Non-governmental Research Articles

Evaluating the Practice of Lawfare Against Pro‐Palestinian Groups

AbstractFor nearly 20 years, nongovernmental organizations backing the Palestinian cause have promoted both “differentiation” and the better‐known strategy of boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS). Differentiation is the practice of distinguishing between Israel and the occupied territories, terminating contracts with actors—irrespective of nationality—that contribute to and benefit from occupation‐related activities, and seeking to promote Palestinian investments and exports. This strategy is fundamentally different from BDS, which targets not just the occupation but the Israeli state and its national entities. However, this article finds that laws and proposed legislation in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel do not delineate between Israel and Israeli‐controlled territory, blurring the line between differentiation and BDS as tools to support Palestine. The evidence shows that courts have mostly ruled against differentiation practices, thus allowing harsh campaigns that impose heavy burdens on NGOs. These costs are both direct, through legal proceedings, and indirect in that they restrict the space for humanitarian action and delegitimize groups that employ differentiation. The study considers whether this constitutes lawfare, defined by experts as the exploitation “of the law of armed conflict to achieve tactical and strategic goals.”

Conducting Community Led Research on Women Facing Violence as One Herself: An Interview with Suyheang Kry of Women Peace Makers

This interview is a reflexive exchange with Suyheang Kry, Executive Director of Women Peace Makers, a local non-governmental organization in Cambodia working at the intersection of gender equality and peacebuilding. A leader and experienced practitioner of feminist and conflict transformation programming, she has pioneered various novel efforts, including interventional community research, in responding to social justice and conflict issues in Cambodia and throughout the region. Having worked with the interviewer (Hyma) for a decade, the two co-developed a community engaged research approach known as Facilitative Listening Design to engage communities in inquiry as leaders and to ultimately contribute toward paradigmatically shifting who is consequently considered the researcher in more participatory research.

Management of Context-Specific Knowledge Creation and Application through Collective Social Responsibility in School?Community Partnerships

In knowledge-based institutions such as schools, productivity is associated with effective creation and application of operational knowledge. Using collective fingers theory, this qualitative case study explored how a considerably effective partnership between a South African township secondary school and a network of community organizations/structures, facilitated the creation and application of context-specific and socially responsive knowledge that led to improved internal school conditions, problem solving strategies, poverty alleviation, and extension of social support to vulnerable learners and their families. Based on the thematic analysis drawn from utterances of eight purposefully sampled participants, the study showed that the school’s promotion of common purpose, mutual respect, collective decision making, care for others, collective social responsibility and democratic leadership practices contributed to the success of its mutually beneficial partnership with relevant community networks. It also emerged that by going an extra mile to lobby for multisectoral social support, the school richly benefited from the benevolence of a wide network of government departments; private-corporate sector and local businesses; faith-based formations; and non-governmental organizations some of which offered similar or overlapping services while others offered a diverse range of services to the school. The study proposed that the school must minimize the frequency of late arrival and unwarranted early recusals in knowledge production meetings. It further called for increased cultural capital and inclusion of parents from lower socioeconomic households in decision-making processes; and elimination of procurement policy red tape that occasionally delayed the provision of much-needed social support to schools, families and learners.

NGO Activism and Anti‐Corruption Disclosures: An Empirical Study of Emerging Economy Multinational Companies

AbstractBuilding on social movement theory, we investigate particular stakeholder contexts, including non‐governmental organization (NGO) activism, within which emerging economy multinational companies (EMNCs) are more likely to disclose anti‐corruption information. By leveraging Transparency International's unique dataset on anti‐corruption disclosures by EMNCs, we find that EMNCs disclose more anti‐corruption information in countries with a lower level of government oppression of NGOs, greater transparency of NGOs, as well as a greater number of anti‐corruption NGOs operating in such markets. EMNCs with a higher level of internationalization exhibit more anti‐corruption disclosures when they are based in countries with a higher level of NGO transparency and a lower level of government oppression of NGOs. Anti‐corruption disclosures of EMNCs are more responsive to corruption scandals when they are headquartered in less repressive countries and countries with a higher level of NGO transparency. This study provides original insights into whether and how the NGO‐driven social movement process in institutional environments plays a role in influencing the anti‐corruption disclosure and transparency practices of EMNCs. We argue that, within the context of emerging economies, unless we consider the interactions of NGO activism with internationalization and corruption scandals, we will be unable to fully understand anti‐corruption disclosure practices by EMNCs.

