Intergovernmental Organizations Research Articles

The Humanitarian Crisis in the Gaza Strip, its Impact on the Peace Process in the Middle East and the Humanitarian Sphere of World Politics

Introduction. Humanitarian crises in the conflicts of recent decades directly affect the security of not only neighbouring states, but also undermine the established system of humanitarian cooperation between states. Non-state actors: terrorist organizations, separatist groups, protest movements, paramilitary religious groups and others that participate in conflicts and choose violent measures, complicate the resolution of conflicts. Despite the fact that all parties to the conflict are obliged to comply with the norms of international humanitarian law, both states and non-state actors are increasingly moving away from the principles of humane treatment of the civilian population. Each of the parties puts forward its own justifications for the indiscriminate approach.Materials and methods. The study is based on the case study method. An analysis of the changes in the provision of humanitarian aid to the civilian population during the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip makes it possible to draw conclusions about the current trends in the development of the humanitarian sphere as a whole. The author used materials from Russian and foreign media, UN and INGO reports, and international treaties.Reseach results. The conflict complicated the peace process, normalization of relations between Israel and Arab states, and also exposed the problem of politicization of humanitarian aid. Politicization manifested itself not only in the assessment of the conflict itself, which has long divided the world community, but first of all, for the first time, it had such a large-scale impact on the UN humanitarian aid institutions and various INGOs. The politicization of the conflict also resulted in the manifestation of a "cancel culture", which stigmatized the parties to the conflict and complicated the activities of humanitarian organizations in providing assistance to the civilian population.Discussion and conclusion. However, the most serious consequences are not only in the area of worsening the humanitarian situation, threats to civilians and employees of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations involved in providing humanitarian aid to the affected population, collecting information on the situation of civilians, the balance of power and compliance with international humanitarian law, but also in the area of compliance with the principles of humanitarian aid themselves. The humanitarian community is divided between those who support Israel's position and its stated "right to self-defense" and those who advocate for its accountability along with Hamas for what the UN SecretaryGeneral called "excessive use of force". An analysis of the impact of humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip on the process of conflict resolution is of great scientific interest, and its results can enrich knowledge not only about the peace process itself, but also about the role of humanitarian sphere in world politics.

The Impact on International Law and Response Strategies of Artificial Intelligence Technology Development in the Context of Digital Economy: Taking WTO as a Research Perspective

The rapid development of digital technology has made international interactions more convenient and frequent, and nowadays, the rapid change and development of artificial intelligence has brought unprecedented challenges to the international law. The international community has put forward an urgent demand for the improvement and development of the international law system. On the one hand, the wide application of AI in international trade has had a great impact and influence on the global value management; on the other hand, the development of AI has put forward new challenges to the relevant rules of the WTO, which include, but are not limited to, whether the existing World Trade Organisation (WTO) treaties are applicable to AI in the context of the digital economy, such as the GATT, GATS; whether existing WTO rules are formulated with the application of AI, such as GATT, GATS; whether emerging technologies are taken into account in the formulation of existing WTO rules; and the challenge of AI to the existing legal system system. The World Trade Organisation (WTO), as the most important intergovernmental trade organisation in the world and the international community today, still plays an important role in regulating and deploying the development of AI technologies in the international trading system. Based on this, this paper takes the WTO as the research perspective to explore the impact of the digital economy and the development of artificial intelligence technology on international law, combining the existing rules system of the WTO and the characteristics of the development of artificial intelligence technology, research and argumentation to deal with the impact of the strategy, with a view to guaranteeing better development of artificial intelligence technology for the WTO, better service to mankind to offer advice.

International Legal Regime of Lunar Orbits: Will There Be Enough Space for Everybody?

