Mobilization Of Local Resources Research Articles

Acculturation in China: acculturation strategies, social support, and self-assessment of Mandarin learning performance of international students in Chinese universities

ABSTRACT Acculturation strategies contribute to international students’ self-assessment of Mandarin learning (ML) performance, but the mechanism remains unclear. This study employed a convergent design of mixed methods and explored the roles of acculturation strategies and local support resources in international students’ (ISs) self-assessed ML performance in Chinese universities. The quantitative findings based on the questionnaire survey (N = 520) found that ISs’ Mandarin level was positively associated with the integration strategy and local support resources (i.e. Chinese teachers and Chinese friends). Besides, integration and marginalisation mediated the relationship between support resources and self-assessed ML performance, with integration acting as a more positive mediator compared with marginalisation. Further qualitative findings based on the longitudinal data (i.e. reflective journals) supported the positive roles of integration and local support resources in self-assessed ML performance. Moreover, this study identified how ISs improved their Mandarin through positive adjustments in their acculturation strategies (e.g. from separation to integration) and active mobilisation of local support resources. These findings provide a richer understanding of the complexity and dynamism of ISs’ self-assessed ML performance. Implications were provided for ISs and Chinese universities concerning ML and support services.

Towards a territorialisation of the circular economy: the proximity of stakeholders and resources matters

Abstract This article explores the territorialisation of the circular economy (CE) and analyses how the geographical and organised proximities of stakeholders facilitate the mobilisation of local resources for CE projects. It focuses on two local CE initiatives in Quebec (Canada) and France, for which 70 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The results highlight the importance of tangible and intangible territorial resources and demonstrate that geographical and organised proximities are crucial to the success of these initiatives. The relational dynamic between local players, stimulated by a sense of belonging and shared values, encourages commitment to CE. Thus, our study showcases the territorialisation of CE and emphasises the conditions enabling such activities to take root locally. This study has significant political implications and suggests the crucial role that local authorities must play in the deployment of CE projects.

ЗОВНІШНІ ТА ВНУТРІШНІ ФАКТОРИ РОЗВИТКУ СЕРЕДОВИЩА МІСТА

The article reviews the existing approaches to assessing the impact of external and internal factors on the main aspects of the formation and implementation of development strategies. It is established how factors affect the strategy development process. Indirect external factors include state regulation, political instability of the country, the level of cultural and economic development. External factors that have a direct impact include customers, competitors, shareholders, suppliers and the workforce of the research object. The factors that influence the choice of regional development strategy are analyzed and systematized, and the need to take them into account in the general system of evaluating prospects is argued. Features of external and internal factors are identified, their classification is presented. After analyzing all the factors affecting the city's environmental management system, it can be concluded that for the successful solution of strategic tasks, it is important to carefully determine the impact of each factor on labor market efficiency assessment indicators. The timely and full mobilization of local resources is also key to stimulate the growth and improvement of the system of analysis and planning of the state of the city, as well as its effective management for the future. The need for a detailed analysis of the influence of internal environmental factors on the strategic development of a specific city is highlighted. It is noted that according to the systemic approach to management, the city acts as an open system that works and develops due to the presence of various factors that shape its internal environment. The key characteristics of the internal environment and their main components are defined, taking into account the systemic approach. It is argued that the significance of the influence of the internal factors of the city depends on their interactions, structuring and efficiency of use. The relationship between these elements is mutual and rather complex. Therefore, the effectiveness of marketing depends on the ability of the locality to adapt existing competencies and advantages to the needs of residents and to be able to adapt to attractive segments.

