ABSTRACT This article explores the relationship between the Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC), a rural movement from Xolobeni, South Africa, and a non-governmental organisation, Sustaining the Wild Coast (SWC). The ACC was able to successfully prevent mining and other extractivist development projects in Xolobeni which they believed threatened existing livelihoods in the area. Their mobilisation was supported by civil society allies such as the SWC. The SWC’s support has included facilitating access to media and civil society networks located in urban areas and using these networks to access information and other resources. Other studies of the relationships between social movements and NGO allies highlight several risks involved in such collaboration such as depoliticisation or deradicalisation. We argue that in the case of the ACC and SWC, these risks were mostly averted. We explore how the SWC was able to support the ACC’s activism by facilitating access to information, building networks, providing oppositional research, helping articulate an alternative vision for development and maintaining separation between the ACC and SWC. We conclude that the SWC’s involvement has been supportive of the ACC and helped to establish it as a powerful force with the ability to shape local development, policy and public discourse.

ABSTRACT This article explores the scope of institutionalization of civil society organizations (CSOs) engaged in cross-border cooperation (CBC) between Czechia and Germany. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with representatives of CSOs, the analysis combines Bourdieu’s theory of field and forms of capital with Berger and Luckmann’s theory of institutionalization. Combining these two theoretical perspectives offers an original interpretative approach, which contributes to Border Studies by specifying how “border effects” are mediated through the cross-border valuation and convertibility of different forms of capital, and why many people-to-people initiatives remain institutionally fragile despite decades of European integration. While economic and social capitals are easily transferable across borders, cultural and symbolic capitals are less transferable across borders and remain strongly anchored in national fields. The analysis also shows that project-based, short-term funding causes organizational fragility and is among the main hindrances to institutionalization of CBC activities. It also reveals a discernible asymmetry between Czech CSOs on the one side and German on the other, where CSOs enjoy more supportive economic and symbolic capitals.

ABSTRACT Since the early 2000s, civil society participation in the United Nations has greatly intensified, as evidenced by the surge in applications for UN consultative status. This form of international recognition, which confers permanent accreditation on non-governmental organisations, is increasingly sought by Indigenous organisations, largely due to the access and contribution rights it confers at the UN. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in so-called ‘French’ Guiana, or Guyane, where I have been collaborating with an Indigenous organisation applying for UN consultative status, this article traces the tensions associated with the UN accreditation application. I show that the application was a transformative process for my Indigenous collaborators, changing not only the scale of their claims, but also the nature and framework of their activities. From language issues to the obligation to translate Indigenous practices into bureaucratic terminology, the UN imposes a rigid model of scalability on Indigenous organisations, limiting their ability to scale up on their own terms. The findings build on my collaborators’ concept of ‘being present’, offering new insights into how Indigenous people articulate distinct modes of scalability to navigate across scales.

As a leading cause of injury-related harm, drowning prevention is a vital, yet under-resourced public health area. Central to efforts to prevent drowning are robust understandings of risk (and protective factors) and the ability to monitor the effectiveness of any prevention interventions. Despite significant drowning burden in Türkiye, data on drowning are unreliable and largely unavailable. In this special feature, we argue for the development of a national integrated drowning registry in Türkiye. Although some drowning data are captured at the national level in Türkiye, data are not made publicly available, limiting awareness of the problem both politically and among the public. Data are reported to a European repository but statistics are inconsistent with national estimates. Further limiting understanding of the circumstances of drowning, data are not currently available via request by individual International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Compared with the minimal understanding of fatal drowning burden in Türkiye, understanding of non-fatal drowning is virtually non-existent. An integrated national registry is urgently needed in Türkiye to support robust understanding of the fatal and non-fatal drowning burden to support prevention efforts. Under national ministerial leadership, we propose a registry could use data from health institutions, judicial bodies, law enforcement agencies, the coast guard, lifeguard services and non-governmental organisations. Reliable and timely data will increase limited public awareness and serve as a tool for political engagement. Improved data are also a vital component underpinning the development of a national water safety plan, as recommended by the WHO.

