ABSTRACT Aid localisation aims to reduce hierarchies in the international humanitarian and development systems by directing resources to local NGOs. However, there are unintended effects of localised aid, which reinforce structural inequalities and continue to subordinate local actors, especially women in the NGO sector. Using feminist critiques, this article examines the problematic tendency to overemphasise women’s movements within Global Southern NGOs. The research focuses on the impact of localised aid on NGO coalitions and the professionalism of women working in NGOs in post-reform Vietnam. It argues that localised aid has unintended effects, weakening rather than strengthening Southern women-led movements by fulfilling funding requirements. Their dominant representation in the NGO sector remains aligned with donors’ priorities and the state’s welfare-restructuring agenda. This article aims to deepen understanding of the unintended consequences of localisation and the hierarchical issues affecting women’s empowerment within the NGO sector.

ABSTRACT This article examines the added value of local non-governmental organisations (LNGOs) and how constraining international aid practices affect their promotion of the localisation agenda. Using resource dependency theory and added value as the theoretical lens and drawing on 36 interviews with LNGOs, international NGOs, and key informants in Ghana, we find that while LNGOs have social (i.e. frontrunners of locally led developmentmm initiatives), emotional (i.e. legitimacy and credibility enhancers) and functional added value (i.e. local knowledge producers and brokers), the localisation agenda produces unintended consequences for district and regional level NGOs by shifting power to local intermediaries in the aid chain who control resources which reinforces existing power imbalances, which the localisation agenda aims to address. The article also demonstrates how restrictive funding and accountability requirements, and the lack of recognition for local expertise, affect the added value of LNGOs and the localisation agenda in general.

Remote sensing science is expected to produce spatio-temporal indicators to help societies to address major global challenges. In this regard, we have implemented the CHOVE-CHUVA web platform to monitor socio-environmental dynamics in the Brazilian Amazon state of Mato Grosso. Result of a long-term collaboration between research labs, local NGOs, and administrations, this Space for Climate Observatory initiative relies on two major pillars: (1) visualizing and computing spatio-temporal indices derived from Earth Observation data and (2) collecting citizen information as part of collaborative science. A major asset of the platform is to gather, visualize, and process data covering a wide range of themes such as land status, land use, climate, natural vegetation, agriculture, and hydrology. The collaborative information refers to land use types that are still unusual in Mato Grosso, i.e., forest restoration and low-carbon agricultural practices. The implementation of the platform was based on a French open source geospatial data infrastructure named PRODIGE. Prospects for enhancing the platform include integrating new thematic information, making better use of raw Earth Observation data, improving interactions with end-users to better capture their interpretation of socio-environmental dynamics, and improving the platform's efficiency to update data and process large study areas.

BackgroundThe bushmeat trade in Northern Ghana is important for rural economies and food security, but it faces challenges like poor hygiene, the risk of zoonotic diseases, and the fact that it is not sustainable. There is insufficient information regarding the principal actors, their socio-economic functions, and adherence to hygiene and food safety standards.MethodsA mixed-methods design was employed to gather data from 61 purposely selected participants involved in the bushmeat value chain in Ghana's Upper East and Upper West regions. The methods used to collect data included structured questionnaires, focus group discussions with hunters, traders, consumers, and wildlife officers, direct observations, and participatory techniques to find out how food is distributed and how safe it is to eat.ResultsThe study found that all the hunters were men between the ages of 25 and 50, with a majority lacking formal education (59.5%), who worked part-time mostly during the dry season and earned low monthly incomes, with over half making less than GHs100. Most of the hunters and traders had not been taught how to keep food safe. Almost all of the meat (97.3%) was processed in the bush using traditional smoking and then sold in dirty places. Seventy percent of trade was in smoked meat, and 58.8% of that was moved in baskets or bags. Hunters had low pay, a 95% drop in wildlife, and prices in the market that traders set.ConclusionNorthern Ghana's bushmeat trade is a multifaceted social, economic, and public health issue that requires targeted interventions to enhance sanitation, develop new revenue streams, and more effectively implement laws protecting wildlife. To effectively deal with these problems, all stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, and NGOs, need to work together to find a sustainable balance between protecting biodiversity, public health, and the economic wellbeing of rural people.

