Large urban systems are infrastructure systems that are needed to make cities sustainable. Around... more Large urban systems are infrastructure systems that are needed to make cities sustainable. Around the world, cities are rapidly morphing into regions, and these regions must collaborate and develop cost-effective infrastructure systems. A review of the collaborative regional approach to infrastructure development in the Emirates’ Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Sharjah (ADS) region offers practical lessons for other emerging regions.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) covers 17 goals with 169 measurable achievements and dea... more The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) covers 17 goals with 169 measurable achievements and deadlines determined by the United Nations in 2015 as the world development agenda for the benefits of human beings and the Earth. The joint development ambition is set to be done in 2030. For the community service discussed in this article, the team focuses on the 4th goal, namely quality education. The goal ensures the quality of inclusive and equitable education, and promotes a lifetime learning opportunities for all. The practical objectives of such education include direct goals by children, teachers, parents, and the community. Such education means providing equal and fair opportunities for all disregarding their backgrounds, circumstances, economic abilities, etc., which are considered as obstacles to obtain education. The development of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has touched many fields in everyday life and is no exception for persons with disabilities. For persons w...
Accessibility and Inclusion are challenging issues for decision-makers due to its impact on equit... more Accessibility and Inclusion are challenging issues for decision-makers due to its impact on equity and quality of life. This research presents a novel governance evaluation model (GEM) for Accessible and Inclusive Urban Development (AIUD) to develop quantitative approach by applying Analytical Network Process (ANP). Experts feedback was sought to first: rank priorities of governance principles (GP’s), second: determine interdependencies of GI’s with respect to GP’s, third: determine interdependencies of indicators with respect to each other and finally scores for public governance. Therefore, the model was used to evaluate public governance in Sharjah Emirate by four agencies representing public sector. AIUD GEM results showed that the most important governance principle at AIUD in the UAE is (Transparency and Accountability). While the highest rated governance indicator is (representation of persons with disabilities and their families). The model implementation in Sharjah, demonst...
Managing Knowledge and Innovation for Business Sustainability in Africa, 2017
This chapter proposes some strategic initiatives for African governments, corporations, non-profi... more This chapter proposes some strategic initiatives for African governments, corporations, non-profits and citizens to take, in an effort to deploy innovation and knowledge to build the capacity of entrepreneurs, thereby enabling them to produce goods and services that are profitable in the marketplace. The chapter argues that Africa’s role and presence in the global creative economy are weak. Africa is marginalised from the creative economy, and the polylemmas inhibiting the continent’s active and rewarding participation in the global economy must be addressed through concerted efforts and collaboration by all stakeholders at the local, national and international levels, and by deploying innovation and knowledge, along with other requisite political, economic and institutional reforms. Entrepreneurship has been the key to the economic success and, to some extent, political and strategic pre-eminence of the advanced countries. Africa is in a race for time, as the population explodes, driving rapid urbanisation and the growth of slums, and the need for schools and health centres places enormous pressure on the meagre resources of states. These issues are exacerbated by extraneous factors such as climate change, terrorism and global economic volatilities. Addressing the polylemmas identified through the research and interviews conducted for this chapter should equip and enable entrepreneurs to produce goods and services for local and international markets. Entrepreneurship has the potential to foster self-fulfilment and self-reliance, patriotism and sustainable development. It should provide a way for African countries with mono-economies to develop diversified and vibrant economies. It is a powerful weapon for growth and development, and the innovation and knowledge needed to fuel it are readily available in the global market. The initiatives proposed in this chapter are simple, pragmatic and feasible. True to the aim of this chapter, they are innovative and knowledge-based, and their adaptation can trigger the change needed to catapult African entrepreneurs into the global theatre of the creative economy.
