Organizational Activities Research Articles

Identity and Self-Positioning of the Community of Sant’Egidio: A Faith-Based Organization on the International Stage

Religion in international relations should not be viewed solely as a source of conflict or cultural differences; it also has a constructive dimension, as demonstrated by the international activities of faith-based organizations (FBOs). FBOs have benefited from the post-Cold War expansion of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in global affairs. Their growth is often linked to raising awareness among various social groups about security challenges or issues traditionally addressed by state and inter-governmental actors, as well as increasing international interconnectedness. While FBOs differ from classical NGOs in their strong religious motivation, they too often organize around specific missions or messages. The Community of Sant’Egidio (CSE) is a distinctive example of a faith-based organization that operates both as a religious community within the Roman Catholic Church and as an internationally active NGO. Unlike many NGOs, which are founded in response to a singular issue, CSE has broadened its scope over time, addressing a wide range of concerns, from poverty alleviation and peacebuilding to humanitarian aid and, more recently, environmental issues. This paper explores the process by which the CSE has discursively constructed its identity and examines how this process has contributed to its growing influence on the international stage.

Аудит и налоговый мониторинг: точки соприкосновения в контексте современного развития отчетности (часть 2)

This article discusses current issues of the development and transformation of modern forms of reporting, their impact on the rethinking of audit procedures in conjunction with the development of tools for tax authorities in terms of assessing and confirming the effects created by companies through tax incentives in the economy, the problem of developing a unified approach to disclosure and audit of integrated reporting is formulated. The authors conclude that the future of audit procedures should be in the nature of a risk-based audit of business processes. The authors propose a conceptual framework for the joint application of standards for the preparation of an integrated report and an integrated audit with the transition to tax monitoring, which will allow stakeholders to receive complete and comprehensive information about the company’s activities, and the state, represented by the tax authority, to analyze and identify additional ways to stimulate the activities of organizations.

Agency of Individual Actors in Civil Society Organizations’ Advocacy: A Case Study of the Genesis of the Danish Aliens Act of 1983

Abstract Research on civil society organizations’ advocacy has predominantly centered on examining societal and organizational structures as determining which organizations that engage in advocacy endeavors and whether they achieve influence. This structural determinism has instigated a growing body of research within the field emphasizing the agency of actors. Thus far, this new body of literature has tended to examine advocacy at the organizational level, thereby neglecting the impact of individual actors. This neglection is inconsistent with a related branch of organization studies, specifically the neo-institutional field, which long has recognized the relevance of studying individual actors’ role in change processes. This paper argues that it is similarly relevant to study the agency of individual actors in civil society organizations’ political advocacy. Through an archival case study utilizing analytical frameworks stemming from the neo-institutional concept of institutional entrepreneurship, the study examines how an individual actor influenced the law preparing process preceding the Danish Aliens Act of 1983. By outlining the significant impact of an individual actor in a legislative process, the paper underscores the need to integrate individual agency into civil society advocacy research to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of civil society organizations’ advocacy.

Тенденции развития зерновой отрасли Свердловской области в условиях внешнеэкономических ограничений

The modern Russian economy is influenced by foreign economic restrictions from "unfriendly" countries. These restrictions, of course, can have an impact on the development of the national economy of the country, an important part of which is the agricultural sector of the economy. In the presented scientific work, the aim is to assess the state of the grain industry and trends in its development under the conditions of sanctions pressure. The information base for the study was data from the analysis of the production and financial activities of agricultural organizations in the Sverdlovsk region for 2019-2023, as well as analytical data from Rosstat for the Sverdlovsk region. During the analyzed period, the harvesting area of grain decreased by 1.4% from 317.5 to 313.1 thousand hectares, grain yield decreased by 6.3%. Gross grain production decreased by 7.4% in five years, amounting to 655.8 thousand tons in 2023. In 2023, compared with 2019, the labor intensity of products did not change, amounting to 0.49 people/hour per 1 hundredweight of products. At the same time, there is a significant increase in the production cost of a unit of production by 45.4%. The profitability of grain has significantly decreased from 24.7 to 0.1%. At the same time, there is an increase in grain sales by 12.2% and an increase in the level of marketability from 30.6 to 37.1%. The availability of agricultural machinery remains at a high level. In 2023, compared to 2019, the number of tractors per 1,000 hectares of crops decreased by 1.4%, grain harvesters by 5.4%, and forage harvesters by 10.7%. The data on the availability of agricultural machinery indicate that crop production in the region is developing with the use of intensive advanced technologies. Based on the analysis, an assessment of the impact of foreign economic restrictions on the development of the grain industry in the region is given, using qualitative criteria. The assessment of the impact of foreign economic restrictions on the grain industry is weak. Effective recommendations are proposed to avoid the negative impact of foreign economic restrictions on grain production.

