, Philadelphia, PA

Trade is an important tool for economic growth. Trade steers countries toward an efficient use of resources, an infusion of new technologies, and greater competition. But economic growth is not automatic. Other factors, such as macroeconomic instability, civil war, health pandemics, and corruption, can drag an economy down. Even when trade leads to economic growth, it does not necessarily translate into real economic development, that is, improvement in people's standard of living in terms of access to basic needs and social services. For that to happen, trade must be fostered in conjunction with other development-enhancing initiatives. The speaker will discuss these and other issues relating to Africa and trade focusing on the link between trade and development, the role of domestic policies in agriculture, the potential impact of aid, and the concerns over the imbalances between Africa and the developed countries.

 

“Zambia-China Economic Engagement: Challenges to Building a Balanced Relationship”

Agnes Ngoma Leslie, Ph.D.
University of Florida.

Trade links between China and Africa have been growing at a rapid rate. By 2008 more than 700 Chinese companies were active in Africa, and trade between China and the continent was estimated at $55 billion.  Currently, China is Zambia's third largest investor, after South Africa and the United Kingdom. The Chinese investment in Zambia has grown rapidly since the 1990s when the Zambian government began to privatize its state-controlled enterprises.  The expected creation of the $800 million special economic zone on the Copperbelt in Zambia, the first of its kind in Africa, has been seen as evidence of the deepening of the relationship between the two countries.  While the Zambian presidents have hailed China’s investments, the civil society, labor unions and general workers have had negative reactions to the growing relationship.  This paper explores the imbalance in the growing relationship, the country’s investment climate, its policy prescriptions and their impact on the economic and social situation.  Based on archival data, surveys and interviews conducted in Lusaka, Zambia, the paper makes recommendations on how the Zambian government and population in general could build a more balanced economic relationship.  The findings suggest that the stronger the state the more control over the countries’ external interference, the more protection for the people and its resources and in turn the stronger the state legitimacy.

 

“Agricultural Industrialization and Income Distribution in Developing Countries: Future Policy Implications for Poultry Sector in Developing Countries”

Nyankomo Wambura Marwa
University of Nebraska Lincoln

Over the past decades, there has been a drastic change in agricultural sector. The evolution of the vertical market arrangement from farmers to consumers, technological advances and global competitions has played a major role in influencing agricultural industrializations. Despites of the advances in sectors, the challenges posed by agricultural industrialization for smallholder farmers in developing countries especially sub-Saharan Africa are immense. The main objective of the study was to revisit the current production and supply of agricultural commodity by using poultry sector as a case study. More specifically, the study aimed at understanding the strength and challenges of the existing models in terms of efficiency, productivity and its ramifications to social welfare. Cooperative, monopoly and oligopoly market structures were revisited under different assumptions. We used a mult market model to disaggregate the producers and consumers surplus resulting from the current production system and its ramification to income distribution across different groups in the economy. Based on multimarket model, producers’ cooperative and hybrid model (joint venture between investors owned and cooperatives) has demonstrated high likelihood of resulting into a relatively less skewed model of income distribution among the economic agents. The two business models are plausible future policy options especially for smallholders’ farmers in developing countries.

 

“The Impact of Globalization on African Women: A Case Study of Ghanaian Women”

Chinekwu Obidoa, MA, MPH, MS.
University of Connecticut

Background: Despite the fact that globalization holds many promises for economic advancement; there is increasing apprehension about its impact on the wellbeing of Africans. To date, only a few studies have examined the impact of the different aspects of globalization on the lives of Africans. As a result, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how Africans are faring in the new global order.
Objectives: The present study examined the impact of globalization on African Women with special emphasis on the economic activities of Ghanaian women.
Methods: This study utilized a mixed methods approach. Extensive literature review on the impact of globalization on African women was carried out. Using data collected from the Ghana National Health and Demographic Survey, this study examined if there have been changes in the economic roles and characteristics of women in Ghana over a period of five years 1998-2003. Further survey of Ghanaians in Connecticut was conducted to solicit information on their views on the impact of globalization on Ghanaian women. Findings from the quantitative analyses and the literature review were compared.
Results: The results revealed that globalization has had a mixed impact on African women. Globalization is having a significant impact on the social, economic and health status of African women. Changes in the economic roles of Ghanaian women followed predicted pattern of impact of globalization in Africa as identified in the literature review.
Conclusion: Results suggest that although African women are increasingly incorporated into the economy, they face many challenges such as low wages and different forms of exploitation.

