International Capacity Building Research Articles

Synergizing trade and sustainability: advancing SDG 14 through international trade dynamics

This paper explores the intricate relationship between international trade and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water), focusing on the potential of trade to contribute positively to marine conservation and sustainable use of ocean resources. By examining the intersection of economic, social, and environmental dimensions, the study delves into how trade policies and practices can be aligned with environmental objectives, particularly concerning marine ecosystems. A principal challenge identified is the tension between economic growth driven by international trade and the sustainability of marine ecosystems, exacerbated by practices such as overfishing and pollution from maritime transport. Another significant challenge is the lack of robust enforcement mechanisms for existing environmental provisions in trade agreements. To address these challenges, the paper recommends the integration of stringent and enforceable environmental clauses in trade agreements, coupled with the promotion of sustainable trade practices through international cooperation and capacity building. Furthermore, the study suggests the adoption of innovative trade mechanisms, such as eco-certification and the implementation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), to enhance the protection of marine life, support sustainable fisheries, and reduce ocean pollution. The paper concludes with specific policy recommendations for leveraging international trade as a tool for the sustainable management of marine resources, ultimately contributing to the broader agenda of sustainable development.

Advancement and the existing landscape of forensic medicine in Africa: A comparison with developed countries.

This article explores the development and challenges of forensic medicine in Africa, comparing it to developed countries. It addresses limited resources, funding, and a shortage of trained professionals. The growth of forensic investigation capabilities and the challenges of funding and technology access are discussed. Training and education have improved, but disparities remain. Partnerships with developed countries and international organizations are crucial to bridge the gap. A comprehensive legal framework is important, but disparities exist among African countries. Harmonizing forensic laws would enhance cooperation. The role of forensic medicine in the criminal justice system is examined, emphasizing the need to build trust in forensic evidence. International collaboration and capacity building are key to advancing forensic medicine in Africa. Investments in infrastructure, funding, training, and legal frameworks are required. By leveraging partnerships, Africa can develop its forensic medicine capabilities for a fair and effective criminal justice system.

CYBERCRIME LEGISLATION: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LEGAL FRAMEWORKS, POLICY RESPONSES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The World Economic Forum's Global Risk Report 2021 highlights cybercrime as a top global risk, necessitating robust legislation to address its evolving nature. The United States signed two cybersecurity bills into law in June 2022, aiming to enhance the federal cyber workforce and promote coordination on security issues. This paper exams a comparative cybercrime legislation across various jurisdictions, including the United States, reveals divergent approaches, with the United States adopting a decentralized model, while Germany and Singapore opt for centralized regimes. This paper highlights the need for comprehensive legal frameworks to combat cyber threats effectively, key trends and challenges in cybercrime legislation include the need for harsher sanctions, extraterritorial jurisdiction, and balancing legal principles in sentencing. Best practices and recommendations emphasize international collaboration, capacity building, public-private partnerships, technological solutions, and continuous legislative review. Future solutions emphasize the importance of rigorous monitoring and adaptable legal frameworks to address the evolving landscape of cyber threats. By understanding international laws and collaborations, policymakers can develop innovative policies to safeguard digital environments against cybercrime.

A Healthy Game-Theoretic Evaluation of NATO and Indonesia's Policies in the Context of International Law