Examining the impact of environmental education on connectedness to nature, environmental values and pro-environmental behavior among Nigerian undergraduates

In a world increasingly threatened by environmental challenges, understanding the factors that drive pro-environmental behavior (PEB) is crucial. This study investigates the levels of connectedness to nature (CN), environmental values (EV), and environmental behavior (EB) among Nigerian undergraduates, with a particular focus on the role of environmental education (EE) in shaping these constructs. Through a cross-sectional survey of 508 students across 12 universities within Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, the findings reveal a strong connection to nature and a higher endorsement of biospheric and altruistic values over hedonic and egoistic ones, albeit with notable regional and institutional variations. While respondents actively engaged in practices such as energy conservation and sustainable transportation, their participation in organized environmental actions, like recycling and group membership, remains limited. Although students enrolled in EE courses rated higher across CN, EV, and EB constructs, enrollment alone did not emerge as a significant predictor of PEB. These results underscore the urgency of fostering deeper connections to nature and integrating value-based, immersive, and practical educational approaches to enhance PEB. With broader implications for EE and sustainability efforts, particularly in developing countries, this study provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and researchers striving to promote environmental stewardship in Nigeria and similar contexts.

Social Capital in State Prescribed Burn Networks: Comparing North Carolina and Oklahoma Cases

Prescribed fire provides a valuable tool for habitat management and restoration. Practitioner networks in Oklahoma and North Carolina are compared using government and nonprofit organizational actors as the units of analysis. Measures of individual and network social capital are used to compare actor importance and collaboration with other actor types as well as network centralization and density. The results indicate that the two networks are similar in structure, but that there are differences which include the composition of core and peripheral actor groups as well as prominence of certain actor types. The data reported here suggest a common structural composition of prescribed fire networks. This information may prove useful in adapting similar state networks or determining how to improve the performance of existing networks. Increasing the social capital is a pathway to improve prescribed burning and integrate long-term ecological strategies and funding sources with short-term goals and labor capabilities.

PARTICIPATION OF VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS AS ONE OF THE MAIN DIRECTIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT IN UKRAINE AFTER THE REVOLUTION OF DIGNITY

The revolutionary events of late 2013 – early 2014, and especially the occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and the beginning of hostilities in the East of Ukraine, opened a new page in the development of the volunteer movement. The rise of volunteer activity in Ukraine was also facilitated by the unity of Ukrainian society against the background of external aggression and a number of unresolved socio-economic problems on the part of the state, this especially concerned the support of the participants in hostilities and a large group of immigrants from the East of Ukraine. It is the support of internally displaced persons (IDPs), along with the provision of everything necessary for ATO participants, that has become one of the main activities of volunteer organizations. This support became especially relevant with the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine in February 2022.This publication reveals the specifics of the activities of volunteer organizations supporting IDPs, which consisted in providing displaced persons with everything they need: food, clothing, hygiene products, medicines, temporary housing, as well as in providing them with legal, psychological, social support, employment, and training retraining and advanced training, at the same time, emphasis is placed on the activities of specialized volunteer and charitable organizations, among them: BF «Right to Protection», «East SOS», «Everybody can help», BF «Rehabilitation Center «Maidana Hospital», «Fund for Good Deeds», NGO «Ukrainian Association of Specialists in overcoming the consequences of psychotraumatic events».It also highlights the activities of international volunteer organizations that, after the Revolution of Dignity, actively participated in helping displaced people, providing them with both material support and comprehensive non-material assistance, including training, legal services, and psychological support. Among them, it is worth mentioning the «Red Cross Society of Ukraine», «Caritas in Ukraine», etc. At the same time, with the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, international volunteer organizations temporarily curtailed their activities, instead, the role of the Ukrainian volunteer movement, which received all kinds of support from international charitable funds, and to some extent the state and local self-government bodies, increased.

Beyond Caregiving: Daily Pleasant Activities Among Caregivers to Older Adults With and Without Dementia.

