Development Of National Action Plans Research Articles

Rapid Diagnostic Test Value and Implementation in Antimicrobial Stewardship Across Low-to-Middle and High-Income Countries: A Mixed-Methods Review.

Despite technological advancements in infectious disease rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and use to direct therapy at the per-patient level, RDT utilisation in antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) is variable across low-to-middle income and high-income countries. Key insights from a panel of seven infectious disease experts from Colombia, Japan, Nigeria, Thailand, the UK, and the USA, combined with evidence from a literature review, were used to assess the value of RDTs in ASPs. From this, a value framework is proposed which aims to define the benefits of RDT use in ASPs, separate from per-patient benefits. Expert insights highlight that, to realise the value of RDTs within ASPs, effective implementation is key; actionable advice for choosing an RDT is proposed. Experts advocate the inclusion of RDTs in the World Health Organization Model List of essential in vitro diagnostics and in iterative development of national action plans.

The WHO costing and budgeting tool for national action plans on antimicrobial resistance-a practical addition to the WHOle toolkit.

The development of national action plans (NAPs) for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been promoted and supported by the WHO, with recent support in the form of costing and budgeting tools to aid in finance-allocation decisions within governments. In this brief report we review this WHO costing and budgeting tool, discuss the strengths and weaknesses, and consider its place alongside other health economics and policy-support tools developed. We call for future analyses of the costs of AMR NAPs to consider costs beyond that of only implementation, through use of other available, open-access data and tools. These include the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) data and One Health tools already within the existing 'WHO toolbox'. We suggest that future work on evaluating AMR along the impact pipeline use this toolbox where possible, ensuring empirical work is in turn open access.

Tackling antimicrobial resistance across sub-Saharan Africa: current challenges and implications for the future

ABSTRACT Introduction Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a concern as this increases morbidity, mortality, and costs, with sub-Saharan Africa having the highest rates globally. Concerns with rising AMR have resulted in international, Pan-African, and country activities including the development of national action plans (NAPs). However, there is variable implementation across Africa with key challenges persisting. Areas covered Consequently, there is an urgent need to document current NAP activities and challenges across sub-Saharan Africa to provide future guidance. This builds on a narrative review of the literature. Expert Opinion All surveyed sub-Saharan African countries have developed their NAPs; however, there is variable implementation. Countries including Botswana and Namibia are yet to officially launch their NAPs with Eswatini only recently launching its NAP. Cameroon is further ahead with its NAP than these countries; though there are concerns with implementation. South Africa appears to have made the greatest strides with implementing its NAP including regular monitoring of activities and instigation of antimicrobial stewardship programs. Key challenges remain across Africa. These include available personnel, expertise, capacity, and resources to undertake agreed NAP activities including active surveillance, lack of focal points to drive NAPs, and competing demands and priorities including among donors. These challenges are being addressed, with further co-ordinated efforts needed to reduce AMR.

From OIE standards to responsible and prudent use of antimicrobials: supporting stewardship for the use of antimicrobial agents in animals.

The global action plan (GAP) on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) advocated the development of national action plans on AMR and the implementation of plans aimed at preventing, combating and monitoring AMR. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)’s strategy on AMR and the prudent use of antimicrobials is aligned with the GAP and recognizes the importance of a One Health approach. This paper reviews the goals, tools and strategies that the OIE has in place to support its Members, envisioning an increased awareness of them and ultimately an increased implementation of the OIE standards. The OIE standards are endorsed by vote of all the 182 Members and are recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The OIE List of Antimicrobial Agents of Veterinary Importance, which includes specific recommendations on the use of antimicrobial agents, is also of particular importance for antimicrobial stewardship. OIE’s antimicrobial use (AMU) data collection started in 2015 and has been developed in particular to measure trends in AMU. An annual report is published as an output of this data collection. An AMU IT database system is being developed. The OIE provides assistance to its 182 Members to strengthen the implementation of OIE standards via its support of good governance, the Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) Pathway, PVS Veterinary Legislation Support Program and training of veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals. In parallel, the OIE Observatory is a recent initiative, specifically targeting the monitoring of the implementation of the OIE standards. Cooperation agreements between the OIE and intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations are instrumental for the increase of the dissemination and implementation of the OIE standards and guidelines.