ТРУДОВА ПОЛІТИКА НАЦИСТСЬКОЇ АДМІНІСТРАЦІЇ “ДИСТРИКТУ ГАЛИЧИНА”

The article examines the process of creating the occupying administration on the territory of “District Galicia”, and the structure, powers, and main directions of activity of departments dealing with the issues of mobilization and labor use of local labor resources are highlighted. The role of Nazi officials in campaigns to recruit and transport people to forced labor in the Reich was clarified. The position of the local Nazi leadership periodically did not follow the general political course in the occupied territories due to the career aspirations of certain government officials. It is important to assess the peculiarities of the formation and implementation of personnel policy in the occupation authorities, as the success of the implementation of state policy as a whole depends on human resources. Due to the insufficient number of German employees, the rate of recruitment was low. This led to the need to involve the local population in administrative work, which should have solved the problem according to the Nazi authorities. However, the increase in the number of Ukrainians and Poles in labor departments has exacerbated interethnic conflicts, which directly affected the effectiveness of these authorities, the main criteria of which were indicators of implementation of recruitment and mobilization plans. In addition, the attitude of the local population towards the activities of the occupying authorities has deteriorated due to their repressive and punitive policies. A few months after the establishment of the civil administration, the rate of registration of the working population of the District in workbenches has decreased significantly. These and other factors influenced the spread of protest tendencies among Galician Ukrainians regarding the refusal to go to work in Germany. Particular attention is paid to the assessment of the activities of Fritz Saukel's office and the measures taken by him to accelerate the recruitment of local people with a view to their further deportation to Germany. To improve interdepartmental coordination, a special unit was set up within the Reich Ministry of Labor, the European Employment Service (Europaamt für den Arbeitseinsatz). Structurally, it was divided into five departments, which aimed to help improve the regulation of labor used in all occupied areas of Europe and engaged in management training.

The Role of Nonprofit and Nongovernmental Organizations and People With Viral Hepatitis on the Path Toward Hepatitis C Virus Elimination.

Nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations have driven and continue to drive hepatitis C elimination by putting people with viral hepatitis and their affected communities at the center of hepatitis elimination efforts. They have been key in driving the decentralization of services and community-based delivery in the hepatitis care pathway to improve the health and well-being of the populations most affected by hepatitis C. This article explores how the formation of the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), an international network of community organizations in >100 countries, led to powerful advocacy from community leaders and people with hepatitis, resulting in the establishment of World Hepatitis Day. Since then, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the importance of viral hepatitis by setting the 2030 global elimination targets. WHA and WHO have collaborated on 3 World Hepatitis Summits, which have built momentum across many sectors to help elevate hepatitis through the global health agenda. The article discusses their paradigm-shifting campaigns and also presents civil society organizations' hepatitis elimination efforts in Egypt, Mongolia, Bangladesh, and the United Kingdom and their significant impact through local resource mobilization and engagement of national governments.

Image-Based Awareness Campaign and Community Mobilization in the Control of Schistosomiasis.

Community awareness and participation in mass screening is critical for schistosomiasis control. This study assessed the impact of sharing anonymized image-based positive test results on the uptake of screening during community mobilization outreach. We conducted an observational study to compare the population response to standard and image-based strategies in 14 communities in Abuja, Nigeria. Six hundred and ninety-one (341 females, 350 males) individuals participated in this study. We analyzed the response ratio, relative increase, and sample collection time. The potential treatment uptake and change in social behavior were determined based on a semi-structured questionnaire. The mean response ratio of the image-based strategy was 89.7% representing a significantly higher ratio than the 27.8%, which was observed under the standard mobilization approach (p ≤ 0.001). The image-based method was associated with 100% of the participants agreeing to provide urine samples, 94% willing to be treated, 89% claiming to have been invited to participate in the study by a friend, and 91% desiring to change a predisposing behavioral habit. These findings indicate that image-based community awareness campaigns may increase the population's perception about schistosomiasis transmission and treatment. This raises new possibilities for local resource mobilization to expand services in reaching the last mile in schistosomiasis control.