Purpose This study examines public trust in traditional and religious leaders in Ghana, focusing on the influence of perceived corruption, engagement, responsiveness, and effective management of natural resources. Design/methodology/approach Employing data from the 9th Round of Afrobarometer surveys conducted in 2022, the study utilizes descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis to investigate the factors that predict public trust in these non-state actors. Findings The findings reveal that perceived corruption does not significantly reduce trust in traditional and religious leaders, challenging simplistic assumptions about the relationship between corruption and institutional legitimacy. However, regular engagement, responsiveness to citizens' concerns, and the perception that natural resource extraction benefits the community are positively associated with increased trust. The study also highlights the importance of sociodemographic factors, with higher education levels and certain regions showing lower trust, while affiliation with the ruling party, general social trust, and feeling close to one's ethnic group are associated with higher trust. These results contribute to the understanding of the complex dynamics of trust in traditional and religious leadership in Ghana, offering insights for policymakers, leaders, and civil society organizations working on governance and social cohesion. Originality/value This study offers several original contributions to the understanding of public trust in traditional and religious leaders in Ghana: first, it provides a comprehensive quantitative analysis of factors influencing trust in traditional and religious leaders, addressing a gap in existing literature which has largely focused on qualitative or historical accounts. Second, the use of recent Afrobarometer data and robust statistical analysis adds to the empirical foundation of research in this area. Overall, this study advances our understanding of the complex and evolving role of traditional and religious leaders in modern Ghanaian society, challenging some existing assumptions while providing new insights into the factors that shape public trust in these important figures.

Examining how Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGOs) in Malaysia communicate with corporations

ABSTRACT In response to perceived failures of formal climate processes, civil society actors have increasingly turned to protest, advocacy, and digital media to promote justice-centric framings of climate action, commonly articulated as climate justice Although climate justice has mobilized millions worldwide, the concept remains contested and diversely interpreted, encompassing multidimensional claims of justice. At the same time, civil society voices, particularly those most affected by climate change, remain marginalized in global climate discourse and policymaking. This study examines how civil society organizations (CSOs) within the Climate Action Network narrate climate justice. Using structural narrative analysis, it analyzes how CSOs construct the subjects of climate injustice, its perceived root causes, and proposed solutions. The findings identify three recurring solution orientations: listening, correcting, and redesigning, through which CSOs frame climate justice as a redistribution of voice, accountability, and transformation. The study shows how climate justice storytelling functions as an iterative process of communicative justice, highlighting the role of communication in shaping how climate injustice and justice claims are understood.

ABSTRACT This study explores the factors shaping women’s entrepreneurial growth in Azerbaijan, situating the analysis within global debates on women’s empowerment and the link between economic independence and gender equality. It highlights the socio-economic barriers and cultural dynamics that influence women’s entry into entrepreneurship and identifies strategies to improve access to resources while fostering equitable and sustainable development. The research adopts a comparative case study of 10 local and 8 returnee entrepreneurs in Baku, examining how traditional gender roles affect their decisions to establish and expand businesses. The investigation is complemented by focus groups with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), mapping the ecosystem of institutional and informal support available to women entrepreneurs. Findings demonstrate that socio-cultural norms, institutional capacities, and policy frameworks critically shape entrepreneurial trajectories. For both groups, peer networks and the visibility of successful women entrepreneurs provide important inspiration. However, limited financial access remains a central barrier. The study emphasizes the need for gender-sensitive policy interventions, particularly for returnee women, contributing to wider debates on gender, return migration, and women’s economic empowerment in transitional societies.

