Purpose: Information asymmetry arises between managers and stakeholders due to unequal information and regulatory environment can influence this asymmetry. Information environment comprises of firm level factors that generate information; is important for dividend policy. This study aims to examine the moderating role of regulatory environment between information environment and dividend yield. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study is grounded in signaling theory. Firm level data (171 firms) and two WGI indicators regulatory quality and rule of law of Pakistan are taken from Year 2000- 2022. Data is analyzed using two step Systems GMM technique after preliminary analysis. Findings: Results show that information environment impacts dividend yield and regulatory environment moderate’s this relationship in Pakistani firms indicating the importance of regulatory environment for informed dividend decisions aligning with UN’s SDG 8’s goal of economic development and SDG 16’s target of institutional transparency. Implications/Originality/Value: Findings implicate that managers and investors should recognize dividend as a quality signal for Pakistani firms affected by information and regulatory environment and policy makers should consider the significance of regulations in the corporate sector. This is the first study to examine the role of regulatory environment between information environment and dividend yield in Pakistan.
Purpose: This qualitative study examines the impact of the media portrayal on women's perception in Multan particularly from awareness to anxiety. Today media has a tremendous impact on the perception of social issues, in the context of harassment. The current study analyzed the impact of media representations of harassment cases and how it effects the emotional, psychological and behavioral reactions of women. Design/Methodology/Approach: The present study employed a qualitative research design. For data collection, the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews. Data were obtained from women in Multan 18-35 years of age. Afterwards, thematic analysis was used to analyses the participants' responses for themes. Findings: The results show that the role played by the media is double edged. Raising awareness through drawing attention to harassment, prompting discussion and providing victims a forum to share their experiences. Participants, however, reported that constant exposure to sensationalized and selective media coverage leads to greater fear and anxiety and a distorted understanding of normal safety. Results indicate that exposure to exaggerated images of harassment leads to higher levels of women's vulnerability, which then affects their affective and behavioral reactions to harassment, such as heightened cautiousness and mistrust. Implications/Originality/Value: So the study concluded that media increase public awareness about harassment, but it also causes panic and anxiety among the public. It points to the need for more responsible and balanced media reporting that does not prompt fear and biased perceptions among people.
Purpose: Globally, 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, with urban areas such as Kakamega Municipality in Kenya facing increasing challenges due to rapid population growth. This study focuses on understanding what most critically determines water supply among urban households in Kakamega, centering on Affordability, accessibility, water volume, and governance. Addressing these factors is vital for achieving reliable and Sustainable urban water systems. Design/Methodology/Approach: Simple random sampling was employed for households, while purposive sampling was used for water sector experts. Data was collected through structured questionnaires and Key Informant Interviews with Kakamega County Water and Sanitation Company and the Western Water and Sanitation Forum. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regressions, qualitative data was thematically analyzed. Findings: Pearson correlation analysis revealed weak but significant relationships between water access, government policies/regulations, and water supply. Regression confirmed water access as a significant predictor of supply reliability. Qualitative findings underscored infrastructural limitations, seasonal variability, governance gaps, and financing constraints. Implications/Originality/Value: The study demonstrates that to secure a sustainable and equitable urban water Supply in Kakamega Municipality, the most important actions are improving affordability, ensuring accessibility, strengthening regulatory frameworks, investing in Infrastructure, and fostering community participation.
Purpose: It is a well-established fact that the ECC is a strong basis on which students with visual impairments are taught on a global level. Teacher competence is one of the greatest barriers to the successful adoption of ECC in Pakistan. To provide ECC training, teachers should possess expertise in their subject matter, employ special teaching techniques and adaptive resources. The purpose of this study was to explore the practices, insights and experiences of teacher trainers to enhance the teacher competence in expanded core curriculum for learners with visual impairments. Design/Methodology/Approach: The interpretivist-constructivist research paradigm dominates this study. The study employed qualitative approach to investigate the present phenomenon. The phenomenology research design was employed to explore the lived experiences and perceptions of teacher trainers. The study utilized purposive sampling technique to select four teacher trainers. Semi-structured questions was developed specifically to be used in this study. Data obtained as a result of interviews of trainers were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results revealed that there was limited or no opportunities for professional development in domains of ECC. Findings: It was explored that a structured training mechanism, teaching manuals, content related to ECC was absent and there exist a shortage of specialized faculty of teacher trainers in ECC domains. Furthermore, it was evidenced that system lacked in systematic evaluation, ECC review, monitoring mechanism and policy recognition. Implications/Originality/Value: It may be concluded from the findings of the study that effective implementation of ECC requires formal integration into pre-service and in-service programs to enhance teacher competence in ECC. It must be supported by trained faculty and standardized resources. Institutional and policy recognition is essential to address resource and professional development gaps. Furthermore, there exist a need for systematic evaluation and monitoring mechanisms to enhance teacher competence and effective implementation of ECC for learners with visual impairments.
