Policy Development Research Articles

BRICS and Climate Change Law: An Opportunity to Save the Planet

Climate change is a global problem requiring the cooperation of different states to cope with it. This global challenge has been a major concern for the international community mainly through several United Nations Treaties and other international bodies. Despite having a huge appeal to all countries of the world, the implementation of climate change interventions has yet to produce the desired results. The BRICS Plus initiative presents an opportunity for further cooperation with like-minded countries that are at the forefront of driving the global economy. BRICS Plus also presents an opportunity for cooperation to tackle climate change. This paper analyses how countries' cooperation under the BRICS contributes to developing the international climate change regime. BRICS is a bloc of top emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - which has been enlarging since January 2024 by adding new member states such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This paper evaluates relevant provisions of the Johannesburg II Declaration of 2023 and the climate pledges of original and new BRICS members expressed in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Based on this evaluation, the article concludes with a common vision of the development of climate change policy by the bloc and how differences and similarities of approaches of the BRICS members contribute to the cooperation for addressing the climate change challenge.

Strengthening Link between National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), Sector Policies and National Development Plans: Implications for Climate Change Governance.

Climate change alignment across national climate change adaptation planning frameworks, sector policies and national development plans is a crucial component of climate change governance and supports synergy that contributes greater effectiveness and efficiency in addressing the impacts of climate change. However, studies that assess climate change coherence between national climate change adaptation planning frameworks and policy frameworks have been inadequate. This study intended to understand the extent of climate change coherence across national climate change adaptation planning frameworks, sector policies and national development plans in Tanzania. A mixed research design employing sequential methods was adopted. Both primary and secondary data was used. Primary data were collected through interviews with key policy experts from government ministries and climate change focal point authorities. Secondary data was collected through a content review of sector policies, national development plans and climate change adaptation planning documents. Purposive sampling was used to select key informants and policy documents. Qualitative content analysis was used to assess text data using a scoring matrix to generate descriptive information. The descriptive information was further standardised using percentages for each sector as well as the percentage score for the overall plans. The findings revealed a weak alignment between national development plans and national climate change response strategies that were attributed to weak alignment between sector policies. However, the study found a moderate extent of climate change consideration in national development plans. Consequently, the study recommended strategies to strengthen the alignment between national climate change response strategies, sector policies and national development plans.

Application of the Z-Information-Based Scenarios for Energy Transition Policy Development

Application of the Z-Information-Based Scenarios for Energy Transition Policy Development

Upskilling China: Implications for Middle‐Income Economies

ABSTRACTAcquiring human capital and climbing the ladder of manufacturing sophistication are development policy goals shared by most middle‐income countries. What happens when China, a large economy with active industrial policy, begins to expand into sectoral niches formerly occupied by its middle‐income trade partners? We build a multi‐country, multi‐sector general equilibrium model of global trade and perform counterfactual experiments aimed at assessing the effects of China's human capital investments and industrial policies on trade, production and factor returns elsewhere in the developing world. The model features skilled and unskilled labour as primary inputs, as well as domestic and international trade in intermediate goods. Simulation results suggest that China's growth strategy may cause middle‐income economies to lose global export shares in their more skill‐intensive sectors and to be pushed toward blue‐collar and resource‐based exports. The effects are especially pronounced in Southeast Asia since that region is most closely linked to China's economy. Skill premia will fall, reducing incentives to invest in human capital. In the absence of policy responses, these trends might dim long‐run development prospects.

GIS-Based Analysis of Agricultural Land Use Changes in Socio-Economically Less Developed Rural Settlements: The Case of Saray, Şarköy, and Hayrabolu Districts (Tekirdağ/Türkiye)

Agricultural land cover has changed over time, and monitoring these changes has become an effective tool in development processes by linking them to ecological and socio-economic issues. In this context, the main hypothesis of the study is that “determining land use changes spatially and temporally using CORINE Land Cover data is crucial in development-oriented planning processes.” The study analyzes changes in agricultural land use based on CORINE land cover classes between 1990 and 2018 in the districts of Saray, Şarköy, and Hayrabolu in Tekirdağ Province, which have low levels of socio-economic development. The research aims to answer the following questions: during which periods did significant changes occur in agricultural areas in Saray, Şarköy, and Hayrabolu? What are the total rates of increase or decrease in these areas? Into what types of land have agricultural are+as significantly transformed? The methodology was developed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based maps, graphs, and tables. The findings reveal the spatial and temporal dimensions of changes in agricultural land use and land cover between 1990 and 2018. The data obtained are anticipated to provide a concrete foundation for developing rural development policies and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources.

