Non-governmental Research Articles

“Scaling up Mariam Special Venture”: nutritious products towards base of pyramid consumers in developing economy

Learning outcomes After completion of the case study, students will have the ability to identify and apply various distribution strategies in the low-income market segment, to identify how last mile distribution is organized and executed in unconventional market situation and to identify and apply the 4Ps to support low-income market in last mile situations. Case overview/synopsis Mariam Atinga, the founder and owner of Mariam Special, was a native of Garu in the Upper East region. Mariam Special had specialized in the processing of freshly grown sorghum in the community into sorghum drink alongside some other natural spice additives. The drink was popularly called and known in the Garu community as “Zomkom”. Although there were other women who also processed and sold the drink in the community, the competitive advantage with Mariam Special was on the hygiene and innovative way it was prepared. She was also outward looking and had already made some attempt at expanding her business and passion beyond the community/district and into the villages. This was where her passion and interest caught the attention of a non-governmental organization (NGO) with interest in supporting low incomes in last mile situations. Atinga’s main interest and that of the NGO was hence to develop a route-to-market and associated strategic marketing approaches to reach this type of market or audience in Garu environs in the Upper East region of Ghana. Complexity academic level This case study is suitable for undergraduate students. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS8: Marketing.

Changes in the self-determination and cultural and social life of the Croatian, Slovenian and Serbian nationalities in Hungary until 2019 in the light of the legislative changes

The aim of the study is to show how the socio-economic conditions of the Slovenes, Croats and Serbs have evolved over the last thirty years. In the thirty-year period after the regime change, the system of relations of self-determination of nationalities has undergone continuous change and development. The study also deals in depth with the nationality policy of state-socialist Hungary. Without this background, it would not be possible to evaluate the first thirty years correctly. The self-organization and cultural life of the nationalities under study is significantly influenced by the fact that the majority of them live in rural areas in underdeveloped regions of the country. The cultural elite of each nationality was late in coming into being or had to completely reorganise itself after state socialism. In this study, I focus primarily on legislative changes and local elections. I also present the specificities of national cultural civil society organisations.

Determinants of potential life-threatening maternal conditions (PLTCs) in Tigray, northern Ethiopia: a case‒control study

Globally, potentially life-threatening maternal conditions (PLTCs) are significant public health threats. Ethiopia had the highest prevalence of PLTC (17.55%). However, there is limited evidence on the determinants that increase the occurrence of PLTC in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify determinants of the PLTC in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. A case‒control study was carried out between January 21 and April 20, 2024. Data were collected from 1027 participants (341 cases and 686 controls) through interviews and card reviews. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed via SPSS version 24 to identify factors associated with the PLTC. In this study, variables such as having no formal education (AOR: 2.78; 95% CI 1.50–5.15), not in a marital union (AOR: 4.33; 95% CI 1.23–15.23), alcohol intake during pregnancy (AOR: 1.77; 95% CI 1.13–2.76), a history of stillbirth (AOR: 3.02; 95% CI 1.81–5.04), twin birth (AOR: 2.24; 95% CI 1.03–4.86), chronic hypertension (AOR: 11.37; 95% CI 3.71–34.88), prior cesarean section (CS) (AOR: 2.40; 95% CI 1.27–4.50), malaria during pregnancy (AOR: 4.10; 95% CI 1.25–13.45), not taking foliate (AOR: 4.10; 95% CI 1.25–13.45), induced labor (AOR: 7.33; 95% CI 4.31–12.47), and CS delivery (AOR: 2.39; 1.59–3.6) were increased risk of PLTC. However, completing recommended prenatal care visits (AOR: 0.59; 95% CI 0.41–0.86) was associated with lower odds of developing PLTC. Therefore, governmental and nongovernmental organizations, programmers, and healthcare providers should use the underlying evidence for the prevention and management of the PLTC.

ДЕРЖАВНА ПІДТРИМКА МОЛОДІЖНОГО ПІДПРИЄМНИЦТВА В УМОВАХ ВОЄННОГО СТАНУ

The article highlights the peculiarities of youth entrepreneurship in Ukraine and state support for students under martial law. Youth entrepreneurship is seen as a key factor in the economic recovery of post-war Ukraine. Various initiatives aimed at supporting youthentrepreneurship are discussed, involving both government agencies and non-governmental organisations. In addition, the potential for young entrepreneurs to continuously update their skills and knowledge to meet modern standards is highlighted.