This study examines the policies of two prominent actors, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Indonesia while considering their adherence to international law. The analysis is conducted through the lens of game theory, which provides a framework for evaluating strategic interactions in the cyber domain. This study aims to explore how game theory can be applied to assess the policies of NATO and Indonesia in combating and to establish the link between game-theoretic evaluation and conflict resolution in Indonesia's cyber landscape. By understanding strategic interactions and motivations of various actors, this study seeks to provide insights into fostering international cooperation, promoting responsible state behavior, and enhancing cybersecurity. This study employs a qualitative research design, relying on literature reviews, policy analyses, and case studies to examine the cybersecurity policies of NATO and Indonesia. Game theory serves as the primary analytical framework to model cyber conflicts and interactions between different actors. The policies of NATO and Indonesia are evaluated concerning cooperation, competition, and compliance with international law. The analysis reveals that both NATO and Indonesia employ distinct approaches to combating. NATO's collective response emphasizes coordination, information sharing, and cooperative defense strategies, reinforcing international cybersecurity efforts. On the other hand, Indonesia's response is shaped by its unique challenges and priorities, leading to tailored policies and collaborations. Game-theoretic evaluation establishes the importance of cooperation, deterrence, and adherence to international law in resolving conflicts arising from cyber threats in Indonesia. This research highlights the significance of international partnerships, capacity building, and context-specific best practices for a more secure digital environment in Indonesia and beyond. Ultimately, game-theoretic evaluation proves instrumental in shaping effective cybersecurity strategies and promoting responsible behavior in the ever-evolving cyber landscape.

My Views on International Chinese Language Education Reform

Since the 19th Party Congress, our Party has established the strategic height of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and made a major deployment of giving priority to the development of education, accelerating the modernization of education and building a strong education country. This fully puts the status and key role of education in the process of the development of the whole national cause. The General Secretary pointed out that it is necessary to promote international communication capacity building, tell the Chinese story, spread the Chinese voice, and show the world a real, three-dimensional and comprehensive China. Guided by this important idea of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the internationalization of the Chinese language is sailing high and developing fast. The development of international Chinese language education is changing day by day. In the new era, we should scientifically understand the basic concept of international Chinese language education and construct a modern international Chinese language education system that is more open, more inclusive and more standardized.

Ensuring the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: International Legal Standards and National Implementation

This research explores the guarantee of indigenous peoples' rights in indigenous territories in West Java, focusing on international legal standards and their implementation at the national level. The research used a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Through document analysis, surveys and interviews with key stakeholders, the research examines the legal and policy framework, challenges and opportunities related to indigenous peoples' rights in the region. The findings highlight issues such as land rights, cultural preservation, and political participation. While there are legal provisions in place, their practical implementation faces challenges such as conflicting land tenure systems, limited recognition of customary land rights, and lack of consultation and participation of indigenous peoples. This research emphasizes the need for effective implementation of international legal standards, capacity building, and empowerment of indigenous peoples. The findings contribute to the understanding of indigenous peoples' rights in West Java and provide insights for policy makers, indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders involved in protecting indigenous peoples' rights.

International capacity building to achieve SDG6: insights from longitudinal analysis of five water operator partnerships

ABSTRACT In pursuit of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, water operator partnerships (WOPs) have grown in popularity. However, the literature supporting their effectiveness is lacking. We conducted mid-term interviews and surveys with five participating utilities in a Viet Nam–Australia WOP, followed by post-programme interviews with two managing associations and 10 utilities. We found that while partnerships initially focused on technical training, the need for broader institutional learning emerged as participants gained experience. Communication and relationship-building were consistently reported as success factors for achieving desired outcomes. Expanding the scope to involve governance and policy organizations, together with funding to collaboratively implement upgrades, could enhance future programmes.

Crucial problems of the organization of biosphere reserves in Azerbaijan


 
 
 The environment is an important issue even when society is faced with economic crises, wars, and unending social problems. It matters because Earth is the only home that humans have, and it provides air, food, and other needs. Economic development, demographic growth, increase in consumption due to increase in the income level of the population, climate changes and other reasons have resulted in an increase in the negative impact on the environment. Pollution of water basins with waste water, release of harmful gases into the atmosphere, reduction of biodiversity, soil erosion and salinization, deficiencies in the field of waste management are considered among the existing ecological problems. The paper deals with specific features of the organization of biosphere reserves in Azerbaijan. A significant challenge of our time is conserving biological diversity while maintaining economic development and cultural values. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has established biosphere reserves within its Man and the Biosphere program as a model means for accomplishing this very challenge. The loss of cultural links and traditional knowledge has also been significant. Nevertheless, it remains a highly biodiversity area. Political barriers and institutional blockages will have to be removed to ensure this reserve fulfills its role as a model region for international collaboration and capacity building. These insights drawn from the Eastern Carpathians Biosphere Reserve demonstrate that biosphere reserves are indeed learning sites for sustainable development and that this case is exemplary in illustrating the challenges, but more importantly, the opportunities that arise when ensuring parallel care and respect for people and ecosystems through the model of trans boundary protected areas around the world.
 