A National Program to scale up investment and reducing the gap in mental health in Somaliland: first year achievements

In Somaliland, mental health has been a neglected sector since the inception of the country almost 30 years ago. Only two years ago, there was no office, no staff, and no funding for mental health. Public mental health services were confined to five public in-patient facilities within the regional general hospitals, with a total bed capacity of 216 beds for a population of 4 million people. All the facilities experienced severe shortages of human and material resources, and proper supervision or control by the ministry did not exist. Lack of adequate and good quality-public mental health services has encouraged the opening of a plethora of unregulated private mental health facilities with poor records of human rights and services. One of the major impediments to improving mental health in the country was a lack of financial resources. In recognition of the deteriorating situation of mental health in the country and public pressure to do something about the problem. In late 2020, the government decided to scale up mental health services through khat taxation. Tax collection started in January 2021, and the first funds were released for use in July 2021. A five-year national program on mental health was then launched on August 1, 2021 underpinned by four main objectives: 1) establishment of leadership and governance in mental health; 2) strengthening existing mental health services and their integration into primary health care; 3) development of human resources in mental health; and finally 4) setting up a mental health information and research system. In this paper, we present early program achievements and their relevance to public health for other countries with similar settings looking to improve their mental health through effective mobilization of local resources.

Local resource mobilization for malaria vector control among Rwandan rice farmers: a pilot study into the role of community ownership

BackgroundEvidence suggests a vicious cycle between rice cultivation and malaria control in Rwanda. Rice fields offer an attractive breeding ground for malaria vectors, which increases the disease burden in rice farming communities, and, consequently, reduces productivity in the rice sector. Community-based larval source management in rice fields is propagated as a sustainable solution to break this cycle. A sense of agency and ownership of malaria control interventions, as well as the mobilization of resources at the local level, are often considered preconditions for success. However, an evidence gap exists regarding the interaction between the agentive and financial dimension of local sustainability.MethodsWe conduct a larviciding pilot involving three groups; one group where rice farmers sprayed their fields under expert supervision, one group where rice farmers organised the larviciding campaign themselves, and a (non-sprayed) control group. We test whether the difference in agency between the intervention groups affects farmers’ willingness-to-pay for a larviciding campaign. Willingness-to-pay is elicited in a contingent valuation exercise, more specifically a bidding game, and is assessed both before and after the pilot (n = 288). Difference-in-difference estimates are computed, using a propensity score matching technique. Supplementary data were collected in a survey and two focus group discussions for triangulation.ResultsThe high-agency (self-organised) group significantly outperforms the low-agency (expert-supervised) group in terms of maintaining its willingness to contribute financially. However, higher willingness-to-pay in the high-agency group does not appear to be driven by a stronger sense of ownership per se. The supplementary data indicate high levels of ownership in both treatment groups compared to the control group. A tentative explanation lies in diverging perceptions concerning the effectiveness of the pilot.ConclusionsThe study supports the idea that community-led organization of larval source management can prove instrumental in mobilizing finance for malaria control in low-income settings where rice production interferes with the fight against malaria. However, the causality is complex. Feelings of ownership do not appear the main driver of willingness-to-pay, at least not directly, which opens up the possibility of initiating community-driven malaria control interventions that promote the agentive and financial dimension of local sustainability simultaneously.

Exploring the Coordination Matter in Urban Governance: A Critical Analysis

The study aims to draw attention to the problem of dual urban management. The local level of governance has a crucial role in national politics. ULG is the aspect of any government system that is given the most priority. It serves as a pillar for forming policies, and the framework of urban bodies is essential to a successful urbanization system. Bangladesh has seen fast urbanization during the previous several decades. Urban government entities like City Corporations and special-purpose agencies are given some responsibility for beautiful urban design and providing better services to its citizens. Both original data for Cumilla City Corporation and secondary data from various sources were used in this exploration for Dhaka City Corporation. DCC split into two businesses at the same time, and CuCC was founded in 2011. Twenty respondents were chosen from randomly department officials and elected officials to gather primary data using the KIIs tool and secondary data utilizing observation. They consequently deal with a variety of issues. The lack of autonomy, the improper mobilization of local resources, the lack of sound management, the functional overlap, various modes of operation, and patterns of accountability, have all been identified as major issues and barriers to the improvement of urban infrastructural quality in this paper. Those create hazards and chaos situation among the different institutions associated with the management of Comilla and Dhaka City Corporation. This article also proposed some recommendations by which these problems can be reduced.

