Increased Stakeholder Participation Research Articles

Conceptualization Of Circular Economy And Sustainability At The Business Level. Circular Economy And Sustainable Development

This research examines participants’ familiarity with circular economy concepts, the integration of these concepts in their organizations, encountered barriers, levels of awareness and understanding, implemented circular practices, perceived benefits, the importance of sustainability, financial or operational challenges, motivators for embracing a circular economy, and the accessibility of support and resources. The findings indicate that participants have an average degree of awareness regarding circular economy concepts. While some organizations have completely or partially implemented circular economy principles, a significant portion has not yet integrated them, suggesting a need for more initiatives. Financial limitations, supply chain restrictions, and a lack of knowledge are the primary barriers to adoption. Employee knowledge and comprehension of circular economy concepts have room for improvement. Commonly implemented circular practices include renewable energy use, material recycling, and product lifespan extension. Perceived benefits include cost savings, resource conservation, and increased stakeholder participation. Sustainability may not be considered important in overall strategy and decision-making by a majority of participants. Financial or operational difficulties are experienced by some organizations during the adoption of circular economy principles. Motivators for embracing a circular economy include cost savings, brand reputation, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder expectations. Participants highlighted a need for more support and resources to implement circular economy projects. Overall, the survey highlights the varying levels of familiarity, integration, challenges, awareness, and understanding of circular economy concepts among participants, and underscores the importance of addressing barriers, raising awareness, and providing sufficient support and resources for advancing circular economy principles.

Employing Dissonance-Based Interventions to Promote Health Equity Utilizing a Community-Based Participatory Research Approach and Social Network Analysis

The purpose of this paper is to examine and advocate for the consideration of relevant approaches that can be utilized to increase the effectiveness of cognitive dissonance-based interventions (DBIs) designed to promote health equity. Although DBIs informed by different paradigms have been reported to be effective in creating behavior change, particularly among at-risk populations, their long-term impacts on behavior change have apparently been difficult to sustain. We argue that a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach could considerably improve the effectiveness and long-term impacts of DBIs by harnessing community strengths, increasing stakeholder participation, and facilitating collaborations and partnerships in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of such interventions. Then, we argue that the benefits of employing a CBPR approach in DBIs can be further enhanced when combined with an approach that intentionally utilizes Social Network Analysis (SNA). SNA applies powerful techniques to recognize the type of connections that hold a specific network together and identify that network’s key and influential stakeholders. We conclude by providing recommendations for the use of CBPR and SNA in DBIs and demonstrating the benefits of our recommendations, especially in the context of promoting health equity.

Toward good governance in water resources management in Ghana

AbstractIn the global water policy literature, integrating governance principles into water resources management is projected as the best approach to overcome the crisis in water resources management. Therefore, since 1990, many countries, including Ghana, have introduced various changes in their water sector to encourage good governance in the management of the resource. Using interviews and a review of policy and regulatory documents, this study examines recent changes in the water sector in Ghana to identify challenges for good governance in water resources management. The results suggest that the introduction of a new institutional framework and several regulatory mechanisms, including policies, rules, regulations, and laws, has decentralized water management system, increased stakeholder participation, granted voice to marginalized stakeholders, and brought government and communities together in the decision‐making process. However, the results further reveal that several challenges, including institutional barriers, exclusion or underrepresentation of key stakeholders, corruption, multisectoral conflict, collaboration preferences, and others continue to frustrate good governance in water resources management. Deliberately committing to the principles of good governance, amending ineffective regulatory mechanisms, and adequately resourcing regulatory institutions can help avoid many of the challenges in the water sector and propel the country toward sustainable water resources management.

