Public Participation In Decision-making Research Articles

Assistance in Strengthening Village Governance Through the Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Increasing the Capacity of Villages Apparatus: Community Service in Sungai Arang Hamlet, Jambi, Indonesia

Effective village governance is an important foundation for sustainable development at the local level. However, many villages in Indonesia, including Sungai Arang Hamlet in Jambi, still face challenges in terms of governance, which can be seen from weak administrative systems, lack of transparency, and low capacity of village officials. This research uses a participatory community service approach which involves a series of activities, including: (1) Identifying village problems and needs through focus group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews; (2) Development of standard operating procedures (SOP) for various aspects of village administration; (3) Training and capacity building for village officials regarding SOP implementation; (4) Assistance and monitoring of SOP implementation; and (5) Evaluation of program impact. The research results show a significant improvement in village governance after program implementation. The developed SOPs have helped improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public services, increase transparency and accountability, and strengthen public participation in decision-making. In addition, the capacity of village officials has also increased, reflected in a better understanding of their duties and responsibilities, as well as a better ability to carry out administrative tasks. In conclusion, this community service program has made a positive contribution in strengthening village governance in Sungai Arang Hamlet. Developing SOPs and increasing the capacity of village officials has proven effective in improving the quality of public services, transparency, and accountability. This research recommends that this community service model can be replicated in other villages that have similar problems.

Public participation in decisions about measures to manage the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, governments and health authorities faced tough decisions about infection prevention and control measures such as social distancing, face masks and travel. Judgements underlying those decisions require...

The dynamics embedded in COVID-19 pandemic responses in South Africa: Implications for public healthcare delivery

South Africa recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Africa despite having what seemed to be one of the best government response mechanisms on the continent. This paper explores the responses of both the government and the citizens of South Africa to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a literature review, the study established that the government's response to the pandemic was influenced by various factors, including the responsibility to protect citizens' lives, the need to defend the state's sovereignty, and compliance with global health imperatives. This was achieved through strict and coercive government measures, which left little room for public participation in decision-making. The findings also indicate public dissent towards government directives, which may be attributed to a lack of public awareness and preparedness in public health emergencies. The social contract theory provides a useful framework for analysing and understanding the actions of the government and citizens in response to COVID-19 in South Africa. Understanding these aspects is crucial for drawing informative lessons for effective public health and socio-economic interventions in future pandemics and health-related emergencies.

Unveiling the relationships between visibility, information technologies and innovation management for sustainability performance: an empirical study

PurposeThe paper investigates how visibility, information technology and innovation management impact sustainability performance. It proposes a framework explaining the role of visibility in driving firms' sustainable performance and the relevance of innovation management and information technologies in enhancing organisational visibility. This study intends to add to the discussion within the management literature about the potential of innovation management to drive sustainability. It seeks to provide insight into the practices that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can adopt to improve their sustainable performance.Design/methodology/approachUsing empirical methods, the study investigates SMEs in central Mexico. The demographic information in the dataset includes 15 years as an average length of service from firms. Of the surveyed firms, 70% were from the manufacturing sector and 30% were from the service sector, as these are the most representative sectors of the productive region. A variance-based structural equation model approach was used to test the hypotheses, processed with the partial least squares (PLS) regression method.FindingsThe research results show that visibility significantly impacts sustainability performance. Innovation management has a higher influence on visibility than information technologies, emphasising the need to improve the quality of information in firms, not just the tools. The findings support managers in comprehending the crucial importance of visibility in aiding firms to achieve higher sustainability performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe study only examined a sample of Mexican SMEs; therefore, the findings' generalizability must be considered within this context. Secondly, the survey only focused on services and manufacturing firms and a more detailed analysis of the sector could provide further clarity on the relationships between variables. As a result, future research should consider these limitations and explore additional contexts to improve the overall understanding of the topic. Moreover, the scale used to measure the variables was adapted from other researchers with similar context research and reflective variables.Practical implicationsThe results provide helpful information for SME managers about the importance of focusing on innovation management processes and employing information technologies as crucial managerial strategies. This will aid in increasing visibility and supporting the development of sustainability performance in firms.Social implicationsThe world red-code, among others, with climate change and social gaps, has generated the need to contribute to sustainable development, and it has mobilised people on all levels all over the world for the simple purpose of preserving life. Therefore, society, as a crucial group that affects and is affected by this red-code situation, should act in favour of visibility, the use of high-quality information (e.g. transparent, accessible and relevant) and information technologies to promote sustainable practices. This could mean that society should be prepared to incorporate new capabilities and spaces to interchange knowledge as a participatory community that can contribute to better sustainable dynamics that could expand its participation in public decisions. Also, the government should encourage digital democracy (e.g. develop social participation platforms), opening and harmonising rules and mechanisms combining high-quality information with IT to provide flexible and adequate services that support sustainable development, such as efforts towards constructing sustainable and smart cities.Originality/valueThis study explores how innovation management can drive firms' sustainability performance, which is crucial for improving competitiveness. The question of how to enhance sustainability performance through managerial drivers is a critical one. This study empirically investigates the nexus of visibility and sustainability performance, innovation management and information technology with visibility.

