Community Involvement In Decision-making Research Articles

Empowering Citizens: The Key to Long-Lasting Improvements in Public Services

Background: The rise of the New Public Service (NPS) paradigm emerged in response to changes in public administration, emphasizing democratic values, community engagement, and public interest-oriented services. The Jember Regency Population and Civil Registration Service faces significant public service challenges, underscoring the need for a shift to NPS-based services. Theoretical Foundation: The NPS paradigm strongly emphasizes community involvement in decision-making and policy implementation, contrasting with the New Public Management (NPM) approach that prioritizes business aspects. Key NPS principles include citizen-centric service, participatory processes, transparency, and prioritizing the public interest. Method: This study uses a qualitative phenomenological approach to investigate individual experiences with public services in the Jember Regency Population and Civil Registration Service. Data collection methods included interviews, observations, and document analysis, with the Miles and Huberman method used for analysis. Research Results: Transitioning from the NPM to the NPS paradigm took over 12 years, involving policy changes, shifts in organizational culture, and changes in public servants' attitudes. Despite service development innovations, a comprehensive evaluation is needed to ensure alignment with NPS principles. Research Implications: This study provides an in-depth understanding of regional public service transformation through the NPS paradigm. The Jember Regency Population and Civil Registration Service is committed to offering more effective, efficient, and responsive services. Research Originality: This research fills a significant gap in previous studies by focusing on citizen-driven service innovation at the Jember Regency Population and Civil Registration Service within the NPS framework. This study offers a unique contribution to understanding local-level public service transformation.

Identifying the criteria for community-centred Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of estate regeneration schemes

Identifying the overall environmental, and socioeconomic impacts of different estate regeneration scenarios can contribute to the overall sustainability of such schemes. Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) is an appropriate tool for assessing holistic sustainability. To achieve resilient societies, the interests of communities should be considered in decision making. This paper proposes a method for incorporating community needs in identifying sustainability metrics for the sustainability assessment of estate regeneration schemes. A literature review in the field of sustainability assessment of buildings is conducted followed by a mixed methods empirical research. Collection of data has been through surveys, an interview, and an evaluation questionnaire. Data has been analysed through statistical and thematic analysis and triangulation of the results. The findings have consistently yielded the limitations of the scope of the current sustainability assessment methodologies, especially for lack of attention to societal impacts of regeneration. The results have justified the need for this research to employ participatory approaches for identifying a relevant set of sustainability indicators and criteria for assessing the lifetime impacts of estate regeneration schemes. Issues related to community involvement in decision making, maintenance and management, community facilities, refurbishment, and disruption have been identified as the stakeholders’ top priorities. Mental Health and Socioeconomic Values have been introduced as new criteria. The findings confirm the need for an in-depth approach towards identifying the regeneration priorities of the communities for the scope of LCSA studies. The identified list of criteria can apply to other studies of this context for an equitable approach for selecting the indicators across different criteria and for communicating the LCSA results with different stakeholders.

The Role Of BUMDES In the Economic Empowerment Of Village Communities

This qualitative study investigates the role of Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) in fostering economic empowerment within Ketapang Village, Tanggulangin District, Sidoarjo Regency. Utilizing interviews, observation, and documentation, the research explores the BUMDes' impact on building and developing the economic potential of the local community. Findings suggest that BUMDes play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life and societal well-being, strengthening the local economy, and contributing to national economic resilience. However, challenges persist, notably the limited community involvement in decision-making, budgeting, and program evaluation. The study underscores the need for enhanced community engagement to maximize the effectiveness of BUMDes initiatives. Highlight : Role of BUMDes: Examines the pivotal role played by Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) in fostering economic development and empowerment within rural communities. Community Engagement Challenges: Highlights the impediment of limited community participation in decision-making, budgeting, and program evaluation, hindering the success of BUMDes initiatives. Economic Impact: Demonstrates how BUMDes contribute to strengthening the local economy, enhancing the quality of life, and playing a crucial role in the resilience of the national economy Keywords: BUMDes, Economic Empowerment, Community Development, Rural Enterprises, Stakeholder Engagement

Social participation in health: analysis of progress and challenges for the Region of the Americas.

