Local Community Engagement Research Articles

Field evaluation of a mobile biosafety laboratory in Senegal to strengthen rapid disease outbreak response and monitoring.

BackgroundPast and recent outbreaks have highlighted the vulnerability of humans to infectious diseases, which represent serious economic and health security threats. A paradigm shift in the management of sanitary crises is urgently needed. Based on lessons from the 2014 Ebola outbreak, the Praesens Foundation has developed an all-terrain mobile biosafety laboratory (MBS-Lab) for effective field diagnostics capabilities.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to train African teams and run a field evaluation of the MBS-Lab, including robustness, technical and operational sustainability, biosafety, connectivity, turn-around times for testing and result delivery.MethodsThe MBS-Lab was deployed in Senegal in October 2017 for a six-month field assessment under various ecological conditions and was mobilised during the dengue outbreaks in 2017 and 2018.ResultsThe MBS-Lab can be considered an off-grid solution that addresses field challenges with regard to working conditions, mobility, deployment, environment and personnel safety. Blood (n = 398) and nasal swab (n = 113) samples were collected from 460 study participants for molecular screening for acute febrile illnesses and respiratory infections. The results showed that malaria (particularly in Kédougou) and upper respiratory tract infections remain problematic. Suspected dengue samples were tested on board during the dengue outbreaks in 2017 (882 tests; 128 confirmed cases) and 2018 (1736 tests; 202 confirmed cases).ConclusionThe MBS-Lab is an innovative solution for outbreak response, even in remote areas. The study demonstrated successful local ownership and community engagement. The MBS-Lab can also be considered an open mobile healthcare platform that offers various opportunities for field-deployable, point-of-care technologies for surveillance programmes.

Understanding of Forest Cover Dynamics in Traditional Landscapes: Mapping Trajectories of Changes in Mountain Territories (1824–2016), on the Example of Jeleniogórska Basin, Poland

Though on a global scale, for ecological reasons, increased forest cover is universally regarded as positive, on a local scale, the reforestation of arable land may pose threats to cultural landscapes by removing characteristic landscape features. Particularly vulnerable are marginal rural areas, e.g., mountain regions, where most traditional land use systems have survived and which are subject to the most spectacular land use change. The purpose of this article is to draw attention to the issue of the management of forest cover in historical cultural landscapes in mountain territories in Poland within the context of widespread land use change in Eastern Europe. Land cover data were obtained from historical and contemporary aerial photographs, as well as topographic maps from five time points between 1824 and 2016. The study was conducted by means of spatio-temporal forest cover trajectory analysis (LCTA), transition and time–depth analysis, and land cover change calculations that were made by means of ArcGIS. Our research indicates that the rate of change has risen considerably in the last two decades, and the current share of forest cover is much bigger than that reflected in the official data. Eight principal forest cover trajectory types were identified. The biggest area is occupied by woodland of long-term stability. Another large group is constituted by forests created on the basis of arable land and grassland as a result of simple conversion at one point in time, mainly in the years 1824–1886 and 1939–1994. At the same time, a sizeable group is made up by areas that have been subject to unplanned cyclical or dynamic changes during various periods. A very important group is comprised new forests that were created in 1994–2016, predominantly as a result of natural succession, that are often not included in official land classifications. The constant expansion of woodlands has led to a shrinking of historical former coppice woodlands. This indicates that the current landscape management mechanisms in Poland are inadequate for protecting the cultural landscape. The barriers include the lack of intersectoral cooperation and the overlooking of the historical context of landscapes. The present situation calls not only for verification of the existing forest policy but also for increasing the role and engagement of local communities, as well as making comprehensive local development plans, all of which may be helped by the findings of our study and of similar research.

From Transactional to Transformational

This analysis of the supplier relationship between Drexel University and Aramark offers a demonstration of the potential for intensifying an anchor institution’s local economic inclusion strategies by leveraging the economic power of supplier partnerships. The operation of a major food service contract represents a substantial set of campus jobs and procurement, but this economic activity often remains outside the remit of economic inclusion efforts when the institution has no contractual influence over it. When an anchor institution can partner with a major supplier that shares a commitment to community impact, it offers opportunities to strengthen an anchor strategy. This article describes how Drexel University and Aramark used their campus food service relationship to deepen Drexel’s anchor mission and core strategic priorities and Aramark’s enterprise sustainability agenda, including the value of the negotiation process, and a set of outcomes in the form of initiatives in food insecurity, local economic inclusion and community engagement, research and technology transfer, and student co-op employment. Both the relationship building process and its outcomes offer a model for other institutions as they look to leverage the untapped economic activity of the major service suppliers.

