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The Role of Multinationals in Eradicating Poverty in Africa: Perspectives From Different Stakeholders in Urban Uganda
Author(s) -
Turyahabwa Joy
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
poverty and public policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.206
H-Index - 4
ISSN - 1944-2858
DOI - 10.1002/pop4.64
Subject(s) - poverty , multinational corporation , interview , economic growth , qualitative research , chronic poverty , business , political science , socioeconomics , sociology , economics , poverty reduction , social science , finance , law
Multinational corporations (MNCs) have a role to play in addressing pressing social problems such as chronic poverty in Africa. This article examines community perspectives on the role of MNCs in eradicating poverty in Africa. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered by interviewing members of the general public, Sheraton Uganda employees, and Sheraton trainees in urban Kampala, Uganda. The majority across the three categories of respondents believed that MNCs had a role to play in eradicating poverty. The most frequently cited roles that MNCs could play included providing employment, contributing to community development projects, and providing industrial training to youth. Other roles cited included providing local markets, providing emergency assistance to disaster survivors, environmental protection, staff development, and contributing to the tax base. The research findings from this study seem to suggest a mismatch between current MNCs' corporate social responsibility investments in East Africa and what the communities perceive as their real needs. There is, however, a need to undertake broader studies to confirm these findings.