Policy Challenges Research Articles

Approaches Used by Advanced Level Secondary Schools to Overcome Challenges of Fee-free Secondary Education Policy in Tanzania

Approaches Used by Advanced Level Secondary Schools to Overcome Challenges of Fee-free Secondary Education Policy in Tanzania

The impacts of Timor-Leste’s membership in the WTO:

The paper presents information about the significant impacts of Timor-Leste's membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) on institutional reforms, trade policy challenges, and the prospects for ASEAN membership. The paper explores the comprehensive institutional reforms required by WTO membership, emphasizing the harmonization of over 300 economic legislations with WTO standards. The paper also acknowledges that Timor-Leste encounters challenges, including opportunities for strengthening the capacity of human resource and further development of a comprehensive trade policy framework. Additionally, trade negotiations with ten WTO member states on market access for goods and services, including the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), were carefully considered as part of Timor-Leste's WTO commitments, with the expectation of smooth implementation upon the country's membership of the WTO. The study also discusses the use of tariff protectionism as a strategy to safeguard sensitive domestic industries in Timor-Leste, while remaining in compliance with WTO rules in the future.

"I think all of us should have […] much better training in ethics." Ethical challenges in policy making during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from an interview study with Swiss policy makers and scientists.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed many unprecedented challenges to health care systems and public health efforts worldwide. Policy making and science were deeply intertwined, in particular with regard to the justification of health policy measures. In this context, ethical considerations were often at the core of decision-making trade-offs. However, not much is known about the actual ethical challenges encountered by policy makers and scientists involved in policy advice. With this study, we therefore aim to explore the ethical challenges during COVID-19-related political decision-making in Switzerland as perceived by policy makers and scientists involved in policy making. We also explore the role ethics advice had during the pandemic response and what can be learned for future public health crises. We conducted thirteen qualitative expert interviews with policy makers and scientists involved in decision-making on COVID-19 policy responses in Switzerland on the regional and national level. We used inductive content analysis to analyse the interviews. Among the multitude of ethical challenges highlighted, interviewees perceived making trade-offs between the common good vs. the individual good and between economic welfare vs. health of the population, as well as proportionality of the policy measures, and the capacity of the public to accept uncertainty as central. Interviewees had diverging opinions on whether ethical considerations were sufficiently raised and discussed on the Swiss policy level during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the reasons why ethics was not sufficiently discussed, they mentioned a lack of time in the fast-paced dynamic of the pandemic, ethics as a complex subject area, the interconnectedness between ethics and law, too much focus on few topics (mostly on vaccination-related ethical questions), and power relationships, such as dominance of medical professionals over ethicists. They evaluated ethics support to have been adequately present in the decision-making process, but wished for ethics training, involvement of the public in the discourse and for accompanying communication to build trust among the population for the future. The study provides empirical insights into the ethical considerations of COVID-19 policy making in practice in Switzerland. It can help to develop ethics assistance for future crises and inform ethical health policy and decision-making not only in Switzerland, but also in other countries.

Implementation of national policies and interventions (WHO Best Buys) for non-communicable disease prevention and control in Ghana: a mixed methods analysis.

