Gaps In Policy Implementation Research Articles

School as a Safe Space through Gender-Responsive Basic Education Policy

Quality education promotes gender-responsive policies. Yet, this is not always the case in developing countries like the Philippines. There are gaps in policy implementation, and safety issues faced by LGBTQIA+ learners persist. Purpose. This study focuses on teachers’ and learners’ perception of Gender-Responsive Basic Education Policy (GRBEP) implementation and the safety of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and expanding identities (LGBTQIA+) learners in public and private schools. Hence, it determined the GRBEP implementation level and LGBTQIA+ learners' safety level. No significant correlation between policy implementation and learners’ safety, and no significant difference between public and private schools’ policy implementation and learners’ safety were assumed. The minimal studies and the urgent need to ensure a gender-responsive and safe learning environment underscore the significance of this research. Methodology. Validated questionnaires were distributed to 744 learners and teachers: 401 from private schools and 343 from public schools. The data collected were analyzed using mode, percentage, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, and independent samples test. Results. Learners and teachers perceived a “high level of implementation” of GRBEP in schools. LGBTQIA+ learners were generally “safe” in schools. The implementation level of Gender-Responsive Basic Education Policy correlates with the safety level of LGBTQIA+ learners in school, as it was statistically significant (p=.026 < α=0.05). There is no substantial evidence of a difference between public and private schools’ implementation level of GRBEP (p = 0.544 > α=0.05). There is not enough evidence of a significant difference between public and private schools’ safety levels of LGBTQIA+ learners (p = 0.188 > α=0.05). Conclusion. An efficient GRBEP implementation by schools ensures a working educational policy. LGBTQIA+ learners are safe in the learning environment. Public and private schools must strengthen awareness campaigns, address misconceptions and overlooked realities, conduct real-time monitoring, evaluation, and feedback mechanisms, as well as foster partnerships and linkages to uphold a safe space for every learner. With these actions, policymakers and school administrators can work towards creating a true quality and inclusive education that supports the well-being and success of all learners, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Looking through the lens of an educator: the role of schools in the management of alcohol and other drug use among high school learners

ABSTRACT The effects of learners’ alcohol and other drug (AOD) use have far-reaching implications for educators and the teaching environment. The Schools Act 84 of 1996 describes the consequences of misconduct, with its revisions stipulating the conditions and procedures for searching, testing, and drug possession in an attempt to reduce learner substance use. There seem to be inconsistencies in the implementation of guidelines and the current practices at the school level. This research aimed to explore the response by schools to alcohol and other drug use among learners, and the guidelines to identify and address substance use. The study employed a qualitative approach and sampled 14 high schools located in seven municipality clusters in the Cape Town metropole. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with teaching and management personnel. A total of 23 personnel from 11 high schools were interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes and patterns. Three themes emerged from the data, namely Practices of educators in response to AOD use; Policy-implementation gap; and Lack of agency to effect change. There is a lack of cohesive guidelines for educators to address substance use in schools. Consequently, schools use their own discretion to handle the situation; given their resources and social capital. Educators feel uninformed and ill-equipped to assist learners beyond referral. Further, there is a dearth of knowledge on aftercare and relapse in the contexts of the school/learning environment, both of which are critical components of effectively managing substance use.

Australian medical regulations and strengthened continuing professional development (CPD): A policy implementation gap analysis with the specialist medical colleges

Introduction: Starting from 2023, Australian medical practitioners must meet new mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) requirements for registration renewal. In particular, each year they must complete 12.5 hours of educational activities and 25 hours of CPD activities related to reviewing performance and measuring outcomes, with a minimum of 5 hours each for reviewing performance and measuring outcomes activities, and they are encouraged to use patient health data and large eHealth datasets for better insights. Despite concerns regarding data accessibility and outcome measurement, specialist medical colleges are implementing these requirements. This study aims to explore factors influencing colleges’ efforts and provide recommendations for future research and action to enable data-driven CPD practices. Methods: A policy implementation gap analysis employing semi-structured interviews as a standalone method was conducted with participating colleges. Four colleges agreed to participate, with a total of 18 participants recruited from either the colleges’ staff who are responsible for interpreting and implementing CPD regulatory policies or the colleges’ CPD committees. Interviews were analysed using inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Data collection, data analysis and final results were reported using the COREQ checklist. Results: Three themes were identified from the interview analysis: (1) colleges' organisational structure and their roles and responsibilities within the Australasian CPD ecosystem, (2) challenges and enablers for policy implementation and (3) organisational needs and future actions at college level and necessary pre-conditions at ecosystemic level for strengthened CPD. Conclusions: Internal and external organisational factors are hindering colleges’ efforts to implement policy. More research, a reassessment of colleges’ roles, responsibilities and structure, and collaboration among colleges and data holders are necessary to enable full policy implementation and strengthened CPD practices.

