Capacity Building Process Research Articles

Outcomes of NFL Europa on community sport clubs

ABSTRACT Purpose Community sport clubs (CSCs) often find themselves with limited resources and external agents can be resourceful facilitators of capacity building processes. This case study, however, analyzes the organizational capacity and adaptive strategies of CSCs after a disengaged partnership with an external agent. Design This study used a qualitative case study design to investigate the outcomes of this phenomenon. Data collection consisted of field visits with 20 European-American football CSCs across 10 countries and semi-structured interviews with 10 club leaders representing 7 countries. Findings CSCs were diagnosed with weak resources across the five components of organizational capacity. CSCs adapted to capacity deficits after the external agent’s exit by taking on transformative strategies to facilitate self-empowerment. While these strategies steadily eliminated some barriers of organizational capacity, they did not eliminate the structural challenges to advance capacities in CSC organizations. Practical implications A CSC’s lasting ability to obtain organizational capacity via an external agent critically relies on the objectives of the relationship and the intent to transfer capacity building skills. Research contribution This study extends Schulenkorf’s [2010. The roles and responsibilities of a change agent in sport event development projects. Sport Management Review, 13(2), 118–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2009.05.001] model of community empowerment by incorporating Hall et al. [2003. A qualitative study of the challenges facing Canada’s nonprofit and voluntary organizations. Canadian Centre for Philanthropy] five interrelated dimensions of organizational capacity as the critical components through which the empowerment process should occur.

Addressing School Bullying with a Multi-tiered System of Support Approach

ABSTRACT School bullying undermines students’ participation and functioning and is within the scope of practice for school-based occupational therapists to address. The Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) approach has the potential to guide the work occupational therapists do in addressing bullying. However, to date, how occupational therapists are addressing school bullying with an MTSS approach is unknown. We, therefore, conducted an exploratory qualitative interpretive study to gain an understanding of how occupational therapists are addressing school bullying with an MTSS approach. The methods we used included semi-structured one-on-one interviews with eight occupational therapists (seven women, one man) working in public schools in New York City. We used the qualitative data management tool Taguette and thematic analysis for data analysis. Themes illuminate occupational therapists’ minimal involvement and uncertainty with bullying prevention and intervention efforts being implemented through MTSS in their schools. They attributed their minimal involvement to not having sufficient experience and a lack of recognition from school staff on occupational therapy’s mental health expertise and distinct contribution that could be brought to anti-bullying efforts. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the need for occupational therapists to have access to occupation-based anti-bullying interventions, appropriate mentorship, workload support, recognition from school staff, and professional development to be part of an interprofessional team in schools that addresses bullying. For this to occur, a systematic process of capacity building, advocacy, and planning across system levels (i.e., entry-level education programs, individual school sites, state occupational therapy associations, professional association) is needed.

Identification of knowledge assets in construction projects and their impact on project performance

PurposeThe previous researchers have identified human capital, relational capital and structural capital as knowledge assets in knowledge-driven organizations. The current study is an attempt to identify and validate the knowledge assets in construction projects. The study also aims to understand the interrelation of these knowledge assets and their impact on project performance through the development of a conceptual model.Design/methodology/approachThe study is divided into three phases. In phase I, the constructs of “knowledge assets” and “project performance” in construction projects are identified using the exploratory factor analysis. In phase II, these constructs are validated using confirmatory factor analysis. Two separate surveys are conducted for phase I and phase II, respectively. In phase III, the authors develop two conceptual models based on the literature review and two construction project cases in India. The models examine the inter-relationship of knowledge assets and measures their impact on project performance. The models are empirically tested using the responses of the second survey through a structural equation model.FindingsThe study extracts four knowledge asset constructs and one performance construct which are named human capital, structural capital, relational capital, human capital capacity building process and project performance, respectively. The study finds that both the conceptual models are statistically excellent fit. The results of the models suggest that relational capital and structural capital have a direct positive impact on project performance, whereas human capital has an indirect effect on project performance mediated through relational capital, structural capital and human capital capacity building process.Research limitations/implicationsThe items for knowledge asset constructs and measurement of project performance are moderated by experts, working in construction projects in India, hence the process may contain subjective bias. Further, two construction project cases were selected by authors in the study that originate from India.Practical implicationsThe study has implications for the project executors (contractors) as well as for project owners. The contractors must maintain healthy relations with all the stakeholders in a project like a client, suppliers, architects, etc. They must develop systems that are people-friendly to avoid the problems of time and cost overruns in projects. The owners must also maintain healthy relations. This can result in a win-win situation for both parties and can lead to superior project performance.Originality/valueThe study develops and empirically tests two conceptual models that explain the interrelations of knowledge assets and how it benefits the construction project performance in India. Therefore, the generalization of the results is difficult; however, the results can be replicated in projects with similar settings.