The World Health Organization (WHO) encourages all member states to adopt and implement a package of essential evidence-based interventions called the Best Buys to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). To date, little is known about the implementation of national policies and interventions for NCD control in the WHO member states in sub-Saharan Africa. Our study aimed to evaluate the implementation of national policies and interventions (WHO Best Buys) for non-communicable disease prevention and control in Ghana. This was explanatory mixed methods research which started with a document review of Ghana's WHO Best Buys scores from the 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022 WHO NCD Progress Monitor Reports. Thereafter, we conducted 25 key informant interviews and one focus group discussion (11 participants) with key policymakers and stakeholders in the NCD landscape in Ghana to understand the implementation of the NCD policies and interventions, and the policy implementation gaps and challenges faced. Data from the NCD Progress reports were presented using mean scores whilst the qualitative data was analysed thematically. Ghana has shown some advancements in the implementation of the WHO Best Buys measures. Ghana's implementation scores for 2015, 2017, 2020 and 2022 were 5.0, 9.0, 5.0 and 5.5 respectively, against the mean implementation scores of 7.6/19 for lower-middle-income countries and 9.5/19 for upper-middle-income countries. Efforts to decrease major risk factors such as excessive alcohol consumption and unhealthy diet have been progressing slowly. The most common challenges were related to a) the role of socio-cultural factors, b) stakeholder engagement, c) enforcement and implementation of public health policies, d) implementation guidelines, e) public awareness and education on NCDs, f) financing of NCD prevention and control, g) curative-centered health systems, and h) over-centralization of NCD care. Ghana has made progress in adopting the WHO Best Buys targeting risk factors of NCDs. However, the country faces contextual barriers to effective implementation. With the retrogression of some measures over time despite making progress in some earlier years, further investigation is needed to identify facilitators for sustained implementation of the WHO Best Buys interventions.

The Role of Yeast in the Valorisation of Food Waste

The implementation of the circular bioeconomy is now widely accepted as a critical step towards reducing the environmental burden of industrial waste and reducing the impact of this waste on climate change. The valorisation of waste using microorganisms is an attractive and fast-developing strategy capable of achieving meaningful improvements in the sustainability of the biotechnology industry. Yeasts are a powerful chassis for developing valorisation strategies and key opportunities. Thus, this study examines how waste from the food sector can be effectively targeted for valorisation by yeast. Yeasts themselves are critically important elements in the production of food and brewing, and thus, the valorisation of waste from these processes is further reviewed. Policy and regulatory challenges that may impact the feasibility of industrial applications of yeast systems in the valorisation of food waste streams are also discussed.

Does tight monetary policy threaten the soundness of Korean banks?

This study analysed the relationship between the implementation of the Central Bank of Korea's tight monetary policy due to the recent deepening of inflation and the soundness of Korean banks. This study focused on the fact that the recently published research results of Jung (2023) were different from previous research results. The traditional result is that tight monetary policy reduces loan defaults by shrinking banks' lending capacity. However, Jung (2023), who analysed banks in the EU, claims that loan defaults do not increase despite easing monetary policy. This study empirically analysed the risk indicators that evaluate the financial soundness of banks by dividing them into the financial insolvency, financing costs, recapitalization, and risk holding. The research results are as follows. First, tight monetary policy reduces banks' loan defaults in line with Gambacorta and Mistrulli (2004) instead of Jung (2023). Second, banks' financing costs increased due to the tight monetary policy with same context to the claims of Borio and Hofmann (2017) and Jung (2023). Third, banks' recapitalization level actually decreased due to tight monetary policy as argument of Jung (2023). Fourth, tight monetary policy had no significant relationship with banks' risk taking behaviour in consistent with Diamond and Rajan (2011) and Jimenez et al. (2012). In conclusion, tight monetary policy reduces insolvency of loans, but increases potential risk factors such as increased financing costs and reduced recapitalization in the future. Therefore, this study suggests novel findings and policy challenges.

Breaking the habit: The impact of tobacco taxation on smoking behavior

Objective: This study investigates the influence of tobacco prices on consumption habits among 200 smokers in Lisbon, Portugal, focusing on generational preferences and perceptions of tobacco taxes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a quantitative approach. Participants were categorized by generational cohort, and data on tobacco consumption types, awareness of tobacco taxes, and opinions on tax increases were collected. Statistical analyses were used to explore relationships and predictors. Results: Findings reveal that 46.5% of participants favored heated tobacco, 37.0% smoked cigarettes, and 16.5% consumed other types like roll-your-own tobacco and electronic cigarettes. Significant generational differences were observed, with older cohorts predominantly smoking cigarettes (51.5%), while Generation Z showed a preference for heated tobacco (55.2%). Most smokers (79.5%) were aware of tobacco taxes, with diverse opinions on their purpose: revenue generation (44.0%), consumption reduction (44.5%), and indifference (11.5%). Despite this awareness, 60.5% reported no change in consumption habits due to tax increases. Conclusion: The study underscores the complexity of tobacco consumption behaviors influenced by price and generational factors. While heated tobacco gains popularity among younger smokers, traditional cigarettes remain prevalent among older cohorts. The findings highlight challenges in tobacco control policies, suggesting a need for comprehensive strategies integrating price measures with targeted educational and cessation interventions to effectively reduce tobacco use across different generations.

