Group Of Non-governmental Organizations Research Articles

Determining the climate adaptive capacity of urban actors: a case study of Mongla port-townin Bangladesh

PurposeIn an urban environment, different types of actors (individuals, households, community groups, institutions, governmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGO), community-based organizations (CBO) and public and private organizations, etc.) play critical roles in enhancing urban resilience to adapt to the impacts of climate change. To identify and prioritize aspects of climate resilience planning, this study aims to examine the potential impacts of climate change on diverse urban systems and evaluate the capacities of various actors to adapt to climatic stress.Design/methodology/approachThis research selects Mongla, a coastal as well as port town in south-western Bangladesh that faces climate risks including frequent cyclones, storm surges and salinity intrusion due to sea-level and temperature rise, as reported in the National Climate Vulnerability Index 2018. This research uses the methodology proposed by ICLEI South Asia’s Climate Resilient Cities Action Plan and accesses different urban actors’ adaptive capacity for contributing to enhancing climate resilience based on three broad characteristics: the capacity to organize and respond, availability of resources and access to information. The cumulative scores of these characteristics aid in determining the climate adaptive capacity of each urban actor.FindingsThe identified 53 actors are grouped into four categories: government (local and national); international/local NGOs, CBOs and associations; community representatives and private sectors and groups and individuals. The group of NGOs, CBOs and associations has a higher overall adaptive potential than all other actor groups, according to the study. When it comes to practicing adaptive capacity, government institutions are in the second-highest position. But, the Khulna development authority, the government agency that is in charge of overseeing all forms of urban development, scored poorly on all fragile urban systems. However, the performance of the fourth group of urban actors is very subpar when it comes to adapting to climatic stress, which emphasizes the need for focused interventions.Research limitations/implicationsVariations in adaptive capacities to climate change across different actors are particularly useful for targeting actors with lower levels of climate adaptive capacities in Mongla town.Originality/valueThis paper particularly addresses the research gap in assessing the adapting capacity of urban actors in Mongla port-town. Policymakers and practitioners can create and carry out targeted interventions that address the particular needs and concerns of vulnerable actors by making use of the insights obtained from this kind of study, thereby assisting in the development of climate resilience in any urban area.

Pembaharuan Dalam Manajemen Pelayanan Publik Daerah: Tantangan dan Peluang Dalam Desentralisasi Pemerintahan di Indonesia

Like other countries around the world, both developed and developing countries, Indonesia's local government performance is measured primarily through the provision of basic services. Despite efforts to improve the service represents a concrete manifestation of good governance to promote human development, local governments have struggled to overcome many challenges and limitations. In this paper, good governance focuses on motivation and progress that emerged by some districts in Indonesia in improving their management system for the creation of effective service. Local governments can benefit from the assistance in fostering reform, provide advocacy, facilitating groups of stakeholders in implementing the reform agenda, monitor performance, and initiate and replicate the results. A study showed that coaching should be a partnership between consultant and local governments to develop capacity and provide skills to local government. The creation of a market for consulting and advocacy services include networking and advocacy among professional bodies and practitioners, public oversight bodies and “watchdog” organizations and groups of non-governmental organizations (NGO’s). In addition, the need to develop the market for the instruments in accordance with capacity building, particularly government-assisted instruments.

Pembaharuan Dalam Manajemen Pelayanan Publik Daerah: Tantangan dan Peluang Dalam Desentralisasi Pemerintahan di Indonesia

Like other countries around the world, both developed and developing countries, Indonesia's local government performance is measured primarily through the provision of basic services. Despite efforts to improve the service represents a concrete manifestation of good governance to promote human development, local governments have struggled to overcome many challenges and limitations. In this paper, good governance focuses on motivation and progress that emerged by some districts in Indonesia in improving their management system for the creation of effective service. Local governments can benefit from the assistance in fostering reform, provide advocacy, facilitating groups of stakeholders in implementing the reform agenda, monitor performance, and initiate and replicate the results. A study showed that coaching should be a partnership between consultant and local governments to develop capacity and provide skills to local government. The creation of a market for consulting and advocacy services include networking and advocacy among professional bodies and practitioners, public oversight bodies and “watchdog” organizations and groups of non-governmental organizations (NGO’s). In addition, the need to develop the market for the instruments in accordance with capacity building, particularly government-assisted instruments.