Influencing sustainability: the role of lobbyist characteristics in shaping the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive

Purpose This study aims to examine how the characteristics of lobbyists – type, size and country of origin – affect the nature of the feedback submitted to the European Commission regarding the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. Design/methodology/approach This research is grounded in an analysis of 143 public comment letters, encompassing the entire spectrum of feedback received. The authors begin with a content analysis of the directive’s 20 key items to categorize responses, construct a feedback index based on them and then use ordinary least squares, robust and ordered logit regressions. Findings This analysis reveals the expanding concept of “users” in sustainability reporting, with active lobbying from both business associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). While the directive is generally well received, concerns arise regarding its broad scope, third-party assurance, forward-looking information and the rushed timeline. Lobbyists’ characteristics play a significant role in shaping their feedback. NGOs show stronger support than business associations, with companies in between. Smaller lobbyists favor simplified disclosures, and notable French support suggests a potential “reversed lobbying” effect, possibly due to the French presidency’s role in shaping the European sustainability reporting framework. Practical implications This in-depth content analysis of feedback on the directive provides a comprehensive summary measure that serves as a powerful tool for standard-setters to develop sector-specific sustainability standards. Social implications As sustainability reporting gains traction and zero-emission targets grow more urgent, understanding the standard-setting process is increasingly crucial. Originality/value This research shifts the focus of lobbying from financial to sustainability reporting. The authors build on regulatory capture and public interest theories by incorporating networking theory and the phenomenon of reversed lobbying to uncover key variations.

Comprehensive Review of Integrated Approaches to Cooperation and Collaboration in Emergency Response and Crisis Management

There needs to be positive coordination and cooperation between governmental and non-governmental organizations, private businesses, and the population at large, especially during an emergency period. This paper will provide a detailed review of integrated approaches to crisis management, emphasizing the importance of establishing lines of communication and interdependency in crisis management. The review of the current topic focuses on identifying the various success and failure strategies of the recent worldwide crisis while stressing multilateral and interdisciplinary cooperation. Drawing from case studies and existing literature, this paper seeks to provide lessons learned for improving preparedness, response, and recovery during crises in the future.

Examining the responsible use of zero-shot AI approaches to scoring essays

The promise of AI to alleviate the burdens of grading and potentially enhance writing instruction is an exciting prospect. However, we believe it is crucial to emphasize that the accuracy of AI is only one component of its responsible use in education. Various governmental agencies, such as NIST in the US, and non-governmental agencies like the UN, UNESCO, and OECD have published guidance on the responsible use of AI, which we have synthesized to come up with our principles for the responsible use of AI in assessments at ETS. Our principles include fairness and bias mitigation; privacy & security; transparency, explainability, and accountability; educational impact & integrity; and continuous improvement. The accuracy of AI-scoring is one component of our principles related to educational impact & integrity. In this work, we share our thoughts on fairness & bias mitigation, and transparency & explainability. We demonstrate an empirical evaluation of zero-shot scoring using GTP-4o, with an emphasis on fairness evaluations and explainability of these automated scoring models.

Utilizing Extractive Transportation Infrastructures for Subsistence Livelihoods: Experience of Evenki Communities in Eastern Siberia

The availability of natural resources drives the exploration and transformation of remote regions in the Arctic and beyond. Extractive infrastructure is one of the major sources of industrial development and environmental impact on landscapes. For Indigenous people, these landscapes are homely environments full of sentient beings, and for other local communities, they provide a wide variety of subsistence and hunting resources. While extractive infrastructure violence is the evident issue for many Indigenous communities, there are more complicated situations where extractive infrastructure is adopted and utilized for the subsistence and support of other human and more-than-human relations in local and Indigenous communities. Based on materials from interviews and observations with Evenki communities in Eastern Siberia in 2013–2021, the authors discuss the complex relations and sustainability issues entangled around infrastructure objects’ creation, use, maintenance, and transformations. The results demonstrate a wide variety of relations between obshchinas (non-governmental organizations of Indigenous peoples) and extractive companies constructed with infrastructure development of the latter. The paper discusses the shortcomings of the top-down approach in infrastructure planning and the need for contextualization and meaningful engagement with affected communities, some examples of which have already taken place in specific locales. The study concludes by calling for the support of environmentally and socially just infrastructure defined by Indigenous people and local communities as a way to increase sustainability.

