International Donors Research Articles

Why Target Communities Remain Subjects Rather than Partners of Development Agencies in Integrated Conservation and Development Projects in Latin America

AbstractDespite repeated calls for locally anchored Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDPs), the decision-making authority of targeted Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) remains limited. This paper is grounded on an Institutional Logics perspective to examine the role of major development agencies—the World Bank (WB), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the German Development Bank (KfW)—in perpetuating this challenge. Interviews with project managers in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region reveal complex internal hierarchies, risk-focus, high performance pressure, a “better than nothing” rationale, and a hands-off approach to community participation. We argue that these tendencies are rooted in organisational structure and individual mentalities that constitute a project management logic, which in turn raises concerns about the ability and willingness of development agencies to foster local project ownership of ICDPs. The paper calls for the international donor community to reflect on and transform such management logic, and to allocate more substantial decision-making power and resources to local representatives.

Legal mechanism for securing humanitarian assistance by Ukrainian defense forces during the initial phase of the full-scale Russian invasion

Purpose This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the legal status and mechanisms involved in the receipt and registration of humanitarian aid by Ukrainian defense forces. The study aims to highlight the importance of proper control and accountability by military unit commanders, addressing the challenges and responsibilities associated with the management of humanitarian aid during the initial phase of the full-scale Russian invasion. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a qualitative approach, analyzing legal documents, organizational procedures and case studies related to the receipt and registration of humanitarian aid by Ukrainian defense forces. The research involves examining the actions of military unit commanders, identifying gaps in existing legislation and proposing improvements based on observed challenges and best practices. Findings The study finds that the legal status and proper accounting of military property received as humanitarian aid are critical for ensuring its effective use. It identifies significant challenges in the organizational and legal mechanisms, including issues of non-receipt and non-registration of aid. The findings emphasize the need for improved legislation, better control measures and increased accountability of military unit commanders to enhance the efficiency and transparency of humanitarian aid management during conflict situations. Research limitations/implications The research is primarily limited by the availability and reliability of data due to the ongoing conflict, which may affect the comprehensiveness of the analysis. Additionally, the dynamic nature of the legal and organizational environment during wartime poses challenges in maintaining updated information. Future studies could benefit from longitudinal data and comparative analysis with other conflict zones to enhance the robustness and applicability of findings. Practical implications This study provides actionable recommendations for improving the legal framework and organizational processes related to humanitarian aid in military contexts. It offers guidance for military unit commanders on best practices for receiving, accounting and preserving aid. The findings aim to inform policymakers and military officials to ensure more effective and transparent management of humanitarian resources, ultimately enhancing the operational capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Social implications By addressing the legal and organizational challenges in managing humanitarian aid, this research contributes to the overall welfare of military personnel and affected civilians. Ensuring the effective use of humanitarian aid can improve the living conditions and morale of soldiers and support communities impacted by the conflict. The study also highlights the importance of accountability and transparency, fostering trust among international donors and encouraging continued support for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Originality/value This study provides a novel and comprehensive examination of the legal mechanisms and organizational practices involved in the receipt and registration of humanitarian aid by the Ukrainian defense forces during the initial phase of the Russian invasion. By focusing on the unique challenges faced in this conflict, the research offers original insights into the legal status of military property received as aid and the accountability of military commanders. The findings contribute valuable recommendations for policy and practice, aiming to enhance the effectiveness and transparency of humanitarian aid management in conflict situations.