Purpose Local governments play a critical role in addressing climate change through a justice lens to ensure that climate action benefits equity-denied communities who experience disproportionate impacts. This study examines how equity is negotiated and incorporated in collaborative local climate planning and action. Design/methodology/approach We analyzed 12 Canadian cases of local climate action partnerships through document analyses and 55 interviews with local government staff, businesses, NGOs and community organizations. Using an urban climate justice theoretical framework, we identified key themes related to equity goals, actions and obstacles. Findings Equity goals focus on partnership design, as well as impact and process goals, while equity actions focus on governance, Indigenous collaboration, working with underserved groups, engagement, inclusion and equity indicators. Our findings reveal that partnerships that prioritize equity from the start are more effective in planning and implementing equitable climate actions. Persistent obstacles include limited funding, tokenistic engagement and technocentric approaches that undermine equity. Our findings highlight that strong leadership and the institutionalization of equity at vertical and horizontal governance levels are needed to advance climate justice. Originality/value This research refines urban climate justice theory by framing equity as a negotiated process within multistakeholder partnerships. Practically, it offers actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners to institutionalize equity through leadership and structural reforms, and to support community-level climate action for more inclusive climate actions. The findings extend beyond Canada, informing equitable local climate governance globally.

Abstract Similarly to other abalone species, the ormer ( Haliotis tuberculata ), considered a delicacy, faced multiple anthropogenic pressures, including overfishing from legal and illegal harvesting. While the ormer is extensively studied in aquaculture, limited information has been available on the status of the wild population H. tuberculata in France since the Vibryo harveyi pandemic occurring in the late 1990s. Such a lack of data may contribute in the gradual shift in the perception of stock changes, known as the Shifting Baseling Syndrome (SBS). To address this gap, we combined historical monitoring data collected in the 1980s in the Emerald Coast (North Brittany; France) with recent participatory science diving surveys conducted by a local NGO in the same area. Using quantile regression and mixed models, we investigated changes in density and size structure over three decades, and further explored the ecology of H. tuberculata . Results showed a size-depth relationship, suggesting an age-related vertical distribution. Models indicated no change in density between the two periods, highlighting population recovery from the pandemic that cause high mortality in the region. However, mean individual size declined by approximately 2 cm compared to the 1980s, mainly related to the decline of individuals larger than the legal catch size (9 cm). Such changes could potentially result from anthropogenic pressures including overfishing, ocean warming or acidification. These preliminary findings highlight the interest of combining participatory science initiative along with historical records to tackle shift baseline syndrome, and to inform conservation and management strategies for overlooked and exploited marine species.

Access to healthcare is a significant challenge for low-resource settings in developing countries, where services are often scarce, inaccessible, or unaffordable. This research explores the impact of local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the Savannah Region in the areas of Access to Healthcare, Quality of Care, Health Outcomes, Challenges and Limitations, Partnership and Collaboration, and Innovation and Technology, focusing on areas such as Effectiveness and Efficiency, Collaboration and Coordination, Sustainability and Capacity Building, Equity and Access, Accountability and Governance, and Information and Technology.

This study addresses ineffective implementation of sustainable mangrove management policies in Donggala Regency in relation to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study aims to analyze policy implementation and identify key factors influencing sustainable mangrove governance. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, with data collected through in-depth interviews, observation, documentation, and literature review. Informants were purposively selected from local government institutions, coastal communities, and environmental organizations. Data analysis used Malcolm L. Goggin et al.’s (1990) policy implementation framework, focusing on policy content, communication structure, and the reputation of implementing actors. The findings indicate that while policy substance is relatively adequate, weaknesses in communication and limited government credibility impede effective implementation, resulting in a greater operational role for local communities and non-governmental organizations. The study concludes that strengthening multi-actor collaboration is crucial for improving sustainable mangrove management and supporting SDG achievement

Grassroots and community-led initiatives are increasingly recognized as important actors of local development, yet their role of “local networkers” capable of co-designing and co-creating solutions remains insufficiently explored, particularly in post-socialist contexts. The aim of this empirical study is to evaluate the depth of participation and the patterns of co-design in the process of strategic planning in grassroots initiatives. The research draws on primary data from 106 grassroots initiatives. To examine stakeholder involvement, we construct six bipartite networks representing actor participation across distinct phases of strategic planning. These networks are analyzed using social network analysis to identify structural patterns, followed by exponential random graph models (ERGMs) to test hypotheses concerning actor-level characteristics such as income, commercial activities, community size, and experience with social innovation. The findings show that the core co-designers in all planning phases are the initiatives’ own communities and volunteers, who consistently dominate the planning, decision-making, and implementation processes. External actors—local governments, NGOs, activists, firms, and universities—participate selectively, mainly during initial information gathering, consultations, and project preparation. Overall, the study demonstrates that grassroots initiatives operate primarily as community-anchored civic networks, with external actors engaged pragmatically around specific collaborative tasks rather than across the full planning cycle.