 

“African Pessimism, Youth’s Training to Private Entrepreneurship and Fight against Poverty”

TADJUDJE Willy, PhD ,University of Luxembourg,
TAMENO Merlain Basile, Master student in Law, University of Yaoundé II,

Due to the weakness of economic activity in Africa, population heavily faces the problem of unemployment and other social evils. Because of such situation, an important part of youth is tempted to immigrate, even illegally, and reach in Europe or North America where they think that they can benefit from better life conditions.Since the independences in Africa, nothing has been done by public Administration in order to promote a competitive private sector. On the contrary, because of unsustainable fiscal constraints, the majority of business investors work in the informal sector. It is why, when a student at the end of his/her studies can’t rejoin the ranks of the public service or be enrolled in a private society, he/she has immediately the impression that life is finished and that the future is blocked. They have no vision, no idea to develop in order to bring concrete contributions to the development of their communities. They are no charismatic and patriotic, because, if it was the case, their aim would be the promotion and development of their native land.To explain such reaction of the African youth, it is important to underline that they are not trained to private entrepreneurship at the University. This omission is very dangerous and is at the origin of the fear level of creativity of youth. It is why it is necessary to integrate education to entrepreneurship in academic programme in order to provoke in students the ability to engage an activity able to create added values. How will it be possible?

“Structural Changes in the Malian Cotton Sector: Implication for Export Performance”

Veronique Theriault, University of Florida

Cotton is the primary cash crop in Mali, significantly contributing to the national economy by providing income and employment to over three million smallholder farmers. In addition to its direct impact on income and employment, the cotton sector is affiliated with cereal production as well as Malian manufacturing and transport industries. Two recent developments are threatening to offset or slow economic growth derived from cotton exports.  The first is downward pressure on cotton prices brought about, in part by increased yields made possible by genetically modified seed. The second is related to institutional reform. Beginning in the 1990’s, Mali and other Sub-Saharan countries were pushed by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to undertake reform measures designed to privatize segments of their cotton sector in order to render them more efficient and more competitive. While the process is ongoing, Malian cotton production has declined drastically since the reform measures began and resulted in negative repercussions affecting the entire economy; including decrease in export revenue, worsening in producers’ and ginning company’s debts. This study aims to quantitatively assess the impacts of structural and economic reform on cotton production over the last decade. Specifically, the objective is to analyze the roots of the recent drop in production as a function of both agro-environmental factors and policy decisions.  Determination of the principal factors responsible for the production decline, as well as their relative importance, could serve as a guide to policymakers in seeking to boost both the cotton sector and exports.
“Legal and Financial Impediments to Business Growth in Africa: The Case of Uganda” by Busingye Kabumba, MMAKS Advocates, Uganda

“Government of South Sudan: Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Supply”

David C. Rine
Professor Emeritus
George Mason University
&
Sudan Sunrise NGO

Since the signing of the CPA, there has been a dramatic increase in the inflow of investors into southern Sudan and hence the ministry of commerce, trade and supply (Goss) is committed to developing and promoting trade, creating conducive environment for foreign direct investment. An objective is to create awareness to all the local/domestics traders about the private sector development program currently underway between the ministry of
commerce, trade and supply and the World Bank. The GoSS ministry intends to identify the investment opportunities available in the states and the factors influencing the performance of domestic business enterprises and their remedies in those states. Southern Sudan is well endowed with natural resources; however there are several challenges/difficulties the government of south Sudan and the states governments are now facing in relation to private sector development in southern Sudan.The private sector in south Sudan is completely invisible. This is due to the twenty one year civil war that has devastated all the infrastructure, dislocation of people from their homes due to lack of security, lack of capital, lack of communication network,
and lack of production, lack of banking system and unfavorable term of trade from neighboring countries. The ministry of commerce, trade and supply economic policy is one of the key functions of Goss. Therefore, the central objective of economic policy is the pursuit of full employment through sound policies that focus on the stability of price and employment levels and to promote sustainable pro-poor economic growth. Recognizing that the private sector plays a crucial role in development and therefore national economic policies should be formulated to create a conducive environment for its
effective participation in the development of post conflict south Sudan.Currently in southern Sudan there is only the most basic and ad hoc supply of
non-financial services and dumping of sub-standard and expensive goods from east Africa and northern Sudan. There is no sustained delivery of services to target clients; all goods come from neighboring countries. Therefore a lot of work is required to identify the most critical business development products needed in the market and to determine the most appropriate mechanisms through which to deliver services.In this respect the following tracks should be pursued:

Core entrepreneurship and financial services training to be provided to a cross
section of the population including micro-entrepreneurs, IDP returnees and
farmers.