Kendala Pengembangan Wisata Watu Joli Desa Pucung Kidul, Kecamatan Boyolangu, Tulungagung

Watu Jolì Tourism is one of the tourist attractions located in Tulungagung Regency, East Java, Indonesia. Tourism Watu Joli Tulungagung may have great potential, but there are several obstacles encountered in its development. The purpose of this study is to examine the obstacles to tourism development at Watu Joli Tulungagung. This study uses descriptive qualitative methods through interviews with managers, observations, and retrieves information from relevant literature sources. The results of the study show that the obstacles in the development of Watu Joli tourism include budget constraints, environmental problems, lack of participation from stakeholders, and lack of tourism promotion. To overcome these obstacles, various efforts need to be made, such as finding adequate sources of funds, better environmental management, increasing stakeholder participation, and increasing promotion of Watu Joli.
 Keywords: Constraints, Tourism Development, Watu Jol

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Community towards an Onchocerciasis Elimination Program from South West Ethiopia

Onchocerciasis is a neglected tropical disease that is prevalent throughout Africa, including developing countries such as Ethiopia. It affects around 37 million people, the majority of whom are from Africa. As a result, the study was designed to look into the community's knowledge, attitude, and practice about the onchocerciasis elimination campaign. Four communities from Gesha town, Southwest Ethiopia, were chosen. The population was selected using a basic random selection procedure, and 312 people were identified for the study based on the eligibility requirements, with 302 (96.79%) of them responding correctly. The data were analyzed using the descriptive method with the SPSS program version 20. It was discovered that the majority of communities (89.4%) are aware of onchocerciasis. They also have a good awareness of the severity, preventability, therapy, and mode of transmission, yet they have certain misunderstandings. The communities attitude towards community directed therapy (CDT) using Ivermectin is positive (68.5%). According to 56% of the community, offering incentives for community drug distributors (CDD) has the potential to make the elimination campaign more successful. Different measures, such as avoiding any activities near the river, are important in the process of eradicating this disease at the community level. As a result, the respondent demonstrates that covering the lower body part lessens the black fly's vulnerability because they may attack below the knee. In general, community awareness and attitude are required to eradicate this disease from the district. In addition, increased stakeholder participation and offering motivating rewards for CDT are required to make the elimination program a success.

Recent challenges and new possibilities with urban agriculture in Victoria, British Columbia

Increasing urbanization generates new challenges for cities, including housing shortages, environmental degradation, public health concerns, and food security issues, just to mention a few. High levels of food insecurity can motivate planners to increase their support for community gardening forms of urban agriculture. The COVID‐19 pandemic has amplified many pressures of urban living. In this paper, we focus on challenges around urban agriculture activities, in particular, exploring regulatory approaches and limitations when it comes to growing food in cities. This study uses qualitative research methods to explore the main barriers to urban agriculture as perceived by community‐based groups in Victoria, British Columbia. Data collection included 18 semi‐structured, face‐to‐face interviews, and two community mapping workshops with local residents, government officials, and non‐governmental groups. Data analysis generated initial codes and themes that revealed “urban agriculture zones” and “garden‐style” apartment housing as important avenues for urban agriculture projects. These findings are relevant in Victoria, where more than half of the population lives in apartments. A food action plan is a regulatory mechanism that can boost food production when aligned with the official community plan. Any progress towards far‐reaching changes, however, requires an efficient urban agriculture development process, including creating site inventories, increasing stakeholder participation, reducing waitlists, and tackling high land prices.

Management status of blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus Linnaeus, 1758) based on EAFM in the coastal of Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi

The Blue Swimming Crab (BSC) is the main export commodity of Indonesia and one of the BSC agribusinesses in the coastal waters of the Pangkep Regency. However, in recent years, BSC agribusiness in this region has been estimated to be unsustainable. The purpose of this study is to formulate the management of BSC (Portunus pelagicus) resources with the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in the coastal of the Pangkep Regency. The average value score in the BSC management domain is in the medium category (resource, habitat, economic, and institutional domains); the fishing techniques domain is in the good category, while the social domain is in the poor category. In general, the status of BSC fisheries management is categorized as medium (value = 194.25), therefore it can still be developed and improved. To repair the BSC fisheries management for gradually, tactical decisions were made to enhance the indicator conditions. To make the fishery activities sustainable, recommendations to improve the condition of the BSC fisheries in the Pangkep Regency include strengthening the supervision, improving the seagrass cover, improving coordination among institutions on the BSC fisheries management, and increasing stakeholder participation in the effort to manage the BSC fisheries.

Chemical risk governance: Exploring stakeholder participation in Canada, the USA, and the EU.