Inclusión digital educativa. Clúster de asistencia para los más pobres

Se analizan los cambios de capital humano que los estudiantes de educación telesecundaria en un municipio indígena catalogados como en extrema pobreza. Estos cambios fueron motivados por la implementación de un proyecto educativo de inclusión digital operado por un grupo de Organizaciones No Gubernamentales, que se llama el "grupo de asistencia".
 Se está desarrollando una metodología etnográfica en el municipio de Coatecas Altas, ubicado en el estado mexicano de Oaxaca, que realiza trabajo de campo durante 16 meses entre 2017-2018 con una muestra de 24 estudiantes. Los resultados muestran un impacto favorable en la percepción de la escuela en el futuro, debido al conocimiento adquirido a través del proyecto de inclusión digital de la escuela. Cabe señalar que al menos 19 estudiantes prefieren continuar estudiando el desgaste o el trabajo infantil, reforzado el interés en continuar sus estudios en etapas posteriores. tales como la escuela secundaria o nivel superior. Se concluye un aumento evidente en el capital humano, los cambios positivos en las percepciones futuras de los estudiantes, además del hecho de que el trabajo de las organizaciones no gubernamentales es de suma importancia dada la incapacidad del Estado para implementar proyectos educativos en este tipo de contexto.

ABSENCE OF WOMEN'S PARTY IN THE NEW ORDER ERA: CASE STUDY OF INDONESIAN WOMEN MOVEMENT

During the New Order era the women's movement developed rapidly. These developments are indicated by the emergence of many women's organizations and groups of Non-Governmental Organizations which focus on prosecuting women's rights and protecting women against victims of violence. However, they have not touched on strategic issues in playing an important role for the success of the movement. These organizations are more demanding on the fulfillment of quotas in the position of women in politics. The women's movement has lost its critical power and innovation. In the meantime, the Indonesian Women's Movement (Gerwani) during the Old Order was considered to have given more opportunity to fight for women's rights and was considered successful in fighting for women. This organization was the most revolutionary women's movement at that time. They go directly into politics and fight for women's rights. However, Gerwani was regarded as one of the mass organizations most responsible for the events of 30 September 1965. In various mass media, Gerwani's atrocities are mentioned. The news was continuously carried out by various media. Stigmatization of the atrocities of Gerwani has provided gender limits to the women's movement during the New Order Period. A patriarchal culture that is thick in Indonesian society has become a major factor in the stigmatization of this organization. The peak was when Gerwani was banned by the New Order government and dissolved. Through an analytical descriptive approach, this paper looks at the stigmatization and crisis of Gerwani after dissolution, Gerwani in the perspective of feminism, and the dynamics of the movement, hopefully it can become learning.KEYWORDS: Indonesian Women Movementi, stigma, patriarchy, New Order, gender.INTRODUCTION

Opening windows and closing gaps: a case analysis of Canada\u2019s 2009 tobacco additives ban and its policy lessons

BackgroundIn 2009, Canada adopted legislation (Bill C-32) restricting the sale of flavoured tobacco products, one of the first in the world. This study examines the agenda-setting process leading to the adoption of Bill C-32.MethodsThis research was conducted using a case study design informed by Kingdon’s Multiple Streams framework and Heclo’s policy learning approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with key informants from government, health-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs), trade associations and the cigar manufacturing sector (n = 11). Public documents produced by media (n = 19), government (n = 11), NGOs (n = 15), as well as technical reports (n = 8) and formal stakeholder submissions (n = 137) were included for analysis. Data were coded with the objective of understanding key events or moments in the lead up to the adoption of Bill C-32 and the actors and arguments in support of and opposition to Bill C-32.ResultsThe findings point to the importance of a small but active group of NGOs who worked to publicize the issue and eventually take advantage of an open policy window. Our analysis also illustrates that even though consensus was developed about the policy problem and civil society was able to garner political support to address the problem, disagreement and dissent pertaining to the technical dimensions of the policy solution created loopholes for the tobacco industry to exploit.ConclusionsNGOs remain a critical factor in efforts to strengthen tobacco control policy. These organizations were able to mobilize support for the tobacco flavouring ban adopted at the Federal level in Canada, and although the initial Bill had major limitations to achieving the health objectives, the persistence of these NGOs resulted in amendments to close these loopholes.

