Policy Development Initiatives Research Articles

City Profile: Patna, India

This profile of Patna focuses on the historical evolution of the city when the city has seen both extreme prosperity as well as destitution. After its glorious past during the Magadh Empire, Patna re-emerged as an important city during the British rule due to its locational advantage but witnessed another decline post-independence period. Being the capital city of the federal state of Bihar, Patna has experienced significant growth in population during the past four decades due to rural–urban migration and physical expansion of the city. However, there has not been a commensurate expansion in the infrastructure and services to accommodate this influx of people to the city. After the inclusion of Patna in the Smart City Mission, it is witnessing initiation of a plethora of infrastructure projects, which is expected to improve the urban service delivery in the near future. This city profile discusses the various dimensions of the city’s development and major policy initiatives undertaken during the recent period.

Antagonistic and ambivalent: The emotional politics of diversity management policy in a professional services firm

In this paper I explore the complex emotions arising from the enactment of an institutional diversity policy and consider the political implications. Neoliberal policies and practices of diversity management have frequently been critiqued for their overly optimistic, depoliticized portrayals of diversity which conceal ongoing injustices. Drawing on research in the Melbourne branch of a multinational professional services firm, however, I highlight how both antagonism and ambivalence are evoked in the implementation of the firm's diversity policy. While managerial discourses normalise different emotional responses to gender and cultural diversity, unanticipated emotions also arise as workers negotiate their multiple identities. These emotions variously activate and placate resistance towards existing inequities and injustices. I therefore argue that both ‘bottom up’ emotions and those managed through ‘top down’ policy have the potential to motivate social change as well as hinder it. The paper extends existing debates in the emotional geographies of policy by challenging the common dichotomy made between the political possibilities of bottom up activism and top down management. By recognising the nuanced affective politics of different diversities learnings can be gleaned from the more successful aspects of diversity to develop policy initiatives able to achieve justice and equality for all disadvantaged groups.

The Crossroads of Health Policy and Academic Medicine: An Early Introduction to Health Policy Skills to Facilitate Change.

Despite significant health care reform in the past 10 years, health disparities persist in marginalized and low-resource communities. Although there are a lot of reasons for health disparities, many of which are not related to health care, changes in health policy can lead to improved health equity. Redefining health policy as an important aspect of medical education could popularize the teaching and application of health policy competencies within academic health centers. The Kern model was applied to develop a workshop to educate medical students on basic health policy concepts and opportunities for them to apply a health policy framework to facilitate organizational change. Specifically, the workshop helped trainees to define common concepts in health policy, to understand a framework for developing policy initiatives, and to identify areas of overlap between health policy and academic medicine. Instructional methods included a PowerPoint presentation, vignette-based small-group discussion, and career reflection. The workshop was implemented at three national conferences with a total of 144 participants. Comparing pre- and postworkshop survey responses, participants felt health policy work was compatible with an academic medicine career. Over 95% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that each objective had been met. By viewing health policy through the lens of academia, trainees were able to develop a new appreciation for how health policy activities can contribute to peer-reviewed publications, teaching, and leadership opportunities. Participants were better situated to integrate health policy skills in their academic or nonacademic careers.

13th Joint Conference on Chemistry (13th JCC)

PrefaceOn behalf of the Consortium of Chemistry Department in Central Java, Indonesia and the JCC Committee, I would like to thank you for your participation in the 13th Joint Conference on Chemistry which to be held from 7-8th September 2018 in Semarang, Indonesia. The Joint Conference on Chemistry is an annual conference organized by the consortium of Chemistry Department of five universities in Central Java: Diponegoro University (UNDIP), State University of Semarang (UNNES), Sebelas Maret University (UNS), Jenderal Soedirman University (UNSOED) and Satya Wacana Christian University (UKSW). The JCC has been held since 2006.This conference provides an interactive international forum to provide for sharing and exchange information on the latest research on Chemistry and related sciences, to enhance the capacities for creating innovation system, to contribute in the formulation of global strategies in advancing science role as well as developing policy initiatives in community, to stimulate future collaborations among industries, researchers, governments and other stakeholders who apply science and technology for better live. The speakers and participants of the 13th JCC are up to 250 coming from various countries extending from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippine, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Nigeria, UK and India.We received nearly 200 papers submitted to be included in the proceedings of this conference and after the review and revision process we finally got 158 papers to be published

