Participation In Local Governance Research Articles

The Decentralised Governance in Kenya: Implications on Citizen Participation in the Local Governance

Abstract This study sought to examine the extent to which decentralisation efforts have affected citizen participation in local governance in Kenya. Survey research designs was employed. 371 questionnaires were administered and 16 interview conducted with key stakeholders. The findings revealed that decentralisation influences citizen participation in devolved Governance. 77.3% of the respondents agreed decentralization had promoted political entrepreneurship while 75% contended that decentralization had influenced citizen participation in development of policies and legislation. Moreover, 57.2% of the respondents felt that citizen participation in decentralized policy-making was high while 69% of the respondents were satisfied that decentralization had made it possible for citizens to participate in county budgeting. Only 49% approved the effectiveness of decentralization in promoting citizen participation in promoting participatory budgeting and planning process. The national and county governments should put in place measures to safeguard the independence of the counties in realizing the objective of citizen participation in governance.

Perceived local government performance and people’s life satisfaction: the role of trust in local government and political participation

ABSTRACT Life satisfaction (LS) has received widespread attention, but few studies explored the determinants of people’s LS in China from the perspective of perceived performance of local government (PPLG). Therefore, taking trust in local government and political participation into consideration, this study employed the data in 2021CSS to analyse the relationship between PPLG and LS. The results showed that PPLG had a direct positive relationship with people’s LS. Citizens’ trust in local government played a mediating role in this relationship. That is, PPLG had a significant positive association with citizens’ trust in local government, which in turn had a significant positive relationship with people’s LS. Unexpectedly, institutional and non- institutional political participation played different roles, namely, institutional political participation rather than non-institutional political participation played a mediating role in this model. The conclusions provided a meaningful supplement for related studies, but some potential limitations require further discussion.

Assessing Demographics, Perceptions, and Participation: A Study on Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Effectiveness and Improvement Suggestions

The Sangguniang Kabataan is an important institution in the Philippines that represents the interests of youth and engages them in local governance. This study examines the perceptions of young Filipinos regarding the Sangguniang Kabataan’s (SK) participation in local government, focusing on understanding how youth perspectives influence the efficacy of SK initiatives. The research integrated a descriptive quantitative research design. A total of 32 participants were involved in the study, providing insights into their demographic profiles, perceptions of SK duties and functions, levels of participation in SK activities, and suggestions for improving SK officials and their activities. The findings reveal that while respondents generally recognize the importance of the SK in representing youth in local government, there are areas where its effectiveness can be enhanced, such as in implementing youth-focused programs and initiatives. The study also highlights barriers to youth participation in SK activities, including lack of awareness and time constraints. Recommendations for improving youth engagement in the SK include prioritizing advocacy for youth-related issues, enhancing communication with young individuals, and focusing on initiatives that address critical issues like poverty, education, and mental health. By implementing these recommendations, the SK can better serve the needs and aspirations of the youth population and create a more responsive and inclusive local governance structure.

Localization of the counterinsurgency in Sinai: A case study on integrating local population into counterinsurgency combat operations in Sinai

AbstractIntegrating local militias in the counterinsurgency (COIN) operations in Sinai has achieved tangible successes. The presence of local fighters contributed to the penetration of the Islamic State—Sinai Province network. The integration of locals into the ongoing COIN process has imposed a degree of local participation in local governance and decision‐making. Nevertheless, this article argues that there are two approaches to local integration into the COIN operation; the first is institutional integration, in which the state integrates local fighters at an institutional level in the ranks of the security apparatus. The second is the collaborating militia approach. In this pattern, the state resorts to warlords and tribal chiefs to mobilize irregular militias, coordinating with the regular forces in the COIN process without formally merging them into security institutions’ ranks. The Egyptian model in the Sinai is one of the latter type. The collaborating militia integration approach into COIN operations contributes to wooing elites to create narrow patronage networks of cronies, preventing systematized community participation in the decision‐making process, which leads to keeping the factors of rebellion alive below the surface even if the rebels are defeated militarily.

Impact of Women\'s Participation in Local Governance on Socio-Economic Development: A Case Study of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Maharashtra

Abstract: The participation of women in local governance, particularly in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), is increasingly recognized as crucial for fostering socio-economic development. This study focuses on the state of Maharashtra, India, examining the impact of women’s involvement in PRIs on various socio-economic indicators. Utilizing empirical data from a comprehensive survey conducted across multiple districts, the study analyzes the correlation between women’s representation in PRIs and key development parameters. Findings reveal a positive association between higher levels of women’s participation in PRIs and improvements in socio-economic indicators. Specifically, districts with greater female representation in PRIs demonstrate enhanced access to basic services such as healthcare, education, and sanitation. For instance, districts with more than 50% female representation in PRIs saw a 25% increase in primary healthcare coverage compared to districts with lower female representation.

