National Governments Research Articles

Food Supply Chain: Possible Impact and Consequence Analysis of Reducing Working Hours of Food Retailers

Grocery shops constantly follow trends and developments in consumer demand; therefore, solutions are sought to enhance food retailing, and one solution is to limit the working hours of supermarkets to balance the interests of stakeholders and those employed in the food supply chain. Accordingly, the present research aims to identify the possible socio-economic impact of reducing the working hours of food supermarkets in Latvia. The research analyzed primary information sources: publicly available information from databases and annual reports by companies from the industry. Three potential scenarios were designed to identify the socio-economic impact of reducing the working hours of supermarkets. The research found that if the working hours of the four leading food supermarkets (Maxima, Rimi, Lidl, Sky) in Latvia were reduced, their turnover, market shares, and taxes paid to the national government, as well as the hours worked by their employees, would decrease, thereby leading to some redundancies causing some negative socio-economic consequences. The novelty of the research is that retail is an essential link in the food supply chain from farm to fork, making food available to consumers. The calculations show that we should be careful when reducing the working hours of supermarkets because this has socio-economic consequences. It is also necessary to evaluate the attitude of consumers. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2025-09-01-05 Full Text: PDF

Evaluating stakeholder coordination and partnerships for NTD elimination in Taraba state, Nigeria: a multi-level analysis

IntroductionNigeria has a significant burden of NTDs with more than 120 million people at risk of the dominant NTDs namely Lymphatic Filariasis, Onchocerciasis, and Schistosomiasis. Control efforts have involved the four levels of governance with programs focused on vector control, preventive chemotherapy, water, sanitation and health education. However, the coordination across these levels and with multiple stakeholders remains unclear especially in states like Taraba that have received significant funding from local non-governmental organisations.MethodsThis study evaluated NTD control effectiveness across national, state, local, and community levels in Nigeria. Eighty-two stakeholders were interviewed across the 4 governance levels.ResultsFindings showed distinct roles of the different stakeholders: the National government sets policies, states adapt and strategise, local governments implement programs, and community leaders drive engagement. There is also some multi-sectoral collaboration and coordination among stakeholders. Challenges included inconsistent drug distribution, inadequate Community Drug Distributor (CDD) incentives, and limited cross-sector coordination.DiscussionNTD control progress has been notable, but to meet WHO’s 2030 targets, Nigeria needs expanded partnerships, increased private sector involvement, improved drug distribution, enhanced CDD support, and integrated programs with cross-border collaboration.ConclusionStrengthening multi-sectoral partnerships, improving resource allocation, and engaging community leaders are crucial for advancing NTD elimination in Nigeria. A coordinated approach is essential for sustainable disease control and achieving global health objectives.

The Effect of Public Participation on Implementation of Development Projects in Lamu County, Kenya

Institutions and individuals partaking in projects that have an impact on the wider community cannot overlook the power of public participation. The Kenyan constitution also applies this people-centred approach as enshrined in the creation of the National Government constituency development fund and the 47 counties. Key benefits of public participation include the inclusion of diverse perspectives in decision-making and a better understanding of the community’s needs. However, it appears that there is limited literature regarding how meaningful public participation impacts the capacity of a community to work in coordination and sort out its problems. The current study aims to address this gap by assessing the effect of public participation on the implementation of development projects in Lamu County, Kenya. The Ladder of Citizen Participation Theory was adopted in this study. In the study, all managers and staff members from the County Government of Lamu, who were 390 in total, formed the study population. A descriptive research design was employed. Stratified sampling and simple random sampling techniques were applied in the selection of the 196 study participants. The tools of study used were questionnaires and interview guides. Quantitative data from the questionnaires were analysed through descriptive statistical techniques. Further, there was hypothesis testing in quantitative data analysis to establish whether there is a relationship between public participation and project implementation in Lamu County. Specifically, regression analysis was adopted to establish whether there exists any association. Qualitative data from the interview guides were analysed through thematic analysis. The results reveal that public participation has a significant association with project implementation in Lamu County. Moreover, it was established that the public participation process is not effective when tested against evaluation criteria and recommends the establishment of an evaluation criteria that guarantees effective public participation