Specific services in development industry, networking and market access and
technology transfer in targeted value chains particularly small holder traders.
Linkages with providers else where in the region with established track record
in these targeted sectors are also critical.

Research and technological development should be encouraged and promoted.
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“Increasing Foreign Investment through Domestic Market Development in Africa”

Dr. Kasahun Woldemariam, Spelman College

Africa is saddled with the paradox of all paradoxes. It is rich in natural resources, and yet it continues to experience chronic shortages of physical and financial capital. In addition to transferring technologies, managerial skills, and creating job opportunities, foreign investment is believed to help expand Africa’s access to the external market and narrow the gap in physical and financial capital. As a consequence, African countries are vigorously competing with the rest of the world to increase their share of foreign investment by offering tax holidays and significantly reducing tariff barriers to trade and investment. Even so, foreign investment in Africa is largely concentrated in the extractive sectors. The kind of investments that would require long-term commitment such as investment in health, education, and infrastructure remain in short supply. Consequently, foreign investments in Africa have had very little effect, if any, in creating employment opportunities, enhancing Africa’s absorptive capacity of foreign technologies, and contributing to the economic development of the continent. There is widespread consensus among scholars that access to education and health services are the means and ends of development. However, the extent to which the rule of law unleashes the innovative spirits of citizens and, directly or indirectly, enhances the purchasing power of Africans remains an uncharted intellectual territory. Therefore, the paper will explore the degree to which the rule of law and the domestic market size have diminishing effects on the propensity of foreign corporations to invest in Africa.
”Education and its Role in Economic Development in Ghana, West Africa” by Marvin Boateng, California Lutheran University

“Diglossia and Development: Reflexively Examining the Significance of Language in Participatory Efforts”

Brett Craig, University of Kansas

Africa’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity presents a complex situation of identity management particularly within nations.  This complexity is compounded by the interaction of Western development agencies and practitioners due to the postcolonial implications of development and culture.  Language and culture among a Creole people, such as is the case with Cape Verde, creates complexity, even contradiction, in identity management due to the clear example of diglossia in their society.  The two languages of Cape Verde, Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole (Crioulo), carry connotations of colonialism, power, and resistance.  While Crioulo is spoken and identified with by the Cape Verdean people, the long history of being a colloquial and unwritten language has kept it beneath Portuguese, the official language.  In building relationships and encouraging participation in order to understand cultural practices and avoid pitfalls damaging to development practices, effective communication involving cultural and behavioral understanding goes beyond a basic level of translation and must be examined in a sociocultural and historical context.  This paper argues the importance of understanding the possibilities of identity contradictions in language use and preference through an examination of the language and culture in Cape Verde and what that means to Western development practitioners wanting to communicate with the people themselves.  An understanding of the relationship between language and identity, a knowledge of both the history and current linguistic situation, and the reflexivity to quickly determine which language is being used and what meaning that carries with it are needed for effective communication in development efforts.

 

“The U.S. Organic market: Opportunities and Barriers for Ugandan Coffee Farmers”

i) M. E. Swisher, ii) P. Nkedi-Kizza, iii)J.C. Rodriguez, iv)D. Sammons, K. v)Ssemogerere & vi) H. Ngabirano

Over 800,000 Ugandan families depend on coffee for cash income. Before 1979, the U.S. was a major market for Ugandan coffee, but economic disruption and collapse of quality controls marginalized Uganda’s share of this critical market. The Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) explored the possibility of exploiting the growing demand for organic foods to help re-establish Uganda’s place in the U.S. market. Any food product bearing the term “organic” in the U.S. must be certified under the U.S. National Organic Standards (NOS).  UCDA contacted experts at the University of Florida (UF) to explore the goal of organic certification, a challenge because most farmers have less than five acres of coffee, pest and fertility production constraints, and very restricted access to inputs. This collaboration provides important lessons about how to develop programs that permit small and limited resource farmers to market value-added export products internationally. A UCDA-UF team conducted a nationwide assessment of the potential for meeting the NOS and decided that it could be feasible for two main reasons. UCDA was well prepared to assist them technically. Most farmers are members of a grower group allowing them access to group certification. UF developed a national training program focused on practices and potential constraints for Ugandan coffee farmers. Key barriers remaining are the record-keeping requirements of the NOS and production limitations that lead to very low yields on many coffee farms. UCDA continues to address these problems through on-going collaboration with UF and a focused market development strategy.
i) University of Florida
ii) University of Florida
iii) University of Florida
iv) University of Florida
v) Uganda Coffee Development Authority Kampala, Uganda
vi) Law Office of Karoli Ssemogerere Esq., Principal Tropical Seeds Inc., New York