Microfinancing is a policy designed to provide small loans to individuals who typically cannot access formal banking services. This paper explains the idea in a simple way, showing how microfinance tries to reduce problems like unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, and financial exclusion. It also looks at how microfinance has helped in regions like Latin America, where credit supports agriculture, and Africa, where it supports exports of textiles, coffee, and cocoa. At the same time, the paper highlights the major difficulties of microfinancing, including low financial literacy, high operational costs, and slow bureaucratic systems that reduce efficiency. The paper suggests solutions such as improving financial literacy through local workers and NGOs, reducing unnecessary layers of management, and using digital tools similar to India’s UPI system to increase transparency and accountability. However, the counterargument shows that deeper macro-level problems—like corrupt leadership and chronic capitalism—still limit the success of microfinance. The paper concludes that microfinancing is helpful but not perfect, and it needs more improvements before it can truly achieve financial equality.

The effect of Organizational Development (OD) practices on the effectiveness of local non-governmental organizations [NGOs] in Rwanda was investigated in this study guided by Open Systems and the Extended General Model of Planned Change. It sought to determine the levels of organizational effectiveness and OD practices, analyze the relationships between the two, and predict the effect of OD interventions on NGO effectiveness. Targeting 1,399 registered local NGOs, a stratified random sample of 302 respondents was used in a descriptive study methodology to assure representation across organizational size, sector, and geography. Structured surveys were used to gather primary data, and reports and organizational papers served as secondary sources of context. Regression analysis studied how OD practices affected performance results, correlation analysis looked at relationships between OD and organizational effectiveness, and descriptive statistics measured the extent of OD practice implementation. The results indicate that local NGOs use OD techniques, including performance management, leadership development, and strategic planning, to a moderate level, and that such practices have a high positive correlation with organizational effectiveness. While weaknesses in external relations and operational procedures limited wider OD outcomes, effective management, human resource systems, and the integration of cross-cutting themes emerged as the most important variables. The study comes to the conclusion that improving NGO capacity, adaptability, and long-term performance requires organized and contextually appropriate OD interventions. Strengthening human resource management, integrating cross-cutting themes into organizational procedures, and carrying out comparative or longitudinal research to assess the long-term and context-specific impacts of OD practices are among the recommendations.

ABSTRACT The implementation of the Indonesian capital transfer policy from Jakarta to Kalimantan has faced potential problems. Previous studies showed that the new capital city projects have sidelined the development impacts relating to nature and social aspects. However, the present findings fail to sufficiently identify spatial issues that may cause future disasters. The study employed spatial analysis and in-depth interviews to examine how spatial issues could precipitate disasters, potentially linking natural and societal elements. This study integrated data from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with in-depth interviews of various stakeholders, including local residents, government agencies, NGOs, activists, and academics in East Kalimantan and Jakarta. The findings suggest that the current capital city project’s spatial planning could trigger potential disasters, as it cannot resolve existing ones, which could escalate in the near future.

Population growth and agricultural expansion cause major changes in land use and land cover (LULC) in Ethiopia. Cultivated lands are mostly expanding without land suitability evaluation. Consequently, crop yields are not increasing as expected. This is particularly the case in the highland catchments draining toward Lake Tana, where severe consequences such as deforestation and the degradation of soil and land can be observed. In this study, the impacts of long-term LULC dynamics on the land suitability potential for selected major crops in three sub-catchments of Lake Tana, Ethiopia (Gilgelabay, Gumara and Ribb), were evaluated. Time series of Landsat images from three periods (1988, 1998, and 2017) were classified. Land suitability was analyzed via a multi criteria approach based on spatial input data such as elevation, soil, and slope maps. The overall accuracy for all LULC classifications was good to very good (89.7% to 91.6%). Five major LULC classes were distinguished: agriculture, forest, shrub/bushland, grassland, and water. In all three catchments, the results revealed that agricultural land was the dominant land cover that expanded at the expense of the other land cover types to 80%-90% in all catchments in 2017. The rate of change in agricultural land in the Gilgelabay catchment (4041.3 ha/yr) was greater than that in the Gumara (1374.5 ha/yr) and Ribb (1362.3 ha/yr) catchments. This is possibly due to the availability of other LULC classes. The natural vegetation of Gilgelabay, Gumara, and Ribb has decreased by 16.0%, 10.5%, and 1.1%, respectively, over the past three decades. However, the present LULC change trends are unsustainable, and any remaining natural vegetation should be maintained. The results from the land suitability analysis revealed that the land suitability for teff, corn, and rice is likely to change with climate change in the future. To ensure sustainable land use management, modifying land use on the basis of land suitability should be preferred over traditional practices to improve crop production. This can be achieved in close collaboration with all stakeholders, including local communities, the government, and NGOs.