Limited research has explored caregivers' activities beyond caregiving duties, which may offer positive experiences and counterbalance caregiving stress. This study aimed to (a) identify the most pleasant non-caregiving activities, (b) assess time allocation based on activity categories and pleasantness, and (c) investigate the association between activity pleasantness and duration, considering differences between caregivers to older adults with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) and those without. This study included 2,136 caregivers (33% ADRD) from the 2017 National Study of Caregiving who participated in a time diary interview. Participants reported all activities from the previous day, including their pleasantness appraisal and duration. Weighted descriptives showed organizational activities (e.g., religious practices) were rated as the most pleasant, followed by active leisure (e.g., sports), for both ADRD and non-ADRD caregivers. Caregivers spent most time on non-active leisure (e.g., TV viewing), with about 10.6 hr daily on pleasant non-caregiving activities and 35 min on unpleasant ones. Weighted linear regression models indicated that both groups reported comparable pleasantness ratings for various activities and allocated similar amounts of time to activities based on categories and pleasantness. For non-ADRD caregivers, greater activity pleasantness was temporarily linked to longer durations. This study enhances understanding of caregivers' appraisals and time spent on non-caregiving activities. Although ADRD caregiving is more stressful than non-ADRD caregiving, no spillover effect was observed on the pleasantness ratings or time spent on non-caregiving activities. However, ADRD caregivers may encounter challenges in sustaining pleasant activities over time.

ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ЦИФРОВИХ ІНСТРУМЕНТІВ ПРИ ПРОВЕДЕННІ ІНВЕНТАРИЗАЦІЇ ОБ’ЄКТІВ ОБЛІКУ

Introduction. The development of the digital economy has left its mark on all areas of activity, including accounting processes. The theoretical and practical foundations of accounting are also undergoing significant changes. Accounting tools must be in line with modern realities. Enterprises automate the collection and registration of primary information using modern measuring instruments, which ensures the documentation of business transactions exclusively in electronic form. The article discusses the need to ensure the reliability of accounting indicators and prevent possible deviations by means of inventory, one of the main methods of accounting and control. The purpose of the article. To study and improve the digital tools used in the inventory of accounting objects at business entities of various types of activities. Methods. The methods of abstraction, analysis, logical, theoretical, generalization and comparison were used in the study. The research is based on the dialectical method. Results. The transformation of accounting in accordance with the new needs of society is a necessary stage in its development. Changes and improvements in the accounting methodology will help not to lose its relevance in the era of universal digitalization. The complexity of the inventory and its labor intensity is explained by the need for a set of preparatory and organizational actions, extensive documentary support, involvement of significant human resources in control procedures, and the multidimensional scope of application. With the ever-increasing range and assortment of inventory items on the market, the number of accounting items is growing, which in turn requires significant time spent on control procedures. Inventory at the vast majority of enterprises is characterized by a statutory procedure and frequency. Conclusions. The use of digital identification technologies in inventory procedures will reduce labor and working time costs, increase the efficiency of such procedures, ensure timeliness and efficiency of inventory, and reduce the likelihood of abuse.

The administrative process: A business management tool for the sustainability of micro-businesses in Sucre- Manabí

This research is part of the results of the training project "Sustainable Entrepreneurship" from the educational practice to strengthen the professional and organizational activity, ULEAM Sucre", which among one of its approaches is to diagnose the current situation of enterprises in the area. This research was carried out with the objective of analyzing the administrative process of the micro businesses located in the Cesar Rupertti Dueñas avenue of the Leónidas Plaza parish, Sucre - Manabí, to know its incidence in their business management and to obtain true information that allows the understanding and development of the present one. In order to end the administrative misinformation by small traders and / or entrepreneurs in the locality, thus managing to stay in the labor market, generate employment for others and promote economic growth in the country. Therefore, a qualitative-quantitative research was carried out through a descriptive study, since it identifies elements and characteristics of the problem, with the application of the deductive method and the survey research technique, which were of great help in gathering information. As a result, most of the owners of the microbusinesses have defined their objectives, half of them have a control of income and expenses, few have an accounting system and inventory, and almost all have the corresponding permit . In short, it shows that most of the small business owners have not yet defined the goals to be achieved, which does not ensure that the effort made throughout the process was worthwhile. It should be emphasized that to devise and improve the sales plan of a business to achieve economic growth, which all entrepreneurs seek, more knowledge and prior training is needed.

