Address Governance Challenges Research Articles

Correction to: How Do Institutional Prescriptions (Fail to) Address Governance Challenges Under Institutional Hybridity? The Case of Governance Code Creation for Cooperative Enterprises

Correction to: How Do Institutional Prescriptions (Fail to) Address Governance Challenges Under Institutional Hybridity? The Case of Governance Code Creation for Cooperative Enterprises

Foreign Aid Allocation and Regime Stability: A Cross-National Study in Indonesia

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the foreign aid allocation and regime stability: a cross-national study in Indonesia. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study in Indonesia revealed that foreign aid allocation plays a crucial role in regime stability. Increased foreign aid, especially directed towards economic development and infrastructure, positively impacted regime stability. Conversely, political conditionality attached to aid often led to destabilization, fostering domestic opposition and unrest. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Dependency theory, principal-agent theory & institutional theory may be used to anchor future studies on foreign aid allocation and regime stability: a cross-national study in Indonesia. By pooling resources, sharing expertise, and aligning objectives, stakeholders can leverage synergies and address governance challenges more effectively. Donor countries should adopt more coherent and principled aid allocation policies that prioritize the promotion of democratic governance, human rights protections, and inclusive development.

Institutional arrangements in the promotion of sustainable livestock: an approach from the case of beef and dairy cattle production chains in Jalisco, Chiapas, and Campeche

This study focuses on a policy and practice review of existing institutional arrangements within the beef and dairy cattle production sectors in the Mexican states of Jalisco, Chiapas, and Campeche. Acknowledging the critical role of robust governance frameworks in transitioning towards sustainable livestock agriculture, a collaborative governance approach is employed to holistically address environmental and production challenges. This approach underscores the importance of active participation, stakeholder collaboration, and contextual adaptation in decision-making processes. Classified as explanatory research, the study is grounded in a qualitative approach, covering a synchronous period from 2017 to 2022. Secondary sources such as public policies, international climate commitment reports, sector-specific reports, and databases were utilized to provide context and data regarding the analyzed institutional arrangements. Additionally, semi-structured information-gathering protocols were developed and, in conjunction with participant observation, administered to approximately 30 key stakeholders from public, private, academic, research centers, international cooperation, and civil society sectors involved in institutional arrangements in the aforementioned states. The findings highlight the significance of collaborative governance as a valuable alternative for addressing governance challenges in the livestock sector, particularly when hierarchical or market-oriented approaches are less effective. The diversity of identified institutional arrangements, ranging from hierarchical to polyarchic, emphasizes the need to acknowledge the specificities of the context in which they operate and adapt strategies accordingly. This analysis contributes to the growing discussion on sustainable livestock farming and the fundamental role of institutional arrangements in promoting responsible practices and mitigating environmental impacts. As demands for natural resources and environmental awareness increase, understanding and strengthening these arrangements become essential to balance livestock production and environmental conservation.

Governing Integrated Health and Social Care: An Analysis of Experiences in Three European Countries.

Achieving greater health and social care integration is a policy priority in many countries, but challenges remain. We focused on governance and accountability for integrated care and explored arrangements that shape more integrated delivery models or systems in Italy, the Netherlands and Scotland. We also examined how the COVID-19 pandemic affected existing governance arrangements. A case study approach involving document review and semi-structured interviews with 35 stakeholders in 10 study sites between February 2021 and April 2022. We used the Transparency, Accountability, Participation, Integrity and Capability (TAPIC) framework to guide our analytical enquiry. Study sites ranged from bottom-up voluntary agreements in the Netherlands to top-down mandated integration in Scotland. Interviews identified seven themes that were seen to have helped or hindered integration efforts locally. Participants described a disconnect between what national or regional governments aspire to achieve and their own efforts to implement this vision. This resulted in blurred, and sometimes contradictory, lines of accountability between the centre and local sites. Flexibility and time to allow for national policies to be adapted to local contexts, and engaged local leaders, were seen to be key to delivering the integration agenda. Health care, and in particular acute hospital care, was reported to dominate social care in terms of policies, resource allocation and national monitoring systems, thereby undermining better collaboration locally. The pandemic highlighted and exacerbated existing strengths and weaknesses but was not seen as a major disruptor to the overall vision for the health and social care system. We included a relatively small number of interviews per study site, limiting our ability to explore complexities within sites. This study highlights that governance is relatively neglected as a focus of attention in this context but addressing governance challenges is key for successful collaboration.