Between a one-month period (11 June and 10 July 2010), the Republic of South Africa (RSA) success... more Between a one-month period (11 June and 10 July 2010), the Republic of South Africa (RSA) successfully hosted the 2010 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA2010) World Cup. This paper contributes to the post- World Cup discourse of the impacts of the mega sporting event on business development in South Africa in particular, and in Africa in general. Using empirical data from secondary sources, along with theoretical reasoning, the paper contends that FIFA 2010 World Cup met the interests of all stakeholders in South Africa, more so from a political-economic than a macro-economic standpoint. Thus, the World Cup was a public expenditure by the South Africa government and people, and not a stimulus or impetus for business development either nationally or continentally. The paper posits that the World Cup is, in intent and purpose, a one-time, short-lived entertaining sporting event, hosted by a country for the global community to enjoy. In this sense, the event is, in general, a public good or service, and, in 2010, it achieved its purpose for South Africans. Quite heuristic from the success of FIFA 2010 World Cup P are lessons that can be learned for governance and entrepreneurship in Africa. The paper deciphered some of these lessons for policy and project planning, project financing and execution in Africa. The paper concluded that extrapolating the impacts of FIFA 2010 World Cup on business development in Africa is at best a research goldmine for business, management and economics scholars.
The purpose of our paper is to provide a commentary on the key challenges facing small and medium... more The purpose of our paper is to provide a commentary on the key challenges facing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) international tourism marketing strategies. The rationale for the paper is that tourism, both domestic and international, and in all its genres (ecotourism, leisure tourism, medical tourism, etc.) is, and will for the foreseeable future be, a potent force of economic development in SSA at large, and in Ghana in particular. Relying heaving on statistics from the World Tourism Organization, we explore the key sector (i.e. the SME sector) at the forefront of the initiative as a means for starting the debate on how to move the discourse forward. Both policy and international business implications are inferred in our summation.
As the world embarked upon the Road to Rio (i.e., Rio de Janeiro), global attention to ‘saving th... more As the world embarked upon the Road to Rio (i.e., Rio de Janeiro), global attention to ‘saving the world from itself’, became renewed. In a bid to cut back the carbon footprints for which the Middle East is renowned, it is interesting to see that a member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) delegation also is a member of one of the ruling families. Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali al Nuaimi (aka the Green Sheikh) has been a champion for the environment. In this paper, we profile ‘the man’ and ‘his message’ in the light of how the two may be amplified and better aligned with the major investments made by the UAE towards building a sustainable hub that complements the global sustainability initiative.
As the world embarked upon the Road to Rio (i.e., Rio de Janeiro), global attention to 'saving th... more As the world embarked upon the Road to Rio (i.e., Rio de Janeiro), global attention to 'saving the world from itself', became renewed. In a bid to cut back the carbon footprints for which the Middle East is renowned, it is interesting to see that a member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) delegation also is a member of one of the ruling families. Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali al Nuaimi (aka the Green Sheikh) has been a champion for the environment. In this paper, we profile 'the man' and 'his message' in the light of how the two may be amplified and better aligned with the major investments made by the UAE towards building a sustainable hub that complements the global sustainability initiative.
As cities grow, infrastructure demand and cost increase. Cities constantly seek innovative ways t... more As cities grow, infrastructure demand and cost increase. Cities constantly seek innovative ways to fund infrastructure. Until now, infrastructure was funded almost entirely by government because infrastructure generally tends to serve a public purpose and to accelerate private investment (Miles et al. 1991, 121). Examples of key public expenditures that have fueled private investment are the billions of public works dollars spent during the Industrial Recovery period of the 1930s, the dollars spent under Title1 of the 1949 Housing Act, and the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991. Today, a weak economy and public opposition to higher taxes have whittled down the public dollars available for infrastructure development. Thus, “more and more of the burden of constructing capital facilities is being shifted to the private sector … ” and the private sector has often been lured to provide infrastructure “either in association with private development or as a pr...
As cities grow, infrastructure demand and cost increase. Cities constantly seek innovative ways t... more As cities grow, infrastructure demand and cost increase. Cities constantly seek innovative ways to fund infrastructure. Until now, infrastructure was funded almost entirely by government because infrastructure generally tends to serve a public purpose and to accelerate private investment (Miles et al. 1991, 121). Examples of key public expenditures that have fueled private investment are the billions of public works dollars spent during the Industrial Recovery period of the 1930s, the dollars spent under Title1 of the 1949 Housing Act, and the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991.