INTRODUCTION. The exploration and use of the Moon, including its natural resources, is a priority in the space research activities of many participants. This is evidenced by the adoption of lunar space programmes at the national level, the preparation and launch of spacecrafts to the Moon and its surface, and discussions of future international legal regulation in international intergovernmental and nongovernmental organisations. It is important to ensure communication with the spacecraft through the use of lunar orbits in carrying out such lunar activities. In order to understand this process, it is necessary to examine the scientific and technical, as well as regulatory aspects that are interrelated, including the international legal regime for lunar orbits.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The materials used in the research and for writing cover fundamental works of Soviet/Russian scientists in the field of international space law, as well as research works and analyses devoted to CIS-lunar space and orbits around the Moon. The assessment of the existing international legal regime on lunar orbits requires the application of not only formal-legal and comparative-legal research methods inherent in legal sciences, but also general scientific methods, such as analysis and synthesis, to understand the specific scientific and technical nature of the issue under consideration. An important place in the article was taken by the study of the conceptual definitions, namely such terms as “a Moon orbit”, “lunar orbit”, “CIS-lunar space”, “frozen orbit’”, “haloorbit”, “shielded zone of the Moon”, etc.RESEARCH RESULTS. The lunar orbit refers to various trajectories of natural or artificial objects around the Moon. Orbits around the Moon are distinguished by the altitudes of migration, aposecretion and inclination. Separately distinguish ‘frozen’ orbits and haloorbits, which are characterized by special properties in terms of space objects placed on them. Spacecrafts use different radio-frequency spectrum in all types of lunar orbits. Most of the orbits around the Moon are unstable. The international legal status and regime of lunar orbits are regulated by documents of the International Telecommunication Union, among which there are a number of documents dealing with the issue of radio astronomy in the shielded zone of the Moon. The fundamental provisions of international space law also apply to the activity on use and exploration of CIS-lunar space and its orbits.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The following conclusions were obtained from the study. By 2027, the international community within the ITU will have to solve a number of issues related to the use of CISlunar space and orbits around the Moon, including radio astronomy, the use of repeater satellites, and the radio-frequency spectrum. Additionally, a system for coordinated lunar time is discussed. Disorderly use of lunar orbits may lead to the problem of space debris. An increase in the number of objects sent to the Moon may cause difficulties in astronomical research and limit the number of stable orbits for all interested participants. International cooperation of States and other interested participants in lunar activities within the framework of international organizations will contribute to solving the outlined problems.

Universal Health Care Coverage for Aging Population

The term Universal Health Coverage (UHC) refers to a situation where “all people (both males and females, boys and girls) have access, without financial hardship, to the full range of type of quality health services when and where they need them, now and at times”. The UHC envisages coverage of the full range of essential health care services: from health promotion to (1) ‘Prevention’, (2) ‘Treatment’, (3) ‘Rehabilitation’, and (4) ‘Palliative care’ [aimed at improving quality of life of people (adults and children) and their families confronted with life-threatening illness]. It is pertinent to note that the UHC aligns with the SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) Target 3.8: achieve universal health coverage. The UHC is, thus, global commitment. However, in to deliver this promise, national governments need and inter-governmental organizations need to have health systems that are rooted in the locations communities they serve. Also, such health systems need to be • Need-based, • Efficient, and • Equitable. The author of this review paper argues that Primary Health Care (PHC) is the most effective and cost-efficient way to reach out to people with the UHC, with consideration of “need-based approach”. Further, it is due to this consideration of need-based theory that every country, with its own socio-economic and demographic profile, adopts a different strategy for the purpose of achieving the UHC. Furthermore, national governments decide what to cover, depending on the needs of their populations, including availability of health infrastructure (resources). Investment in the scientifically designed UHC programs has the potential to ensures that health needs of people are (a) ‘Identified’, (b) ‘Prioritized’, and (c) ‘Addressed’. The conceptual framework of the UHC is of increased relevance for aging population (individuals above the age of 65). The author of this work is of the considered research view that objective of achieving the SDG-3.8 target cannot be fully and adequately realized without transforming health care system that has significant impact on functional ability in older age people (or aging population). Objective of this evidence-based review paper is to investigate into significance and implications of the UHC for aging population. Also, it briefly outlines renewed strategies needed for the UHC for aging population. Secondary data (largely ‘qualitative’ in nature) have been used. The method of data analysis is ‘descriptive’, involving non-statistical (mathematical) techniques. The paper briefly concludes that scientifically-designed mechanism for offering the UHC for older people, without financial burden, is crucial. It is important that health financing systems of the national governments are designed to cater to health needs of older people, while protecting them from to access services when they are needed, but also to protect them from financial catastrophe (by abolishing “out of pocket spending”).

