Institutional Capacity Building Research Articles

Developing a sustainable community forest management strategy in the mountainous areas of Tanggamus, Lampung, Indonesia

Abstract. Morizon, Nurrochmat DR, Maharijaya A, Putra PK. 2023. Developing a sustainable community forest management strategy in the mountainous areas of Tanggamus, Lampung, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 4503-4513. The Community Forest (HKm) program allows local communities to legally manage forests to strengthen their rights and reduce conflicts over forest resources. However, the program has yet to be successful in achieving its goals. This study aims to provide recommendations for HKM management strategies. The research involved surveys, field observations, and literature studies. Respondents were selected using purposive sampling and data analysis applied qualitative methods, including triangulation and SWOT analysis. The study found that the social and institutional aspects of the HKM program were not functioning well, with poor relationships among members of the farmers' group (Gapoktan). From an ecological perspective, there has been a decline in plant species. At the same time, the economic aspect shows that only 15% of members benefited from HKM, leaving the rest feeling its negative impact. The study recommends institutional restructuring, coaching, and capacity building for human resources, implementing agroforestry and organic schemes for coffee cultivation, providing guidance on alternative crops such as cardamom, and optimizing the role of cooperatives within the group. Key players must actively participate in HKM management. These recommendations could lead to the effective implementation of the HKM program.

Analysis of ethics dumping and proposed solutions in the field of biomedical research in China.

As international academic exchanges and cooperation deepen, China has actively engaged in international biomedical research collaboration and achieved significant success. However, these accomplishments have been accompanied by ethical controversies and issues, with ethics dumping being a recurrently discussed focus among scholars. This paper reviews ethics dumping incidents in China's biomedical research field and analyzes the underlying causes to answer why China is often susceptible to ethics dumping. We argue that the primary reasons include weak ethical awareness among some researchers, an oversimplified research evaluation system, gaps in relevant ethics governance and oversight mechanisms, and limited capabilities of certain ethics committees. To address these issues, we propose five ethics governance recommendations: establishing refined ethics committees at various levels and types; advancing theoretical and practical research on science and technology ethics governance; strengthening legislation and regulation related to emerging science and technology; emphasizing self-regulation and capacity building of research institutions; and providing special protection and healthcare for victims of ethics dumping. The aim is to enhance China's research supervision system and prevent similar ethics dumping incidents from recurring.

Strengthening regional governance and the health care network in small municipalities in BrazilFortalecimiento de la gobernanza regional y de la red de atención de salud en municipios pequeños de Brasil

In Brazil, 67.7% of the municipalities are characterized as small, with a population of less than 20 thousand. The objective of this article is to systematize the experience and identify the challenges and lessons learned in the implementation of the model for strengthening regional governance and organizing the health care network (HCN) in a region of Brazil composed of these municipalities, which present low technical and budgetary capacity, in addition to various fragilities related to the organization of the HCN. With a view to strengthening regional governance and the organization of the primary health care (PHC) work process and, consequently, the workflow with other levels of care, a strategy entitled More Care More Health (Mais Cuidado Mais Saúde) was proposed, developed in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the Ministry of Health. The project was developed through permanent health education and institutional capacity building in the region of Ivaiporã, state of Paraná, based on workshops and addressing three priority axes: HCN integration, capacity building and information management. The target audience were the extended PHC teams. The project made it possible to develop local and governance capacities through joint reflections on the health care model, its components and the necessary changes in work processes for health promotion with a focus on the quality of life of users. Because it is an experience that considers the weaknesses, needs and autonomy of local actors, the project has a high potential for replication and customization for other regions with similar characteristics inside and outside Brazil.