A study of the decentralised administrative arrangements between the central and local governments in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis

PurposeDecentralised administrative arrangements and the active function of local government organisations are essential to tackle crisis effectively. Using Bangladesh as a case study, this paper examines the central and local government administrative arrangements during COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThis study applies qualitative content analysis and interviews to explore the local government’s role in Bangladesh’s COVID-19 management by interviews of 18 participants including government officials, experts, non-government organisations (NGOs) representatives, and the general public. This paper also analysed academic papers, policy documents and other publicly available documents, including newspaper reports.FindingsThe Constitution of Bangladesh intensified the active participation of local government in each administrative unit through decentralised administrative management. This paper however reveals that the administrative arrangement during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh was primarily a centrally led system. The local government was not sufficiently involved, nor had it integrated into the planning and coordination process. This indicated the absence of active decentralised administration.Originality/valueThis study fills the research gap of the administrative pattern and local relations in COVID-19 management by exploring the local government’s role during the catastrophic situation and highlights the importance of decentralised administrative actions in managing the crisis.

Analysis of Digital Security Governance under the Objectives of Digital Ecology: A Three-Party Evolutionary Game Approach

With the rapid development of the digital economy, there has been an explosion in the amount of data generated. Data have become a vital resource for nations, just as tangible assets and human capital are crucial factors of production. Consequently, protecting digital security has become paramount. However, the increasing frequency of various data security incidents in recent years has exposed issues such as inadequate platform governance, lack of government regulation, and incomplete digital security governance (DSG) mechanisms. This study aims to create a healthy and open digital ecosystem and proposes a new digital security governance framework. It subdivides traditional government departments into local governments and the central government. Together with third-party platforms, they are analyzed as participants in an evolutionary game. The study examines the evolutionary stability of strategy choices made by each party and explores the relationship between key factors such as negative externalities, data security incident probabilities, and their impacts on strategy selection using numerical simulations. The research findings indicate the following. (1) Key parameters such as implicit benefits, government subsidies, and negative externalities play a significantly positive role in the development of the digital ecosystem. (2) The central government consistently tends towards emergency response, considering the overall societal perspective, as long as it is capable of bearing the costs. (3) Local governments may exhibit free-riding behavior during the governance process. To address this, it is important to increase the willingness of third-party platforms to govern and oversee the participation of local governments, which is an effective way to prevent data crises. The study also identifies different governance models in various environments: (1) a digital security governance model in a stable market environment, involving increased central government intervention and supervision of local governments’ participation; and (2) a digital security governance model in the event of a data crisis, where the central government establishes subsidies that exceed the governance costs of local governments to enhance the willingness of third-party platforms to govern. Finally, recommendations and strategies are presented to enhance the level of digital security governance.

Local Inter-Governmental Cooperation in Regional Innovation in China: Historical Evolution and Logic of Change

Under the innovation-driven development strategy, inter-governmental cooperation in regional innovation has proliferated, but the historical change logic of local government participation in innovation cooperation has not been explained yet. Based on the theoretical paradigm of historical institutionalism, this paper attempts to construct a "structure-history-action" analytical framework for local government participation in innovation cooperation. Based on the theoretical paradigm of historical institutionalism, this paper attempts to construct a "structure-history-action" analytical framework for inter-governmental cooperation in regional innovation. In the course of more than forty years of change, inter-governmental cooperation in regional innovation in China can be divided into four stages. In the course of more than forty years of change, inter-governmental cooperation in regional innovation in China can be divided into four stages. Firstly, it has been driven by structural conditions in macro-institutional change; secondly, 'path dependence' Firstly, it has been driven by structural conditions in macro-institutional change; secondly, 'path dependence' caused by political and cultural genes, administrative institutional traditions and the 'key nodes' that drive change. Finally, the perceptions and interests of local governments, as micro-actors, have profoundly shaped the direction of change. On this basis, the development path of inter- governmental cooperation in regional innovation is proposed: strengthening the top-level design of innovation cooperation and optimizing.

