Government Positions Research Articles

Exploring Factors Influencing Family's Enrollment in Community-Based Health Insurance in the City of Gondar Peri-Urban Community, Northwest Ethiopia: A Health Belief Model Approach.

A research gap exists in finding practical solutions to provide affordable and accessible health insurance coverage to improve CBHI enrollment and sustainability to people in resource-poor settings and contribute to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) in Ethiopia. This research was initiated to analyze the role of community trust in scheme management and health choice to identify significant factors based on the health belief model (HBM). This psychological framework explains and predicts health behavior by considering individual perceptions. Cross-sectional information was gathered from 358 families, and original facts were utilized. Descriptive data and the Binary logistics in the econometric model were applied for data analysis. The descriptive findings demonstrated that other variables were established to possess a significant consequence except for job and occupation variables. The results of the logistic regression model showed that the distance of the nearest health station from the family's home in a minute [AOR (95% CI) =0.177 (0.015, -0.399)], being a member of the families having an official position in local government or cultural structure [AOR (95% CI) =0.574 (0.355, 0.793)], having an experience of visiting health facilities [AOR (95% CI) =0.281 (0.166, 0.396)], and perceiving the local CBHI scheme management as trustworthy [AOR (95% CI) =0.404 (0.233, 0.575)] were positively associated with family enrollment in the CBHI scheme. On the other hand, being a member of the "rotating saving and credit association" (ROSCA) [AOR (95% CI) =-.299 (-.478, -0.120)] was negatively associated with the family's enrollment in the CBHI scheme. Trust in CBHI scheme management, family's experience of visiting health facilities, and distance from the nearest health station were essential factors influencing enrollment in CBHI schemes. "Rotating saving and credit association" (ROSCA) ° negatively and statistically significantly impacted the family's CBHI enrolment status. Income level was not associated with enrollment.

Examining the complexities of binding international law on international organisations

PurposeThis paper aims to discuss the positioning of international organisations (IOs) in the realm of international law. It proposes a more robust approach, arguing IOs have legal obligations akin to states to the extent which could be fulfilled by them. This paper suggests making IOs parties to international treaties like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and Geneva Convention 1949 to codify their international responsibilities. In addition, it proposes amending multilateral treaties to grant IOs membership and create binding legal obligations for them, thereby enhancing the overall legal framework for IOs.Design/methodology/approachThe paper opted for qualitative analytical approach of research by referring to international treaties and scholarly papers.FindingsThe authors have evaluated the bindingness of international law on IOs. The authors argue that jus cogens and customary international law are equally binding on IOs. However, treaties could only be binding on IOs to the extent of their consent. The authors have assessed prior violations of IOs. The authors argue that, to prevent such violations by IOs, creating obligations is the first step. Second, amendments are required in the existing international treaties that reflect the foundations of international humanitarian and international human rights law like the Geneva Convention 1949, ICCPR, and ICESCR, to permit IOs to join these treaties, resulting in binding international legal obligations.Research limitations/implicationsThe most prominent assertion of this paper is that IOs as subjects of international law are bound by the principles of international law, including treaty law with consent, customary international laws, general principles of law and peremptory norms. To fulfil these obligations, a regime needs to be introduced wherein amendment is made in treaties to make IOs parties to them and structuring the law on responsibility for IOs. Considering the multifaceted nature of IO, the role it performs in contemporary times requires them to be bound by rules of international law just like states. There is a need to settle their position in global governance and give them more teeth to understand and fulfil their duties to ensure smooth functioning in the long run.Originality/valueThe paper fulfils an identified gap in the positioning of IOs under the international law.

The enigma of fraud as a unique crime and its resonance for auditing research and practice: unlearned lessons of psychological pathways to fraud

Purpose This study aims to observe people’s decisions to commit fraud. This study is important in the current time because it provides insights into the development of fraudulent intentions within individuals. Design/methodology/approach The information used in this study is derived from semi-structured interviews, conducted with 16 high-ranking officials who are employed in Indonesian local government positions. Findings The study does not have strong evidence to support prior studies assuming that situational factors or social enablers have direct effects on fraud intentions. As suggested, individual factors which are related to moral reasoning (moral judgment and rationalisation) emerge as a consequence of social enablers. The significant role of that moral reasoning is to rationalise any fraud attempt as permissible conduct. As such, when an individual is capable of legitimising his/her fraud attempt into appropriate self-judgement, s/he is more likely to engage in fraudulent behaviours. Practical implications This study offers practical prescriptions in guiding the management to develop strategies to curb fraudulent behaviours. The study suggests that moral cognitive reasoning is found to be a parameter of whether fraud is an acceptable option or not. So, an understanding of observers’ moral reasoning is helpful in predicting the likelihood of fraud within an organisation or in detecting it. Originality/value This study provides a different perspective on the psychological pathway to fraud. It becomes a complement work for the fraud triangle to explain fraudulent behaviours. Specifically, it provides crucial insights into the underlying motivations that lead individuals to accept invitations to engage in fraudulent activities.