Systematic barriers to technology development in Nigeria: a literature review

This paper conducts an intensive literature review on systematic barriers to technology development in Nigeria. The review suggests institutional challenges and instability that limits technology development and knowledge diffusion in Nigeria. In addition, the review reveals increasingly prominent role performed by intermediaries by providing technologies to firms within Nigeria. The findings of this article shows that systematic barriers to technology development in Nigeria includes: weak policy initiatives for technology development, poor technology outputs by firms, inadequate financial support, weak collaboration between universities, research institutes and firms. Factors such as state of infrastructure, absorptive capacities, cost of technology development activities and ineffective policies hinder technology development in Nigeria. This paper therefore suggests policy measures to facilitate interaction among actors and institutions to minimise infrastructural, financial and bureaucratic burdens and enhance absorptive capacity. The contribution of this paper can enable researchers re-conceptualise peculiarities of actor involved in technology development in Nigeria.

Systematic barriers to technology development in Nigeria: a literature review

This paper conducts an intensive literature review on systematic barriers to technology development in Nigeria. The review suggests institutional challenges and instability that limits technology development and knowledge diffusion in Nigeria. In addition, the review reveals increasingly prominent role performed by intermediaries by providing technologies to firms within Nigeria. The findings of this article shows that systematic barriers to technology development in Nigeria includes: weak policy initiatives for technology development, poor technology outputs by firms, inadequate financial support, weak collaboration between universities, research institutes and firms. Factors such as state of infrastructure, absorptive capacities, cost of technology development activities and ineffective policies hinder technology development in Nigeria. This paper therefore suggests policy measures to facilitate interaction among actors and institutions to minimise infrastructural, financial and bureaucratic burdens and enhance absorptive capacity. The contribution of this paper can enable researchers re-conceptualise peculiarities of actor involved in technology development in Nigeria.

Urban consolidation, power relations, and dilapidated residential redevelopment in Mutoulong, Shenzhen, China

Recent policy initiatives for urban development have changed the relationships among stakeholders in China’s urban consolidation processes. Building upon Giddens’ (Giddens A (1984) The Constitution of Society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.) structuration theory and Ostrom’s (Ostrom E (2005) Understanding Institutional Diversity. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press) institutional analysis and development thesis, this paper develops a power arena analytic framework, and uses it to examine the new power relations among the stakeholders in a dilapidated residential redevelopment project in Shenzhen. Our findings reveal that Shenzhen’s new approach incentivised the developer to frame a local decision-making structure which aligned the property owners into two broad groups: those who supported the developer, or cooperative, and those who disputed with the developer, or un-cooperative. Shenzhen’s new attempt was unable to balance power distribution between the main stakeholders and caused intense conflicts and poor project outcomes. A range of factors, including passive participation of residents in project preparation, weak mechanisms to curb speculation, and policy inconsistency associated with tiers of governments, were responsible for the poor performance. These findings contribute to the understanding of the complexity in power relations underlying urban development influenced by planning policy.

Women’s Right to Land Entitlement an Effort of the Gender Mainstreaming for Gender Equality (The Case of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan)