Laying foundations for transformation: Insights from local government engagement on climate-resilient rural water services in Nepal

Transformative change in how local governments support rural water services is required to accommodate the increasingly extreme effects of climate change on water service systems. This study explores the potential for contextualised soft systems thinking activities to prepare local government officials with responsibilities pertaining to rural water services in Nepal to shift towards more transformative thinking. First, the study presents the findings of focus group discussions in two rural districts of Nepal that identified common climate-related problems for rural water access including water shortages, contamination, and unequal burden of impacts. Second, we facilitated workshops with local government and non-government stakeholders, drawing on the focus group findings to frame the challenges for rural water linked to climate change that require local government response. We designed the workshops drawing on ‘transformative spaces’ concepts and included soft systems thinking activities to foster systemic perspectives. Participants learned about worldviews, leverage points, rich pictures, root cause analysis, and theory-of-change based action planning. Following the workshops, the study team participated in reflective sensemaking in which they deliberated on their experiences and notes from facilitating the workshops to assess the extent to which the participants demonstrated transformative thinking about rural water systems. The workshop approach showed promise in shifting how local government participants think about rural water services beyond technical fixes towards addressing deep-seated issues. However, further work is required to foster new relationships necessary to support transformation and grapple with ethical dilemmas pertaining to power dynamics at community and government levels. Nevertheless, the approach presented here is a replicable, low-cost way to prepare local government stakeholders in Nepal for transforming their thinking and systems to ways that enable sustainable rural water service delivery under threats of climate change.

Game-theoretical study of military–civilian collaborative innovation in the context of four-party participation

PurposeIn the context of constructing an integrated national strategic system, collaborative innovation among enterprises is the current social focus. Therefore, in order to find the interest relationship between multiple game subjects, to explore the influencing factors of collaborative innovation of civil-military integration enterprises. This paper constructs a collaborative innovation mechanism for military–civilian integration involving four game subjects (military enterprises, private enterprises, local governments, and science and technology intermediaries). It aims to solve and reveal the evolutionary game relationship among the four parties.Design/methodology/approachTo explore the mechanism of military–civilian collaborative innovation involving four players, this study employs game theory and constructs an evolutionary game model for collaborative innovation with the participation of military enterprises, civilian enterprises, local governments, and technology intermediaries. The model reveals the evolutionary game patterns among these four entities, analyzes the impact of various parameters on the evolutionary process of the game system, and numerical simulation is used to show these changes more specifically.FindingsThe research findings demonstrate that active government subsidies promote cooperation throughout the system. Moreover, increasing the input-output ratio of research and development (R&D), the rate of technological spillovers, and the R&D investment of civilian enterprises all facilitate the tendency toward cooperation within the system. However, when the government chooses to actively provide subsidies, increasing R&D investment in military enterprises may hinder the tendency toward cooperation. Furthermore, central transfer payments, government punishment from the central government, and an increase in the information conversion rate of technology intermediaries may suppress the rate of cooperation within the system.Originality/valueMost of the previous studies on the collaborative innovation of military–civilian integration have been tripartite game models between military enterprises, private enterprises, and local governments. In contrast, this study adds science and technology intermediaries on this basis, reveals the evolution mechanism of collaborative innovation of civil-military integration enterprises from the perspective of four-party participation, and analyzes the factors influencing the cooperation of the whole system. The conclusion of this study not only enriches the collaborative innovation evolution mechanism of military–civilian integration enterprises from the perspective of multiple agents but also provides practical guidance for the innovation-driven development of military–civilian integration enterprises.

Unveiling Inequalities: Gender-Based Discriminatory Practices and Women’s Political Engagement in Northern Ghana

ABSTRACT Previous research on representative bureaucracy has focused on the integration of women and minority groups in public administration with less attention being paid to the challenges faced by differently situated women within specific contexts in getting effectively integrated into public administration. This study addresses this gap by exploring women’s participation in local governance in the Northern Region of Ghana, focusing on context-specific disenabling factors and how to undo these. Drawing on the theory of governmentality, we argued that these gendered constraints and norms constitute grave stumbling blocks to women’s effective participation in local governance.

Utilizing ICT to Strengthen Women’s Participation in Local Governance in Tripura

The paper examines women’s engagement in Tripura’s local governance, addressing barriers and advocating for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as an empowerment tool. It explores challenges faced by women, emphasizing ICT strategies, policy adaptations, and community involvement for inclusive governance. It highlighted the importance of digital literacy, infrastructure improvement, cybersecurity awareness, and sustained collaboration among stakeholders. The study envisions a more participatory society by leveraging ICT initiatives to women’s needs in Tripura’s governance. Through customized policies and community engagement, this paper aims to foster a more inclusive and empowered environment where women actively contribute to decision-making, propelling socio-economic development in the region.