This article analyzes the state of social participation in health in the Region of the Americas, framing it within the regional context and commitments assumed by the Member States of the Pan American Health Organization. It aims to provide regional input to the discussion of a resolution on social participation for universal health coverage, health, and well-being at the 77th World Health Assembly in 2024. In the Americas, social participation has evolved from a utilitarian approach to a fundamental aspect of health system governance, enshrined within legal frameworks and recognized as a citizen's right. Regional resolutions emphasize inclusive policies and intersectoral action to tackle health inequities, meanwhile the World Health Organization handbook on social participation underscores the need for inclusive governance mechanisms and addressing power imbalances. Informed by Member States' recommendations and scientific literature, the article emphasizes the importance of addressing power imbalances, strengthening legal frameworks, and enhancing capacities of governments and populations. It stresses adapting social participation mechanisms to diverse cultural contexts and ensuring meaningful community involvement in decision-making. Finally, the article advocates for a comprehensive approach to social participation grounded in principles of equity, democracy, and human rights; and fundamentally as an essential component of the primary health care approach. It calls for integrating social participation into health system governance, policy dialogues, capacity-building, and evaluation to ensure effective participatory processes.

Community Participation in Village Development

The aim of this research is as follows: To describe and analyze community participation in the context of community social reality in the process of planning,implementing, utilizing and evaluating/reporting village development in Wandanpuro Village, Bululawang District, Malang Regency and to describe and analyze the factors that supporting and inhibiting community participation in the context of community social reality in the process of planning, implementing, utilizing and evaluating/reporting village development in Wandanpuro Village, Bululawang District, Malang Regency. This research uses qualitative and descriptive research methods. Data analysis techniques include data condensation, data presentation and verification (drawing conclusions). Research findings show that active community participation is the key to the success of effective and sustainable village development, in accordance with the needs and aspirations of residents. In Wandanpuro Village, participation in the Village Deliberation forum and Village Development Planning Deliberation shows the importance of community involvement in decision making, benefit generation and evaluation. This participation increases accountability, transparency and quality of development. Supporting factors for community participation include government support, financing institutions, infrastructure, strong local leadership, community awareness, local resources, and social cohesion. Meanwhile, inhibiting factors include lack of socialization, transparency, information, involvement of community leaders, coordination, budget, training, incentives, and access to information and technology. Internal factors that hinder include low awareness, interest, sense of belonging, paternalistic culture, education, skills, and the community's economic preoccupation.

Community-Based Ecotourism Development Planning in Bukit Lawang Plantation Village, Bahorok District, Langkat Regency

This study explores the development of community-based ecotourism in Perkebunan Bukit Lawang village, Langkat Regency. Emphasizing active community involvement in decision-making, the research highlights its effectiveness in ensuring both positive economic impacts and environmental sustainability. Local residents manage tourism-related income independently, fostering a self-sustaining model without imposing burdens on the government. Community engagement extends to roles as vendors and cleanliness officers, creating new employment opportunities and cultivating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors. The success of Perkebunan Bukit Lawang's ecotourism is evident through multifaceted economic benefits, including direct, indirect, and sustainable impacts. Active community participation enhances the destination's image, portraying a locally friendly and open attitude, contributing to a comfortable atmosphere for tourists. The study underscores the importance of preserving the unique local culture and character. Initiatives such as supporting traditional institutions, facilitating and supporting community needs, respecting diverse activities, allowing creative space for locals, and implementing cultural preservation programs are crucial for maintaining the area's distinctiveness.While highlighting strengths such as pristine natural conditions and a strategic location, challenges persist, including inadequate visitor awareness of environmental cleanliness and ambiguous regulatory frameworks. Lack of clear regulations results in overlapping responsibilities, requiring collaborative agreements to define sustainable tourism responsibilities. In conclusion, active community participation is crucial for successful community-based ecotourism. Strengthening synergies, empowering communities, raising environmental awareness among tourists, and continuous cultural preservation efforts are vital for sustainable development, transforming Perkebunan Bukit Lawang into an environmentally sustainable tourist destination, empowering the local community sustainably.

