Strategic Management Accounting (SMA) has moved beyond its early emphasis on cost and competitor information towards a broader role in strategy, sustainability and digitally enabled decision-making. This study reviews the evolution of SMA and its contribution to sustainable organisational performance. A systematic literature review was conducted using a review period of 1980–2024, reflecting the emergence of SMA in the early 1980s and the subsequent development of sustainability and digital accounting research. The review followed the PRISMA 2020 reporting principles and synthesised 90 peer-reviewed studies identified through searches of major academic databases. The synthesis indicates three broad phases: an early cost and competitive-positioning phase; a strategic integration and performance-measurement phase; and a contemporary sustainability and digitalisation phase. Across these phases, SMA is associated with better strategic information, resource allocation, performance measurement and organisational adaptability. However, the evidence does not support a universal performance effect. Outcomes depend on organisational capabilities, leadership, information quality, technological readiness and the external institutional environment. The review integrates Contingency Theory, the Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities Theory to explain these conditions. It contributes an integrated framework that treats SMA as a context-dependent strategic information capability rather than a fixed set of accounting techniques. Read more

Purpose: This study examined the effect of market innovation on the economic sustainability of publishing firms in Southwest Nigeria following a dwindling performance due to overreliance on foreign materials, piracy and foreign exchange volatility. Method: The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design. Market innovation was measured across four dimensions: digital product introduction, product adaptation, customer feedback and market niche. Economic sustainability was proxied by output/sales volume. Primary data were collected and analyzed using multiple regression. Results: Digital product introduction, product adaptation, and customer feedback have positive and significant effects on economic sustainability, while market niche has an insignificant effect. On the whole, market innovation significantly improves the economic sustainability of publishing firms. Implications: The economic sustainability of the publishing firms will be difficult to come by if they fail to strengthen their online presence with dedicated staff for digital content, develop diverse learning materials for different learner categories, and maintain effective customer feedback channels for continuous improvement. Originality: The study provides empirical evidence on the impact of specific market innovation dimensions on the economic sustainability of publishing firms in Southwest Nigeria, introducing a market niche and economic sustainability into the model, moving beyond previous studies in Nigeria. Read more

Nigeria's external debt over the years has been relatively high, and there has not been a favorable exchange rate recently. This study examined the impact of the exchange rate on sovereign debt sustainability in Nigeria using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) estimation technique. Time series data on an annual basis were used on selected variables: exchange rate, external debt, government expenditure, foreign reserve, external debt servicing, interest rate, and inflation. The results from the long-run and short-run estimation revealed that the exchange rate and government expenditure had a direct and significant impact on external debt in Nigeria. Also, the inflation rate had a negative and significant impact on external debt in Nigeria during the period of study. The result of the correct ECM revealed the adjustment speed in the face of disequilibrium within the period. The study therefore advocates for strict economic policies with emphasis on stabilization of the naira vis-à-vis major trading partners’ currencies. This is because the increase in the country's exchange rate consequently increases external debt accumulation and its burden. Read more

This systematic review investigates the "Compliance Trap" a structural paradox where high audit compliance fails to foster financial durability in Malawian NGOs despite aid inflows exceeding MWK 191 billion. Following PRISMA guidelines, 18 peer-reviewed sources (2014–2026) were synthesized using Institutional Theory to examine the "decoupling" of internal controls from strategic resilience. Findings reveal a critical imbalance: a 90% prevalence of transactional controls versus a 15% deficit in proactive risk assessment. Notably, a strong correlation (r = 0.72) exists between monitoring maturity and acquiring unrestricted funding. This research identifies the "Monitoring Dividend," shifting the focus from donor accountability to institutional sustainability. It offers actionable recommendations for the NGO Regulatory Authority (NGORA) to implement resilience-based stress testing, providing a pathway for local organizations to break the "two-year collapse cycle" and achieve genuine financial autonomy. Read more

Agricultural development projects are essential for advancing food security, livelihoods, and rural economic growth, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where agriculture underpins community wellbeing. However, their long-term success depends on meaningful and inclusive funding agencies' engagement that actively involves other actors such as farmers, government agencies, and civil society organizations throughout the project cycle. This study was guided by the objective of examining the influence of funding agencies’ engagement on the performance of agricultural projects in Kigoma Region, exploring key dimensions of funding agency participation that promote relevance, sustainability, and long-term impact. Data was collected from AMCOS members, government officials, project team members, and community leaders using structured questionnaires. Validity and reliability were confirmed through expert review, pilot testing, and internal consistency analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression (SPSS V26), while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Findings revealed that funding agencies' engagement significantly influences the performance of agricultural projects with a positive and significant effect. Funding agencies’ involvement (β = 0.404, p = 0.000) portrayed the positive and statistically significant predictor, implying that financial oversight, technical guidance, and continuous support from funding institutions substantially enhanced project performance. The study concluded that effective, inclusive, and well-structured engagement by funding agencies enhances the accountability, efficiency, and sustainability of agricultural projects. It recommends formalizing early-stage co-design meetings with funding agencies before project approval and drafting Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) that clearly outline roles, expected outputs, and funding timelines. This ensures alignment between financial priorities and project objectives. Quarterly supervisions and proper disbursement schedules to enhance accountability and transparency to improve project outcomes in the Kigoma Region. Funding agencies’ engagement and project governance allow timely completion of projects within budget, which eventually strengthens participatory governance structures, optimizing early and sustained engagement of funding agencies, and institutionalizing structured. Read more