Can government green discourse-behavior congruence mitigate carbon emissions? A polynomial regression with response surface analysis

As global climate change intensifies, the efficacy of governmental environmental policies and their implementation is pivotal for carbon emission control. The alignment between governmental green initiatives and their actions not only affects authority credibility but also determines the success of environmental governance outcomes. Therefore, investigating the congruence between government green discourse and behavior in achieving “dual carbon” objectives is critical for addressing climate change and facilitating systemic reforms. Applying panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2012 to 2022 based on polynomial regression and response surface, this study summarizes three main pathways through which government green discourse-behavior congruence influences carbon emissions: the state of congruence or incongruence, the degree of congruence, and the direction of incongruence. Congruent government green discourse and behavior more effectively reduce carbon emissions intensity than incongruent ones, while a higher degree of congruence leads to more significant reductions. The direction of incongruence also impacts carbon emissions intensity, particularly when government behaviors fall short of its discourses, leading to a higher carbon intensity growth rate. Furthermore, the moderating role of non-governmental entities' green innovation vitality is considered. The results reveal that the green innovation of non-governmental entities can partly substitute for the need for government discourse-behavior congruence in achieving carbon reduction. Specifically, green innovation of research institutions primarily enhances the positive environmental effects of increased government discourse-behavior congruence degree, while corporate green innovation mainly mitigates the negative environmental impacts of government incongruence direction. Consequently, the deep integration of government environmental initiatives and actions is advocated, along with the stimulation of green innovation among various entities, to more effectively combat global climate change. This study not only extends traditional congruence research from the micro level to the meso and macro levels and fills a theoretical gap, but also provides new insights into the process of government green governance worldwide.

Decolonisation of global conferences: unfinished business for women's health advocates

Global health consensus in recent years has highlighted ‘decolonisation’ as an important factor in the pursuit of equity. Initiatives such as the United Nations’ sustainable development goals for 2030 have come amid talk of ‘bottom up’ programming, driven by the needs of people living and working in the world's most deprived regions. However, most high-level meetings still take place in wealthy countries where United Nations bodies, major donors and the biggest non-governmental organisations are headquartered. In midwifery, maternity experts from low- and middle-income countries may struggle to take part in discussions because of barriers such as visa restrictions, travel costs and the challenge of breaking into old-school networks. Meanwhile multimillion dollar programmes designed to save mothers’ and babies’ lives lose out on insights from the very people that they are intended to help. With this in mind, a wave of non-governmental organisations focused on women's health and gender equality are moving their conferences closer to the action. This article explores a dynamic field, where forces for change are responding directly to evidence on ‘conference inequity’. Non-governmental organisations including WomenLift Health and the International Confederation of Midwives explain how and why they are shaking things up.

Governing the private scales of families and homes: Visiting nurses and Turkey's mobilization of consumptive care

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the visiting nurses of western empires and nation-states performed vital labor in combating tuberculosis (TB). Their hybrid role combined modern nursing and social work, typically benefitting from civil society organizations. In late Ottoman and early republican Turkey, tuberculosis resulted in many fatalities. To overcome this biopolitical challenge, the state prioritized creating a network of dispensaries and visiting nurses. Going into citizens' homes and communities, these nurses were to both educate the public on TB prevention and treatment and report their health and personal data to the state. Envisioned as essential public health agents, visiting nurses bridged gaps in hygiene education and demographic data collection. However, the republic struggled with insufficient resources to recruit, train, and deploy them effectively. Our study explores the evolving vision of leveraging women's labor for public health and geopolitical aims. By analyzing key thinkers' writings, legislative efforts, and the delayed realization of a visiting nurse corps post-1945, we highlight efforts to professionalize women and expand their societal roles. These mobile public health initiatives not only advanced women's status but also marked a significant development in Turkey's public health and medical governance.