ABSTRACT The concept of social resilience broadly refers to a community’s ability to deal with, adapt to, and transform in the face of crises. In this paper, we examine how co-design practices within the context of mandated forums can facilitate and reconfigure disaster risk governance in the Indian Sundarbans Delta. Using participatory mapping, design charrettes, and validation circles, we explore the dynamic relationship between traditional ecological knowledge and scientific knowledge to co-design solutions, such as climate-resilient betel vine (Piper betle) cultivation, the placement of afforestation interventions, as well as co-designing integrated water management systems. Three embedded co-design processes involved residents affected by floods and cyclones collaborating with government engineers, members of the Water User Association (WUA), and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to refine the technical, procedural, and institutional framework for risk management. Throughout this examination of co-design as a methodology, we consider how these design interactions alter the nature of the relationship by transforming rules, routines, and material infrastructures. It contributes to codesign scholarship by demonstrating how facilitation, timing, and epistemic negotiation operate as situated design moves that embed plural knowledges and community claims within public-sector decision-making.

ABSTRACT This article argues that the decolonisation of European empires influenced the origins and spread of environmentalism throughout the world in the 1960s and 1970s. It demonstrates how many of the social movements and institutions associated with decolonistion – such as civil rights activism, the criticism of imperialism, and the growth of international nongovernmental and intergovernmental organisations – inspired and shaped environmentalism globally. The rich historical connections between decolonisation and environmentalism have been obscured because histories of American environmentalism, which predominantly shaped global histories of environmentalism, favoured ‘bottom-up’ grassroots activist viewpoints and downplayed both global influences and ‘top-down’ institutional variants of environmentalism. Adding decolonisation to the history of environmentalism, this article concludes, allows historians to integrate bottom-up social activism and top-down institutional dynamics in different parts of the world within their proper global context.

Aim: To investigate the data sources available in Mexico for real-world research. Materials & methods: A systematic literature review on PubMed, EMBASE and VHL using a combination of controlled vocabulary and keywords for the concepts of electronic health records, epidemiologic studies and Mexico was performed. Results: A total of 331 articles and 89 conference abstracts reporting real-world studies were identified. These included 320 data sources: 142 unique named databases, 172 unnamed databases from specified providers, and 26 electronic medical record datasets. The main data sources came from healthcare institutions (35%), followed by government agencies (26%). The most frequent database design corresponded to surveys (34%) and disease registries (20%). Most databases included cohort studies (43%), population-based (25%) and cross-sectional studies (18%). Specific diagnostic tests (28%), access (22%) and pharmacological treatment (21%) were the most common issues analyzed in databases at patient-level data. Neoplasms, cardiac disorders and infections/infestations were the most common therapeutic areas analyzed in databases. Conclusion: In Mexico, the use of databases has increased, driven by governmental and nongovernmental organisations and companies. However, further efforts are still needed to improve the quality and knowledge of real-world evidence.

More than 600,000 people leave U.S. jails and prisons annually, a chronic policy concern for the penal state and welfare providers with many interventions recommending workforce development. However, job outlets are sparse, unstable, and often exploitative. But even as scholars document these conditions, their analyses are largely constrained to “classical” workfare programs rather than emergent job sectors. Indeed, security NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are hiring formerly incarcerated people, pushing the boundaries of how we conceptualize and measure the (re)production of socio-economic inequality. Drawing from 35 interviews with employees of the California-based security NGO Urban Alchemy, this paper offers two findings. First, reentry workers’ employment experience in the security sector indicates a blurring of stigma and social capital where people are finding work because of their record and without a third-party service provider. This “carceral networking” challenges how we study reentry success vis-à-vis the labor market. Second, reentry workers come to occupy a position of “penal liminality” that puts them at greater risk of surveillance from both their employers and penal agents while simultaneously leveraging police interventions to accomplish organizational goals. This tense dichotomy highlights how security work blurs the roles of those who police and those that are policed.