Medical research using governments' health claims databases: with or without patients' consent?

Taking advantage of its single-payer, universal insurance system, Taiwan has leveraged its exhaustive database of health claims data for research purposes. Researchers can apply to receive access to pseudonymized (coded) medical data about insured patients, notably their diagnoses, health status and treatments. In view of the strict safeguards implemented, the Taiwanese government considers that this research use does not require patients' consent (either in the form of an opt-in or in the form of an opt-out). A group of non-governmental organizations has challenged this view in the Taiwanese Courts, but to no avail. The present article reviews the arguments both against and in favor of patients' consent for re-use of their data in research. It concludes that offering patients an opt-out would be appropriate as it would best balance the important interests at issue.

Staking Cosmopolitan Claims: How Firms and NGOs Talk About Supply Chain Responsibility

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) increasingly hold firms responsible for harm caused in their supply chains. In this paper, we explore how firms and NGOs talk about cosmopolitan claims regarding supply chain responsibility (SCR). We investigate the language used by Apple and a group of Chinese NGOs as well as Adidas and the international NGO Greenpeace about the firms’ environmental responsibilities in their supply chains. We apply electronic text analytic methods to firm and NGO reports totaling over 155,000 words. We identify different conceptualizations of cosmopolitanism in this discourse: a legalistic approach to cosmopolitanism for Apple and a group of Chinese NGOs and a moralistic approach for Adidas and Greenpeace. We argue that these differences connect to the roles that the firms are expected and perhaps willing to take in SCR: legalistic discourse connects to a governmental function of rule development and enforcement; in contrast, moralistic discourse connects to a citizenship function that focuses on doing good to the global community. We discuss implications for companies’ non-market strategies and future research.

The practice of a strengths-based approach to community development in Solomon Islands

This paper presents empirical findings from research undertaken in Solomon Islands to examine the use of strengths-based approaches (SBAs) by a group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). A summary framework was developed to underpin the analysis, drawing on literature in social work, organizational management, community development, and international development fields. The paper employs this framework to reflect on the practice of six NGOs working in partnership in Solomon Islands over 2009–2014. The findings demonstrate alignment between the NGO practice in Solomon Islands and SBA philosophy and practice as described in the literature, particularly in terms of adherence to beliefs about innate community capacity, the need to draw on community resources to create change, and the delicate balance between a strengths focus and repression of problems that might need to be surfaced. The findings diverged from the literature in how NGOs saw their role. Whilst they saw themselves as facilitators rather than experts, they also saw the development process as a partnership between themselves and communities rather than community led. This paper contributes empirical evidence of the characteristics, complexities and limitations of implementing a SBA in Solomon Islands, including reflections on the tension between self-help and advocacy development strategies.

“To be led differently”: Neoliberalism, road construction, and NGO counter-conducts in Peru

This essay explores how neoliberal governance is being contested, adapted, and engaged by Peruvian NGOs responding to the Interoceanic Highway, a large infrastructure project in southern Peru. The road is an anchor project of a continent-wide regional integration effort called IIRSA (Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America), begun in 2000 and spearheaded by Brazil. IIRSA is a result of Latin America’s neoliberal reorientations in the 1980s and 1990s and seeks to facilitate the extraction of resources and the movement of capital. IIRSA has been carried out with very little publicity, but in 2006, a group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) formed a coalition named the Civil Society Working Group for the Interoceanic Highway, and began critiquing both the road’s massive ecological and social consequences as well as the Peruvian government’s poorly designed impact mitigation program. Following Foucault, this paper suggests that NGO critique of the IIRSA project represents a form of counter-conduct and at once co-constitutes and challenges neoliberal practices of rule in Peru. Through the lens of “counter-conducts” – defined by Foucault as “the will not to be governed thusly, like that, by these people, at this price” – this essay shows how the NGO working group largely acts within the political space of the state through neoliberal ideas of good governance, while its discourses and actions point to a more profound reworking of environmental politics in Peru, a call in Foucault’s words, “to be led differently… and towards other objectives.”