External debt sustainability is a critical issue for developing countries, particularly those with emerging economies like Nigeria, as it directly influences economic stability, growth, and development. This study examined the impact of external debt sustainability on economic growth in Nigeria covering the period 1986-2024. Data for the study were extracted from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin. Data for the study was analyzed with the linear regression of the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) technique and the Granger causality analysis. The major findings of the study are that There exists a negative and insignificant relationship between external debt sustainability and economic growth in Nigeria ( = -0.000206, p-value = 0.4955 > 0.05) and there is a bi-directional causality relationship between external debt sustainability and economic growth in Nigeria (p-value = 0.0005 < 0.05 and 0.0071 < 0.05). The study concludes that external debt plays a crucial role in an economy. The optimal utilization of external debt by the government would avoid debt overhang and crowding out of investments which will boost economic growth. The study therefore recommends that the government should ensure economic and political stability in order to enjoy the benefits of external debt and make the debt burden minimal. This can be achieved through overhauling the security and political system for the better and government should acquire external debt largely for economic reasons rather than social or political reasons. This would increase the productivity of the nation. Read more

Green construction methods and buildings have emerged as a major trend that is here to stay. Green buildings are becoming commonplace, from eco-friendly residential construction to multibillion-dollar business projects. As a result, eco-friendly structures generate less waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and natural resource consumption. In order to reduce architectural disability and increase diversity in the built environment, the seven main universal design principles improve the wide usage of places. The goal of the study is to examine several standards that should be used when creating a well-designed structure that can provide a standard and safe environment for activities. To enable research triangulation and a broad range of data collecting, a qualitative research approach was employed for the study. Interviews, visual surveys, and observation of the relevant case studies chosen for the study are among the data collection tools employed in this investigation. The study discovered that in all of the chosen cases examined, there is a limited application of general universal design principles, which makes the structures unmarketable. Additionally, it was discovered that none of the chosen case studies contained any unique or specialized buildings that sufficiently satisfied the architectural specifications of an eco-friendly structure. As a result, the study specified standards to be applied in the planning and development of an environmentally friendly, sustainable structure. Read more

This study examines the effect of sustainability disclosure on the financial performance of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria over the period 2014–2023. The study adopts an ex-post facto research design, relying on secondary data extracted from the audited annual reports and sustainability disclosures of manufacturing firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group. Sustainability disclosure is disaggregated into social disclosure, economic disclosure, environmental disclosure, and employee health and safety disclosure, while financial performance is measured using Return on Assets (ROA). Content analysis techniques were employed to construct disclosure indices in line with relevant Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, panel unit root tests, and panel regression techniques were used to analyze the data. The findings reveal that social disclosure, economic disclosure, and employee health and safety disclosure exert positive and statistically significant effects on ROA, indicating that transparent stakeholder engagement and workforce welfare enhance asset utilization efficiency. Environmental disclosure, although positively related to ROA, does not exhibit a significant short-term impact, suggesting that environmental initiatives may yield financial benefits over a longer horizon. The study concludes that sustainability disclosure contributes meaningfully to financial performance when it strengthens trust, productivity, and reputational capital. It therefore recommends that manufacturing firms adopt integrated sustainability reporting frameworks and align disclosure practices with strategic financial objectives to achieve sustained profitability. Read more

This study investigates the effect of public financial management reforms on sustainability management in Nigeria over the period 2015–2025. Adopting an ex-post facto research design, the study relies on secondary data obtained from official publications of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and relevant United Nations development databases. Public financial management reforms are proxied by the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while sustainability management is represented by Nigeria’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) performance score. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, stationarity tests, and Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) modeling were employed for data analysis using Python (version 3.11) with the pandas and statsmodels frameworks. The results reveal strong positive associations between TSA, GDP, and SDG performance, with IPPIS and GIFMIS also exhibiting supportive but comparatively weaker linkages. Stationarity tests confirm the suitability of the ARDL approach, while regression results indicate that public financial management reforms exert a positive influence on sustainability outcomes, although the effects are more pronounced in the long run. The findings suggest that improvements in fiscal consolidation, digital financial governance, and payroll control enhance Nigeria’s capacity to translate economic resources into sustainable development outcomes. The study concludes that while Nigeria’s public financial management reforms have strengthened sustainability management, their full impact depends on institutional efficiency and policy consistency. It therefore recommends continuous system integration, capacity building, and strengthened governance frameworks to maximize the sustainability gains of public financial management reforms. Read more

This study examines the relationship between corporate sustainability investments, including renewable energy investments (REI), sustainable transportation (ST), and energy efficiency investments (EEI), and environmental sustainability (ES) among EU-listed firms from 2013 to 2023. The findings reveal that while these investments are associated with modest reductions in CO2 emissions, their immediate effects on environmental sustainability are limited. The study utilizes economic theory, particularly the cost-benefit analysis framework, to explain that sustainability investments are often driven by expected returns exceeding costs, but their benefits materialize over the long term. The legitimacy theory also informs the study, suggesting that firms engage in sustainability efforts not only to improve performance but also to align with social and regulatory expectations. GMM was employed to address endogeneity concerns, ensuring robust results. The study contributes to the literature by offering practical insights into how multi-faceted sustainability strategies, informed by EU regulatory frameworks like the European Green Deal and Paris Agreement, can drive long-term decarbonization, while emphasizing the need for targeted financial support, strategic long-term planning, and the integration of sustainability into core business strategies. It also highlights limitations such as the reliance on publicly available data and short-term analysis, and offers recommendations for future research and policy development in corporate sustainability. Keywords: Corporate Sustainability, Sustainability Strategy, Decarbonization, EU Countries Read more