Empowering Indigenous Voices: Strengthening the Capacities of Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representatives (IPMR) in Sarangani Province for Effective Governance and Advocacy

Solid waste governance in India has traditionally relied on linear, centralised capital-intensive systems such as landfills and incineration. These approaches have led to severe environmental degradation, public health crises, and the marginalisation of informal waste sectors. Despite democratic decentralisation efforts, the persistence of top-down governance has stifled local governments' ability to address these challenges effectively. Furthermore, unlike large cities, smaller towns face significant technical, financial, and institutional capacity constraints in developing context-specific solid waste management solutions.The situation in South Indian state of Kerala mirrored this trajectory until widespread protests and legal interventions in the early 2010s prompted a shift towards decentralised solid waste governance. In response to these systemic failures, Alappuzha municipality in Kerala pioneered a participatory, decentralised waste management model. Supported by wide-ranging citizen engagement, expert collaboration, and political leadership, this initiative improved waste management practices and inspired the state’s 2018 Solid Waste Management Policy. However, as the model was scaled up across cities, the focus shifted from the process to the outcomes, reducing success to a few indicators, such as elimination of waste dumping spots and implementation of household-level on-site treatment systems. This shift overlooked participatory processes and highlighted the persistent institutional capacity deficits and socio-political complexities, mandating the need for sustainable participatory governance frameworks.To address these challenges, CANALPY was launched in 2017. This transdisciplinary initiative, jointly undertaken by the Centre for Policy Studies, IIT Bombay, and the Kerala Institute of Local Administration, focuses on capacity building, knowledge co-production and community-led solutions. By integrating local knowledge with academic knowledge, CANALPY created ‘deliberative platforms’ for dialogue and collaboration, addressing issues of sanitation, water pollution, and solid waste management. Being closely associated with CANALPY since its formation, the authors trace the evolution of participatory solid waste governance in Alappuzha, analysing the drivers, enabling conditions, and challenges associated with co-creation. It highlights how CANALPY has facilitated knowledge sharing, bridged capacities, and informed policy-making. At the same time, it critically examines socio-political and institutional barriers while scaling up.It was found that while knowledge co-production facilitates dialogue and collaboration, consensus building is crucial to translate knowledge into actionable outcomes. Without consensus, deliberative processes risk becoming prolonged exercises without tangible results, a notable critique of existing participatory research. Additionally, the study highlights the unsustainability of voluntarism in the long term. Participation often depends on individuals with intrinsic motivation or altruistic tendencies, leading to disengagement as such efforts fail to be institutionalised. Socio-political dynamics, including power imbalances and inequities, further restricts inclusive participation. To address these barriers, the importance of aligning incentives with participants' motivations is emphasised. Context-specific incentives, such as social recognition, skill-building opportunities proved effective in sustaining long-term engagement. Institutionally, the need for adaptive frameworks that bridge gaps between local governance structures, community aspirations, and academic collaborations was evident. The work demonstrates that academia can serve as a transformative platform for participatory governance by addressing these socio-political and institutional challenges. It offers a replicable framework for advancing transdisciplinary approaches to solid waste governance in small towns in Global South.

Background: The electoral systems adopted for local government offer the citizens the democratic opportunity to elect their representatives through a proportional representative system and constituency electoral system. Aim: This article aims to analyse the democratic electoral systems and their implications for ethical and accountable democratic governance within the context of South African local government. Methods: The article used eThekwini Municipality as a case study to demonstrate the importance of the electoral democratic system in fostering democratic ethical and accountable democratic governance in South Africa. Secondary information cited from books, book chapters, accredited journals and government policy documents were used with Google Scholar and ResearchGate as the research engines. Results: While the proportional representation system has been criticised for distancing people from making decisions at the local governance level, the adoption of both PRS and constituency-based electoral systems allows local voters to balance the representative and participatory governance at the local government level. The article found that, unlike the proportional representation system (PRS), the constituency-based system has the potential for people not only to elect their representatives directly but also to hold them accountable. Conclusion: It is imperative for people to develop a culture of participation in local government structures in order to influence decisions affecting them. Contribution: The article critically analyses electoral systems in the quest for advocating the electoral system(s) where the voters can activate their democratic power to hold politicians accountable. It is through active participation and representation of voters in local government and community structures that the weaknesses of the proportional representations (PRs) could be addressed.

