Journal of African Development

This study examines the role of Management Accounting Control Systems (MACS) in mitigating fraud risk and strengthening organizational resilience within financial institutions. The primary objective is to empirically investigate how key fraud risk management mechanisms risk assessment practices, internal controls and continuous monitoring, fraud investigation and response strategies, and regulatory compliance frameworks contribute to organizational resilience, while assessing the moderating influence of organizational culture. Although prior research has extensively addressed internal controls, corporate governance, and forensic accounting as post-fraud detection mechanisms, limited empirical evidence exists on the preventive governance function of integrated MACS in reducing fraud risk before occurrence. This study addresses this research gap by positioning MACS as a proactive and strategic framework for fraud risk mitigation.

A quantitative, survey-based research design was adopted. Primary data were collected from 320 employees (91% response rate) of a Nigerian microfinance bank using a structured questionnaire. Reliability testing yielded a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.882, confirming strong internal consistency. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis (OLS) via SPSS version 27. Diagnostic tests confirmed the absence of multicollinearity (VIF < 1.01) and autocorrelation (Durbin–Watson ≈ 2).

The findings reveal that all fraud risk management components significantly and positively influence organizational resilience: risk assessment (β = 0.229, p < 0.001), internal controls and monitoring (β = 0.219, p < 0.001), fraud investigation and response strategies (β = 0.174, p < 0.001), and regulatory compliance (β = 0.123, p < 0.001). The regression model explains 46% of the variance in organizational resilience (R² = 0.460). When organizational culture was introduced as a control variable, the explanatory power substantially increased to 82.7% (R² = 0.827), with culture emerging as the strongest predictor (β = 0.326, p < 0.001). These results demonstrate that a strong ethical culture enhances the effectiveness of MACS in fraud mitigation.

The novelty of this study lies in its integrated empirical model linking management accounting control systems, fraud risk management strategies, and organizational resilience within a unified governance framework. Unlike prior studies focusing primarily on detection mechanisms, this research advances management accounting theory by demonstrating the preventive and resilience-building capacity of MACS.The study concludes that effective integration of MACS components significantly strengthens fraud risk mitigation and enhances organizational resilience, particularly when supported by a strong ethical culture. However, the findings are limited by the single-institution sample, cross-sectional design, and reliance on self-reported data, which may restrict generalizability and causal inference. Future research should employ longitudinal designs, multi-sector comparative studies, and mixed-method approaches to validate and extend these findings. Further investigation into the role of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and advanced forensic analytics in enhancing management accounting controls would provide valuable insights into strengthening fraud prevention frameworks in increasingly complex financial environments.

The paper will analyze the law abiding on the Public-Private Partnership and its success in the infrastructure development by comparing it to India and other African states. It directly examines the effects of a variety of regulatory methods, including codified laws and guiding frameworks on the effectiveness, transparency, and sustainability of the PPP projects in these areas. Moreover, the paper examines the impacts of these legal and regulatory environments on the attraction of the private investment, especially given the prevailing issues of corruption and political instability, and how such environments enhance the realization of the sustainable development goals. One of the main arguments is that a solid legal framework is essential to provide a favorable environment in which the private sector can play its role in the development of infrastructure, minimizing risk, and improving fairness of results across the board. This comparative study will analyze the best practices and key areas of reform of PPP legislation with the capacity to address the management of stakeholders and environmental protection in infrastructure projects. The discussion also explores the situation on the one hand (developing economies) that tends to have weak regulatory frameworks, market volatility, and poor institutional capacity compared to developed nations (stable legal framework, the use of a sophisticated financial instruments to determine PPPs). This disparity often necessitates tailored legal and regulatory approaches in developing countries to attract and secure private sector involvement in critical infrastructure projects, especially given the global infrastructure deficit estimated at US$800 billion to US$1 trillion annually

In the context of accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enhancing household-level socioeconomic outcomes in a financial environment that is changing quickly, financial literacy has grown in significance. Today's households and individuals must make difficult financial decisions about debt, savings, investments, and income management, which makes financial literacy a crucial factor in determining general well-being. This study looks at how financial literacy affects households' social and economic well-being in the Delhi NCR area of India.The research design used in the study is cross-sectional and descriptive. In addition to measures of economic well-being (income stability, savings, debt management, and financial security) and social well-being (education, health, and living standards), a structured questionnaire measuring financial knowledge, financial skills, and financial behavior was used to gather primary data from 489 household heads. To verify the measurement model and assess the suggested correlations, the data were examined using frequency distribution, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings show that financial literacy significantly and favorably affects social and economic well-being. Higher financial literacy households make better financial decisions, allocate resources more wisely, handle risk better, and are better equipped to meet long-term socioeconomic demands. The results demonstrate how important financial literacy is for improving household resilience and quality of life.For governments, academic institutions, and development organizations, the study offers important policy implications. Financial inclusion, prudent financial conduct, and equitable and sustainable socioeconomic development can all be strengthened by focused financial literacy programs