대북원조 역사에서 남북협력기금의 개발재원 역할 재조명: OECD CRS 기준 적용을 중심으로

Purpose: This study aims to elucidate the role of South Korea's aid to North Korea as a development resource and to identify its characteristics in comparison to major donor countries. Originality: For North Korea, where exports and foreign investments are limited, foreign aid represents a critical resource for development. Should progress be made on the North Korean nuclear issue, the demand for development in North Korea is expected to surge, and the role of the IKCF is anticipated to expand. This study is significant as a foundational research effort to enhance the utilization of the IKCF as a development resource. Methodology: It categorizes IKCF programs from 1995 to 2022 into development aid projects and projects based on the unique inter-Korean relationship. It reclassifies the programs using the OECD CRS and compares the aid patterns of major donors to highlight the distinctive features of South Korea's aid to North Korea. Result: Initially, the IKCF had a strong character as a development resource, but since the early 2000s, the proportion of projects based on the special inter-Korean relationship has increased, giving the fund a dual character. Since 2008, the significant reduction in aid to North Korea has diminished its development resource role. Comparing sectoral allocation patterns of South Korea and major donors shows these patterns vary depending on key donor countries, reflecting international circumstances and donor characteristics rather than North Korea’s needs. In the mid-2000s, aid through NGOs increased, focusing on ‘productive sectors’ despite criticism for small, fragmented projects. Conclusion and Implication: Given fluctuating international circumstances, diversifying aid to North Korea cooperation with other donors is necessary. To enhance future aid effectiveness, integrating small-scale development projects by private organizations through consortia and addressing sectoral imbalances from a long-term perspective is crucial.

Сеульський та Європейський консенсуси з питань розвитку: чи можлива спільна платформа по Україні?

In the context of the tasks of the post-war recovery of Ukraine’s economy and social sphere, a comparative analysis has been carried out of the conceptual foundations of international development assistance provided by the G20 countries, in particular the newly industrialized countries, within the framework of the Seoul Consensus on Development, announced at the G-20 Seoul Summit (2010), and the European Union and its member states within the framework of the new European Consensus on Development (2017). It is shown that the former focuses on growth primarily through investment in infrastructure and solving long-term structural problems of development, and the latter on increasing well-being and fighting poverty. The Seoul Consensus, despite the participation of Western donors, including the EU, in its formulation, largely reflects the principles and messages of newly emerging donors representing the leading new industrial states. The Seoul Consensus is currently a unique strategic compromise on international development aid not only between the West represented by its leading world powers and the European Union, on the one hand, and the largest new industrial states of the modern world - on the other, but also between the Beijing Consensus and the Mumbai Consensus - alternative strategies of socio-economic modernization and sustainable economic growth put forward by China and India, respectively, in their active competition for leadership among the countries of the Global South. The change in the geopolitical and geo-economic landscape has forced the EU to review the criteria for the distribution and prioritization of development aid in order to be able to compete and cooperate with new donors such as China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, etc. The new European consensus emphasizes the instrumentalization and securitization of development, with less attention to democracy and human rights. This shift objectively narrows the gap between traditional and new donors of international development assistance. The author substantiates the prospect of further analysis of the convergent potential of the above-mentioned consensuses in the direction of developing based on the unique geopolitical and geo-economic positioning of Ukraine in the modern world, the "Kyiv Consensus on Development" as a joint conceptual, strategic and political platform of the international donor community for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of stunting, wasting/thinness, and underweight among primary school children in Kandahar City, Afghanistan: a cross-sectional analytical study

BackgroundUndernutrition, which includes stunting, wasting, and underweight, is a global problem, especially among children of low- and middle-income countries. To our knowledge, this study is first of its type from Afghanistan. Its main objectives were to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of stunting, wasting/thinness, and underweight among urban primary school children in Kandahar city of Afghanistan.MethodsThis school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1205 primary school children aged 6–12 years during a period of six months (October 2022–March 2023). Anthropometric measurements and other data were collected from all the participants. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Chi square test (using crude odds ratio or COR), and multivariate logistic regression (using adjusted odds ratio or AOR).ResultsAmong the 1205 enrolled government school students, 47.4%, 19.5%, and 25.6% had stunting, wasting/thinness, and underweight, respectively. Statistically significant factors associated with stunting were age group 6–9 years (AOR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.7), being girl (AOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.8–3.0), poverty (AOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5–3.2), large family (AOR 3.0, 95% CI 2.4–3.9), illiterate mother (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0–2.6), jobless head of the family (AOR 3.3, 95% CI 2.3–4.8), and skipping breakfasts (AOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.3). Main factor associated with wasting/thinness were age group 6–9 years (AOR 30.5, 95% CI 11.8–78.7), skipping breakfasts (AOR 22.9, 95% CI 13.9–37.8), and history of sickness during the past two weeks (AOR 17.0, 95% CI 6.6–43.8). Also, main factors associated with underweight were age group 6–9 years (AOR 2.6, 95% CI 1.6–4.1), skipping breakfasts (AOR 2.6, 95% CI 1.8–3.6), and poor sanitation (AOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.2).ConclusionsStunting, wasting/thinness, and underweight are highly prevalent among primary school children (both girls and boys) in Kandahar city. It is recommended that local government (Afghanistan Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health) with the help of international organizations and donor agencies should implement comprehensive school-based feeding programs especially for girls. Health and nutrition education programs should be conducted with emphasis on nutrition of children aged 6–9 years as well as importance of healthy breakfast and good sanitation.