Efficiency of Local Resource Mobilization in the Implementation of Socio-Economic Programmes by Local Churches in Kibra, Nairobi, Kenya

Poverty is a human phenomenal that society continually ponders about and has been in existence since time in memorial. Governments and international organizations have developed strategies towards poverty reduction. Churches through their social welfare departments have not been left behind in seeking appropriate ways of addressing the socio-economic struggles that members within their community face. This journal article focuses on one of the largest impoverished slums in Nairobi, Kenya; Kibra slum. The reported census population of Kibra has always been contentious but the stories of the residents and the living conditions within the settlement clearly depict the struggles experienced. Kibra is home to unemployed and underemployed residents who struggle to put food on their tables every day. Majority of whom are tenants with months of rent arrears because paying rent is not a priority. They live in one-roomed houses with little organization for sewage and toilet facilities. A single toilet and bathroom are shared by several families at a fee that is not inclusive of their rent. In response to these and other challenges such as education and health care, local churches in the slum have set up socio-action programmes. This article stems from my research work among Kibra residents, and documents the findings that respond to the effectiveness of local church programmes to utilize local resource mobilization in poverty reduction among residents. The researcher uses a mixed methods research approach. Drawing from the research findings, socio-economic programmes run by the church have a high dependency on external finding and are not taking advantage of the human capital within the slum community. Residents also exhibit high levels of dependency on the church or the pastor running the programme. There are however programmes that are set up by the residents such as savings groups or a youth centre encountered in the research that do not rely on any external support. The youth and members of the savings groups contribute their resources to run their programmes. Their local resource mobilization efforts enhance their participation and ability to make decisions and take responsibility of these decisions. Dependency on external support and hand-outs have crippled residents of Kibra slum however on the other hand, it is possible for residents to identify a project that meets their needs and run it successfully with their own resources. Keywords: Local Resource Mobilization, Churches, Slums, Poverty DOI: 10.7176/JPID/61-07 Publication date: November 30 th 2022

Silver craft and Buddhist temple in the shaping of neighbourhood communities in Wua‐Lai, Chiang Mai, Thailand

AbstractThis paper explores neighbourhood‐based projects such as “local project” (Magnaghi, 2005), the strategic scenarios that set out a process of mobilisation and promotion of local resources, planned and run by local people. It focuses on two residential communities in Wua‐Lai neighbourhood, namely Chumchon Wat Muen‐Sarn and Chumchon Wat Sri‐Suphan. The analysis deals with three local projects: Wua‐Lai Walking Street and Saturday Market, Lanna Arts Study Centre and community museums. It seeks to understand how the residents use silver handicraft, Buddhist temple and local marketplaces for shaping their projects and for connecting the neighbourhood to the city. This study allows us to identify the key elements in place on which the local projects are premised and how these elements reproduce sense of belonging and sociability that create the potential for collective action. It intends to highlight on the neighbourhood capacities, and its limits, to carry out local initiatives and to challenge more economic forces.