Hazardous chemicals are one of the greatest environmental challenges facing our planet, testing governments in the face of economic and social development. Chemical risks are often complex systemic risks, which require particular governance processes, stakeholder participation mechanisms, and communication procedures to manage. In this article we explore how such processes, mechanisms, and procedures could offer more effective pathways for international chemical risk assessment and management. Combining document analysis with 69 key informant interviews and four focus groups with experts from across government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and industry in Canada, the USA and Europe (n = 24), the results highlight the importance of increasing stakeholder participation and risk communication in existing chemical risk assessment and management frameworks. Similarities and differences between the three jurisdictions are discussed with a view to inform future risk governance strategies. The contemporary insights are of relevance to decision-makers seeking to improve the effectiveness of chemical risk governance in practice.

Regulator Reputation and Stakeholder Participation: A Case Study of the UK’s Regulatory Sandbox for Fintech

This article contributes to the discussion about managing the risks and uncertainties of emerging technologies through increased stakeholder participation. Authorities have increasingly invited stakeholders from high-technology sectors to participate in assessing the risks of, and designing responses to, new technologies. Yet authorities often struggle to attract stakeholders from such sectors to participate; a critical challenge identified but still undertheorised in the literature. Responding to this gap, this article presents a case study of the UK’s regulatory sandbox for financial technologies, applying a document study, questionnaire and interviews to explore fintech firm motivations and apprehensions about participation. Drawing on the bureaucratic reputation literature, the study finds that fintech firms have a range of practical, reputational and normative motivations to participate, and these motivations are inextricably tied to the regulator’s strong reputation with the sector as procedurally correct, high-performing and morally committed to facilitating innovation. On this basis, recommendations for practitioners and hypotheses for future research into the drivers of stakeholder participation in regulatory decision-making surrounding emerging technologies are proposed.

Voices of young biosphere stewards on the strengths, weaknesses, and ways forward for 74 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves across 83 countries

Young stakeholders are key actors in social-ecological systems, who have the capacity to be agents of sustainability transformation but are also at high risk of exclusion in the unfolding of global change challenges. Despite the focus of sustainability on future generations, there has been little research effort aimed at understanding young actors’ roles as biosphere stewards. In this work we investigate how young stakeholders perceive and participate in the implementation of sustainability objectives in 74 Biosphere Reserves of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme across 83 countries, through participatory group workshops, individual surveys and grey literature review. We explore to what extent youth perceptions are aligned or not with current understandings of Biosphere Reserves and how young stakeholders are acting in pursuit of Biosphere Reserve objectives. We find that young stakeholders have a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced by environmental governance, such as resilience and adaptation to global change and the governance challenges of implementing adaptive co-management and increasing stakeholder participation. We also show that young stakeholders can be active participants in a wide range of activities that contribute to achieving conservation and development goals in their territories. They are particularly concerned with youth participation within all levels of Biosphere Reserve functioning and with the creation of sustainable livelihood opportunities that will allow future generations to remain in their native territories. Our study provides evidence of the importance of young stakeholder knowledge and perspectives as central actors in conservation and development initiatives, like Biosphere Reserves, and of the need to increase young stakeholder integration and participation within environmental governance.

Assessing Bali sardine stock status using real-time electronic catch landing data recorder and time series catch database

Digitalization of capture fisheries data becomes inevitable in the present and future time. The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the fisheries sector is widely applied, creating a bigger and better database. Development of the database offers the utilization of Big Data and Decision Support System (DSS) to provide robust analysis, simulate better scenarios, formulate recommendations, and propose management measures to support successful fisheries management in achieving sustainability and profitability objectives. Bali Strait sardine stock estimation has been conducted several times through several approaches and techniques. This study will combine the available times series catch and effort data from published statistic landing data and publications with real-time data from electronic catch monitoring in Muncar and Pengambengan fishing port. The sardine stock and fishery status estimation were analyzed using a stock-production model incorporating covariates (ASPIC), a Nonequilibrium surplus-production model to data on fish catch and relative abundance. Another purpose of this study is to increase stakeholder participation through a smart dashboard system that enables automatic data analysis, faster recommendations socialization, and engagement. Increased stakeholder participation in fisheries management will be a crucial factor in achieving operational and successful fisheries management.