Examining aid fragmentation and collaboration opportunities in Cambodia’s health sector

BackgroundCambodia’s health sector faces significant challenges exacerbated by aid fragmentation, where development aid is dispersed among numerous small, uncoordinated projects. This study examines the distribution of health sector aid among Cambodia’s principal donors to identify priorities, overlaps, and potential collaboration opportunities, addressing the urgent need for aid efficiency and alignment with national health priorities.MethodsUtilizing OECD datasets and the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for the years 2010–2021, this study quantifies aid fragmentation within Cambodia’s health sector. It analyzes aid allocations from the top five donors—United States, Australia, South Korea, Japan, and Germany—across various health projects and initiatives, evaluating the extent of fragmentation and identifying areas for potential donor collaboration.ResultsThis study’s findings highlight a pervasive issue of aid fragmentation within Cambodia’s health sector, evident through the sector’s low HHI score. This indicates a widespread distribution of aid across numerous small-scale initiatives, rather than targeted, unified efforts. A notable example includes Japan and Korea, which exhibit lower HHI scores, indicating a more pronounced fragmentation in their aid allocation. These countries’ contributions are spread across various sectors without a dominant focus, contrasting with the United States’ significant dedication to infectious disease control. However, beyond this specific area, the US’s aid distribution across other priority health areas shows signs of fragmentation. This scattered approach to aid allocation, even amidst instances of focused support, illustrates the overarching challenge of aligning donor contributions with the holistic needs of Cambodia’s health infrastructure.ConclusionsThis investigation highlights the critical need for enhanced collaboration and strategic harmonization among international donors to mitigate aid fragmentation in Cambodia’s health sector. It underscores the importance of adopting integrated and priority-aligned aid strategies to improve the efficiency and impact of health aid. By fostering synergistic partnerships and harmonizing donor efforts, there is a potential to create a more cohesive support framework that resonates with Cambodia’s comprehensive health requirements and contributes to sustainable health outcomes. Such harmonization not only aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 3 by optimizing health services and outcomes but also strengthens global partnerships under Sustainable Development Goal 17, fostering a unified approach to international development.

Obstacles and appeal of environmental taxation: Insights from sub-Saharan Africa

Increasing the slow pace of adoption of environmental taxes across low-income countries has become a significant priority among international financial institutions, multilateral development banks, and international donors. Yet little is known about the practical institutional, administrative, and political obstacles that have led to their slow implementation and how they can be made more appealing, especially across sub-Saharan Africa. Based on a review of the literature and 16 in-depth interviews with ministries of finance, revenue authorities, and other government representatives across six African countries, this paper provides exploratory evidence of these stakeholders' view about environmental taxes deployment in their countries' context. By increasing the visibility of these policymakers’ opinions and priorities, this study aims to individuate areas in which further research can provide support for the introduction of environmental fiscal measures. While there are differences across the countries covered, a lack of data and analytical capacity to develop effective environmental taxes is a common theme, as well as the historical prioritisation of their revenue mobilisation capacity over their environmental impact. A great variety of government actors with a mandate over natural resources, often with competing policy priorities, coupled with a lack of coordination fora, has also impeded the harmonisation of the environmental charges they levy. These measures are also often perceived to be regressive and to pose an obstacle to industrial development, lowering their appeal, given that poverty reduction and employment creation are an overarching priority. Nonetheless, support for introducing specific environmental tax measures exists across the population and policymakers, especially if their revenue can be earmarked for environmental purposes.