Evaluating the implementation of the SWITCH\xae school wellness intervention and capacity-building process through multiple methods

BackgroundSchool wellness programming is important for promoting healthy lifestyles and academic achievement in youth; however, research is needed on methods that can help schools implement and sustain such programs on their own. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors within and outside the school environment that influenced school capacity for implementation and potential sustainability of wellness programming.MethodsAs part of the School Wellness Integration Targeting Child Health (SWITCH®) intervention, elementary school wellness teams (N = 30) were guided through a capacity-building process focused on promoting the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors in students. Data on implementation were collected through three standardized surveys and interviews (pre-mid-post) and a post-implementation interview. Indicators of organizational capacity were assessed using the School Wellness Readiness Assessment (SWRA). Paired t-tests were run to assess changes in implementation (classroom, physical education, and lunchroom settings), capacity, and stakeholder engagement over time. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were run to examine how implementation of best practices (low, moderate, high) explained differences in capacity gains. Qualitative data were analyzed through inductive and deductive analysis, following the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).ResultsPaired t-tests showed non-significant increases in school and setting-specific capacity and implementation of SWITCH best practices over time, in addition to a consistent level of engagement from key stakeholders. ANOVA results revealed non-significant associations between implementation group and gains in school capacity (F [2, 24] = 1.63; p = .21), class capacity (F [2, 24]=0.20 p = .82), lunchroom capacity (F [2, 24]=0.29; p = .78), and physical education (F [2, 24]=1.45; p = .25). Qualitative data demonstrated that factors within the outer setting (i.e., engaging community partners) facilitated programming. Inner-setting factors (i.e., relationships with administration and staff) influenced implementation. Implementation process themes (e.g., planning, adaptation of resources to meet school capacity/needs, and engaging students as leaders) were cited as key facilitators. Schools discussed factors affecting sustainability, such as school culture and knowledge of school wellness policy.ConclusionsThe results from this implementation study document the importance of allowing schools to adapt programming to meet their local needs, and highlight the strengths of measuring multiple implementation outcomes. Increased support is needed for schools regarding the formation and improvement of wellness policies as a means to enhance sustainability over time.

THE RIGHT TO A RAINBOW CITY: THE ITALIAN HOMOSEXUAL SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

Nowadays, the legal status of homosexual people varies widely from one country to another (ILGA 2019). In many contexts, the homosexual social movement has played a central role in fighting heterosexism and homophobia (Weinberg 1983). Especially in the democratic world, the homosexual social movement has been capable of spreading solidarity and inclusion and also of leading changes in regulatory terms, with different results context by context (Adam, Duyvendak, Krouwel 1999).
 The paper aims to point out the Italian situation and the main characteristics of the gay social movement in Italy as key factors of the social change. More specifically, the paper is aimed at recounting the political process and the symbolic and cultural factors that led the Italian homosexual social movement to impose itself on the social scene as a reality with its own specific identity. The paper’s last section analyses the so-called “Italian rainbow cities”, urban contexts where the LGBT community is highly concentrated and in which it is so active as to stimulate, in cooperation with the local urban administrations, capacity-building processes oriented to the construction and consolidation of LGBT people’s rights and social inclusion.

The process of capacity-building for pediatric subspecialty providers to address the needs of adolescents and young adults with chronic illness.

Approximately 12% of adolescents in the USA live with a chronic health condition. Although youth with chronic illness visit healthcare providers more than healthy peers, pediatric subspecialty providers are less likely to address developmentally relevant concerns (e.g., reproductive health) with adolescents and young adults (AYA), particularly youth of color and/or youth in low-income communities. Despite the documented need for increased training, there remains a general lack of knowledge about pediatric subspecialty providers' training needs related to building their capacity to provide developmentally appropriate care to their adolescent and young adult patients. The present study describes an overall process for capacity-building to address the needs of diverse AYA patients with chronic medical conditions, built upon data representing key stakeholders and staff from 14 specialty care departments collected via quantitative surveys and focus groups. We describe the development of trainings for pediatric subspecialty providers from a large, urban, pediatric tertiary care center to address the health and psychosocial-related concerns of AYA living with chronic illness. We highlight valuable lessons from the capacity-building process in terms of increasing the ability of providers in a major pediatric healthcare center to provide developmentally appropriate care for AYA living with chronic illness. Finally, based on the results of our study, we provide recommendations on how to employ such a process in similar pediatric hospital settings.

