Lead Agency Research Articles

Collaborating across government agencies to combine linkage processes and algorithms to create an Australian National Linkage Spine (NLS) to facilitate cross-jurisdictional linkage

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) are co-technical lead agencies for developing the National Disability Data Asset (NDDA) which will bring together data across jurisdictions to build a more complete picture of the lives of people with disability. ABS and AIHW are collaboratively building a National Linkage Spine (NLS), a high-quality high-coverage population dataset to be shared under new legislation to facilitate cross-jurisdictional linkage and build the NDDA. ABS and AIHW each have extensive data integration experience, however our linkage methods have evolved differently in response to the needs of our respective researcher client bases and the datasets we work with. An ABS-AIHW cross-agency team was established to align terminology and share data processing methods, linkage approaches, and locally built linkage tools. The team collaborated on the design of an NLS that combines the best aspects of each of our approaches. The NLS build methodology delivers aligned processing of input data and applies a combination of ABS’s deterministic linkage algorithm and AIHW’s probabilistic linkage and machine learning algorithms. The NLS was peer reviewed by its future jurisdictional users and is considered fit for purpose for delivering the NDDA. The open sharing of knowledge and tools has significantly benefited both agencies and the broader NDDA project. Takeaways from this project extend beyond it, with improved data process approaches being considered by each agency in other work, and a growing common agreement of linkage best practice.

Navigating justice: Examining the intersection of procedural and distributive justice in environmental impact assessment in Puerto Rico

Recognizing that centuries of mistreatment of low-income and minority communities by governments and corporations have resulted in widespread exposure to environmental harms, academics and policymakers are seeking ways to improve environmental justice. While it is commonly assumed that improved procedural justice (meaningful participation in decision making) should improve distributive justice (equitable distribution of environmental harms and benefits), empirical evidence of this link is nascent. This paper evaluates whether differing approaches to procedural justice shape recognition of distributive injustices by policymakers, focusing on implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in Puerto Rico. NEPA requires federal agencies to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of projects they implement, fund, or permit; this review commonly includes an assessment of the project's impacts on distributive justice. Drawing on document analysis and interviews with project developers, regulators, and community organizations, we explore how and why four NEPA reviews consider distributional impacts. In all four cases, the community mobilized to voice concerns about the proposed projects' impacts, but the lead agencies and project developers did not always create the space for those voices to collaboratively shape the review. This demonstrates the role of the project developer in how distributive justice considerations are treated, as project leads have discretion on whether and when to provide space for community groups to participate in the process. This research makes two primary contributions. First, by linking features of the decision-making process with environmental justice-related outputs, this research provides practical understanding of ways to support distributive justice and expands knowledge about how participatory governance works within the context of US environmental policy. Second, by studying NEPA's implementation in Puerto Rico, we assess challenges associated with implementing Environmental Impact Assessment in a territorial setting, where the demographics and intensity of environmental problems are distinct from the 'traditional' American context the policies were designed to protect.

Regional forest green infrastructure planning and collaborative governance: A case study from southern Sweden

Green Infrastructure (GI) is a strategically planned network delivering and enhancing diverse ecosystem services whilst preventing further biodiversity loss. Although not mandatory for EU members to implement GI, it is increasingly advocated as a tool for landscape planning. In 2016, the Swedish Government mandated the County Administrative Boards (CABs) to design regional GI plans using a collaborative process. This study explored the GI collaborative process in the region of Scania in southern Sweden, focusing on forest as an important component of Swedish landscapes. We interviewed 14 different stakeholders who participated in the process, and analysed the preconditions, inner workings and outcomes of collaborative GI planning. Despite remarkably different expectations, the perceived outcomes were consistent. Most stakeholders perceived the process as mainly informational rather than deliberative and, in general, use of the GI plan was limited. Despite successful finalisation of the plan, collaboration as a long-term process has not been achieved, which may limit the realisation of activities that foster GI. Scania’s GI planning illustrates the defects of top-down approaches with insufficient resources, failing to address the stakeholders’ trust and positioning. A lack of inclusivity and deliberation undermine the legitimacy of collaborative processes, discrediting the very concept of GI in Sweden. Our analysis indicates that a genuine collaborative process and a long-term commitment to implementing GI is unachievable without sustained and substantial governmental funding, capacity development at the lead agency, thorough consideration of prehistory, and targeted measures to increase trust among stakeholders.