Language Preservation: Strategies for Indigenous Languages

Indigenous languages are critical to cultural identity, carrying unique worldviews, knowledge systems, and histories. However, these languages are rapidly disappearing due to factors like globalization, urbanization, and intergenerational transmission gaps. This paper discusses strategies for the preservation and revitalization of indigenous languages, emphasizing the importance of community involvement, educational initiatives, and the use of digital tools. By exploring successful language preservation models from Indigenous communities worldwide, the paper highlights how bottom-up approaches, immersive language programs, and technological innovations can support revitalization. Collaboration between communities, government bodies, and non-governmental organizations is essential to creating sustainable methods for language survival and adaptability in the modern world. Ultimately, preserving indigenous languages not only maintains cultural diversity but also reinforces social and psychological identity for present and future generations. Keywords: Indigenous language preservation, language revitalization, cultural identity, community-based programs, digital tools in language preservation.

The ecological status and fisheries of Malampaya Sound, northwestern Palawan, Philippines

A review of the state of the marine ecosystem and fisheries of Malampaya Sound, Palawan was undertaken. A total of 30 papers relevant to the topic were selected and reviewed. The results showed that the rich and diverse coastal waters of Malampaya Sound harbor 8 species of seagrasses, 9 species of mangroves, 262 species of fish, and various species of corals and macroinvertebrates including the rare giant clams Tridacna spp. The Sound plays a vital role in the local economy because the local community uses it for subsistence fishing and as a source of livelihood. It is so productive that it was termed the “fishbowl of the country” because it provides a substantial contribution to the country’s fishery sector and economy. However, degradation continuously threatens it, most of which are interrelated anthropogenic issues. The declining environmental condition of the area prompted the government to close it for commercial fishing in the 1970s. Several conservation measures have been undertaken since then to preserve its remaining resources, including its declaration as a protected landscape and seascape in 2000. Despite this, if not for a slight improvement, the condition has worsened. So far, only the mangrove ecosystem has dramatically improved. Seagrass and coral reefs are still in poor to fair condition. A collective effort by the community and government agencies, with the support of the academe and non-government organizations, coupled with strict enforcement of existing laws, income diversification for the locals, monitoring of environmental parameters, and implementation of sustainable fishing practices, is necessary to achieve sustainable use of the area.

The uncounted and unseen challenges of refugee foster families in Kampala, Uganda

Uganda is known for its open-door policies towards refugees, currently hosting over 1.5 million refugees, 60–65% of whom are children. National self-reliance strategies grant refugees who live in urban settings freedom of movement and employment and expect them to be mostly self-sufficient in exchange. Families within the refugee community are fostering unaccompanied refugee children, as this is considered the best solution for them by the Ugandan state and international organisations. We used ethnographic and quantitative methods, including in-depth interviews, questionnaires and participant observation, to assess the living situation of refugee foster families in Kampala. Our sample included 52 foster families who were caring for a total of 289 children. The findings raised four overarching themes: (1) Circumstances and reasoning for fostering unaccompanied children; (2) Formalisation of explicit foster registration; (3) Differences in care and living conditions; and (4) Ambiguous organisational support. Fostering was either direct by family members or friends, or indirect through the intervention of a church or the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) implementing non-governmental organisations (NGOs) but has never followed national processes to formalise fostering or adoption. Based on the self-reliance policies, refugee foster families in Kampala do not receive adequate support or supervision from any institution, and fostered children remain acutely vulnerable, especially since the economic crises related to Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine. We argue that the lack of recognition and financial and emotional support for foster families hinders community-based solutions. These conditions, coupled with the lack of proper supervision and control, encourage less altruistic fostering and more abusive and exploitative treatment of unaccompanied children.