The role of development programs in enhancing organizational capacity of National Paralympic Committees: a case study of the Road to the Games program

ABSTRACT Rationale/Purpose: This study examines the role of elite sport development programs in the capacity building process of disability sport organizations. Design/Methodology/Approach: An instrumental qualitative case study design was employed with data consisting of documentation and semi–structured interviews with program administrators and senior leadership from seven NPCs. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and yielded four main themes. Findings: Development programs are external and incentivized stimuli which can initiate the capacity building process. Prior assessment of target groups' needs and existing capacities are key to program design and implementation. Practical Implications: Recommendations are provided for program administrators on how they may support the development of NPCs organizational capacities through each stage of the capacity building process. Research contribution: The study contributes to the literature on elite Para sport development and organizational capacity by highlighting the importance of, and challenges in, aligning development programs' objectives with the target organization's needs.

A total facility approach to reducing HIV stigma in health facilities: implementation process and lessons learned.

To describe development and implementation of a three-stage 'total facility' approach to reducing health facility HIV stigma in Ghana and Tanzania, to facilitate replication. HIV stigma in healthcare settings hinders the HIV response and can occur during any interaction between client and staff, between staff, and within institutional processes and structures. Therefore, the design focuses on multiple socioecological levels within a health facility and targets all levels of staff (clinical and nonclinical). The approach is grounded in social cognitive theory principles and interpersonal or intergroup contact theory that works to combat stigma by creating space for interpersonal interactions, fostering empathy, and building efficacy for stigma reduction through awareness, skills, and knowledge building as well as through joint action planning for changes needed in the facility environment. The approach targets actionable drivers of stigma among health facility staff: fear of HIV transmission, awareness of stigma, attitudes, and health facility environment. The results are the three-stage process of formative research, capacity building, and integration into facility structures and processes. Key implementation lessons learned included the importance of formative data to catalyze action and shape intervention activities, using participatory training methodologies, involving facility management throughout, having staff, and clients living with HIV facilitate trainings, involving a substantial proportion of staff, mixing staff cadres and departments in training groups, and integrating stigma-reduction into existing structures and processes. Addressing stigma in health facilities is critical and this approach offers a feasible, well accepted method of doing so.

A health equity focused National Prevention Plan 2020-2025 and related capacity building (CCM, 201)

Abstract In Italy there are significant differences in life expectancy, morbidity and disability between different social groups: the wealthiest and educated people are better off, get sick less and live longer. The poorer Italian Regions show less favourable health indicators. However, Italy aims to reduce health inequalities (HI) among the priorities of its agenda. The 2014-2018 National Prevention Plan (NPP) had already instructed the Regions to include the fight against HI in the guiding principles of the regional prevention plans (RPP). The new NPP 2020-2025 confirms the need to strengthen the fight against HI and the reduction of the main social and geographical inequalities that are observed in our country represents a priority to all the objectives of the NPP, which requires the disclosure of scientific data, validated methods and tools to guarantee equity in the action. In this scenario, there is a project coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità with the contribution of DORS, the Documentation Centre for Health Promotion of Piedmont Region. The main objective of this project is to support the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Regions in order to consolidate the introduction of the equity lenses approach in the new NPP, in particular the project aims at: promoting a health equity-oriented approach in priority and target setting, choice of a strategy, and in the design of the monitoring and evaluation system;investing in a capacity building process for regional officers responsible of the elaboration and implementation of the RPP in each Italian region. 20 Italian Regions participate to this two-year project (2019-2020). Two face-to-face training modules and the sharing of a web community of practice have been planned. The project involves developing support tools that provide equity-oriented practices. The main expected result is the increase of the equity-oriented actions and their dissemination across the country.