Exploring The Impact of Tourism Development and Governance on Economic Growth of Developing Economies: Evidence from Driscol-Kraay Approach

This study undertakes a comprehensive panel data evaluation of 28 developing countries to explore the interconnected dynamics of tourism development, governance, and economic growth in developing economies. GDP is used as a proxy for economic growth and taken as dependent variable while International tourism receipts are used as tourism development and governance stability (GS) was used for governance. FDI and labor force are taken as control variable. In this study, analysis is based on descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, Breusch and Pagan cross section dependency test and second generation unit root tests (occurrence of cross-sectional dependency) have been applied. Moreover, Driscoll and Kraay (DK) standard error (based on fixed effects estimation) technique are used because of Heteroskedasticity, Autocorrelation, and Cross-sectional dependency. The findings indicate a robust positive influence of both tourism development and governance on the economic growth of developing economies. Nevertheless, effective policy interventions are imperative to address governance challenges prevalent in these economies.

How Do Institutional Prescriptions (Fail to) Address Governance Challenges Under Institutional Hybridity? The Case of Governance Code Creation for Cooperative Enterprises

How Do Institutional Prescriptions (Fail to) Address Governance Challenges Under Institutional Hybridity? The Case of Governance Code Creation for Cooperative Enterprises

The effectiveness of Section 139 interventions in strengthening municipal accountability in South Africa

Background: Section 139 interventions invoked against failing municipalities in South Africa are becoming prevalent and causing considerable apprehension among stakeholders in local government. Though previous studies have highlighted that Section 139 interventions have generally failed to address governance challenges in municipalities, their effectiveness in strengthening municipal financial accountability has not been examined.Aim: This article investigates the effectiveness of Section 139 interventions in strengthening municipal financial accountability architecture.Methods: This article utilised qualitative document analysis to assess the effectiveness of a Section 139 intervention in strengthening municipal financial accountability. Furthermore, the study utilised audit outcomes as qualitative proxy indicators to assess the effectiveness of Section 139 interventions to strengthen municipal financial accountability. The study focussed on municipalities from Limpopo, North West, and the Free State that have been placed under Section 139 intervention.Results: The findings from the analysis of data showed that a year after interventions, municipalities from Limpopo achieved a notable improvement in their audit outcomes, while municipalities from North West and the Free State did not improve. Though there was a notable improvement from municipalities in Limpopo, the improvement did not result in clean audit outcomes.Conclusion: The poor audit outcomes are indicators that Section 139 interventions are ineffective in strengthening municipal financial accountability.Contribution: This article contributes towards the debates and potential measures to strengthen Section 139 interventions to address the accountability challenges in South African municipalities.

The Impact of Institutional Capacity on Public Performance in Upper Nile State, South Sudan