Policy and management actions that resulted in curbing rhinoceros poaching

Abstract Nepal almost eliminated poaching of the greater one‐horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis over the past decade, although poaching of other rhinoceros species remains a major problem in other Asian countries, as well as in Africa. It is important to understand the processes leading to declines in poaching in Nepal that may provide insight into possible anti‐poaching interventions in other parts of world. We argue that coordinated actions that led to (a) strengthened institutional mechanisms, (b) improved community participation and (c) enhanced interagency coordination all focused on dismantling illegal trade networks contributed to curbing poaching in Nepal. The Government of Nepal (GoN) created a new institutional mechanism both at central and district levels aimed at formulating policies and collaborating with enforcement agencies. Security agencies (Nepal Police and Army) were given responsibilities in and around rhinoceros habitat, and local citizens, mostly youths, were involved in surveillance and reporting of poaching activities. Targeted arrests and prosecutions were carried out that resulted in much higher conviction rates than previously. Synthesis and applications. Nepal's achievement in curbing rhinoceros poaching is a result of the collective and coordinated action of multiple stakeholders. Interagency coordination brought together the strength of each stakeholder, making it possible to fill critical gaps in anti‐poaching campaigns. There is a need for continued engagement of local communities, interagency cooperation and better training of law enforcement staff to sustain past achievements.

Creative-led strategies for peripheral settlements and the uneasy transition towards sustainability

ABSTRACT The creative cities discourse has long-overlooked the impact of the new creative economy regime on rural areas, often legitimazing arguable urban-biased policies. This paper illustrates how two small towns, in Asia and in Europe, have attempted to build creative settlements, setting up agendas for sustainability transition. This has implied a strategy to reposition the local economy around notions of culture and creativity, deconstructing mainstream pro-growth discourses. It has been also accompanied by the experimentation of forms of engagement of local communities. The aim is to explain the challenges encountered during this process, and to distil, from this experience, the potential factors that might hinder a real process of transition towards sustainability in the long run. It will conclude that employing effective creative-led strategies, to overcome ‘smallness’ and ‘marginality’ in a sustainable way, should be based on the strengthening of local planning capacities, and the development of effective network governance arrangements.

Managing enduring public health emergencies such as COVID-19: lessons from Uganda Red Cross Society’s Ebola virus disease response operation

BackgroundIn this piece, we translate insights from our study of routine coordination in the Ebola virus disease response operation by Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) for managing long-lasting public health...

Eliminating Cervical Cancer in Mali and Senegal, Two Sub-Saharan Countries: Insights and Optimizing Solutions.

Background: The number of cases with cervical cancer is rapidly increasing in Sub-Saharan Africa driven by inadequate rates of human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination and screening programs and accompanied by poor health delivery systems. There are other factors to contend with such as lack of awareness, social myths, reluctance to vaccine acceptance and stigma with sexually transmitted diseases. Here, we formulate strategies to implement intervention programs against HPV infections and other risk factors for cervical cancer in these countries. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and African Journals Online for this review. The current status of anti-HPV vaccination and precancerous screening programs in Mali and Senegal has been assessed by onsite visits. Collaborators from Mali and Senegal collected data and information concerning HPV vaccination and screening programs in these countries. Findings: We found that anti-HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening have been conducted sporadically mainly in urban areas of Mali and Senegal. No known population-based programs are in progress in either of the two countries. We highlighted the advantages and drawbacks of currently available screening tests and proposed that screening by visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) accompanied by self-sampling is the most cost-effective, culturally acceptable and most feasible strategy to implement in primary care settings. In addition, HPV DNA testing would be affordable, if local laboratory facilities could be established. We found that many of the factors that increase HPV acquisition and promote the oncogenic effect of the virus are largely widespread in both Senegal and Mali. These include infections with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), immunosuppression, polygamous marriages, high parity, early sexual activities, early pregnancies, and multiple sexual partners. Interpretation: Neither vaccines nor screening tests are within the reach of the population in Mali and Senegal because of the high cost. The effective intervention measure would be to integrate anti-HPV vaccines into the Extended Program for Immunization (EPI), which has saved 3 million young lives per year in Africa with the support of GAVI, to implement cost control mechanisms for HPV vaccinations via price negotiations with manufacturing companies, as has recently been done by Rwanda. The collective efforts by local governments, researchers, private sector, and donors may lead to the introduction of affordable screening tests. A robust awareness campaign coupled with sustained and regular engagement of local communities about the prevention and risk factors is extremely important. The projected solutions may be well applicable to other Sub-Saharan countries that face similar challenges containing cervical cancer.