Pathways and approaches for scaling-up of community-based management of acute malnutrition programs through the lens of complex adaptive systems in South Sudan

BackgroundFunds for community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) programs are short-term in nature. CMAM programs are implemented in countries with weak policies and health systems and are primarily funded by donors. Beyond operational expansion, their institutionalisation and alignment with governments’ priorities are poorly documented. The study aimed to identify pathway opportunities and approaches for horizontal and vertical scaling up of CMAM programs in South Sudan.MethodsThe study was conducted in South Sudan between August and September 2021 using an online qualitative survey with 31 respondents from policy and implementing organisations. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework guided the study’s design. It was self-administered through the Qualtrics platform. We used Qualitative Content Analysis supported by the Nvivo coding process. A deductive a priori template of codes approach was complemented by a data-driven inductive approach to develop the second level of interpretive understanding.ResultsFindings from the study demonstrate that the emphasis of CMAM programs was horizontal scaling up, characterised by geographic distribution and coverage as well as operational expansion. Main challenges have included unsustainable funding models, the inadequacy of existing infrastructure, high operational costs, cultural beliefs, and access-related barriers. Factor impacting access to CMAM programs have been geographical terrains, safety, and security concerns. Vertical scaling up, which emphasises institutional and ownership strengthening through a sound policy, regulatory, and fiscal environment, received relatively little attention. Nutrition supplies are not part of the government’s essential drug list and there is limited or no budgetary allocation for nutrition programs by the government in national budgets and fiscal strategies. Factors constraining vertical scalability have included weak government systems and capacity, a lack of advocacy and lobbying opportunities, and an apparent lack of exits strategies.ConclusionAddressing the scalability problems of CMAM programs in South Sudan demands a delicate balancing act that prioritises both horizontal and vertical scalability. Government and political leadership that harness multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral coordination are required. There is a need to increase policy commitment to malnutrition and associated budgetary allocation, emphasise local resource mobilisation, and ensure financial sustainability of integrating CMAM programs into the existing health and welfare system.

Inequalities in overweight and obesity among reproductive age group women in India: evidence from National Family Health Survey (2015–16)

BackgroundIn developing nations like India, fertility and mortality have decreased, and diseases related to lifestyle have become more common. Females in India are more prone to being overweight and obese than their male counterparts, more specifically in affluent families than the poor ones. Understanding the overweight and obesity trend may help develop feasible public health interventions to reduce the burden of obesity and associated adverse health outcomes.MethodsThe study utilizes the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), 2015–16. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate analysis was used to check the significant relationship between overweight and obesity, and other background characteristics. Income-related inequality in overweight and obesity among women was quantified by the concentration index and the concentration curve. Further, Wagstaff decomposition analysis was done to decompose the concentration index, into the contributions of each factor to the income-related inequalities.ResultsOverweight & obesity among women had a significant positive association with their age and educational level. The odds of overweight and obesity were 57% more likely among women who ever had any caesarean births than those who did not [AOR: 1.57; CI: 1.53–1.62]. The likelihood of overweight and obesity was 4.31 times more likely among women who belonged to richest [AOR: 5.84; CI: 5.61–6.08] wealth quintile, than those who belonged to poor wealth quintile. Women who ever terminated the pregnancy had 20% higher risk of overweight and obesity than those who did not [AOR: 1.20; CI: 1.17–1.22]. The concentration of overweight and obesity among women was mostly in rich households of all the Indian states and union territories. Among the geographical regions of India, the highest inequality was witnessed in Eastern India (0.41), followed by Central India (0.36).ConclusionThe study results also reveal a huge proportion of women belonging to the BMI categories of non-normal, which is a concern and can increase the risks of developing non-communicable diseases. Hence, the study concludes and recommends an urgent need of interventions catering to urban women belonging to higher socio-economic status which can reduce the risks of health consequences due to overweight and obesity. Development nutrition-specific as well as sensitive interventions can be done for mobilization of local resources that addresses the multiple issues under which a woman is overweight or obese.