A quality improvement model for the rapid scale-up of a program to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in South Africa

QUALITY PROBLEM AND ASSESSMENT: In South Africa (SA), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have a major role in the provision of health services, but they often compete for funding and influence rather than collaborate. The National Department of Health (NDOH) sought to coordinate existing non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to optimize the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) at scale. We describe how a group of NGO and government partners were brought together to jointly develop the 'Accelerated Plan' (A-Plan) to improve PMTCT services at health-care facilities in SA. The A-Plan used four main principles of large-scale change to align the network of NGO partners and NDOH: setting targets and improving data, simplifying processes and facilitating local execution, building networks and enabling coordination. In the first 6 months of the project, six NGO partners were engaged and the program reached 161 facilities. The program spontaneously spread from five planned subdistricts to nine subdistricts and produced a package of tested interventions to assist in scale-up of the PMTCT program elsewhere. Districts reported high levels of provider engagement in the initiative. In the 6-month project period, a total of 676 health-care workers and managers were trained in quality improvement methods and tools. Coverage of seven key processes in the PMTCT program was tracked on a monthly basis within each subdistrict. We found that a network model for the A-plan could successfully recruit key stakeholders into a strong partnership leading to rapid scale-up of a life-saving public health intervention.

Capacity in the NGO Sector: Results from a National Survey in Cambodia

Capacity has become a prominent theme in the literature on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the last few decades, due in part to the increasingly global role these organizations play in development. We analyze data obtained from a national sample of local and international NGOs operating in Cambodia, documenting capacity differences between these two groups as well as highlighting overall levels of capacity in the sector. The analysis covers a number of different organizational dimensions that have been associated with capacity, including structural characteristics and concrete management practices. Results suggest that international NGOs generally have greater capacity, but overall levels of capacity are relatively low for a variety of measures. We conclude with an exploratory cluster analysis that identifies four distinctive groups of NGOs based on capacity, providing additional insights into diversity within the sector. These findings will be useful for comparative NGO research and for capacity-building programs, in addition to helping establish an agenda for future research to monitor progress.

Differences Among NGOs in the Business–NGO Cooperative Network

Informed by the symbiotic sustainability model, this theory-building research compares a stratified subsample ( N = 66) from 695 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that have relationships with U.S. Fortune 500 companies in 11 industries ( N = 155). Using network analysis and centering resonance analysis, the research compares the “about us” statements of three groups of NGOs with different indegree centralities. The results of this study suggest that NGOs with multiple corporate partners are distinct from NGOs with single corporate partners. Across all levels of centrality, NGOs in cross-sector cooperative relationships tend to focus on children and be service oriented. In addition, federated NGOs were more likely to occupy a central position in the business–NGO cooperative network and foundations were more likely to have relationships with multiple corporations. Local NGOs were more likely to have only one cross-sector relationship and were, by a significant margin, the largest group. Propositions for future research are offered based on the findings.

Exploring Barriers to Coordination between Humanitarian NGOs

Humanitarian nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are increasingly collaborating through inter-organizational structures such as coalitions, alliances, partnerships, and coordination bodies. NGO’s information technology coordination bodies are groups of NGOs aimed at improving the efficiency of ICT use in humanitarian assistance through greater coordination. Despite their popularity, little is known about these coordination bodies, specifically the extent to which they address inter-organizational coordination problems. This paper examines coordination problems within two humanitarian NGO’s information technology coordination bodies. Based on data collected through interviews, observation, and document analysis, despite positive attitudes toward coordination by members, seven of eight widely accepted barriers to coordination still exist among members of these coordination bodies. Further, in a comparison of mandate-oriented, structural and behavioral coordination barriers, research finds mandate issues were most significant and structural factors were found in the greatest numbers. Findings suggest that effective humanitarian NGO’s information technology coordination bodies must pay attention to both organizational design and management issues, although the former are likely to have a greater impact on coordination.