Leadership Strategies in Addressing Out-of-School Children: A Comparative Study of Heads of Government and Public–Private-Managed Schools in Sindh, Pakistan

The issue of Out-of-School Children (OOSC) presents a significant policy challenge in Sindh, Pakistan, where 44% of 5–16-year-olds are not attending school. This study examines how different leadership strategies in government and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) schools address this crisis. Drawing on transformational leadership theory and institutional theory, this research investigates the influence of school governance structures—specifically government schools, Education Management Organizations (EMOs), and Sindh Education Foundation (SEF) schools—on school leaders’ abilities to increase student enrollment and retention. Through a multiple case study design, this study collects qualitative data from three school heads, augmented by perspectives from vice principals and teachers. The findings indicate that leadership agency is constrained in government schools due to centralized decision-making, while PPP schools, particularly SEF schools, offer more autonomy, enabling more adaptive and community-centered leadership strategies. This study concludes that decentralized governance in SEF schools is more effective in addressing the OOSC issue, particularly in marginalized areas. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers seeking to enhance educational access in regions with similar socio-economic challenges. The implications of this research underscore the need for flexible, context-specific leadership models to combat the OOSC crisis.

Fare-free public transport in France: unveiling urban policy challenges

France is one of the countries where the phenomenon of fare-free public transport is most active, particularly in Europe. This public policy has given rise to controversy over its environmental, social and urban effects. This article offers a different way of discussing the phenomenon. It paints a picture of the phenomenon and then traces its origins back to the emergence of urban crises that began in the 1970s. Finally, it looks back at the major issues associated with this policy, showing that they reflect questions facing cities more widely today.

A paradox of public engagement: The discursive politics of environmental justice in Canada's Chemical Valley

AbstractFor over a decade, members of the Aamjiwnaang Nation have continued to fight for the recognition and redress of their unique environmental health concerns in a region known as Canada's Chemical Valley. From a critical policy studies lens, this article addresses the discursive policy challenges faced by those who are most affected by the toxic policy assemblage of enduring pollution exposure. In response to the research question: how can the voices and lived experiences of those living in pollution hotspots like Chemical Valley contribute to the theory and practice of environmental justice, this article draws upon findings from extensive field‐work in the surrounding region of Lambton County as well as policy advocacy including participation in Senate of Canada hearings. This analysis examines how the omission of community‐based knowledge and expertise reproduces inequities. The article concludes with strategies for improved environmental justice and lessons learned for policy justice in Canada and beyond.Related ArticlesAl‐Kohlani, Sumaia A., Heather E. Campbell, and Stephen Omar El‐Khatib. 2023. “Minority Faith and Environmental Justice.” Politics & Policy 51(6): 1069–96. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12564.Ash, John. 2010. “New Nuclear Energy, Risk, and Justice: Regulatory Strategies for an Era of Limited Trust.” Politics & Policy 38(2): 255–84. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2010.00237.x.Dilmaghani, Maryam, and Jeremy Dias. 2023. “In or Out? Citizenship Outcomes of Working Sexual and Gender Minority People of Canada.” Politics & Policy 51(5): 868–97. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12557.

‘IPCC-envy’: Why do other science-policy issues want an IPCC, and should they?