Cross-cultural insights into youth perceptions of climate change: a comparative study between the US and Vietnam

ABSTRACT This study compares climate change perceptions of students from two high schools, one in the United States and one in Vietnam, highlighting the influence of cultural, political, and geographical contexts. Using a cross-sectional survey, it examines students’ understanding of climate change causes, satisfaction with national government responses, and trust in global climate policies. U.S. students demonstrated a strong grasp of scientifically accepted causes but expressed significant dissatisfaction with their government’s climate response efforts. In contrast, Vietnamese students showed moderate satisfaction with national efforts and greater trust in global climate policies, despite some misconceptions about climate change causes. These findings emphasise the need for tailored educational approaches to address climate misconceptions and align with socio-political realities. The study contributes to discussions on education’s role in shaping climate perceptions and informs policies to foster informed, engaged, and proactive youth in addressing global climate challenges.

Waste harvesting: lessons learned from the development of waste-to-energy power plants in Indonesia

Purpose The purpose of this research is to analyse the development and implementation of waste-to-energy (WtE) power plants as a strategy to manage municipal solid waste (MSW) in Indonesia. It aims to identify key determinants for the successful adoption of WtE technology in developing countries, focusing on the Benowo WtE power plant, Indonesia’s first large-scale WtE project. Design/methodology/approach This study reviews the development of the Benowo WtE power plant, examining political, regulatory and financial factors influencing its implementation. It analyses the roles of national and local government institutions, highlighting critical elements for the successful deployment of WtE projects in a developing country context. Findings The review shows that the success of WtE projects in Indonesia is significantly influenced by strong local government commitment, supported by political, financial and regulatory backing from the national government. The Benowo WtE power plant’s development demonstrates that with adequate support, WtE can be a viable solution for managing MSW and generating energy in developing countries. The study also identifies barriers to broader WtE adoption in similar contexts. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to 12 WtE projects in Indonesia, with in-depth analysis focused on a single case, potentially overlooking challenges and opportunities in other regions. Furthermore, the study does not include an economic analysis, such as a feasibility assessment. Future research could expand to multiple WtE projects and incorporate primary data collection to provide more comprehensive findings, including feasibility studies of each project. Practical implications The findings provide practical guidance for policymakers and stakeholders in developing countries, identifying critical areas for successful WtE deployment and offering a blueprint based on the Benowo WtE power plant. Social implications Implementing WtE projects can improve waste management, reduce pollution, enhance public health, create jobs and stimulate local economies. The study underscores the importance of government and community collaboration in addressing environmental challenges and fostering shared responsibility. Originality/value This research offers novel insights into WtE technology development in a developing country, specifically focusing on Indonesia’s first large-scale WtE power plant. By analysing the Benowo WtE power plant, the study provides valuable lessons and strategies for other developing nations aiming to adopt WtE solutions for MSW management, emphasising the critical role of government support.

Unravelling national governments’ positions on EU rule of law enforcement: structural, semi-structural and ideological factors

ABSTRACT The Council’s enforcement inaction regarding the rule of law crisis has been endlessly criticised by scholars and commentators. However, there is currently no theoretically parsimonious explanation of why some national governments oppose enforcement whilst others are more inclined to support it. We address this question by considering structural (time of accession), semi-structural (contributions to, or receipts from, the EU budget and democratic quality) and circumstantial (partisanship, ideology, EU integration stance) conditions. We use Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to test the impact of these conditions on governments’ positions from 2016 to 2021. Findings show relatively stable preferences on enforcement within Member States, despite changes in the ideology of the ruling party. Time of accession, having a high quality of democracy and being a net contributor to the budget emerges as the most robust combination of conditions to explain strong pro-enforcement preferences. In contrast, governments of newer Member States that are net recipients of funds tend to be more reluctant to enforce the rule of law. While ideology lacks sufficient parsimonious explanatory power, it is particularly relevant for explaining extreme anti-enforcement reactions.