Tech Talk: South Australian Petroleum Review, April 2024

The South Australian Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) manages the State’s petroleum resources as the lead agency facilitating ecologically sustainable energy resource exploration and production. Its operations cover investment attraction through provision of geoscientific data (Geological Survey of SA), regulation through policy and legislation (DEM Regulation and Compliance Division) and royalty optimisation (DEM Corporate and Commercial Division).

CDC Guidance for Community Assessment and Investigation of Suspected Suicide Clusters, United States, 2024.

This report is the second of three reports in the MMWR supplement updating CDC's guidance for investigating and responding to suicide clusters. The first report, Background and Rationale - CDC Guidance for Assessing, Investigating, and Responding to Suicide Clusters, United States, 2024, describes an overview of suicide clusters, methods used to develop the supplement guidance, and intended use of the supplement reports. The final report, CDC Guidance for Community Response to Suicide Clusters, United States, 2024, describes how local public health and community leaders can develop a response plan for suicide clusters. This report provides updated guidance for the approach to assessing and investigating suspected suicide clusters. Specifically, this approach will guide lead agencies in determining whether a confirmed suicide cluster exists, what concerns are in the community, and what the specific characteristics are of the suspected or confirmed suicide cluster. The guidance in this report is intended to support and assist lead agencies and their community prepare for, assess, and investigate suicide clusters. The steps provided in this report can be adapted to the local context, culture, capacity, circumstances, and needs for each suspected suicide cluster.

“The rubber band is already broken”: An extended case study of UNDP transformative resilience framework in the context of Palestine

ABSTRACT We critically explore the resilience discourse of the website for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the lead agency for resilience in the Palestinian context, through engagement with the local Palestinian concept of sumud and neoliberal and postcolonial lenses. Our critical analysis of the UNDP resilience discourse identifies three main problems: the linguistic localization of resilience, the claim of Palestinians’ responsibility for resilience, and the normalization of occupation and absence of justice. These three issues provide an opportunity to understand the limitations of the predominant Western interpretation of the UNDP resilience discourse and its inapplicability in the Palestinian context. We advocate for use of our conceptualization of transformative resilience to actively pursue justice in Palestine and similar contexts.

Disease Occurrence, Incidence and Severity in Vegetable Gardens of Green-the-Home Project Beneficiaries in Baybay City and Hilongos, Leyte, Philippines

This survey aimed to identify the major diseases affecting the Green-the-Home (GTH) vegetable gardens project beneficiaries in Barangays Guadalupe and Marcos in Baybay City, Leyte, and Barangay Liberty, Hilongos, Leyte, Philippines. The study documented the occurrence, incidence, and severity of various vegetable diseases, including the existing pest management practices of vegetable growers. Disease incidence and severity observed in vegetable gardens varied depending on the type of disease, crop, and site. The surveyed crops included okra, upo, ampalaya, tomato, string beans, sweet pepper, chili, eggplant, and cucumber, which are common in the sampling areas. The most common diseases found within the three project sites were okra leaf mold, Cercospora leaf spot of ampalaya, Cercospora leaf spot of sweet pepper, and Cercospora leaf spot of chili. The majority of vegetable growers employed physical and cultural pest management approaches, such as weeds removal (66.6%), the use of nets (63.3%), intercropping (60%), tillage (50%) and bagging (46.6%). Disease occurrence in the areas was influenced by environmental factors such as rainfall, temperature, humidity, and poor management practices of vegetable gardens. Since Baybay and Hilongos have the same climatic pattern, such environmental factors are consistent in both areas. It is recommended that the Government and other lead agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), assist GTH in promoting pests and diseases literacy programs among vegetable growers. They should also provide adequate access to extension services and disseminate appropriate, safe, and long-term pest management strategies to vegetable growers.

BUILDING BRIDGES, CATALYZING RESEARCH, EMPOWERING ALL AGES: A CHAT WITH NIA SENIOR LEADERSHIP

Abstract The National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, is the federally designated lead agency on aging research and supports research to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. Over the last decade, NIA’s budget has increased substantially. In keeping with NIA’s scientific mission, funding includes significant investments in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias research, as well as in non-AD research. This symposium will provide a forum for exploration of the implications of the NIA budget for the general research community. NIA’s senior staff will discuss research priorities and programs supported by the Institute. A question-and-answer session will follow these remarks on current funding and future priorities and research directions of NIA.