The necessity of pragmatic muddling. Ten Swedish early adopter cities navigating climate adaptation policy-implementation in the urban built environment

While climate adaptation planning and implementation is gradually increasing across the globe, there is a documented gap between what is done and what needs to be done. Researchers have documented climate adaptation efforts at the strategic policy-making level and in urban planning practices, but less is known about how cities navigate the intricacies of climate adaptation policy-progression in the existing built environment. Contributing to the analytical unpacking of how to reduce policy implementation gaps, this paper targets ten Swedish early adopter cities seeking to proactively and pragmatically progress with their climate adaptation efforts from policy-formation to implementation in the urban built environment. Qualitative analyses of interviews and policy-documents illustrate that the cities, despite their early adopter status, struggle with stepwise policy-progression and get stuck when approaching implementation. Ensuring appropriate climate adaptation in the existing urban built environment becomes problematic due to current legal distribution of responsibilities, diverse land-ownership patterns and path-dependent structures and configurations within cities that are dense, intricate and tightly developed over of time. We identify three pragmatic action-strategies adopted to create solution space and allowing the cities to proceed: event-driven, target-driven and opportunity-driven climate adaptation, each having their advantages and disadvantages for ensuring urban robustness, as well as different requirements for up-scaling. The analysis enables important lessons of climate adaptation policy-progression, the promise and pitfalls of stepwise adaptation and the necessity of pragmatic muddling that is required to make climate adaptation work in the existing urban built environment.

Strengthening accountability for tuberculosis policy implementation in South Africa: perspectives from policymakers, civil society, and communities

BackgroundTranslating health policy into effective implementation is a core priority for responding effectively to the tuberculosis (TB) crisis. The national TB Recovery Plan was developed in response to the negative impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on TB care in South Africa. We aimed to explore the implementation of the TB Recovery Plan and develop recommendations for strengthening accountability for policy implementation for this and future TB policies.MethodsWe interviewed 24 participants working on or impacted by TB policy implementation in South Africa. This included perspectives from national, provincial, and local health department representatives, civil society, and community representatives. In-depth interviews were conducted in English and isiXhosa and we drew on reflexive thematic methods for analysis.ResultsParticipants felt that there was potential for COVID-19 innovations and urgency to influence TB policy development and implementation, including the use of data dashboards. Implementation of the TB Recovery Plan predominantly used a top-down approach to implementation (cascading from national policy to local implementers) but experienced bottlenecks at provincial level. Recommendations for closing the TB policy-implementation gap included using phased implementation and enhancing provincial-level accountability. Civil society organisations were concerned about the lack of provincial implementation data which impeded advocacy for improved accountability and inadequate resourcing for implementation. Community health workers were viewed as key to implementation but were not engaged in the policy development process and were often not aware of new TB policies. At local level, there were also opportunities to strengthen community engagement in policy implementation including through community-led monitoring. Participants recommended broader multi-stakeholder engagement that includes community and community health worker representatives in the development and implementation phases of new TB policies.ConclusionsCommunities affected by TB, with the support of civil society organisations, could play a bigger role in monitoring policy implementation at local level and need to be capacitated to do this. This bottom-up approach could complement existing top-down strategies and contribute to greater accountability for TB policy implementation.

