Prolonged drought periods over the last four decades increase flood intensity in southern Africa.

In semi-arid sub-Saharan Africa, climate change and the intensification of human activities have altered the hydrological balance and modified the recurrence of extreme hydroclimatic events, such as droughts and floods. The geomorphological heterogeneity of river catchments across the region, the variable human pressure, and the lack of continuous hydroclimatic data preclude the definition of proper mitigation strategies, with a direct effect on the sustainability of rural communities. Here, for the first time in Africa, we characterize hydrological extreme events using a multidisciplinary approach that includes sedimentary data from dams. We focus on the Limpopo River basin to evaluate which factors control flood magnitude since the 1970. Extreme flood events were identified across the basin in 1988-89, 1995-96, 1999-2000, 2003-04, 2010-11, 2013-14 and 2016-17. The statistical analysis of sedimentary flood records revealed a dramatic increase in their magnitude over the studied period. A positive correlation between maximum river flow and antecedent prolonged drought conditions was found in South Africa and Mozambique. Most importantly, since 1980, we observed the likely decoupling of extreme floods from the magnitude of La Niña events, suggesting that the natural interannual variability driven by El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has been disrupted by climate changes and human activities.

Configuring political relationships to navigate host-country institutional complexity: Insights from Anglophone sub-Saharan Africa.

We examine how ties with multiple host-country political institutions contribute to MNE subsidiary performance in countries with weak formal institutions. We suggest that forging relationships between subsidiaries and host-country government actors, local chieftains, and religious leaders generates regulative, normative, and cultural-cognitive political resources. We integrate institutional and configuration theories to argue that similarity to an ideal configuration of the three political resources contributes to MNE subsidiary performance, and that the more dysfunctional host-country institutions, the greater the impact on performance. We test our hypotheses using primary and archival data from 604 MNE subsidiaries in 23 Anglophone sub-Saharan African countries and find support for our hypotheses. In our conclusion, we discuss the wider theoretical, managerial, and public-policy implications of our findings.

Nous examinons comment les liens avec de multiples institutions politiques du pays d'accueil contribuent à la performance des filiales des entreprises multinationales (Multinational Enterprise ­ MNE) dans les pays où les institutions formelles sont faibles. Nous suggérons que l'établissement de relations entre les filiales et les acteurs gouvernementaux, les chefs locaux et les chefs religieux du pays d'accueil génère des ressources politiques régulatrices, normatives et culturelles-cognitives. Nous intégrons les théories institutionnelles et de la configuration pour arguer que la similitude avec une configuration idéale des trois ressources politiques contribue à la performance des filiales des MNEs, et que plus les institutions du pays d'accueil sont dysfonctionnelles, plus l'impact sur la performance est important. Nous testons nos hypothèses à l'aide des données primaires et d'archives provenant de 604 filiales des MNEs dans 23 pays anglophones d'Afrique subsaharienne. Les résultats de nos tests confirment nos hypothèses. Dans notre conclusion, nous discutons des implications théoriques, managériales et de politique publique plus larges de nos résultats.

Examinamos con los lazos como múltiples instituciones en el país anfitrión contribuye al desempeño de la filial en países con instituciones formales débiles. Proponemos que forjar relaciones entre las filiales y los actores gubernamentales de los países anfitriones, los caciques locales, y los lideres religiosos genera recursos políticos regulatorios, normativos y culturales-cognitivos. Integramos las teorías institucionales y de configuración para argumentar que la similitud a una configuración ideal entre los tres recursos políticos contribuye al desempeño de las filiales, y entre más disfuncional sean las instituciones en el país anfitrión, mayor será el impacto en el desempeño. Probamos nuestras hipótesis usando datos primarios y material de archivos de 604 filiales en 23 países anglófonos de África Sub-Sahariana, y encontramos apoyo para nuestras hipótesis. En nuestra conclusión discutimos las implicaciones más generales teóricas, gerenciales y de política pública de nuestros hallazgos.

Examinamos como laços com várias instituições políticas do país anfitrião contribuem para o desempenho de subsidiárias de MNE em países com instituições formais fracas. Sugerimos que forjar relacionamentos entre subsidiárias e atores do governo do país anfitrião, chefes locais e líderes religiosos gera recursos políticos regulatórios, normativos e cultural-cognitivos. Integramos as teorias institucionais e de configuração para argumentar que a semelhança com uma configuração ideal dos três recursos políticos contribui para o desempenho da subsidiária da MNE e que quanto mais disfuncionais forem as instituições do país anfitrião, maior será o impacto no desempenho. Testamos nossas hipóteses usando dados primários e secundários de 604 subsidiárias de MNEs em 23 países de língua inglesa da África subsaariana e encontramos suporte para nossas hipóteses. Em nossa conclusão, discutimos mais amplas implicações teóricas, gerenciais e de políticas públicas de nossas descobertas.