Foundations and Applications in Political Theory: An Analytical Study

This study explores the practical applications of political theory, focusing on how fundamental principles are translated into real political actions within governance and decision-making contexts. The first section addresses the identification of core principles such as democracy, justice, equality, sovereignty, legitimacy, and rights, which serve as a theoretical framework for political systems and policy formulation. Each principle is examined in depth, highlighting its significance in shaping governance and social order. For instance, democracy emphasizes citizen participation and accountability, while justice relates to fairness and equitable distribution of resources. Various political scenarios where these principles are applied are discussed, including legislative debates, policy-making processes, electoral campaigns, diplomatic negotiations, and judicial rulings. Each scenario illustrates the practical implications of political theories, demonstrating how lawmakers, policymakers, and diplomats engage with these concepts to address societal issues, Furthermore, the study emphasizes the necessity of considering stakeholders' perspectives, including government officials, political parties, civil society organizations, interest groups, and citizens, in evaluating the effectiveness of political actions. Through a critical analysis of these applications, the study assesses the outcomes of political decisions and governance practices, focusing on their alignment with democratic values and the protection of individual rights. It also addresses challenges such as institutional barriers, conflicting interests, and resource constraints that hinder the realization of political ideals. Ultimately, the study offers recommendations to enhance the significance of political theory in contemporary political discourse, advocating for collaborative efforts between theorists and practitioners to ensure that theoretical ideas inform practical policymaking. This study underscores the vital role of political theory in understanding and addressing current political challenges, contributing to enlightened governance and social progress.

PEMETAAN ZONA RAWAN BENCANA BANJIR BERBASIS PARTISIPATIF DI KECAMATAN GONDANGLEGI KABUPATEN MALANG

The Gondanglegi Subdistrict is one of the areas prone to flooding due to high-intensity rainfall and a predominantly low-lying topography. One effort in flood disaster mitigation is through the implementation of participatory mapping involving active participation from various stakeholders, including local communities, local governments, and non-governmental organizations. The objectives of this research are to conduct participatory mapping regarding the vulnerability level of flood disasters in the Gondanglegi Subdistrict of Malang Regency, to understand the role of participatory mapping in flood disaster mitigation planning in the Gondanglegi Subdistrict of Malang Regency, and to identify the factors causing floods in the Gondanglegi Subdistrict of Malang Regency. This research adopts the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) approach as the main method. The results of this research indicate four levels of flood disaster vulnerability in the Gondanglegi Subdistrict, namely not vulnerable, moderately vulnerable, vulnerable, and highly vulnerable. Participatory mapping provides significant benefits to the community in terms of understanding and mitigating floods. Floods are caused by natural factors such as rainfall and topography, as well as non-natural factors such as inadequate water channels and indiscriminate waste disposal by the community.

Leveraging technology in humanitarian supply chains: impacts on collaboration, agility and sustainable outcomes

Purpose This study aims to understand the role of technology adoption (TA) in improving the efficiency and environmental sustainability (ENS) of humanitarian supply chains through collaboration and supply chain agility. This study made an attempt to explore how technological resources can be used strategically to achieve operational efficiency and contribute to sustainable humanitarian logistics. Design/methodology/approach The data collected from 274 respondents involved in humanitarian logistics is analyzed using the confirmatory factor analysis and the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. These respondents include logistics managers, coordinators as well as other relevant personnel from different non-governmental organizations, international aid agencies and relief operations. Findings The results of this study show that TA plays a critical role in improving both collaboration and supply chain agility in humanitarian operations. It is evidenced that both collaboration and agility significantly moderate the relationship between TA and supply chain outcomes, respectively, improving the effectiveness and ENS of aid delivery. In particular, technology-facilitated collaboration and agility cut down operational costs, reduce the response time and minimize the environmental impact. Originality/value This study extends the application of dynamic capabilities view in humanitarian operations and supply chain and elaborates on how technological capability improves humanitarian supply chain performance. This study also highlights the mediation role of agility and collaboration to achieve aid delivery efficiency and ENS.

