Journal of African Development Studies

Cool Harmattan Episodes in the Northwestern Region of Nigeria (1961 – 2020)

Alex Folorunsho — 2024-12-31

This study examined cool harmattan episodes in the Northwestern Region of Nigeria from 1961 to 2020). Over a period of 60 years, monthly minimum temperatures of the harmattan seasons (November to February) were collected and analyzed for five (5) selected stations: Kaduna, Kano, Gusau, Katsina, and Sokoto. The study concentrated on evaluating sub-periods occurrences of cool harmattan events in the study area. Specifically, the analysis encompassed the 1961-1990 and 1991-2020 sub-periods, respectively. A Standard Anomaly Index (SAI) was employed in this study to assess cool harmattan episodes (CHEs) during the harmattan seasons. The categorization of the index was adapted from a similar study conducted in the same geographic region, which established SAI thresholds for various levels of harmattan intensity. However, that study specifically concentrated on severe cold harmattan events, whereas the present study extends the application of the SAI to examine cool harmattan episodes (CHEs). Findings revealed that stations such as Kano, Katsina and Sokoto experienced an increase in CHEs during the most recent sub-period (1991-2020) compared to the earlier sub-period (1961-1990). In contrast, stions like Kaduna and Gusau saw a decline in CHEs during the latter sub-period (1991-2020) compared to the former or first sub-period (1961-1990). The cause of the decline in CHEs in these stations (Kaduna & Gusau) may be associated with the issue of climate change. The study recommends that further research is needed to better understand the underlying factors influencing the regional differences and to inform targeted climate adaptation measures.

Practices of Conflict Early Warning System and Police Timely Response in Selected Areas of Ethiopia

Abdo Beshir — 2024-12-31

The practices of conflict early warning and police responses system in Ethiopia has not been captured and displayed in the landscape of the field. These and the escalating nature of violent conflicts in the country initiated the research project. This study investigated the system of conflict early warning and the timely responses of police focusing on multiple cases that happened in conflict hot spot areas of the country. The study employed qualitative research approach and exploratory research design. A purposive sampling was employed to select informants who were from Ministry of Peace, Police, regional peace and security bureau, and public Universities. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, focused-group discussions, and document review. The collected data were analyzed and interpreted thematically. As a result, the study found that the CEW structure mandated to own pre-conflict activities is not uniform throughout the country. In terms of its practice, it is also found to be different across regional states and city administrations of Ethiopia. Despite the differences, identification of indicators of conflicts, conflict incidents and situation analysis, pre-conflict assessment by field monitors and focal persons assigned for this intended purpose are some of the CEW activities implemented in different areas of the study. Furthermore, police’s response as per CEW information is found to be minimal and different across regions and city administration. Establishing a uniform and clear CEW structure is a recommended mechanism to alleviate the challenges of the sector. Likewise, sufficient attention should be given to active participation and consultation of communities towards the implementation of CEW system.

Customer Satisfaction with Ethio-Djibouti Railway Transportation Services: An Analysis Using the KANO Model

Kassa Moges Tareke — 2024-12-31

This study aimed to assess the railway service quality and consumer satisfaction in Ethio-Djibouti railway (EDR), a new public transportation started in 2018. The study employed surveys, KANO model, and ordinal multiple regression to assess customer satisfaction. It is found that new EDR services are effective in five out of ten service quality categories or attributes, such as reliability, climate control, travel time, information provision, and cleanliness. The EDR line is experiencing improved satisfaction levels, operating better than bus and truck services, but with declining levels from 2021-2022. Recent customers and passengers have higher satisfaction levels than older and freight service users. Half of the analyzed attributes, mainly payment-convenience and staff/hostel service, have insignificant impacts on customer satisfaction, while high levels of insignificance are found in payment-convenience and staff/hostel service. KANO model categorizes Staff/Hostess service and Cleanliness as BASIC features, while information provision is categorized as a performance feature. Reliability, Service-frequency & fare-levels are considered exciting features. However, customers are indifferent to payment-convenience, security, climate-control, and travel-time features. The study concludes that the chosen model, which emphasizes the significance of seeing a service as bundle of qualities rather than individual features, is correct. Since the KANO model helps to better understand customers’ expectations and impact on satisfaction, these insights can inform EDR system and policy-makers to set market-driven priorities. To enhance customers’ satisfaction, trust & values need to get adequate arrangements, technological-innovation and calibrate service performance monitoring instruments mainly on BASIC, exciting and performance features.

The Impact of the Urban Local Government Development Program on Service Delivery and Household Livelihoods: Evidence from Selected Small Towns in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abeje Ewunetu — 2024-12-31

For Ethiopia, creating jobs and fostering economic growth in urban areas are top priorities. Thus, the GoE established the ULGDP to enable cities to realize their full potential for service delivery and job creation. However, little is known about the program effect. Considering this, the purpose of this study is to determine the effect of urban local government development program on enhancing service delivery and household livelihoods. To determine the project impact, the study analyses the results between local governments involved in projects and those who are not (using the propensity score matching methodology). Consequently, the descriptive analysis shows that, with an average score of 2.5 out of 5, ULGs demonstrate fair levels of urban services in terms of efficient function allocation, local control over administration and service delivery, and local financial autonomy and management. However, they tend to lack meaningful and effective political leadership. The analysis further shows that the program, funded by ULGDP, created 1684 jobs in Program City (Motta), with a sizeable portion of women and unskilled labour. The results from econometrics analysis also find that the livelihoods asset capital index of project ULG households was found to have increased positively and significantly because of the program. The livelihood assets index mean difference between ULG households in projects and those in non-projects, based on propensity score, ranges from 11% to 19% after matching. It is, therefore, recommended that scaling up be put in place to assist non-supported ULGs.

Illicit Trade and Tax Revenue: Evidence from Ethiopia

Solomon Molla — 2024-12-31

The study has an objective to investigate an illicit trade and lost tax revenue in Dire Dawa and Jigjiga routes. This is conducted by employing descriptive research design and concurrent mixed research approaches. To achieve this objective the study has collected data from 726 officials and taxpayers through questionnaire and from 8 higher officials of Ethiopian custom commission and revenue offices of Dire Dawa and Jigjiga branches. These respondents were selected through simple random and judgmental sampling techniques, respectively. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics like relative importance index to show the most important challenges to integrate illicit traders into the tax system and inferential statistics like Chi-square. The result of the study indicates that the forms of illicit trade undertaken in the routes are in legal checkpoints by faking values and quantity on invoices with bribe and though illegal check points by smuggling contraband and uncustomed goods but there is no gender difference on the involvement in illicit trade. Each involvement in illicit trade makes a government lose a significant amount of tax revenue annually. Easing of the licensing and certifications process for illicit traders to be engaged in the legal forms of trading, provide tax incentives to illicit traders who voluntarily joined to the tax system and taking punitive and educative measure on the involved in illicit trade can be opportunities to put illicit traders in the legal form of trade and tax system.