Civic Engagement in Local Multicultural Communities of Southern Russia

Civic Engagement in Local Multicultural Communities of Southern Russia

The impact of extreme weather events on community risk planning and management: the case of San Juan, Puerto Rico after hurricane Maria

Abstract Top-down technical or engineered solutions to deal with flood control such as channelization are increasingly unaffordable. We explored how community leaders’ frame the concept of risk, particularly due to flooding, and documented bottom-up rather than top-down solutions within the context of Hurricane Maria and the current financial crisis. This research aimed to interview environmental conservation organizational leaders to assess the broader question of what makes San Juan livable, and the role that flooding risk management plays in defining livability. Their perception of bottom-up approaches for flood control, including the role of green infrastructure, is of particular interest given the infeasibility of current engineered measures and their history of short term local coping strategies. Our research team frames the research using structural versus non-structural solutions to explore to what extent community leaders draw upon green visions of the city or emphasize transitioning towards strategies more closely aligned with ecological processes and functions. The research results help to inform current efforts of local community engagement about alternative solutions to channelization and other urban flood management measures.

Local Community Engagement as a Pathway toward Sustainable Development through Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Cambodia

Beyond teaching students sustainability concepts, HEIs can promote sustainable development by fostering the engagement of students with local communities in Cambodia. In this study, interviews with fifteen university leaders, and a survey of 720 students from 24 HEIs in Cambodia were conducted after the document analysis. They were used to inform a discussion about how HEIs engaged their students in social activities and local volunteer programs related to sustainability to this end. It was found that many HEIs engage students in sporadic environmental awareness campaigns, such as clean-up days; however, few engage students in long-term programs. Between 40% and 70% of students suggest that the low involvement in these programs is mostly dependent on their level of exposure to sustainability topics. The social development aspect of sustainable development was found to be the most interesting to students, followed by environmental, then economic sustainability. This implies that student involvement in engaging local communities may be maximized through university initiatives and policies designed to promote student volunteerism. Thus, HEIs should consider the development of a clear student supporting framework, which includes student engagement in service learning, the promotion of sustainability literacy, and incentives for students to volunteer.

The village fund as a support tool in spatial planning activities: a case study of Poland

With respect to space, local authorities may deploy diverse instruments designed to promote the engagement of local communities in the spatial planning and decision-making process. The Village (Polish: Sołecki) Fund, established for rural and urban-rural communes, is one of the ways for achieving this goal. Resources from the Village Fund may be used for, e.g. spatial planning, which is one of a commune’s own tasks. The activities related to the Village Fund have triggered studies focused on the units which run such funds and, on the amounts, earmarked for goals pertaining to spatial planning. On top of that, the spatial distribution of communes delivering such tasks has also been assessed. The analyses covered statistics as well as budget queries in communes which allocated funds for activities connected with spatial planning.

Perspectives of traditional Himalayan communities on fostering coexistence with Himalayan wolf and snow leopard

AbstractThe Himalayan wolf Canis sp. and snow leopard Panthera uncia are found in the Nepalese Himalayas where conservation efforts target the latter but not the former. We conducted semistructured questionnaire surveys of 71 residents in upper Humla, upper Dolpa, and Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) during 2014–2016 to understand people's knowledge, perceptions, attitudes and interactions with these two carnivores. We fitted a cumulative link mixed model to predict Likert scale ordinal responses from a series of Generalized Linear Mixed Models. Overall, attitudes were more positive toward snow leopards than wolves. Livestock depredation was the main predictor of the general negative attitude toward wolves (Estimate = −1.30873; p = .029866) but there was no evidence for an effect for snow leopards (Estimate = −0.3640; p = .631446). Agropastoralists had more negative attitudes than respondents with other occupations toward both carnivores and men had more positive attitudes than women. Among our study areas, respondents in the community‐owned KCA had the most positive attitudes. Our findings illustrate the need to reduce human–carnivore conflict through a combined approach of education, mitigation, and economic cost‐sharing with respectful engagement of local communities. Specifically, to encourage more villagers to participate in livestock insurance schemes, they should be improved by including all large carnivores and adjusting compensation to the market value of a young replacement of the depredated livestock type. Carnivore conservation interventions should target the whole predator guild to achieve long‐term success and to protect the Himalayan ecosystem at large.