Adaptive Governance: The proposed port expansion in the Cayman Islands and its impacts to coral reefs

Increasingly, governments are implementing infrastructure modernization projects that expand shallow water ports adjacent to coral reefs. Preliminary evidence suggests port expansion causes significant coral mortality. Supporters argue that without such projects, economic competitiveness, job numbers, and revenue streams will decline. The Cayman Islands are proceeding with a controversial port expansion project that has escalated into a major environmental policy dispute, triggering an unprecedented people’s-initiated referendum. This paper analyzes this policy dispute, asking how coral reef governance is changing because of the proposed port expansion in the Cayman Islands? This research finds evidence for adaptive Caymanian governance occurring in four ways. First, the port dispute is causing Caymanian institutions to be significantly changed by both pro- and anti-port stakeholders. Second, because of institutional changes, space for private companies to impact decision-making is increasing, contested by civil society. Third, non-state actors, such as civil society and the private sector, are significantly shaping public discourse. Fourth, participatory democratic processes, led by civil society, are emerging in new ways. In environmental policy contexts, changes in governance can include changing institutions and expanded participation opportunities for stakeholders. There is a tacit assumption that such changes are positive normative transformations in government. The Cayman Islands port dispute shows that increased stakeholder participation in decision-making may unintentionally allow outsized roles for private interests to erode institutions and undermine public policy. A robust and active civil society can contest these changes, unlocking democratic inroads to influence decision-making.

Protokol New Normal Order Pasca Pandemi COVID-19 dalam Pengembangan Kampoeng Boenga Grangsil Berbasis Masyarakat

The tourism development sector in Indonesia is overgrowing . D uring the COVID-19 p andemic, it was the sector most affected economically. The COVID1-9 p andemic has changed the "normal" conditions in all life sectors, including tourism sector activities. The uncertainty over the end of the COVID-19 p andemic requires us to adapt to the n ew c onditions, the n ew p rerequisites (social and physical distancing), and the n ew o rder (physical, social, and health) preparing the n ew n ormal o rder p rotocol. The recovery of tourism sector activities must be aware of the emergence of new clusters in tourist destinations . The purpose of the discussion in this paper is to produce a n ew n ormal o rder p rotocol after the COVID-19 p andemic for the development of sustainable community-based rural tourism destinations. The efforts that prepare are the n ew n ormal o rder after COVID-19, by taking into account: (1) Mitigation of tourism "disasters" due to COVID-19; prevent new clusters in tourist villages/villages (2) Compilation of health protocols for tourist destinations during the COVID-19 p andemic e ra; (3) Strengthening information on destination environmental health; (4) Strengthening the Destination Management Organization (DMO) especially for the management of the COVID-19 t ourism v illage p rotocol; and (5) Increasing stakeholder participation towards a n ew n ormal o rder. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26905/abdimas.v5i3.4803

Deepening transparency about value-laden assumptions in energy and environmental modelling: improving best practices for both modellers and non-modellers

ABSTRACT Transparency and openness are broadly endorsed in energy and environmental modelling and analysis, but too little attention is given to the transparency of value-laden assumptions. Current practices for transparency focus on making model source code and data available, documenting key equations and parameter values, and ensuring replicability of results. We argue that, even when followed, these guidelines are insufficient for achieving deep transparency, in the sense that results often remain driven by implicit value-laden assumptions that are opaque to other modellers and researchers, and that may not be understood by wider audiences to be controversial. This paper identifies additional best practices for achieving transparency by highlighting issues where disagreement over value judgements will persist for the foreseeable future. Recommendations for deepening transparency are developed by learning from successes and ongoing challenges represented in three case studies. We provide recommendations to accelerate the adoption of additional best practices for deepening transparency of energy and environmental modelling in policy-relevant domains, increasing stakeholder participation with non-modellers, and encouraging interdisciplinary dialogue. Key policy insights Achieving all of the goals associated with transparency requires more than current practices of providing open source data, code, and model documentation. Greater interdisciplinary dialogue could improve transparency beyond current practices, including in model development, application, and communications. Better practices for addressing contentious and value-laden assumptions include providing accessible documentation for non-specialists, increasing policymaker participation to ensure that model outputs can inform questions, and performing sensitivity analyses that cover a range of reasonable views about value-laden assumptions. Energy and environmental modellers should account for audience-specific considerations to promote transparency, especially accounting for needs of non-modellers such as policymakers.

