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Article
Publication date: 20 May 2019

Elie Bertrand Kengne Signe, Abraham Kanmogne, Guemene D. Emmanuel and Lucien Meva’a

The purpose of this paper is contribution to estimate the potential of wind energy in Douala in Cameroon, by modeling and predicting the regime of wind. The paper deals with the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is contribution to estimate the potential of wind energy in Douala in Cameroon, by modeling and predicting the regime of wind. The paper deals with the analysis and comparison of seven numerical methods for the assessment of effectiveness in determining the parameters for the Weibull distribution, using wind speed data collected at Douala International Airport in Cameroon, in the period from September 2011 to May 2013, obtained by meteorological equipment belonging to the Laboratory of Energy Research of the Institute of Geological and Mining Research.

Design/methodology/approach

By using ANOVA, root mean square error and chi-square tests to compare the proposed methods, this study aims to determine which methods are effective in determining the parameters of the Weibull distribution for the available data, in an attempt to establish acceptable criteria for better usage of wind power in Douala, which is the economic capital and ought to have prominence in the use of renewable sources for electricity generation in Cameroon.

Findings

The study helps to determine that moment, empirical and energy pattern factor methods used to determine the shape parameter k and the scale parameter c of the Weibull distribution present a better curve fit with the histogram of the wind speed. This fact is clearly validated by means of the statistical tests. But, all the seven methods gave excellent performance. Then, k reaching levels ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 and c range from 1.7 to 2.4.

Originality/value

Then as far as we are concerned, for a significant contribution, it could be more effective to have a model for prediction of wind characteristics using wind data collected per hour, one at least three years. A comparison of results obtained from lots of other methods (seven in this case) is necessary before an efficient discussion. Standard deviations and errors between measured and predicted data must also be presented.

Details

International Journal of Energy Sector Management, vol. 13 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6220

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 September 2022

Babette Linda Safougne Djomekui and Aristide Yemmafouo

This study aims to understand the mechanisms that contribute to the construction of the resilience of populations to urban flooding. It therefore proposes to analyse the…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to understand the mechanisms that contribute to the construction of the resilience of populations to urban flooding. It therefore proposes to analyse the strategies and attitudes developed by households subjected to floods to maintain and rebuild themselves despite the damage in the urbanised mangrove swamp of the south of the city.

Design/methodology/approach

The fieldwork consisted of observing the behaviours, practices and attitudes of households to flooding in the study area. In addition to observations, the fieldwork included interviews (60), focus groups (10), completion of 260 questionnaires by heads of households and field mapping. The sample was determined by the non-probability quota method. The data processing involved the extraction of descriptive and multivariate statistics as well as content analysis.

Findings

The rapid growth of Douala leads to vulnerabilities through the spontaneous occupation of mangrove areas, thus aggravating the impacts of the floods that occur. Afterwards, the analysis of the individual and collective responses of the inhabitants of the study area highlighted resilience in action. This resilience is expressed in two ways: the individual ability of the inhabitants to exploit internal/psychological and external resources/personal social capital to absorb the shock; and the capacity for self-organisation and learning which is manifested by the use of feedback in the reconstruction phase to transform the disaster into an opportunity for territorial development.

Research limitations/implications

Two main limitations of this work should be noted and are as follows. The study is only centred on an urbanised mangrove area, although there are others: Does the research hypothesis also apply to other urbanised mangrove areas? Flooding is not specific to mangrove areas. Other spontaneous non-mangrove neighbourhoods are subject to flooding. The results of this study give the impression that resilience capacities are paradoxically manifested in the most vulnerable neighbourhoods. This impression needs to be confirmed by further studies for a comparative synthesis of the experience of shocks between spontaneous neighbourhoods and planned neighbourhoods.

Practical implications

Urban flooding is one of many physical phenomena that scientists and technologists are learning about and trying to anticipate, avoid, and prepare for. Governments are simultaneously implementing policies for prevention, monitoring, warning, and reaction. If this analysis does not take into account the intrinsic capacities of the populations to cope with dangers, accept responsibility for their actions, and take significant local action when necessary, this framework will still be inadequate. Spontaneous activities are gradually developing around these efforts into coordinated, structured actions that, if taken into consideration and effectively managed, can prove to be successful and satisfying on a town-wide scale.

Social implications

Scientists and technicians are learning about physical phenomena such as urban flooding and are seeking ways to predict, prevent and protect against them. In parallel, governments are putting in place prevention, monitoring, warning and response policies. This framework is still lacking if this study does not consider the populations’ inherent abilities to deal with threats, take responsibility for their actions and take meaningful local action when necessary. Around these efforts, spontaneous initiatives are progressively emerging into concerted structured actions that can prove to be effective and satisfactory on a town-wide scale if they are taken into account and well managed.