Factors affecting the independence of tri guna karya group farmers in kintamani in processing and marketing their products

Indonesia As an agrarian country, agriculture are considered as one of the sectors that contributes to economic growth by providing essential needs such as food and even raw materials for industries. The agricultural sector is still capable of maintaining positive growth and finding ways to achieve the welfare and independence of farmers through empowerment processes. This is crucial as the majority of farmers in Indonesia are categorized as poor and marginalized. One initiative in this regard is the effort made by local governments to implement programs that strengthen business capital and empowerment programs to enhance farmers' self-sufficiency. This study aimed to identify and assess the factors that impact the self-sufficiency of farmers in the processing and marketing of agricultural products in Subak-Abian Tri Guna Karya, located in Kintamani District, Bangli Regency. The type of data used in this research is quantitative and qualitative data. Data collection techniques were carried out by conducting structured interviews, observation and documentation studies. The data analysis technique in this study is to use descriptive analysis techniques and statistical analysis. Based on the results of data analysis, Based on the findings of the research, it can be deduced that the factors affecting the self-sufficiency of farmers in the marketing and processing of agricultural products are evident in Subak-Abian Tri Guna Karya, Kintamani District, Bangli Regency are the individual characteristics of farmers who are characterized by skills, capacity strengthening factors that characterized by strengthening individual capacity, and development capital factors characterized by Human Resources (HR) capital, Quality human resource development is achieved by enhancing specific individual skills (life of skill) and strengthening individual capacity building to reinforce institutional development capacity building based on the Subak institution. This approach aims to enhance individual farmers' intellectual self-sufficiency.

Urban Regeneration through Integrated Strategies to Tackle Inequalities and Ecological Transition: An Experimental Approach

Cities have a growing role to play in ensuring environmental transition while addressing issues of social inclusion and social sustainability. The aim of this study was to evaluate a multidimensional policy of the city of Messina, in southern Italy, aimed at experimenting a sustainable model of urban regeneration to overcome its shantytowns after the 1908 earthquake. The impact indicators of a pilot program of urban generation were collected in terms of environmental, social, and economic criteria, while the real experiment focused on the mechanisms of choice related to the housing of extremely marginalized people. In the end, two slums were demolished, and 205 households had a home without additional land consumption. Attitudes toward social cohesion were measured through 29 interviews and the administration of a pre–post structured test. According to the individual payoffs over time, it is possible to correlate housing choice mechanisms with components not related to short-term economic rationality. The development of a positive attitude toward the future and trust in others are associated with the development of the riskiest option, which is also the one that can have the highest payoff. The program strategy reduced reliance on social welfare measures and enforced institutional capacity building and skills for sustainable urban development.

Pengembangan Kapasitas Kelembagaan dalam Meningkatkan Kewirausahaan Sosial Kelompok Tani di Kelurahan Kambaniru Kabupaten Sumba Timur

The aim of the community service activity is in the form of counselling and training for the institutional capacity building of farmer groups in relation to increasing social entrepreneurship for the welfare of the members of the farmer group. The activity method used in this PkM is packaged using a workshop approach. The implementation of this PkM activity focuses on building institutional capacity and social entrepreneurship through counselling and training on group dynamics, institutional management & community development, training on farmer group administration and counselling and discussion on entrepreneurship social. Evaluation of activities is carried out by comparing the pre-test and post-test results of the implementation of all PKM activities. The average pre-test score was 49.2% and the post-test average score increased to 82.8%. This shows that there has been an increase in participants' knowledge about farmer group dynamics, institutional management and community development, bookkeeping and group administration, as well as knowledge about social entrepreneurship.

Talent Management Development on Government Institutions Regional Civil Service Agency Semarang