Tata Ruang Pesisir Bantul dalam Perspektif Keistimewaan DIY

This research investigates the coastal spatial planning of Bantul Regency, which is known for its features in geographical, cultural and socio-economic aspects. Bantul Regency faces a number of challenges, including serious coastal erosion, climate change, and the preservation of local cultural values. This research aims to identify holistic solutions that can combine coastal erosion mitigation, adaptation to climate change, and cultural heritage preservation in coastal area management. This research involves collecting geospatial data, abrasion susceptibility analysis, interviews with local stakeholders, and the use of geographic information systems (GIS). The research results show that handling coastal abrasion can be integrated with broader adaptation strategies to climate change. In addition, community involvement in decision making and implementation of coastal spatial planning policies has helped maintain the sustainability of the local environment and culture. The implication of this research is the development of sustainable coastal spatial plans that take into account physical, social and cultural aspects. The results of this research can be a guide for local governments, environmental management institutions and other stakeholders in maintaining the sustainability of the coastal areas of Bantul Regency and similar areas throughout the world that face similar challenges.

Development of Historical and Religious Tourism in Spatial Planning Towards the Utilization of Local Wisdom Potentials in Penyengat Island

The development of the tourism sector based on local wisdom, in supporting a sustainable tourism sector on Penyengat Island, especially historical and religious tourism, namely mosques, chair hills and tombs is urgently needed. The application of community-based tourism on Penyengat Island can be carried out in three stages, namely, the planning stage, the implementation stage and the evaluation stage. With the implementation of community-based tourism, the development of the tourism sector on Penyengat Island can run smoothly and still maintain the preservation of sustainable local wisdom, besides Therefore, with the development of a sustainable tourism sector, the lives of the people around it can be more prosperous and can increase income for the surrounding community. The results of the research show that the development of religious tourism on Penyengat Island as sustainable tourism is very feasible to develop, this is evidenced by the existence of a Regional Regulation concerning the Spatial Planning for the Riau Archipelago Province 2017-2037 as a legal basis as well as a commitment to sustainable development, community involvement in decision making and Management of religious tourism facilities and pre-facilities has existed before, such as tombs, mosques and historical buildings. Efforts to optimize the development of sustainable religious tourism are developing the concept of a cultural city, increasing regional security, improving infrastructure and drainage in some places, providing religious tourism attractions as new and more attractive additional attractions.

What Determines the Implementation of Development Planning Deliberations in The Village?

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of variables on community participation and decision-making in development planning deliberations in the village. The problems found are that community involvement has not been maximized in development planning deliberation activities, community involvement in decision making is still very minimal and dominated by the same people from year to year, development planning is only a formality because there is no control mechanism from the community. Community proposals only fulfill the list of existing programs, without any guarantee that the program will be accommodated. This study uses a quantitative descriptive method. The data that has been collected is processed by frequency distribution and multiple linear regression analysis. Validity test, reliability test, and data normality test were also carried out using the SPSS 20.0 for the windows program. The results showed that the influence of community participation and decision-making in the development planning deliberation went quite well and were decisive. Although the Village Government still must improve the decision-making system in development planning deliberation by creating a more participatory mechanism.