Current trends in the implementation and development of communications in the Ukrainian model of public governance in health care

The article looks at the processes of capacity building and improvement of the quality of communicative interaction in the national model of public health management. The development of the information infrastructure, the increase of the level of computer literacy and the information culture of the community allow to transform the managerial approaches and forms of interaction concerning health between the state authorities and the population. The author highlighted and analyzed the main characteristics of health communication models in the historical context. An organizational and functional analysis of the current state of the regional health care system has been made, the communicative content of managerial branch problems identified, and a description of the main subjects, stakeholders and communication channels in the management of health care in the implementation of health care reform in Ukraine provided. Taking into account the world experience, proposals regarding strengthening of the integration of the Ukrainian model of the health care system and its management system into the European medical space on the basis of improving communication and organizational relations have been made. The theoretical basis for improving the public health care management system in Ukraine is the provision on the feasibility of embedded integration in the complex of communicational and organizational links in the health care system in the institutional, organizational and managerial environment of interaction of the subjects of management in the local, regional, national and international levels, based on the distribution of power and responsibilities in relationships between state bodies, local self-government bodies, entities of health care, the public and others take holders in the development of the medical sector, is designed to ensure a sustainable increase in the health-care efficiency for the Ukrainian population as a result of medical reform.

Multi-level learning in the governance of adaptation to climate change: the case of Bolivia’s water sector

ABSTRACT The efforts of Bolivia’s water sector to adapt to climate change include the mainstreaming of adaptation in water policy instruments and broad capacity building processes supported by climate funds and international cooperation. These sector-wide adaptation experiences in the country present important learning challenges across different governance levels. This paper analyzes multi-level learning in the governance of adaptation taking place in the water sector in Bolivia, by focusing on changes in the cognitive, normative and relational domains of learning. The analysis is guided by three questions: (i) Which institutional arrangements enable multi-level learning in the governance of adaptation in Bolivia’s water sector? (ii) What are the cognitive, normative and relational dimensions of learning in these arrangements? (iii) What are the implications of multi-level learning for shaping desired outcomes in the governance of adaptation? The case contributes to understanding multi-level learning processes in the governance of adaptation, including the role of national and international climate change policy instruments in these. In addition, the study provides methodological insights for assessing multi-level learning.

La Caracterización de las unidades productivas de soya en la costa ecuatoriana

La presente investigación busca caracterizar las unidades productivas agropecuarias (UPA) que producen soya, generar nueva información para la diversificación de cultivos y proyectar cambios en la matriz productiva de Ecuador. La información se recolectó a través de encuestas estructuradas entre julio de 2017 y enero de 2018 en los cantones Vinces, Quevedo, Puebloviejo y Babahoyo de la provincia de Los Ríos, ubicada en la cuenca media del Río Guayas. Se entrevistaron 337 productores de soya y las preguntas abordaron aspectos económicos, socioculturales y ecológicos. La producción de granos se consideró aceptable (por encima de la media nacional con 2,7 t/ha) y la comercialización se estimó en $5.610/t, con una inversión en efectivo de $432/ha. La edad promedio de los productores fue de 51 años y es preocupante la falta de empoderamiento de los hijos de agricultores respecto a las actividades agrícolas. Se registró un bajo porcentaje de analfabetismo, factor positivo al momento de emprender procesos de capacitación. La mayoría de los agricultores están agrupados en organizaciones agrícolas, principalmente para acceder a los beneficios de subsidios establecidos por el Gobierno, y poseen acceso medio a servicios básicos. Los agricultores de la zona dependen de insumos externos como las semillas, lo que constituye un factor negativo para la sostenibilidad del sistema productivo.

Transdisciplinary Approaches for the Dissemination of the SWITCH School Wellness Initiative Through a Distributed 4-H/Extension Network

BackgroundSchools provide an ideal setting for promoting healthy lifestyles in youth, but it has proven difficult to promote the adoption and implementation of evidence-based programming by school leaders. The SWITCH® (School Wellness Integration Targeting Child Health) intervention is a capacity-building process designed to help school leaders learn how to plan, implement, and sustain school wellness programs on their own.ObjectiveThe present study evaluates the transdisciplinary approaches used in establishing an integrated research-practice partnership with the state-wide 4-H/Extension network to support broader dissemination.MethodThe study used a mixed methods approach to evaluate the degree of engagement and motivation of 4-H leaders (N = 30) for providing ancillary support for local school wellness programming. Engagement from 4-H Staff was logged over a year-long period through tracking completion of training and ongoing engagement with aspects of SWITCH. They completed checkpoint surveys and an interview to provide perceptions of supporting school implementation of SWITCH programming. Data were analysed through Pearson bivariate correlations and constant comparative analysis.ResultsCounty-level 4-H staff demonstrated high engagement in SWITCH by attending training sessions and hosting structured checkpoint sessions with schools. Interview data revealed that 4-H Staff valued connections with schools and emphasized that training on SWITCH was consistent with their existing roles related to youth programming.ConclusionsThe results demonstrate the value of the sequential capacity-building process used to train 4-H Staff to facilitate school wellness programming. The transdisciplinary approaches built transferable skills and fostered relationships that directly support the broader goals of 4-H.