Originality/value

Very few studies have considered the forms of expression of resilience in marginal urban environments such as spontaneous and anarchic neighbourhoods, non-aedificandi zones and sensitive environments such as the mangroves areas.

Details

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, vol. 14 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-5908

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 June 2021

Gabriel Etogo, Etgard Manga Engama and Théophile Serge Nomo

The purpose of this paper is to question gender identities as the basis for a differentialist conception of how to conceive and practice corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to question gender identities as the basis for a differentialist conception of how to conceive and practice corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Design/methodology/approach

This study has used a qualitative approach to study five paths of small and medium-sized entreprises (SMEs) female entrepreneurs. This study selected female entrepreneurs who can bring us rich material, which highlights the relationship between the concepts of gender identity and CSR practices. In this perspective, this study has retained five “revealing” cases.

Findings

By establishing a break with the ontological experience that contributes to the application of CSR practices as a natural expression of behaviour, this study shows how social relations of sex reproduce but also how social relations are subverted with respect to the requirements relating to CSR practices.

Originality/value

The main originality of this approach consisted in adopting the concept of “gender inversion”, characteristic of “gender mobility”, to identify the potential and/or effective observable recompositions in the field of managerial behaviours.

Details

Social Responsibility Journal, vol. 18 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-1117

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 31 August 2023

Hervé Honoré Epoh, Olivier Ewondo Mbebi and Fabrice Nzepang

This research paper aim at providing a new approach of calculating the destinations competitiveness index. How can these variables been aggregated in other to reflect the…

Abstract

Purpose

This research paper aim at providing a new approach of calculating the destinations competitiveness index. How can these variables been aggregated in other to reflect the realities of very distinct productive environments? We assume that: The weighting of variables provides a better measure of destinations competitiveness. Base on the Neo-Technological theory, after a life cycle differentiation, we used a panel data approach to calculate the weight of each variable as the spearman correlation coefficient of its contribution to tourism inflows growth. After integrating these weights, we came to the point that by applying an appropriate weight to its components, we end up having a competitiveness index that significantly improve the correlation between competitiveness and tourism inflows growth.

Details

Tourism Critiques: Practice and Theory, vol. 4 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2633-1225

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 April 2024

Cédric Gervais Njingang Ketchate, Oluwole Daniel Makinde, Pascalin Tiam Kapen and Didier Fokwa

This paper aims to investigate the hydrodynamic instability properties of a mixed convection flow of nanofluid in a porous channel.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the hydrodynamic instability properties of a mixed convection flow of nanofluid in a porous channel.

Design/methodology/approach

The treated single-phase nanofluid is a suspension consisting of water as the working fluid and alumina as a nanoparticle. The anisotropy of the porous medium and the effects of the inclination of the magnetic field are highlighted. The effects of viscous dissipation and thermal radiation are incorporated into the energy equation. The eigenvalue equation system resulting from the stability analysis is processed numerically by the spectral collocation method.

Findings

Analysis of the results in terms of growth rate reveals that increasing the volume fraction of nanoparticles increases the critical Reynolds number. Parameters such as the mechanical anisotropy parameter and Richardson number have a destabilizing effect. The Hartmann number, permeability parameter, magnetic field inclination, Prandtl number, wave number and thermal radiation parameter showed a stabilizing effect. The Eckert number has a negligible effect on the growth rate of the disturbances.

Originality/value

Linear stability analysis of Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) mixed convection flow of a radiating nanofluid in porous channel in presence of viscous dissipation.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 December 2023

Martin Eloundou Ndzana and Paulin Gregory Mvogo

Recent work in the economics of innovation in developing countries increasingly considers the formality of business as a determining factor of economic development. However…

Abstract

Purpose

Recent work in the economics of innovation in developing countries increasingly considers the formality of business as a determining factor of economic development. However, current knowledge on how formality determines both innovation and business performance remains mixed. This article examines this relationship by analyzing, on the one hand, the role of formality on innovation and, on the other hand, the moderating effect of formality on the relationship between innovation and the performance of business in francophone Sub-Saharan Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a sample of 1,369 Cameroonian and Senegalese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the International Development Research Center (IDRC), the Crepon Duguet et Maraise (CDM) technique was used to reduce the endogeneity bias inherent in this type of analysis.

Findings

The results show that formal companies have a better capacity for innovation. In addition, formality positively moderates the relationship between innovation and the performance of businesses in the case of product and commercial innovations. On the other hand, it negatively moderates the relationship between innovation and the performance for process and organizational innovations.