“Their lives don't matter to politicians”: The necropolitical ecology of Thailand's dangerous and unequal roads

Thailand is consistently ranked as having the worst road safety record in Asia, and one of the worst globally. Most deaths are of the rural poor, a function of necropolitical ecology. A primary factor is the materiality and design of the road system, built to increase mobility rather than improve safety, and lacking a hierarchical structure. Highways are poorly integrated into both rural areas and Thai cities, and ignore the needs of motorcycle drivers, who comprise most road users and victims. Traffic regulations are not enforced by poorly paid police officers, without adequate resources or ability to enforce traffic fines, and who engage in corrupt practices. This is compounded by inadequate driving education. These factors are complicated and caused by Thailand's fragmented and weak governance. A plethora of agencies do not cooperate and have overlapping mandates. No lead agency has been given sufficient power to improve governance of the system. The public blame drivers rather than the state. Political leadership, in favour of quick results, has attached little importance to this issue and consequently devoted insufficient resources to address it, an inaction, ignorance and urban bias that have contributed to unnecessarily high levels of rural injuries and mortality.

Indigenous-led toxic tours opening pathways for (re)connecting to place, people and all creation

AbstractHome to nine Tribal Nations, the northeastern corner of Oklahoma (US) is a place of immense resilience, cultural beauty and attachment to place. Horrifically, however, this same area is also home to massive environmental assaults that have occurred as a result of decades of lead and zinc mining. The improperly managed mine waste that has accumulated since the late 1800s now severely contaminates the water, land and air, having adverse impacts on the health of the ecosystem and the local human community alike. Leading the fight for cleanup and support of place and people since 1997 is the non-profit organisation called Local Environmental Action Demanded (LEAD Agency). One of LEAD’s primary tools for education and advocacy has been leading toxic tours across these harmed lands and waters. This contribution draws upon the nearly three decades of toxic tours that Rebecca and Earl have led by sharing key stories and experiences of important sites visited along the way, offering a snapshot of toxic tour experience. Drawing on Indigenous storywork and autoethnographic methodologies, this contribution aims to spotlight the potential of Indigenous-led toxic tours for helping to (re)connect people — both locals and visitors — to place and a responsibility of stewardship.

Identifying Factors Influencing Time and Cost Overruns in Public Construction Projects in Bhutan

Construction industries worldwide are impacted by time and cost overruns, resulting in significant financial loss and failure to complete projects on time. Clients, contractors, and consultants can plan properly for public construction projects if they have a better understanding of cost and time overruns. The Construction Development Board (now Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority) is the lead agency regulating and overseeing the government construction projects in Bhutan. However, in recent four years, from July 2017 to June 2021, about 50% of the total 2111 government construction projects experienced time and cost overruns, and the total financial loss was Nu. 2,578.86 million. Therefore, study was designed to examine the factors causing delays and cost escalations in the construction project implemented by government during the financial year July 2017 to June 2021. Thus, this study explores identifying factors influencing time and cost overruns to avoid time delays and financial losses. The primary data was collected through the questionnaire survey from engineers of 20 Dzongkhags and 4 Thromdes. The secondary data was collected from the CDB's annual reports, the Construction Association of Bhutan (CAB), and the National Statistics Bureau (NSB). The data was analyzed using the descriptive statistics method, and the relative importance index (RII) was calculated to rank the factors identified from literature reviews. The research results show that financial issue was the critical factor causing delays and cost escalation in the government construction project in Bhutan. Followed by the issue of delays and cost overruns due to shortage of local construction materials, inadequate experience of the contractor, poor site planning, shortage of skilled workers, unrealistic schedule, design change, contractual issues, and project manager competence.

The International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories Presents Abstracts from Its Annual Meeting

The International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories Presents Abstracts from Its Annual Meeting

Maturation of trauma systems in Europe

PurposeTo provide an overview of trauma system maturation in Europe.MethodsMaturation was assessed using a self-evaluation survey on prehospital care, facility-based trauma care, education/training, and quality assurance (scoring range 3–9 for each topic), and key infrastructure elements (scoring range 7–14) that was sent to 117 surgeons involved in trauma, orthopedics, and emergency surgery, from 24 European countries. Average scores per topic were summed to create a total score on a scale from 19 to 50 per country. Scores were compared between countries and between geographical regions, and correlations between scores on different sections were assessed.ResultsThe response rate was 95%. On the scale ranging from 19 to 50, the mean (SD, range) European trauma system maturity score was 38.5 (5.6, 28.2–48.0). Prehospital care had the highest mean score of 8.2 (0.5, 6.9–9.0); quality assurance scored the lowest 5.9 (1.7, 3.2–8.5). Facility-based trauma care was valued 6.9 (1.4, 4.1–9.0), education and training 7.0 (1.2, 5.2–9.0), and key infrastructure elements 10.3 (1.6, 7.6–13.5). All aspects of trauma care maturation were strongly correlated (r > 0.6) except prehospital care. End scores of Northern countries scored significantly better than Southern countries (p = 0.03).ConclusionThe level of development of trauma care systems in Europe varies greatly. Substantial improvements in trauma systems in several European countries are still to be made, especially regarding quality assurance and key infrastructure elements, such as implementation of a lead agency to oversee the trauma system, and funding for growth, innovation and research.