Quality assurance in cardiology with routine data : Requirement and reality

Routine data are very helpful as an instrument for health services research. In German hospitals the input data of the statutory quality assurance (in cardiology: left heart catheterization, cardiac implantable electronic devices and transcatheter aortic valve implantation, TAVI), the data according to §21 of the Hospital Remuneration Act and mandatory quality assurance reports of hospitals are available. In addition, the health insurance companies also have social data at their disposal. The very restrictive interpretation of data safety in Germany as well as apartition of the data according to the private or statutory health insurance status, outpatient and inpatient forms of treatment and two different remuneration sources exacerbate in the current reality an effective central use of routine data, as is possible in other countries, e.g., Sweden. Routine data are apowerful tool for quality assurance in terms of critical self-reflection and as abasis for peer review by colleagues; however, public reporting of routine data (publication of the results of individual hospitals) is questionable due to methodological limitations, such as data quality and risk adjustment, as it puts hospitals in the pillory without any chance to critically reflect on the validity of the data. Consequently, risk-avoiding behavior in medical services could compromise patient care. The current development of healthcare policies with a structural reform of the hospital landscape and the recommendations of the government committee will increase the demands on the quality assessment based on routine data. Simplified data acquisition, methodological improvements as well as new aspects, such as the quality of indications, assessment of nursing services and patient orientation will be added. In future, a quality-oriented remuneration based on routine data is intended to help control the healthcare system.

Genome editing research initiatives and regulatory landscape of genome edited crops in India.

Food and nutritional security are the top priorities in Indian agriculture. Exponential population growth coupled with climate change effects has become a serious challenge for sustainable agriculture. Genome editing has revolutionized the agricultural sector because of its ability to create precise, stable and predictable modifications in the genome and therefore, offers great opportunities for crop improvement in India. However, for harvesting the real benefits of this technology in agriculture sector, there is a strong need of creating awareness among the end users and development of suitable policies for regularization of genome edited products. Many regulatory agencies around the world have been modernizing their regulatory approaches to be more risk proportionate and to reflect a more science-based approach. In this article, recent research initiatives and developments undertaken by different Indian institutes/organizations for the genetic improvement of agricultural and horticultural crops via genome editing technologies are summarized. Furthermore, to benefit from this potential technology in our country, regulatory policies must be clear, science-based and proportionate. Therefore, in the present review, the regulatory policies related to the genome editing of crop products in India are discussed in detail. This review will sensitize researchers and stakeholders to the application of genome editing techniques in crop improvement and various biosafety committees involved in the development and regulation of genome edited crops.

Internet usage elevates elderly obesity: evidence from a difference-in-differences analysis of the broadband China policy

BackgroundThe global aging population is rapidly increasing, which has led to a growing prevalence of obesity among the elderly. Body mass index (BMI) is a crucial measure of obesity and is linked to an increased risk of various chronic diseases. At the same time, the widespread use of the internet and digital technologies has significantly influenced the health behaviors and outcomes of the elderly.ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the causal relationship between internet usage and BMI among the elderly, addressing a gap in existing research and providing evidence for the development of health policies targeted at the elderly population.MethodsUtilizing China’s “Broadband China” strategy as a quasi-natural experiment, we employed a difference-in-differences (DID) approach to analyze panel data from the CHARLS covering the years 2011–2015. By comparing the treatment and control groups before and after the policy’s implementation, we identify causal effects.ResultsOur findings indicate that the “Broadband China” strategy significantly increased BMI among the elderly. The mechanisms underlying this effect include reduced sleep duration, decreased physical activity levels, and worsened mental health. Furthermore, the impact of internet usage on obesity is particularly pronounced among urban residents, those without chronic diseases, and individuals with fewer surviving children.ConclusionsPolicy recommendations include promoting healthy internet usage practices, enhancing community-based activity facilities, and providing comprehensive mental health support to mitigate obesity rates and improve health outcomes among the elderly.

Current hydroclimatic spaces will be breached in half of the world’s humid high-elevation tropical ecosystems

Humid high-elevation tropical ecosystems (HETEs), known as páramos, jalca, or moorlands, are essential for biodiversity conservation and water supply. Yet, a key question remains of how future climate change will affect their hydroclimatic spaces: the multidimensional hydroclimatic conditions in which they currently thrive. We use CMIP6-downscaled climate data to assess the potential breaching of these hydroclimatic spaces concerning the long-term means, extremes, and seasonality of temperature and precipitation. Our results show that HETEs in Northern South America will experience the largest increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation, leading to the breaching of their current hydroclimatic space by up to 100%. In the Afrotropics and Australasia, HETEs will experience a breaching of their hydroclimatic spaces related to long-term means and extremes. Our findings provide relevant information on the vulnerability of HETEs to climate change, offering insights to inform the integration of adaptation measures into policy development and management strategies for conserving these key ecosystems and their services.