Anticipating responses to climate change and planning for resilience in California’s freshwater ecosystems

As human-caused climate changes accelerate, California will experience hydrologic and temperature conditions different than any encountered in recorded history. How will these changes affect the state’s freshwater ecosystems? Rivers, lakes, and wetlands are managed as a water resource, but they also support a complex web of life, ranging from bacteria, fungi, and algae to macrophytes, woody plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. In much of the state, native freshwater organisms already struggle to survive massive water diversions and dams, deteriorating water quality, extensive land cover modification for agriculture and urban development, and invasions of exotic species. In the face of climate change, we need to expand efforts to recover degraded ecosystems and to protect the resilience, health, and viability of existing ecosystems. For this, more process-based understanding of river, lake, and wetlands ecosystems is needed to forecast how systems will respond to future climate change and to our interventions. This will require 1) expanding our ability to model mechanistically how freshwater biota and ecosystems respond to environmental change; 2) hypothesis-driven monitoring and field studies; 3) education and training to build research, practitioner, stewardship, and policy capabilities; and 4) developing tools and policies for building resilient ecosystems. A goals-driven, hypothesis-informed collaboration among tribes, state (and federal) agencies, nongovernmental organizations, academicians, and consultants is needed to accomplish these goals and to advance the skills and knowledge of the future workforce of practitioners, regulators, and researchers who must live with the climate changes that are already upon us and will intensify.

Wine Tesseur (2022). Translation as Social Justice. Translation Policies and Practices in Non-Governmental Organisations.

Wine Tesseur (2022). Translation as Social Justice. Translation Policies and Practices in Non-Governmental Organisations.

Manifestasi Ta’awun NGO Islam Dalam Menyantuni Golongan B40 di Sabah Semasa Pandemik Covid-19

The expression of ta’awun is actualized through engaging in volunteer work to fulfil the societal duty of taking care of the impoverished or B40 group. This volunteering initiative is conducted by an Islamic-oriented Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with the aim of assisting the B40 in Sabah during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article explores the allocation of COVID-19 donations facilitated by Islamic NGOs and the motivating elements behind these efforts to organise volunteer initiative for the B40 group in Sabah, encompassing both urban and rural areas. Data gathering employs qualitative methods by conducting in-depth interviews with representatives of Islamic NGO leaders, notably Sabah An-Najiyah Charity Organisation (PKAN) and Aman Palestin Sabah (APS). The study’s findings indicate that the expression of ta’awun, demonstrated through NGO Islamic charity, extends beyond irregular or occasional material assistance. It also encompasses aid that has the potential to transform the mindset and lifestyle of the B40 group towards an Islamic way of life. The motivation to persist in serving others is fueled by the inherent resilience cultivated through adherence to Islamic principles, which emphasise the perpetual concern for the ummah, the pursuit of virtuous deeds, and the pursuit of rewards in the hereafter. The type of work being referred to is what sets Islamic NGOs apart from other NGOs that also carry out social programmes focused on well-being. This study will give impact on how the activities of Islamic-oriented NGOs contribute to broader community development in Sabah, particularly on the empowerment of marginalized groups.

Exploring the Potential of the Blue Economy: A Systematic Review of Strategies for Enhancing International Business in Bangladesh in the context of Indo-Pacific Region

This systematic review aims to provide a methodical analysis of the Blue Economy in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly from the perspective of Bangladesh, focusing on its growth trajectory, key stakeholders, policy frameworks, technological advancements, trade and investment trends, as well as challenges and opportunities for international business expansion. The methods employed a comprehensive search of electronic databases, and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to identify relevant studies for analysis. The results revealed that from 2000 to 2020, the Blue Economy sectors of the country, such as fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transportation, and tourism, saw notable development. International development agencies, corporations, academic institutions, governments, and civil society organizations are some of the major players in Blue Economy projects. The policy frameworks that facilitate the development of the Blue Economy include integrated ocean management, blue growth initiatives, maritime security and governance, and resilience and adaptation to climate change. Innovation and expansion in the Blue Economy sectors have been fueled by technological breakthroughs, such as autonomous underwater vehicles, renewable energy projects, remote sensing technologies, and marine biotechnology. Rising demand for sustainable goods and services, technical advancement, and regional collaboration have all contributed to an increase in trade and investment in Blue Economy industries internationally. The study concludes that there is significant potential for the Blue Economy in the Indo-Pacific region to drive economic growth, promote social progress, and ensure environmental sustainability. However, challenges such as regulatory complexity, access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, and environmental degradation need to be addressed to fully realize this potential. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts from governments, businesses, academia, civil society organizations, and international development agencies, along with a focus on sustainable and inclusive development practices.