Contribution of Home Gardening to the Welfare of Rural Households in Osun State Nigeria

Purpose: This study describes the socio-economic characteristics of rural households, identifies the agricultural activities practiced in the home gardens, examines the respondents’ perception of home gardening, determines the contribution of home gardening to the households’ welfare, and investigates constraints to the practice of home gardening in the studied area.Research Method: A sample of 150 rural households from three Agricultural zones (Osogbo, Ife-Ijesha, and Iwo) was selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected through a structural interview schedule comprising both open and close-ended questions and the data were summarized using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation; along with inferential statistics like Chi-Square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation.Findings: The result revealed that the mean age of household heads was 45.09±15.08 years. Additionally, the majority had received their first experience of home gardening in childhood (71.2%) and expressed willingness to continue home gardening practice (92.4%). Furthermore, they engaged in plantain cultivation (x = 2.50) always and fowl rearing (x = 2.16) often in their home gardens, among other activities. The majority (90.7%) was favourably disposed to home gardening and indicated a high contribution (86.4%) of home gardening to their households’ welfare. In addition, pilfering (x = 1.51) was identified as a serious constraint to the practice of home gardening.Research Limitation: The economic importance and marketing aspect of home gardening are not covered due to limited resources.Originality/ Value: The study provides insight into how home gardening could be incorporated into the extension activities of relevant organizations to enhance the full exploitation of the potentials inherent in the practice.

Adolescent Sports Participation and Health in Early Adulthood: An Observational Study

We study the impact of teenage sports participation on early-adulthood health using data from the National Study of Youth and Religion. We focus on two primary outcomes measured at ages 23 to 28 (self-rated health and PHQ9 Patient Depression Questionnaire score) and control for several demographic and socioeconomic confounders. To probe the possibility that certain types of sports participation may have larger effects on health than others, we conduct matched observational studies at each level within a hierarchy of exposures. Our hierarchy ranges from broadly defined exposures (e.g., participation in any organized after-school activity) to narrow (e.g., participation in collision sports). We maintained a fixed family-wise error rate using an ordered testing approach that exploits the hierarchical relationships between our exposure definitions. Compared to teenagers who did not participate in any after-school activities, those who participated in sports had statistically significantly better self-rated and mental health outcomes in early adulthood.

Unifying community whole-brain imaging datasets enables robust neuron identification and reveals determinants of neuron position in C.elegans.

We develop a data harmonization approach for C.elegans volumetric microscopy data, consisting of a standardized format, pre-processing techniques, and human-in-the-loop machine-learning-based analysis tools. Using this approach, we unify a diverse collection of 118 whole-brain neural activity imaging datasets from five labs, storing these and accompanying tools in an online repository WormID (wormid.org). With this repository, we train three existing automated cell-identification algorithms, CPD, StatAtlas, and CRF_ID, to enable accuracy that generalizes across labs, recovering all human-labeled neurons in some cases. We mine this repository to identify factors that influence the developmental positioning of neurons. This growing resource of data, code, apps, and tutorials enables users to (1) study neuroanatomical organization and neural activity across diverse experimental paradigms, (2) develop and benchmark algorithms for automated neuron detection, segmentation, cell identification, tracking, and activity extraction, and (3) share data with the community and comply with data-sharing policies.

‘You just want the right person for the right job’: ‘race neutral’ and ‘race conscious’ rationales for the implementation of positive action measures in sports coaching

In recent years, a small number of sports bodies in the UK have developed new interventions designed to address racialised inequities in sports coaching. This article draws on interviews with CEOs and Youth Academy Managers (n = 14) to examine their approaches to conceptualising and operationalising one such positive action measure in men’s professional football in England. With particular respect to; (i) the ways in which these organisational actors adhere to ‘race-neutral’ or ‘race-conscious’ understandings of the racial equality landscape of football coaching, (ii) how such understandings inform and mediate their conceptual opposition or support for positive action measures, and (iii) how such rationales underpin the non-implementation or implementation of such measures in practice. Finally, the authors utilise Critical Race Theory (CRT) to draw linkages between the underpinning philosophies, rationales and implementation of such measures, and broader neo-liberal ideologies, notions of interest convergence, and the normative power of Whiteness in such settings.