Regional and institutional trends in assessment for academic promotion.

The assessment of research performance is widely seen as a vital tool in upholding the highest standards of quality, with selection and competition believed to drive progress. Academic institutions need to take critical decisions on hiring and promotion, while facing external pressure by also being subject to research assessment1-4. Here we present an outlook on research assessment for career progression with specific focus on promotion to full professorship, based on 314 policies from 190 academic institutions and 218 policies from 58 government agencies, covering 32 countries in the Global North and 89 countries in the Global South. We investigated how frequently various promotion criteria are mentioned and carried out a statistical analysis to infer commonalities and differences across policies. Although quantitative methods of assessment remain popular, in agreement with what is found in more geographically restricted studies5-9, they are not omnipresent. We find differences between the Global North and the Global South as well as between institutional and national policies, but less so between disciplines. A preference for bibliometric indicators is more marked in upper-middle-income countries. Although we see some variation, many promotion policies are based on the assumption of specific career paths that become normative rather than embracing diversity. In turn, this restricts opportunities for researchers. These results challenge current practice and have strategic implications for researchers, research managers and national governments.

Robust Local Governance Responses in the Context of Turbulence: The Case of Collaborative and Co‐Created COVID‐19 Pandemic Responses in Two Local Authority Areas in England

ABSTRACTThe COVID‐19 pandemic required local and national governments to respond urgently and rapidly to new and unprecedented challenges. According to an influential strand of literature within public administration, public agencies must exhibit robust governance strategies to tackle the unpredictability, instability and complexity of a turbulent event such as the COVID‐19. In the face of turbulence, robust governance is characterised by adaptability, agility and innovation and co‐creating with partners and communities, while governance systems must evolve so that they perform more effectively in the future. This paper examines how two local authorities in England responded to the pandemic. We draw upon a novel qualitative dataset obtained through privileged access to senior council staff, elected members and council partners. Both ‘Metaltown’ (North West) and ‘Milltown’ (West Midlands) were poised, at the outset of the pandemic, to be badly hit by COVID‐19 due to their population characteristics, relative deprivation and occupational structures, and the areas did experience some of the highest numbers of infection rates and coronavirus‐related deaths. The two local responses both entailed multi‐agency action with the local authority working alongside partners in the police, emergency services, health, education, transport and housing sectors, with private enterprise and with community groups to manage the challenges. Although we observed robust governance strategies, this occurred in the absence of any deliberate policy design at the national level. Instead, the responses were locally determined, fit for purpose and adaptive in response to challenges that emerged on the ground. The findings suggest a need to modify the robust governance framework to better account for contextually specific circumstances. This has implications for how local and national governments respond to current and future challenges, such as the ongoing cost‐of‐living and climate crises.

‘They Only Get the Feed That Grows on Our Farm’: A Survey Experiment on Government-Subsidized Greenwashing of Swiss Meat and Agricultural Policy

Increased consumer concern about environmental issues has led to a surge in green advertising, including misleading forms known as greenwashing. Definitions of greenwashing have mostly focused on companies misleading consumers about products, and existing empirical analyses of greenwashing effects have mostly used fabricated ad materials referring to fictitious products. The objective of the present paper is to use ad material from an actual ad campaign to examine joint greenwashing, by an industry organization and a national government, of consumer products and public policies. Using an actual government-subsidized video commercial for ‘Swiss meat’ as an example, the present paper examines greenwashing targeting both consumers and citizens to influence their product choices and policy opinions. Based on an online survey of an age- and gender-representative sample (n = 637), we measured aspects of consumer knowledge that would enable the consumers to put the ad’s message in perspective, perceptions of the ad, and beliefs about Swiss meat production. Furthermore, we used a two-factorial experimental design to examine how the video commercial and objective product information affected policy opinions relative to control treatments. We find that the consumers strongly overestimated the true percentage of Swiss farms that used the environmentally friendly feeding system featured in the ad. Regarding perceptions, 52% of the respondents ‘rather’ or ‘fully’ agreed with the statement ‘the ad conveys a realistic image of Swiss meat production’, and 41% ‘rather’ or ‘fully’ agreed with the statement ‘the ad shows the production of Swiss beef as it is’. Regarding beliefs, 51% of the respondents ‘partly’, ‘rather’, or ‘fully’ agreed that ‘more meat production in Switzerland is good for the environment’. The video commercial did not influence beliefs about Swiss meat but changed policy opinions in the favor of government subsidies for the advertisement of Swiss meat. The information treatment influenced policy opinions in the opposite direction but did not decrease the effect of the misleading ad. Other significant predictors of support for increased meat subsidies included frequent meat consumption, low factual knowledge, and positive product beliefs. The results of the survey indicate that the ad campaign may have unduly influenced perceptions of Swiss meat production and public opinion about agricultural policy. The findings raise concerns about the current self-regulation of the communication industry and joint private and public advertising of Swiss agricultural products and policies.