The Social Enterprise Craze: CSO Financial Sustainability in Ghana

Abstract As a relatively stable democracy, Ghana has long been a popular country for international donors. However, recent changes in its classification by the World Bank and government proclamations have led to a reduction in foreign aid, forcing Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to confront the financial sustainability of their organizations. In this study, we test the typology proposed by Arhin et al. (2018. “Facing the Bullet? Non-Governmental Organisations’ (NGOs’) Responses to the Changing Aid Landscape in Ghana.” Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations 29 (2): 348–60) which finds that CSOs in Ghana are using six different strategies to work toward financial sustainability. Based on an original survey of 42 CSOs, our findings indicate an almost exclusive focus on income generation in the form of social enterprises. The challenges this poses to the sector are discussed.

Local Development Based on Non-Timber Forest Products: Evidence from a Mapping of Initiatives in the Brazilian Amazon since Rio 1992

Over recent decades, the sustainable use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) has offered the promise of reconciling the dilemma between forest conservation and economic development, generating income for local populations. Accordingly, since the 1990s, manifold initiatives, often supported by international donors, have been investing in developing such NTFP value chains. Specifically in the Brazilian context, initiatives have proliferated as a response to the challenges of the largest remaining tropical forest ecosystem—the Amazon region and its inhabitants. Have they worked? What do we know about their impact? To provide for the first time an adequate basis for a more systematic analysis of the impact of NTFP initiatives in the Brazilian Amazon, this article presents a mapping of current and past initiatives supporting NTFP extractivism. The mapping drew on databases of funding organizations and interviews with key informants. The analysis revealed a large number of initiatives (nearly 200) strongly clustered in some areas, like around Belém, along major roads such as the BR 364, and along the Juruá rivers, concentrated on a few products with relatively high commercial value, mostly implemented by civil society organizations and targeting traditional peoples and communities. As interventions for NTFP development, the initiatives offered capacity building, financial support, and facilitate market access. With regard to the latter, the initiatives varied considerably. The vast majority promoted products, while a much smaller number engaged in company partnerships or government procurement. Despite the large number of initiatives, there is insufficient knowledge to gauge the impacts of different strategies of local resources and their users. A clear understanding of the effects of NTFP-based development initiatives and how impacts are generated is essential to seize the potential of the bioeconomy for achieving sustainable development for the Brazilian Amazon.

Role of Advocacy Efforts in Conservation of Pangolins Species in Kenya

Pangolins, the unique and enigmatic scaly mammals, are facing an existential crisis due to rampant poaching and habitat loss, particularly in Kenya, where four species reside. This study assessed the role of advocacy efforts in conservation of pangolins species in Kenya. Advocacy efforts play a crucial role in the conservation of pangolin species in Kenya by raising awareness, influencing policy changes, and mobilizing resources for conservation initiatives. Pangolins face severe threats due to illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, and lack of strong legal protections. Effective advocacy can address these challenges through various means. Firstly, advocacy efforts contribute significantly to raising awareness about the plight of pangolins among the public, policymakers, and key stakeholders. By highlighting the ecological importance of pangolins and the threats they face, advocates can generate public support and empathy, leading to increased conservation action. This awareness can also foster behavioral change, such as reducing demand for pangolin products, which is critical in combating illegal trade. Advocacy also plays a pivotal role in influencing policy changes and strengthening legal frameworks for pangolin conservation. Advocates work with policymakers to enact and enforce laws that protect pangolins from poaching, trafficking, and habitat destruction. This includes advocating for stricter penalties for wildlife crimes and advocating for the inclusion of pangolins in international conservation agreements. Furthermore, advocacy efforts help mobilize resources for pangolin conservation projects. By engaging with governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international donors, advocates can secure funding and support for research, enforcement efforts, and community-based conservation initiatives. This financial backing is essential for implementing effective conservation strategies on the ground. Community engagement is another critical aspect of pangolin conservation advocacy. Advocates work with local communities to promote sustainable livelihoods that reduce dependency on pangolin-related activities, such as bush meat hunting or illegal trade. Empowering communities through education and alternative income-generating projects not only helps protect pangolins but also fosters long-term conservation efforts. In Kenya, advocacy efforts are also focused on addressing broader conservation challenges, such as habitat loss and fragmentation. By advocating for the protection of critical pangolin habitats, such as forests and savannahs, advocates contribute to the overall biodiversity conservation landscape. This holistic approach recognizes the interconnectedness of species conservation and ecosystem health. Advocacy efforts also contribute to international collaboration and knowledge-sharing on pangolin conservation. By participating in global forums, conferences, and campaigns, advocates can leverage international support and expertise to amplify conservation efforts and promote best practices