Purpose: This study explored the critical relationship between institutional capacity and public performance in the context of Upper Nile State of South Sudan, focusing on the central role of the state in public governance and sustainable development.
 Methodology: Through an extensive review of the literature, this study highlights the challenges facing public institutions and highlights the transformative potential of institutional capacity building. The purpose of this study was to reveal the complex relationship between institutional capacity and public performance in Upper Nile State, highlighting the role of institutional strengthening in improving public service delivery and overall governance. The research methods used included an in-depth literature search, providing a comprehensive review of research materials.
 Findings: The findings highlight the critical role of institutional capacity building in addressing governance challenges in Upper Nile State. Strong institutions not only improve the efficiency of service delivery, but also promote transparency, accountability and responsiveness to public needs. Good governance, effective leadership and alignment with the broader goals of good governance highlight the importance of institutional capacity building. This research helps us understand how to overcome governance challenges and improve public performance, with a particular focus on institutional capacity. The study highlights the intrinsic link between a country's governance environment and the strength of its institutions, revealing gaps in institutional capacity such as human resources, financial management, governance structures and infrastructure. These shortcomings have led to suboptimal public services, limiting access to services, creating inefficiencies and corruption, all of which have a direct impact on the well-being of the state's citizens. Furthermore, the study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive institutional strengthening efforts in Upper Nile State, including investment in human resources, financial management reforms and improved governance structures. This focus on institutional capacity is essential to address governance challenges, improve public services and contribute to a prosperous future for the people of Upper Nile State.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Furthermore, this study bridges the gap between theory and practical recommendations. It aligns the theory of institutional capacity with concrete results and shows how strengthening institutional capacity can solve identified management problems. This resource provides policy makers and practitioners with a practical road map to improve governance and public service delivery in Upper Nile State and continue to build strong and capable institutions to empower the people of the state. It emphasizes the importance of national and international efforts.

Transition to sustainability: Assessing the challenges of the Brazilian environmental agenda and policy

The Bolsonaro government has fueled a false and pernicious discursive contradiction between economic growth and environmental preservation. Environmentalists may have felt relieved by Lula's election; however, his government must now deal with a complex environmental agenda and the escalation of the discursive contradiction between those who perceive the environment as an exploitable resource and those who view it as a preservation-worthy asset. We present two interrelated alternatives to overcome the political, economic, and social challenges to consensus building. First, technology can contribute to promoting innovative methods for the sustainable exploitation of the Amazon. Second, the reconstruction of the institutional apparatus must incorporate other functions. In addition, to reinforce coordination, democratic participation, and democratic legitimacy, as well as suitably reduce the frequent prevalence of speech over practice, the government and society must address governance challenges. Consensus-building could bolster coalitions, improve governability, and play a pivotal role in advancing the sustainability agenda.

An energy company's journey toward standardized sustainability reporting: addressing governance challenges

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a comprehensive examination of corporate sustainability reporting strategies, focusing on the rationale for adopting the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, the challenges to be faced and the implications that can arise for accounting professionals, managers, policymakers and scholars alike.Design/methodology/approachThe single case study approach was followed. Qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis were used for an in-depth, contextual examination of Enel Green Power's sustainability reporting practices and the adoption of the GRI Standards. The documents analyzed include annual sustainability reports, integrated reports and press releases over the period ranging from 2018 to 2022.FindingsThe GRI Standards' adaptability, modular structure and emphasis on stakeholder involvement emerged as stimulating factors for Enel Green Power. GRI Standards allowed the company to benchmark its sustainability performance against competitors and identify areas for improvement. The company faced challenges during the implementation of the GRI Standards concerning data collection and management across global operations, stakeholder identification and engagement and alignment of sustainability reporting with corporate strategy. The company addressed these challenges by investing in robust data management systems, maintaining active communication with stakeholders and embedding sustainability into its corporate culture.Research limitations/implicationsThis research contributes to the academic literature on sustainability reporting and accounting, offers valuable insights for managers and professionals and informs policymakers about the potential benefits and challenges associated with the adoption of GRI Standards. The paper highlights the importance of aligning organizational strategies with global sustainability frameworks and fostering a culture of transparency and stakeholder engagement.Originality/valueThis work offers a novel contribution to the scholarly discourse on sustainability reporting standardization, shedding light on the governance challenges to be faced and providing potential solutions.