Risk-Sensitive Autonomous Exploration of Unknown Environments: A Deep Reinforcement Learning Perspective

This study provides a thorough investigation into autonomous exploration within unknown environments, with a focus on minimizing exploration time and so fuel consumption. This research utilizes a 2D simulation environment to collect training data efficiently, facilitating the evaluation of the proposed methods’ efficiency, adaptability, and generalizability through various experiments. Single-robot autonomous exploration policies using advanced Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) algorithms are developed. The main novelty of this paper is the development of risk-sensitive policies, in contrast to traditional risk-neutral approaches in DRL, to enhance exploration efficiency. Additionally, this research presents the development of an adaptive autonomous exploration policy that dynamically adjusts the Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) based on the exploration percentage. The results demonstrate a significant improvement in autonomous exploration efficiency compared to well-known traditional RL and classical single-robot exploration policies, validating the effectiveness of the suggested novel autonomous exploration strategies.

Exploring the Role of Social Media on International Students’ Adaptation in the Process of Transcultural Communication Within the Context of the Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract In recent years, with the advancement of the Belt and Road initiative (BRI) there has been an increasing number of students from participating countries coming to China for study and exchange. This trend provides a practical pathway for global cooperation in transcultural communication research. Social media has emerged as a crucial platform for the collaborative development of the BRI and as a primary channel for understanding China in the context of transcultural communication. Thus, investigating how social media facilitates transcultural communication within the BRI framework is a key area of current research. International students often face challenges in adapting to new environments during their transcultural communication process. Understanding how these students in China manage adaptation stress, comprehend the BRI policies for mutual development, and improve their adjustment to Chinese society are urgent questions in transcultural communication research. Social media offers a multifaceted platform for communication that can help alleviate these adaptation challenges. However, existing research predominantly emphasises the potential of social media in aiding the adaptability of international students, lacking a comprehensive explanation of how it alleviates stress and promotes gradual adaptation. Therefore, this study aims to critically analyse relevant empirical research, theoretical frameworks, and conceptual models to address this gap. The research findings offer general conclusions regarding the adaptation of international students using social media in the process of transcultural communication, further providing a theoretical basis for the adaptation of students from BRI countries to China. Through the research findings, it is observed that international students may predominantly use social media to escape the adaptation stress of a new environment rather than genuinely alleviate stress and better adapt to the local society. Additionally, students from different countries exhibit varying attitudes towards using social media to cope with stress, warranting further investigation. This research contributes to understanding the genuine adaptation of students from BRI countries in the process of transcultural communication in China, promoting mutual cultural cooperation and shared development.

Establishing Criteria for Zakat Collectors in the Management of Zakat Fitrah Funds

This study examines the operational criteria for selecting and evaluating amil zakat in managing zakat fitrah funds in Salatiga City, Indonesia. It aims to identify challenges and propose reforms to enhance accountability and equitable distribution of zakat, supporting poverty alleviation. This research uses a qualitative field research design, data were collected via semi-structured interviews, observations, and document review in several mosques and UPZ units in Salatiga City. Content analysis identified key themes and examined selection criteria and administrative challenges with rigorous precision. The findings reveal that informal appointment practices and lack of standardized competency assessments undermine effective zakat management. Inconsistent distribution practices, seasonal collections, and reliance on ad hoc committees’ compromise transparency, reducing the socio-economic impact of zakat fitrah funds across community levels. The study’s results offer actionable recommendations for policymakers and zakat institutions. They are useful for enhancing governance in Islamic social finance, guiding reforms in zakat management, and improving equitable resource allocation in community development, religious studies, and socio-economic policy globally. The novelty, uniquely integrates traditional Islamic jurisprudence with modern administrative practices to develop a replicable framework for amil zakat selection. It advances current knowledge by addressing a critical gap in operational mechanisms, offering innovative insights into enhancing zakat management efficacy.

Bridging the Gap Between Actual and Desired Quality of Life: A Study of Older Adults in Institutional Care Settings in India

ABSTRACT With an aging population, ensuring older adults’ well-being is crucial. This study examined actual and desired Quality of Life (QoL) among institutionalized older Indians in care homes and recreational centers. Using a mixed-method approach, it analyzed key QoL dimensions, forming a QoL index. Surveys (293 participants) and qualitative data revealed significant gaps between actual and desired QoL, highlighting diverse needs across institutional contexts. Findings underscore the need for continuous QoL advancements in policies and programs. Targeted interventions can enhance QoL, offering valuable insights for social work practice and policy development to better support older adults’ evolving needs.