“The Role of Women in African Economic Development (Formal and Informal Sectors): The Case of Igbo Women of Nigeria”

Mary Orieji Mba, University of Kansas

The Igbo men of Nigeria are a people known for their business acumen. They could be found all over the world where they engage in different businesses from selling things in the streets, to owning huge enterprises. Their women are not exempt from engaging in businesses. In fact, in the 1920s, the British wanted to impose taxation on Nigerian market women, but under the leadership of Mrs. Margaret Ekpo, the Igbo women rioted in 1929 in what is known as the “Aba Women Riot”. The British were forced to rescind their decision and Women were exempted from paying taxes in Nigeria. This event bolstered Igbo women’s involvement in business and trade. A lot has happened in Nigeria since then. After her independence in 1960, the reality of its diversity hit her. Being the largest African country with the largest concentration of ethnic groups has not gone down too well in the fair distribution of “the national cake”. The Igbo has taken the hardest hit, which forced them to attempt secession in 1967. This attempt ended in the Nigerian civil war, and more marginalization of the Igbo. In my paper, I would argue that these events and more have made the Igbo to engage even more in the private sector of trade and business. I would like to look at the types of work and businesses Igbo women engage in and how these benefit the nation.

“The Promise of Social Enterprises to boost Africa’s Economic Growth during the Global Financial Crisis”

Dr. Jacqueline Musiitwa Esq, Drexel University

Introduction

Non governmental organizations (NGOs) in Africa are a strong force behind Africa’s economic, social and political development.  These NGOs get most of their funds from donations, foreign and domestic government funds, foundations and other sorts of fundraising activities.  However, as a result of the international financial crisis and failed investments in “Ponzi schemes”, these have put into question the future of NGOs viability and their role in Africa’s development. 

Objectives

This paper seeks to recommend that social enterprises be used as a sustainable model for socially focused organizations to play a more active role in Africa’s economic development.  Social enterprises can either be NGOs or for profit companies that have a social mission and also generate their own income. In addition to social enterprises’ ability to generate income and be less dependant on the sources of funding mentioned above, social enterprises can be more autonomous in their decision making processes, better able to focus on the work that needs to be done rather than writing reports to ensure they satisfy requirements of donors and creates jobs in addition to alleviating the social need defined by their mission.  African social enterprises give Africans the opportunity to find solutions to their own problems and become less reliant on foreign solutions and assistance.  I will examine several successful social enterprises and how their models can be replicated in other parts of Africa during this economic crisis and beyond.   

Conclusion

In order for Africa to become self sufficient, I recommend the following:  African leaders (social, political, and economic) need to engage in cooperative brainstorming to conceive local solutions for local problems.  Second, more money and resources should be invested in social enterprises.  The African Diaspora, too, should play an active role in promoting (sending money, providing know how, etc) social enterprises in Africa.  Third, NGOs should redefine their capabilities to include social enterprise ventures and come up with creative ways to be less dependent.  Some ways of becoming less dependent include:  creation of endowments, listing NGOs on stock exchanges and purchasing the land where they operate.  Lastly, for profit companies should either redefine their mission to be socially inclined or place a strong emphasis on corporate social responsibility so they too can take part in Africa’s economic development, thus enabling them to alleviate social, environmental and governance issues. 

