This study investigates the critical role of technological advancements in achieving a low-carbon future, focusing on renewable energy innovations, digital solutions, and carbon capture technologies. The research addresses the problem of persistent greenhouse gas emissions despite international climate agreements and explores the potential of technologies such as advanced solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, and next-generation battery storage to decarbonize energy systems. Digital tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data analytics, are identified as key enablers of energy efficiency, resource optimization, and smarter energy management systems. Additionally, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, such as direct air capture, are highlighted as essential for offsetting emissions in hard-to-abate sectors like heavy industry and aviation. The key objectives of this study are to evaluate the role of technology in achieving net-zero carbon emissions, identify barriers and challenges in the implementation of these technologies, and explore potential solutions to accelerate progress. The study’s target population includes 200 policymakers, 100 technology developers, and 150 stakeholders in the energy sector. Theoretical frameworks such as the Technological Innovation Systems Theory and the Diffusion of Innovations Theory are used to understand how technological advancements can be adopted and scaled. Using a qualitative research design, data was collected from peer-reviewed journals, case studies, and policy reports, analyzed thematically to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities. Key findings reveal that 70% of respondents acknowledge the immense potential of technology to drive the net-zero agenda, but 60% report barriers such as high implementation costs, infrastructure gaps, and unequal access in developing countries as significant challenges. Additionally, 50% of the respondents emphasize the need for public-private partnerships to overcome these barriers. Recommendations focus on fostering these partnerships, enhancing global cooperation, and implementing equitable policies to scale innovative solutions. By addressing these aspects, this study underscores the transformative potential of technology in achieving a sustainable and climate-resilient future.

There is an increasing concern on the major gap that exists in the level of equality and equity that emanates from online learning. During the Covid lockdown that occurred worldwide four years ago, online teaching and learning was adopted as the most viable avenue to ensure continuity of learning. It was an alternative that produced both equality and equity challenges from the onset. The objective of this desktop research is to address the gender issues around equality among the different sexes of university students in the same home. It focused on which gender was allowed time to concentrate on learning and why. Was the male child allowed to concentrate with studies while the female interrupted to perform other duties amidst learning. Was fairness practiced or were there discrepancies in how parents administered online learning? Equity which is a by-product emanating from the process, will only focus on the effect of preferential treatment on one gender over the other on how that would in turn hamper with the future opportunities of the affected gender. A cross-sectional review of recent studies was analyzed to compare results and draw conclusions which led to certain possible positive recommendations on curbing the effects post lockdown as well as prevention of reoccurrence of the same in case of any future pandemic or global lockdown. The essence is to recognize that each person may have different circumstances, but resources and time must be allocated equally to enable all reach an equal outcome.

Community empowerment projects are initiated and designed to meet the felt needs of the target group in the community. However, most of the community empowerment projects experience major challenges in their life cycle thus begging the question whether they have any effects on the lives of the community members. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of community participation in the Group Savings & Loan Project to household economic welfare in Kibera, Nairobi County; The study was a descriptive using census of 98 members of Group Savings & Loan Project (GSL). Data, primary, was collected from the members and project team using a semi-structured questionnaire and interview schedule. Secondary data was obtained from project documents. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used for analysis of quantitative data. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data, which was presented in tables and bar charts as frequencies and percentages, and used to draw conclusions and make inferences. Qualitative data from the interviews was analyzed thematically and presented in a narrative format. The findings revealed that stakeholder participation contributes to 19.6% variance in Household economic welfare, R Square=.196, β=.442, p<.05. The study concluded that stakeholder participation has a positive contribution to household economic welfare of project beneficiaries. It is recommended that the savings and loans project enhance its stakeholder participation. These results have the potential to improve the economic status of community members through income generation and the satisfaction of basic needs by providing community development and government officials with the appropriate knowledge necessary to effectively manage and implement community empowerment projects.

University-Industry collaborations in Africa have been identified as a vital component for economic growth, job creation, driving innovation, and societal development. The study aimed at identifying the barriers and challenges to successful university-industry collaborations in Africa. The study adopted a systematic review method. Following a search of the Google Scholar database and application of the exclusion criteria, 33 relevant articles were selected for an in-depth analysis. The review categorized barriers into Contextual barriers, university-related barriers and industry-related barriers. The study concluded that inadequate resources are a major barrier that affects the ability to implement partnerships, and hampers the trust and confidence of industries in collaborating with universities. Additionally, financial and human resource constraints can affect the ability of SMEs to form partnerships with universities. In addition, the role of governments is crucial in encouraging university-industry collaborations, in keeping with the concept of the Triple Helix model. The government needs to craft policies that encourage firms to collaborate with universities while providing tax incentives to those industries that have such collaborations. Furthermore, the government can enhance the development of university-industry collaboration through a direct role in providing funds for universities and R&D projects and a regulatory role that shapes intellectual property rights. Finally, the service sector and SMEs offer underutilized opportunities for partnerships with universities. Areas of future research were also discussed.