 

Research Partnerships and Guidance in Academic Global Ophthalmology.

Research Partnerships and Guidance in Academic Global Ophthalmology.

8.K. Workshop: Pillars of health promotion and the role of Health literacy in the life course approach

Abstract Three pillars are considered today for the development of Health Promotion: Good Governance, Healthy Cities and Health Literacy (HL) (The Shanghai Declaration, WHO 2016). Good Governance and policies to make healthy choices accessible and affordable to all, will ensure that all have the right to health. Sustainable environments are critical to make whole of society collaboration real and it is relevant that Cities become healthier settings. For this, increasing knowledge and social skills to help people make healthiest choices and decisions, i.e. Health Literacy (HL), emerges as the third pillar of the health promotion agenda today. The 10th WHO World conference in 2021 emphasized the role of HL in Health Governance (Stewarding for a flourishing future) that “... builds on co-design and makes full use of the digital transformation to achieve equitable benefits across populations, ensuring access and meaningful participation. This includes a high priority assigned to health literacy along the life course’ (WHO 2021). This workshop discusses how this third pillar (i.e. HL) may be translated into the everyday practice of Health Promotion “ensuring that people can cope with the challenges they face, through health literacy, ... to lead lives ... in harmony with Nature” (WHO 2021). From the public health perspective the aim of this workshop is to share with the audience an opportunity to immerse in four different social contexts and explore their HL practices as tracer approaches. The first context is set in Brazil and the emphasis is on HL role in increasing health knowledge. The authors share the results of a large research and an ethnographic analysis of the role of HL in the development of health decisions in the context of public libraries. The second presentation will unveil one of the topics that is influencing health and well-being today: the struggle to counter misleading information. Therefore, a study case from Portugal will focus on HL impact of nutritional marketing on the preferences, attitudes and consumption of children from 6 to 10 years old. A third presentation will consider food sustainability & health, and how HL may be expanded using simple and integrative pedagogical strategies in usual kindergarten dynamics to promote legumeś consumption. Understand how children construct their HL and how influenced they are in this process is the aim of the 4th presentation, where an analysis will be proposed in the quest of exploring HL on those in the first years of schooling. This workshop offers a forum for researchers, practitioners and policy-makers interested in health promotion pillars (e.g. like health literacy). By dialogue and two-way communication lively interaction and vivid discussions will be facilitated. This will allow discussing results regarding their benefit for improving policy research, practice, and policy-making, support further synergies, facilitate networking and collaboration, and support international capacity building. Key messages • Refinement of concepts and practices (e.g. on health literacy) from south-north cultural contexts is needed for wider health promotion implementation strategies. • The third pillar of Health Promotion (i.e. health literacy) demands a wider reflection of theoretical integrative approaches of health paradigms like salutogenesis.

Strengthening International Communication Capacity Building: Discourse, Narrative and Public Opinion Guidance

General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed during the 30th collective study of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee that we should have profound understanding on the importance and necessity of strengthening and improving international communication work under the new situation, and make great efforts to strengthen international communication capacity building and form an international discourse that matches our comprehensive national power and international status. International communication capacity building has become an important task for China at present. This paper makes intellectual inquiries to explore three paths for strengthening international communication capacity building in an hope to providing references and lessons for strengthening international communication capacity building: (1) Breaking the discourse construction of China by the Western discourse system and building a Chinese discourse system based on Chinese perspective and human perspective. (2) Telling Chinese stories with Chinese discourse and forming a Chinese narrative system. (3) Making Chinese voices with Chinese discourse, guiding the official public opinion field and spreading the private public opinion field to improve international public opinion guidance.