The involvement of primary stakeholders in needs assessment becomes not only necessary but strategically imperative. This paper aims to conceptualize the role of primary stakeholders in needs assessment regarding local development planning context. The roles of primary stakeholders in local development planning are subjective and can trace out by interpretative way considering the constructivist standpoint. Methodologically, this paper adopted a descriptive content analysis approach using secondary sources. Prior studies argued different views on the role of primary stakeholders in needs assessment. As a participatory tool, it is remarkable to note that primary stakeholders' involvement in needs assessment, prioritize needs, aid in decision-making, resource allocation, and implementation. Primary stakeholder's involvement in planning and decision-making is challenged by poor communication, ignorance of planning importance, political interference, weak accountability, and bureaucratic dominance. However, the result indicates that the degree of stakeholders' involvement in local development planning and more specifically defining the felt needs within the community is a yardstick and provide a new turning point for further planning and development effort. It helps to reduce the unnecessary cost of the plan and develop proper coordination, collaboration, and consultation in the needs identification process. Stakeholders create a clear road map for sustainable and inclusive planning. Community people are active change agents and can define real development priorities through the assessment process. However, this paper is limited in subjective analysis and only the primary stakeholder's role in needs using limited sources.

This study aimed to look into gender role and climate change mitigation practices and their implications among the B’laan tribe in Mudan, Sarangani Province. This study used both the quantitative and qualitative methods in analyzing the data. Percentage was used in assessing socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents. Qualitative methodologies were key informants interview, informal discussion and direct observation. A total of 80 respondents were included in the study chosen through purposive sampling. Majority of the respondents are female, 36-45 years old, with 6-10 members of the family whose income ranges from 1,000.00- 5,000.00php and whose main source of family income is farming. The household basically is the domain of the woman while the man takes care of the food production. Climate change has greatly affected agriculture where B’laansis largely dependent on especially during dry season. In times like this, the woman is forced to involve in income-generating activities, worse, sometimes she has to leave her home and children to the care of her husband and seek employment as house-helper. This has drastically brought about changes in gender role. When this happens, decision-making which traditionally resides on man now is transferred to the woman. Keywords - B’laan tribe, Climate Change, decision making, agriculture, and mitigation practices

The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) suggests that local government, as the level of government closest to the people, has an important role to play in facilitating opportunities for local citizens to take action on local sustainability issues (ICLEI 1997). However, it is argued that citizens and community groups will require support from local governments to be able to participate effectively. Such a capacity building role for local governments has not yet been well articulated (Cuthill 2003b, 2001; Gaventa 2001; Blaxter 2003; Wallis and Dollery 2002). Capacity building is an ambiguous concept both in its conceptualisation and in implementation (Eade 1997). Epstein et al. (2000:2) argue that ‘it is difficult to point to a widely accepted ‘good practices framework’ either for citizens or for those attempting to engage citizens’. Nevertheless, while recent literature suggests some distinct themes that might contribute to such a framework (Cavaye 1999; Eade 1997; Jackson 2001; Kaplan 1997; Lowndes and Wilson 2001; Lyons et al. 2001), little work has been undertaken to synthesise these themes within a capacity building framework. This article presents a synthesis of research findings drawn from a pilot study and five applied research projects focusing on the concepts and processes which underpin the operationalisation of citizen participation in local governance. However, it does not re-visit in any detail the empirical research methods and findings from these previous studies. Rather, the approach taken in this paper is heuristic in that it draws on inductive reasoning from past experience. Readers are invited to explore in more detail, through the cited literature, results from these previous studies. The research program was completed over a three year period from 1999 to 2002. The guiding question for this research asked, How can local governments enhance the capacity of citizens to take informed action for a sustainable local community? This guiding question was explored through the pursuit of three objectives. These were first, to identify and analyse what is required by communities to enable them to take informed action for a sustainable local community, second, to explore the role that citizen participation in local governance plays in working towards a sustainable local community; and third, to identify, analyse and implement institutional requirements within local government that will support and facilitate citizen participation in local governance. The pilot study (Cuthill 2002a) and subsequently, five applied research projects were undertaken to explore these objectives (Cuthill 2004, 2003a, 2002b, 2001, Cuthill et al. 2004). These projects adopted an action research approach working with citizens, local community groups and local government, to test capacity building processes that might facilitate citizen participation in local governance. Building on the results from the pilot study, applied research and the literature reviewed for