"Missed nursing care" in health promotion: Raising awareness.

This commentary aims to raise awareness of the possible causes of "missed nursing care" in health promotion and to propose possible solutions. Although health promotion is an essential function of nursing practice, "missed nursing care" has been scarcely studied in this area. It is crucial to know both its causes and possible strategies to prevent it. We used evidence to identify possible causes of "missed nursing care" in health promotion, and we classified them into categories. We suggested the concept of capacity building to address its underlying causes. Four main factors are involved in "missed nursing care" in health promotion, that is intrapersonal, interpersonal, organisational and cultural. Capacity building, including the development of knowledge, skills, commitment, structures, systems and leadership, could reduce missed care. "Missed nursing care" in health promotion is complex and is multifactorial in its origins. Capacity building could be a way to address its causes. Nursing care in health promotion is paramount and a long-term investment that can contribute to the sustainability of the health system. Organisations and managers could view capacity building processes as a tool to prevent "missed nursing care" in health promotion.

\u201cGet us partnerships!\u201d - a qualitative study of Angolan and Mozambican health academics\u2019 experiences with North/South partnerships

BackgroundSustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 focuses on North/South partnerships for sustainable development. Literature on research partnerships and capacity -building often neglects how these processes are carried out in practice, their social impacts and participants’ subjective experiences.Recognizing the increasingly global dimensions of Higher Education Institutions, the University Development and Innovation – Africa project (UDI-A) was designed to train lecturers and administrative staff of Angolan and Mozambican Universities through collaborations with European institutions, aiming at strengthening African academic and social landscapes through knowledge translation and dissemination.This paper examines potential outcomes of UDI-A on participants’ academic pathways, investigating the conflict between different imaginaries of capacity-building and partnerships, focusing on how Angolan and Mozambican health sciences researchers experience international collaborations.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with seven health academics, as well as a focus group discussion involving all participants. These were recorded, fully transcribed, anonymized and coded to identify common themes. A consent form was signed by all participants.Results and discussionUDI-A was considered innovative, fostering the improvement of pedagogical skills and increasing social entrepreneurship activities.Participants arrived with a specific institutional mandate and believed that the training received should be incorporated into institutional practices to “modernize” these specific Portuguese speaking African Universities and the health sector. The institutional mechanisms put in place to attain this goal, Centres for Academic Development and Innovation (“CADIs”), were considered potential research and development hubs and drivers of academic and societal transformation.Nevertheless, participants shared a sense of asymmetry (infrastructural, financial, in terms of access to information) between them and European trainers. Although this asymmetry was the underlying basis of this capacity-building project, they argued that UDI-A did not fully acknowledge their local contexts, compromising the prospective development of partnerships in the health field.ConclusionsMore attention should be devoted to understanding how participants experience capacity building processes, integrating the diversity of their aspirations and perceptions into subsequent phases of the project, requiring the development of methodological innovations to increase the impact of these programs.

Capacity Building in Community Stakeholder Groups for Increasing Physical Activity: Results of a Qualitative Study in Two German Communities.

Community capacity building is an essential approach for health promotion, combining a participatory approach with the view to community ownership. Little research focuses on practical capacity building strategies and monitoring. Our paper looks into involving stakeholders in facilitated group discussions as a specific strategy for fostering capacity building processes. These processes focused on physical activity (PA) promotion in two German communities (ACTION4men). Along the dimensions of capacity building suggested in literature (e.g., problem solving, resource mobilization, leadership), we implemented two participatory stakeholder groups (1/community). These groups were motivated to develop and implement PA interventions for men >50 years. For measuring capacity building processes, a semi-standardized monitoring instrument was used to document all group meetings. Additionally, we conducted semi-standardized interviews with group participants and drop-outs to capture their perspectives on capacity building. All documents were analyzed using thematic analysis. We successfully established stakeholder groups that planned and implemented a range of local measures meant to increase PA among older men. In one community, the process was sustainable, whereby the group continued to meet regularly over years. Capacity building was successful to a certain degree (e.g., regarding participation, problem assessment, and resource mobilization), but stalled after first meetings. Capacity building processes differed between the two communities in terms of leadership and sustainability. The developed interventions mainly addressed the access to organized sport courses, rather than tackling walkability or active transport. The theoretical capacity building approach was successful to develop and implement programs aimed at promoting PA. The actual capacity building processes depend upon the composition of stakeholder groups and inherent power relations.