First marine litter survey on beaches in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, South Pacific: Using OSPAR protocol to inform the development of national action plans to tackle land-based solid waste pollution

The increasing abundance of marine litter is impacting the environment, human health and economies in the South Pacific. Small Islands Developing States are particularly affected by marine litter, primarily due to insufficient waste management systems. For the first time, marine litter was quantified and characterised on 13 beaches in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu in the South Pacific region using the OSPAR beach litter monitoring guidelines. A total of 1053 (±1017) and 974 (±745) items of litter per 100 m beach were recorded in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu respectively. Litter composition and distribution show that the majority of the litter comes from local land-based sources and large quantities of fragments and single use plastics were found by cities and river mouths. Actions to reduce single use plastic, improve collection, reuse and recycling, together with outreach campaigns would reduce marine litter significantly in these countries. Furthermore, there is great potential to develop a more circular economy to manage the substantial quantities of recyclable items that were found stranded on the beaches.

Security Council Resolution 1325: A Legal Dimension

The approval of the Security Council Resolution 1325 has been seen as a political victory for some activists as well as for the United Nations institutional framework. The importance of the approval of such resolution, from the sole global institution, has usually misled the legal importance of the decision. The Resolution established legal obligations, that articulated with subsequent resolutions created a mechanism based on a plan of implementing international law into the domestic level, including the development of national action plans (NAPs). However, the most important feature of the Resolution is the progressive development of international law therewith and its valuable binding legal effect, which has sadly been left aside.

Analysis of sectoral participation in the development of Joint External Evaluations

BackgroundThe Joint External Evaluation Process (JEE), developed in response to the 2014 Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), is a voluntary, independent process conducted by a team of external evaluators to assess a country’s public health preparedness capabilities under the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR) revision. Feedback from the JEE process is intended to aid in the development of national action plans by elucidating weaknesses in current preparedness and response capabilities.MethodsTo identify gaps in sector participation and the development of national action plans in response to public health emergencies, all English-language JEE reports available on March 31, 2018 (N = 47) were systematically reviewed to determine sectoral backgrounds of key host country participants.ResultsOverall, strong representation was seen in the health, agriculture, domestic security, and environment sectors, whereas the energy/nuclear and defense sectors were largely under-represented.ConclusionsWhile strong participation by more traditional sectors such as health and agriculture is common in the JEE development process, involvement by the defense and energy/nuclear sectors in the JEE process could be increased, potentially improving preparedness and response to widespread public health emergencies.

Carbon emission from deforestation, forest degradation and wood harvest in the temperate region of Hindukush Himalaya, Pakistan between 1994 and 2016

Regional carbon emission related to deforestation, forest degradation, and wood harvest is critical in the development of national action plans and strategies for forest carbon management. In this study, using remote sensed and ground inventory data, deforestation, forest degradation, wood harvest and their integrated carbon losses between 1994 and 2016 in the temperate region of Pakistan were estimated. The present study revealed that deforestation was responsible for a net loss of 629 ha forest (29 ha yr−1), and 4948 ha (245 ha yr−1) forest was degraded. The total harvested wood was 681 km3 (31 km3 yr−1). Deforestation was responsible for the loss of 206 kMg C (9 kMg C yr−1), while emissions related to degradation and wood harvest account for 1757 kMg C (80 kMg C yr−1) and 221 kMg C (10 kMg C yr−1), respectively. These findings suggest that an increase in population with the partial protection of forests by policy, weak law enforcement, and cultural attitudes of the local people towards forests were the major drivers of deforestation and degradation between 1994 and 2016, as well as their integrated carbon emissions.

Negotiating the Hard/Soft Law Divide in Business and Human Rights: The Implementation of the UNGPs in the European Union

AbstractThe article discusses the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in the European Union against the backdrop of perennial debates between proponents of ‘hard’ versus ‘soft’ law approaches to preventing and redressing corporate‐related human rights violations. It argues that the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) – an EU governance instrument of transnational policy‐making – could contribute to negotiating the hard/soft law divide in business and human rights by ensuring a more effective implementation of the UNGPs in the European legal space. Moreover, the European experience with open coordination calls for a reappraisal of the relationship between international law and global governance in addressing today's business and human rights predicament. The first part of the article situates the debate between proponents of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ law approaches to business and human rights in the context of two UN‐driven initiatives: the development of national action plans (NAPs) to implement the UNGPs; and the negotiation of an international business and human rights treaty. The second part of the article relates experiences with the existing NAP process in the European Union to the policy background and rationale of the Open Method of Coordination and discusses the conditions for its successful employment in the business and human rights domain.