Media coverage of the Russo–Ukraine war beyond the West: Geopolitics and mainstream news in Brazil, India and South Africa

How closely does news coverage in independent media outlets in non-Western countries follow domestic political elites’ interpretations of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? And how much attention do newsrooms pay to geopolitical aspects of the issue compared to domestic considerations? This study moves beyond a still prevailing Euro- and US-centric perspective by focusing on Brazil, India and South Africa, three democratic countries with close economic and political ties to Russia. The authors systematically compare the wording used by elite politicians to describe the events in Ukraine with that in mainstream news reports. They also analyse the salience of political leaders and geopolitical entities (countries and intergovernmental organizations) in news coverage. For the use of descriptive terminology, they find no evidence for news reporting to be indexed to government wording. Their analysis of references to geopolitical actors shows news media’s strong propensity for domesticating the war for their respective national audiences.

Government document citations in top nursing journals: A bibliometric analysis.

Citation analysis studies the use of citations found in various types of publications, including the use of government information, and can provide insight into research utilisation in nursing literature. Using citation analysis, this study examines the use, prevalence and jurisdiction of government information use among seven nursing research journals based on ranking criteria. Government information citations were identified across three types of articles: editorials, reviews and research articles. Nearly two-thirds of the articles in this study cite some form of government information, and the average percentage of government citations is 5.38 of all citations. Government information was identified from national governments, inter-governmental organizations and state and regional governments. Understanding the use, prevalence and jurisdiction of government information informs health information professionals allowing them to engage with nursing students and researchers about this important type of information and the types of articles that use government information. Nursing researchers frequently cite government information in their work. This has implications for librarians, nursing researchers and health professionals. Understanding the intersection of government information and nursing research should inform future practice in evidence-based nursing research and nursing education.

The Challenges of Intergovernmental Organizations in Combating Transnational Crime: An Indonesian Perspective

Human trafficking is a pressing global issue, especially in the Southeast Asian region, where Indonesia plays a role as a country of origin, transit and destination. This study aims to identify the cooperation between the Indonesian Police and ASEANAPOL using descriptive qualitative research methods. This research also highlights the role of ASEANAPOL through 4 strategies of handling Indonesian Police in collaboration with ASEANAPOL which include capacity building through training (ATCM), international meetings (AMMTC and SOMTC), electronic-based real-time information exchange (System e-ADS), and strengthening cross-border investigation mechanisms through the Joint Coordination System (JCS) with border guarding and dispatching personnel such as Attache POLRI (ATPOL) and POLRI Technical Staff (STAFNISPOL). While this research focuses on preventive responses to human trafficking, there are limitations that need to be considered, including aspects of prevention and prosecution involving victim identification and protection. Future research is recommended to explore all aspects, including prevention and prosecution measures, to develop ASEANAPOL’s organisational framework in addressing transnational crimes.