This study deals with the women’s right to land ownership. Economic Transformation Initiative, Gilgit-Baltistan (ETI-GB), an ambitious program supported by International Fund for Agricultural Development United Nation (IFAD, UN), aims to reduced poverty and increase income through agricultural development. Strengthen land reforms through land development is one of the core component in the program. This is a pioneer project undergoing in the region. It has been anticipated that this project is a significant development when it comes to land reforms and land policies in GB. The ETI-GB provides substantive support to Government of GB in developing policy measures and initiatives to promote women’s right to have and to own land is quite encouraging development going on in the region coined Gilgit Baltistan, the northern areas of Pakistan. One of the primary goals of his pioneer project is to bring attention to this land ownership issue and women's participation in acquiring the land. The study is specifically focusing on gender perspective regarding land ownership and drafting policies. The study has used mixed method for data collection. For qualitative data, content analysis is used to have a thorough understanding of different types of land reforms across the globe, particularly in South Asia. Theoretical understanding of the literature is essential which provides the basis why land reforms are the and how far it plays an important role when it comes to eliminating inequality. Focused group discussion was carried out for verification and triangulation of data. For quantitative data, a survey was conducted to collect responses from six thousand eight hundred and fifty-two people of the region regarding the issues of land ownership and subsequently analyzed. The program is in its initial phase of implementation. Currently, the program is implemented in 10 villages of 4 districts. Combining all research site responses, of the total six thousand eight hundred and fifty- two identified beneficiaries, the majority of six thousand six hundred and thirty-six are men households, and only two hundred and sixteen are women households. There is a considerable difference in households. In spite of the considerable difference, it is a great achievement of the donor that in the history of GB, first-time women will have the right to own land. In developing countries, such as Pakistan, the awareness of land property rights has not been given proper attention to gender equality development frameworks. In this paper, it is argued that land property rights of women have not been taken into mainstream policymaking in the development of nation- building process. Consequently, this has generated deprivation of women's property rights, low- income level, lack of education and poor health. This paper emphasizes that proper policy at the state level is necessary to maintain the property right of women in GB-Pakistan, which can be the initial step towards the support of gender equity in the region.

Does Pro-Green Policy and Growth Strategy of an Organization will Bail Out Post-Crisis?

The study comprehensively analysis going green policy as a tangible approach to achieving sustainable development in any enterprise. Although business is conducted for profit motive sustaining the profit and enterprise competitive advantage is mainly related to an enterprise vision and values that incorporate in their management policies, hence the study analyzes the complex structure that related to sustainability and policy through causal loop diagram (CLD) of system dynamics and put forth capability advancement for sustainable development policy initiatives. Finally, the growth strategy and future scope of the study is discussed.

Men at Risk: Men's Health, Illness and the (Un)Healthy Construction of Gender Identity

While men in South Africa are succumbing to the societal pressures and notions of manhood and masculinity, they are faced with health-related risks that have contributed to an increase in the mortality rate of young men. The need to be perceived and accepted as masculine further compromises men’s voluntary use of the available healthcare and social services. This is the rationale for seeking to understand men’s health needs and their realities and how these factors inform healthcare and social service provision and policy development initiatives that should be directed at men. Generating new ideologies around masculinities and men’s health creates possibilities where men can actively contribute to the production or the reframing of masculinity, and towards the healthy construction of gender identity and gender equality.

THE INFLUENCE OF IDEALIZED INFLUENCE AND INDIVIDUALIZED CONSIDERATION ON ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT IN COMMERCIAL BANKS IN KENYA

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of idealized influence and individualized consideration on organizational commitment in commercial banks in Kenya.Methodology: The study adopted the positivist research philosophy and descriptive correlational design. A sample of 150 was drawn from a population of 240 senior managers of the 40 commercial banks of Kenya using stratified random sampling technique. The tool used to collect data was questionnaire. Out of 150 questionnaires that were administered, 139 responses were received from the senior managers, giving a 93% response rate. Data was analyzed using inferential statistics such as Pearson correlations, Chi Square, ANOVA and multiple linear regression.Results: The results of the regression (R2=.695, F (1,139) =34.184, p<.05, (β = .448, t(139)= 5.847, p < .05), indicated that idealized influence significantly predicted organizational commitment and therefore the null hypothesis was rejected. In addition, Results of the regression (R2=.738, F (1,139) =5.377, p<.05, (β = .295, t(139) = 2.319, p < .05) indicated that individualized consideration significantly predicted organizational commitment. Based on the results the null hypothesis was rejected. Organizational culture showed a significant influence on the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational commitment as showed by the coefficients (β = .229, t = 2.211, p < .05). The moderating variable organizational culture was also strongly correlated to organizational commitment, r(138) = .718, p< .05.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study provides a unique contribution to the theory and practice of transformational leadership by extending its application in a new context in terms how idealized influence and individualized consideration affect organizational commitment in commercial banks in Kenya. The study also provides unique contribution in terms of recommendations for policy development initiatives aimed at improving employee commitment and performance in the banking industry in Kenya.