Energy security in the external energy policy of the USA

Energy security is a key idea of countries’ energy policy at both domestic and international levels. The aim of the paper is to reveal and describe the role and significance of the concept of energy security within the external energy policy of the USA with particular attention to its regional aspects. In a theoretical section, a number of definitions of energy security were discussed and summarized, presenting a brief theoretical overview of energy security. Besides, the need for a spatially diversified approach towards energy policy planning and implementation was described briefly. Analyzing relevant secondary data sources (Department of Energy and Congressional Research Service publications, energy statistics, etc.), the main priorities of U.S. external energy policy were identified and discussed: international assistance and capacity building, environmentally friendly energy development and ensuring energy security (of both the USA and its international allies and partners). Thus, the general framework of U.S. external energy policy was suggested and generalized. As a regional case overview, the main issues of European energy security and U.S. engagement were discussed in brief: geographical diversification of energy supply, legislative and institutional assistance, etc.

The Normative Enactment of International Cybersecurity Capacity Building Assistance: A Comparative Analysis on Japanese and South Korean Practices

The international community encourages states to embrace the international cooperation to support and assist each other in reducing risks stemming from the digital divide. However, they cannot agree upon how international norms apply to cyberspace, let alone shaping and regulating international cybersecurity capacity building (CCB) assistance. States use international CCB assistance to impose cyber-norms based on their perceptions. It results in different forms of assistance provided by each donor country. Using social constructivism theory and the CCB concept as international assistance, this paper compares the practice of CCB assistance from two donor countries: Japan and South Korea. It emphasises the role of each donor country’s normative structure in shaping their identities, roles, interests, and behaviours in international CCB assistance. Japan’s international cybersecurity cooperation normative structure shapes Japan’s identities and roles that prioritise security-dominant normative and material interests. Meanwhile, South Korea’s developmental focus constructs the country’s identities and roles that shape developmental normative and material interests. This research finds that Japan’s assistance is highly security-oriented while South Korea’s is less security-oriented. Their differences highlight the fragmentation of global cyber-norms caused by different perception processes.

Correction to: International Capacity Building in Psychological Science: Reflections on Student Involvement and Endeavors

Correction to: International Capacity Building in Psychological Science: Reflections on Student Involvement and Endeavors

International capacity building via the 'new norm' of virtual teaching and volunteering.

International capacity building via the 'new norm' of virtual teaching and volunteering.

International Capacity Building in Psychological Science: Reflections on Student Involvement and Endeavors

Internationalization in psychology provides unique opportunities for students worldwide and promises to build a more inclusive, representative, and culturally sensitive discipline. Far from passive recipients of the internationalization process, students are actively involved in promoting opportunities for cross-cultural collaborations, international learning, and the creation of international networks. This paper reviews opportunities for student involvement in internationalization related efforts in psychology. Students’ roles within international and regional psychology organizations are explored to highlight the unique contributions and opportunities afforded by more independent and fully student-led organizations and initiatives. This paper discusses the barriers to establishing student-led organizations and to student involvement in international endeavors, including power imbalances, language barriers, and disparities in students’ ability to access financial resources and mentorship depending on their geographical location. Recommendations are offered, to both students and professional members, to foster student contributions to the internationalization of psychology and support the creation of sustainable student-led international organizations.

Legal and regulatory framework of long term sustainability of outer space activities (LTSOSA), space security and its contribution towards human security

Long Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (LTSOSA) was adopted during the UNCOPUOS Session in June 2019. It consists of 21 guidelines in four (4) categories, namely: policy and regulatory framework of outer space activities; safety of outer space operations; international cooperation, capacity building and awareness; and technical research and development. The LTSOSA is in line with the definition of Space Security which relates to guaranteed access to Space and the ability to freely exploit space for various purposes. Space Security cover both: safety, sustainability and the security of the space system and actors. While Human Security is an approach to assist the Member States in identifying and addressing widespread and cross-cutting challenges to the survival, livelihood and dignity of their people. It calls for people-centered, comprehensive, context-specific and prevention-oriented responses that strengthen the protection and empowerment of all people. This article will be focused on analyzing and elaborating three (3) main issues: The correlation among LTSOSA, Space Security and Human Security; The Contributions of LTSOSA and Space Security toward the achievement of Human Security’s Objectives; and Legal and Regulatory Framework of LTSOSA, Space Security and Human Security.