Analisis Efisiensi Dan Efektivitas E-Government Dalam Administrasi Publik

E-Government has become central to the transformation of public administration, offering various possibilities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government services. This analysis investigates how the implementation of e-government affects public administration from the perspective of operational efficiency and achievement of public service objectives. In addition, E-government is the vanguard of efforts to provide information and services to citizens, businesses, employees and government units, and other organizational sectors. This study adopts a qualitative approach where the sources collected come from journals, books. The results show that the efficiency and effectiveness of e-Government in public administration related to the application of information technology has a significant positive impact. E-Government is also able to increase efficiency in the delivery of public services by cutting bureaucracy and speeding up administrative processes. Simultaneously, the effectiveness of e-Government is reflected in faster responses to citizen needs, enhanced transparency, and increased citizen participation in public decision-making.

Integration of bionics, digital innovations, and democratic management principles for industrial transformation.

This article explores an innovative and interdisciplinary approach to the integration of bionic principles, digital technologies and democratic governance in the transformation of industrial production in Ukraine. Emphasis is placed on the adaptation of industrial production to modern requirements of sustainability, efficiency and environmental safety in the context of the Ukrainian economy. The bionic approach involves the integration of natural principles and mechanisms into technological processes, offering a unique perspective for increasing production efficiency and environmental sustainability. The main objectives of this study are to study how a bionic approach, combined with digital technologies and public participation in decision-making, can transform industrial production in Ukraine, making it more sustainable, efficient and environmentally friendly. This includes an analysis of the bionic approach and its potential to improve production efficiency, the role of digital technologies in optimizing production processes, and the impact of democratic governance on creating a fair and transparent economic system in an industrial context. The article provides strategic directions and recommendations that can help Ukraine adapt to global trends and use them for sustainable industrial development and improving the quality of life. The importance of the bionic approach in creating a sustainable and efficient industry is undeniable. The implementation of this approach not only reduces the environmental impact of production, but also stimulates innovative development, opening up new opportunities for the creation of technologies that are environmentally safe and cost-effective. The article also emphasizes the importance of public participation in economic decision-making in the industrial sector. This democratic governance in the economy, the key theme of the article, emphasizes the importance of involving civil society in decision-making processes in the economy, especially in the context of industrial reform.