Local government structures are believed to be the essence of participatory democracy. It is through local government that citizens come into direct contact with their elected government, as power flows from national to local government. It is against this backdrop that the new local government structures were adopted in South Africa: as a measure to extend democracy to the larger citizenry. However, local government structures have not been able to live up to expectations, as they are generally characterized by sluggishness in terms of service delivery; failure to attract community participation; and, lately—towards the run-up of March 1 2006 local elections—mass protests and uprisings against these problems. The problem has been explained in terms of lack of capacity and technical know-how. This paper aims to go beyond such explanations, and argues that the local government “mayhem” has to do with structural limitations when it comes to drawing citizens’ participation. Thus, in addition to lack of capacity, there is a problem of exclusion which undermines local government.

The issue of women’s participation in all spheres of life has become a major developmental concern world-wide. Many debates on the above issue have highlighted women’s marginalization in all aspects of social, economic and political life. The paper discusses the extent of women’s participation in the governance process at the local level in the Nadowli District of Ghana. The fieldwork was conducted on factors impinging on the level of women’s participation, impact of female representatives in the District Assembly and mechanisms for ensuring their active participation. A two-tier multi-stage sampling procedure involving simple random and purposive techniques was used to select area councils, communities, assemblypersons and community members as respondents. Key informant interviews with some heads of relevant decentralized agencies in the District were also carried out. The fieldwork revealed that, despite a marginal increase in female representation in the assembly, their numbers were still very low for the period 1988 to 2006. However, in spite of their low numerical strength; the study indicated that female representatives in the assembly have exhibited a positive impact on the development of their communities. The study also identified factors that relegate women to subordinate roles. Hence, measures have been suggested to enhance active involvement of women in the governance processes at the local level.

Community participation in the governance of health services is an important component in engaging stakeholders (patients, public and partners) in decision-making and related activities in health care. Community participation is assumed to contribute to quality improvement and goal attainment but remains elusive. We examined the implementation of community participation, through collaborative governance in primary health care facilities in Uasin Gishu County, Western Kenya, under the policy of devolved governance of 2013. Utilizing a multiple case study methodology, five primary health care facilities were purposively selected. Study participants were individuals involved in the collaborative governance of primary health care facilities (from health service providers and community members), including in decision-making, management, oversight, service provision and problem solving. Data were collected through document review, key informant interviews and observations undertaken from 2017 to 2018. Audio recording, notetaking and a reflective journal aided data collection. Data were transcribed, cleaned, coded and analysed iteratively into emerging themes using a governance attributes framework. A total of 60 participants representing individual service providers and community members participated in interviews and observations. The minutes of all meetings of five primary health care facilities were reviewed for three years (2014-2016) and eight health facility committee meetings were observed. Findings indicate that in some cases, structures for collaborative community engagement exist but functioning is ineffective for a number of reasons. Health facility committee meetings were most frequent when there were project funds, with discussions focusing mainly on construction projects as opposed to the day-to-day functioning of the facility. Committee members with the strongest influence and power had political connections or were retired government workers. There were no formal mechanisms for stakeholder forums and how these worked were unclear. Drug stock outs, funding delays and unclear operational guidelines affected collaborative governance performance. Implementing collaborative governance effectively requires that the scope of focus for collaboration include both specific projects and the routine functioning of the primary health care facility by the health facility committee. In the study area, structures are required to manage effective stakeholder engagement.