Qualitative Exploration of factors affecting Uptake and Demand for Contraception and other Family Planning Services in North-West Nigeria.

In spite of the improvements in knowledge about family planning (FP), the contraceptive prevalence rate and unmet need for FP remain poor in most parts of Northern Nigeria. This study sought to explore specific factors that influence contraceptive uptake and demand in North-West Nigeria. Key Informant and In-depth Interviews were conducted using guides among stakeholders in two selected states in North-West Nigeria, Kebbi and Sokoto States. Interviewees were selected purposively to include Reproductive Health Focal Persons at the local government level, service providers, Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) and FP coordinators. Factors inhibiting contraceptive uptake included lack of health education, religion, fear of spousal rejection and side effects. Poor government funding and inadequate number of health workers were also identified as systemic factors. Suggested methods of overcoming identified challenges include; task-shifting, increased stakeholder participation and political will.

Radiation Oncology Incident Learning System (RO-ILS): Increasing stakeholder participation for safety and quality improvement.

232 Background: RO-ILS was launched in 2014 and is free, web-based and in more than 500 U.S. radiation facilities. After RO-ILS was implemented at University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC), reporting of radiation incidents decreased and participation by radiation staff was limited. To improve incident reporting and participation, RO-ILS was relaunched for all radiation staff members at UVMMC with emphasis on improved system access and education on RO-ILS programmatic goals. Methods: Prior to RO-ILS, safety/quality incidents at UVMMC were submitted by radiation therapists, dosimetrists and physics staff on paper forms and reviewed monthly by the Radiation Quality Committee. After implementation of RO-ILS in 2016, RO-ILS incidents were reviewed by the UVMMC RO-ILS administrators with no formalized staff feedback. Due to decreasing staff submissions, RO-ILS relaunched September 2018 with increased training, scheduled submission review to radiation staff and identification of department champions. Results: Between April 2014 and May 2019, 270 radiation incidents were reported. Prior to RO-ILS, a median 8 incidents were reported per quarter but decreased to 6 per quarter after RO-ILS. After RO-ILS relaunch, median reported incidents increased to 42 per quarter. Radiation “Near Miss” events pre RO-ILS, post RO-ILS and with RO-ILS relaunch were reduced from 78% to 34% to 9%, while “Operational/Process Improvement” submissions increased from 17% pre RO-ILS to 49% post RO-ILS to 81% after relaunch. After RO-ILS relaunch, staff participation expanded to physicians, nursing and administrative staff for the first time, and physician participation increased from 0 to 50%. Conclusions: Following implementation of RO-ILS at UVMMC, radiation incident reporting initially decreased and the proportion of “Near Miss” reports decreased. After relaunch of RO-ILS, there was substantial increase in incident reporting involving all staff. As RO-ILS evolves at UVMMC, there is continued decrease in near misses and greater emphasis on “Process Improvement”. Continued education, reporting and feedback from RO-ILS submissions is recommended to maintain this high staff participation level.

Using the systemic-resilience thinking approach to enhance participatory collaborative management of natural resources in tribal communities: Toward inclusive land reform-led outdoor tourism

Community participation is at the heart of environmental governance as it facilitates and promotes a sense of ownership in a society's decision making and social development issues. This paper, using both primary and secondary data collected through methods inspired by participatory research, set out to discuss a methodological approach aimed at understanding how common pool natural resources are managed by multi-actors and stakeholders in a developing country context in an effort to promote inclusive land reform-led outdoor tourism. It combines two ‘soft-systems’ schools of thought, systemic thinking and resilience thinking, to analyse the effectiveness and efficiency of collaborative management of natural resources in tribal communities established through land reform processes in South Africa. It is argued in the paper that the two schools of thought can play key roles in identifying and informing the development of appropriate intervening measures and strategies that can contribute towards the adoption of effective and sustainable systems of community natural resource management and bring about more meaningful community development through community-based tourism. These observations have been made within the broader and contemporary arguments of sustainable environmental management and community development. Management implications•The systemic-resilience approach appears to be critical for increasing stakeholder participation in conservation endeavours aimed at outdoor recreational activities and tourism.•The intervention approach in complex tribal communities is key for establishing accommodations that will enable developing action plans to enhance stakeholder participation in co-managing common pool natural resources earmarked for community-based ecotourism.•The systemic-resilience approach promotes strong and genuine grassroot-grown community participation in environmental management decision making, thereby promoting stakeholder participation of interested actors in outdoor recreation and tourism.•Systemic-resilience facilitates the attainment of social capital elements which are key to the successful co-management of natural resources, i.e. participation, transparency, reciprocity and effective communication.