Design and Implementation of E-Government Applications to Improve Public Service Efficiency in Margahayu District

Improving the efficiency of public services in Margahayu District is crucial in facing the development of information and communication technology. In this context, the implementation of E-Government applications is an attractive option because it has the potential to overcome traditional administrative constraints and increase transparency and public participation in public decision making. The implementation of the E-Government application in Margahayu District is expected to provide benefits in improving the efficiency of public services, this writing aims to improve public services to the community, simplify the administrative process, and manage public service data at the sub-district level. The focus of the study uses methodological measures including literature study to understand the concept of E-Government, relevant technologies, and successful implementation in similar contexts, data collection through interviews with related parties in Margahayu sub-district and analysis of existing public service data. Application design using the Waterfall software development model. The results showed that the E-Government Application can improve the efficiency of public services in Margahayu District such as creating, managing population letters, being able to see the results of reports on what types of residence letters have been made, and facilitating service officers in the process of administering and managing public service data in Margahayu District.

Historical and legal overview of Public Interest Litigation as an institute of Administrative Justice

The article provides a historical and legal characterization of the institution of a Public Interest Litigation in general and in the context of administrative proceedings. The author reveals the historical origins of this institute from the time of Roman law, where it was called “actio popularis”. Some of the most common constructions of such claims in Roman law are highlighted. The author emphasizes the public benefit of filing such claims despite their private law nature. The author emphasizes the dualism between private and public interests in law, which is particularly evident in the institution of a Public Interest Litigation. The terminology used in different legal systems to describe the institution of a public interest action or its individual varieties is revealed: “actio popularis”, “Public Interest Litigation”, “Public Interest Law”, “Social Interest Litigation”. The author outlines the main areas in which Public Interest Litigation is most often applied: environmental protection, anti-discrimination, etc. The author analyzes the reasons for the low interest in the institution of public interest litigation in previous historical periods in Ukraine. On the other hand, it is suggested that there has been a significant increase in interest in such lawsuits in recent years, which is due to certain factors. These include: the development of civil society and the increased interest of legislators in this institution, as well as the ratification by Ukraine of the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention). The last point was important in the context of the further adoption by the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court of the decision of 11.12.2018 in case No. 910/8122/17, which stated the right of environmental associations to file lawsuits in the public interest on these matters. The article concludes with the emphasis on the prospects for further research into the application of actio popularis in foreign jurisdictions with a view to exploring the possibilities for expanding the number of legal relations in which such claims may be filed in Ukraine.

Ecosystem approaches in the practice of national enforcement

The article is devoted to current problems of ecology and enforcement. Ukraine is not a member of the EU, which makes it impossible to directly apply EU norms in national enforcement practice. However, having been ratified the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their member states, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part is a full-fledged part of the national legal order, which outlines a range of key issues, in particular, the standards that appear before national legislation as a challenge to cooperation on environmental protection issues, and adaptation to EU legislation. The agreement envisages the strengthening of environmental protection activities through the improvement of the health care system, the preservation of natural resources, the improvement of economic and environmental protection efficiency, the integration of environmental policy into other areas of state policy, as well as the increase of the level of production thanks to modern technologies, which will have positive consequences for citizens and enterprises in Ukraine and the EU. As well as the issue of harmonization of legislation on environmental protection, including the implementation of the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention), which provides for the involvement of the public in the decision-making process on environmental issues and guarantees access to justice for person and public organizations when environmental legislation and/or provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights are violate.
 The need to analyze domestic judicial practice on environmental legal relations in various jurisdictions is extremely urgent. The application of international ratified documents, in particular the Aarhus Convention, is precisely the source of law that, firstly, opens wide public access to appeal procedures; secondly, it is the legal basis for resolving disputes about compensation for damage to the environment; thirdly, it makes impossible the limited interpretation of the current national legislation of Ukraine, regarding the right to appeal to the court for the protection of an interest protected by law in the sphere of guaranteeing environmental safety; fourthly, guarantees the right to appeal to the court of an unlimited number of persons (can be exercised by citizens personally or jointly through the association of citizens), and the resolution of disputed environmental-legal relations, i.e. those are public; fifth, guarantees the subject of the law access to the court without discrimination based on his actual location or actual center of activity; sixth, it affects the formation of established legal practice in environmental disputes.