Forecast of Corruption: From Ethical to Pragmatic Considerations

From an ethical standpoint, combating corruption is crucial for promoting justice and equality. The rule of law and ethical governance involves clear standards of behavior for public servants and mechanisms for ensuring these standards are upheld. Corruption undermines public trust in government and democratic institutions and exacerbates social inequality and injustice (disproportionately affects the poor and marginalized groups, denying them access to essential services and opportunities). The fight against corruption during a full-scale war has ethical and purely pragmatic implications for Ukraine, the data of which formed the basis of this study. The lack of tangible progress in the fight against corruption in general, the lack of transparency of many institutional mechanisms in public administration, the revealed corruption schemes in the distribution of international military and humanitarian aid, as well as in the field of public defence procurement, the lack of punishment for corrupt officials in the highest echelons of power threaten the loyalty of international donors and allies, reduce Ukraine’s authority in the international arena, slows down Ukraine’s movement towards the EU, and significantly affects the decisions of foreign partners. The article demonstrates the results of forecasting the future level of corruption in Ukraine (for 2024‒2027) based on the retrospective dynamics of the Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International for 1998‒2023. Two economic and mathematical models are used for forecasting: Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), which better reflects long-term historical trends and fluctuations, and the exponential smoothing method, which is more sensitive to the latest values of the time series. The statistical analysis package STATISTICA was used for the calculations. The forecasting results are disappointing since both methods showed an expected decrease in the level of corruption in 2024-2027, but in critically low volumes: by 1 point according to the ARIMA model and by 3-4 points according to the exponential smoothing method. The results of this study can serve as a basis for public advocacy campaigns as an argument for the need to radically revise the existing format of anti-corruption policy in Ukraine given its European future.

Teaching Critical Reflection on Epistemic Injustice: The Case of a Collaborative International Public Health Course

We present pedagogical reflections on teaching the concept of epistemic injustice through an undergraduate course run collaboratively at campuses in Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Sierra Leone, and the United States. Our course, entitled Solving Each Other’s Public Health Problems, enabled students to engage with epistemological power structures by playing the role of both international development donor and local beneficiary. By building on discussions of realworld issues, fostering interpersonal relationships, modeling productive discourse through transparent feedback and providing intellectual space for selfreflection and empathy, the course provides a pedagogically transformative framework for international collaborative education.

“China’s Foreign Aid” and “China’s National Image” in the Eyes of Foreign Media: A Corpus-Based Discourse-Historical Analysis

China’s foreign aid implements the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and promotes the common progress of China and developing countries. News about China’s foreign aid released by foreign media is quite significant for overseas audiences to perceive China’s image. This study adopts Ruth Wodak’s discourse-historical approach and corpus-based method to interpret foreign news reports on China’s foreign aid. The macro-level news themes, meso-level discourse strategies and national images, as well as micro-level discourse features are explained with examples. Research shows that news themes reveal the objects, fields and methods of China’s foreign aid. Foreign media widely adopt discourse strategies of nomination, predication, argumentation, perspectivation, intensification and mitigation to shape China as a friendly international donor. A few characteristics of news discourse indicate that several media misunderstand or smear China’s foreign aid, which has a negative impact on China’s international public opinion environment. Therefore, building an effective external voice platform to convey China’s international responsibilities and contributions is necessary, which helps establish a favorable international public opinion environment for China’s development and call on other countries to make efforts to reduce human poverty.