The Humanitarian Crisis in the Gaza Strip, its Impact on the Peace Process in the Middle East and the Humanitarian Sphere of World Politics

Introduction. Humanitarian crises in the conflicts of recent decades directly affect the security of not only neighbouring states, but also undermine the established system of humanitarian cooperation between states. Non-state actors: terrorist organizations, separatist groups, protest movements, paramilitary religious groups and others that participate in conflicts and choose violent measures, complicate the resolution of conflicts. Despite the fact that all parties to the conflict are obliged to comply with the norms of international humanitarian law, both states and non-state actors are increasingly moving away from the principles of humane treatment of the civilian population. Each of the parties puts forward its own justifications for the indiscriminate approach.Materials and methods. The study is based on the case study method. An analysis of the changes in the provision of humanitarian aid to the civilian population during the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip makes it possible to draw conclusions about the current trends in the development of the humanitarian sphere as a whole. The author used materials from Russian and foreign media, UN and INGO reports, and international treaties.Reseach results. The conflict complicated the peace process, normalization of relations between Israel and Arab states, and also exposed the problem of politicization of humanitarian aid. Politicization manifested itself not only in the assessment of the conflict itself, which has long divided the world community, but first of all, for the first time, it had such a large-scale impact on the UN humanitarian aid institutions and various INGOs. The politicization of the conflict also resulted in the manifestation of a "cancel culture", which stigmatized the parties to the conflict and complicated the activities of humanitarian organizations in providing assistance to the civilian population.Discussion and conclusion. However, the most serious consequences are not only in the area of worsening the humanitarian situation, threats to civilians and employees of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations involved in providing humanitarian aid to the affected population, collecting information on the situation of civilians, the balance of power and compliance with international humanitarian law, but also in the area of compliance with the principles of humanitarian aid themselves. The humanitarian community is divided between those who support Israel's position and its stated "right to self-defense" and those who advocate for its accountability along with Hamas for what the UN SecretaryGeneral called "excessive use of force". An analysis of the impact of humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip on the process of conflict resolution is of great scientific interest, and its results can enrich knowledge not only about the peace process itself, but also about the role of humanitarian sphere in world politics.

Видный российский педагог И. Н. Жуков: «Любите Родину, боритесь за неё и будьте первыми в труде!»

The purpose of the study is to characterize the pedagogical activity of a prominent Russian teacher of the first half of the 20th century Innokenty Nikolaevich Zhukov (1875-1948) on the organization of the scout and pioneer movement in Russia. The study presents the circumstances of the emergence of scouting in Russia, and then the pioneer movement. Little-known facts of Zhukov's biography are established. The content of his organizational, literary and creative (in the field of sculpture) work is revealed. Innokenty Nikolaevich's contribution to each of these fields of activity is assessed. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the introduction into scientific circulation of little-known factual material relating to the initial period of development of scouting in Russia, and subsequently the pioneer organization. The results of the research are disclosure of little-known facts of Zhukov's biography, assessment of his pedagogical projects in the field of education of children and adolescents, analysis of his multifaceted organizational and practical educational activities. Zhukov is also shown as a writer and cultural figure who, through his work, contributed to solving the tasks of educating the younger generation that were relevant for his time. The text includes statements about him by famous contemporaries (O. Rodin, A. V. Lunacharsky, A.M. Gorky) and teachers (A. V. Vakhtin, E. Ya. Grobin, I. I. Zhukova-Plotnikova). The study is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of I. N. Zhukov.

Institutional logics, social interactions and management of tensions in public-private partnership organizations.

We aim to understand the link between field-level institutional logics and practice-level social interactions and relationships between public and private actors and their influences on the responses and resolutions to the issues causing tensions. Adopting a multiple logics perspective with a focus on social interactions and relationships between public and private actors, we conducted a multiple case study in five city hospitals recently established under a public-private partnership model in the Turkish healthcare field. We found that the state and market logics that predominantly characterize the Turkish healthcare field were enacted in each of the five hospitals in different manners and constitute three different configurations as compatible, complementary and contradictory. The social interactions and relationships developed between the public and private actors occur based on these configurations, and they all together shape the responses and resolutions to the issues causing tensions. Since we did all analyses between the organizational actors at the partnership level, we did not consider possible differences arising from individual and positional roles in each partnership. It is therefore important to acknowledge that the interviews, which are central to the research results, might be influenced by the motivation and power dynamics of the participants in terms of their positions, roles and responsibilities. Thus, much work must be done to understand the management of tensions in public-private partnership organizations (PPPOs) influenced by institutional logics with a greater focus on individual, partnership, organizational and field-level interactions. Tensions arising between public and private actors in PPPOs can be understood better and managed more effectively when the enactment of institutional logics is considered together with their social interactions and relationships. The novelty of our study is that we advance the knowledge on the management of tensions in PPPOs by empirically showing the link between field-level institutional logics and practice-level social interactions and relationships and their influences on the responses and resolutions to the issues causing tensions. Our results indicate that tensions arising between public and private actors in PPPOs are primarily responded to by private actors mainly with avoidance, defiance or decoupling and subsequently resolved by their joint efforts through informal collaboration, formalization, formalized collaboration, enforcement or coercive pressure, depending on how the state and market logics are enacted within the hospitals and how social interactions and relationships between public and private side actors are formed accordingly.