Refugee securitization and the challenges of formal integration: case of Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia

Securitization of refugees and migrants is a growing global phenomenon that is well illustrated by how refugee camps have emerged as governmental technologies of control in major host countries across the world. Policymakers and the media prominently feature the migration-security connection and depict refugees as threats to internal security, linking their presence to acts of terrorism and crime. This article examines how the securitization of Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia, the two main host countries for this refugee group, has hindered their formal integration and exacerbated policies of encampment in these countries. Drawing on securitization theory, we highlight the discrimination of Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia by demonstrating how this refugee group is seen as a specific security threat and treated differently from other refugee groups in these countries. A history of border conflicts that shaped the relationship between refugee hosting areas and the national governments long before the advent of camps, coupled with shared Somaliness between locals and refugees in hosting areas, and the back-and-forth refugee movements across international borders have created a confluence of factors that reinforce suspicion and distrust towards Somali refugees. The article adds a normative empirical dimension to securitization theory by providing a nuanced understanding of the concept as it applies to different refugee groups in similar contexts. It also contributes to refugee and migration literature by arguing that although shared Somaliness with locals has strengthened the informal integration of Somali refugees in the two study contexts, the same ties have also provided justification for securitizing this refugee group and denied it from benefitting from progressive laws on formal integration that are being implemented for other refugee groups.

Social technology and rescue of native seeds in the Venezuelan Andes Páramo

This study analyzes the recovery and conservation of potato landraces in the Venezuelan Andes Páramo, specifically in the Mérida region. Smallholder potato farmers in the Venezuelan Andes have been actively creating knowledge, processes, and socio-technical artifacts necessary for the recovery of potato seeds and other types of plant genetic resources critical for food and agriculture. This effort has involved diverse socio-technical dynamics, engaging both human and non-human actors, with the support of universities, research institutions, local and national governments, etc. These initiatives counter historical trends, such as the erosion of complex genetic resource systems, genetic resources, the impacts of agricultural modernization, dependency on oil and imported agricultural technologies, and more recent challenges, such as food shortages. Using traditional techniques such as Tinopós—underground caves for seed storage—and social appropriation of technological processes, including genetic improvement, Andean smallholder farmers have successfully rescued ancient potato varieties while developing new ones. Fieldwork conducted in 2019 included a documentary review, thematic analysis, and a technology inventory. The findings reveal a close relationship between the diversity of Andean root and tuber crops, the unique biophysical and climatic conditions of the Páramo, and the traditional knowledge of peasant communities residing in these territories. The study underscores the importance of border relations and cultural translation between different knowledge systems in recovering and conserving native potato seeds. These efforts represent a locally driven initiative to construct social technologies for food sovereignty and sustainable local development.

Addressing Water Scarcity to Achieve Climate Resilience and Human Health.