"African Business Women and Economic Development: Company Owners, Managers and Corporate Board Members”

Anita Spring, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita
University of Florida

A growing cadre of top businesswomen provides role models of achievement within their countries. The paper considers the business landscape for women who own and manage conventional private-sector and globally-oriented companies. The paper models the range of African women’s involvement based on a ten-country study (Botswana, Ghana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda). It distinguishes business activities of small-, to medium-, to large-scale company owners who are conventional in their business practices with those who are globalists (termed the “New Generation of African Entrepreneurs”–NGAEs). Variables analyzed include demographics, company sectors and levels; supply chains and markets, access to capital and credit, business and social networks, influence/advocacy with public and private sectors, strategic moves, business constraints, and labor relations. Women managers in mainstream companies are also discussed for several countries. A South African case provides insight into government compliance programs (Black Economic Empowerment) and its monitoring, with concomitant advances for women in formal-sector private companies and state-owned enterprises. Such interventions have ensured progress in the movement of women up the corporate professional ladder. Elsewhere professional organizations, associations, and kinship/friendship networks have assisted women. Finally, differences and similarities in business among women and between women and men are discussed. NGAE women and men practice global ethics, accountability and financial transparency; keep businesses separate from family/domestic concerns; and obtain market intelligence using business networks, international travel, and due diligence. Conventional businesswomen rely more on family networks than male counterparts and NGAE women, and have fewer global perspectives and markets.

“Re-Thinking the Approach to Foreign Aid”

Cadet Sammy Tongoi, U.S. Air Force Academy

The unfortunate reality is that the mention of the name ‘Africa’ invites the image of a poverty-stricken continent plagued with incompetent governments, war, famine and disease. The past four decades have borne witness to a worsening situation in Africa. The initial hope-filled years immediately following independence gave way to disillusionment which in turn morphed into despair. In some parts of sub-Saharan Africa, living standards are worse today than they were at independence.
The terrible irony about the situation lies in the fact that all along, African countries have been receiving aid from their developed counterparts in Europe, America and Asia yet there is little, if anything, to show for it.
Granted, foreign aid has at times been given for expedient purposes in pursuit of narrow and sometimes selfish interests. But even when it has been sincere, aid has had a minimal impact on poverty eradication
Many have questioned this worrying trend, seeking to explain why poverty seems to prevail despite concerted efforts to eliminate it. The answer has remained elusive but could lie in the fact that the current system of administering aid is intrinsically flawed and thus incapable of making a tangible difference.
Various factors contribute to this intrinsic weakness in the current system, among them the large inefficiencies caused by heavy overhead expenses of government and non-governmental institutions; the conflicting interests of these institutions on the fight against poverty; as well as the lack of proper accountability systems to ensure proper allocation and use of resources.
Submitted by Cadet Second Class Sammy Tongoi, Kenyan Exchange Student at the US Air Force Academy

 

“Valuing Culture – Ensuring Economic, Social and Environmental returns on Investment”

Hon. Kojo Appiah Kubi, ICACD Africa,Ghana
International Conference on African Culture and Development,
District Chief Executive, Offinso North District, Ashanti Region, Ghana, West Africa.

This presentation will outline the importance of Culture in all development processes and specifically address strategies for consolidating the value of Culture as a foundation for economic, social and environmental sustainability in Africa.

Culture has a significant role to play in:

• Establishing niche economic and trade opportunities through the Creative Industries,
• Educating communities and driving “change” in regard to gender, health and social well being issues,
• Resolving local and regional conflicts,
• Building identity and esteem – individual and communities,
• Establishing a framework for rights and social justice.

All of these are essential to growth and stability for sustained economic development.

The presentation will address:

• The ICACD 2008 report and UNCTAD report on the Creative Industries in Africa,
• The need for fair trade conventions for the expansion and protection of trade in cultural products,
• Proposed strategies for establishing cultural policies (locally and nationally) that support economic growth,
• Cultural tourism and recent actions to build capacity with African Festivals and cultural celebrations, and
• The role that international partners must play in supporting African initiatives to include Culture in their development frameworks.

The presentation will conclude with an analysis of the role that Culture has in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. There is a growing awareness for international NGO’s like the UN and the Commonwealth Foundation that Culture is an essential ingredient to success in achieving the MDGs. 

“Those who ignore culture are doomed to fail in Africa. Those who understand culture can find new ways to succeed.”
Commission for Africa Report 2005

"Education and its Role in Economic Development in Ghana, West Africa,"

Marvin Boateng, California Lutheran University

Sampa Community Educational Model
 
The great historian Dr. John Henrik Clarke once said that education teaches a student how to properly handle power.  Education formally and informally can be the spark that ignites economic development throughout the African continent. In order for us to realize economic development in our communities in Africa we must place a heavy emphasis on getting our students to think and analyze instead of memorizing and regurgitating information.  This paper is going to focus on an educational model I created called the Sampa Community Educational Model in which I have designed a curriculum that will get our young students to think about problems historically, locally, politically and economically to help shape and grow their environment.  Imagine a course in which students will learn the key principles of marketing, and then form groups to create a marketing plan to help a local vendor increase sales. Imagine a course that would teach students how to use and apply basic statistical analysis to help local vendors forecast sales.  The future of Africa is bright, but the light that ignites economic development is thinking.