An exploratory analysis of the development and implementation of urban animal welfare policy in public spaces for four common species: Cats, dogs, pigeons, and foxes in the Brussels Capital Region

ABSTRACT This study aims to understand urban animal welfare policy development and implementation for four species in public spaces: cats (Felis catus), dogs (Canis familiaris), pigeons (Columbia livia domestica), and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Our exploratory research offers an overview of the perspectives of all involved municipal and police officers and their challenges in a metropolitan urban context, the Brussels Capital Region in Belgium. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 35 participants from 19 municipalities and six police zones of the region. Additionally, we organized two focus groups consisting of representatives from municipalities, police zones, and nongovernmental organizations. Afterward, we analyzed the data thematically, leading to the identification of six policy and six practice recommendations. These recommendations can help advance the notion of urban animal welfare for the four species from a multispecies perspective.

Attribute Agenda Building in An Environmental Crisis: News Coverage of MV X-Press Pearl Ship Incident in Sri Lanka

This study investigated the building of the attribute agenda of an environmental crisis, taking the MV X-Press Pearl shipwreck incident as a case study. English weekend newspapers for a year since the incident were used for a content analysis to identify the information subsidies and their respective attribute agendas. An analysis framework was developed based on information subsidies and their respective attribute agendas. Results indicated that the governmental bodies unrelated to the environment were the most frequently cited sources, followed by experts and local non-governmental organizations/ industries. Conversely, the public was the least cited information source. Environmental damage was the most frequently emphasized attribute, followed by law and agreements and prevention. However, policy was the least reported attribute. Considering the correlation between information sources and attributes, the Marine Environmental Protection Authority highlighted the mitigation agenda, while non environmental related governmental bodies emphasized prevention agenda. Policymakers focused on getting compensation, while governmental bodies emphasized law and agreements and Experts prioritized on environmental damage. The evidence for attribute agenda building was found further strengthening the agenda building hypothesis and information subsidies had their own attributes highlighted in media reports. The study delves into the practical implications of agenda building, which can influence media outlets. It suggests strategic communication planning, aligning coverage with objectives, and collaborating with environmental advocacy groups. This understanding informs decision-making, promotes balanced coverage, and enhances public engagement. It is important to additionally take into account the process used to establish the agenda in future research.

Representations of a physically active lifestyle in an aging population: an exploratory study

Institutional ageism remains a significant barrier for older adults seeking to adopt or maintain physical activity. This study explored how organizations promoting active living on a large scale, represent and communicate it to the aging population. Through semi-structured interviews with 11 Quebec non-governmental organizations, findings from an inductive thematic analysis revealed conflicting perceptions about age, aging and active living. Participants lacked sufficient knowledge and resources to adress the needs of this heterogenous population. While they acknowledge the diverse realities and requirements within the aging population, their discourse predominantly centered on fragility and declining capacities. Additionnally, these organizations offered a limited range of activities and promoted an idealized image to conteract sedentary behavior. The findings highlight persistent institutional ageism in physical activity promotion and underscore the necessity for organizations to reflect on their capacity and the services they offer to better support a physically active lifestyle for older adults.

Monitoring and Evaluation Practices on the Implementation of Educational Projects among Non-governmental Organizations in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya

Monitoring and Evaluation Practices on the Implementation of Educational Projects among Non-governmental Organizations in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya

Constructing, Deconstructing or Abolishing? Discourses on Masculinities in Violence Against Women Prevention by Stakeholders in Spain.

In the field of violence against women (VAW) prevention, one of the current questions at stake is how to address men's role and masculinities, but it is still an emerging field in Spain. The aim of this study was to analyze the up-to-date discourses on masculinity among stakeholders in the field of VAW prevention and gender equity in Spain. We used a qualitative methodology with semi-structured interviews, conducted between October 2019 and February 2020 in Madrid and Alicante (Spain), with 23 key stakeholders from different areas: in governmental (public health and VAW prevention/intervention, and institutional and policy positioning) and nongovernmental organizations (anti-violence masculinities workers, youth education workers, and feminist and LGBT associations). A discourse analysis was performed with the data collected. Our findings showed that discourses around masculinities among Spanish stakeholders in VAW prevention and gender equity were diverse and presented different layers of critique. Despite a general agreement on the importance of transforming sexist men's practices toward more gender equitable relations, three main interpretive repertoires were identified: "Constructing positive/new masculinities" discourse, focused on promoting men's engagement and egalitarian practices; "Deconstructing hegemonic masculinity" discourse, intended to critically identify and question harmful masculinities norms; and "Abolishing gender" discourse, which aims at dismantling masculinity, and gender in general, as a social structure that generates oppression in itself, advocating for its abolition. Those interpretive repertoires were not mutually exclusive and sometimes stakeholders incorporate in their work more than one approach. The study findings shed light on this current emerging and urgent debate and contributes more broadly to the critical assessment of the concepts used and their implications for VAW prevention.