The international biodosimetry capacity, capabilities, needs and challenges: The 3rd WHO BioDoseNet survey results

In 2008 the World Health Organization established an international network of biodosimetry laboratories, the BioDoseNet. The goal of this network is to support international cooperation and capacity building in the area of biodosimetry, including harmonisation of protocols and techniques to enable them to provide mutual assistance during a mass casualty event. Since its inception, the evolution, success and needs of the network have been monitored by multiple surveys conducted approximately every five years. The third such survey was conducted in 2021, now allowing trends capabilities and capacities of the members of the network to be seen over time. The results of the survey offer an overview of the global status of cytogenetic biodosimetry service and demonstrate how the BioDoseNet has brought together laboratories from around the world and strengthened international biodosimetry.

Overcoming Barriers to Accessing Surgery and Rehabilitation in Low and Middle-Income Countries: An Innovative Model of Patient Navigation in Nepal

BackgroundInjury and disability are prominent public health concerns, globally and in the country of Nepal. Lack of locally available medical infrastructure, socioeconomic barriers, social marginalization, poor health literacy, and cultural barriers prevent patients from accessing surgical and rehabilitative care. Overcoming these barriers is an insurmountable challenge for the most vulnerable and marginalized, resulting in absence of treatment or even death.MethodsSundar Dhoka Saathi Sewa (SDSS), a non-government organization, provides a patient navigation service which facilitates referrals to tertiary centers from Nepal’s most remote areas. Specific criteria ensure that patient referrals are appropriate in regard to clinical and socioeconomic need, while comprehensive counselling helps guide the patient and family. The SDSS staff meet patients upon arrival in Kathmandu and facilitate admission to the appropriate tertiary hospital. They advocate for the patient, provide medicine, supply food and cover all treatment costs.ResultsThis project has enabled access to treatment for more than 1200 children for conditions leading to long-term disability and/or congenital heart disease. Interventions include a wide range of surgical and rehabilitative procedures such as complex orthopedics, cleft lip and palate, congenital talipes equinovarus, burn contractures, neurological cases, and cardiac surgery for valvular disease, septal defects and other congenital malformations.DiscussionThe SDSS model of patient navigation is effective in overcoming the barriers to access surgical care and rehabilitation in Nepal. The success is owed to committed international donors, capacity building, effective counselling, advocacy, compassion, and community. We believe that this model could be replicated in other LMICs.

Infectious epidemics and the research output of nations: A data-driven analysis

During the last years, several infectious diseases have caused widespread nationwide epidemics that affected information seeking behaviours, people mobility, economics and research trends. Examples of these epidemics are 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in mainland China and Hong Kong, 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic in Guinea and Sierra Leone, 2015–2016 Zika epidemic in Brazil, Colombia and Puerto Rico and the recent COVID-19 epidemic in China and other countries. In this research article, we investigate the effect of large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases on the research productivity and landscape of nations through the analysis of the research outputs of main countries affected by SARS, Zika and Ebola epidemics as returned by Web of Science Core Collection. Despite the mobility restrictions and the limitations of work conditions due to the epidemics, we surprisingly found that the research characteristics and productivity of the countries that have excellent or moderate research traditions and communities are not affected by infectious epidemics due to their robust long-term research structures and policy. Similarly, large-scale infectious outbreaks can even boost the research productivity of countries with limited research traditions thanks to international capacity building collaborations provided by organisations and associations from leading research countries.