THE INFLUENCE OF INSPIRATIONAL MOTIVATION AND INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION ON ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT IN COMMERCIAL BANKS IN KENYA

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of inspirational motivation and intellectual stimulation on organizational commitment in commercial banks in Kenya.Methodology: The study adopted the positivist research philosophy and descriptive correlational design. A sample of 150 was drawn from a population of 240 senior managers of the 40 commercial banks of Kenya using stratified random sampling technique. The tool used to collect data was questionnaire. Out of 150 questionnaires that were administered, 139 responses were received from the senior managers, giving a 93% response rate. Data was analyzed using inferential statistics such as Pearson correlations, Chi Square, ANOVA and multiple linear regression.Results: The multiple regression results (R2=.722, F (1,139) =34.184, p<.05, (β = .249, t(139) = 3.758, p < .05) indicated that inspirational motivation significantly predicted organizational commitment. Based on the results the null hypothesis was rejected. Further, the multiple regression results (R2=.734, F (1,139) =34.184, p<.05, (β = .366, t (139) = 4.585, p < .05) indicated that Intellectual Stimulation significantly predicted organizational commitment. Based on the results the null hypothesis was rejected. Organizational culture showed a significant influence on the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational commitment as showed by the coefficients (β = .229, t = 2.211, p < .05). The moderating variable organizational culture was also strongly correlated to organizational commitment, r(138) = .718, p< .05.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study provides a unique contribution to the theory and practice of transformational leadership by extending its application in a new context in terms how inspirational motivation and intellectual stimulation affect organizational commitment in commercial banks in Kenya. The study also provides unique contribution in terms of recommendations for policy development initiatives aimed at improving employee commitment and performance in the banking industry in Kenya.

Corporate social responsibility and social entrepreneurship: drivers of sports sponsorship policy

ABSTRACTSport policy has increasingly become influenced by corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives aimed at incorporating social, economic and environmental concerns. More recently, sport has incorporated social policies that are entrepreneurial in nature, which has lead to an increase in sports event sponsorship coming from both a social entrepreneurship and CSR perspective. The aim of this study is to analyse the reasons why organisations sponsor sport events at a community level and to identify the drivers that support this decision-making. For this study, 35 public and private sector organisations were involved, from several economic sectors. A questionnaire was applied to the Chief Executive Officers, vice presidents, directors and managers (N = 80) and analysed through an exploratory factor analysis and correlation analysis. The results show for drivers that were most relevant to sports sponsorship policy: customer loyalty and motivation of employees, reputation and social networks, innovation and opportunity, and CSR. The findings are helpful to organisations developing policy initiatives about how to use sports sponsorship to increase their social entrepreneurship and CSR initiatives.

Neighbourhood Ethnic Density Effects on Behavioural and Cognitive Problems Among Young Racial/Ethnic Minority Children in the US and England: A Cross-National Comparison

Studies on adult racial/ethnic minority populations show that the increased concentration of racial/ethnic minorities in a neighbourhood—a so-called ethnic density effect—is associated with improved health of racial/ethnic minority residents when adjusting for area deprivation. However, this literature has focused mainly on adult populations, individual racial/ethnic groups, and single countries, with no studies focusing on children of different racial/ethnic groups or comparing across nations. This study aims to compare neighbourhood ethnic density effects on young children’s cognitive and behavioural outcomes in the US and in England. We used data from two nationally representative birth cohort studies, the US Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort and the UK Millennium Cohort Study, to estimate the association between own ethnic density and behavioural and cognitive development at 5 years of age. Findings show substantial heterogeneity in ethnic density effects on child outcomes within and between the two countries, suggesting that ethnic density effects may reflect the wider social and economic context. We argue that researchers should take area deprivation into account when estimating ethnic density effects and when developing policy initiatives targeted at strengthening and improving the health and development of racial and ethnic minority children.