In Ghana there are many legal documents and actions seeking to advance women’s participation in governance at the local and national levels. For instance, the Constitution of the country frowns on any discrimination against women. Ghana has also been a primary signatory and has ratified a number of conventions and declarations such as the current Sustainable Development Goals. Despite these efforts, women still lag behind men in terms of their numbers and level of participation especially in local governance. Recently, certain non-governmental organisations, including the Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre, Campaign for Female Education and Action Aid Ghana, have taken the lead in the Tamale Metropolis to champion the course (financing, educating and training) of women in participating at the local level of the governance process. A cross-sectional observation of the target group of people was supplemented with questionnaire, key informant interviews and focus group discussions as data collection tools. Data analysis was both qualitative and quantitative. The paper concludes that Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) contribution to the participation of women in local governance in the Tamale Metropolis. Recommendations included provision of a conducive environment and promotion of education and training for women.Keywords: Participation, NGOs, Women, Governance, Politics

IntroductionCommunity participation in the governance of health services is an important component in engaging stakeholders (patients, public and partners) in decision-making and related activities in health care. Community participation is assumed to contribute to quality improvement and goal attainment but remains elusive. We examined the implementation of community participation, through collaborative governance in primary health care facilities in Uasin Gishu County, Western Kenya, under the policy of devolved governance of 2013.MethodsUtilizing a multiple case study methodology, five primary health care facilities were purposively selected. Study participants were individuals involved in the collaborative governance of primary health care facilities (from health service providers and community members), including in decision-making, management, oversight, service provision and problem solving. Data were collected through document review, key informant interviews and observations undertaken from 2017 to 2018. Audio recording, notetaking and a reflective journal aided data collection. Data were transcribed, cleaned, coded and analysed iteratively into emerging themes using a governance attributes framework.FindingsA total of 60 participants representing individual service providers and community members participated in interviews and observations. The minutes of all meetings of five primary health care facilities were reviewed for three years (2014–2016) and eight health facility committee meetings were observed. Findings indicate that in some cases, structures for collaborative community engagement exist but functioning is ineffective for a number of reasons. Health facility committee meetings were most frequent when there were project funds, with discussions focusing mainly on construction projects as opposed to the day-to-day functioning of the facility. Committee members with the strongest influence and power had political connections or were retired government workers. There were no formal mechanisms for stakeholder forums and how these worked were unclear. Drug stock outs, funding delays and unclear operational guidelines affected collaborative governance performance.ConclusionImplementing collaborative governance effectively requires that the scope of focus for collaboration include both specific projects and the routine functioning of the primary health care facility by the health facility committee. In the study area, structures are required to manage effective stakeholder engagement.


 
 
 The private sector is a key development partner, thus, its participation in government development planning and budgeting processes is crucial. This study investigated private sector participation in planning and budgeting processes in local government authorities in Makete and Njombe District Councils in Njombe Region. The specific objectives of the study were to examine spaces for private sector participation, and establish factors influencing private sector participation in LGAs’ development planning and budgeting processes. The study involved 40 purposively selected private sector organizations’ officials and 15 LGAs officials. Data were collected through structured interviews, key informant interviews and documentary reviews. The descriptive analysis technique was used for data analysis. Qualitative data were analysed for qualitative content analysis. The study found that the main spaces for private sector participation in LGA’s planning and budgeting processes were the submission of annual plans and budgets to LGAs, attending LGAs’ annual planning and budgeting meetings, and inviting LGAs officials to attend private sector planning and budgeting processes. The main factors influencing the private sector’s participation in LGAs planning and budgeting processes were: the policies of the private organisations, the need for transparency and accountability, the need for government support, the organization’s scope of operation and fora for lobbying and advocacy. It was concluded that the existing mechanisms were generally ‘closed’ or ‘invited’ spaces, which offered limited participation space for the private sector. Thus, there is a need for the government to widen participation spaces for the public sector, including by putting in place clear modalities for involving the private sector in LGA’s development planning and budgeting processes.
 