Social Sciences and Social Justice in the Design, Implementation and Evaluation of Measures Against COVID-19 - the Case Study of France in 2020

The social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been profound. This study uses France as a case-study to analyze the role of social sciences in the COVID-19 response from March 2020 to February 2021. France’s national evaluation reports as well as other secondary sources were used to examine five social science aspects: (i) basic public health measures in response to COVID-19, (ii) mental health and cross sectoral issues in social justice, such as (iii) communication, (iv) civil society and community involvement in decision-making and (v) inequities. Findings indicate poor consideration of inequities in the conception of basic measures such as wearing facemasks, hand hygiene and social distancing, especially for vulnerable populations, while social components such as mental health, communication and community engagement lacked in the evaluation of France’s COVID-19 response. Pandemic responses and evaluations of interventions must integrate social science aspects. To this effect, practical recommendations with policy implications are provided to pave the way towards social justice.

Challenges of Water Policy Involvement of the Community in the East Coast River Basin of Thailand

Water policy-making requires the dedicated involvement of all stakeholders, but difficulties remain for the community sector. This study aims to examine the critical challenges of community involvement in water policy decision-making in Thailand. Both qualitative and quantitative methods used in this research project consisted of 39 interviews with informants from a variety of interested parties and 403 community members from around the East Coast River Basin in Thailand completing a survey questionnaire. The results have shown that although mechanisms to enable community involvement in decision-making, such as public consultation and water-related committees, exist, problems remain within the community sector. The critical challenges lie in the opportunities of being consulted and the sharing of power in water policy-making. Although the networks are important, at the same time, they are also obstructing the community sectors in linking their requirements to a final decision, as well as dealing with politics, policy-makers, and staff who organized the process. Therefore, the government should further develop water committee mechanisms by setting up a comprehensive yet practically easy consultation process so that new or inexperienced community members get an opportunity to practice and learn the vital elements necessary in water policy-making. Further research should be conducted in order to compare the opportunities in water decision-making between communities in rural and urban areas. Studies at the local government level should be carried out, with results used as a mechanism to enable community involvement at higher levels of water policy decision-making.

Strategi Pengembangan Kegiatan Pembelajaran di PKBM

At the beginning of its establishment PKBM was a place of learning for resident around PKBM. PKBM was established by the community, from the community and for the community. The main activity of PKBM is educating the public through various services outside the school education program. Where the establishment of PKBM was Inspired by the idea CLC in varius developed countries since around the sixties, as well as the exsitence of broad-based learning policies. Non-formal education institutions that function as a place and opportunity for community members to learn. The implemention of learning activities differs from one CLC to another. CLC managers must have sufficient knowledge, skills and sbilities to realize the CLC character set out in the CLC Standard and Operational Procedures. Some potential PKBM can be developed, along with its position as a community-based education institution (community based education) characterized by (1) community support in varios froms of learning; (2) community involvement in decision making; (3) community member join in building equal relationships; (4) ownership in which community members participate in controlling all decisions relating to educational program outside of school

Responsabilidad social corporativa en la minería de Latinoamérica: un modelo multiactor

Este artículo analiza las percepciones de empresas mineras y sus stakeholders en cinco países de Latinoamérica. Mediante entrevistas, aborda las dimensiones del análisis relacionadas con el papel de las empresas en las comunidades, las relaciones entre actores y la participación de la comunidad en la toma de decisiones. Los resultados arrojan diferentes visiones y conclusiones, entre ellas la necesidad de una implementación efectiva del modelo multiactor para mejorar la Responsabilidad Social Corporativa y reducir conflictos.

Landscape multifunctionality in (and around) the Kafa Biosphere Reserve: a sociocultural and gender perspective