Strategies for Landslide Disaster Mitigation in Baktiraja’s Tourism Zones, Humbang Hasundutan Regency, Indonesia

Mitigation disaster is very important to develop region in many areas. This study addresses landslide mitigation for tourism development in the Baktiraja District, Humbang Hasundutan Regency. Four parameters, including slope inclination, rainfall, soil type, and land use, reveal four levels of landslide vulnerability: low, moderate, high, and very high. The method in this study used spatial analysis using ArcGIS (Geographic Information Systems) 10.8 identifies Tipang Village, Simangulampe Village, and Marbun Tonga Marbun Dolok Village as areas with the highest vulnerability, covering 77.60% of the Baktiraja District. MSP+DM analysis categorizes the tourism potential in these villages as "Embryonic." To elevate this status to "Growing" and "Self-sustaining," emphasis on improving marketability indicators through enhanced packaging, diverse promotional models, and an extensive marketing network is needed. Sustainable development efforts by the local government and active community participation in preserving local wisdom, natural attractions, and cultural heritage are crucial. Recommendations include regular updates on disaster vulnerability data, establishment of evacuation routes and shelters, early warning systems, and community training. Regulations on open land use for physical development need attention, and the government should allocate budget for tourism infrastructure. Ensuring synergy among the government, local community, and tourism stakeholders is key to sustainable tourism development in this area.

The Importance of Clean Energy and Technology in the Development of Smart Cities

In today's global context, reducing CO2 emissions and mitigating environmental impacts has become an important issue, leading to the inclusion of smart cities among the top priorities of every country. This article aims to provide solutions for creating appropriate policies and overcoming obstacles in this field, with a focus on the importance of clean energy in the development of smart cities. Specifically, by focusing on three important sectors, namely Energy, Transportation, and Buildings, the aim is to help create efficient roadmaps for developing smart cities. To achieve this goal, successful policies and strategies implemented in successful cities will be examined to overcome the barriers in these sectors and achieve smart city status. The article emphasizes the importance of local government and stakeholder collaboration. This collaboration plays a critical role in creating appropriate policies for increasing the use of clean energy in different sectors, as the ideas of politicians and energy experts cannot be implemented without the support and participation of local governments. Therefore, the cooperation and support of local governments and stakeholders are of great importance for the development of smart cities. In short, the article emphasizes the importance of clean energy in the development of smart cities, provides recommendations for identifying appropriate policies and overcoming barriers, and highlights the critical role of local government and stakeholder collaboration. Therefore, this collaboration can be considered as a successful step towards the development of smart cities.

Empowering Tribal Women: A comprehensive exploration of their roles and participation in local government

Empowering Tribal Women: A comprehensive exploration of their roles and participation in local government

Review of the Existing Organic Waste Management Situation in Kerala

In India, the rapid economic development has resulted in a change in the lifestyle of urban dwellers, which has changed the composition of the waste generated. Due to the high volume of waste generated, the collection, transportation, and disposal stream requires a highly efficient system. It requires knowledge of what the wastes are comprised of, how they need to be collected and disposed of, and the participation of citizens, local governments, and private entrepreneurs. With the vision to transform Kerala into a garbagefree state and achieve full-scale environmental health, Kerala has notified the principle of 3Rs in the State Policy on Solid Waste Management. As per Suchitwa Mission annual report 2019-2020, in the year 2019-2020 Kerala has generated 10,044 TPD of Municipal Solid Waste. With a population growth rate of approximately 10.24%, Kerala could generate 16,565 TPD of waste in 2036. This increase in waste generation could put substantial pressure on the existing waste management system of Kerala. Thus, there is a greater need to investigate alternative waste management options and expand the capacity of the waste management system in Kerala. Landfills have also been widely unsuccessful in the state of Kerala. According to the Suchitwa mission' s latest data, Kerala has 51 notified dumpsites of which only 31 are in operation and 14 dumpsites have a volume≤ 800 m3. Additionally few dumpsites are very close to human settlements and located close to each other. In the current article a detailed review of the waste generation, composition, organic waste treatment and disposal methods are made, and gaps in the present waste management practice are outlined. The identified gaps are examined to fulfill the defined requirements in the solid waste management law of the respective state and the comprehensive rules laid down by the Government of India (Gol) in its Solid Waste Management Rules 2016.