Explaining Policy Failure in China

AbstractWhy do policy experimentation regimes breakdown? And, if there are recognizable patterns of experimental failure, what might explain the variation? Focusing on aviation, finance and food safety, this article considers why a policy style that has been credited with China's successes in the past is failing to address governance challenges in these sectors at present. The article moves beyond discussions of policy mis-implementation by reframing experimental failure as a case of policy maladaptation under conditions of complexity and ambiguity. Maladaptation describes how approaches used in previous periods to foster adaptation can inadvertently make a system less resilient in the future. The analysis shows how the degree of consolidation of previously successful experimental regimes lends itself to certain types of maladaptation in the present: consolidated regimes are unable to generate policy alternatives (aviation), moderately consolidated regimes are maladapted for selection (finance), and unconsolidated regimes impede niche creation (food safety).

Addressing Governance Challenges of Digitalisation and Sustainability: A Perspective of Central Bank Digital Currency

Addressing Governance Challenges of Digitalisation and Sustainability: A Perspective of Central Bank Digital Currency

Meeting the governance challenges of integrated health and social care

Abstract Background Many countries are experimenting with novel ways of organising and delivering more integrated health and social care. Governance is relatively neglected as a focus of attention in this context but addressing governance challenges is key for successful collaboration. Methods Cross-country case analysis involving document review and semi-structured interviews with 27 local, regional and national level stakeholders in Italy, the Netherlands and Scotland. We used the Transparency, Accountability, Participation, Integrity and Capability (TAPIC) framework to structure our analytical enquiry to explore factors that influence the governance arrangements in each system. Results Governance arrangements ranged from informal agreements in the Netherlands to mandated integration in Scotland. Novel service models were generally participative involving a wide range of stakeholders, including the public, although integration was seen to be driven, largely, from a health perspective. In Italy and Scotland some reversion to ‘command & control’ was reported in response to the imperatives of the Covid-19 pandemic. Policies, budgets, auditing and reporting systems that are clearly aligned at all levels were seen to help with implementing innovations in service organisation. Where alignment was lacking, cooperation and integration was suboptimal, regardless of whether governance arrangements were statutory or not. There was wide recognition of the importance of buy-in. Enablers of greater engagement included visible leadership, time and long-standing working relationships. Lack of suitable indicators and openness to data sharing to measure integration hindered working relationships and thus the successful delivery of integrated services. Conclusions Our study provides important insights into how to more effectively and efficiently govern service delivery structures within care systems. We will discuss approaches to governance that help support more resilient integrated care systems. Key messages • Different governance arrangements face common challenges to greater integration of care. Enablers include strong leadership, inclusivity and openness to work across traditional boundaries. • Meeting the governance challenges of integrated health and social care requires clear lines of accountability, aligned policies, budgets and reporting systems.

Emerging and persistent challenges in water resources governance in rural Tanzania: The Mgeta subcatchment of the Upper Ruvu Basin

ABSTRACT The article examines the emerging and persistent challenges of water resources governance that contribute to unequitable sharing of water resources amid the different competing users in the Mgeta subcatchment in the Ruvu River Basin, Tanzania. The author used a mixed method research design to examine the challenges of water governance in rural Tanzania, with a focus on households (water users) in the Mgeta subcatchment of the Upper Ruvu Basin. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used to garner qualitative data, while a questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analysed. The results indicated that conflicts, inactiveness of members of the Community Based Water Supply Organisation (COBWSO) in Kibaoni village (one of three case villages), overlapping of responsibilities among key actors, as well as ineffective revenue collection were the main challenges facing water resources governance. The author concludes that concerted efforts are needed to address governance challenges hampering equitable access to water resources among different users.