This study examines how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Uganda navigated the dual health crises of Ebola and COVID-19, focusing on the crisis management strategies and resilience-building mechanisms employed to sustain operations and deliver essential health services. The research seeks to understand how organizational structures, leadership approaches, and community engagement contributed to adaptive capacity in the face of severe public health disruptions. A qualitative research design was employed, involving in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 30 program managers and emergency response coordinators from leading NGOs, including BRAC, AMREF, and the Uganda Red Cross. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, guided by a resilience and crisis management framework, to identify patterns and strategies relevant to health emergency contexts. The analysis revealed five core strategies underpinning resilience: (1) preparedness and early warning systems that enabled rapid mobilization and proactive risk mapping, (2) adaptive leadership and decentralized decision-making that ensured timely, context-specific responses, (3) resource mobilization and partnership networks that leveraged local and international collaborations for operational continuity, (4) staff well-being and psychosocial support mechanisms that maintained workforce motivation and safety, and (5) organizational learning and post-crisis adaptation, where lessons from previous outbreaks strengthened agility and coordination with government and international health agencies. The findings provide actionable insights for NGOs, policymakers, and global health actors on integrating resilience principles into health crisis management. Strengthening local partnerships, embedding flexible operational structures, and investing in staff well-being are critical to maintaining service continuity in resource-limited settings during public health emergencies. This study is among the first to provide a comparative qualitative analysis of NGO crisis management practices across two major infectious disease outbreaks in Uganda. By integrating perspectives from frontline managers and coordinators, it offers context-specific lessons on resilience that bridge humanitarian action and health systems strengthening in Sub-Saharan Africa.

ABSTRACT Scientific knowledge of climate change and its latent effects is important. But it often lacks the expertise of local communities. This paper emphasises the importance of understanding local knowledge within the dynamics of vulnerability and resilience. It also offers insights into the applicability of these knowledge systems, providing valuable lessons and challenges on local knowledge in flood risk management. The study was conducted within a qualitative framework, utilising a case study design, in Majuli Island. Data were collected through 20 key informant interviews. Findings reveal that the diverse dimensions of local knowledge among Indigenous communities strengthen mitigation, coping, and adaptation strategies, enabling them to endure recurring floods. The evidence presented can guide government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Majuli in integrating local knowledge into their interventions. By documenting and critically analysing existing practices, this paper adds to the growing literature on local knowledge in disaster research and practice.

This study examines the relationship between peace building, conflict management, and national development in Nigeria. Despite abundant natural and human resources, Nigeria continues to experience persistent conflicts that undermine social cohesion, economic growth, and political stability. Using a descriptive survey design, the study assessed how peace building initiatives and conflict management strategies influence sustainable national development. The study population consisted of 500 stakeholders, including government officials, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academics, and community leaders. A stratified sample of 200 respondents was selected using Yamane’s formula. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews, complemented by secondary sources such as official reports and peer-reviewed literature. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were employed for data analysis. Findings indicate that peace building significantly reduces conflict intensity, promotes national unity, and enhances social cohesion. Conflict management strategies—particularly mediation, dialogue, and reconciliation—were found to be effective but constrained by weak institutions, corruption, and limited political will. The study further reveals that sustainable peace creates conditions for investment, infrastructure development, and democratic consolidation, all of which are critical to national development. The study concludes that effective peace building and conflict management are indispensable for Nigeria’s long-term development and recommends strengthening institutions, promoting inclusive governance, integrating grassroots peace mechanisms, and addressing structural inequalities.

This study examines stakeholder engagement and Child Street begging in Sokoto State, Nigeria. Guided by qualitative research objectives, data were collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and interviews, targeting children under 10 years engaged in street begging, as well as key informants. A total of 280 participants were selected from a population of 1,500 children using proportionate sampling. Data were analyzed thematically using NVivo 14 software. Findings revealed that government agencies perform multifaceted roles in addressing Child Street begging, including law enforcement, rehabilitation, social support, and community engagement. Enforcement and rehabilitation were the most frequently cited roles, while challenges such as limited resources and inadequate public awareness were consistently highlighted. The study also found that non-governmental and community-based organizations (NGOs and CBOs) play a pivotal role in protecting and rehabilitating vulnerable children through advocacy, awareness, mentorship, and moral guidance. The findings demonstrate that effective interventions require coordinated efforts between government agencies, communities, religious institutions, and NGOs. The study concludes that addressing Child Street begging in Sokoto State demands a multifaceted and collaborative approach. Recommendations include increasing funding and personnel for government programs, raising community awareness about the dangers of street begging, formalizing partnerships with NGOs and CBOs and expanding comprehensive rehabilitation programs encompassing education, counseling and vocational training to ensure sustainable reintegration of rescued children into society.