Serious Games, Mental Images, and Participatory Mapping: Reflections on a Set of Enabling Tools for Capacity Building

Increasing complexity of societal questions requires participatory processes that engage with capable participants. We adopted Horellis’ stance on participation as not an isolated event but a constant communication between different groups that can be assured by using enabling tools. We applied the Capability Approach to frame a capacity-building process and understand how this framework can support a collective of entrepreneurs to become aware of their capabilities (and the impact of an ongoing urban renewal process on these capabilities). The Capability Approach emphasizes the personal and structural conditions that impact a person’s capability to choose—the conditions that affect the process of determining what a person values. The paper builds on a two year capacity-building process conducted in Genk, Belgium, and proposes a conceptual framework for building capacities, in which the process and outputs collide with ideas of choice, ability, and opportunity, notions central to the Capability Approach. The case study looks at one of the main commercial streets of the city (Vennestraat) and reflects on a set of enabling artefacts used to engage proprietors in the capacity-building process. This capacity-building process, characterized by the idea of space and capabilities, advances a critical viewpoint on issues related to participatory processes and gives practitioners a set of enabling tools to start a conversation over complex urban transformations, such as the one in Vennestraat.

Physical activity promotion in German vocational education: does capacity building work?

Apprentices in many sectors are exposed to increased health risks and show low levels of physical activity (PA). Environmental and policy approaches seem to be promising tools for PA promotion as they can positively influence the context in which PA occurs. This article reports results from a German research project (2015–2018) that developed and implemented measures for PA promotion in the field of vocational education (VE). A participatory approach—cooperative planning (COP)—involving researchers as well as stakeholders from policy and practice was used in two VE settings—nursing care and automotive mechatronics. We assessed the extent to which new capacities for PA promotion were created by conducting semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from both sectors (n = 12) and one group interview with nursing students (n = 4). Transcripts were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings show that new capacities were created mainly in the form of resources and opportunities and that several measures for PA promotion (e.g. a regular lesson on the issue of PA and health and a tutoring system) were successfully integrated into VE routines. However, establishing new organizational goals and obligations appeared to be challenging. Moreover, the article presents influencing factors, such as the participation of the main actors that strongly supported the process of capacity building within their organization. We conclude that COP seems promising in creating new capacities for PA promotion in the field of VE, and therefore has the potential to promote a physically active lifestyle among apprentices.

Improving women’s access to climate information services and enhancing their capability to manage climate risks

Climate information services has been demonstrated as a potential tool in supporting farmers to manage climate risks. However, the existing gap or disconnect between institutions that develop climate information and farmers who are the primary users of climate information can be addressed by building their capacity in an integrated manner by covering all the associated actors from production to use. This study primarily addressed the capacity building processes focussing on women's uptake of climate information at the users’ level and value addition process of climate information into agro-advisories at the institutional level, to reduce the risk in agricultural production systems. The pathways for improving uptake and use of climate information to help decision-making by women farmers are: delivering information and agro-advisories relevant to their needs, having trained local level communicators, and group approach and support to act on the information. This paper demonstrates how capacity building of associated stakeholders in the whole climate information chain can address the barriers and improve the use and uptake of such information by women farmers, supporting their changing role in farming.

Dilemma of institutional performance assessment in governmental sector

Purpose The main target of the study represented in developing a proposed Quantitative Model for the purpose of measuring the administrative performance of public governmental organizations, taking into account the validity of the model for many different contexts in practice through governmental sector. Design/methodology/approach Depending on statistical approach, both authors tried to handle this issue through assessing institutional performance in the state owned units on many levels starting from individual level (HR and leaders), sub-units, organization level, then deriving an aggregated formula for assessing general institutional performance of the whole public body in one state, depending on reviewing some of concerned literatures. Findings The authors could already formulate some proposed criteria for assessing and measuring institutional performance on three different levels. Originality/value Although the topic is considered one of the most complicated areas of institutional reform trends, the idea remains very vital as a step forward to improving public policy implementation in the governmental sector, besides that it is correlated to institutional capacity building process in practice.