How national bioeconomy strategies address governance challenges arising from forest-related trade-offs

ABSTRACT The term ‘bioeconomy’ stands for an economy that primarily relies on renewable biotic resources and thus supports the vision of a low carbon society. The respective ‘bioeconomy strategies’ bear high conflict potential as they, sometimes unintentionally, rely on forest-land or wood as a resource, which are already appropriated also in other policies. We first outline the resulting governance challenges in terms of coherence of policy goals, consistency of instruments and the congruence between the two and identify trade-offs between forest ecosystem services that exhibit a high conflict potential regarding the bioeconomy. We then provide a comparative analysis of the extent to which bioeconomy strategies tackle the related governance challenges for two pairs of countries from the temperate (Germany and Switzerland) and the boreal (Sweden and Norway) forest zone. We find that the strategies do not mention conflicts related to wood mobilization. Coherence and consistency tend to be addressed for non-extractive forest utilizations that are perceived as a market opportunity rather than solely a restriction on wood mobilization. The latter seems more common in countries with a multi-functional forestry paradigm. Consequences for the prevailing forest management paradigm, however, are not explored in the strategies and thus policy congruence is neglected.

Political Attention in a Single-Leading-Party State: A Comparative Study of the Policy Agenda in China, 2003–2019

This article explores the political attention of an authoritarian regime from a comparative perspective. Data from daily meetings of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council from 2003 to 2019 reveal the punctuated characteristics of China’s macropolitical agenda, which is less intensely punctuated than those in democracies. Further, in the absence of party competition and power balance, the authoritarian party uses the “leading group mechanism” to strengthen its leadership’s agenda since this mechanism helps expand the party’s capacity to address governance challenges. Thus, authoritarian resilience must be considered when using political attention theory to analyze China’s agenda-setting pattern.

4 Migration research and analysis: Growth, reach and recent contributions

4 Migration research and analysis: Growth, reach and recent contributions

Republic of Mozambique

Mozambique’s economic situation had been improving until Tropical Cyclone Idai and Kenneth hit the country in March and April, respectively. Economic growth was recovering gradually and becoming broader based, and inflation reached low single digits. Economic activity is expected to decelerate sharply in 2019 due to the supply shock to productive capacity, but it should rebound to pre-cyclone levels by 2020. In April, the IMF Executive Board approved US$118 million in emergency assistance under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF). The authorities are committed to macroeconomic stability while fostering inclusive growth and addressing governance challenges.

Assessing Forest Governance in the Countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion

The forest landscapes of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) are changing dramatically, with a multitude of impacts from local to global levels. These changes invariably have their foundations in forest governance. The aim of this paper is to assess perceptions of key stakeholders regarding the state of forest governance in the countries of the GMS. The work is based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the perceptions of forest governance in the five GMS countries, involving 762 representatives from government, civil society, news media, and rural communities. The work identified many challenges to good forest governance in the countries in the region, as well as noting reasons for optimism. Generally speaking, there was a feeling that the policies, legislation, and institutional frameworks were supportive, but there are numerous challenges in terms of implementation, enforcement, and compliance. The work also presents a program of activities recommended by the research participants to address governance challenges and opportunities in the GMS countries. These include the development of a forest governance monitoring system, and initiatives that support informed decision-making by forest product consumers in the region as well as the implementation of a capacity development program for non-state actors (e.g., civil society, news media) to ensure they are more able to support the diverse, and often demanding, forest governance initiatives.

Unlocking Central America’s mineral potential: Leveraging transparency to address governance challenges

This paper reviews governance challenges and opportunities in six Central American and Caribbean countries (Belize, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama) as they develop new extractive projects. Despite important differences, governments in these countries share the need to improve their capacity to manage and control growing mining operations and potential revenues. In this paper we argue that mineral extraction faces challenges that go beyond traditional prescriptions to strengthen governance, such as environmental impacts and the cost born by local communities in terms of loss of land, water sources and culture; the right to free, informed and fair consultation; and polarization among the different stakeholders. Yet, we claim that transparency offers a starting point for governments to build trust and to demonstrate that they are prepared to address concerns surrounding mining operations, managing potential mineral windfalls and taking into consideration local community interests.