Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility in Sub-Saharan Africa: Economic, Social, and Environmental Perspectives

Aim and Scope

In the developed context, Corporate Governance (CG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) have been widely researched in the several fields of management. However, studies in both fields, from the developing countries perspectives are emerging and the trend needs to be sustained through rigorous conceptual, theoretical and empirical studies. CSR is broadly understood across multidisciplinary boundaries, as voluntary obligations of companies strategically implemented to improve the social, economic and environmental wellness of the society (Kotler and Lee 2005, Visser 2008; Raimi, 2017). CG on the other hand describes the transactional relationship between the owners of corporations (as principals) and the managers (as agents) based on clear terms of engagement and governance structure (Ryan and Schneider 2003, Connelly et al. 2010). Both concepts have been extensively discussed, but the theoretical and empirical discourse of these important concepts have been inexhaustive. Topics researched in CG have covered mostly financial impact of CG while the non-financial impact is still evolving. Similarly, studies on CSR in developed economies are numerous as data and resources for productive research are easily available compared to studies in developing economies. This handbook will therefore focus on Sub-Saharan Africa to highlight the importance of CG and CSR in developing countries.
The aim of this special issue is to offer perspectives on the impact of CG on economic, social, and environmental aspects of CSR in Sub-Saharan Africa. This handbook will explore the current state of research on CG and CSR and offer perspectives on how CG and CSR can help address the challenges predominant in developing countries.
This special issue will add a new perspective to the literature by focusing on three aspects of corporate social responsibility-economic, environment, and social in relation to different dimensions of corporate governance within the Sub-Saharan African region. This handbook is intended to be a comprehensive study that will serve as a point of reference for future research in this field. This special issue is for all readers that seek to understand this new trend in CG and CSR and how these two important nuances are strategically changing the commitments of corporate bodies to inclusive growth and sustainable development. In particular, it will be of interest to academics, business students, librarians, executives of corporate bodies (corporate affairs, managers, CSR managers), investment community, sustainability reporting professionals, investment consultant, non-profit professionals (NGOs), environmentalists, non-governmental organisations and social entrepreneurs.