Financing of infrastructure projects in territorial communities

The issues of financial support for the restoration of critical infrastructure are of utmost relevance during martial law, charac­terized by limited resources and capabilities and increased risks, and must be addressed compre­hensively at the state and local levels. The structural redistribution of local budget reve­nues and expenditures that occurs during martial law necessitates the search for effective ways to attract off-budget instruments for financial support of infrastructure in commu­nities. The aim of the article is to assess the financial capacities and opportunities for restoring the infrastructure of territorial com­mu­nities and to review promising financial mechanisms. The research is based on the hypothesis that it is necessary to develop combi­ned forms of financial support at the level of territorial communities with an emphasis on intensifying the involvement of international donors. The research methods were used, such as systematic and comparative analysis and synthesis, abstract and logical method, and logical generalization. The research is based on materials from government sources on the state and local budgets and on the basis of scientific works by Ukrainian scholars. The article has presented the opinions of scientists on the financial support essence and systematized its forms, methods and tools for direct finan­cial support of infrastructure projects in communities; revealed the possibilities and prospects for their application under martial law. The expe­diency of choosing combined forms of finan­cial support as those that balance the interests of the participants has been substan­tiated. Based on the state analysis of budgetary financing of infrastructure projects at the state and local levels, the availability of financial capacity in local budgets and the continuing trend of long-term projects by international donors at the national level were established. The main method of financial support for projects at the state level is loan programs from international financial institutions and foreign governments. The author has proposed the development of promising forms of financial support for the restoration of infrastructure projects in the form of loan and grants programs combination from the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO)

The Development of Tajikistan’s Apparel Firms in the Global Value Chains: Upgrading and Challenges

This study examines the development of apparel firms in Tajikistan. Since Tajikistan is the lowest-income country in Central Asia, its innovation system is rather limited. Instead, international donors play a complementary role in the knowledge sourcing of the apparel industry. Moreover, the technological capabilities of individual firms are critically important for industrial upgrading. Based on a survey of 25 apparel firms, this study identifies three trajectories for the upgrading of Tajikistan’s apparel firms and examines the government’s policy dilemma between the creation of export competitiveness and the need for indirect protection for the domestic apparel industry.

Civil society’s development in Tunisia’s democratization process, 2011-2021

ABSTRACT In the years following the 2011 overthrow of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, the international democracy promotion community enthusiastically embraced Tunisia’s burgeoning civil society. Ten years later, however, when the democratically-elected president Kais Saied began to dismantle the country’s democratic institutions, civil society largely stood on the side-lines. This paper examines what happened during the intervening decade that left civil society’s international funders so disappointed. The paper finds that three key changes over time help explain the gap between donor expectations and what civil society ultimately delivered: the development of an antagonistic and uncooperative relationship between civil society and the state; differences between Tunisian civil society activists and international donors on the types of issues they prioritized and other matters; and an overall lack of trust and lack of cohesion among civil society activists in working towards common goals – despite some successful coalition work around particular legislation – which came on full display after July 2021. This paper contributes to studies of Tunisian civil society’s development process in the context of its transition experience between 2011 and 2021, and of how and why donors continue to ‘miss the mark’ in their efforts to support civil society as a means of promoting democracy.

‘Water for all’: The unlikely confluence of divergent interests (in resisting neoliberalism and promoting human rights) in Mumbai’s slums

Despite pressure from international donors and the national government, neoliberal policies have not had a transformational impact on the way water is provided in Mumbai. Some modest reforms were introduced but these have not led to major change. Moreover, in 2022 the city introduced a policy of ‘Water for All’ to extend water access to slum areas. At first sight this system might seem to be a socially progressive approach to water management, which might be surprising given the right-wing orientation of Shiv Sena, the political party which has been in power since the 1990s. But this paper shows that policy has been shaped by an unlikely alignment of diverse interests. Campaigners have been resisting neoliberal policies and demanding fair water rights for slum dwellers for years. But these demands gained policy traction when they overlapped with the interests of the engineers who manage the complex water system, as well as the political regime. For decades, slum households have been scapegoated and water access was deemed illegal for millions of the city’s poorest residents. But the political climate has recently shifted such that it now suits the ruling party to expand water access, although restrictions remain. This paper shows how global paradigms intersect with embedded structures, politics and institutions to create contextually specific outcomes. Drawing on Brenner and Theodore (2002), we argue that the same context that generated Mumbai’s form of ‘actually existing’ neoliberalism has also created a distinctive, ‘actually existing’, interpretation of the human right to water.