ABSTRACT In 2010, UNESCO listed the Kafa Biosphere Reserve (KBR) in southwest Ethiopia based on the concept of landscape multifunctionality and the need to reconcile local community values and needs with conservation pressures. Understanding the role of the local community in traditional resource management has received little attention by researchers however, as most studies focus on the biophysical characteristics of the KBR. In this qualitative study we present two case studies from fieldwork and secondary sources: the Shattos as guardians of the Kafa forest customs, values and wisdom through musical performance; and, deejjoo, a thanksgiving ritual ceremony associated with forest resource management. These cultural and spiritual beliefs and practices corresponded closely with local understandings of biology and ecology. Land use changes over the past 50 years have resulted in deforestation, land degradation and erosion of sociocultural values that traditionally sustained human-environment interactions. Based on these descriptions we also found a gap in the research of the effects of gender on both biosphere and traditional land management approaches: Who has access to resources? What is the division of labour? How are values are defined, and Who makes the rules and decisions? Gender matters because taken for granted assumptions about women’s roles and responsibilities as care givers can reinforce gender stereotypes. Our results provide insights into how increasing broader local community involvement in decision making could enhance environmental sustainability and improve gender equality.

Prioritizing community environmental concerns with a hybrid approach to multi-criteria decision-making – a case study of Newport News, Virginia, USA

Local communities can play a very important role in evaluating their environmental conditions and in developing innovative, practical, and effective solutions to improve community environmental health. Thus, community involvement in decision-making is one of the keys to improving environmental and public health. However, such a process is unquestionably complicated and demands well-organized collaboration between local communities and authoritative partners, as well as suitable decision-aiding methods/tools that facilitate a multiple-step decision process, starting from the identification and prioritization of hazards, risks and concerns, to the development and ranking of potential solutions. We introduce a new multi-criteria decision-making method named BESTMAP (Bounding, Eliciting, and Sliding Technique for Multi-Criterion Analysis of Priorities). BESTMAP inherits the strengths of several popular MCDM models and retains their respective merits by tackling myriad concerns with a practical, yet rigorous, approach to derive preference. BESTMAP has been developed in a familiar (offline) web-browser interface to facilitate stakeholder use. Integrating practicality and methodological rigor, BESTMAP serves as an effective model for MCDM applications, especially those with a large number of criteria and alternatives in general, and for prioritizing concerns for community environmental health in particular, where the list of concerns is often numerous, unclear, and diverse between different stakeholders.

STAKEHOLDER’S PERCEPTIONS OF MINING INDUSTRY IN PERU: COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN DECISION-MAKING AND THEIR CAUSAL CONDITIONS

This paper studies the community involvement in decision-making on CSR investments of mining firms in Peru and its causal conditions through stakeholder’s perceptions. To this end, community members, NGOs and consultants were interviewed. The focus was on various causal conditions in which stakeholders: a) explain the community needs, b) recognize the investments made by the companies, c) believe that mining benefits are not what they expected, d) declare the costs generated by these activities and e) point out that dialogue is the solution. Collected data were processed via a content analysis, followed by a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). The conditions which appeared in the QCA solutions were different depending on whether the community participated or not in decision-making, with the second situation prevailing. The results offer further understanding to all parties and may help companies to improve their performance.

Urban regeneration and the mental health and well-being challenge: In support of evidence-based policy

The rising attention given to mental health and well-being in urban policy, urban regeneration projects and place-making practices has led to an increase in the production of a supporting research evidence base. This paper presents a reflective review of a subset of this research, that which focuses upon urban mental health and well-being as they unfold in the context of relatively disadvantaged urban communities in the UK. Particular attention is given to research which interrogates the role played by the meaningful involvement of communities in decision making in cultivating good mental health. The paper concludes by identifying where evidence gaps still exist and where the evidence base might be improved.

Analysis of Precipitation and Temperature Variability over Central Africa (1901-2015)