Participatory forest management as an approach to forest management and conservation: a case study of Al-Dalu and Al-Tomama Natural Forests in Sharg Al-Neel Locality, Khartoum State, Sudan

The study investigated the effect of a Participatory Forest Management (PFM) approach to conservation and management of forests resources in Sharg Al-Neel Locality, Sudan. Three methods for data collection were employed; households' head survey (HHHs), land use land cover change detection by using Landsat imagery, and direct field observation. The study highlighted the important role that natural forests in the study area play through their provision of socioeconomic and ecological benefits to local communities. The analysis of satellite imagery revealed that vegetation cover in the study area increased by 38.8% between 2010 and 2021. Social survey results indicated that programmes aimed at afforestation and reforestation, awareness raising, and the provision of alternative energy sources and building materials in order to reduce the dependency on the natural forests, are the main factors that have had a positive impact on the improvement of forests' status. Capacity building by NGOs and intergovernmental organizations is necessary for local communities to adopt PFM in Sudan and thereby help the country achieve its Sustainable Development Goals.

Keeping Peace in Troubled Times: Perspectives from Different Disciplines on War and Peace, edited by Nina Käsehage. Springer, Cham. XV, 266 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-56038-5

The book comparatively analyzes past, present and possible future war and crisis situations. In doing so, the authors pay special attention to the nature of global conflicts and international actors, which international organizations and diplomacy of different countries are working to overcome. The book also examines the complexities of relations between governments of small and large states, NATO, the UN, intergovernmental and regional organizations, CSOs and transnational corporations, which despite their interdependence are still far from sustainable development. The authors discuss various issues of diplomacy, international relations theory, Eurasian politics, the European Union, international organizations, threats and challenges, global civil society, religion and culture as they relate to peoples in a complex world.

Some aspects of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities in the activities of the Council of Europe

The article is devoted to the study and analysis of the acts defining the rights of persons with disabilities, providing for the ways of their guarantee and protection, which were adopted within the Council of Europe. The concept of human rights mechanisms, in particular, in the activities of regional international intergovernmental organisations, is revealed. The author demonstrates the complex multilevel nature of the European system of human rights protection, which includes special regulatory and institutional instruments. Some acts of the so-called ‘soft law’ of the Council of Europe are analysed. It is shown that the first documents of the Council of Europe in the field of the rights of persons with disabilities concerned mainly the economic rights of this category of persons. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of ensuring the required number of jobs, professional retraining and professional assessment of employees who have lost the ability to perform certain types of work. With the further improvement of human rights protection mechanisms, the Council of Europe’s strategy for ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities has also changed. Member states agreed on the importance of expanding the range of freedoms for people with disabilities. This was due to the existence of numerous barriers to access to social services, cultural life of society, diversification of leisure activities, etc. The recommendations that were subsequently adopted included provisions on the absolute prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability in such areas as education, transport, public services, political, social and cultural life of the state. The article also analyses the concept of universal design, which was introduced to ensure that the infrastructure of European countries is accessible so that every person with a disability can receive the necessary social services with minimal interference from third parties. The article examines the issue of protection of persons with disabilities from violence and ill-treatment, whether committed by relatives, healthcare professionals or third parties. The author identifies the categories of persons who are more vulnerable due to the combination of disability with certain other characteristics, such as age, gender, social status, citizenship, etc. The author reveals a new approach of the Council of Europe to ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities, which provides for the elimination of social barriers and their full integration into society.

How informal intergovernmental organizations facilitate cooptation and promote peaceful change in times of power rivalry

ABSTRACT Cooptation provides a strategy for powerful states to manage power rivalries through institutional change. It entails coopting weaker (and possibly rising) states to support the institutional order by granting them a greater say in that order. However, the ability of states to broker such arrangements depends on the willingness of rivals to be coopted and on the properties of institutions through which cooptation is pursued. In this article, I contrast the comparative efficacy of pursuing cooptation through formal intergovernmental organizations (FIGOs) such as the UN or IMF, with pursuing cooptation through informal intergovernmental organizations (IIGOs) such as the G20, which are not legalized and have no independent operational capacity. I argue that while FIGOs have a comparative advantage for managing and maintaining a prevailing institutional order through adaptation, IIGOs often offer a more propitious institutional setting for achieving peaceful transformation of an institutional order in response to power rivalry.