The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been at the forefront of climate science and policy for more than 35 years. Many commentators hold up the IPCC as a model for how global knowledge should be assessed, communicated and employed in complex, transnational, public policy challenges. In this essay, I lay out some reasons why other science-policy issues might indeed be envious of the IPCC, but also suggest a number of reasons why replication of the IPCC in other topic areas might be difficult and why it might not necessarily be desirable.

Pesticide Pollution in India: Environmental and Health Risks, and Policy Challenges

Intensive agriculture practices in India to meet the food demand of the increasing population have led to the use of agrochemicals such as pesticides in higher quantities to increase productivity resulting in contamination of the environment. Pesticides control pests, weeds, and diseases in plants, animals, and humans. Despite bans on pesticides such as organochlorides (OC), organophosphate (OP), or synthetic pyrethroids ranging from minimal to excessive, are detected in soil, surface water, and groundwater often exceeding WHO and BIS safety limits. The predominantly found pesticides were DDT, HCH, Endosulfan, malathion, chlorpyrifos, atrazine, endrin, cypermethrin, dichlorvos, etc. Different ranges of pesticides were detected in different states (Kashmir, UP, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan, Haryana, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, etc.) of India, which demonstrate that pesticides can persist in the environment and later can show bioaccumulation in the food chain. The article explores the consequences of this pollution such as biomagnification, bioaccumulation, and risks to human health and ecological integrity. This article also covers the adverse effects of pesticides such as carcinogenic, teratogenic, mutagenic, and endocrine-disrupting properties along with the importance of developing new policies or strengthening the current policies and regulations to monitor the use of pesticides.

Bridging the gap: challenges of urban planning and policies for favelas in Salvador, Brazil

Salvador, the capital of Bahia State in Brazil, has long struggled with pronounced economic and social inequality. This stratification has resulted in spatial segregation, leading to the expansion of favelas, typically near the city center, where segregation in various dimensions of social engagement intensifies tensions of inequities. The municipal government has made several attempts to address favela-related issues through urban planning policies. Notwithstanding the progress made in lowering violent crime and extreme poverty, these issues still exist. This paper explores the interaction between government-led practices and corresponding self-organized actions toward planning strategies, invoking a social justice framework and critical urban theories. It identifies mismatches between institutional objectives and residents’ expectations, highlighting that structural contradictions in the region’s social development remain unresolved. The analysis suggests that planning policies should consider key factors, such as resource redistribution, recognition of sociocultural identity, and political representation. On the basis of these findings, this paper offers insights into urban planning for favelas as examples of complex governance challenges. It also aims to contribute to the global discourse on similar urban planning issues.

Exploring the potential of biohydrogen as a sustainable energy solution for Pakistan: A review of production processes and policy challenges

Due to growing carbon dioxide emissions and the depletion of fossil-based energy sources, international studies have been focusing more intensely on developing hydrogen as a source of renewable energy. Biohydrogen is an exciting and green alternative energy source with various different benefits. Unlike traditional energy sources, biohydrogen production does not emit pollutants, making it a more environmentally friendly option. Biohydrogen generation, particularly from microalgae and other low-cost biomass feedstocks, so offers the dual benefit of delivering clean electricity while absorbing Carbon Dioxide. This research investigates the possibility of biohydrogen as a sustainable energy solution for Pakistan's climate issue. We examine the current state of biohydrogen generation technologies, such as dark fermentation, photo fermentation, bio photolysis, with a focus on their potential application in Pakistan. The study investigates global advances in biohydrogen research and their significance in Pakistan, demonstrating biohydrogen's potential contribution to Pakistan's energy independence and environmental targets, as well as the practical and policy-related challenges that must be addressed to advance biohydrogen energy generation and wider adoption.

The Role of Law in Taxation Policy as an Economic Control Tool: A Case Study of Tax Amnesty in Indonesia

This study examines the role of law in Indonesia's tax amnesty policy as a means of economic control. Using normative legal research, the study analyzes secondary data from primary, secondary, and tertiary legal sources. The findings reveal that Indonesia's low tax ratio and widespread taxpayer non-compliance, including forgery, underreporting, and asset concealment, remain significant challenges for tax policy. These challenges stem from both suboptimal tax collection mechanisms and taxpayer resistance. Despite the controversy surrounding tax amnesty, the law plays a strategic role in providing legal certainty, encouraging honest reporting, and increasing state revenue, which is essential for national development.

Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) to the Adolescents in Bangladesh: Policy Prospects and Challenges

Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are a concept of human rights applied to the sexuality and reproduction of human beings. Most Bangladeshis, especially adolescents in rural areas, are still unaware of these rights for countless reasons. A significant barrier towards such awareness is created. There has been some research in recent times covering various aspects of SRHR in Bangladesh. Nevertheless, the element that makes this research unique is that it is aiming to analyze in a doctrinal or qualitative manner if the existing laws and policies are enough to ensure that adolescents have access to knowledge and information on SRHR, or whether any major or minor reforms to existing legal framework are necessary. The research would like to prove the necessity of enacting legally enforceable national policies to ensure that adolescents in Bangladesh have access to SRHR education, which is very important in protecting their sexual and reproductive health and well- being.

Issue uncertainty and selections of policy instruments in policy pilots: evidence from China’s long-term care insurance

ABSTRACT Policy pilots have been instrumental in governing China’s economic and social development. Prior research has primarily concentrated on examining the types of policy pilots and their promotion strategies through the lens of central-local dynamics, and analysing the organizational models of policy pilots within specific contexts. However, there’s a gap in understandinghow the central government employs policy instruments to foster organizational learning within pilots. In complex policy pilots, there is often uncertainty regarding objectives, pathways, and outcomes. Using China’s Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) pilot as a case study, this research reveals that policy pilots utilize distinct sets of policy instruments during the organizational learning process, contingent upon the context. The first set of instruments indicates a shift in the central government’s intervention intensity, ranging from weak to strong, employing autonomous, advocacy, and directive policy instruments in sequence. The second set of instruments shows an evolution in the depth of the central government’s engagement with the policy issues, progressing from shallow to deep, with the use of booster, framework, and calibrated policy instruments, respectively. This study highlights how policy pilots employ a diverse array of instruments to navigate the intricacies of policy implementation when confronting complex social policy challenges.

5.X.1. Co-designing for policy impact: Belgium’s monitoring & evaluation framework for cancer care & control

Abstract Cancer is one of the main public health challenges, and the second leading cause of mortality in the EU. It is Belgium’s second leading cause of adult death after circulatory diseases and has been an increasing burden of disease in recent years. Recognizing the urgency of tackling the entire disease pathway, the European Commission (EC) has launched Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP), a policy-driven strategy, and the Mission on Cancer, a research-focused undertaking. In Belgium, Sciensano’s Cancer Centre has been charged with the coordination and implementation of these programs, pioneering the setup of a dedicated structure to coordinate them. While Belgian public, academic, private and non-for-profit entities have been highly involved in these EU initiatives since their launch, there is currently no mechanism to monitor the impact of EBCP’s uptake and implementation in Belgium. Moreover, in contrast to the investment and momentum at the European level, the last Belgian Cancer Plan dates from 2008, with its most recent evaluation being published in 2013, highlighting an important gap. To address this gap, the Cancer Centre was asked by the Federal Cabinet to develop a new monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework for cancer care and control in Belgium. With a view to avoiding traditional top-down approaches, it was decided that the framework would be designed co-creatively, by engaging patients and experts in the field. The aim was to enable the iterative and flexible monitoring of Belgian policies related to the EBCP’s implementation, while generating buy-in from stakeholders. To achieve this goal, a modified Delphi process was used, with complementary qualitative data collection in the form of focus group discussions with experts across the cancer continuum. A Steering and Patient Committee were put in place to provide stewardship over the process, and based on their feedback, additional patient workshops were run to ensure M&E priorities for patients were taken into account. The framework will cover the entire spectrum of cancer prevention and control, as well as transversal themes such as inequalities and patient-centeredness. It will also anticipate future evolutions and undergo adjustments when needed. This workshop will use a Pecha Kucha approach, with panelists sharing insights from the Belgian case study. The session will guide the audience through a story of the strengths and pitfalls of co-creating an M&E framework in the field of public health monitoring. Topics covered will include challenges of monitoring cancer care and control policies, approaches taken in Belgium to overcome these challenges, and the importance of involving diverse stakeholders in the process. A moderated discussion will allow participants to share their perspectives and ask questions. Attendees will walk away with a real-world example on how to challenge top-down paradigms of population-level M&E frameworks and identify transferable elements for adaptation in their own settings. Key messages • Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP) provides opportunities to tackle the second leading cause of disease in the EU but will require innovative approaches to monitor uptake and impact. • Development of Belgium policy-actionable monitoring & evaluation framework shows how co-creation can challenge top-down paradigms in public health monitoring and assess the uptake and impact of EBCP. Speakers/Panelists Gabrielle Schittecatte Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium Jinane Ghattas Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium Robbe Saesen Sciensano, Maaseik, Belgium