Entrepreneurship is sometimes idealized as a quest motivated by passion and tenacity but what really distinguishes successful businesses from transient startups? The complicated link between entrepreneurship and business expansion is investigated in this paper together with the necessary traits enabling scalability in the present competitive market. The objective of this study is to transcend conventional business discourse and ascertain the essential principles that facilitate the transformation of startups into high-growth organizations. We examine the interplay between entrepreneurial attitude, strategic agility, innovation ecosystems, and access to financing in determining long-term success. We analyze the significance of digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, and global market integration in contemporary business expansion. Methodologically, this study uses a mixed-methods approach combining case studies with qualitative insights from company executives and successful entrepreneurs with quantitative data from industry reports and market analytics. Examined is peer-reviewed material from the past five years in order to identify trends in high-growth businesses spanning many sectors. Also provided is actual case studies of companies who have overcome the odds by using strategic pivoting, disruptive innovation, and strong leadership to scale successfully. Findings indicate that although finance access is still vital, growth-oriented companies give adaptability, customer-centric innovation top priority along with strong digital infrastructure. Furthermore, companies who embrace sustainability and social impact not only get competitive benefits but also build investor trust in a time of conscious capitalism. The paper emphasizes even more the growing relevance of entrepreneurial ecosystems—where cooperation among entrepreneurs, investors, legislators, and academics promotes faster development. This research contests traditional beliefs, highlighting that entrepreneurship beyond mere firm creation; it involves orchestrating growth. This research paper provides a framework for businesses, governments, and investors hoping to create globally competitive, scalable, and resilient companies by synthesizing factual facts and expert opinions. This research paper enhances the current discussion on business evolution by providing practical techniques for traversing the intricate and frequently uncertain journey of entrepreneurial success. The findings are an essential resource for corporate executives and academia, emphasizing that sustainable growth is not coincidental but rather purposefully designed.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) presents significant opportunities and challenges for sustainable development. Ethical considerations in AI development and deployment are crucial to ensuring these technologies benefit society and do not exacerbate existing inequalities or create new ethical dilemmas. This paper explores the intersection of ethical AI, sustainable development, and the pivotal role of leadership in fostering responsible innovation. By examining frameworks, case studies, and leadership strategies, the paper highlights how leaders can guide ethical AI practices to support sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Stakeholders play a crucial role in shaping sustainable HRM practices in organizations. These HRM practices include policies and procedures for managing an organization’s workforce (Armstrong & Taylor, 2023). Despite the recognized benefits, there are notable gaps in literature regarding the implementation of sustainable HRM practices in the multinational firms, particularly in developing countries. In Kenya, the agricultural sector still remains the backbone of the Kenyan economy despite its share to GDP declining over the years to 21.3% (Central Bank of Kenya, 2024). With such a small portion of the total national budget, there emerges a local investment insufficiency that is escalated by weak agricultural production factors and lack of advancement in farming techniques. To deal with this, the government encourages foreign investors, through the inflow of multinational companies and foreign direct investments, to fill in the insufficiency in local production. However, the question to address is whether the MNC embrace sustainable human resource management practices in search for their economic goals. To contribute to the understanding of the relationship between sustainability and human resource management practices, this study conducted a survey on employee development and employee engagement and analysed their impact on sustainability of human resource management practices in multinational firms. The study collected primary data through open ended questionnaires which were administered to 96 employees of Kakuzi Limited, out of which 60 questionnaires were filled and returned. The development of the questions in the questionnaire to measure employee engagement and employee development was based on a study by (Stankevičiute & Savanevičiene, 2018). In addition, the study adopted a measurement scale by (Yu et al., 2021) to measure sustainable human resource management practices. The correlation analysis results established that the sustainability of HR practices of multinationals operating in Kenya’s Agricultural Sector was positive and significant with the employee development at 0.591. Thus, employee development was found to have a positive and significant impact on the sustainability of human resource practices in multinational firms. The study contributes to the debate on stakeholder’s value as well as acts as a policy guide for multinational firms. The study recommends that multinationals operating in Kenya’s Agricultural Sector prioritizes employee development by integrating it in their sustainable goals.