Culture Heritage and Local Community Engagement: Analyses of Kotagede and George Town Heritage Sitess

Societies are facing increasing risks of experiencing unpredictable disasters due to climate change, and thus, planning for sustainable development has become all the more urgent. More so, in some communities, histories of disasters have resulted in significant demographic changes, leaving behind the loss of iconic heritage properties and its cultural heritage. Yet, part of sustainable development include adequate urban planning where conservation and regeneration of historic urban areas becomes an integral part of requirement for sustainable livelihood for the cities of the future. This study evaluated the awareness and participation of the local communities in conservation efforts of cultural heritage within two historical heritage sites: Kotagede,Yogyakarta and George Town, Penang. Based on qualitative case studies and focused group discussions with the stakeholders of the local communities, three key themes on community participation emerged: sense of belonging towards a meaningful living heritage, sense of ownership towards restorative efforts, and sense of partnership in engagement efforts. These themes point towards an urgent implication: since the local communities already have a greater awareness and a high drive for involvement in maintaining the heritage of Kotagede and George Town, cohesive and appropriate collective actions in empowering the locals to lead in future conservation efforts of heritage programmes at Kotagede and George Town, are genuinely needed.

Outsourcing local democracy? Evidence for and implications of the commercialisation of community engagement in Australian local government

ABSTRACTParticipatory governance practices are enjoying popularity, not least in local government. This is driven by legislation that requires councils to undertake some of these processes; also by communities and practitioners – parties that derive income from participatory governance. An industry is emerging: one characterised by demand and supply, with frameworks, strategies and processes, training and conferences. This industry warrants investigation so that its impacts upon local democracy can be understood. Following a theorisation of local democracy and community engagement, the paper describes the community engagement industry, presenting evidence about council activities, providers and professional associations to establish that the commercialisation of engagement is a significant phenomenon in Australian local government. Possible risks to local governance and local democracy are explored.

Recruitment of women from disadvantaged areas to a smoking cessation intervention: preliminary findings from the We Can Quit2 (WCQ2) cluster randomised controlled trial

Abstract Background Recruitment of participants into community randomised controlled trials (RCTs) is problematic; however, recruitment of participants from disadvantaged backgrounds to community smoking cessation trials is especially challenging. This paper will present recruitment and retention rates, successes and challenges in the We Can Quit2 (WCQ2) community intervention trial of smoking cessation in disadvantaged women. Methods We Can Quit, is a smoking-cessation behavioural support intervention delivered by community facilitators through 12-weekly group sessions, with free Nicotine Replacement Therapy, against a form of usual care. Sample size was estimated at 194 in total (97 per arm). Four matched pairs of districts of approximately 10,000 women in each (eight clusters) were identified from which eligible women could be recruited. The recruitment target was 24-25 per cluster. Consent was obtained prior to cluster randomisation. Individual participants were recruited via print media such as leaflets, posters, information stands in local facilities e.g. creches as well as through local and social media e.g. radio and targeted Facebook advertisements. A small financial incentive was provided to aid retentions. Results 208 women registered for the study. Women heard about WCQ2 mainly via Facebook or Twitter (30.4%), and personal networks (16%) 184 (84.5%) were eligible with living outside the area being the most common reason for ineligibility. 125 (67.9% of eligible women; 65.5% of target) consented. Retention rates will be presented. Barriers to recruitment included time of year. Successful strategies included application of in-depth knowledge of local communities to target eligible women. Social media helped target younger women. Recruitment occurred over four waves, allowing for the application of iterative learning. Conclusions Recruitment to a community based RCT was challenging however, local community engagement, use of social media, and personal networks were successful strategies. Early and active engagement with local stakeholders with in-depth knowledge of the community is important. Key messages Intense planned community mobilisation is needed to recruit disadvantaged women to smoking cessation trials. Social media an important route to recruitment of younger women.

Understanding the role of crystallizing local shared values in fostering effective community engagement in adaptation planning in Botswana

ABSTRACTEffective engagement of local communities in externally driven development projects is problematic globally, including in the crucial development of locally appropriate plans for climate change adaptation. We present an exploratory case study of the purposeful use of an emerging values-based approach to first assist local communities to articulate and confirm their own, in-situ, shared values-in-action, as a pre-process to participatory vulnerability risk assessments (VRA). We separately engaged four Village Development Committees (VDCs) from the North East District in Botswana, where a widespread programme of local VRAs is taking place. Results clearly demonstrate very significant and meaningful engagement by, ownership of, and relevance to, participants in the VRA process, evident through the bespoke and tailored considerations of local vulnerabilities and responses, and post-event focus group interviews. We conclude that the values-based process, known as the WeValue InSitu shared values crystallization process, has potential for a step-wise shift in effectiveness of VRAs and local adaptation planning, and that a new agenda is needed to develop and test WeValue’s replicability and effectiveness in other international contexts.

