Building African Agribusiness through Trust and Accountability

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the social institutions of trust, accountability and corporate shared value in creating an enabling environment for private sector investment in African agricultural and food systems. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses mixed methods. A value chain framework models interactions among stakeholders in the agriculture, agribusiness and food sectors. The social institutions of accountability and trust are introduced into the model, followed by a Rwanda premium coffee value chain case study. Findings The conceptual and case study results show that best practices can increase smallholder farmer, agricultural service provider, financial intermediary, and food processor investments in and benefits from the agriculture sector. Research limitations/implications Further research is needed on the economic foundations of development cooperation based on trust, accountability and shared values, best practices and the link with desired societal outcomes, such as the sustainable development goals. Social implications Mutual accountability processes, as they are maturing in Africa, are at the cutting edge of creating processes where multiple stakeholders, including agribusiness, can come together to make joint commitments to a shared development agenda, and where stakeholders hold themselves and others accountable for meeting these commitments. Originality/value This is the first paper to bring together cutting-edge advances in corporate shared values, trust and accountability in the context of African agricultural and agribusiness development.

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“…Similarly, consumption experiences may enhance or diminish trust (Yoon, 2002) and prior experiences or satisfaction leads to trust (Ha and Perks, 2005). Similarly, trust empowers investment atmosphere for private sector (Franklin and Oehmke, 2019). This study proposes that trust depends on a farmer's overall satisfaction with their previous positive experiences with tractor consumption.…”

Accountability, marketing relacional y grupos de interés en el transporte aéreo colombiano

“…En adición, algunas visiones plantean que en el futuro los procesos de rendición de cuentas migrarán a características mutuas, que permitan introducir un nuevo enfoque para aunar esfuerzos sobre divulgación y contraer compromisos conjuntos con los grupos de interés, en favor de los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible (Franklin & Oehmke, 2019). Esto considerando que la consulta con las partes interesadas se ha llevado a cabo principalmente a través de la creación de consejos consultivos, mientras que la amplitud de la cobertura y la calidad de la retroalimentación mejoran las estructuras para abordar las preocupaciones de las partes interesadas (Irvine & O'Brien, 2009).…”

Farmer participation in the lychee value chain in Bac Giang province, Vietnam

“…This permits opportunities for easier joint investment, collective decision-making and possibly even benefits in the form of shared labor and finance. Examples of studies on different cooperative types in the more recent literatures include those focused on rivalry or non-rival cooperation (Cox, 2001), partnership (Webster, 1992; Mentzer et al , 2000), increased linkages between manufacturers and suppliers (Cravens et al , 1996) and trust and accountability (Franklin and Oehmke, 2019). Importantly, much of this literature has been centered on core and secondary manufacturing in the global north.…”