Do the implementation processes of a school-based daily physical activity (DPA) program vary according to the socioeconomic context of the schools? a realist evaluation of the Active at school program

BackgroundLess than half of Canadian children meet the Canadian Physical Activity (PA) Guidelines, and the proportion is even lower among children living in underprivileged neighbourhoods. Regular PA supports physical, cognitive, and psychological/social health among school-aged children. Successful implementation of school-based daily physical activity (DPA) programs is therefore important for all children and crucial for children who attend schools in lower socioeconomic settings. The purpose of this study is to uncover what worked, for whom, how, and why during the three-year implementation period of a new “flexible” DPA program, while paying particular attention to the socioeconomic setting of the participating schools.MethodsThis study is a realist evaluation using mixed methods for data generation. Longitudinal data were collected in 415 schools once a year during the three-year implementation period of the program using questionnaires. Data analysis was completed in three steps and included qualitative thematic analysis using a mixed inductive and deductive method and chi-square tests to test and refine context-mechanism-outcome (CMO) configurations.ResultsGiving the school teams autonomy in the choice of strategies appropriate to their context have allowed schools to take ownership of program implementation by activating a community empowerment process, which resulted in a cultural shift towards a sustainable DPA provision in most settings. In rural underprivileged settings, the mobilization of local resources seems to have successfully created the conditions necessary for implementing and maintaining changes in practice. In disadvantaged urban settings, implementing local leadership structures (leader, committee, and meetings) provided pivotal assistance to members of the school teams in providing new DPA opportunities. However, without continued external funding, those schools seem unable to support local leadership structures on their own, jeopardizing the sustainability of the program for children living in disadvantaged urban areas.ConclusionBy exploring CMO configurations, we have been able to better understand what worked, for whom, how and why during the three-year implementation period of the Active at School! program. When implementing DPA policies, decision makers should consider adjusting resource allocations to meet the actual needs of schools from different backgrounds to promote equal PA opportunities for all children.

Company income tax revenue and economic growth: empirical evidence from Sub-Sahara countries in Africa

The development level of any country depends on the volume of revenue realised for the infrastructureprovisions. For decades ago, local resource mobilization issue has enticed significant attention inSub-Sahara countries in Africa due to paucity of income generated. The aim of this study is to examinethe effect of CIT revenue on the growth of Sub-Sahara counties in Africa. Data from ten Sub-Saharacountries which comprised of Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leon, Ghana, South Africa, Senegal, Benin, Burkina-Faso, Guinea and Mali were employed from year 2000 to 2019. However, the data were sourcedmajorly from World Development Indicator (WDI) and analyzed using Panel data analysis and ARDL.Based on our findings, the Coefficients of all the variables, especially CIT are negative and insignificant,this goes to validate the speed of adjustment of 1.8% (coefficient of -1.86124), meaning that 1% changein CIT absolutely bring down GDP by 1.8% in the long run but in the short run, 1% change in CIT logicallybring down GDP by 0.5% (coefficient of 0.596384). Conclusively, company income tax revenuenegatively affected the growth of Sub-Sahara countries in Africa over the period of study both in the shortand long run. It is recommended that fiscal authorities of respective countries should create databasemechanism which will expose annual chargeable profit and tax payable for each company in order toeschew CIT evasion in the country. Regulatory authorities saddled with the monopolistic responsibilityof tax collection should be empowered to impose compliance on CIT payers which will upsurge CITrevenue enormously. Lastly, CIT tax collected should be appropriately dispersed to breed growth ofeconomy for effective compliance of taxpayers.Key words: Sub-Sahara, Countries, CIT, Growth, ARDL, Revenue.

Community based maternal health fund: a case study from women's group initiative in Awbare woreda of Somali region of Ethiopia

Access to maternal and new born health services in most poor countries has been impeded by financial barriers and there has been increased attention for the mobilization of local resources to improve access to services. This study described the establishment, management and utilization of community based maternal health fund by indigenous women’s groups in a rural area of Somali region. The community-based fund was initiated and established by the women’s group as a result of financial constraints faced by pregnant women in accessing health services in the study area. The fund relied exclusively on the group’s monthly contribution and contribution by other members of the communities. The program is unique with the contributors not being beneficiaries of the fund and the management and operation of the fund was at group’s discretion. 754 pregnant women have benefitted from the fund since it was established in 2016 (403 supported during referral to the hospital; 284 provided with transport fare and basic household commodities after delivery and 67 hosted at the maternal waiting homes and provided with food and transport fare).The study demonstrates how community members are able to mobilize local resources to develop community solutions to identified local problems through active participation and commitment. Scaling up such innovative community initiated and managed funds that do not depend on external funding or beneficiary contributions has great potential to improve access to services and improve maternal health outcomes.