Large urban systems are infrastructure systems that are needed to make cities sustainable. Around... more Large urban systems are infrastructure systems that are needed to make cities sustainable. Around the world, cities are rapidly morphing into regions, and these regions must collaborate and develop cost-effective infrastructure systems. A review of the collaborative regional approach to infrastructure development in the Emirates’ Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Sharjah (ADS) region offers practical lessons for other emerging regions.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) covers 17 goals with 169 measurable achievements and dea... more The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) covers 17 goals with 169 measurable achievements and deadlines determined by the United Nations in 2015 as the world development agenda for the benefits of human beings and the Earth. The joint development ambition is set to be done in 2030. For the community service discussed in this article, the team focuses on the 4th goal, namely quality education. The goal ensures the quality of inclusive and equitable education, and promotes a lifetime learning opportunities for all. The practical objectives of such education include direct goals by children, teachers, parents, and the community. Such education means providing equal and fair opportunities for all disregarding their backgrounds, circumstances, economic abilities, etc., which are considered as obstacles to obtain education. The development of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has touched many fields in everyday life and is no exception for persons with disabilities. For persons w...
Accessibility and Inclusion are challenging issues for decision-makers due to its impact on equit... more Accessibility and Inclusion are challenging issues for decision-makers due to its impact on equity and quality of life. This research presents a novel governance evaluation model (GEM) for Accessible and Inclusive Urban Development (AIUD) to develop quantitative approach by applying Analytical Network Process (ANP). Experts feedback was sought to first: rank priorities of governance principles (GP’s), second: determine interdependencies of GI’s with respect to GP’s, third: determine interdependencies of indicators with respect to each other and finally scores for public governance. Therefore, the model was used to evaluate public governance in Sharjah Emirate by four agencies representing public sector. AIUD GEM results showed that the most important governance principle at AIUD in the UAE is (Transparency and Accountability). While the highest rated governance indicator is (representation of persons with disabilities and their families). The model implementation in Sharjah, demonst...
Managing Knowledge and Innovation for Business Sustainability in Africa, 2017
This chapter proposes some strategic initiatives for African governments, corporations, non-profi... more This chapter proposes some strategic initiatives for African governments, corporations, non-profits and citizens to take, in an effort to deploy innovation and knowledge to build the capacity of entrepreneurs, thereby enabling them to produce goods and services that are profitable in the marketplace. The chapter argues that Africa’s role and presence in the global creative economy are weak. Africa is marginalised from the creative economy, and the polylemmas inhibiting the continent’s active and rewarding participation in the global economy must be addressed through concerted efforts and collaboration by all stakeholders at the local, national and international levels, and by deploying innovation and knowledge, along with other requisite political, economic and institutional reforms. Entrepreneurship has been the key to the economic success and, to some extent, political and strategic pre-eminence of the advanced countries. Africa is in a race for time, as the population explodes, driving rapid urbanisation and the growth of slums, and the need for schools and health centres places enormous pressure on the meagre resources of states. These issues are exacerbated by extraneous factors such as climate change, terrorism and global economic volatilities. Addressing the polylemmas identified through the research and interviews conducted for this chapter should equip and enable entrepreneurs to produce goods and services for local and international markets. Entrepreneurship has the potential to foster self-fulfilment and self-reliance, patriotism and sustainable development. It should provide a way for African countries with mono-economies to develop diversified and vibrant economies. It is a powerful weapon for growth and development, and the innovation and knowledge needed to fuel it are readily available in the global market. The initiatives proposed in this chapter are simple, pragmatic and feasible. True to the aim of this chapter, they are innovative and knowledge-based, and their adaptation can trigger the change needed to catapult African entrepreneurs into the global theatre of the creative economy.
Between a one-month period (11 June and 10 July 2010), the Republic of South Africa (RSA) success... more Between a one-month period (11 June and 10 July 2010), the Republic of South Africa (RSA) successfully hosted the 2010 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA2010) World Cup. This paper contributes to the post- World Cup discourse of the impacts of the mega sporting event on business development in South Africa in particular, and in Africa in general. Using empirical data from secondary sources, along with theoretical reasoning, the paper contends that FIFA 2010 World Cup met the interests of all stakeholders in South Africa, more so from a political-economic than a macro-economic standpoint. Thus, the World Cup was a public expenditure by the South Africa government and people, and not a stimulus or impetus for business development either nationally or continentally. The paper posits that the World Cup is, in intent and purpose, a one-time, short-lived entertaining sporting event, hosted by a country for the global community to enjoy. In this sense, the event is, in general, a public good or service, and, in 2010, it achieved its purpose for South Africans. Quite heuristic from the success of FIFA 2010 World Cup P are lessons that can be learned for governance and entrepreneurship in Africa. The paper deciphered some of these lessons for policy and project planning, project financing and execution in Africa. The paper concluded that extrapolating the impacts of FIFA 2010 World Cup on business development in Africa is at best a research goldmine for business, management and economics scholars.