The rapid growth of the Information Technology (IT) sector has significantly influenced investment patterns in the Indian mutual fund industry, leading to increased investor interest in IT sector mutual funds. However, sectoral funds are often associated with higher volatility, making risk-adjusted performance evaluation essential for informed investment decisions. This study aims to analyze the risk-adjusted performance of selected IT sector mutual funds in India over a ten-year period. The study is based on secondary data collected from AMFI, official websites of asset management companies and stock exchange databases. The statistical measures such as average returns, standard deviation and beta are used to assess return and risk, while Sharpe Ratio, Treynor Ratio, and Jensen’s Alpha are employed to evaluate risk-adjusted performance. The performance of selected IT mutual funds is compared with the benchmark IT index to determine their relative efficiency. The findings reveal that IT sector mutual funds offer attractive return potential, their performance varies significantly after adjusting for risk. The study provides valuable insights for investors, fund managers, and researchers in understanding the performance dynamics of IT sector mutual funds in India..

The paper will compare the legal approaches of constitutionalism, the rule of law and development governance in India and various African nations and their ways of converging and diverging of these two concepts. It delves into interplay between the aspects of past colonial sources, aboriginal law, and contemporary global forces in the evolution of these paradigms that are critical. The analysis of these nations in the paper is done based on the challenge of how they manage the complexities of sorting out good constitutional democracies and models of development that are fair as they tend to have common issues in institutionalizing the idea of good governance and in protecting the basic rights. In addition, it discusses law and judicial interpretations effectiveness as a means of implementing constitution and sustainable development in different socio-political circumstances. Still not sure and with suspicions still plenty over the real meaning of the Rule of Law, and the institutional form in which it occurs, this paper proposes that the legal pluralist approach represents a more conscious standpoint as it is one which allows space to be given to fully varied conceptions and to practice in contexts. This methodology recognizes that legal systems are embedded in the different cultural norms and in different socio-economic discourses and leaves behind one singular, Universalist conception of constitutional values. Such a point of view is especially pertinent in the case of swamping multiplicity of legal systems, more often a create of colonialism, the operation of law generally requires a very fine tune so that it can be useful to sustainable development rather than a noxious obstacle to it

Platform based workforces have expanded rapidly in both India and Australia, creating new economic opportunities while deepening long standing concerns around precarity, classification, and access to social security. This article examines how the two jurisdictions are attempting to regulate platform labour within their broader social protection frameworks. Using a doctrinal and comparative approach, the paper contrasts India’s Social Security Code, 2020 which formally recognizes gig and platform workers but leaves key entitlements discretionary; with recent Australian reforms that strengthen minimum standards, define “employee-like” work, and address algorithmic control.  Through case law, legislative analysis, and policy review, the article evaluates whether these reforms meaningfully reduce vulnerability or merely repackage traditional employment tests. The comparison highlights regulatory gaps that persist in both systems, particularly around income security, occupational protections, and collective rights. The paper argues for a more integrated approach to social security that reflects the real condition of platform labour and offers insights for jurisdictions grappling with similar challenges globally

The pervasive use of social media and instant messaging applications has significantly reshaped employee behaviour in contemporary workplaces, particularly in private sector organisations. While digital connectivity facilitates communication and collaboration, it has also intensified social cyberloafing behaviour, wherein employees engage in non-work-related social media activities during working hours. The present study examines the influence of selected social cyberloafing behaviours among employees working in private sector organisations in Kerala. Using structured questionnaire data and regression-based analysis, the study evaluates key dimensions of social cyberloafing, including personal social media use, messaging behaviour, task switching, and online social interaction during work time. The findings reveal that all selected social cyberloafing indicators are statistically significant, with distraction from work responsibilities due to social media use emerging as the strongest predictor. The study contributes to the cyberloafing literature by empirically identifying dominant social cyberloafing behaviours and offers practical implications for managing digital distractions in organizational settings

Financial inclusion has become a key policy objective in India, aiming to ensure access to affordable and reliable financial services for all sections of society, particularly the unbanked and underbanked population. In recent years, mobile payment applications have emerged as a powerful instrument in achieving this goal by leveraging widespread smartphone adoption, expanding internet connectivity, and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) infrastructure. Mobile payment apps such as PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, and BHIM have simplified digital transactions by offering secure, low-cost, and user-friendly platforms for payments, fund transfers, bill payments, and merchant transactions.

This study examines the role of mobile payment apps in promoting financial inclusion in India by enhancing accessibility to formal financial services, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. The research highlights how these applications reduce dependency on traditional banking channels, minimize transaction costs, and encourage participation in the digital financial ecosystem. Mobile payment apps also support government initiatives such as Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and Digital India by facilitating seamless fund transfers and improving transparency.