Pandemic Impact, Support Received, and Policies for Health Worker Retention: An Environmental Scan.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional strain to health workers in the Philippines, leading to a significant proportion of them leaving the workforce. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of the pandemic on health workers, the support that they received and associated challenges; and identify relevant policies for better workplace conditions. An environmental scanning method was utilized. Particularly, a literature review and policy scan that were validated through key informant interviews with administrators and frontline health workers from selected urban and rural sites in the three main islands in the Philippines. These were framed into a background note to springboard the discussions during a national policy dialogue participated by representatives from key government organizations, professional organizations of physicians, nurses, and midwives, professional regulatory bodies, hospital administrators, frontline health workers, and donor agencies in the Philippines. Deaths, burn-out, mental health problems, lack of personal protective equipment and poor allocation of vaccines were reported in the early phases of the pandemic. Support varied across settings but included additional allowance, free meals, accomodation, transportation, training and psychosocial services. Furthermore, pre-pandemic issues such as as low salaries and heavy workload continue to be the main reasons for leaving the workforce or the country. The proposed solutions are as follows: (1) creating policies and strategies for appropriate production, recruitment, and retention of human resources for health; (2) allocating regular permanent positions for both the education and health sector; (3) augmenting and continuation of deployment programs; (3) expanding roles of nurses to push for advanced practice nursing; (4) providing fair compensation along with risk allowances, non-financial incentives, and expanded benefits; (5) supporting mental health wellness by providing an appropriate work-rest balance and safe work environment; (6) providing opportunities for professional development and scholarships with accompanying return-service agreement; and (7) strengthening the reintegration programs for returning overseas health workers. The pandemic has affected the well-being of health workers and disparities in support were reported due to longstanding workplace issues and policy implementation gaps. Stakeholder commitments require sustained monitoring while policies that are in place and yet to be developed demand stronger support from the government, members of Congress, the private sector, and other key decision-makers.

‘Back to Basics’: A Practice Approach to Reforming Youth Justice

The delivery of high-quality case work is central to efforts to reform youth justice systems around the world. Youth justice practitioners can be the most effective agents of change when the focus of their casework practice is on listening to justice-involved young people, helping them to feel safe and to avoid re-traumatization, and working in ways that promote positive childhood experiences. It is argued that developing ‘practice-based evidence’ in this way can help to unite the field, to close the policy implementation gap, and simultaneously contribute to the personal wellbeing of young people and the broader agenda of public safety.

Science Teachers’ Professional Development at Tribhuvan University: Bridging the Policy-Implementation Gap

Science Teachers’ Professional Development at Tribhuvan University: Bridging the Policy-Implementation Gap

Supporting Ageing Populations in Developing Countries: A Comparative Analysis of Pension Schemes and Policy Insights

The rapid growth of the elderly population is a major global demographic and social issue. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of pension plans and social security programmes for this population in developing countries, which has severe consequences for their quality of life and well-being. In this article, we aim to better understand the pension systems in developing country contexts such as Ghana, Pakistan, and Myanmar by reviewing official government materials (for example, pension reports) and the published literature to suggest relevant policy recommendations. We observed several policy implementation gaps and inequities in pension schemes for older people, specifically for informal and private sector workers. Considering the size of formal versus informal economies and the level of development index of each country, we suggest a wide variety of options for pension policies, financing, designing cash benefits, and pension payments to cover all older citizens. This article addresses the unmet needs of the elderly and their wider economic sustainability to ensure social justice and resource utilisation. Governments in developing countries should embrace and establish unique, inclusive, and friendly policies encompassing the informal sector to warrant older adults’ functional and social well-being with dignity and honour.

Healthcare Waste Management Policy in a lower-middle-income country: A case for the adoption of the RADICAL framework

The COVID-19 pandemic raised the salience of Healthcare Waste Management (HCWM). Various studies have shown that the level of HCWM in lower-middle-income countries falls below international standards and global best practice, indicating that the national policy on HCWM is either non-existent or has not been embedded in practice. The renewed salience affords an opportunity to revisit, update and embed the national policy on HCWM. In seizing this opportunity, the elemental thinking must change from a linear model to the complex adaptive model that takes account of the inter-relationships and contextual factors that could impede or facilitate implementation of the policy. These complexities account for the ‘policy-implementation gap’ associated with policy failure. This paper presents a framework that could be applied in developing, implementing, and monitoring the national HCWM policy in a lower-middle-income country. The integrative framework, identified by the acronym RADICAL, comprises the following domains in an integrated grid: Raise awareness; Apply formal quality improvement methods; Design for quality and safety: Involve stakeholders; Collect and Analyse pertinent data; Learn from shared experience. The pertinence of each domain to HCWM is described.