As ONGs de mulheres negras no Brasil

This article aims to analyze black women’s non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Brasil. First, I identify which are the objects of the collective struggle of black women in Brasil, and how they relate to the process of emancipation of black women from the black and feminist movements, culminating in the subsequent formation of the black feminism (and of the black women movement). The second part discusses the political and organizational aspects, and the political action of this group of NGOs in the Brasilian society. In particular, it look at what I called as gendered racial perspective of black women’s NGOs; this perspective reflects a singular condition of oppression – i.e., the intersection of race, gender (and class, sexuality) – that this group have experienced. It concludes addressing the African diasporic dimension of these Afro-Brazilian women’s gendered racial perspective.

Beyond idealism and realism: Canadian NGO/government relations during the negotiation of the FCTC

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) marks a unique point in the history of global health governance. This convention produced the first legally binding treaty under the auspices of the World Health Organization. Another first was the extent to which non-governmental organizations (NGOs) participated in the negotiation process. This article explores the relationship between one group of NGOs and their respective government during the negotiation of the FCTC. Documentary analyses and 18 individual in-depth interviews were conducted with both government and NGO representatives. In contrast to the polar perspectives of idealism (NGOs as unique and autonomous) and realism (NGOs as funded arms of the government), our findings suggest that neither opposition nor conformity on the part of the NGOs characterize the relationship between the NGOs and government. While specific to the case under study (the FCTC), our findings nonetheless indicate the need for a nuanced view of the relationship between governments and NGOs, at least during the process of multilateral health policy negotiations.

Drilling for Water and Life - The Human Side of Petroleum Engineering

In the 40 years or so that I have worked in the oil and gas industry, I have witnessed an impressive transformation in our industry's performance in protecting people and the environment. There are obvious business and legal drivers, but the success would not have happened without appealing to employees in our industry to be good stewards of the environment and to help others. It is understood that our industry operates by permission of the public: no permission, no permits. Many companies have excellent programs for partnerships with the communities where they operate. Every year, SPE recognizes exceptional service to the public with its Public Service Award. SPE also has an active energy education program with the objective of improving the industry's public image. The Society encourages section members to get involved with local civic groups and to serve as speakers on energy issues. SPE also sponsors speakers to attend teachers' conventions and is starting a fund to help teachers buy teaching materials on energy education for classroom use and to help pay for education events and trips. The vision statement in the Industry Image section of the recently approved SPE Long Range Plan states: "Petroleum professionals are widely regarded as ethical, competent, environmentally sensitive, and providing a vital service to society." It is in keeping with SPE's tradition of community service that I share an opportunity for humanitarian service that requires the special skills of petroleum engineers. In 2002, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Johannesburg Declaration committed the 189 nations who signed it to develop concrete action to reverse the poverty, hunger, and disease affecting billions of people. The declaration endorsed a previous set of goals formulated by world leaders at the U.N. Millennium Summit in September 2000. One of the goals is to "reduce by half the proportion of people without access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation by the year 2015." A few years ago, a group of nongovernmental organizations combined to form the Millennium Water Alliance to coordinate efforts to save lives by providing clean water and sanitation to the world's poorest countries, where approximately 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

Conservation Policy in Brazilian Amazonia: Understanding the Dilemmas

Conservation policy in Brazilian Amazonia is rapidly evolving. The dynamics of different interest groups affect the political economy of land use. Choices include allocation of effort between completely and partially protected areas and between creation of new conservation units versus consolidation of existing units. Tensions between different levels of government, different groups of nongovernmental organizations, and between the public versus private sectors are evident. While the conflicting interests of such groups present many barriers, they also offer conservation opportunities. Negotiation with indigenous peoples represents one of the most critical areas for the long-term future of natural ecosystems in the region.