The purpose of our paper is to provide a commentary on the key challenges facing small and medium... more The purpose of our paper is to provide a commentary on the key challenges facing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) international tourism marketing strategies. The rationale for the paper is that tourism, both domestic and international, and in all its genres (ecotourism, leisure tourism, medical tourism, etc.) is, and will for the foreseeable future be, a potent force of economic development in SSA at large, and in Ghana in particular. Relying heaving on statistics from the World Tourism Organization, we explore the key sector (i.e. the SME sector) at the forefront of the initiative as a means for starting the debate on how to move the discourse forward. Both policy and international business implications are inferred in our summation.
As the world embarked upon the Road to Rio (i.e., Rio de Janeiro), global attention to ‘saving th... more As the world embarked upon the Road to Rio (i.e., Rio de Janeiro), global attention to ‘saving the world from itself’, became renewed. In a bid to cut back the carbon footprints for which the Middle East is renowned, it is interesting to see that a member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) delegation also is a member of one of the ruling families. Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali al Nuaimi (aka the Green Sheikh) has been a champion for the environment. In this paper, we profile ‘the man’ and ‘his message’ in the light of how the two may be amplified and better aligned with the major investments made by the UAE towards building a sustainable hub that complements the global sustainability initiative.
As the world embarked upon the Road to Rio (i.e., Rio de Janeiro), global attention to 'saving th... more As the world embarked upon the Road to Rio (i.e., Rio de Janeiro), global attention to 'saving the world from itself', became renewed. In a bid to cut back the carbon footprints for which the Middle East is renowned, it is interesting to see that a member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) delegation also is a member of one of the ruling families. Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali al Nuaimi (aka the Green Sheikh) has been a champion for the environment. In this paper, we profile 'the man' and 'his message' in the light of how the two may be amplified and better aligned with the major investments made by the UAE towards building a sustainable hub that complements the global sustainability initiative.
As cities grow, infrastructure demand and cost increase. Cities constantly seek innovative ways t... more As cities grow, infrastructure demand and cost increase. Cities constantly seek innovative ways to fund infrastructure. Until now, infrastructure was funded almost entirely by government because infrastructure generally tends to serve a public purpose and to accelerate private investment (Miles et al. 1991, 121). Examples of key public expenditures that have fueled private investment are the billions of public works dollars spent during the Industrial Recovery period of the 1930s, the dollars spent under Title1 of the 1949 Housing Act, and the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991. Today, a weak economy and public opposition to higher taxes have whittled down the public dollars available for infrastructure development. Thus, “more and more of the burden of constructing capital facilities is being shifted to the private sector … ” and the private sector has often been lured to provide infrastructure “either in association with private development or as a pr...
As cities grow, infrastructure demand and cost increase. Cities constantly seek innovative ways t... more As cities grow, infrastructure demand and cost increase. Cities constantly seek innovative ways to fund infrastructure. Until now, infrastructure was funded almost entirely by government because infrastructure generally tends to serve a public purpose and to accelerate private investment (Miles et al. 1991, 121). Examples of key public expenditures that have fueled private investment are the billions of public works dollars spent during the Industrial Recovery period of the 1930s, the dollars spent under Title1 of the 1949 Housing Act, and the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991.