Purpose: This study is designed to see the effectiveness of arts therapy in emotional recognition, regulation, and expression on one hand, and its respective effects on socialization and anxiety control on the other. Design/Methodology/Approach: Following a survey design, the population comprised teachers, therapists, and psychologists directly involved with managing issues of ASD through arts therapy. Following a survey design, the population comprised professionals who were directly involved with managing issues through arts therapy. Eighty such professionals were randomly selected as a sample. Later, they were subjected to a self-made tool, i.e., a questionnaire, to gauge their perception about the efficacy of arts therapy Findings: The statistical findings found no significant differences between emotional-recognition and emotional-management, in terms of gender of the respondents, experience, profession, and institution. However, a significant difference was found in emotional-management ratings according to highest qualification, F (4, 75) = 2.572, p = .045; however, post hoc testing would be required to identify the groups responsible for this difference. The study divulges art therapy as a practical and complementary approach for supporting the emotional development of children with ASD. Implications/Originality/Value: Taken together, the findings support structured AT as a promising complementary approach for children with ASD. The strongest perceived benefits were found in emotional stability, reduction of outbursts, calmer responses to redirection, positive peer interaction, and the recognition of emotions through visual materials. The findings also have practical implications for Pakistani special education settings. Art materials are often more accessible than specialized therapeutic technologies, and activities can be adapted to different communication levels.
Purpose: This study examined the effect of financial resource mobilization on the financial sustainability of public universities in Kenya and evaluated the moderating role of corporate governance principles in this relationship. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted a positivist research philosophy and an explanatory research design. A census of 35 chartered public universities in Kenya was conducted, with four purposively selected key informants from each university, yielding a target population of 140 respondents. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires, while secondary data were obtained from audited financial statements. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were performed using SPSS Version 26 to examine the direct and moderating effects. Findings: The findings revealed that resource acquisition, resource allocation, and resource utilization each had a positive and significant effect on financial sustainability. Corporate governance also exerted a positive and significant direct effect on financial sustainability. Furthermore, hierarchical regression analysis established that corporate governance significantly moderated the relationship between financial resource mobilization and financial sustainability by strengthening the effect of resource utilization while moderating the effects of resource acquisition and resource allocation. Implications/Originality/Value: The study provides practical evidence for policymakers, university councils, and institutional managers on the importance of integrating effective financial resource mobilization with strong corporate governance practices to enhance the long-term financial sustainability and resilience of public universities in Kenya.
Purpose: The study investigates the impact of monetary policy on the balance of payments of Pakistan ranging from 1990 to 2023, motivated by the persistent external account imbalances of Pakistan and the role of monetary variables in shaping the performance of the country’s external sector. Methodology: Annual time series data were employed which was sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag bounds testing approach to cointegration was applied to analyse long run and short run dynamics between monetary policy variables —inflation, broad money, GDP, and real effective exchange rate — and the balance of payments (current account). Findings: The empirical results showed that, inflation, broad money, GDP and real effective exchange rate are significant in the long run. They showed an inverse relationship with the dependent variable that is balance of payments (current account). Broad money has a positive effect in the short run before the negative long-run effect materialises. Implications: The results indicate that effective monetary management, inflation control and exchange rate stability are important policy tools to improve the external balance sustainability of Pakistan
Purpose: In this competitive business world, human resources is considered an important strategic partner to meet the long-term business goals. In today’s business environment, sustainability is the key to success. The notion of Green Human Resource Management (Green HRM), which supports sustainability initiatives in enterprises, was introduced by the global focus on green development. This study inspects the impact of GHRM practices on the employees’ sustainable performance in the banking industry. Design/Methodology/Approach: In order to meet the objectives of the study, 200 workers in different banks were used as the source of data. A 5-point Likert scale was used in a closed-ended questionnaire administered to participants as part of a quantitative research procedure. Data analysis and interpretation were done using the SPSS software. Findings: The results demonstrated a strong and positive relationship between employee sustainability performance and GHRM practices. These results imply that incorporating green activities into HR systems promotes sustainability, employee engagement, and environmental responsibility. Implications/Originality/Value: This study adds to the growing body of knowledge on GHRM and provide HR professionals with useful advice for developing a sustainable workforce.
