Research Article
What Works for the Youth: Analysis of Youth Employment Policies in Rwanda
Kibs Boaz Muhanguzi*
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 2, April 2024
Pages:
20-31
Received:
20 April 2024
Accepted:
9 May 2024
Published:
31 July 2024
Abstract: In Rwanda, over 75 percent of youth are not in education, employment and training (NEET). These are mostly absorbed in the informal sector that provides little or no protection to workers against shocks, and are prone to several socio-economic, technical, and financial constraints. Through desk review of existing policies and studies, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focus group discussions (FGDs), this study reviews and analyzes the existing youth employment policies (YEPs) and interventions with intent to identify the hurdles and outcomes of the actual implementation of these YEPs in Rwanda. Youths aged 18 to 30, policy makers, policy implementers, and implementing partners were the key target respondents. The study finds a multitude of YEPs and interventions to promote youth education and skilling, entrepreneurship, and business development funding; though most of them are more focused on supply than demand-side of the labor market, with limited vulnerable youth inclusivity. Common hurdles encountered during implementation of YEPs include: poor coordination among the vast YEPs causing monitoring challenges both at national and district level, and duplication of services. Difficulty to integrate education and skilling into decent youth employment, matching labor laws with youth welfare, cultural bias limiting young women from participating in some labor market activities, funding gaps, and limited youth engagement during program design. Addressing these challenges requires a well-coordinated stakeholder engagement, and strong collaboration between the public and private sector, as well as civil society organizations.
Abstract: In Rwanda, over 75 percent of youth are not in education, employment and training (NEET). These are mostly absorbed in the informal sector that provides little or no protection to workers against shocks, and are prone to several socio-economic, technical, and financial constraints. Through desk review of existing policies and studies, key informant...
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Research Article
Modelling Bank Lending in Cameroon Using Two Steps Cointegration Technique
Achamoh Victalice Ngimanang*
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 2, April 2024
Pages:
32-44
Received:
25 August 2023
Accepted:
20 March 2024
Published:
20 August 2024
Abstract: This paper has as objective to model the key determinants of bank lending in Cameroon using time series data collected mainly from the World Bank database for the period spanning from 1979 to 2019. After exploring related theoretical and empirical literature, Engle and Granger two steps cointegration testing procedure was employed together with the necessary pretesting (unit root tests) and post estimation testing. Results of stationarity tests indicate that variable were a mixture of stationary and first difference. The lagged residual term possess unit root at level indicating that the variables are actually cointegarted and that ECM is relevant. The estimated cointegration regression model and the corresponding ECM were globally significant at one percent and the models were equally adequate with explanatory power of over 73 and 52 percent respectively. The results of the two models revealed that the effect of economic growth on bank lending was positive and highly significant, the effect of interest rate is negative and equally significant, then the effect of Gross Investment rate was also positive but not very significant in the short run. Based on the major findings, bank lending can be encouraged by stimulating the level of economic activities, by reducing interest rate on loans and by encouraging more investment projects.
Abstract: This paper has as objective to model the key determinants of bank lending in Cameroon using time series data collected mainly from the World Bank database for the period spanning from 1979 to 2019. After exploring related theoretical and empirical literature, Engle and Granger two steps cointegration testing procedure was employed together with the...
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