EMERGENCY CONSTITUTIONAL LAW BASED ON LAW NUMBER 23 PRP OF 1959 ON THE STATE OF DANGER

Emergency Constitutional Law is Constitutional Law that applies in a state of emergency or Constitutional Law that applies when the State is in a state of emergency. Emergency Constitutional Law is part of ordinary Constitutional Law but contains special norms. Specific norms in the Emergency Constitutional Law are limited in their application only in abnormal circumstance normative juridical method. The nature of this research is descriptive, namely research intended to provide a clearer picture and apply the existing reality in clear and systematic detail regarding the main research problem. Implementation of Emergency Constitutional Law Based on Law Number 23 Prp of 1959 concerning Dangerous Conditions, namely that regional governments have not yet been maximally involved, the existence and position of regional governments is very important and is an important pillar that supports the continuity of the implementation of the power of the government of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, apparently in The emergency authority it has not yet parallel to its very important existence and position. Regional governments do not yet have maximum and meaningful authority to activ, take decisions or take the initiative to make important and basic policies to overcome emergencies at the regional level.

East Germans in the political elites of reunited Germany: the problem of underrepresentation

The underrepresentation of East Germans (“ossis”) in German elites is studied. After more than 30 years since the reunification of Germany, the share of former GDR citizens in high government positions in the political system of the state at large is far smaller than their percentage in the population. Historical preconditions for the predominance of West Germans in leadership positions are explored, the share of East Germans in different elite groups is analyzed, and the factors that could facilitate East Germans’ entry to elite positions are suggested. Based on a large amount of data, it is concluded that East Germans are unevenly represented even among political elites. But the territorial principle and the democratic form of recruitment (elections) could facilitate East Germans’ entry into an elite. The research based on statistical data published by German scholars as well as data on the German political elite collected by the author and her colleagues is introduced in Russian and foreign academic literature for the first time. The database consists of information about 736 members of the Bundestag, 17 members of the federal government, 173 members of the federal state governments, and 59 state secretaries for the period up to November 16, 2023.

During the chaos of war: US adoptions and risks for unaccompanied Ukrainian refugee children

The adoption of Ukrainian children, by US citizens, is examined as the Ukrainian government ceases adoptions of children during the chaos of war. Intercountry adoption dynamics are presented with data from 2021, prior to the conflict in 2022. Then, the situation regarding child rights and the official Ukrainian government position are considered. Implications for guardianship and foster care of unaccompanied refugee minors are presented along with other critical risks to Ukrainian children living in another country. Implications for social work practice are concluded and child rights advocacy is encouraged as a macro intervention.

Fighting terrorism: How to position rapid response teams?

AbstractIn light of recent terrorist attacks, we introduce and study a Stackelberg game between a government and a terrorist. In this game, the government positions a number of heavily‐armed rapid response teams on a line segment (e.g., a long boulevard or shopping avenue) and then the terrorist attacks a location with the highest potential impact of an attack. This potential impact, which we call damage, is the product of the time it takes the closest rapid response team to react and the damage caused per time unit, which is modeled via a damage rate function. We prove that there exists a subgame perfect Nash equilibrium that balances the possible damage on all intervals of the line segment that result from positioning the rapid response teams. We discuss the implications for various types of damage rate functions including one mimicking a busy boulevard with various hotspot locations.

“You never played the game so what do you know?”: An exploration of the lived experiences of British South Asians in management and governance positions in English football

ABSTRACT Rationale This paper aims to critically explore the lived experiences of British South Asian people working in managerial and governance positions in English football; critique cultures of Whiteness in football; consider ways to resist/challenge racism in football; and offer data-informed recommendations to help increase British South Asian representation in leadership positions across football. Methodology This research draws on the testimonies of 21 British South Asian leaders working in English football (5 women and 16 men). Findings Participants used racialised performances to “fit in”; commonly encountered racist “banter”, microaggressions and microinsults; and routinely experienced examples of implicit and explicit “othering”. Practical Implications Stakeholders and policy makers must commit to the (1) development of inclusive and diverse recruitment strategies; (2) supporting minoritised ethnic staff members through programmes such as mentoring schemes; (3) implementation of mandatory race equity education for the workforce. Research Contribution While British South Asian experiences as players, and to some extent coaches, have been captured, the experiences of British South Asians in managerial and governance positions have been overlooked. This article treads new ground by highlighting experiences in off-field roles, thus adding to the wider body of work. Originality This work has used new and original data to cultivate a series of measures designed to boost the recruitment, retention and progression of British South Asian people working in English football.