Why and how Flanders wants to roll out goal-oriented, integrated care based on life goals.  A reflection between policymakers and policy organizations.

Flanders believes that integrated care can only be achieved by linking medical care, with welfare and social care, creating local government participation and including the voice of the patient and his or her caregiver in local and central policy processes. 
 In order to evolve from fragmented primary care to integrated care, a participatory procedure was mapped out in Flanders: since 2020 existing structures were changed and several tools have been developed to transform the way of care into goal oriented care. 
 The Flemish meso level was thoroughly rearranged: during the covid years population-based approach was rolled out by local care councils. The care council aims to install integrated, goal-oriented care within the local network of medical care providers, social and welfare providers and local authorities, in cooperation with the patient and his or her caregiver. Together with all these partners, the care council takes care of a population of at least 75,000 people.Finally primary care, and by extension the entire care scene, will evolve towards better goal-oriented, integrated care. This evolution is supported by the implementation of the digital care and support plan which is flanked by a the reform traject of palliative care in Flanders,
 The main goal of in Flanders care organization is putting the patient in the driving seat of the care-process which will be based on life goals
 For policymakers and organizations, this presentation aims to look back at the complex change process, outline future challenges and share lessons learned.
 We show how strategically chosen change management creates connection between welfare, social and medical care. How, the interaction between patient and caregivers and local authorities try to achieve integrated care in the local communities
 We show our complex challenge of introducing quality thinking and building organizational resilience for future crises within the young care council.
 We discuss the complexity of linking local priorities with global policy objectives and vice versa.

Skeptic, enthusiast, guarantor or believer? Public managers' perception of participatory budgeting

AbstractParticipatory budgeting (PB) aims to enhance citizens' participation in local government. While there is a significant body of literature on PB, few studies investigate the role of internal actors in its management. This study aims to understand public managers' perceptions of the whole PB process. Using the Q‐methodology on a sample of Italian local governments experienced in PB, we analyze the perspectives of public managers, revealing four approaches to PB, which we classify as skeptics, enthusiasts; guarantors; and believers. We find that managers have different approaches to how PB works and its potential effects, based on their role in managing the process. We also find that their attitude may influence citizens' participation in and perception of PB. Further research should consider the nexus between managers' perceptions and citizens' involvement in PB.

Revitalizing Pennsylvania's infrastructure: local public-private partnerships as the key to bridging the gap with a case study for local public-private transportation partnerships

Pennsylvania's aging transportation infrastructure has long been a cause for concern, with bridges, highways, and other vital components approaching the end of their serviceable lifespans. The state's infrastructure, one of the nation's oldest, is in dire need of repair and replacement, particularly in the case of bridges, many of which are over 50 years old and in poor condition. However, the financial investment required for this task is substantial, posing challenges within the state's budget constraints. To address this infrastructure crisis, an amendment to Pennsylvania's existing legislation, Act 88, is proposed. This amendment would permit local governments to engage in Public-Private Transportation Partnerships (P3s), leveraging private sector financial resources and expertise. Such local government Transportation P3s have the potential to alleviate the state's infrastructure and financial woes. Currently, Act 88 prohibits municipal governments from participating in these partnerships, hindering the Commonwealth's ability to secure private funding and expertise when public resources are limited. This study aims to address the structural deficiencies in Pennsylvania's transportation infrastructure and its $2.2 billion financial deficit, which hampers repair and improvement efforts. The study employs a descriptive, multi-case analysis to investigate how an amendment to Act 88 could enable local municipalities to engage in P3 transportation projects. These partnerships could provide solutions to budgetary and funding challenges, particularly in the context of locally owned bridge repair and replacement projects. The selected cases are evaluated against various performance criteria, such as value, pricing, budgeting, public accountability, regulatory control, and capacity, offering a comprehensive assessment of the potential benefits of local government participation in P3 transportation projects.

Water Governance in Puducherry

This article retraces the emergence of contemporary water governance in Pondicherry/Puducherry as a case study to illustrate how new forms or shades of participatory management strategies have recently been created to address the water crisis in a South Indian locality close to the sea. The article first examines evidence of earlier self-governing institutions, engaging premodern agrarian communities in managing sustainable water resource development. It then contrasts this with how manufactured risks produced in the Anthropocene through modernisation and urbanisation processes created serious local water crises that demanded urgent action and prudent management strategies. The analysis articulates how the resulting new shades of management in the form of private-public partnerships of collective action constitute effective new forms of participatory local water governance.