Africa is already experiencing the impact of climate change. Some of the manifestations of climate change in Africa are, changing weather patterns resulting in, flooding and drought. Temperature change has impacted health, livelihoods, productivity of food, availability of water, and state of security. This study examines the long-term climate variations in Central African Countries (Gabon, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Central Africa Republic, Chad and Democratic Republic of Congo) for the period 1901 to 2015, and then investigates the possible influence of increases in greenhouse gas concentrations. To investigate climate patterns and trends in the Central African Countries, precipitation and temperature were analyzed on annual time scales using data collected from the World Bank Group Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Data was further aggregated using annual average blocks of 10 years. Linear and polynomial regression was performed. Also, linear time series slopes were analyzed to investigate the spatial and temporal trends of climate variability in Central African countries. Results of the analyses indicated that the mean annual temperature and precipitation records in some of the Central African Countries had both warming and cooling trends over the study period from 1901 to 2015. For example, differences between the maximum and the minimum rainfall data for Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Gabon were 13 mm, 13 mm and 11.1 mm, which corresponded to 11.04%, 10.03% and 10.44% respectively. The study also found the temperature of Chad to have significantly risen from 1901 to 2015 by almost 20%, while its rainfall’s variation was limited. Although the variation in rainfall in Chad was not dramatic, the temperature per 10 year rose by almost 20%. Chad’s temperature rose according to a cubic model from about 24.5°C to just below 27°C during the period 1901-1940. This was followed by a brief drop between 1940 and 1960. From 1960 to 2015 it rose according to the model to almost 28°C. By 2040 the temperature is expected to reach about 29.5°C if this trend continues. Gabon was found to be the wettest country in Central Africa. Between 1901 and 1960, its average rainfall rose from about 144 mm to a maximum of approximately 160 mm. It had a general average rainfall/10 year’s increase from 1901 to 2015. The paper concludes by outlining policy recommendations in the form of improving national and regional environmental policies and regulations in the region, community involvement in decision making processes both at local and the national levels so as to contribute their input in the daily management of the forest resources, poverty alleviation in the region as well as building regional information system (RIS) incorporating Geographic Information System (GIS), remote sensing and other environmental and socio-economic data to help reduce anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases.

Public Participation Model for Public Information Disclosure

Democratic governance is characterized by participation or community involvement in decision-making and implementation of public policy. Relating to community participation, the Indonesian government has a policy for citizens to access information they required. As the effect of this policy, Indonesia has made efforts to implement the disclosure of information in accordance with the freedom of information act. This article aims to build model of public participation from the community to control the region government with case “Wakca Balaka Advocacy Forum” and “ Kelompok Informasi Masyarakat (KIM)” in the context of public disclosure. The method used was case study and the data were collected through interviews and discussion forum with Wakca Balaka and observation on KIM activities in Bandung, Indonesia. The results of the research showed that Wakca Balaka Advocacy Forum is a bottom up public participation model, due to its own initiative to oversee various local government policies in its implementation. In addition, KIM” is a pseudo public top down participation model, because it is formed and initiated by the government to manage information and empower the community. This makes KIM have a lower critical level in comparison with Wakca balaka in government transparency. For this reason, capacity building for information management officials in the local government and the Information Commission as regulators are needed, and so is building public awareness about the importance of public participation. Keywords: Public participation, public information disclosure , information society group , advocacy forum, governance.

ANALISIS PENATAAN PERMUKIMAN KUMUH RENCANA KAWASAN 1 KOTA BANJARMASIN KUIN UTARA - ALALAK SELATAN - ALALAK TENGAH - ALALAK UTARA

The purpose of this research is to identify factors inhibiting the implementation of the arrangement of the slum area plan for Banjarmasin City. The method used in this study uses purposive sampling data collection techniques, namely secondary and primary (Questionnaire, interview, observation/observation) in the city of Banjarmasin. The method of data analysis with the help of SPSS 25 is to find out the Data Validation and Reliability Tests for the inhibiting factors in the arrangement of slums, the inhibiting index of the inhibiting factors in the structuring of slums, and the partial F test to find out the significant levels of the factors inhibiting the implementation of slums. The results of the research that have been carried out that obtained 20 implementation factors and 8 factors inhibiting the implementation of the arrangement of slums are low community income, lack of community involvement in decision making, documents that are not of good quality, non-functioning KPP (Development Maintenance Group), the quality of community self-help groups still low, the difficulty of changing people's behavior.