Indigenous Peoples and Social Protection: The Case of the Peruvian Amazon

The persistence of indigenous poverty and exclusion is one of the main challenges for social policy in Latin America. Social protection programmes, in particular conditional cash transfers, have been among the main instruments used by governments over the past two decades to respond to the high incidence of poverty in indigenous contexts. The inclusion of indigenous peoples as social protection beneficiaries remains a largely unexplored topic, despite its relevance to understand social policy trajectories in the global South. This article discusses the expansion of poverty alleviation social programmes in the Peruvian Amazon. Although the expansion of these programmes increased the state’s capacity to deliver welfare services in historically excluded areas, it also revealed the limitations of existing social protection instruments to effectively respond to indigenous poverty and vulnerability. Addressing this challenge constitutes a key opportunity to promote transformative approaches in social protection systems in Latin America.

9.X.1. Protecting the mental health of healthcare workers: evidence, policy and implementation challenges

Abstract Background There is growing evidence that highlights increasing stress levels and declining mental health among the global healthcare workforce, exacerbated by challenges within workplace environments, labour market and policy frameworks. These conditions place additional strain on an already vulnerable healthcare workforce and consequently threaten the stability of health systems as a whole, given the escalating challenges in retaining, recruiting and reactivating healthcare workers. Although the problems are evident, awareness is increasing and international organisations such as the WHO have advanced policy recommendations, comprehensive and context-specific interventions effectively addressing these problems at varying levels are missing. Objectives This innovative workshop offers a platform for bridging the gap between research evidence and policy interventions, stimulating policy learning and knowledge exchange across countries. The session provides an overview of existing knowledge and engages representatives of academia as well as national policymaking, and international organisations to critically discuss challenges as well as good practice experiences with a focus on implementation and problem-solving. The following major questions will be explored: What evidence is available regarding the mental health and wellbeing needs of the healthcare workforce? How are different countries responding to these needs and supporting healthcare workers more effectively? What are some best practice cases focusing on improving mental health support for healthcare workers across various groups, considering diverse needs, gender-inclusiveness, and minority groups? Finally, how can evidence-based policymaking be improved, and how can the implementation of these policies be advanced in a more effective manner? Thesession will encourage critical debate and identify major policy recommendations, focusing on governance and implementation strategies. In the second half of the session, the panel will engage the audience in an interactive discussion to explore novel solutions that prioritise the wellbeing of healthcare workers and effectively address the healthcare workforce crisis in a more person-centred and ‘humanised’ manner. The workshop supports cross-country learning and networking opportunities. Key messages • Mental health and wellbeing of the healthcare workforce is crucial for health system resilience and needs stronger advocacy for coordinated multi-level governance action. • Establish a health system and governance approach together with comprehensive monitoring and qualitative comparative workforce studies to identify transformational policies in contextual settings.