The Pursuit of Social Justice Through Sport for Development Organizations in the United States

While Sport for Development (SfD) scholars have deconstructed the interplay between global development discourse, policy, funding, practice, and local agency, SfD organizations in the Global North have yet to be deconstructed with the same intensity, rigor, and scope. In this paper, the complex, dynamic interplay among development discourse, policy, funding, practice, and local agency will be deconstructed as it relates to SfD provision in the United States. There will be a particular focus on SfD leadership structures that can unlock more sustainable, egalitarian development discourse and practices which promote and advance social justice.

Stakeholders’ Perspectives on the Effectiveness of the Mid-Day Meal Program in Nepal

The mid-day meal (MDM) program is vital in improving nutritional status and academic outcomes, particularly among basic school students from economically needy backgrounds. The MDM program provides nutritious meals to enhance school attendance, concentration on learning, class activities, and overall academic performance. This study synthesizes data from 2015 to 2024 regarding stakeholders' perspectives on the effectiveness of the MDM program, analyzing 18 academic research papers, policy documents, and reports accessed through Google Scholar, Research Gate, and Nepali institutional repositories. These sources were assessed on relevance keywords, publication, and methodological thoroughness, including a thematic analysis to identify key themes and gaps in the related literature. It revealed an enhancement in student educational participation, improving nutritional status and community engagement, fostering ownership, promoting social equity, health awareness and education, and increasing school attendance due to the Nepal MDM program. Yet some ongoing challenges such as food quality and nutritional standards, hygiene concerns, infrastructure challenges, stakeholder engagement, funding limitations, policy and implementation gaps, stakeholder collaboration, local food integration and strong monitoring to optimize program effectiveness and sustainability appear to be lacking. Despite their substantial benefits in enhancing student nutrition and educational outcomes, MDM programs face challenges such as the quality of food being served, hygiene, funding, and infrastructure deficiencies in Nepal. Strategic stakeholder collaboration, improved school facilities, and sustainable practices are essential for maximizing the program's long-term impact of these initiatives. This study contributes to a broader understanding based on stakeholders’ perspectives, linking pathways for future research, policy development, and effective program implementation of the MDM program in Nepal.

Exploring Urban Slum Education Through Photovoice With Children: Concepts and Techniques for Research

Despite the expanding population of children in urban slums, the strive to ensure equitable education remains an under-appreciated and under-developed area. Yet, more research on urban slum education is necessary as urban slums are not merely physical spaces, but they portray multifaceted sociocultural issues in education. Conducting photovoice with children in slums is conducive to building a comprehensive and contextualized understanding of urban slum education based on children’s perspectives. What concepts of urban slum education can researchers explore and how can photovoice help researchers understand them? In what ways can researchers adopt photovoice to explore the educational experiences of slum children by centering children’s perspectives? This paper discusses five concepts of urban slum education, followed by each photovoice technique to explore them effectively. Further, this study provides technical issues for researchers to ensure that their research empowers children and is culturally relevant. The resulting comprehensive understanding of urban slum education will contribute to the development of slum-specific curricula and education policies and programs that are aligned with children’s best interests.

Navigating the path to Industry 4.0: a study on key barriers in Indian textile supply chain

PurposeThis study investigates the barriers impeding the adoption of Industry 4.0 in the Indian textile sector.Design/methodology/approachIt identifies and prioritizes 15 significant barriers based on thorough research and expert opinions. The Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method is used to assess the influence and interdependencies of these barriers. A sensitivity analysis further validates the robustness of the findings.FindingsThe research uncovers significant barriers to I4.0 adoption, emphasizing their cause-and-effect dynamics. Key barriers include high implementation costs, inadequate government support, lack of managerial commitment, difficulties with technology integration, concerns about security and privacy and employee resistance due to job insecurity. These challenges are ranked to help decision-makers develop effective strategies for overcoming them.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focuses solely on the Indian textile sector, indicating the need for further research in other countries to enhance the general applicability of the findings.Practical implicationsThe insights provided can assist policymakers and industry leaders in understanding the key barriers hindering I4.0 adoption. This knowledge supports the development of sector-specific policies and strategies that promote I4.0 practices and facilitate smooth integration within the supply chain.Originality/valueThis research is among the first to employ the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method framework to analyse the interrelations among barriers affecting I4.0 adoption in the Indian textile sector, offering valuable empirical insights.

The validation of the Needs Examination, Evaluation, and Dissemination assessment framework within the European Union: a modified Delphi study.