Challenges and prospects in connectivity analysis in agricultural systems: Actions to implement policies on land management and carbon storage at EU level

There is an increasing interest in climate change mitigation agricultural activities and the effects on carbon (C) sinks. It is essential to study, propose and implement agricultural practices to protect the environment and increase crop yields, whilst at the same time aiming to reduce agricultural emissions and increase C sequestration. Further study of these aspects is important in order to identify the best land management practices and policies to protect the environment. So with this objective in mind, the study of connectivity is an opportunity to gain insight into the sustainability of agroecosystems, due to the close relationship among connectivity, biodiversity and C storage. In fact, high connectivity values can be associated with healthy ecosystems and high levels of biodiversity, which can assure better soil protection and can favor sustainability, implying a greater soil C sequestration capacity.The measure of connectivity’s temporal variation using analysis of current connectivity (inter- and intra-compartments) and the development of risk and vulnerability maps are key facts to, on one side, identify areas most prone to habitat degradation and fragmentation, and then, on another side to establish priorities. This proposed analysis must be carried out by sectors and in a stratified way. For it, “Sector agricultural connectivity units” are proposed as a dimensionless measuring concept to implement this assessment.To establish agricultural land management schemes and programs for policy intervention at European level in order to guide the strategy to address environmental issues in the agricultural sector, we propose a set of lines of action focused mainly on three aspects: the development of National Action Plans, the establishment of Monitoring Programs, and the integration of their outcomes with the information from available databases through Big Data treatments and other analysis tools. Furthermore, to achieve this goal, the role of farmers can not be underestimated and the communication problems between farmers and scientists should be solved.

Does the United Nations’ Women, Peace and Security agenda speak with, for or to women in the Asia Pacific? The development of National Action Plans in the Asia Pacific

ABSTRACTUsing a critical feminist security studies approach, this article explores the emancipatory possibilities of translating the United Nations’ Women, Peace and Security agenda to countries in the Asia Pacific through the development of national and regional level policy frameworks. It asks whether the common pitfalls of emancipation can be overcome in efforts by stakeholders to encourage a more inclusive, grounded and gender aware approach to security in the region. The paper engages the very real political dangers and constraints to pursuing emancipatory politics in this field but ultimately identifies the opportunities for emancipatory action.

Lessons learned in coastal habitat and land-based pollution management in the South China Sea

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/Global Environment Facility (GEF) project entitled “Reversing Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand” developed and operated a regional network of 23 coastal habitat demonstration sites and land-based pollution pilot activities from 2002 to 2008. This network generated examples of best practice in coastal habitat and land-based pollution management that were documented, shared regionally, and used to inform the development of National Action Plans and the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea. Examples of these best practices include: strengthened cross-sectoral coordination and management; involvement of stakeholders in development of fisheries refugia; involvement of the private sector in coastal management; building capacity of local government and communities for law enforcement; changes in awareness and habits by local communities and industry participation in land-based pollution prevention; integration of traditional knowledge and practices into management planning; adoption of supplementary and alternative livelihoods as tools for improved habitat and resource management; promotion of sustainable tourism in coastal areas; rehabilitation of habitats and sustainable aquaculture practices; and bilateral cooperation for transboundary water resource management. Each of these best practices are reviewed and discussed from the perspectives of lessons learned and opportunities for their replication and scaling-up. The role of the network of demonstration sites in integrating local governments and communities within national and regional frameworks and in generating bilateral co-operation for natural resource and environmental management in the South China Sea marine basin is highlighted as a key innovation in transboundary water resource management that has potential for future application both in Southeast Asia and elsewhere.

Comparative analysis of pesticide action plans in five European countries

Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom have launched national initiatives to reduce pesticide use or risk. Faced with multiple environmental, social and economic constraints such as ensuring the competiveness of European agriculture, the various programmes address goal setting, stakeholder involvement and the role of research and extension in different ways. These diverse experiences offer valuable insights for the development of national action plans required by new European legislation on pesticides. The general trend is to move away from volume or use reduction targets towards reductions in risks and impact. All programmes studied pay attention to involving a wide range of stakeholders in the policy-making process to ensure buy-in. Research and extension services are important players that help to define appropriate goals and improve implementation. Collective approaches to implementation appear to be more effective than the classical linear research-extension-farmer model. No matter the approach adopted in fine, member states can gain much from sharing their diverse experience through comparisons such as this study and via international policy seminars which serve as valuable forums for exchange.