Latin American immigration and refugee policies: a critical literature review

Against the background of remarkable policy liberalization and the subsequent steep increase of forced displacement in Latin America, the literature on immigration and refugee policy in the region has gained momentum. Although largely overlooked, this literature has the potential to provide a corrective to political migration theory from the Global South. In this article we carry out a systematic, critical review of the regional literature along three thematic axes: legal analyses, normative and explanatory studies. Based on the review of 108 journal articles, we describe the characteristics, main contributions and research gaps of each thematic area. By analyzing legal norms and policy implementation gaps, existing studies on Latin America provide an understanding of migration policy over time and offer important empirical evidence for the advancement of political migration theory, challenging some of the main assumptions attributed to policies in the Global South. However, the lack of engagement with the broader literature and the absence of systematic analyses of its determinants and effects significantly limit the potential of this body of work. We close by making concrete suggestions of how future studies could fill existing gaps both in theoretical and empirical terms, and which methodological approach should be employed.

Gap Implementasi Dalam Kebijakan Publik: Studi Kasus Implementasi Kebijakan Perpu Nomor 2 Tahun 2022 Klaster Ketenagakerjaan Tentang Pemanfaatan Pekerja Asing

Perppu number 2 of 2022 is a controversial regulation and has received a lot of resistance from the public, especially workers. Perppu number 2 of 2022 is considered to have the potential to facilitate the entry of foreign workers which threatens and creates new competition for local workers. However, Perppu Number 2 of 2022 shows the use of diction which emphasizes that the aim of the entry of foreign workers into Indonesia is to transfer skills and transfer technology. The research questions and things analyzed in this research are to see how the implementation of Perppu Number 2 of 2022 is and discuss what recommendations and things that can be improved in the implementation of Perppu Number 2 of 2022. This research is qualitative research using literature study data collection techniques. The results of this research show that there is an implementation gap between what is formulated in Perppu number 2 of 2022 and the implementation in the field which is caused by multidimensional factors. By using policy capacity theory and implementation gap theory, the recommendations that can be given for the implementation of Perppu Number 2 of 2022 are improvements in human resource capacity, both in qualitative and quantitative terms and empowerment of non-governmental institutions in overseeing the implementation of the policy. So it can be concluded that there is a large implementation gap between what policy makers formulated in Perppu Number 2 of 2022 and what is implemented in the field.

Evaluating Childhood Overweight- and Obesity-Related Food Marketing Policies in China Using the Food-Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI).

Addressing the increasing global health issue of childhood obesity, exacerbated by pervasive food marketing, this study critically evaluated China's food marketing policies in comparison with international best practices, aiming to uncover policy content and implementation gaps and inform policy enhancement strategies. Three key indicators were utilized from the Healthy Food-Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI)'s food promotion domain. A panel of experts (n = 13) from academic institutions, China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the food industry assessed the Chinese government's policy scores and implementation levels concerning food marketing. Benchmarked against international best practices using the Food-EPI process, this evaluation encompassed context analysis, data collection, evidence-based policy action, government validation, policy rating, scoring, and results translation for government and stakeholders. The three chosen indicators specifically addressed childhood overweight- and obesity-related food marketing in broadcast media (Indicator 1), non-broadcast media (Indicator 2), and child gathering settings (Indicator 3). Specifically, Indicator 1, the Single Food Marketing Indicator Score was measured at 2.31 ± 0.38, with an accompanying Food Marketing Policy Implementation Percentage of 46.2%, and Low Implementation Level. For non-broadcast mediums (Indicator 2), these metrics were gauged at 1.77 ± 0.27, 35.4%, and Low Implementation Level, respectively. In child gathering settings (Indicator 3), for efforts curbing unhealthy food promotion, a score of 2.77 ± 0.27, an implementation percentage of 55.4%, and Medium Implementation Level was obtained. Cumulatively, the overarching efficacy of food marketing policy enforcement was determined to be suboptimal, with the consolidated figures being Total Food Marketing Score as 2.28 ± 0.97, Total Food Marketing Policy Implementation Percentage as 45.6%, and Total Food Marketing Policy Implementation Level as Low. Like many countries, China's food marketing policies and implementation have room for improvement when compared to international best practices. Recommendations include emphasizing nutritional legislation, fostering stakeholder collaboration, bolstering public health campaigns, and leveraging technology for stringent enforcement.