Intergovernmental organizations and entrepreneurship: understanding the relationship between the supranational, national, and individual level

Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), such as the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Trade and Development and the World Bank, promote stability, security and development for member states and their citizens via supranational institutional influences. However, their influence on individuals, especially their entrepreneurial business activities, is unclear. As policymakers decide when more (or less) IGO involvement best serves their countries and citizens, we must better understand the connection of the supranational, national, and individual levels. Thus, we study how IGO membership influences entrepreneurial opportunities and focus on two activities that impact a country’s economy differently: formal and informal entrepreneurship. Moreover, we identify how national institutional ecologies build the bridge between the supranational and the individual level and mediate the relationships. Using a sample of 68 countries, their entrepreneurial environment, and their connection to IGOs, we find that IGO memberships enhance opportunities for entrepreneurship. Moreover, IGOs promote formal entrepreneurial activities while discouraging informal entrepreneurial activities, mediated by the country’s institutional ecology. We combine insights from international relations, institutional theory, and strategic entrepreneurship to highlight how institutions at different levels influence entrepreneurial opportunities and discuss the policy implications of our findings.

SAARC: An Overview

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1985, comprising eight South Asian nations: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan. SAARC aims to promote regional cooperation and development across various sectors, including economics, agriculture, human resources, tourism, and culture. The organization facilitates dialogue and collaboration through regular summits, where leaders discuss common challenges and opportunities. Despite facing challenges related to geopolitical tensions and bilateral issues among member countries, SAARC continues to strive towards fostering regional integration and addressing shared concerns in the South Asian region.

Learning by doing: a role theoretical approach to learning of inter-governmental organizations

ABSTRACT Inter-governmental organizations (IGOs) have proliferated since World War II and have evolved into significant social actors shaping global governance. The article contends that IGOs, through roles, contribute to the dense network of social expectations, adding a nuanced layer beyond the structural aspects of the international system. The article asserts that IGOs, confronted with changing global dynamics, engage in organizational role learning (ORL) to manage state role conflicts and contribute to international order. While existing scholarship often references roles descriptively, this article advocates for a roles-based perspective, positioning it within the social constructivist paradigm. The article introduces the concept of ORL and applies it to case studies on ASEAN and the African Union, revealing shifts in role conceptions and emphasizing the crucial role of ORL in maintaining organizational efficacy. The study contributes to understanding the intricate interplay between IGOs, their roles, and the evolving global landscape.

Exploring South Africa’s Foreign Policy Objectives in the Decolonisation of the Intergovernmental Organisations: The Case of the United Nations Security Council

The United Nations (UN), which is the largest intergovernmental organization (INGO), has a structure mainly focused on global security which is the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). South Africa, which has got Africa’s biggest economy and most politically stable, has embodied the principle of decolonisation through the Ubuntu principle. The South African government’s key foreign policy objectives seek to advance decolonisation, globally and continentally. These objectives include monitoring international developments, promoting inclusive economic growth and shared prosperity for Africa and its people, building unity, and protecting South Africa’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This study sought to explore South Africa’s foreign policy objectives in addressing decolonisation within the UNSC through reform. It employed the exploratory research design in addressing South Africa’s foreign policy objectives towards the reform of the UNSC. Furthermore, the study relied on document analysis. The findings show that the process of decolonisation within the UNSC is occurring at a very slow pace, although significant progress has been made within the African Union regarding the decolonisation agenda. The study emphasises the need for an African permanent member with veto power on the UNSC. This would allow Africa to have a strong voice in protecting its interests. The study’s findings can be used by the South African government’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to inform its foreign policy formulation. Keywords: Decolonization, Foreign Policy, South Africa, UNSC, Reform, Ubuntu