National Action Plans for Social Inclusion and A8 migrants: The case of the Roma in Scotland

This paper examines the ongoing social exclusion and marginalization of Roma migrants living in Scotland in a context of European Union enlargement eastwards and the development of National Action Plans for Social Inclusion at the level of national and regional government which have as their stated aim the extension of opportunity and social justice to all citizens of Europe. It argues that so long as primary legislation dictates that A8 migrants will have ‘no recourse to public funds’, Roma families will continue to be excluded from mainstream society and prevented from making a sustained and valued contribution to public life. Moreover, the evidence suggests that this structural barrier to inclusion, coupled with racism, discrimination and exploitation at the local level, work to hinder regional policy makers and local service providers where they are working to meet the welfare needs of one of the most excluded sections of their community and facilitate wider community cohesion.

Stepping Up Ireland's Response to Women, Peace and Security: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) on Women, Peace and Security (2000) demands recognition of the role of women in conflict prevention, management and resolution and calls on the international community to take specific steps to enhance women’s meaningful participation in these processes and to protect women in times of conflict. Implementing UNSCR 1325 is a demanding and ambitious task, but one which must be fulfilled if the resolution is to be successful in ensuring women are given equal status with men in all efforts to address peace and security issues. The development of National Action Plans (NAPs) for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 by Member States was called for by the UN Secretary General in 2004. NAPs are considered to be the most effective way to translate the goals of UNSCR 1325 into reality. This paper was conceptualized and developed by the Irish Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence (www.gbv.ie) to contribute in a practical way to the development of an Irish National Action Plan for the full implementation of UNSCR 1325. Research by the author for this paper was conducted over a three-month period and aimed to identify good practice examples of how NAPs have been developed by other countries. The paper outlines lessons learned from these processes, a brief overview of what they contain in terms of content and identifies good practices in terms of implementation, monitoring and evaluation – examples which Ireland could employ as it embarks on the development of its NAP. A set of recommendations is derived from this research and sets out a way forward for the development of an Irish NAP.

Strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of Spanish forest genetic resources

In the last decade, forestry policies in Spain have undergone changes needed to comply with the European and world directives on forest conservation. The elaboration of strategic plans has to take into account the State organization (Central and Autonomous Regional Governments share the responsibilities), resulting in agreed documents, effective at a national level and fulfilling the peculiarities and aspirations of each region. The most recent development has been the elaboration of a Strategy for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Forest Genetic Resources, which can be seen as a consequence of, among other factors, the implementation of the Spanish Strategy for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity along with Spain's participation in the European Forest Genetic Resources Programme. This document arose from the lack of approaches to the conservation of population diversity of forest species in the current policies, and as a means to promote and coordinate activities on conservation and use of genetic resources. The Strategy has been arranged through a participative process involving the ForestAdministration, Research Centres and Universities. The document includes a definition of priorities and proposals of activities, which are mainly focused on optimising the efficiency of existing tools and infrastructures and on increasing synergy among different initiatives. Implementation of the Strategy is expected to occur through the development of National Action Plans. Finally, coordination mechanisms must be enhanced in order to maintain the levels of cooperation achieved during the elaboration process.

Could Payments for environmental services improve rangeland management in Central Asia, West Asia and North Africa?

Although several institutional and management approaches that address the degradation of the rangelands have been tested in the dry areas of Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA), impact has been limited. Nonetheless, the development of National Action Plans to combat desertification highlights the interest of governments to tackle this issue. Payment for Environmental Services (PES) may be a viable policy option, though, to date, most PES programs have focused on the management of different resources (forests, watersheds). The purpose of this paper is to examine whether PES could be a viable option to promote sustainable rangelands management in the dry rangelands of CWANA. Specifically, it focuses on the scientific gaps and knowledge related to the local and global environmental services produced by rangelands and addresses questions related to the beneficiaries of these services. Institutional conditions necessary for the implementation of such schemes are discussed. (Resume d'auteur)