Exploring the Role of Community Organisations as Environmental Vulnerability Insurance for Cacao Smallholders in Colombia

The future of replacing illicit crops with cacao in the South Pacific region of Colombia transcends the economic viability of these plantations. The process of social-ecological restoration is intrinsically linked to the role of local organisations and the support of international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which introduce the main technical improvements conditional on the achievement of social improvements. The situation in the South Pacific region of Colombia, a territory historically characterised by illicit crop cultivation and inhabited by vulnerable Afro-Colombian communities, is analysed. This region is particularly significant for post-conflict agreements due to its high level of violence. This study analyses the determinants of differences in the selling price of cacao, assuming that the decision to sell dry cacao and access international markets is related to the support and assistance provided to farmers and their families than to their monetary value. The sustainable production of high-quality dry cacao, which is a main requirement for accessing international market prices, depends on access to adequate infrastructure. Inadequate access to high-quality production neutralises the substitution of illicit crops, and thus the environmental sustainability and social cohesion of the territory. The determinants of farmers’ ability to sell dry cacao are explored using a spatial econometric model that accounts for the influence of neighbouring areas. The findings indicate that enhancing producers' participation in community councils, supported by international NGOs, is crucial for addressing environmental risks.

Fragmentation, counter-power and symbiosis: The Life After Coal campaign

South Africa's environmental movement has been described as "fractured, disparate and diverse" (Death, 2014: 1232). This article considers the Life After Coal campaign's work in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga to examine the challenges faced by environmental campaigns. The article examines the relationship between the campaign and community members and activists through the lens of Jacklyn Cock's ideas of "building counter power" and Marlies Glasius and Armine Ishkanian's ideas of "surreptitious symbiosis'" The article draws on a series of interviews and discussions with Life After Coal leaders and community members and activists affected by coal mining in eMalahleni. It finds that the Life After Coal campaign's work in eMalahleni reflects the challenges of building a unified popular environmental movement. Despite its critical work in 'building counter power' through community mobilisations and the campaign's catalysing effects it has yet to fully integrate the substantive aspects of an unrealised democracy in the form of genuine socioeconomic rights into its environmental frames. Further to this, there are various levels of discord which hinder solidarity between formal civil society organisations and the organic community movement.

The Role of Telemedicine in Enhancing Surgical Care Delivery in Africa: A Literature Review.

In Africa, telemedicine holds great potential to revolutionize surgical care delivery, especially in areas where access to quality treatment is scarce. Data about the use of these services in African countries is, however, limited. To outline the present issues in surgical care delivery, as well as the significant role of telemedicine in advancing surgical care delivery in Africa. This review will also discuss the challenges behind telemedicine utilization in Africa, and recommend targeted measures to address those barriers while promoting the enhanced integration of telemedicine into surgical care delivery. A comprehensive online literature search was conducted using several search engines, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar to assess the potential advantages of telemedicine over traditional surgical practices in Africa, as well as to identify the challenges hindering its implementation. The literature review examined the role of nongovernmental organizations in promoting telemedicine adoption across various African countries. Literature search terms include "countries of Africa," "impact of telesurgery and telemedicine in Africa," and "current situation of telemedicine in intervention." Only articles written in English were considered, and inclusion criteria included relevance to our research objectives and countries in Africa. The potential for telesurgery in Saharan and sub-Saharan countries is still a milestone to be unlocked, but already telemedicine implementation has shown great results. Although hindrances like trust, lack of infrastructure, and lack of trained personnel in the field of telecommunication have been issues. There is a rise in the use of telemedicine in areas of interest like postsurgical care, doctor-patient consultation, and tele-monitoring. Various schemes and plans implemented by public organizations have also peaked since the pandemic. A telemedicine establishment requires multifactorial development occurring in a step-by-step manner. Although complexity in development and barriers faced in countries in Africa are concerns, the outcomes of using telemedicine are considerably better. The rising population and lack of medical specialists have led to a gap in access to approachable surgical care, and telemedicine has shown promising potential to overcome it. Telemedicine implementation has changed the method of intervention in clinics all over the world. Implementation of parts of telemedicine like telesurgery and tele-monitoring has the potential to overcome the concern of a rising population, but there is still a long way to go.