The NEED (Needs Examination, Evaluation, and Dissemination) assessment framework was designed to identify and measure unmet health-related needs of patients and society across various health conditions, aiding the development of needs-driven healthcare policy and innovation. The framework consists of 25 needs criteria and 46 associated indicators that assess whether these needs are met or not. This study aims to validate the framework at the European Union (EU) level using a modified Delphi approach. We selected national and European institutes for the Delphi process based on their roles in public health, health technology assessment (HTA), medicine authorization, pricing and reimbursement (P&R), and patient advocacy. Using a modified Delphi approach, experts provided feedback on the framework's structure (dimensions and domains), health-related needs criteria, and indicators. Two Delphi rounds were conducted via online questionnaires. A panel of 26 experts participated in both rounds of the study. The majority of the participants reported expertise in HTA (50%) and P&R (15%), followed by patient advocacy (15%) and public health (8%). Seventeen EU Member States were represented, with a higher representation of experts from Belgium (12%) and Germany (12%). The NEED framework based on expert consensus consists of 4 dimensions, 3 domains, 24 criteria, and 43 indicators. The modified Delphi technique proved effective for validating the NEED framework at the EU level. This marks a critical first step toward consensus on defining and identifying unmet health-related needs, paving the way for a more needs-driven healthcare policy and innovation landscape.

Gender Perspective on Impact of Disasters: A Study of Sarawal Rural Municipality, Nawalparasi West, Nepal

Background: Nepal is highly susceptible to various types of natural disasters, with approximately 90% of its population at risk of experiencing multiple hazards. The country ranks 30th in terms of flood risk, with hilly regions prone to landslides and lowland plains frequently affected by floods. Each year, disasters such as floods, landslides, fires, heat waves, cold waves, and epidemics cause significant loss of lives and livelihood assets. Given the critical role of gender in disaster vulnerability, it is essential to analyze gender-specific perspectives on disaster risk and resilience. Objective: The study aims to explore gender roles and their associated vulnerabilities in disaster events. By examining the perceptions of males and females regarding different disaster-related variables, the research seeks to provide insights into gender-based differences in disaster preparedness, response, and resilience-building efforts. Methods: A quantitative study was conducted in Sarawal Rural Municipality of Nawalparasi West, Nepal. A total of 428 respondents were selected through random sampling, comprising 311 males and 117 females. The study employed six major disaster variables as defined by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) to analyze gender perspectives critically. Statistical methods were used to assess the association between gender and disaster perception. Findings: The study revealed a significant association between gender and disaster perceptions. Males and females demonstrated differing views on disaster risks, preparedness, and coping mechanisms. Understanding these gender-specific differences can help determine levels of vulnerability, identify associated risks, and enhance the coping capacities of different groups. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the need to incorporate gender perspectives into disaster-related research and resilience-building initiatives. Addressing gender-based vulnerabilities can lead to more effective disaster preparedness and response strategies, ultimately improving community resilience. Novelty: This study provides empirical evidence on the gendered dimensions of disaster perception in Nepal, highlighting the importance of integrating gender considerations into disaster risk management. By focusing on a rural municipality, the research offers localized insights that can inform policy and program development for gender-inclusive disaster resilience planning.

The Influence of Work-Life Balance and Physical Work Environment on the Performance of State Civil Apparatus Teachers (ASN) of NSF Cimahi Junior High School

Based on the results of the teacher performance evaluation in 2022 and 2023, there has been a decline in teacher performance, suboptimal physical work environment conditions, and extra workloads that often extend beyond working hours. This study aims to analyze the influence of work-life balance and physical work environment on the performance of Civil Servant Teachers (ASN) at SMP NSF Cimahi. The research uses a quantitative approach with a census method, employing a questionnaire as a data collection tool. The research population includes 36 ASN teachers for the independent variable and 1 principal for the dependent variable. The results of the descriptive analysis show that the work-life balance of ASN teachers falls within the balanced criteria, with the sub-variable of balance being the highest value. The physical work environment falls into the good category, with the sub-variable of workplace safety being the highest value. The overall performance of teachers falls within the good criteria, with the highest sub-variable being social competence. The results of multiple linear regression show that work-life balance and physical work environment simultaneously influence the performance of ASN teachers at SMP NSF Cimahi with a high or strong level of impact. This research proves that a good work-life balance and a conducive physical work environment significantly contribute to the improvement of teacher performance at SMP NSF Cimahi. This research provides important contributions in supporting the development of policies to improve work-life balance and physical work environments to enhance teacher performance, which ultimately contributes to the quality of education.