Transnational Markets for Sustainable Development Governance: The Case of REDD+

Summary Transnational sustainable development—that is, sustainable development policy initiatives involving actors in multiple countries—often involves donor sponsorship of sustainable development projects, similar to matching markets like venture capital, employment searches, or college admissions. These transaction systems, also known as matching markets, can be seen in a variety of phenomena in transnational development governance, including private aid, public–private sustainable development projects, and transnational polycentric governance initiatives. In this paper, we utilize the matching market framework to develop a new approach to addressing an important question in development studies: how do donors (understood as donor agencies, funds and foundations, and firms) choose which projects to support? Beginning with the observation that matching markets in sustainable development governance are heavily constrained by transaction costs in the absence of formal institutions that lower costs of searching, monitoring, and communicating with potential partners, we hypothesize that both donors and project participants are motivated to utilize strategies to lower transaction costs of making connections, which results in selection of projects based on the presence of transnational brokers or familiar partners or as part of a strategy of spatial specialization. Conceptualizing the choices made in this matching market as an affiliation network connecting donors to sponsored projects, we utilize exponential random graph models of 91 funders’ support of 195 Reducing Emissions from Deforestation (REDD+) and sustainable forest management pilot projects undertaken between 1989 and June 2012 to test the effects of transaction costs on donors’ choices of projects to sponsor. We find that brokerage, prior collaboration with the donor in question, and spatial specialization all contribute to the ability of project proponents to attract funder support, often outperforming relevant project characteristics such as carbon density and accessibility. These findings suggest tensions between local scale project implementation and the transnational search for resource support observed qualitatively in the development studies literature can have significant effects on the overall structure of transnational collaboration on sustainable development.

Nurses' Involvement in HIV Policy Formulation in Nigerian Health Care System

Background of study: Nigerian national policy on HIV stresses the need for the adoption of multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach in policy formulation, with the health sector taking the lead. This calls for collaboration among the various stakeholders including nurses in policy development initiatives to ensure that diverse health care needs and disciplinary perspectives are captured in HIV health policies. Purpose: This paper will present the findings of a recent study which examined nurse’s involvement in policy development in the context of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV in Nigeria. Methodology: A qualitative case study design under the guiding tenets of critical social and power theories. The research is a single case study of one state with embedded units. Thirty nurse-leaders from the various embedded units were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling technique. Semi-structured in-depth interviews and document reviews were used for data collection. Focus group discussions were used as a form of member-checking and also to generate data. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: This paper focuses on the major themes that emerged from the study as well as highlight specific interplay of power dynamics in the health care system which hinders nurse’s involvement in policy formulation. Conclusion: The paper concludes with some of the lessons learnt in the study and proffer suggestions for effective integration of nurses into policy arena. It suggests the need for a broad-based educational curriculum which will incorporate strategies to build nurses capacity for leadership and policy development in nursing training schools.

Political economy of agritourism initiatives in Thailand

The paper examines agritourism, rural development and related policy initiatives in two case study areas: Rayong and Samut Songkhram provinces in Thailand. The fieldwork combines varied sources, including in-depth interviews. Agritourism development in the case study areas was affected by restructuring in their local economies, involving growing economic difficulties for the agricultural sector, new investment in residential development and tourism, and growth in alternative income sources for the rural population. The government's agritourism initiatives were affected by a changing national political and policy context. These interventions assisted the agricultural sector to survive the economic restructuring, providing supplementary income and local markets for their farm produce and crafts. The interactions between agritourism operators could be important for business survival, but some groups were set up largely to secure government funds and did not provide each other with substantial support. Agritourism could bring economic benefits for wider rural communities, but it could also encourage community conflicts.