Water scarcity is projected to affect half of the world's population, gradually exacerbated by climate change. This article elaborates from a panel discussion at the 2023 United Nations Water Conference on Addressing Water Scarcity to Achieve Climate Resilience and Human Health. Understanding and addressing water scarcity goes beyond hydrological water balances to also include societal and economic measures. We consider five categories of health impacts resulting from deteriorating water qualities and quantities: (i.) water-related diseases and water for hygiene, (ii.) malnutrition and water for food, (iii.) livelihoods, income, development, and water for energy, (iv.) adverse air quality from drought-induced dust and wildfire smoke, and (v.) mental health effects from water scarcity-related factors. A discussion on the barriers and opportunities for resilient water systems begins by re-framing water scarcity as a 'pathway to water bankruptcy' and introducing Water Partnerships to empowering local water leaders with the awareness, education, and resources to devise and implement locally-appropriate water management strategies. Other barriers include the (i.) lack of tools to consider the socio-economic implications of water scarcity, (ii.) lack of water information being in actionable formats for decision-makers, (iii.) lack of clarity in the application of water scarcity modelling to gain policy-relevant findings, and (iv.) inadequate drought adaptation planning. The article includes recommendations for local governments, national governments, international actors, researchers, non-governmental organizations, and local constituents in addressing these barriers. The predominant theme in these recommendations is collaborative, multi-disciplinary Water Partnerships, knowledge-sharing in accessible formats, and empowering participation by all. This paper's central thesis is that addressing water scarcity must focus on people and their ability to lead healthy and productive lives.

Engagement with the EU by Local and Regional Authorities from South East Europe

This article applies MLG theory to the study of engagement of local and regional authorities from South East Europe with the EU. It identifies the EU policies that impact the local and regional authorities from the region. This is a reliable predictor of the areas in which they are likely to engage with the EU. The article also identifies the various epiphanies of this engagement. Local and regional authorities from South East Europe engage with the EU through their own national associations but also through the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS). This is a region-wide organisation of which all the national associations of local and regional authorities from South East Europe are members. Lobbying with EU institutions does not play a big role for the local and regional authorities from South East Europe. These authorities, however, both those from EU and those from non-EU countries, attempt to influence EU policy through the national governments and, where the interests of the national government are not aligned with those of sub-national authorities, through the regional network NALAS or other channels, such as European networks of local and regional authorities, the Committee of the Regions, and Brussels- based representation offices. These offices are limited in number and size due to their high cost and the limited benefits they generate, e.g., in terms of impact on policy. The study evidences a different approach to engagement with the EU in EU and non-EU countries from South East Europe. Whilst NALAS creates momentum around the interests of local and regional authorities from South East Europe, its existence also reveals the relative weakness of these sub-national authorities that, due to their limited powers and resources, are unable to engage with the EU directly and must do so through NALAS, European networks, the CoR or, where viable, the national governments.

Empowerment and Enlightenment: The Practical Dimensions of Civic Heritage Narrative

Since UNESCOs vision for developing civic engagement tools in heritage management in the 2011 Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape, civic engagement has been considered one of the most important ways to promote the sustainable development of heritage. However, two primary obstacles have consistently hindered its effective implementation: the subjugation of authoritative power by international heritage organisations or national governments and conflicts arising from divergent notions of heritage designation and management at the same hierarchical level due to varied heritage concepts. This paper seeks to advance research on the prevalent civic engagement practice of narrating personal heritage stories, with the objective of addressing these existing challenges and enhancing the effective scope of civic engagement within the heritage sector. Through the literature review, which encompasses a thorough examination of contemporary theory and the various case studies of heritage narrative, this paper reveals that civic storytelling practices possess two dimensions: the empowerment narrative and the enlightenment narrative. These two dimensions can significantly mitigate tensions within communities and citizen groups while simultaneously tackling the issue of bureaucratic hegemony over heritage perception. With the additional discussion of these two dimensions, this study proposes The Collaborative Framework of the Civic Heritage Narrative Cycle as a tool for helping planners to develop narrative practices and foster the sustained advancement of heritage within an environment that is more democratic and communicates narratives

Spatio-temporal distribution and socioeconomic inequality of low birthweight rate in China from 1992 to 2021 and its predictions to 2030.