Understanding Community Capacity for Bottom-up Management of Mount Hakusan UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

The aim of the study was to understand the potential of Shiramine villagers for bottom-up administration of Mount Hakusan UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (MHBR). We investigated the various aspects of community capability using data from numerous sources, including interviews, surveys, and published reports. 23 people participated in a survey. Results has showed that the issues such as depopulation (35%), accessibility problems (especially for the elderly), difficulties with tourism, and the effects of school and municipal mergers were the biggest concern for the locals. However, the biggest values of Shiramine was rated as interpersonal interactions (56%), followed by the environment and traditional culture. Most of the residents expressed the high level of happiness by living inside the community (87%), which was related to the strong community bonds and natural surroundings.
 The survey showed the presence of a variety of jobs, such as farmers, students, freelancers, housewives, and people working in administrative and governmental positions. These results showed a wide range of community involvement and the possibility of utilizing this diversity to boost the bottom-up management strategy. For the effective and sustainable management of BR, developing inclusivity and active participation, by using variety of talents and knowledge will play crucial role.
 Keywords: Community development, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Bottom-Up approach, Regional management, Sustainability

Recognizing Excellence in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Epidemiology: The National MCH Epidemiology Awards.

Professionals in the field of maternal and child health (MCH) epidemiology are publicly recognized by the Coalition for Excellence in MCH Epidemiology representing 16 national MCH agencies and organizations. During the CityMatCH Leadership and MCH Epidemiology Conference, the national awards are presented to public health professionals for improving the health of women, children, and families. The awards have evolved over the last two decades with focus on awardees that represent more types of MCH public health professionals. Since 2000, the Coalition has presented 111 national awards in the areas of advancing knowledge, effective practice, outstanding leadership, excellence in teaching and mentoring, early career professional achievement, and lifetime achievement. Effective practice awards were most often presented at 45 awards, followed by early career professional achievement with 20. The awardees varied by place of employment with 37 employed at academic institutions, 33 in federal government positions, 32 in state or county government, seven in non-profit and two in clinical organizations. Awards were almost equally distributed by gender with 49 presented to women and 48 to men. Assessment of career advancement among previous awardees and acknowledging workforce challenges are gaps identified within the national awards process. Recognition of deserving MCH professionals sets the standard for those entering the field of MCH epidemiology and offers opportunity to recognize those who have built capacity and improved the health of women, children, and families.

Who Gets Hired? Political Patronage and Bureaucratic Favoritism

Most research on biased public sector hiring highlights local politicians’ incentives to distribute government positions to partisan supporters. Other studies instead point to the role of bureaucratic managers in allocating government jobs to close contacts. We jointly consider the relative importance of each source of biased hiring as an allocation problem between managers and politicians who have different preferences regarding public sector hiring and different abilities to realize those preferences. We develop a theoretical model of each actor’s relative leverage and relative preferences for different types of public sector positions. We empirically examine our theory using the universe of payroll data in Kenyan local governments from 2004 to 2013. We find evidence of both patronage and bureaucratic favoritism, but with different types of bias concentrated in different types of government jobs, as our theory predicts. Our results highlight the inadequacy of examining political patronage alone without incorporating the preferences and leverage of the bureaucratic managers who are intricately involved in hiring processes.

Constructing the data economy: tracing expectations of value creation in policy documents

ABSTRACT Public sector data is increasingly seen as a key resource for value creation in the private sector across a wide range of countries. Situated within studies on technology policies, this paper investigates how the idea of data as a resource has become embedded in public policy through a case study on the Norwegian context. Which policy problem exist for which technological developments seem to provide the best solutions? As documents are an important site of governance, we trace the imaginary of value creation through public data by studying the main datafication policy documents in Norway. By making visible the self-referencing practiced in policy reports, we illustrate how datafication policies are based on fictional calculation-based anticipations. We show how the Norwegian government positions itself as a facilitator, rather than regulator of data markets. Our analysis captures the technological determinism driving public policy. In addition, we show how supranational actors and consultancy agencies play an important role in constructing the Nordic data imaginary. We argue that the act of producing policy papers is in itself an important action keeping the imaginary alive.