Stakeholder communication framework for successful implementation of community-based renewable energy projects

The implementation of community-based renewable energy projects demands effective stakeholder communication to ensure project sustainability, community acceptance, and overall success. This review proposes a strategic framework for communicating with diverse stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, project developers, and non-governmental organizations. The framework emphasizes transparency, trust-building, and engagement as core principles to address the unique challenges and requirements of community-based renewable energy initiatives. Key components include identifying relevant stakeholders, establishing clear communication objectives, and selecting appropriate channels for tailored, ongoing dialogue. First, the framework outlines the identification process of key stakeholders, considering their roles, influence, and interests in the project. This involves categorizing stakeholders into primary (directly impacted) and secondary (indirectly impacted) groups, which enables targeted engagement efforts. Next, the framework recommends diverse communication channels, such as community meetings, social media platforms, local radio, and informational workshops. These channels are chosen based on accessibility, stakeholder preferences, and cultural appropriateness, ensuring messages reach all stakeholders effectively. The framework also includes strategic engagement tactics to enhance community participation, including participatory planning sessions, regular feedback loops, and transparent reporting on project milestones and impacts. By fostering continuous interaction, the project team can build and sustain trust, helping to alleviate concerns and gain community support. Moreover, the framework advocates for the inclusion of culturally relevant communication approaches that respect local values and practices, further strengthening stakeholder relationships. Implementing this communication framework is expected to enhance transparency, cultivate trust, and improve community buy-in, ultimately driving the success and long-term sustainability of community-based renewable energy projects. This approach aligns stakeholder interests, mitigates risks of opposition, and promotes shared ownership, facilitating smoother project execution. By engaging stakeholders meaningfully, community-based renewable energy initiatives can achieve greater resilience and acceptance, contributing to the broader goals of energy transition and environmental sustainability.

BASIC FOOD AID: A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE BETWEEN MALAYSIAS FOOD BANK AND IMARET DURING THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

The Covid-19 pandemic that first emerged at the end of 2019 has had a huge impact on the world economy and social life. In Malaysia, innumerable people faced unemployment problems and this led to an increase in the number of poverty-stricken individuals, especially in urban areas. Hence, through the initiative of several individuals and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), food banks were established in numerous locations to help communities in need of food aid and basic necessities. According to Islamic history, such forms of food aid had existed throughout the Ottoman era in efforts to deal with the problem of food shortage caused by poverty, natural disasters or war. Therefore, this study aimed to examine and discuss the comparison of food banks created based on the concept and implementation of waqf institutions, which is akin to imaret (or darüzziyafe) initiated during the Ottoman empire in times of pandemics, natural disasters or any kind of dire situation affecting the population. This qualitative study analysed literature from previous studies. Findings indicated that there are several similarities in the general concept between contemporary food banks established in Malaysia and the imaret that existed during the Ottoman empire. Both these initiatives involve an allocation of funds for purchasing food which is then given away free to the need in the community. The financial assistance is provided by individual funds intended solely for the purpose of charity. However, there are differences in terms of implementation by these two institutions, such as the period of existence, method of assistance, distribution of aid, method of distribution and different allocation of funds. In conclusion, the establishment of food banks and imaret have an important role in times of an urgency, such as during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as in other catastrophic situations. The role of this current institution should be expanded so that the affordable sections of the community can implement the food bank concept to help those in need.

Supreme Court's Legal Advice: Limits, Procedures, and Need for Change

The Supreme Court offers legal advice to state organs and government agencies. Nonetheless, there are no regulations governing the execution of Supreme Court Legal Advice. This paper analyses the limitations and procedures of Supreme Court legal advice. This is a normative legal analysis grounded in conceptual and statutory law. This study utilized legal texts, doctrinal sources, and scientific material. This study employs Miles and Huberman's data analysis methodology. This study demonstrates that Article 37 of the 1985 Supreme Court Law and Article 22 paragraph (1) of the 2009 Judicial Power Law are contradictory. The dispute pertains to the petitioner seeking Supreme Court Legal Advice. The Supreme Court's Legal Advice is only extended to state organs and government agencies. The Supreme Court lacks the authority to offer legal advice to local governments, community organizations, and non-governmental organizations. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court offers legal advice to state organs, while the Chairman of the Supreme Court Chamber provides legal advice to government agencies. Both legal advice continues to be designated as Supreme Court Legal Advice.