This paper aims to investigate the trend, spatio-temporal distribution, and socioeconomic inequality of the low birthweight rate (LBWR) in China from 1992 to 2021 and to project the LBWR to 2030. We performed a secondary analysis of data from the China Health Statistics Yearbook. LBWR refers to the ratio of the number of infants born with a birth weight less than 2,500 grams to the number of live births in a given year. We used joinpoint regression models to estimate LBWR trends from 1992 to 2021 for the whole country and from 2002 to 2021 for the three regions (eastern, central, and western regions) and each province. The slope index of inequality (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII) were calculated for each year from 2002 to 2021 based on provincial data. LBWR increased from 2.52% (1992) to 3.70% (2021), and the average annual percentage change (AAPC) (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 1.35% (0.22%, 2.49%) in China. The overall LBWR from 2002 to 2021 was greatest in the Eastern region, but LBWR had the fastest increase in the Western region, with an AAPC (95% CI) of 3.15% (2.59%, 3.12%). There were spatio-temporal differences in the LBWR and trends between provinces. The SII and RII increased linearly from -0.15 and 0.94 to 0.53 (B = 0.035%, p < 0.001) and 1.16 (B = 0.011, p < 0.01), respectively, over the past 20 years. The results of the ARIAM model showed that the National LBWR will be increasedfrom 3.70% in 2021 to 5.28% in 2030. The LBWRs in the eastern, central and western regions in 2030 will be 4.93%, 6.02% and 5.82%, respectively. National and local governments must prioritize disadvantaged groups to mitigate the rapid prevalence of LBWR, reduce regional disparities, and improve perinatal and infant health and health equity in China.

Evaluation of the implementation of governmental policies and actions to create healthy food environments in Burkina Faso.

The creation of a healthy food environment is highly dependent on the policies that governments choose to implement. The objective of this study is to compare the level of implementation of current public policies aimed at creating healthy food environments in Burkina Faso with international good practice indicators. This evaluation was carried out using the Food-EPI tool. The tool has 2 components (policy and infrastructure support), 13 domains and 56 good practice indicators adapted to the Burkina Faso context. Burkina Faso. Expert evaluators divided into two groups: the group of independent experts from universities, NGOs and civil society, and the group of experts from various government sectors. Among the 56 indicators, it was assessed the level of implementation as "high" for 6 indicators, "medium" for 24 indicators, "low" for 22 indicators and "very low" for 4 indicators. High implementation level indicators include strong and visible political support, targets on exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding, strong and visible political support for actions to combat all forms of malnutrition, monitoring of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding indicators, monitoring of promotion and growth surveillance programs and coordination mechanism (national, state and local government). The indicators on menu labelling, reducing taxes on healthy foods, increasing taxes on unhealthy foods and dietary guidelines are the indicators with a "very low" level of implementation in Burkina Faso. The general results showed that there is a clear need for further improvements in policy and infrastructure support to promote healthy food environments.

Empowerment Programs and Women’s Socio-Economic Well-Being in Artisanal Fishing in Asembo Bay, Siaya County, Kenya

This study evaluated programs that empower women to achieve their socio-economic well-being in Asembo Bay, Siaya County, Kenya. The study employed a qualitative descriptive research design and a sample of 100 women was chosen to form the unit of analysis. The study used a Purposive Sampling approach to select participants. Data was collected using key informant interviews, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and observation guides. Based on the objective, this study used a thematic data analysis method where data was presented thematically. The findings revealed that the ward, constituency, county government of Siaya, and the National government have done little to empower women in artisanal fishing in Asembo Bay, the study also showed that the Centre for Health Solutions was still in existence and was assisting women in Asembo Bay with programs such as health programs, HIV/ AIDs education, and psychological support. The study also indicated that some community-based organizations such as Laven relocated to other places abandoning programs that they were overseeing in Asembo Bay. The findings showed that women faced financial, environmental, and governance challenges. The research proposed the following: the implementation of fisheries funds; the involvement of NGOs; local government, and CBOs in the daily activities in Asembo Bay; and the improvement of the working environment in Asembo Bay.

