Dr Rukudzo Pamacheche
Abstract
Africa’s emerging economies are committed to economic development and leveraging the benefits of innovation in the knowledge-based and technologically advancing globalized world. Through the lenses of the global attractiveness index (GAI) and e-governance development index (EGDI), country attractiveness for business, trade and investment and e-governance in Africa are key national and continental priorities that rely on participation in innovation and knowledge-based systems to achieve development goals. African countries have advanced immensely in developing e-governance systems and thrive to maintain globally competitive positions. Therefore, a broad understanding of the state of the academic knowledge-base in two areas of knowledge (country attractiveness and e-governance in Africa) supporting the progress is warranted. This study encapsulates an understanding of the state of scientific research on the two knowledge areas. Data comprised of publications retrieved from the Web of Science database on the two knowledge areas. Results are based on bibliometric analyses conducted in R-Studio to determine the performance of publications in Africa based on research metrics and scientometric mapping to reveal key intellectual themes underlying the knowledge areas. Results show that, despite declining interest and productivity in both areas of knowledge between 2005 and 2024, African countries dominate productivity in research outputs, led by South Africa, Nigeria and Botswana. However, low citation impact reveals Africa’s weaker scientific influence in country attractiveness in Africa, surpassed by the USA and European countries. Nonetheless, Botswana, Ghana and South Africa elevate Africa’s superior scholarly influence in e-governance in Africa. In terms of intellectual themes, “foreign direct investment” and “determinants of attractiveness” are key motor themes shaping the knowledge-generation structure of attractiveness of African countries while that of e-governance in Africa is driven by “Africa,” “corruption” and “developing countries.” Recommendations encourage intra-Africa collaborations and knowledge-sharing of success cases in African countries with prominent and emerging EGDI and GAI rankings.