Informing National Climate Action with the Green Economy Model: A Technical Description of the Structures and Processes

National climate ambitions have been hampered by a lack of understanding of the impacts of the transition to a low-carbon economy as well as the consequences of inaction. Amid legitimate concerns regarding transitional impacts, financing needs, and the institutional and political constraints to low-carbon policy implementation, knowledge and analytical skill gaps prevent countries from increasing necessary ambition on climate and environmental targets consistent with global goals. In this Technical Note, we present the green economy model (GEM), which aims to simultaneously improve people’s understanding of complex climate, environmental, and socioeconomic linkages; equip decision-makers with adequate tools for policy development; and help close coordination gaps and build technical capacity for low-carbon policymaking. It is a practical guide for local policymakers, experts, and academics to understand the model structures and considerations for employing GEM for green economic policy analysis.

Including learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Voices of mainstream teachers

The global shift toward inclusive education is in pursuit of creating a more equal and just society. This has lead schools worldwide to experience an increase in the number of learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) entering the general classroom. At the first level of contact, teachers play an important role in the implementation of inclusive education; it is therefore crucial to acknowledge their experiences. Their voices need to be heard since their experiences can contribute to doing justice to the existing policies on inclusive education. In search of teachers' subjective experiences, we framed this interpretive qualitative phenomenological research study in a social constructivist paradigm. Participants were purposefully selected from an international school in Cape Town, South Africa. We collected data through an online open-ended questionnaire, followed by an in-person focus group discussion at the school. The findings indicated that while teachers are in favour of inclusion, they experience many challenges that result in a policy-implementation gap.

The challenges of harmonising anti-doping policy implementation

ABSTRACT The policy-implementation gap conceptualises how policy intentions and outcomes often differ due to a failure to consider the realities of implementation. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) directs Olympic anti-doping policy, seeking to harmonise anti-doping policy globally; however, the realisation of consistent implementation has proven challenging. A major cause of inconsistent policy implementation is inter-signatory variation, but the mechanisms of variation are poorly understood. WADA provides an excellent example to explore why policy gaps occur in international sport governance. Consequently, we aimed to analyse the different types of inter-signatory variation in anti-doping policy and identify practical solutions to address inter-signatory variation in anti-doping. Data were collected from the Regional Anti-Doping Programme (RADO), a group of organisations tasked with increasing the capacity of NADOs globally. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 RADO staff and board members who were sampled as key informants to discuss how inter-signatory variation affects anti-doping policy compliance. Following reflexive thematic analysis, we identified four thematic categories explaining inter-signatory variation in anti-doping implementation: (1) socio-geographic, (2) political, (3) organisational, and (4) human resources. Based on our analysis, we theorise why the policy-implementation gap occurs and provide recommendations to improve anti-doping policy implementation.

Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) in Western Balkans between aspirations and reality

Abstract This paper aims to discuss the current situation on GRB as a tool to make budgets gender-responsive and achieve gender equality in Western Balkans. Apart from exploring the gap between the aspiration in implementing the GRB instruments and tools from one side and the obstacles encountered which are bound to be specific for any country or region. The general method used is the conceptual analyses as well as content analyses will be starting points when scrutinizing policy-papers that policymakers as well as programs of UN, UN Woman, EU and other foreign agencies are trying to implement in WB. Despite numerous gender policies having been adopted in Western Balkans over the last few decades, significant gender inequalities are persisting and there are gender policy implementation gaps. The paper concludes that there is a need to have sound laws and policies that meet the equivalent demand to implement them. Integrated GRB initiatives with gender equality goals could provide the basis for better gender equality outcomes and ownership from the central and local government administration, which is crucial in the long term and sustainable gender equality.