Practical implications

These results show that the advantages of formalization widely relayed by national public institutions and international organizations can present a risk for business if the expected gains are not accompanied by innovations.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to research by taking into account the heterogeneity of firms because it is one of the first to study formality as a moderator in the relationship between innovation and firm performance in Sub-Saharan African economies.

Details

Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, vol. 31 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1462-6004

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 May 2023

Jeunesse Noumga, Flavian Emmanuel Sapnken, Aubin Kinfack Jeutsa and Jean Gaston Tamba

This research paper aims to examine the asymmetric impact of income and price on household consumption of kerosene in Cameroon.

Abstract

Purpose

This research paper aims to examine the asymmetric impact of income and price on household consumption of kerosene in Cameroon.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological approach consists of testing for stationarity using the augmented Dickey–Fuller and Andrews and Zivot tests, determining cointegration using nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) test approach and finally examining asymmetry using the Wald test.

Findings

Results of the stationarity tests reveal that variables are all integrated of order less than two I(2). The NARDL approach indicates that the (positive and negative) income shock and the positive price boom negatively influence consumption in the long- and short-run. The same is true for the negative price shock, but the latter remains insignificant. Furthermore, the Wald test carried out in the study confirms that the cumulative effects of the positive and negative income and price shocks are asymmetric.

Originality/value

The increase in the price of kerosene due to the lifting of subsidies has led to a decrease in household consumption and an unfortunate increase in the loss of tree cover in Cameroon. According to the results, this phenomenon will persist even if the price is reduced. Actions aimed at reducing its production at the expense of liquefied petroleum gas, electricity and renewable energy should be encouraged to limit the loss of vegetation cover. Thus, this study could contribute to solving the problem of deforestation and desertification in Cameroon.

Details

International Journal of Energy Sector Management, vol. 18 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6220

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 June 2023

Omang Ombolo Messono, Simplice Asongu and Vanessa Tchamyou

This study aims to examine the effects of the historical prevalence of infectious diseases on contemporary gender equality. Previous studies reveal the persistence of the effects…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of the historical prevalence of infectious diseases on contemporary gender equality. Previous studies reveal the persistence of the effects of historical diseases on innovation, through the channel of culture.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the parasite stress theory, the authors propose a framework which argues that historical prevalence of infectious disease reduces contemporary gender equality. The study uses ordinary least squares and two-stage least squares in a cross-section with data from 122 countries between 2000 and 2021.

Findings

This study provide support for the underlying hypothesis. Past diseases reduce gender equality both directly and indirectly. The strongest indirect effects occur through innovation output. Gender equality analysis may take these findings into account and incorporate disease pathogens into the design of international social policy.

Originality/value

This study complements the extant literature by assessing the nexus between historical prevalence of infectious diseases and gender equality.

Details

International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-4902

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 May 2023

Abate Andre Modeste and Novice Patrick Bakehe

This paper aims to examine the relationship between the payment of bribes, the access to electricity and the productivity of informal production units (IPUs).

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between the payment of bribes, the access to electricity and the productivity of informal production units (IPUs).

Design/methodology/approach

The data used for this study come from the second Survey on Employment and Informal Sector conducted in 2010 by the National Institute of Statistics of Cameroon and representative at the national level. The survey was conducted among 3,560 IPUs. Survey participants reported whether they had been personally affected by corruption in the twelve months preceding the survey. Relying on the data of this survey, the recursive trivariate probit model was used to study the correlation between corruption and access to electricity.

Findings

The results reveal that the payment of bribes positively influences IPU access to electricity, and consequently access to this infrastructure has a positive impact on company performance.

Research limitations/implications

A main limitation of this paper is the environment of study in which corruption appeared to be institutionalised. It would therefore be interesting to extend the results obtained by conducting research in other countries and also including other infrastructures such as telecommunications.

Practical implications

The main contribution of this research is to highlight the effectiveness of the fight against corruption and its impact on the access of some basics resources that affect the performance of certain companies. Indeed, the fight against corruption would be easier if economic actors had access to certain resources and fundamental infrastructures for their activities. Thus, improving the supply of resources and infrastructures can be an important lever in the fight against corruption in Africa.

Originality/value

This research addresses a vulnerable sector vis-à-vis the pressure of the actors involved in the provision of a service essential to the activity of companies. It highlights the justification for accepting the use of corruption. Indeed, entrepreneurs are faced with a dilemma between moral standards on the one hand, and economic imperatives on the other. If corruption is a condition of access to electricity which, in turn, improves performance, it is easy to pay bribes to gain access to electricity.

Details

Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, vol. 31 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1462-6004

Keywords

1 – 10 of 131