Tech Talk: South Australian Petroleum Review (April 2023)

The Energy Resources Division – South Australian Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) manages the State’s petroleum resources as the lead agency facilitating ecologically sustainable petroleum exploration and production. Its operations cover investment attraction through provision of geoscientific data, regulation through policy and legislation and royalty optimisation.

Editorial

"The United Nations General Assembly at its 75th session in March 2021 declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). FAO is the lead agency for celebrating the Year in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders. Millets can grow on arid lands with minimal inputs and are resilient to changes in climate. They are therefore an ideal solution for countries to increase self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported cereal grains. Millet, a grain mainly grown and consumed in developing countries until recently and once considered a poor man’s staple, is quickly becoming a favourite globally among those affected by climate change because of its ability to thrive in harsh and arid environments."

Not if – but how – to defund the police: Response to our critics

Not if – but how – to defund the police: Response to our critics

Policy implications for Road Safety: An Experience from Iran.

Proclaiming the second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 with the ambitious target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030, in continuation of the first UN call for the Decade of Action on Road Safety (2010-2020) encouraged countries to intensify national, regional and international collaboration, with a view to meeting the ambitious road safety-related targets. In this regard, Iran has implemented the national road safety strategy and action plan under the supervision of the road safety commission as the lead agency in which the MOHME is one of the members. Moreover, as the main burden of road traffic injuries is on the health sector, to ensure universal access to health care services in the pre-hospital, hospital, post-hospital, and rehabilitation centers for road traffic victims and families, the road traffic injuries sub-committee affiliated with the Iranian Non-Communicable Diseases Committee (INCDC), developed the National Service Framework for Road Traffic Injuries through a multi-sectoral mechanism. The aim of this paper is to share Iran's experience in terms of policy implications for RTI prevention and control. Sharing the lessons learned on the role of the health sector in meeting the ambitious road safety targets will help other countries to strengthen political commitment to road safety and move toward setting regional and global road traffic casualty reduction targets.

DIVERSITY, DISCOVERY, AND AGING REIMAGINED: A CHAT WITH NIA SENIOR LEADERSHIP

Abstract The National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, is the federally designated lead agency on aging research and supports research to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. In the last six years, NIA has experienced a tripling of its budget. In keeping with NIA’s scientific mission, funding includes significant investments in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias research, as well as in non-AD research. This symposium will provide a forum for exploration of the implications of the NIA budget for the general research community. NIA’s senior staff will discuss research priorities and programs supported by the Institute. A question-and-answer session will follow these remarks on current funding and future priorities and research directions of NIA.

Effective coordination of cyber incidents: The role of emergency management

This paper discusses how a cyber attack can impact on local government. It walks through the 2020 cyber attack on Hall County, GA and how the County responded. Emphasis is placed on how the local emergency management agency was utilised and designated the lead agency to coordinate the response. The paper explains both why and how emergency management should be involved in the response to such attacks. Finally, the paper reviews the lessons learned and changes made as a result of the attack.

Strategies Employed in Managing Inter-ethnic Conflicts Occasioned by National Elections in Nakuru County between 1992 and 2017

Wars and conflicts decide political boundaries, move populations around the world, define political debates, and generally affect just about everything in our societies. Violence is widespread and can be tapped for various reasons, including but not exclusively to election victory. Since the inception of the multiparty system in 1992, there has been a highly volatile political environment in regions with multiple ethnic compositions. The study sought to evaluate the strategies employed in the management of inter-ethnic conflicts occasioned by national elections in Nakuru County, Kenya, between 1992 and 2017. The study was anchored on Democratic theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design. This study targeted the household heads of Kuresoi North and Molo sub-counties. The study population included: government officials, security personnel, CSOs officials, opinion leaders, religious leaders, and youth group representatives. A total sample of 427 was used. Data collection tools adopted were questionnaires, FGDs, and interview guides. The study employed both probability and non-probability sampling techniques. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS), and results were presented in the form of charts, graphs, and tables for quantitative data and in the form of narrative reports and verbatim quotations for qualitative data. The study concluded that the state, which is the lead agency in conflict management, has shifted from macro-level focus to micro-level intervention through local government institutions.