Examining the Impact of Inadequate Supply of Water and Electricity on The Gambia’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
Date of Award
Fall 2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Committee Chair
Charles Fenner
Committee Member
Rachel Tate
Committee Member
Wendell Seaborne
Abstract
This dissertation examines the impact of inadequate water and electricity supply on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in The Gambia. The research highlights how the scarcity and unreliability of these essential utilities significantly deter foreign investment, particularly in key economic sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. In-depth interviews with government officials and foreign direct investors were conducted qualitatively to assess the direct impacts of such utility shortages on businesses' functionality and investment decisions. These findings show that not only does unreliable utility increase operational costs, but it is also positively related to perceived risk and instability by potential investors. It also points to the critical linkage between sustainable infrastructure development and economic growth, necessitating renewable energy solutions that assure utility reliability improvements and further attract environmentally sensitive investors. Additionally, the study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting gaps in previous research, particularly the importance of infrastructure reliability as a critical driver of FDI, alongside traditional factors like political stability and market size. The report further informs policymakers with practical recommendations, including holistic regulatory reforms in technology upgrades and regional cooperation that build better utility infrastructure for the country. Therefore, The Gambia needs to make up for such deficiencies with more amiable environments for FDI if the country is to achieve long-term economic growth and development. This study points out that addressing utility infrastructure challenges is crucial for attracting foreign investment and imperative for achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth in The Gambia.
Recommended Citation
Demba, Landing, "Examining the Impact of Inadequate Supply of Water and Electricity on The Gambia’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)" (2024). All Doctoral Student Dissertations. 185.
https://fuse.franklin.edu/docpub/185