The organization's talent needs for the next five years are a translation of the strategy, and a reflection of the organization's vision and mission, taking into account internal demands as well as external demands. Quality aspects included in determining talent needs include knowledge and skills obtained from experience, competence, and personality in terms of organizational culture, it is clearly stated that institutional capacity development has indicators in institutionalizing a productive and positive organizational work culture based on the noble values of the nation's culture. According to the results of research at the Regional Civil Service Agency, Semarang Regency has implemented a value system that is the basis of ethics at work. It can be in the form of politeness, hospitality, communication that shows a noble value of the nation. Thus, from participatory and democratic comes the existence of work motivation that is always growing. By strengthening the value of employee discipline, the development of institutional capacity at the Semarang Regency Regional Civil Service Agency is maximized, this is strengthened by the enactment of PP No. 53 of 2010 concerning Employee Discipline, so that supervision is stricter and punishment is more firm and severe. In the institutional capacity building program at the Regional Civil Service Agency of Semarang Regency, a budget allocation is needed to support the implementation of all organizational activities. In accordance with World Bank theory which emphasizes the attention of talent management to the focus of the organizational environment which leads to financial and budgetary support in realizing all activities and needs of the organization. This type of research is Descriptive research. The approach used is a qualitative approach and a conceptual approach. The data source used is secondary data. Data analysis was carried out in a qualitative descriptive manner. Drawing conclusions is carried out by the deductive method, which is to draw conclusions from general to specific, especially those related to the research topic, namely the development of management talent towards government institutions. Capacity building takes a long time and requires long-term commitment and all parties involved. In the development of talent management of an organization both public and private sectors, Collective Commitments are the basic capital that must be continuously developed and maintained properly. This talent management commitment is not only for power holders, but covers all components in the organization. The influence of mutual commitment is very large, because this factor is the basis of the entire design of activities and goals to be achieved together. It is expected to strengthen and strengthen the budget allocation method in accordance with the vision, mission and objectives of governance as well as the development of regional revenue sources.

Localizing SDGs: the case of city planning in Malmö

Cities have an important role to play in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to mobilize sustainability at the urban level. Yet, municipalities encounter challenges in localizing the SDGs into their governance structures, and there is a need to advance our understanding of cities strengths and weaknesses in such processes. In this article we provide knowledge and reflections gained in analyzing the process of localizing the SDGs into the spatial planning of Smörkajen, a former industrial harbor site in Malmö, Sweden. By applying the analytical framework of Institutional Capacity Building, the study explores the process of localizing the SDGs in terms of building relational and knowledge capacities and to provide mobilization capacity by the formation of a sustainability strategy. The results illustrate an inclusive approach supporting relational capacity and numerous measures to enhance knowledge capacity, bringing about the formation of a draft sustainability strategy, strongly supported by the municipal participants. But rather than formally adopting the full strategy in the spatial planning of the Smörkajen area, the results of the process were only to be considered to the extent the traditional documents and processes allowed. In all, the results illustrate a strong support for the use of localized SDGs among municipal administrative units to mobilize sustainability, but also the challenges in actually implementing these in the formal planning and development process.

Investigating Barriers to Effective Reporting of Sustainable Development Goals by Government Institutions in Kenya

The purpose of this study was to investigate the barriers to effective reporting of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Kenya, with the primary focus being environmental reporting using the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) as a reference point. The objectives were to determine challenges when reporting environmental statistics, and propose recommendations to enhance effective reporting of environmental statistics by NEMA. The study was anchored on accountability and sustainability theories. Descriptive design was adopted, and the study population was drawn from NEMA, State Department of Planning in Kenya, and the United Nations Environment Programme. The study sampled 98 respondents using purposive sampling strategy where 91 filled and returned self-administered questionnaires that were subjected to analysis. The generated data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25. The results showed that there was a positive significant moderate linear relationship between effective reporting of SDGs and NEMA’s institutional capacity, M&E Framework, and enabling environment. However, environmental governance was not a significant predictor. The study concluded that organizations need enhanced technology for data acquisition, clear M&E structures, and continuous institutional capacity building to address changing reporting environment and policy needs. The study recommends bridging of existing knowledge gaps in the sector through research and partnership, organizational and individual capacity building, establishment of innovation/science centers, data driven governance, policy coherence, and environmental advocacy.