Association between gender inequality and climate adaptation across the global

Abstract Introduction Climate change has a disproportionate impact on women in comparison to men and women have a key role to play in climate adaptation. However, evidence is lacking on how gender inequalities may be associated with climate vulnerability and ability to respond at country level. Methods This ecological study investigated the association between climate adaptation, measured by the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative Country Index (ND-GAIN), and gender inequality, measured by the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) developed by the World Economic Forum and the Gender Inequality Index (GII) developed by the United Nations. Simple linear regression was used to estimate the associations between the indices and their subdomains for 146 countries. Results There was an approximately linear association between the GGGI and climate adaptation. Each 1% increase in gender equality was associated with a 0.6% increase in the ND-GAIN score (slope 0.59, 95% confidence interval [0.33 to 0.84]). This was driven by a negative association between gender equality and vulnerability (-0.41 [-0.62 to -0.20]), and a positive association between gender equality and readiness (0.77 [0.44 to 1.10]). Gender equality in the education domain of the GGGI had the strongest association with climate adaptation. There was a strong negative linear association between the GII and climate adaptation, which explained most (87%) of the between-country variation in climate adaptation. Each 1% increase in gender inequality was associated with a 0.5% decrease in the ND-GAIN score (-0.53 [-0.57 to -0.50]). The association between gender inequality and readiness was stronger than the association with vulnerability (0.40 [0.37 to 0.44] for vulnerability versus -0.67 [-0.72 to -0.61] for readiness). Conclusions Gender inequality measured broadly across different domains of life is associated with climate adaptation at country level, both in terms of vulnerability to impact and readiness to respond. Key messages • Gender inequality, considered broadly across multiple domains of life, is associated with increased vulnerability to climate change and poor readiness to respond. • Addressing gender inequality needs to be a priority for governments and inter-governmental organisations if populations worldwide are to adapt to climate change.

Large scale OECD health valuation study to estimate the economic benefits of chemical regulation

Abstract Chemical regulation aims at protecting human health and the environment from the risks of chemicals, while recognizing the economic importance of the use of chemicals. Assessment of the societal impacts of chemical regulation and different policy options requires information on both costs and benefits. So far, regulators assessing chemicals regulations has not had access to high quality and internationally comparable data on the full monetary benefit of reducing health and environmental risk. The OECD has implemented a multi-country stated preference valuation project that covers ten chemicals-related health conditions (e.g. asthma, kidney disease, infertility, etc.) with more than 80 surveys with large samples in 22 countries. The OECD Surveys on Willingness-to-Pay to Avoid Negative Chemicals-Related Health Impacts (SWACHE) project aims to establish internationally comparable values for the willingness-to-pay (WTP) to avoid negative health effects due to exposure to chemicals. The values can be used to demonstrate and measure the economic benefits of minimising the morbidity impacts of chemical regulations, environmental policies and public policies in general. The latest valuation results of the project will be presented, along with key aspects of the joint methodology used and the plans to further expand this work. In addition, the OECD is collaborating with other intergovernmental organisations via the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) to update the cost of inaction estimates for chemicals as part of the Global Framework on Chemicals. An update on this initiative, that can benefit from the results of the SWACHE project, will be provided.

Benefits of cross-border access to human genomes at scale for research and healthcare

Abstract Genomics data will soon be routinely generated and integrated into national healthcare systems. To maximise the potential of genomic medicine, data should be accessible for research where possible. This is the remit of ELIXIR, an intergovernmental organisation that brings together life science resources from across Europe. Innovative solutions are needed to ensure the validated research findings for disease or preventative medicine are then integrated into healthcare. To tackle this, the 1+MG initiative, a joint initiative of 25 EU countries, the UK, and Norway, aims to enable secure access to genomics and the corresponding clinical data across Europe for better research, personalised healthcare and health policy making. In the design and scale-up phase (B1MG project), recommendations and guidelines to advance towards the deployment of personalised medicine at a European scale have been produced, adopted by 1+MG and developed into a 1+MG framework. This includes guidance on data governance, standards, quality and infrastructure, recommendations on how to approach citizen engagement and a tool for countries to self-assess implementation into healthcare. The European Genomic Data Infrastructure (GDI) project supports the scale-up and sustainability phase of the 1+MG initiative, to deploy infrastructure across 24 countries to support the overall ambition. Recommendations are being used to promote governance and technical interoperability across European initiatives including the European Health Data Space (EHDS), and European Cancer Image Initiative (EUCAIM). The 1+MG will be established as a European Data Infrastructure Consortia in 2025 and will act as an Authorised Participant in the EHDS providing access to a permanent high-quality federated data collection of genomic and health data that will accelerate research, innovation and policymaking facilitating the deployment of genomic medicine across Europe.

