This study critically examines the adoption and implementation of carbon offset markets in Africa through a systematic literature review guided by the PRISMA framework and complemented by a bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer. Drawing on peer-reviewed articles and reports published between 2000 and 2025, the review assesses key dimensions, including project design, governance structures, stakeholder engagement, and environmental outcomes. Findings reveal that Africa’s offset carbon markets are expanding but remain hindered by weak governance, limited transparency, and inequitable benefit-sharing, which often allow intermediaries to capture disproportionate value, fueling perceptions of “carbon colonialism.” Inadequate baseline methodologies and weak monitoring, particularly in forestry and cookstove projects, further erode the credibility of the offset markets. Nevertheless, Africa’s comparative advantage in nature-based solutions, including forestry and blue-carbon ecosystems, presents vast potential for generating high-integrity credits that benefit biodiversity and livelihoods. The study proposes a framework emphasising free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), transparent benefit-sharing, independent monitoring, and digital, monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems to enhance integrity and community trust. It further recommends establishing transparent price-discovery mechanisms and Paris Agreement Article 6-aligned national registries to prevent double-counting and strengthen regulatory coherence. By advancing community-centred governance and high-integrity standards, African carbon offset markets can mobilise substantial climate finance and contribute effectively to global emission reduction goals, positioning the continent as a credible partner in the low-carbon transition. JEL Classifications: Q54, O13, F18.
The growing global issue of food waste, especially within the supply chain of perishable goods, calls for innovative logistical strategies. This paper investigates the use of Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management as a strategic approach to reduce waste and improve efficiency in cold chains. Conventional logistics models typically depend on large buffer inventories, which heighten the risk of spoilage and related financial losses. In contrast, JIT emphasizes the exact synchronization of product delivery with immediate demand, thereby significantly decreasing storage durations and the chances of product deterioration. The study explores how the incorporation of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies—such as real-time sensors for temperature, location, and humidity—is crucial for the effective execution of a JIT system. These technologies offer the necessary data visibility and predictive analytics needed to enhance transportation routes, accurately forecast demand, and facilitate automated decision-making. Through an extensive literature review and case study evaluation, this paper illustrates that JIT, when bolstered by IoT, converts the cold chain from a static, reactive framework into a dynamic, proactive network. The results indicate that this methodology not only significantly reduces waste in perishable goods but also enhances overall supply chain resilience and profitability, presenting a feasible route towards more sustainable and efficient logistics operations.
This research investigates the influence of poverty, infrastructure, health, and gender norms on educational access in the rural districts of Lukulu and Mitete in Western Zambia. The study employs a qualitative, exploratory design utilizing interviews, focus groups, and document analysis with teachers, parents, traditional leaders, and learners, demonstrating that schooling is impeded by intersecting socio-economic barriers. Zambia has pledged to universal and inclusive education; however, concealed expenses (uniforms, examination fees, transportation), child labor requirements, overcrowded and inadequately equipped classrooms, insufficient sanitation, and persistent malnutrition persistently hinder enrollment, attendance, and educational outcomes. Girls must deal with early marriage, a lot of housework, and cultural norms that put boys’ education first. The results demonstrate that the failure of education is not attributable to insufficient policy rhetoric, but rather to the structural erosion of children’s right to learn due to economic pressures at the household level. The paper contends that integrated, community-driven solutions should amalgamate economic assistance, school nutrition programs, infrastructure development, and gender-transformative social reform. Providing meaningful educational equity in rural Zambia is both a duty to protect human rights and a way to boost the economy as ultimate goal of effective educational management.
The empirical study evaluated the impacts of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intentions among youths in Zambia and the mediating roles of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial attitudes. The quantitative methodology was employed using data gathered through survey questionnaires. Data was analyzed using the SEM-PLS technique via the SmartPLS 4 software. The findings revealed significant direct effects of entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and entrepreneurial attitudes on EI. However, the effects of entrepreneurial attitudes on entrepreneurial intentions were negative. In addition, the study revealed significant mediating effects of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial attitudes on entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions, where the latter had negative mediating effects. Overall, the study revealed significant negative mediating effects of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial attitudes on entrepreneurial intentions and entrepreneurship education. The study concluded that exposure of youths in Zambia to entrepreneurship education can aid in stimulating entrepreneurial intentions through entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial attitudes. The study recommended interventions by the Government of Zambia through the Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Arts to be put in place that promote participation of youths in EE as well as ensuring increased accessibility of EE among the youths.
Digital analytics enhances marketing performance as it allows firms and businesses to perform online segmentation and grow their business across geographic boundaries. This research provides a comprehensive analysis of how marketers can leverage digital analytics to enhance marketing outcomes. The article is a desktop review that looks at secondary data from publications of other researchers in different scholarly journals and makes a conclusion based on the findings. The article brings in different literature from perspectives of analytics and dives into issues of the relevance for managers as well as marketing professionals. The article provides critical analysis concerning the use and place that digital analytics occupies in modern marketing practice. The benefits of digital analytics cannot be under stated especially in the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that has enhanced the use of digital analytics and brought a different dimension to the use of data in marketing decision making.The analysis of scientific information and empirical findings makes a conclusion that digital analytics is highly beneficial in enhancing marketing performance but also brings out the need for justification of spending on the marketing performance and measurement of ROI for marketing activities. Keywords: Marketing, Model, Performance, Institution, Digital DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/16-3-12 Publication date: April 30 th 2024