Ethical Challenges Faced by Nurses in Oncology Care During Breaking Bad News: A Qualitative Study

The emphasis of this paper is on the ethical challenges faced by nurses who broke bad news and worked in a tertiary care hospital in Punjab, Pakistan, with patients who were diagnosed with cancer. Objective: To explore the Ethical challenges faced by nurses in oncology care during breaking bad news. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological research design was employed. From the Oncology Department, 15 nurses with at least one year of experience were chosen as a sample. The University of Health Sciences in Lahore served as the study's setting. The Jinnah and Mayo Hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan, Oncology Departments were used to collect the data. Using an interview guide, semi-structured, in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data. Thematic analysis framework approach was used to analyses the data that had been gathered. Results: The study's conclusions showed that nurses typically steer clear of BBN because of ethical issues. Conclusions: To give nurses sound knowledge and competence of BBN at the institutional level, capacity building and ongoing nursing education programmes must be set up.

Harmonizing Universities With Globalization by Creating Institutional Adaptability to Internationalization Approaches in Higher Education: A Case Study in Nawroz University

Institutional internationalization arose as a globalized cross-cultural organizational practice in all social sectors. Popularity of the concept in the higher education sector urged authors to present numerous descriptions of internationalization approaches, which differed according to the philosophical references, circumstances of applying in the academic environments, and means–ends analysis. In the Third World countries, universities used to confront enormous challenges hindering internationalization ambitions in the context of structural and functional obstacles facing development in general. Perhaps it can be said that their internationalization is almost impossible in light of the complex socio- economic environments in those countries, political crises, obsolete bureaucracy, institutional inertia, and restricted academic freedoms. In any case, universities around the world are currently dealing with internationalization as an undebatable issue and must be working on it as a competitive requirement and substantive standard for quality assurance in higher education. In this article, the authors argue the success potential of an organizational transformation-based strategy to internationalization established on institutional adaptation and capacity building. This strategy has been adopted as a transitional stage between localization and internationalization in Nawroz University (NZU) which is presented here as a case study. NZU, as one of the private universities that following the local academic administration system in Kurdistan region of Iraq, has been faced complications resulted from the responsibility of tracking balance between fostering international values and policies, on the one hand, as well as maintaining institutional stability and human resources' positive response to the change, on the other hand. The article discusses how this university dealt with the idea of harmonization as a result of awareness of the difficulties implied in the task of internationalization. Therefore, it adopted what it had considered as a consistent, sustainable, and gradual institutional transformation during the period (2016-2019). The article also highlights plans taken up to support skill up-gradation to consolidate implicit transformation without affecting everyday workflow. In addition, it refers to some simulated international approaches and rankings standards which were used as a guide to direct the transformational process. Finally, the article illustrates some preferable outcomes that the university has been achieved.

Understanding Smart City Practice in Urban China: A Governance Perspective

Through an evolution from an emerging marketing narrative to a geographical fact around the globe, smart city is increasingly understood as a city’s effort to make itself smart. There seems no single city in the world to be commonly recognized as a real smart city yet, albeit many cities have already tried hard in this missionary commitment. Yet some common features can still be seen and identified, particularly from the urban governance perspective. This article explores the practice of smart city construction in China through a lens of governance by observing the interactive involvement of key stakeholders in the process. By taking three cities (Hangzhou, Wuhan, and Shanghai) in China as study cases, a conceptual framework is established in which three sets of actors, i.e., ICT-related enterprises, government, and civil society, and, accordingly, three types of approaches, i.e., ICT-led, planning-led, and place-making-and-community-oriented, are identified. It is found that the evolution of smart city construction rather follows a nonlinear trajectory and is very dependent on whether or not the primary actors and related stakeholders can form an affirmative acting power in triggering the city’s implementation. In other words, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to smart city construction. Each city may have its specialization in smartness based on awareness of and respecting its unique existing setting. The empirical study also shows that smart city construction tends to be converged in recognition that the core of smart city is not the smartness of technology but the smartness of all institutions and people enabled to utilize smart tools properly and efficiently in pursuit of people’s well-being, institutional capacity building, and better spatial arrangement towards a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive city in and for the future. From a geographical perspective, that is how to build a smart urban space to make the city a better place to not just accommodate but facilitate and meet people’s increasing demand for a better life in their living places.