Gendered Participation in Water Governance: Implications for Successful Communitybased Water Management and Women Empowerment

This article sought to analyse the gender dimensions in communally managed water schemes in rural Uganda. Taking two rural villages as empirical referents, the study used multi-methods of data collection and a gender-based analysis to interrogate the challenges to equitable access and decision-making in rural-based water schemes. The analysis reveals that, despite the existing policy and legislative regime, access to water for women is severely constrained, and their level of decision-making in communally managed water schemes is remarkably low. The article holds that women’s participation is critical for the much-needed collective action towards community-based water governance, gender equity, and empowerment. Consequently, the barriers to sustainable water access and effective women’s participation can be addressed through significant investments in systematic water institutional reforms, targeted capacity-building initiatives, and plugging existing policy monitoring and implementation gaps at all levels. There is a need to address the policy reality gap regarding ownership of productive resources for women as a key strand towards addressing the equity challenges at different levels of water governance.

Alley greening: a tool for enhancing community resilience?

ABSTRACT In many cities across the world alleys are transitioning from residual spaces to hybrid places providing the foundation for new functions, uses, and identities to take root and coincide through a process of “alley greening”. Such manifestations are transforming the relationship between people (local residents) and place (alleyway – local area), most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic when a new urgency for the provision, or repurposing, of safe, social spaces emerged. Yet, the potential of alley greening to affect people-place relationships and engender community resilience has been relatively unexplored. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, including questionnaires, interviews, and case study analyses, this paper critically investigates the experience and perspectives of green alleys from various place-based actors in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The findings reveal that, even in the absence of institutional and policy support, green alley projects have the potential to stimulate positive people-place relationships in various ways and enhance wider community resilience to shocks and stresses. However, barriers prevail, curtailing the reach and purpose of such projects both in Belfast and elsewhere. The paper considers how governance arrangements might best overcome such hurdles and strengthen pro-environmental and pro-social behaviours that are fundamental to community resilience. Key policy highlights Despite their integral form and function in the city, alleyways, nor their potential, are rarely recognised in the policy. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a policy-implementation gap in the provision of locally accessible greenspace. Policy inertia exacerbated this gap preventing the fulfilment of changing community needs. Alley greening emerged as a tactical urban response. A lack of place-based approaches within policy has polarised institutions from communities. People-place relationships, essential to resilience-building and green alley longevity, are subsequently inadequately engaged with and fostered. An opportunity exists for alley greening to be a place-based policy instrument to stimulate pro-social and pro-environmental behaviours for building community resilience.

Pedagogical Implications on Curriculum Support for Learner Progression

Part of enabling progressed learners’ successes is provision of adequate curriculum support to bridge content gap. Learner progression was introduced as an intervention for retention and to minimise school dropout. Dynamics around education policy implementation gaps seems to be obstacle between progression policy promises and outcomes. This is visible through the national grade 12 results which continue to decline amid learner progression. Within debates of progression policy derailing quality education, Covid19 disruptions unleashed inequalities in the education sector. For instance, learning losses and in turn pedagogical implications for progressed learners’ extended learning opportunities. This paper reports on curriculum support provided to progressed learners reflecting on Covid19 disruptions using Bandura’ Social Learning Theoretical lens. The study adopted a qualitative research approach placed within interpretivism paradigm and employed exploratory case study design. Six teachers were purposively selected from three secondary school in one district of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Thus, two grade twelve teachers per school whose subjects were directly affected by progression policy because the study focuses on progression from grade eleven to twelve. Data were collected through document analysis and interviews. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Findings revealed limitations to reach out to progressed learners’ due catch-up plans because of lockdown and rotational models. This study concluded on a fair compliance on policy stipulations yet limited specific intervention strategies. The unique contribution of this study is the reflection on three implementation gaps which had implications for progression policy outcomes.