 
 

Nigeria, a multi-ethnic and culturally diverse nation, is home to over 300 ethnic groups, with the Yoruba forming one of its most influential populations. Despite the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba, their traditional practices have historically marginalized women, particularly in leadership roles. This study examines the influence of Yoruba cultural systems on women’s leadership positions in Nigeria, focusing on how traditional beliefs and practices have restricted female participation in political and socio-economic leadership. The central problem addressed in this research is the persistent cultural limitation placed on Yoruba women, which hinders their access to leadership despite significant contributions to family, economy, and community development. The objectives include identifying cultural practices that restrict women's leadership, assessing the current state of female representation in Yoruba political and religious structures, and recommending strategies for promoting gender-inclusive leadership. The study adopts a qualitative methodology, utilizing historical analysis, document review, and key informant interviews from selected Yoruba communities. Primary and secondary sources were analyzed to understand the evolution of women’s roles from pre-colonial to post-colonial periods and how colonial and post-independence structures entrenched gender inequality. Findings reveal that while pre-colonial Yoruba society allowed for influential female figures like the Iyalode, Iyaloja, Iyalaje, Regent, Erelu, Ayaba, among others, colonial systems reinforced patriarchy by sidelining indigenous female leadership roles. Cultural festivals like the Oro and societal expectations about domestic responsibilities further suppress women’s leadership potential. In modern political settings, Yoruba women face systemic discrimination rooted in both cultural and institutional biases. The study concludes that without a cultural reorientation, gender equality in leadership will remain elusive in Yoruba society. It recommends policy reforms, inclusive cultural education, and empowerment programs that challenge patriarchal norms while promoting women’s active participation in governance. Addressing these cultural impediments is essential for achieving gender-balanced development and leadership equity in Nigeria.

The territorial organization of governing in the “unitary state”, “federal state”, “confederation”, with their constituent units is another aspect of the functioning of governing, which shows the government allocation. The above mentioned types are distinguished by the governing ratio in the territorial integrity of the nation-state, which in the governing system of liberal democracy are known as “central governing” and “local governing” followed by the attributes of “centralization”, “decentralization” , “self-governing” or “local autonomy”. It observes the basic functioning of the system, the creation and realization of the relations between the government and the governed, through which are implemented the basic principles of: - participation in governance; -expression of the will and liking of governing; - fulfilment of tasks of governing according to the interests and aspirations of the governed; - responsibility and accountability of the government. The effectiveness of the government, assessed through the fulfilment of tasks with concrete results related to the fulfilment of the interests of the entire nation and society, is another important aspect in the system of governing. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n8p550

The territorial organization of governing in the “unitary state”, “federal state”, “confederation”, with their constituent units is another aspect of the functioning of governing, which shows the government allocation. The above mentioned types are distinguished by the governing ratio in the territorial integrity of the nation-state, which in the governing system of liberal democracy are known as “central governing” and “local governing” followed by the attributes of “centralization”, “decentralization” , “self-governing” or “local autonomy”. It observes the basic functioning of the system, the creation and realization of the relations between the government and the governed, through which are implemented the basic principles of: - participation in governance; -expression of the will and liking of governing; - fulfilment of tasks of governing according to the interests and aspirations of the governed; - responsibility and accountability of the government. The effectiveness of the government, assessed through the fulfilment of tasks with concrete results related to the fulfilment of the interests of the entire nation and society, is another important aspect in the system of governing. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n9p521

Conflicts over natural resource management in indigenous territories often arise from the misalignment between customary law, rooted in communal traditions, and state law, oriented toward formal regulations and economic interests. This study aims to analyze the mechanisms for integrating customary and state law in resolving such disputes, identify field challenges, and propose policy recommendations to strengthen indigenous rights. Using a qualitative literature review, data were drawn from books, journal articles, legislation, policy documents, and reports—primarily from the past decade—sourced from reputable academic databases. The analysis applied descriptive and thematic content analysis to identify integration models and their effectiveness. Findings reveal three main integration mechanisms: (1) normative-hybrid approaches, where state law formally recognizes customary rights; (2) joint institutional mechanisms involving both indigenous leaders and government agencies; and (3) procedural incorporation of customary processes into formal dispute resolution. While these mechanisms enhance legitimacy, foster compliance, and build trust, they face challenges including legal dualism, weak customary institutions, unclear legal protections, economic-political pressures, and inadequate monitoring. Case studies, such as those from West Kalimantan’s Dayak communities, illustrate both the potential and limitations of hybrid models. Effective integration requires robust legal frameworks, strengthened indigenous capacity, and inclusive monitoring systems. This research underscores the importance of legally and culturally legitimate conflict resolution to promote sustainable environmental management and prevent recurrent disputes.