The study is based on secondary data collected from reports published by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), government publications, and existing research literature. The findings indicate that mobile payment apps have significantly increased digital payment adoption, empowered small merchants and self-employed individuals, and contributed to financial awareness and economic inclusion. However, challenges such as digital illiteracy, cybersecurity risks, and uneven internet access remain barriers to universal adoption. The paper concludes that with continued policy support, technological innovation, and digital literacy initiatives, mobile payment apps can play a transformative role in achieving sustainable and inclusive financial growth in India

The digital age has brought about high-speed changes in the field of higher education, thus pushing institutions to reconsider traditional forms of pedagogical activity. The micro-structured blended learning (MSBL) is one of the most promising innovations as it integrates the power of the blended learning with the micro-structured, modular design of instruction. The article investigates how micro-structured blended learning methodologies have influenced higher education achievement in terms of student engagement, academic performance, development of skills, learner autonomy as well as institutional effectiveness. The main objective of the study is to examine the impact of micro-structured blended learning approaches on higher education outcomes across different educational qualifications. The study adopted a quantitative research design to analyze the impact of micro-structured blended learning approaches on higher education outcomes. The population of the study comprised students enrolled in higher education institutions. A sample of 100 respondents was selected using the simple random sampling technique, ensuring that each participant had an equal chance of being included in the studyUsing the current theoretical basis of pedagogical theory and new empirical data, the article posits that MSBL is a scalable, flexible and learner-centered model that is highly applicable in a variety of student groups and to the changing needs of the labor market. The implementation difficulties, faculty and policy implications and future research directions are also addressed in the article

This paper reviews the analysis of operational application and strategic implications of duty drawback regimes in the export oriented companies in Santa Catarina, Brazil, with an objective of gaining a better understanding of how the mechanisms increases the competitiveness of exports. The research design adopted was descriptive and exploratory, combining the documentary analysis of the government reports, trade policies and industry statistics with the primary data obtained using structured electronic questionnaires served in the sampled 44 exporting firms. Quantitative/qualitative data were collected covering the participation in sectors, preference of drawback modalities, the logistical practices and the perceived obstacle to adoption. The results reveal that the main beneficiaries of the duty drawback mechanisms are the medium and large enterprises; moreover, the most popular modality of the suspension is the most frequently used because of the simplicity of the procedure and its economic benefits. Smaller companies show little activity due to both regulatory complexity, shortage of qualified staff, and administrative overhead. The research concludes that capacity-building, streamlined processes, and reaching out to the policy are the only required measures to expand the participation so that duty drawback programs become effective tools of regional industrialization and global market integration

This study constructs a novel theoretical framework by synthesizing performative epistemology with decolonial feminist theory to analyze African women’s leadership through the metaphorical lens of Odissi. Building upon Lugones’ (2010) concept of decolonial feminism and Nnaemeka’s (2005) theory of nego-feminism, we argue that Odissi’s artistic principles – particularly its dialectical tension between fluidity and structural precision – offer a powerful heuristic for understanding how African women leaders negotiate postcolonial power structures.

Employing a critical qualitative methodology that combines discourse analysis of leadership narratives with performance theory (Foster, 2011), this research makes three key contributions: First, it develops a transcontinental analytical model that challenges the Eurocentric bias in leadership studies. Second, it demonstrates how performative traditions provide alternative epistemologies for conceptualizing power, extending Mohanty’s (2003) work on transnational feminisms. Third, it articulates a theory of embodied resistance that bridges the somatic and political dimensions of leadership (Sinclair, 2013).

The analysis reveals how African women leaders employ what we term “choreographic leadership” – a dynamic practice that combines strategic adaptability with cultural rootedness, mirroring Odissi’s interplay of lasya (grace) and tandava (power). This conceptualization advances current debates in postcolonial feminism (Oyěwùmí, 1997) by providing a culturally-nuanced framework for understanding leadership as simultaneously performative and transformative.

The study’s theoretical innovation lies in its methodological synthesis of performance studies and feminist political theory, offering new tools for analyzing how marginalized leaders subvert institutional constraints through embodied praxis. We conclude with implications for developing leadership paradigms that center Global South epistemologies and challenge dominant Western models.

This study investigates how administrative practices under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) shape the functioning and sustainability of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in rural India. Using secondary data from NRLM dashboards, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) reports, and NIRDPR evaluations, it demonstrates that variations in SHG outcomes are strongly linked to district-level administrative behavior. States where District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) consistently monitor SHGs, maintain digital reporting, and conduct regular training display stronger financial discipline and higher SHG grading outcomes. The study contributes to debates on rural governance by showing that policy success depends not simply on program design but on administrative execution capacity.