Purpose: This paper looked at the relevance of women in rural Zimbabwe upon decolonising development. Most African nations have continued to be aligned to the colonial ways development frameworks. Design/Methodology/Approach: It has been realized that indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) continue to be left unattended to when it comes to development of nations. All this slows the attainment of development in Zimbabwe’s rural areas. Hence this study investigated the extent to which women were actively engaged on traditional financial management termed indigenous knowledge systems. The study adopted qualitative methodology. Data was gathered from forty-five women in Makoni district. These women were small scale farmers. Participatory observation and interviews were employed to collect data. Findings: Findings showed that women were actively engaged in using indigenous knowledge skills. Unfortunately, they were not well represented on development issues. The relevance of indigenous financial systems was revealed as being able to boost financial inclusion and economic resilience of women in rural areas in Zimbabwe. Such methods enhance the maintenance of the traditional identity of information between generations. Implications/Originality/Value: According to this research, indigenous must be taken a chief aspect for development. As a recommendation there should be prioritization of participatory approaches. Such methods value the expertise of women on national development strategies. This was meant to enhance traditionally important development outcomes which are sustainable.
Purpose: The concern of rural development in South Africa is multifaceted, enduring and complex that arise from different structural imbalances, governance deficits and environmental fragility. Additionally, efforts to eradicate poverty in rural regions are obstructed by chronic deficiencies in basic infrastructure, finance and inaccessible education together with corruption and restricted stakeholder participation. Despite the existence of policy documents such as the National Development Plan (NDP), and international support from the United Nations (UN), World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These are worsened by climate changes that resulted in intensified floods, droughts and shortage of food that affect poor communities. Methods: The paper used a literature review method, using secondary sources of information. Literature search strategy consisted of academic articles, books, conference materials and government publication surrounding the title of the paper. Therefore, document analysis was applied for the development of themes. Findings: The paper found out that systemic corrupt practices and political intervention undermine the integrity and smooth operations of developmental processes. Recommendations: The paper suggested strengthening accountability structures in local governments for proper usage of funds dedicated for rural development.
Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between energy transition indicators, carbon intensity and sustainability reporting adoption. The aim of the study is to examine how renewable energy consumption, CO₂ emissions per capita and energy intensity influence the prevalence of corporate sustainability reporting, while also assessing the moderating role of government effectiveness. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study uses a balanced panel dataset of 50 developing countries from 2015 to 2024. Pooled Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Fixed Effects (FE) and Random Effects (RE) panel regression models were applied. The Government Effectiveness Index (GEI) was used as a moderating variable to examine whether institutional capacity strengthens or weakens the relationship between environmental performance indicators and sustainability disclosure. Findings: The findings reveal that renewable energy consumption has a significant positive effect on sustainability reporting prevalence, while CO₂ emissions per capita show a significant negative association. Government effectiveness was found to be a strong positive moderator across all model specifications. Implications/Originality/Value: The study concludes that energy transition and institutional quality are important drivers of sustainability reporting in developing countries. It provides policy implications for multilateral institutions, national regulators and corporate governance frameworks seeking to improve sustainability disclosure.
Purpose: Self-efficacy is a key psychological factor which can impact a person's professional self-confidence, career decision making and occupational challenge. Self-efficacy is important in social work practice because social workers are often confronted with complex social situations and at risk populations, and a sense of self-efficacy is a key factor in building social work skills, resilience and a sense of career satisfaction. But very little empirical research is available to explore the effect of self-efficacy on career orientation among social work graduates in Pakistan context. The aim of this study was to study the effect of self-efficacy on career orientation of Social Work graduates of Punjab, Pakistan and to identify the demographic, educational, and socio-economic factors that influence their professional career. Methodology: A quantitative cross sectional research design was used. A structured questionnaire, which included standardized scales measuring general self-efficacy and career decision-making self-efficacy was used to gather data from the social work graduates of selected public universities of Punjab. Data collected were analysed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques to draw patterns and relationships of the variables studied. Findings: The findings of the research showed that the self-efficacy of social work graduates was moderate to high and significantly influenced their self-confidence in the professional decision making, career planning, and future career aspirations. Structural issues, such as limited employment opportunities, lack of exposure to internships, limited financial resources, and lack of institutional career support are however, found to be major determinants of career uncertainty. The experiential learning and supportive academic environment and professional guidance thus emerged as important factors in improving graduates' readiness for careers. Implications: The research highlights the need to build up the self-efficacy through practice based social work education, systematic field training, mentoring and career path development programs. There is a need to prioritize institutional approaches that build social work graduates' confidence and employability in universities and in the policy environment. The above growing social welfare issues can only be met with the development of psychologically empowered and professionally competent social workers.