EMERGING TECHNOLOGICAL INSIGHTS, HOTSPOTS CHALLENGES AND FUTURE DRIVING PATHWAYS FOR WHOLE PROCESS MAIZE MECHANIZATION IN NEPAL

Globally, mechanization has been recognized as a key means to increase the agricultural production and modernize the agriculture. Although the use of improved varieties has increased substantively since a decade, the use of land and labor saving technologies specifically mechanization and adoption of improved management practice, has lagged behind in Nepal. Thus, this study explores the current maize production status, past and present developmental effort on mechanization, and provides outlook on the currently available tools, equipment and machines for whole process maize mechanization (an array of available technologies from land preparation to post-harvest operation). Finally, we pointed out the mechanization hindering factors and gaps, and suggested the future driving paths along with potential emerging technologies that can have impact on future maize mechanization of Nepal. Though, there has been increase in the use of machines in Nepalese agriculture mostly in tillage and shelling for maize, yet use of machines is very limited in rest of the operations (for example, harvesting). To succeed the mechanization roadmaps, it is necessary to unify research and development efforts on need based technologies referring agro-ecological, socioeconomic and technical conditions; strengthen extension and credit services for adaptation and investment; formulate or implement quality inspection policy/program effectively; provide constant technical backstopping for institutional and community capacity building; upsurge awareness; establish provincial level mechanization centre and local level mechanization unit immediately; create community or contract farming schemes; promote custom hiring in business model considering the local level need; provide training, education and subsidies to the deserving farmers irrespective of their political attachment; assure timely availability of genuine spare parts and maintenance services; and form public-private partnerships for sustainable agricultural mechanization.

The Institutional Capacity Building of Al-Ittifaqiah Islamic Boarding School Based on Entrepreneurship

This study aims to analyze Islamic boarding schools’ institutional capacity building to improve entrepreneurship among students. The method used is mixed. The data were collected through in-depth interviews. Observations are made by observing the daily activities of the boarding school in carrying out its roles and functions. The results of this study indicate that the institutional capacity building is carried out in a long and continuous. Normatively, it is arranged in the vision and mission and practically through various program activities that encourage the implementation of the vision and mission of the Islamic boarding school. Efforts to develop the institutional capacity of the cottage institutions are carried out by developing the ability of life skills, talents and potential based on the conditions and situations of the boarding school and students. Islamic boarding schools also carry out socio-economic adaptations in line with global developments and the digital era.

Sharing the documentary heritage of humanity: disparities in distribution

ABSTRACT The Memory of the World (MoW) Programme aims to preserve and enhance access to and raise awareness of humanity’s documentary heritage. The 1992 MoW Programme is one of three UNESCO initiatives aimed at protecting the world’s cultural heritage alongside the two UNESCO Conventions Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (WHC) of 1972 and the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (ICHC) of 2003. Using listings to make predominantly cultural heritage visible worldwide is an important measure of all three UNESCO Heritage Programmes, the World Cultural Heritage (WCH), the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), and the Documentary Heritage (DH). The spatial distribution of UNESCO’s tangible and intangible heritage has already been investigated worldwide in academic research. Such an analysis will now be undertaken for the first time for world DH. In addition to a global perspective of spatial DH distribution, differences in the MoW Programme in terms of region and chronological development will be examined. This study aims to show how spatial disparities are visible in UNESCO’s MoW Programme and argues that institutional solutions (Regional and National MoW Committees) and capacity building in preparing nominations for underrepresented countries would create more balance in the MoW Registers.