"Legal and Financial Impediments to Business Growth in Africa: The Case of Uganda,"

Busingye Kabumba
Legal Associate with M/S MMAKS Advocates (the Uganda branch of the African Legal Network of Law firms) and is also Ugandan resident partner with M/S Development Law Associates

This paper will analyze bottlenecks to doing business in Uganda. We shall consider various internal and external factors that hinder sustainable growth of business whether large scale, medium or small. Going back to first principles, we shall consider whether the legal set up as it stands facilitates trade, before going on to consider particular efforts put in place to reform the law.  This will mainly involve an overview of the relevant substantive law as it relates to doing business.

The paper will also look at procedural factors that defeat business growth, such as delays in disposal of cases in commercial courts, undue insistence of technicalities at the expense of commercial expedience, a limited judicial outlook unwilling to look beyond legal niceties as well as other characteristics of the system that do not serve commercial needs. We shall situate the above analysis within a broader consideration of the financial landscape within which the law operates and with which in interacts. We shall critically analyze the effects of World Bank initiated Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) on the cost and convenience of commercial transactions in Uganda and show how the country has been affected by, and is responding to, the global financial meltdown.

While the paper is focused on Uganda, appropriate reference to analogous situations in other sub-Saharan African countries as well as the wider developing world will be made.

“Extraterritorial Jurisdiction of Home States in Foreign Investment: Of What Benefits to Africa”

Osuntogun Abiodun Jacob, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has brought foreign capital to Africa; the problem is how to use the capital for development. The problem becomes much more complicated when the transnational companies (TNCS) which brought the capital caused a total degradation to the environment of the host communities to the extent that the means of livelihood of many are destroyed. They (TNCS) became partners in human rights abuses. The host countries that should regulate them hardly do so. In most situations, their failure to regulate them is deliberate in other to attract foreign investments. In another situation,   fear of legal reprisal is an obstacle which cripples their ability to regulate.
            As a result, public interest, environmental considerations, human rights and other competing considerations are being scarified in an attempt to promote foreign investment. This paper will discuss how the only redress for the victims of foreign investment transactions lies in the domestic courts of the home states assuming extraterritorial jurisdiction over corporate abuses committed in the host states on the basis of general principles of tort law. The recent decision of shell to pay $15.5 million in settlement of a legal action against it for alleged complicity in the execution of those who were fighting against environmental degradation caused by TNCS in Nigeria shall also be examined. Reasons shall also be proffered on why the hope of securing justice from dispute settlement in foreign investment by tribunals such as ICSID and NAFTA is a mirage.   

 

"Utilization of Social Capital: Education, a Key Economic and Integration Tool for the Sudanese Lost Boys in Kansas"

By Danvas Mabeya, Kansas State University

Investment in human capital through education has been recognized as key ingredient of sustainable economic development. The benefits of education are not restricted to the individual alone but to the community as a whole. Education raises people’s productivity, creativity, innovation and promotes entrepreneurship and technological advancement.
In his empirical investigation, Collier (2000) found that civil wars were concentrated in countries with little education. In particular he found that countries with a higher percentage of its youth in schools greatly reduced its chances of conflict.
A case in point is Sudan, a country where civil war has raged for over three decades since its independence in 1956. Sommer (2002) makes the case for providing education to especially children because they are easy targets for child soldering  
The settlement and integration of about 3600 Sudanese Lost Boys by the U.S government and Red Cross was aimed at providing to those Boys with education and thus shielding them from being victims of child soldering in Sudan.
My investigation is aimed at finding out how the Lost Boys are integrating through key integration indicators. The preliminary research findings show that low levels of education and language proficiency has hindered full integration, with Boys living in most parts in ethnic enclaves compared to those with high levels of education and language proficiency who have got better jobs and are becoming economically successful.

 

"Neo-colonialism or a Constructive Economic Partnership?Africa Through Chinese Eyes, "

Beau Jackson, Attorney with Adduci, Mastriani & Schaumberg, LLP, Washington, D.C.

 

"The Doha Round of World Trade Negotiations and Africa's Interests."

Prof. Raj Bhala Distinguished Rice Professor , School of Law,
University of Kansas