Purpose: This systematic literature review aims to synthesize empirical evidence on the relationship between board gender diversity and ESG disclosure in context of emerging markets. Specifically, the study seeks to analyse the strength of this relationship, identify the theoretical perspectives employed in prior research, explore relevant contextual moderators, and highlight avenues for future research. Design/Methodology/Approach: This review follows the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and employs a narrative synthesis approach. Empirical and peer-reviewed studies published between 2021 and 2025 were retrieved from two electronic databases, Scopus and Web of Science. After carefully screening 2,400 articles, the authors selected 25 studies for detailed analysis. Findings: The evidence from the literature indicated that most of studies, 22 of 25 reported positive relationship. Although, two found negative relationship, whereas one indicated insignificant relationship. These inconsistent results reflect the critical impact of cultural norms, institutional quality and regional dynamics in shaping the relationship between board gender diversity and ESG disclosure across the emerging markets. Implications/Originality/Value: This study will assist managers, policymakers, investors, and academics in understanding the importance of female representation on corporate boards as a means of improving ESG disclosure practices. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic literature review (SLR) that exclusively examines this relationship across emerging-market countries, where institutional frameworks are generally weaker.
Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between international labor mobility and Pakistan’s macroeconomic performance by examining the influence of push and pull factors, along with the mediating roles of remittances and globalization. Design/Methodology/Approach: Macroeconomic performance is decomposed into five push and five pull constructs, while international migration is classified into seven categories. Annual time-series data for 1976–2025 are analyzed using unit root tests, regression bootstrapping, and consistent Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Reliability, convergent validity, discriminate validity, and other diagnostic tests are also employed. Findings: The results reveal a complex long-run relationship, indicating that disaggregated analysis provides deeper insights than aggregate analysis. All push and pull constructs significantly influence international migration across different skill categories, although their effects vary in magnitude. Among the constructs, the current account balance (CAB) and gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) exhibit insignificant effects. Furthermore, remittances and globalization significantly mediate the relationship between international migration and macroeconomic performance. Implications/Originality/Value: The study offers a comprehensive framework linking migration dynamics with macroeconomic performance, highlighting the importance of disaggregated policy analysis and the mediating roles of remittances and globalization in shaping migration outcomes
Purpose: The study aimed to investigate the effect of workplace stressors on the occurrence of counterproductive work behaviors (CWB) of workers in public universities in western Kenya. Design/Methodology/Approach: The design employed was the explanatory research design that aimed at establishing a relation between the study variables. The study was conducted in six public universities with respondents drawn using stratified and simple random sampling technique. Findings: The results showed that workplace stressors were negatively related to counterproductive work behavior in a statistically significant way, r = -0.608, p < 0.01. These findings highlight the need to focus on workplace factors that can cause stress among workers. Implications/Originality/Value: Strategies to reduce stress in the workplace should be effectively implemented by University management by ensuring that the job demands are congruent to an appropriate organizational resource and support. Under-resourcing and over-resourcing are likely to lead to more interpersonal conflict, emotional stress and actions that have a negative impact on organizational performance. Therefore, it is important to establish a healthy and positive work culture to lower the level of workplace stress and stop the occurrence of negative employee behaviors that could be counterproductive for university employees.
Purpose: To establish the effect of risk identification upon the financial performance of deposit-taking SACCOs in Kenya Design/Methodology/Approach: The study employed the positivist research philosophy but opted for descriptive survey and causal research designs. Data was gathered from a stratified random sample of 122 DTSACCOs drawn from a population of 176 SACCOs classified on the tier of regulation. Primary data came via questionnaires, while secondary data was taken from audited financial statements. The quantitative data were analysed using SPSS - both descriptive and inferential techniques. Findings: A strong positive relationship exists between financial risk identification and financial performance as a result of reduced operational costs (R = 0.771). The coefficient of determination (R² = 0.595) indicates that around 59.5% of the variation in operational costs is explained by risk identification. The adjusted R² value of 0.591 shows that this is still highly significant even after allowing for the number of predictors. Implications/Originality/Value: The study establishes once again that risk identification has a positive impact upon the financial performance of Deposit-Taking Sacco Societies. Such performance is enhanced via cost efficiency, reduced credit losses, and early detection of risks that threaten operational sustainability.
