Multinational Corporations in West Africa

About the Author

Souleymane Doumbia holds a PhD in Economics and Management and is an associate member of LAREQUOI, the research center of the ISM-IAE Graduate School of Management at UVSQ – Paris-Saclay University, France. His research focuses on development economics, and he specializes in capacity building.

About the Book

Is a “win-win” relationship possible between multinational corporations and local authorities in Africa? This book argues that it is, provided that the benefits generated by such partnerships are shared fairly between private and public stakeholders.

This is the central premise of the book. The author examines the relationships that multinational corporations develop with local and regional authorities in Africa and explores the growing importance of decentralized international investment. He introduces and defines the concept of “decentralized partnership”, examining relevant examples of such partnerships across several African countries.

The analysis focuses particularly on the conditions under which cooperation between multinational corporations and local authorities can generate mutual benefits. Rather than viewing international investment solely through the relationship between multinational firms and central governments, the book highlights the increasingly important role played by local and regional authorities in attracting investment, negotiating partnerships, and promoting territorial development.

The author argues that the success of these partnerships ultimately depends on the public policies, institutional arrangements, and incentive mechanisms established by public authorities. When properly designed, decentralized partnerships can help reconcile private economic interests with local development objectives and contribute to a more equitable distribution of the benefits generated by international investment.

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