Sanahu Village is a coastal area where most of the residents rely on fisheries as their primary source of livelihood. However, the growing population and increasing economic demands have led to the rise of environmentally unfriendly fishing practices, including the use of gear that damages aquatic habitats. This situation poses a serious threat to the sustainability of marine resources and the balance of coastal ecosystems. Therefore, efforts to provide understanding, education, and guidance to fishermen regarding the importance of using more environmentally friendly fishing gear are urgently needed. The results of the community service activity indicate that socialization on the use of selective fishing gear with minimal negative impact on the ecosystem is highly necessary and has been positively received by the fishermen of Sanahu Village. In addition to increasing awareness, the successful implementation of eco-friendly fishing tools also requires strong support from local government, non-governmental organizations, environmental activists, and active community participation. Such collaboration is essential to establish effective monitoring systems, ensuring that marine resources can be utilized sustainably while preserving the ecological integrity of coastal waters.

What schools can do to protect education from attack and use for military purposes or in counter-terrorism operations. Schools and universities must remain safe spaces for learning. However, in many conflict-affected and unstable regions, children’s and young people’s rights to education and protection are frequently violated. Students and education staff have been harassed, killed, tortured, and forcibly recruited by armed groups, both in schools and on their way to and from school. Additionally, armed forces have occupied schools and universities, using them as bases, barracks, weapons storage facilities, and detention centers, putting students and staff in danger. This article is intended to assist ministries of education, UN agencies, and international and local non-governmental organizations (I/NGOs) in supporting school communities—including principals, teachers, school management committees, and community members—in developing effective strategies to safeguard education from attacks and prevent schools from being. Keywords: terrorist threats, law, prevention, education, school, crisis, awareness, universality.

ABSTRACT Powerful stories can inspire people to take action on climate change by using relatable lived experiences people connect with. In the “Voices of Change” project, the CGIAR Research Initiative on Climate Resilience (ClimBeR) partnered with a local non-governmental organisation leading climate-resilient advocacy in Kenya, the Centre for Minority Rights Development (CEMIRIDE), to amplify community stories of climate adaptation. Our study used public narrative storytelling, employing a three-part “story of self, story of us, story of now” framework. Public narrative storytelling incorporates people’s personal stories with those of others, connecting storylines to clear policy and call-to-action goals. Our study demonstrated how Indigenous communities can bring their experience of what works in a local context to decision makers, and how doing so may successfully lead to a better match between local ideas (which align with national priorities) and global priorities on climate adaptation, thus showing the importance of local knowledge at global level.

Sustainable land management practices—such as crop rotation, mixed cropping, organic manure use, and irrigation—have been promoted to enhance soil health and farm output. This study investigates the effect of land management practices (LMPs) adoption on rice production among farming households in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Land degradation, poor soil fertility, and inconsistent farming systems have continued to undermine rice productivity in the region despite increased demand for the crop. A three-stage random sampling method select ninety rice farmers who were interviewed through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, the Likert-type scale and the Tobit regression model were used to analyse the data for the study. The results on the socioeconomic characteristics revealed that the mean age of rice farmers was 45.7 years. Age, marital status, credit access, and farming experience influenced land management practices. The findings further highlight a moderate to high awareness of LMPs among farmers, yet also reveal that institutional challenges—such as limited access to extension services and formal credit—hamper widespread adoption. Approximately 54.4% are members of farmer associations, a promising statistic, as group membership tends to improve access to inputs, extension resources, and market insights. On the other hand, the 45.6% who are not members highlight an underutilised opportunity for collective action and the sharing of knowledge. Access to credit (10%) increases LMP adoption, supporting extensive evidence that financial liquidity enables investment in practices like irrigation, organic manure, or mechanisation. Although non-availability of land (mean = 3.0) and the use of local rice varieties (3.4) were rated slightly lower, they remain relevant to overall productivity. The study concludes that enhanced adoption of sustainable land management practices can significantly improve rice productivity and farmer income. Rice farmers adopted crop rotation, fertiliser use, mixed cropping, shifting cultivation, and improved varieties, but faced challenges like drought, pests, and high production costs. Government should promote effective land management practices through educational programs, resources, and collaboration with local agencies and NGOs, ensuring farmers have access to recommended practices.