Purpose: This study assessed the effects of tax policies on the financial sustainability of SMEs in Eswatini’s manufacturing sector, with a specific focus on green tax policies, tax incentives, and presumptive taxation. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study used a cross-sectional research design and a quantitative research approach. Probability sampling was employed to select a sample of 127 manufacturing SMEs in the Matsapha Industrial Area, determined using the Taro Yamane formula. Primary data were collected from the selected SMEs using a structured five-point Likert scale questionnaire and analyzed through regression analysis to determine the relationship between tax policy variables and financial sustainability. Findings: The findings established that tax policies have positive effects on the financial sustainability of manufacturing SMEs. In particular, green tax policies and presumptive taxation were found to have significant positive effects on SMEs' financial sustainability, while tax incentives demonstrated a positive but statistically insignificant effect. Implications: The study provides empirical evidence on the role of tax policy in enhancing SME financial sustainability and offers policy insights for strengthening tax frameworks that support the growth and resilience of manufacturing SMEs in Eswatini.
Purpose: To determine the effect of Loan Risk Management Strategies on Financial Performance of Deposit Taking SACCO Societies in the Lake Region Economic. Design/Methodology/Approach: A mixed-methods research design that was descriptive and correlational was used. The collection of data was done using structured questionnaires administered to key institutional personnel (72 stakeholders from 36 SACCOs) and from financial statements on return on assets. The analysis consisted of descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: The descriptive results revealed that loan risk management (grand mean 3.65) were moderately practiced. Financial performance had a strong positive correlation with loan risk management strategies(r = 0.715, p < 0.05). This led to rejection of null hypothesis. Implications/Originality/Value: The management of SACCO should strengthen risk assessment by employing digital credit scoring systems and alternative data, institutionalizing regular portfolio reviews and early warning systems, and continuous training of staff in risk analytics.
Purpose: To determine the effect of organization mission on implementation of strategic plan in County governments in western region, Kenya Design: This study employed descriptive and correlational research designs. The population for this study comprised of employees in the county headquarters offices in the three categories of lower level, middle level and top level management totaling to 802 employees of which 267 computed by Yamane formula. The study used stratified simple random sampling. The primary research instrument for this study was a structured questionnaire. Pilot was done at Trans Nzoia County. Validity was tested using expert opinion and factor analysis. Reliability testing was done using Cronbach’s alpha. The research utilized a mix of descriptive statistical methods, like frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation along with inferential statistics such as correlation and regression analysis. Data was shown in the form of tables. Findings: Mission had a positive and significant effect on Strategic plan implementation (β=0.712, p=0.000). Value: The study recommends that county government management should formulate attainable goals that can easily be achieved hence making implementation realistic. The employees of County governments once involved in decision making and participation in key activities would at the end avoid cases of conflicts at work.
Purpose: The objective of the study was to examine the effect of innovation on the performance of Dairy Farmers Cooperatives in Western Region, Kenya. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research employed a descriptive and casual study research design and guided by the research philosophy of Pragmatism. The study targeted lead farmers and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of dairy farmers’ cooperatives in four counties of the Western Region of Kenya. The population included 440 dairy farmers’ cooperatives (DFCs) in the area. The respondents were selected by using a combination of stratified and simple random sampling techniques. A total of 210 samples. The study employed a structured closed-ended questionnaire to collect quantitative data. Additionally, qualitative data were collected from the CEOs through interview guides. The research instruments were piloted in Trans-Nzoia County to determine their suitability. The instruments were reliability-tested using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, whereas they were shown to be valid through content, construct and criterion validity assessment. Descriptive and inferential statistics helped to analyze the quantitative data. Use the tables and pie charts wherever applicable the descriptive analysis consisted of computing frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations. To test the hypotheses, Pearson’s correlation, multiple regression, and hierarchical regression techniques were used for the inferential analysis. Findings: The result was that innovation do significantly affects performance of dairy farmer’s cooperatives (B=0..845: p=0.000). Implications/Originality/Value: Dairy farmers’ cooperatives should therefore invest in innovation and have a committed management that can embrace technology in their operations for posterity.