Power and Public Administration: Applying a Transformative Approach to Freedom of/Access to Information Research

Freedom of Information (FOI) or Access to Information (ATI) legislation regulates the right to make written requests for government records. Previous research either interrogates the effectiveness of FOI/ATI legislation for advancing government transparency or positions the requests as a means for gathering data on government institutions. This article intervenes in this debate by treating FOI/ATI mechanisms as the vantage point from which to examine questions about power in public administration. Adopting a transformative approach, this article explores the potential of using FOI/ATI requests as a liberatory tool that enables the analysis of power dynamics in public administration. For this purpose, the author draws upon her experience with Canada’s ATI regime and requests from the Immigration and Refugee Board. This article documents how ATI requests reveal policy tensions within the Board related to case and performance management, as well as patterns of front-line staff resistance to these measures. It goes on to examine complaints about delays made to the ATI watchdog which expose the attribution of ATI resources towards non-ATI responsibilities. This article highlights the contribution that FOI/ATI requests can make to public administration research.

Dynamics between Actors and Interest Groups in an Environmental Politics Perspective: Case Study of Food Estate Development in Kalimantan

This research is aimed at understanding the dynamics between actors in the national food barn project during the Joko Widodo administration in Central Kalimantan for the 2020-2023 period. Through qualitative research, the research focus was carried out by analyzing several indicators using actor and interest group theory from a political ecology perspective. This research reveals that the food estate policy carried out by the government in Central Kalimantan was carried out without clear regulations and was carried out haphazardly, the actors and interest groups involved, namely the government, the private sector, civil society alliances. Based on field findings, there is a relationship between the private sector and political elites who occupy positions in government. . This research reveals the pattern of relations between government and the private sector in implementing food estate policy and also the main issues at play. Meanwhile, civil society alliance groups act as opposing groups that play an important role as critics of this policy. There are two issues on the main agenda which are strong reasons for this group to have a different attitude to the government

Fulani Nationalism and the Use of Herdsmen to Forcibly Acquire Land Belonging to Natives in Nigeria

Fulani people can be found in many African states, especially in West Africa. The Fulani who are mainly nomads and Muslims, migrated to Nigeria in the 13th Century and conquered the Hausa ethnic group in the 18th Century. Thereafter, they established their rule over the Hausa and other ethnic groups in Northern Nigeria through the Sokoto Caliphate. The study analyses how the sedentary Fulani use the nomads, herding cattle across the country to acquire land from the natives through intimidation and violence forcibly. The sedentary Fulani who are often well educated and sophisticated use their positions in government to protect and defend the herdsmen. Many authors have attributed climate change as the main reason causing the conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria. The study does not support this assertion. Rather it finds that the attempts by native farmers to resist land grabbing by the nomads lead to conflicts. The study adopted a qualitative method to review some earlier literature on the phenomenon and proffer solutions to the avoidable and unnecessary clashes that have led to the deaths of many farmers and other natives across the country.

How California Sea Grant’s State Fellowship Program Fuels Careers in Coastal Conservation and Management

California Sea Grant’s State Fellowship Program, modeled after NOAA Sea Grant’s highly successful John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program, provides hands-on experience in the planning, implementation, and management of marine, coastal, and/or watershed resource policies and programs in the state of California. The program matches graduate students who have recently completed their degrees with hosts in municipal, state, and federal agencies and in research and conservation organizations in California for a 12-month paid fellowship. Over 300 fellows have been matched with over 40 unique hosts since its launch in 1987. Many alumni are now employed in key positions in government at the state and federal level, with 80% of participants in a given year going on to jobs in policy and/or resource management after completing their fellowships. This article provides a brief history of the program and testimonials from past fellows and hosts, and explores the program’s important role in providing agencies with well-trained, environmentally literate staff who can support the needs of coastal communities and ecosystems for the climate challenges ahead.

From barriers to opportunities from COVID-19 pandemic: Stakeholder perspectives on cervical cancer screening programs in LMICs of the Asia-Pacific region.