Integration of the Standalone ‘Risk Assessment’ Section in Project Level Environmental Impact Assessment Reports for Value Addition: An Indian Case Analysis

Both environmental impact assessment (EIA) and risk assessment (RA) instituted some 50 years ago are interdisciplinary and decision-support tools and have analogies in their procedural steps. Environmental risk assessment could be employed as such or as complementary to EIA for environmental management. This study aims to examine how RA is dealt with in the EIA reports of greenfield projects. The investigation reveals that RA is treated as a standalone exercise and too inadequately in EIA studies. There is a lack of well-defined criteria and methodologies for RA in different contexts, evaluation of prediction uncertainties, residual risks, assimilating RA in EIA, regulatory framework to strengthen RA integration in EIA, objective review of RA by the competent authority, and EIA follow-up. Unambiguous terms of reference are proposed for RA in EIA under the prevailing regulation for immediate implementation. The duration and cost of preparing and reviewing EIA reports integrated with RA would increase but there would be more value addition to the EIA studies. Comprehensive EIA regulation, RA-related scoping, and institutional capacity building could help promote such integration that is crucial for assessing industrial and other anthropogenic calamities at the project development stage.

Enhancing investment opportunities through building institutional capacity in Tigray, evidence from Mekelle City

Enhancing investment opportunities through building institutional capacity in Tigray, evidence from Mekelle City

Enhancing investment opportunities through building institutional capacity in Tigray, Evidence from Mekelle City

Enhancing investment opportunities through building institutional capacity in Tigray, Evidence from Mekelle City

Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Climate Smart Agricultural Practices for Improved Food and Climate Security

The grand challenge of increasing production and access to nutritious and safe food to meet growing populations under threat to climate change and climate variability requires systems and transdisciplinary approaches towards agri-food systems. Sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) focuses on increasing agricultural production from existing farmland without any adverse environmental impacts. There are three major components of SAI which include: (i) genetic intensification (e.g., focused on improving yields, resistance to pests and diseases, tolerance to abiotic stresses, increasing nutritional quality of food products, and using precision breeding, genetics, and genomics tools); (ii) ecological intensification (e.g., focused increasing diversification, farming, cropping and agroforestry systems, resource use efficiency, integrated water, nutrient and pest management); and (iii) socio-economic intensification (e.g., focused on markets, value addition, income generation, policy, creating enabling environment, and building social capital). Climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices emphasize greenhouse gas emissions, water footprint, and focus on both adaptation and mitigation strategies. Few selected SAI and CSA practices include minimum and no-tillage; cover crops; crop diversity and genotypes selection for effective water use and stress tolerance; diversification (crop mixtures and rotations; perennials, agroforestry systems; forage crops; dual purpose crops); and nutrient recycling from livestock. Overall, developing adoption and scaling of these practices will require convergence of biophysical and social sciences, participatory approaches, public and private sector engagement and commitment of resources from all donor agencies for research and development, human and institutional capacity building.

No Roots, No Fruits: Marcel Tanner's Scholarly Contribution, Achievements in Capacity Building, and Impact in Global Health.

On 1 October 2022, Marcel Tanner celebrated his 70th birthday with his family and friends on the River Rhein in Basel. Trained in epidemiology (Ph.D.) and public health (MPH), Tanner devoted his entire working life to research, teaching, and capacity building. Indeed, he built up productive partnerships, fostered multinational consortia, served on numerous scientific and strategic advisory boards, and contributed measurably to improving people's health and well-being. We systematically searched the Web of Science Core Collection to identify Tanner's scholarly contribution and pursued an in-depth analysis of his scientific oeuvre including the main areas of research, pathogens, diseases, and health systems, and the geographical foci of his scholarly activities. Additionally, we examined Tanner's impact on personal and institutional capacity building in the arena of global health. We also invited a handful of colleagues to describe their experiences while working with Marcel Tanner. What transpires is a considerable breadth and depth of peer-reviewed publications in tropical medicine; epidemiology, environmental, and occupational health; parasitology; and infectious diseases. More than a third of the 622 peer-reviewed articles, the first piece published in 1978, focused on various aspects of the protozoan parasite Plasmodium and the disease it causes: malaria. Tanner trained, taught, and inspired generations of students, scientists, and practitioners all over the world. His unique ability to bring people and institutions together to work in partnership is at the heart of an impactful career in global health.