Development cooperation and the stratification of lesbian, gay, bi- and transsexual activism: international donors, elite activists and community members during Uganda Pride 2022

Uganda’s infamous state-sanctioned homo-hostility has resulted in intense international attention, development cooperation and Western funding to local lesbian, gay, bi- and transsexual (LGBT+) organisations. However, Western funders and allies in this context are becoming increasingly questioned. Researchers have highlighted the complexities, opportunities and constraints of an increasingly transnational LGBT+ movement, but how is this manifested on the ground in the Global South? Through an inductive and ethnographically inspired study, we set out to explore the Ugandan LGBT+ community and its intra-community relationships and relations with Western funders and allies in the unique setting of Uganda Pride 2022, to which we had rare first-hand access. The results reveal that security concerns, both from outside and within the community, shaped Uganda Pride 2022. The most salient finding is that competition for international funding distorts activists’ relations, as it stratifies the LGBT+ community based on who has access to Western donors and international funders.

Influence of Procurement Process on Availability of Essential Drugs in Public Health Facilities in Mombasa County, Kenya

Purpose: Procurement process and practices are crucial components in the successful realization of universal healthcare and in particular the availability of essential drugs. Despite multifaceted efforts and inputs to promote the quality of the procurement process challenges still exists in the availability of essential drugs. This study aimed to establish the influence of procurement planning, supplier selection, procurement financing and needs assessment on availability of essential drugs in the public health facilities in Mombasa County, Kenya. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study design which targeted level 4 and 5 health facilities in Mombasa County. The study target population was 1216 health workers who included medical laboratory personnel, clinical officers and medical officers, nurses, pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists. The study sample was 301. Methodology: Stratified sampling approach was used to distribute the sample among the cadre and random sampling method was used to select the respondents from each strata. Quantitative data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Findings: The study found that procurement planning, supplier selection, procurement, financing and needs assessment were significant factors in influencing the availability of essential drugs with P<0.05. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study recommended that counties conduct a comprehensive and regular need assessment of essential drugs in public health facilities, that they develop a robust procurement planning strategy that aligns with the identified needs and available financing, that there should be a transparent and competitive supplier selection process, and to establish strategic partnerships with international organizations, non-governmental organizations, or donor agencies that are committed to improving healthcare access.

Clinical laboratory techniques for detecting drugs of abuse: Feasibility in developing nations

Drugs of abuse are prescription, over-the-counter, or other forms of drugs that are often used for purposes other than those for which they are meant to be used, or in excessive amounts. The abuse of illicit drugs (for example cocaine, heroin, and codeine) poses a serious threat to public health, not to mention a great challenge to the health care system. It is important to review the techniques used in detecting these drugs of abuse to stay ahead of this growing global drug problem. This review aims to give an overview of known clinical laboratory techniques used in detecting some common drugs of abuse that could serve as an integral part of determining the presence of these drugs in bodily fluids and samples. Relevant literature was reviewed in various search engines (Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Bing). Findings showed that some of the current clinical laboratory techniques for detecting and quantifying drugs of abuse include Microcrystalline tests, thin-layer chromatography, colourimetric tests, immunoassays, urine dipstick tests, and ultraviolet spectroscopy. Apart from these known techniques, new and emerging techniques are being validated to serve as additions to these already existing techniques and be used in clinical settings. In conclusion, the burden of drug abuse is on the rise and becoming a public health concern. There should be an ever-increasing interest in developing new analytical methodologies not only to detect but also to quantify drugs of abuse which may be applied in a plethora of areas including clinical settings.Some of the outlined techniques are highly priced and for cost ineffectiveness, they may be difficult to afford and sustain in resource-restraint settings like developing nations. Hence, grants and laboratory infrastructural support may be needed from international donor agencies.