The Paradigm of Fiqh Maqasid in Islamic Campus Da’wah Amidst Multicultural Society

This qualitative study with a case study approach aims to identify the dimensions of maqasid sharia values in the role of da'wah of the academic community of the Fattahul Muluk Papua State Islamic Institute in a multicultural society. The contemporary maqasid sharia theory conceptualized by Jasser Auda becomes the theory of analysis. Data collection uses observation, interview, and documentation techniques. This study confirms the dimensions of maqasid sharia values in the paradigm of da'wah by the academic community of the Fattahul Muluk Papua State Islamic Institute in building religious harmony in a multicultural society, including the value of hifz ‘irdh in disseminating tolerance and anti-radicalism through the activities of majelis taklim, community organisations, and scientific research publications. Then, the value of hifz waton in disseminating attitudes of national commitment through cooperation programmes between government agencies in strengthening nationalism. Third, the value of hifz ummah in the dissemination of an accommodating attitude towards culture through cooperation programs between government institutions in preserving local cultural wisdom. The findings of this study confirm the expansion of the dimensions of maqasid sharia values can be a paradigm of fiqh da'wah in the midst of multicultural society.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Policies of Marampa Mining Ltd. and Understanding Their Effects on Society – Environment and Human Resources of Sierra Leone (West Africa)

Sierra Leone, a country situated on the western side of the African continent has its own enriched history of tribes, British colonization, slave trade, Ebola virus outbreak, blood diamonds and mining. This country was under civil war for twelve long years (1991 to 2002). Due to the political turbulence the economy of the country has also suffered largely. Most of the population is still depending upon traditional unorganized agriculture. Sierra Leone is extremely rich in minerals and natural resources. In recent decades, the mining industry has risen and is handsomely contributing to the country’s economy. Marampa Mines Ltd. is one of such organization that is extracting the iron ore from the Lunsar town of the Port Loko district of Sierra Leone. This study aims to shed light on the organization's activities in three key areas: social, environmental, and human resources. The concept of sustainable development serves as the foundation for this research, and the organization's actions are evaluated accordingly. Notably, this study is conducted independently, without influence from the state of Sierra Leone or the Gerald Group. While it is acknowledged that mining activities inevitably lead to degradation, it is the state's and capitalists' moral and legal responsibility to strike a balance between economic and environmental concerns. This study is one of the few to focus on Sierra Leone and is expected to inspire further research and investigation.

Availability, pricing, and affordability of antithrombotic medicines in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: implications for health policy

BackgroundAntithrombotic medications are essential for the management of abnormal clot formation. However, their availability, pricing, and affordability in Ethiopia, particularly in Addis Ababa, have not been comprehensively studied.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to assess the availability, pricing, and affordability of essential antithrombotic medicines. This study utilized the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Health Action Organization methodology. Five public hospital outpatient pharmacies, four private hospitals, ten private pharmacies, four Kenema pharmacies, and two Red Cross pharmacies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, were included in the study. All essential antithrombotic medicines in the 6th edition of Ethiopia’s Essential Medicines List were included in this study. Data were collected for originator brands and the lowest-priced generic medicines available at each medicine outlet.ResultsThe availability of low-priced generic (LPG) antithrombotic medicines was 31%, with private hospitals having the highest availability (52%). Original-brand antithrombotic medicines were rarely available, averaging only 3%, with private pharmacies showing a slightly higher availability (10%). The median price of LPG antithrombotic medicines is higher in private settings. Original-brand (OB) antithrombotic medicines in private hospitals and pharmacies were unaffordable, costing between 256.14 and 3,418 days of wages.ConclusionThe availability of most antithrombotic medicines was low across all sectors compared with the WHO target. Private hospitals showed relatively higher availability of LPG medicines than other pharmacy outlets included in the study. There is a significant disparity between the availability and affordability of LPG and OB medicines. To address these issues, the national drug procurement and distribution systems must be strengthened. Exploring local production and financial assistance programs, implementing effective stock management, regulating medicine prices, promoting high-quality generic medicines, and conducting further research to understand the national landscape are all essential.