The scope of the study reported in this book entails understanding the constraints and providing potential diagnostics to Africa’s leather sector, which is otherwise globally, one of the most lucrative agro-based industries in the world, estimated at over US$ 130Billion. One of the principle core thematic aspects of the leather sector is, characteristically, its long value chain with multiple socio-economic dimensions. These entail employability, creation of wealth, gender parity and rural development. Thusly, in an effort to stimulate scholarly discussion, the study argues that preemptively, the problems facing the leather value chain stratums are high losses, low value addition initiatives and unexplored opportunities that are synonymous with the Africa’s leather industry. Indeed, the results of the research conceptualized opportunity management as a critical panacea towards value addition strategy for the leather sector in developing countries. In dealing with this concept, the book evaluated the various value chains phases and identified nine specific issues and variables drawn between value addition and the main leather strata. With this background, the study posed a main question and four sub questions to closely expound on related hypotheses and in lieu pursue four thematic aspects: trade, productivity, competitiveness, and innovation covered in twelve chapters of the book. Conclusively, the book manages to successfully conceptualize as a novelty that opportunity management is integral towards developing a leather value addition strategy for the developing countries with particular emphasis to Africa.

This book provides unique research findings from the leather sector in African and the stratums of the value chains. The result is emerging knowledge and resourcefulness to the global community and an attestation to Africa's transformative trajectory from commodity dependence to product development to explore on its socio-economic opportunities.

Africa’s Development Dynamics uses lessons from Central, East, North, Southern and West Africa to develop policy recommendations and share good practices. The 2022 edition explores how developing regional value chains can help African countries rebound from the socio-economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerate productive transformation.

This book serves the purpose of documenting and promoting African experiences on sustainable development, which encompasses both, formal and non-formal education. Sustainable development is very important to Africa, but there is a paucity of publication which documents and promotes experiences from African countries. Due to their complexity, the interrelations between social, economic and political factors related to sustainable development, especially at universities, need to be better understood. There is also a real need to showcase successful examples of how African institutions are handling their sustainability challenges. It is against this background that this book has been produced. It is a truly interdisciplinary publication, useful to scholars, social movements, practitioners and members of governmental agencies and private companies, undertaking research and/or executing projects focusing on sustainability from across Africa. As African nations strive to pursue the UN Sustainable Development Goals, it is imperative to cater for the information needs seen across the continent and foster the dissemination of experiences and case studies, which may support both, on-going and future efforts. The scope of the book is deliberately kept wide, and we are looking for contributions across the spectrum of sustainable development from business and economics, to arts and fashion, administration, environment, languages and media studies.

Sub-Saharan Africa is at a turning point. The barriers to economic growth seen in the 1980-2000 era are disappearing and new optimism is spreading. However, difficult goals of eliminating poverty, achieving equity and overcoming environmental threats continue. This much-needed and insightful textbook has been written to help us understand this combination of emerging improvements and significant challenges. Opening with an analysis of the main theories relating to development in Sub-Saharan Africa, the book explores all the key issues, including: Human development; Rapid urbanization; Structural and gender dimensions; Sustainable development and environmental issues; and Africa’s role in the world economy. The authors use economic tools and concepts throughout, in a way that makes them accessible to students without an economics background. Readers are also aided by a wide range of case studies, on-the-ground examples and statistical information, which provide a detailed analysis of each topic. This text is also accompanied by an e-resource, featuring additional sources for students and instructors. African Economic Development is a clear and comprehensive textbook suitable for courses on African economic development, development economics, African studies and development studies.

Very little has been written on industrialization and deindustrialization in Asia and Africa. This reference work sheds illuminating light upon the industrial development in Asia and Africa. It also provides an in-depth look into China’s engagement and migrant labour in Africa. The book also addresses the roles of public-private partnership (PPP) and international development cooperation and how they are fundamental to industrialization in Asia and Africa. Designing Integrated Industrial Policies will be a very useful reference particularly as a how-to guide on industrial promotion and designing integrated industrial policies not only for economic growth and job creation but also for "inclusive" development. It comes with country cases and illustrates useful tools for industrial policy simulation and for evidence-based policy making through these concrete examples.

This report provides a new perspective on Africa’s urban economies that is unique in its breadth and level of detail. Based on data from more than 4 million individuals and firms in 2 600 cities across 34 countries, it presents compelling evidence that urbanisation contributes to better economic outcomes and higher living standards.

Digitally Disrupted Space: Proximity and New Development Opportunities for Regions and Cities develops an analytical framework of the key structural elements in relation to digital space and its impact on existing spatial interactions at a regional and urban level. It puts forth the argument that digital space is a new form of space acting complementary to existing spatial structures and creating novel interactions between and/or within them. It explores how digital space enhances connected intelligence by combining knowledge-intensive activities, cooperation between organisational and institutional actors, and smart environments of knowledge creation and diffusion. Readers will better understand the connections between digital transformations and traditional paths of regional development, as well as underlying mechanisms fostering externalities and proximity emergence, triggering effective collaboration between the digital and other expressions of space. The first set of chapters (Part I) focuses on space disruptions in a digitalising world. The key notions of space and digital space are defined, alongside the main concepts that form it in relation to space dynamics, space connectors and space routines. The following group of chapters (Part II) discuss aspects related to the digital space reshaping transition processes, exploring the role of digital space under the multi-level perspective and the digital space in the forefront of twin transition. Finally, the last three chapters (Part III) focus on digital space challenges and opportunities for regional development. A specific focus is given in three key areas of regional development and the ways in which digital space can enhance them, including Productivity, Resilience and Inclusion. Academics and researchers will find insights into how cities and regions can adopt this new developmental paradigm; how to organise connected intelligence within regional and urban environments; and how to sustain productivity, resilience and inclusion through the use of digital space. Digital transformation managers in the public sector and entrepreneurs in private organisations can leverage the opportunities offered from this transition process, not only by identifying actions and strategies for boosting their productivity, but also for making them more resilient during socio-economic, environmental and health crises. And professionals and policymakers in urban and regional development will find concrete guidance about the design, development and management of the digital space and the creation of connected intelligence environments at the urban and regional level. - Thoroughly analyzes the role of digital space to complement existing structures and generate new interactions and networks, revealing the digital elements that are essential for the rise of new dynamics, connectors and routines - Positions the digital space emergence under the framework of a multi-level transition perspective, shedding light on how digital space reshapes transition processes - Explores the potential challenges and opportunities arising from the emergence of the digital space for regional development

How successful have Southern African states been in dealing with the major issues that have faced the region in recent years? What could be done to produce more cohesive and effective region-building in Southern Africa? In this original and wide-ranging volume, which draws on an interdisciplinary team of mainly African and African-based specialists, the key political, socio-economic, and security challenges facing Southern Africa today are addressed. These include the various issues confronting the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and its institutions; such as HIV/AIDS, migration and xenophobia, land-grabbing and climate change; and the role of the main external actors involved with the region, including the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, and China. The book also looks at the Southern African Customs Union and Southern African Development Finance Institutions, including the Development Bank of Southern Africa and Industrial Development Corporation, and issues of gender and peacebuilding. In doing so, the book goes to the heart of analyzing the effectiveness of SADC and other regional organisation, suggesting how region-building in Southern Africa may be compared with similar attempts elsewhere in Africa and other parts of the world.