The concept of a Basket of Territorial Goods and Services (BTGS) is a theoretical-methodological approach aimed at identifying and strengthening the unique material and symbolic elements that contribute to sustainable development in rural contexts. The BTGS considers three main axes: the construction of a territorial image, the valorization of local markets, and governance of territorial development initiatives by diverse social actors. Although the theoretical literature on BTGS has advanced in recent years, the lack of standardized empirical indicators has limited the ability of the BTGS framework to be used in longer-term and comparative monitoring and assessment programs related to sustainable rural and economic development. This study developed and tested an indicator panel for assessing the level of maturity of the BTGS in Southern Brazil. Since the 1990s, the Rural Credit Cooperative of Seara (Crediseara), has implemented a collective action project to enhance the recognition and value of the region's environmental, cultural, landscape, and productive attributes. We piloted the BTGS indicator panel using a participatory approach with 14 civil society organizations, cooperatives, and public institutions. The results indicate a BTGS at a moderate stage of maturity, with Crediseara and the Family Agriculture Forum standing out as important regional governance hubs for rural development. Significant challenges were also identified, such as Indigenous voices being underrepresented in shaping local strategies and the limited collaboration between public policies and local initiatives. The study reinforces the importance of social participation in building sustainable territorial development processes and proposes the BTGS Panel as a strategic tool for planning, monitoring, and political dialogue. The research contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17, particularly target 17.16, by strengthening collaborative models of evaluation and multisectoral governance.

Degrowth scholarship has long been mainly focused on prefigurative politics and alternative projects originating from the grassroots. Only recently, there is a growing interest in the role of the state and its institutions for bringing about social-ecological transformation. The judicial terrain, however, is still widely neglected in the degrowth literature despite an empirical increase in legal struggles on the part of civil society organizations, NGOs, and social movements. In this paper, I will explore the role of the law in transformative processes from a critical realist perspective. At the heart of the theoretical debate is the question of whether law is a suitable mechanism for changing the fundamental structures of a capitalist society, or whether it is part of that structure and therefore needs to be transformed itself. Building on a doctrinal, a visionary, and a critical perspective on legal transformations, I lay out a critical realist approach to law in transformation.

Horizontal venue-shopping and non-governmental organizations’ influence on regional fisheries management organizations

Shoreline Management Plans have become an important component of coastal planning in India, but their effectiveness depends on how well they reflect the social and ecological realities of coastal communities. This study examines the contribution of civil society to shoreline governance in Tamil Nadu, a region where rapid development, ecological shifts and repeated cyclone impacts have intensified the need for coherent shoreline management. The research is based on 180 consultations conducted across fourteen coastal districts and focuses on four categories of civil society organisations: non-governmental organisations, women’s self-help groups, fisher cooperatives and religious institutions. The findings show that these groups play complementary roles in interpreting and supporting shoreline management. Non-governmental organisations are involved in ecological restoration, monitoring and community awareness activities. Women’s collectives draw attention to essential aspects of resilience such as water quality, sanitation, shelter conditions and personal safety. Fisher cooperatives highlight the practical requirements of daily marine access, including dredging and harbour facilities. Religious institutions provide trusted networks for relief, coordination and dispute resolution during extreme events. These combined efforts help translate technical shoreline plans into practices that are meaningful at the local level. Comparisons withcoastal experiences in the Philippines, Bangladesh and the Netherlands indicate that Tamil Nadu reflects a wider pattern in which civil society strengthens the acceptance and performance of coastal adaptation measures. The study argues that resilience emerges through shared learning, distributed responsibility and cooperation across institutions. Embedding civil society participation within the Shoreline Management Plan framework is therefore essential for developing approaches that are socially credible, ecologically informed and adaptable to changing coastal conditions.