Digital transformation and the future of work: closing the digital skills gap

Purpose The purpose of this article is to discuss the near future digital technology landscape and propose several specific in-demand digital skills for organizations and individuals in the next few years. Design/methodology/approach This article reviews some recent publications from representative inter-governmental, governmental, non-governmental, and commercial organizations on the rise of digital technologies and corresponding growth in digital jobs. Within this context, several specific in-demand skills are proposed by the author who has written a book on the topic of digital transformation. Findings Rapid advancements in digital technologies continue to shape organizational practices and the future of work. To take advantage of emerging digital technologies and better compete in the marketplace, organizations and individuals need to upskill and reskill. Practical implications The main purpose of this article is to suggest a list of specific digital skills for executive management and human resources professionals to help prepare employees for digital jobs in the next few years. Corporate policy makers could introduce and promote these digital skills as part of the organizations’ training and development curriculum. In the area of talent management, organizations could also formulate hiring policies and assessment mechanisms to attract, develop, and retain employees with the requisite digital skills. For information technology and business professionals seeking to upskill and reskill, they could acquire these digital skills to enhance their current roles and prepare for the future digital workplace environment. Originality/value This article contributes to a better understanding of the digital technology landscape and digital skills. A list of specific in-demand skills is proposed to help organizations and individuals close the digital skills gap.

Unusual holopelagic Sargassum mass beaching in Northwest Africa: Morphotypes, chemical composition, and potential valorisation

The rapid proliferation of holopelagic Sargassum spp. in the tropical Atlantic Ocean presents environmental challenges and economic opportunities. In 2022, Senegal witnessed its first significant holopelagic Sargassum beaching event, triggering widespread concern and interest from civil society, industrial sectors, and government. This study represents the first analysis of stranded holopelagic Sargassum's morphotypes and chemical composition in Northwest Africa. We highlight the nature of Sargassum stranding, dominated by S. fluitans III, and describe a putative new morphotype. Compared to most of the studies in the tropical Atlantic, Senegalese Sargassum displayed lower arsenic concentrations (9–29 ppm), higher cadmium levels (9–15 ppm), and increased mercury content (0.47–0.57 ppm). In addition, Senegalese Sargassum showed higher levels of iron (237–1017 ppm) and phosphorus (1300–1772 ppm). The biochemical analysis revealed high total protein levels (15–40 % DW) in Senegalese samples, though further analysis is required to confirm this. Furthermore, variations in biochemical composition within various parts of the Sargassum thallus were observed. The low arsenic content makes the beached Senegalese Sargassum attractive for valorisation and sets it apart from holopelagic Sargassum from all other regions where it occurs. However, caution should be taken regarding the high concentrations of cadmium. Our study highlights promising applications in Senegal and neighbouring countries, particularly in animal feed and agriculture. Noteworthy is the notable palladium content (2 ppm), valuable phenolic compounds, and mannitol, which present additional opportunities for the chemical industry. Our interdisciplinary approach enhances the global scientific understanding of the Sargassum issue. With the anticipation of more frequent Sargassum beaching events and, more generally, for seaweed exploitation, we advocate for inter-governmental African organisations to establish standardised norms for their exploitation. We recommend that the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization consider incorporating more seaweed in the Codex Alimentarius to facilitate their uses particularly when states deal with algal blooms.