Non-DRR NGOs strategies for livelihood development in the coastal communities of Bangladesh: a case study

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of non-DRR NGOs’ programs focusing on their contribution to the uplift livelihood of the disaster-affected coastal communities. Researchers conducted an empirical study in Satkhira, the most disaster-prone coastal district of Bangladesh, and interviewed 45 respondents, including NGO officials, local government bodies, and community beneficiaries, applying purposive sampling. For analyzing data, Researchers used thematic analysis methods with NVivo software's assistance. Study findings reveal that NGOs’ community-based awareness and advocacy, mobilization of local resources, and primary healthcare programs contributed to enhancing community livelihood by promoting their attitudes and capacities to cope with disasters. However, their microfinance and infrastructure-related programs reinforced community vulnerability and exposure to disaster by increasing poverty, exclusion, and disparities among them. In conclusion, the study signifies the value of integrating sustainable infrastructure, environmental impact assessment on health and agriculture for promoting effective livelihood strategies in coastal communities.

2 - Community Development: A Cross-Examination of Theory and Practice Using Experiences in Rural Malawi

The philosophy of ‘community development’ relates to the concept of ‘locality’ and people. In essence it underscores the indispensability of local needs, aspirations and local resource mobilization within geographically and socially defined spheres. Through an appraisal of community involvement in various projects, this paper interrogates the virtues of community development practices in Malawi in the last 40 years. While acknowledging that community development or local participation, as it is popularly known, is ideal in many development activities, this paper argues that participation is not a magic pill for rural development. Participation in gravity water and social action fund projects, among others, provide instances for appreciating the opportunities and the challenges of community development. One such challenge is the absence of projects that are in every sense community-driven. With few exceptions, there is no participation that is truly voluntary. Vulnerability to poverty and lack of resources at community levels defeat efforts towards genuine community development. This is a similar outcome to projects implemented under coercive rule.

Local resource mobilization: A sustainable and effective financing for Tobacco Control in Bangladesh

Local resource mobilization: A sustainable and effective financing for Tobacco Control in Bangladesh

Impact of own resources on municipalities’ investments expenditures in Benin

PurposeThis paper aims to study the impact of municipalities’ own resources on their investments‘ expenditure.Design/methodology/approachPanel data analysis. A sample of 34 municipalities in Benin. Econometrics tests for the panel data models – estimation of the fixed-effect and random-effect models. Hausman test to identify the best model to explain the impact of the explanatory variables on local investments’ expenditures. Heteroskedasticity, normality and autocorrelation tests.FindingsThe results establish a positive and significant impact of own resources, state transfers and demographic variables on local investments’ expenses.Research limitations/implicationsAs an implication, the results show the importance of local resources’ mobilization for the municipalities’ investment capacity building. They also show that the central government transfers continue to play a major place in local investments’ finance, even in a decentralization context. Limitation: Available data do not allow to well evaluate the impact of the electoral variable on municipalities’ investments’ expenditure. This situation does not allow to well analyze the public choice considerations in local authorities’ behaviors.Practical implicationsLocal mobilization of financial resources must be encouraged to raise municipalities’ investments’ capacities. Strategies must be developed to reinforce local capacities in local resources mobilization.Social implicationsThe results show the importance of local resources in local investments. They show the importance of citizens’ participation in their well-being construction, through local resource mobilization (ex: local fiscality).Originality/valueMany authors assert in the literature that financial autonomy has a real impact on local development. However, empirically, it was not demonstrated. This paper contributes to correct this lack.