The legitimacy of free trade agreements as tools of EU democracy promotion

This article questions whether the European Union (EU) strategy of using free trade agreements (FTAs) as tools of democracy promotion is, currently, normatively coherent and legitimate. It focuses on FTAs with proximate autocracies and makes four main claims. First, FTAs raise significant legitimacy concerns in that they can ordinarily be expected to generate both economic ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ in the target country without democratic processes in place to legitimate these costs. Second, the EU risks empowering autocrats (rather than catalysing democratic transition) in the way it negotiates FTAs. Third, ‘leverage’ strategies of withholding or suspending cooperation as a result of violations of democratic and human rights norms are applied inconsistently by the EU, undermining leverage credibility. Fourth, the best-case impact of regulatory convergence with the EU acquis communautaire on the democratic character of sector-level policymaking is mixed: increased transparency and accountability can improve democratic credentials, while, paradoxically, increased stakeholder participation is normatively suspect in the absence of a democratic framework.

The effects of landscape patterns on ecosystem services: meta-analyses of landscape services

The recently introduced concept of ‘landscape services’—ecosystem services influenced by landscape patterns—may be particularly useful in landscape planning by potentially increasing stakeholder participation and financial funding. However, integrating this concept remains challenging. In order to bypass this barrier, we must gain a greater understanding of how landscape composition and configuration influence the services provided. We conducted meta-analyses that considered published studies evaluating the effects of several landscape metrics on the following services: pollination, pest control, water quality, disease control, and aesthetic value. We report the cumulative mean effect size (E++), where the signal of the values is related to positive or negative influences. Landscape complexity differentially influenced the provision of services. Particularly, the percentage of natural areas had an effect on natural enemies (E++ = 0.35), pollination (E++ = 0.41), and disease control (E++ = 0.20), while the percentage of no-crop areas had an effect on water quality (E++ = 0.42) and pest response (E++ = 0.33). Furthermore, heterogeneity had an effect on aesthetic value (E++ = 0.5) and water quality (E++ = − 0.40). Moreover, landscape aggregation was important to explaining pollination (E++ = 0.29) and water quality (E++ = 0.35). The meta-analyses reinforce the importance of considering landscape structure in assessing ecosystem services for management purposes and decision-making. The magnitude of landscape effect varies according to the service being studied. Therefore, land managers must account for landscape composition and configuration in order to ensure the maintenance of services and adapt their approach to suit the focal service.

Crowdsourced Delphis: Designing solutions to complex environmental problems with broad stakeholder participation

Abstract There is a well-established need for increased stakeholder participation in the generation of adaptive management approaches and specific solutions to complex environmental problems. However, integrating participant feedback into current science, research, and decision-making processes is challenging. This paper presents a novel approach that marries a rigorous Delphi method, borrowed from policy and organizational sciences, with contemporary “crowdsourcing” to address the complex problems of water pollution exacerbated by climate change in the Lake Champlain Basin. In an online Delphi forum that occurred over a six-week period during the Spring of 2014, fifty-three participants proposed and commented on adaptive solutions to address water quality in the context of climate change. In a follow up Multi-Stakeholder workshop, thirty-eight stakeholders participated in refining and synthesizing the results from the forum. To inform modeling and policy dialogue, the resulting list of interventions was analyzed by time horizon, domain, type of adaptation action, and priority level. The interventions suggested by stakeholders within the crowdsourcing forum have contributed to the current policy dialogue in Vermont including legislation to address phosphorus loading to Lake Champlain. This stakeholder approach strengthens traditional modeling scenario development to include solutions and priorities that have been collectively refined and vetted.