Local environmental organizations and long-term investor value appropriation

This study uses datasets representing local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to examine how local environmental organizations enhance long-term investor value appropriation (LIVA). We explore how external and internal firm factors influence the impact of local activism. Our results indicate a positive effect of local activism on LIVA, particularly in contexts where local communities and firm governance structures prioritize long-term value. Furthermore, in examining the mechanisms through which local environmental organizations affect LIVA, we find that firms tend to increase their environmental disclosures in response to local activism. These findings support the social movement theory that social activities inspire firms' social and environmental activities and reporting practices, subsequently affecting LIVA.

Healthcare Resilience in Trinidad and Tobago: A short report on the Healthy Hospital Initiative at the Sangre Grande Hospital

Objective: To describe the establishment of the Healthy Hospital Initiative (HHI), its activities and accomplishments, challenges and future steps. Methods: The initiative was implemented at the Sangre Grande Hospital in the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA), one of five Regional Health Authorities in Trinidad and Tobago. A review of personal records maintained by members of the Healthy Hospital Initiative was undertaken. These records included descriptions of the activities, accomplishments and obstacles that the team experienced. Results: The Healthy Hospital Initiative was launched in November 2019 with the aim of creating an environmentally sustainable health system and improving the physical and mental health of staff and patients. A senior doctor led the initiative and team members included a range of staff, including both clinical and non-clinical professionals who were all volunteers. This allowed for a multi-directional, inclusive approach and created a sense of ownership amongst the staff. In 2022, several activities were implemented: green spaces, recycling bins, a kitchen garden and staff exercise sessions. In addition, team members participated in training on Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) Smart hospitals and collaborated with a local non-governmental organisation as well as the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus engineering department to develop further projects. Conclusion: Next steps include promoting similar projects in community health facilities, developing a hydroponics system and, assessing the disaster resilience and carbon footprint of the hospital.

Global warming communicative actions of publics in Türkiye: Utilizing fuzzy rule based system

The effectiveness of government policies and environmental initiatives to mitigate global warming relies heavily on public support, which is closely tied to public perception and awareness. Despite the scientific evidence communicated, the public remains reluctant to take preventive measures against global warming. The aim of the paper is to investigate the communicative actions of publics proposed as in the situational theory of problem solving to understand publics' communicative actions towards global warming. The paper utilizes a fuzzy rule-based system approach to analyze the communicative actions of publics to reveal non-linear relationships; whereas previous studies mostly used linear statistical analysis. The paper provides a deeper understanding into the interplay between problem recognition, constraint recognition, and involvement in shaping information behavior. The results show that the communicative actions of the publics are at a low-to-moderate level. The paper's interesting finding is the nonlinear effects of constraint recognition on communicative action about global warming. Contrary to the current literature, it was found out that the dominant factor that may convince public to start taking action towards global warming seems to be recognizing being constrained at a moderate level. Based on the results, it is suggested for policy makers and communication strategists to mitigate the negative outcomes of global warming by integrating environmental issues into education at all levels and collaborating with non-governmental organizations for national awareness campaigns which focus on increasing public problem recognition and involvement.

Roles of NGOs and Local Government Units

This research delved into the critical roles played by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in supporting anti-poverty programs of Local Government Units (LGUs) in Barangay Pasil, Cebu City. It involved three NGOs that were selected based on their experience, collaboration agreements, and poverty-fighting program designs. Employing a qualitative approach, the experiences and perspectives of the participating NGOs were examined through semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was then utilized to extract key themes from the rich qualitative data. The NGOs' profiles, programs, and strategies were explored, revealing their crucial roles in tackling the complex issues of poverty. The findings revealed that these NGOs provide significant contributions to community development, and were strongly dedicated to enhancing marginalized communities' well-being through varied missions, funding sources, and innovative programs. Furthermore, collaboration between the NGOs and LGUs supported governmental efforts, shaped local policies, and improved service provision, underscoring the value of strategic partnerships for sustainable development. The strategic sharing of resources underscored the importance of a unified approach in effectively addressing multifaceted community needs. Persistent collaboration and joint endeavors between NGOs and LGUs can help establish resilient, empowered communities, promoting inclusive development and a promising future for Pasil, Cebu City residents.