Retrofit information challenges and potential solutions: Perspectives of households, retrofit professionals and local policy makers in the southwest UK

Rapidly scaling up energy retrofit for existing buildings is critical to help meet climate targets. Information is frequently identified as a key barrier to residential retrofit. This paper explores the role of information sharing in accelerating retrofit market transformation, through interviews and photo elicitation with homeowners (N = 9) and two workshops with stakeholders (N = 33) in a local authority retrofit project in Gloucestershire (UK). Findings are thematically analysed and suggestions for future local and national policy action are identified. The research finds that even for engaged, knowledgeable homeowners, accessing appropriate information is still a significant retrofit barrier. Two themes around the nature of information and information delivery are identified and key issues include information overload, a lack of context-specific information and in-person engagement, and a need for trustworthy, local information sources. Local authorities have potential to act as trusted intermediaries for structured, relevant retrofit information but require support from national governments to increase capacity and resources at local levels. National governments also have a critical role in providing clear and consistent messaging and leadership on the importance and benefits of retrofit. Policies around financial incentives are not sufficient alone and must be accompanied by strategies to overcome informational and other barriers if retrofit is to be accelerated in this decisive decade for climate action.

Ugandan Physician Attitudes towards a Potential, Local Trauma Fellowship Program.

Background In low-income countries, clinicians trained through a context-specific trauma surgery fellowship program (TFP) can help reduce injury-related mortality to levels closer to those observed in higher-resource settings. Successful implementation, however, hinges on buy-in from local clinicians. We therefore assessed clinician support for a potential TFP in Uganda, considering perceived need, curricular recommendations, barriers, and motivating factors. Methods After cognitive interviews with experts and questionnaire pilot testing, we cross-sectionally surveyed Ugandan consultants (general surgeons and procedural specialists involved in trauma care) and surgical residents at a tertiary, national referral hospital. Respondent percentages were calculated for multiple-choice answers, and we performed thematic analysis of free-text responses using a primarily inductive approach. Results Among 46 faculty (from 13 specialties) and 42 resident respondents, 86% supported a Ugandan TFP. Respondents recommended incorporating emergency general surgery (66%), critical care (84%), and international rotations (76%) into the curriculum. Severe resource and structural deficiencies (82%) and concern about governmental support for post-training employment and compensation (66%) were leading perceived barriers to TFP implementation. Most faculty felt a TFP would improve patient outcomes (93%), overall trainee education (77%), and clinical efficiency (68%). Free-text responses were consistent with survey themes, indicating acute awareness of current trauma system inadequacies and conviction that a TFP would reduce injury-related mortality. Conclusions Ugandan clinicians who care for injured patients view a TFP as crucial to improving injury-related outcomes, despite known barriers. TFP implementation should incorporate curricular recommendations from this survey and address widespread concerns about financial and infrastructural support from the national government and local institutions.

The law of thaw: understanding subnational land use policies for permafrost-agroecosystems

Abstract As the Arctic warms and growing seasons start to lengthen, governments and producers are speculating about northern “climate-driven agricultural frontiers” as a potential solution to food insecurity. One of the central ecological factors in northern spaces, however, is permafrost (perennial frozen ground), which can drive cascading environmental changes upon thaw. Considering the land requirements for expanded agriculture and the unique challenges of northern farming, national and subnational governments are grappling with and facilitating this speculative boom in different ways. Analysing agricultural land use policy instruments from the US State of Alaska and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in Russia, this paper investigates if and how permafrost factors into their legal frameworks and what impacts this has on agricultural development, conservation, and food security. Alaska and the Republic of Sakha were chosen for reasons including both having at least 100 years of agricultural history on permafrost soils, both containing extensive amounts of permafrost within their landmasses and both containing permafrost that is ice-rich. Comparing legal texts as indicative of state capacities and strategies to govern, the paper finds that the two regions diverge in how they understand and regulate permafrost, and suggests that these approaches could benefit from one another. Bringing together geoclimatic and sociocultural concerns to problematise static policy divisions, this paper gestures to a path forward wherein subnational policy can balance needs for food, environmental, and cultural security in the North.