Is the introduction of violence and injury observatories associated with a reduction of violence in adult populations? Rationale and protocol for a systematic review

IntroductionThe violence and injury observatories developed in Colombia and found throughout the Americas and Western Europe aim to maximise inter-institutional cooperation, information-sharing, analysis and security policy development initiatives to enhance...

The Sendai framework: disaster risk reduction through a health lens

After negotiations at the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in March 2015, a new framework was adopted by 187 Member States.1 The Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction 2015–2030 highlights concerns on human health and well-being that are common to disaster risk reduction, climate change and sustainable development.2 A substantial emphasis on health is a welcome development, given the relative lack of attention to health issues in its predecessor, the Hyogo framework for action 2005–2015.3 The Hyogo framework did succeed in galvanizing many stakeholders including governments, scientists, the commercial sector and nongovernmental organizations to make progress on disaster risk reduction.1,4 However, more progress is needed in addressing underlying vulnerability from poverty, inequity or poor urban planning and land use.5 Disaster impacts are strongly influenced by physical, social, economic and environmental factors.6 Reducing disaster risk, therefore, requires concerted action across a wide range of sectors, institutions and disciplines. The Sendai framework is relevant within and beyond the health sector. There are more than 30 explicit references to health, referring to the implementation of an all-hazards approach to managing disaster risk, including links to epidemics and pandemics, several references to the International health regulations (2005)7 and to rehabilitation as part of disaster recovery. Via the framework, Member States have called for enhanced scientific and technical work on disaster risk reduction and its mobilization through the coordination of existing networks and scientific research institutions at all levels and all regions, with the support of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Group, in order to strengthen the evidence base in support of the implementation of this framework; promote scientific research of disaster risk patterns, causes and effects; disseminate risk information with the best use of geospatial information technology; provide guidance on methodologies and standards for risk assessments, disaster risk modelling and the use of data; identify research and technology gaps and set recommendations for research priority areas in disaster risk reduction; promote and support the availability and application of science and technology to decision-making; contribute to the update of the terminology on disaster risk reduction; use post-disaster reviews as opportunities to enhance learning and public policy and disseminate studies.1,4 Over the next 15 years, the framework aims to achieve the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries. Voluntary commitments with a specific public health focus that have been agreed include: enhancing the resilience of national health systems through training and capacity development; strengthening the design and implementation of inclusive policies and social safety-net mechanisms, including access to basic health care services towards the eradication of poverty; finding durable solutions in the post-disaster phase to empower and assist people disproportionately affected by disasters, including those with life threatening and chronic disease; enhancing cooperation between health authorities and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen country capacity for disaster risk management for health; the implementation of the International health regulations (2005)7 and the building of resilient health systems; improving the resilience of new and existing critical infrastructure, including hospitals, to ensure that they remain safe, effective and operational during and after disasters, to provide live-saving and essential services; establishing a mechanism of case registry and a database of mortality caused by disaster to improve the prevention of morbidity and mortality and enhancing recovery schemes to provide psychosocial support and mental health services for all people in need. The framework requires coordinated action across local, national, regional and international levels. Synergies across disaster risk reduction, the sustainable development goals and climate change policy need to be better recognized. This could considerably enhance management of disaster risks through capacity development and joint policy initiatives between the health sector and other sectors.8

Self-employment and job generation in metropolitan areas, 1969–2009

Many regional development policy initiatives assume that entrepreneurial activities promote economic growth. Empirical research has presented rationale for this argument showing that small firms create proportionally more new jobs than large firms. However, little research has been performed on the issue of net job generation at the urban level, particularly when self-employment is considered as an indicator of entrepreneurial activities. This paper investigates to what extent US metropolitan areas in the 1969–2009 period characterized by relatively high rates of self-employment also have shown relatively high rates of subsequent total employment growth. The analysis corrects for the influence of sectoral composition, wage level, educational attainment, presence of research universities and size of the metropolitan area to measure the extent to which the number and quality of self-employed in a region contribute to total employment growth. It finds the relationship between self-employment rates and subsequent total employment growth to be positive on average during the 40-year period but to weaken over time.