In most countries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a key role in driving sustainable economic growth and job creation; hence, the need to investigate factors (e.g., entrepreneurial factors) that influence SMEs’ sustainable growth (SMESG). This study provides an insight into entrepreneurs’ abilities (EAs) that affect SMESG in Côte d’Ivoire (a middle-income economy located in the West African region) and an assessment of the extent to which entrepreneurial orientation (EO) influences the EA–SMESG relationship. By using data from 320 Ivorian SMEs, the results of hypothesis testing confirm an association between SMESG and each EA dimension (creativity, risk control, relationship, and opportunity detection ability), learning ability excepted. As for the moderating effect of EO, the innovativeness in entrepreneurship positively and significantly regulates the EA–SMESG relationship; proactiveness positively regulates the relationship between almost all EA dimensions and SMESG; and risk tendency regulates the relationship EA–SMESG for creativity and risk-control ability. Based on major findings, management implications are formulated in relation to promoting SMEs’ sustainable growth. For example, in light of the impact of EA on SMESG, development actors can increase the efficiency of Ivorian SMEs through actions aiming at strengthening the abilities of entrepreneurs and managers.

Purpose: As the impact of COVID-19 on businesses was impossible to predict, so is the future of migrant entrepreneurs – some of whom, before the outbreak, had to deal with immigrant status associated challenges. Against this backdrop, this paper aims to focus on African migrant entrepreneurs in China, much less studied ethnic migrants who have always lived on the margins of Chinese society, to examine their entrepreneurial resilience under COVID-19 in China.Design/methodology/approach: The study used a qualitative design using a survey and semi-structured follow-up interviews as the primary data collection instrument. The questions in the questionnaire guide were adapted from the Center for Global Development survey instrument designed to gauge the resilience of SMEs under COVID-19.Findings: Although most business operations in China are impacted, African migrant businesses were very hit due to existing social challenges coupled with their informality (i.e. operating at a low level of organization), lack of contingency plans and lack of stimulus support. COVID-19 is thus not only a force majeure that threatens the growth expectation of African owned-business but also presents a threat to their very existence in an already challenging society for Africans.Research limitations/implications: Although the study has achieved its intended purpose, the sample was relatively small due to the low return rate of questionnaires and the difficulties in reaching out to target respondents due to the restrictive measures on movements during the data collection period.Originality/value: This paper draws attention to the entrepreneurship-related challenges faced by ethnic migrants in China during a crisis. The social challenges of Africans living in China became a global topical issue during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. However, little is known about their entrepreneurship endeavors and the associated difficulties. This paper helps our understanding of African businesses’ resilience in China during uncertain times, such as the one created by COVID-19.

Using the theory of motivation, and the theory of planned behavior, this study establishes the “motivation-cognition-behavior” model of green utilization of agricultural waste from the perspective of farmers. In the motivational dimension, eight motivational factors were determined in three sub-dimensions of extrinsic motivation. In the cognitive dimension, three sub-dimensions of subjective norms, behavioral attitude, and perceived behavioral control are also determined. In the behavioral dimension, two sub-dimensions of utilization intention and utilization behavior are specified. Methodologically, a questionnaire on the green utilization of agricultural waste of 704 peasant households in five provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Sichuan was administered. With the help of the structural equation model, the influence path and the internal mechanism was then analyzed. It is shown that: (1) in relation to the “motivational dimension → cognitive dimension,” extrinsic motivation significantly promotes the cultivation of farmers’ subjective norms, in which positive broken windows theory has a positive effect. In contrast, negative broken windows theory has a negative one. In intrinsic motivation, the behavior attitude of farmers is negative. In the response analysis, farmers can realize that their ability, self-efficacy, response efficacy, and response cost all have a positive impact on farmers’ perceived behavioral control. (2) In relation of the “cognitive dimension → behavioral dimension,” behavioral attitude slightly hinders utilization intention, while subjective norms and perceived behavioral control all contribute to a stronger utilization intention; the utilization intention maintains a positive correlation with the utilization behavior.

This article explores the salient of anti-Chinese sentiments in Africa and how it has been utilised or materialised as a populist strategy in election campaigns. The contention herein is that anti-Chinese populism has emerged from the rising anti-Chinese sentiments and is utilised primarily as a rhetorical strategy to gain electoral support. In particular, political actors mostly seeking power are inclined to identify and declamatorily rehashed the salient issues driving the anti-Chinese sentiments in political platforms to attract attention and to gain the support of the electorate’s concern about same issues. This dimension of populism hinges not on ideational leanings, but nothing more than an opportunist strategy of exploiting wedge issues for electoral gains. The implications of such an emerging phenomenon cannot be underestimated. Not only is it a hindrance to the budding Africa–China relations but also decadent for China’s global status and its ambitious foreign policy.