Bridging Environmental Justice and Policy: A Collaborative Waste Management Approach in Local Level

EP2.2, e-Poster Terminal 2, September 3, 2025, 13:05 - 14:00AimThe East and Horn of Africa region by the end of 2024 due to conflict and climate change-related disasters hosts 23.6 million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDP). Aim of a capacity building initiative in the region is to Learn from community experts about practices in place for promoting refugees’ health.MethodsThe Center for Health and Migration, Austria (CHM) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM UN-Migration), in cooperation with stakeholders at international, national, and sub-national level organize Health and Migration online courses. By 2024, 5 courses have been implemented and a community of 332 experts who work for and with migrants and refugees, in policy making, program development, and health and social care in the East and Horn of Africa region has been built up. Provision of health care for refugees and IDP is an important topic in the course.ResultsOne successful practice model identified in the capacity building initiative, is the Refugee Life Support Network (R.L.S.N.), a local NGO in Kampala, Uganda, 2017 founded and since then led by a Burundian refugee. Funded by donations, R.L.S.N. with volunteering refugee professionals provides free medical consultation to around 2,000 refugees annually, including mental health services, financial assistance for medical examinations and medications. In a dedicated webinar the case of R.L.S.N. was presented to an international and interdisciplinary group of interested alumni from the five health and migration courses. The discussion highlighted the high impact of community-based grassroot organisations in low-resource settings and challenges faced, e.g. an increase in the number of patients and at the same time a decrease in financial resources.ConclusionDevelopment of inclusive health policies and programs could benefit from the practice knowledge of community experts. Sharing experiences and mutual learning within a group of experts working with refugees can impact practice development.

OP 6: Health Policy 2, B308 (FCSH), September 3, 2025, 15:45 - 16:45AimsThe 2023 earthquake in northwest Syria worsened the vulnerabilities of a health system already weakened by conflict, displacement, and resource shortages. The crisis affected local populations and Syrian refugees in Türkiye, as health workers and humanitarian organizations faced legal restrictions, border closures, and fragmented aid distribution. This study examines the health workforce response in Syria, focusing on cross-border service provision, coordination mechanisms, and workforce adaptations to inform future emergency preparedness.MethodsFourteen key informant interviews were conducted with academics, local NGOs, and international organizations in southeast Türkiye involved in the earthquake response in Syria. A thematic analysis explored workforce availability, coordination structures, emergency deployment, cross-border patient referrals, and logistical barriers.ResultsThe earthquake response in northwest Syria was hindered by a lack of preparedness, political constraints, and restricted cross-border access. Widespread damage to health facilities and shortages of physicians further strained the system. While health workers were relocated from less-affected areas, resource limitations and bureaucratic delays slowed reinforcements.In Türkiye, legal barriers prevented Syrian health workers from traveling or returning to Syria, while border closures delayed critical patient referrals. Bureaucratic hurdles obstructed the rapid deployment of international medical teams, increasing strain on the local workforce.Despite these challenges, cross-border coordination gradually improved with health clusters and humanitarian organizations redirecting resources, deploying mobile clinics in IDP camps, and integrating emergency services into refugee health programs. Lessons from past crises, including COVID-19, supported task shifting, emergency recruitment, and expanded mental health support for health workers.ConclusionsThe earthquake response exposed critical policy gaps in workforce preparedness and cross-border collaboration. Future efforts must pre-position medical supplies, fast-track licensing for displaced health workers, and improve cross-border coordination and referrals. Strengthening local workforce resilience through training, financial support, and policy reforms will be essential to mitigating future health crises for IDPs and Syrian refugees.