The e-future of cities: Between temptations of exponential technology growth and the concept of human city, 2019
This paper contends that the discourse on the identity, dynamics, functioning and governance of f... more This paper contends that the discourse on the identity, dynamics, functioning and governance of future cities is shaped by various factors, chief of which is the disciplinary lenses of discussants, in which their interests, convictions and biases are embedded. These lenses are exemplified by the various conceptualizations of cities, such as smart cities, resilient cities, etc. This paper constructs a three-component image of cities, viz, people, place (natural environment), systems (institutions, structures). The paper argues that the preponderant determinant of what cities are is people. People should thus be the pivot of any meaningful discourse about the future of cities. How should people and their spaces be defined in future cities? How should people navigate the complex terrain of co-habitation in shared spaces? To answer these and allied questions, this paper acknowledges several popular urban utopia and design frameworks in the urban planning field. It draws insights from these models to propose ‘humanopolis’ as an ideal model of future cities. Humanopolis is a neologism for what urban experts have referred to variously as human-centric, transformative and people-centered cities. This paper rationalizes humanopolis as a model of future cities. It concludes by affirming that the sustainability and livability of future cities will be determined by stakeholders and how they negotiate their priorities, action paths and terms of co-habitation. The key stakeholder sectors that must collaborate to make humanopolis functional and livable are identified along with the unique resources they have to work with and their specific roles.
Infrastructure Management, Assessment and Rehabilitation, 2021
The greatest development feats in the world to date have been enabled
by infrastructure. Historic... more The greatest development feats in the world to date have been enabled by infrastructure. Historically, infrastructure is a constant driver in the development of societies. Yet, it remains the bane of development worldwide today, especially in light of the world’s climatic, financial and strategic challenges. The capacity and adequacy of infrastructure to meet development needs cost-effectively depends on a range of intertwined factors. In post-modern societies, infrastructure needs have increased dramatically in quantity and quality, raising questions about the adequacy of infrastructure to meet current and future needs. Today, discourse among infrastructure experts, scholars and professionals alike, affirms the ‘unsatisfactory’ status of infrastructure worldwide, due to critical challenges that are reviewed in this chapter. To address these challenges, experts agree that, among other things, there is an urgent need for a new paradigm - next generation (nextgen) – of infrastructure (NGI), one that is sustainable, affordable, equitable, resilient and ‘smart’. From a public policy and planning standpoint, the evidence-based research method was used to address, in this chapter, unique characteristics of NGI and key implications of NGI for sustainable urban development – SUD. The chapter developed an analytical framework of five societal goal clusters in order to disaggregate the implications of NGI. In conclusion, the chapter used the four main societal stakeholder sectors as a template to suggest policy and planning responses to the implications, along with recommendations of specific roles each sector should play in order to address the implications and provide the stock of NGI for SUD. Keywords: Nextgen infrastructure; societal goal clusters; societal stakeholder sectors; sustainable urban development.
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Papers by Jerry Kolo
world, cities are rapidly morphing into regions, and these regions must collaborate and develop cost-effective infrastructure systems. A review of the collaborative regional approach to infrastructure development in the Emirates’ Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Sharjah (ADS) region offers practical lessons for other emerging regions.
world, cities are rapidly morphing into regions, and these regions must collaborate and develop cost-effective infrastructure systems. A review of the collaborative regional approach to infrastructure development in the Emirates’ Abu Dhabi-Dubai-Sharjah (ADS) region offers practical lessons for other emerging regions.
by infrastructure. Historically, infrastructure is a constant driver in the
development of societies. Yet, it remains the bane of development
worldwide today, especially in light of the world’s climatic, financial and
strategic challenges. The capacity and adequacy of infrastructure to meet
development needs cost-effectively depends on a range of intertwined
factors. In post-modern societies, infrastructure needs have increased
dramatically in quantity and quality, raising questions about the adequacy
of infrastructure to meet current and future needs. Today, discourse among
infrastructure experts, scholars and professionals alike, affirms the
‘unsatisfactory’ status of infrastructure worldwide, due to critical challenges
that are reviewed in this chapter. To address these challenges, experts agree
that, among other things, there is an urgent need for a new paradigm - next
generation (nextgen) – of infrastructure (NGI), one that is sustainable,
affordable, equitable, resilient and ‘smart’. From a public policy and
planning standpoint, the evidence-based research method was used to
address, in this chapter, unique characteristics of NGI and key implications
of NGI for sustainable urban development – SUD. The chapter developed
an analytical framework of five societal goal clusters in order to
disaggregate the implications of NGI. In conclusion, the chapter used the four main societal stakeholder sectors as a template to suggest policy and planning responses to the implications, along with recommendations of specific roles each sector should play in order to address the implications and provide the stock of NGI for SUD.
Keywords: Nextgen infrastructure; societal goal clusters; societal
stakeholder sectors; sustainable urban development.