Cervical cancer is preventable, yet it remains the fourth most common cancer in women globally. The highest incidence and mortality occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where over 70% of women have never been screened, and 58% of the cases are in Asia. While the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions to cervical screening programs, particularly for LMICs, there were opportunities that emerged from the pandemic that were enablers of program recovery. Stakeholders played key roles in materialising strategy into implementation. Therefore, in this study, we examined the barriers and facilitators to implementing recovery strategies from the stakeholders' perspectives. We interviewed fifteen stakeholders from nine LMICs in the Asia-Pacific region directly involved in the implementation of the cervical screening program. A total of 23 barriers and 21 facilitators were identified, of which seven barriers and nine facilitators related directly to the pandemic. Pandemic-related barriers included movement restrictions, resource diversion, cancelled campaigns and training, deprioritisation of HPV prevention efforts, and a reduced health workforce. Stakeholders concurred that most barriers had predated the pandemic and remained as the pandemic eased. Conversely, the pandemic introduced facilitators such as means for targeted campaigns, improved understanding of viruses, accessible training with online platforms, better PCR testing capabilities, a shift in the government's position towards preventive health services, and openness to HPV testing and self-swabs. The emerging facilitators offered opportunities to address some of the persistent barriers, such as limited cervical cancer awareness and insufficient healthcare providers in screening programs. However, effective implementation of these emerging facilitators requires improved communication and collaboration between policymakers and implementers to accelerate the recovery of screening programs in LMICs. Further work is necessary to align emerging facilitators with the health system goals and resource settings of each country in turning these opportunities into actions.

Dimensions of Loan Dependency among Government Employees of the Municipality of Sulop, Davao Del Sur: An Exploratory Factor Analysis

Loan dependency is a symptom of poor financial health that can harm a person’s physical and mental health. This research intends to explore the dimensions of loan dependency among government employees. This study utilized a quantitative, non-experimental research method employing the Exploratory Factor Analysis technique involving 100 government employees from the Municipality of Sulop, Province of Davao del Sur. A researcher-made questionnaire was developed from in-depth interviews with ten government employees with different government positions, including a literature review and related studies have been employed. To validate the questionnaire, researchers used Cronbach’s Alpha. The questionnaire scored .856 on Cronbach’s Alpha Based on Standardized Items, accepting the set questionnaire as reliable. Using the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), 19 item statements passed within the threshold of >0.40. The result shows that- accessibility and affordability, financial needs and responsibilities, specific purchases and investments, and personal goals and aspirations are the dimensions that make government employees dependent on loans.

ГЕНЕРАЛ-ГУБЕРНАТОР К. П. ФОН КАУФМАН О РЕФОРМЕ ТРАДИЦИОННЫХ СУДОВ ТУРКЕСТАНА В КОНТЕКСТЕ ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ СТРУКТУРЫ РЕГИОНА

The article is devoted to the projects of reforms of the traditional court system of the Turkestan Region offered by Governor-General K. P. von Kaufman in the 1870s and to the problems of their realization. The court reforms are analyzed as a direction of the frontier modernization policy of Russia’s Central Asia, whilst the transformations themselves were both a way and an objective of modernization actions. The specific situation in the region as well as an ambiguous position of central and regional authorities towards the Kaufman’s proposals gave rise to the special approach to the reforms which could be characterized as an acculturation. The author considers the problems Kaufman and his subordinates confronted during the reformation process and evaluations of its results by an initiator and his opponents. It is concluded that due to different reasons K. P. von Kaufman was not successful in his court reform, but some his proposals would be taken into account during the further transformations in Turkestan. The basic sources of the research are the documents of Kaufman himself as well as materials of Russian imperial authorities of different level reflected their position towards his reforms.

Relationships between Russia and the Left-Bank Cossak Hetmanate and the conclusion of the Treaty of Bakhchisarai

Peace talks between Russia, the Ottoman Empire and the Crimean khanate in the late 1670s – early 1680s were long and troublesome. The role of the hetman Ivan Samojlovich in the formation of the Russian conditions of the future peace treaty and the political demands made of the Sublime Porte and Crimea during the negotiations still remains unclear. This article explores the level and scale of participation of the hetman Ivan Samojlovich in the preparation of the second Russian diplomatic mission to Crimea, headed by Ivan Sukhotin, in the Autumn of 1679, as well as the contacts between Moscow and the Ukrainian hetman connected with preparations for the third one, headed by stolnik Vasilij Tyapkin and djak Nikita Zotov. Mikhail Golovin, the tsar’s stolnik was sent to Samojlovich to discuss and coordinate the limits of possible territory concessions in favor of the Porte and Crimea in the Right-Bank Ukraine. The result of the consultations was the Russian-Ukrainian agreement on the possible total concession of the Right-Bank Ukraine (excluding Kiev) if peace on other conditions would be impossible. Hence, the decision about territory conditions of the Russian-Crimean treaty, which was concluded in Bakhchysarai in 1681, was a result of common position of the Russian government and the hetman Ivan Samojlovich.