National resource ownership and community engagement in Tanzania's natural gas governance

Extractive resources politics in many resource rich countries remain contentious due to complex relations between resource owners on the one hand and the investors on the other hand. Recent policy reforms in Tanzania have been enacted to bring the development of energy resources under the control of the national government. The impact of these policy changes on the politics of participatory resource governance in terms of local community engagement in decision making and governance processes has not received much scholarly attention. This paper explores how the government's policy of national ownership shapes community engagement in decision making processes in the gas rich regions of Mtwara and Lindi. The paper draws on government documents, media reports as well as interviews with local communities, local government leaders and officials and central government officials. It argues that the policy framework for national ownership of natural gas is used by the government to thwart grassroot community initiatives for participation in decision making processes.

Informed consent and community engagement in open field research: lessons for gene drive science

BackgroundThe development of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system has generated new possibilities for the use of gene drive constructs to reduce or suppress mosquito populations to levels that do not support disease transmission. Despite this prospect, social resistance to genetically modified organisms remains high. Gene drive open field research thus raises important questions regarding what is owed to those who may not consent to such research, or those could be affected by the proposed research, but whose consent is not solicited. The precise circumstances under which informed consent must be obtained, and from whom, requires careful consideration. Furthermore, appropriate engagement processes should be central to any introduction of genetically modified mosquitos in proposed target settings.DiscussionIn this work, international guidance documents on informed consent and engagement are reviewed and applied to the genetically modified mosquito research context. Five analogous research endeavours that involve area-wide / open field experiments are reviewed. The approach of each in respect to the solicitation of individual informed consent and community engagement are highlighted.ConclusionsWhile the solicitation of individual informed consent in host settings of gene drive field trials may not be possible or feasible in some instances, local community and stakeholder engagement will be key to building trust towards the proposed conduct of such research. In this regard, the approaches taken by investigators and sponsors of political science field research and weather modification field research should be avoided. Rather, proponents of gene drive field research should look to the Eliminate Dengue field trials, cluster randomised trials, and pragmatic clinical trials for guidance regarding how the solicitation of individual informed consent of host communities ought to be managed, and how these communities ought to be engaged.

PELATIHAN PEMBUATAN PRODUK SIMPLISIA DAN ANALISA JAMU TRADISIONAL TERSTANDAR BAGI KADER POSYANDU WILAYAH PUSKESMAS KELURAHAN WAENA KOTA JAYAPURA

The use of herbs fo treatment, especially the use of medicines that have been integrated into formal health services in Indonesia is still low compared to some other Asian countries. Papuan medicinal plants have superior characteristic that are different from other provinces in Indonesia. The usage of potential natural products as medicines for Papuan communities are selected by a good understanding of herbal medicine. The potential of biological acticity from natural resources provides a great opportunity to developing this program. In this case, the activities of the Community Engagement activities with the title Training Program to Produced of Crude Material for Herbs and Analyze of Traditional Medicine for Mothers in Waena Public Health of Jayapura City ; secondly practicing how to analyze the product of traditional medicine; the third produces an output in the form of local and national community engagement journals. The methods used in the implementation of this activity are lectures, simulations or demonstrations as well as the direct practice of manufacturing products from indigenous plant drugs Papua. The conclusion that tarticipants are very enthusiastic to follow the activity of service and can know the development the program, Based on the evaluation result indicates that the participants have satisfaction level is high when viewed from percentage of all aspect.Keywords: crude material, traditional medicine, analyze, public health

De‐legitimizing hostility and strengthening joint agency: Lutheran inter‐religious commitment today

AbstractThe ELCA Declaration of Inter‐Religious Commitment is an important instrument for mainstreaming inter‐religious engagement in local communities and diverse ministries. This article assesses this recent policy document and highlights how the text engages Lutheran theological reasoning on “the neighbor” for a profound understanding of God's grace, theologically de‐legitimizes hostility and exclusion, and strengthens joint agency. This resonates with current concerns in the global Lutheran communion and the wider ecumenical movement.