The role of City Climate Networks in Promoting Citizen Participation in Municipalities: A Critical Multi-Case Analysis

BackgroundAt the COP21, cities were recognised as key actors in combatting climate change. In supporting cities, climate city networks such as transnational climate networks (TCNs) and national climate networks (NCNs) have emerged to enable cities in building capacities and formulating climate policy whilst also encouraging citizen engagement and participation in public decision-making. This paper addresses the question whether and how TCN or NCN membership enables municipalities to implement citizen participation in public decision-making. Six propositions are presented addressing: presumed influence of TCN membership on citizen participation, organization of citizen participation, initiator capacity, goal setting, involvement of stakeholders, participatory methods used, and planning processes. A multi-case study research design is used to verify these propositions, comprising of four medium-sized cities in the Netherlands and three in Belgium.ResultsResults of the analysis of four cities in The Netherlands show that municipalities having membership to climate city networks only to a low extent empower citizen participation via local climate agendas. Citizen participation emerges rather bottom-up via local initiatives or capacity building via EU framework programs—outside TCNs or NCNs—that better suit financial needs and provide more immediate benefits to municipalities. None of the six propositions were confirmed. A more positive image resulted from the Belgian cases that moderately confirmed four out of six propositions (i.e., organizing citizen participation, goal setting, selection of methods, and planning), and featured indirect empowerment via externally funded implementation projects following firm integration of participation in local climate policy through TCN influence.ConclusionsIn terms of citizen participation selected municipalities in the Netherlands having TCN and/or NCN membership only to a small extent differ from those not having membership. This is partly due to poor implementation of TCNs and NCNs—with Covenant of Mayors and ‘Klimaatverbond’ lacking support structure and capacity—having lost importance during the past years. However, there is reason to believe that context makes a difference as revealed by the cases from Belgium, which revealed more positive results.

Empowering communities for sustainable water management: Insights from Justdiggit and the Paani Foundation

Community engagement is critical for effective sustainable water management initiatives because it facilitates public participation in decision- making. This study looks at Justdiggit and the Paani Foundation's community participation techniques, which are focused on water management and landscape restoration in water-stressed regions. We conduct a comparative analysis to determine the effectiveness of various initiatives in encouraging sustainable water practices and landscape restoration. Using official data and project evaluations, we assess the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of community-based water management programs. The findings reveal that, Justdiggit and the Paani Foundation actively engage the public through a variety of strategies, including community workshops, local champions, digital platforms, hands- on training, collaborative decision-making, job creation, and milestone celebration. Our findings show strong popular support and favorable effects on water conservation and community development. These findings are useful for practitioners, politicians, and researchers working to address global water concerns. Enhanced community engagement, as demonstrated by Justdiggit and the Paani Foundation, has the potential to achieve more resilient and sustainable water management solutions in the face of growing water issues.

Legal Standing of Individuals and ngo s in Environmental Matters under Article 9(3) of the Aarhus Convention

Abstract Individuals and non-governmental organizations’ access to justice in environmental matters may be hindered by a variety of obstacles, such as the fulfillment of legal standing conditions. In this regard, the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention), on its Article 9(3), imposes on each State Party the obligation to ensure members of the public, “where they meet the criteria, if any, laid down in its national law”, to have access to justice in order to challenge any violation of national environmental law. In this contribution, I focus on this provision with the purpose of assessing its normative content regarding the criteria for legal standing. To this end, I analyze the interpretation of Article 9(3) given by the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (accc), as well as the relevant case law of domestic courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union (cjeu).

What do participants participate in? Insights from the community of Peccioli

ABSTRACT This research is part of a broader study investigating citizen participation in public decisions affecting the present and future of the community of Peccioli, a small village in Tuscany (Italy), through repeated surveys on a random sample of the citizens, and within participatory processes promoted by the local administration. The paper investigates how citizens who participate in one of these processes take part in political, associative and cultural life, and through which channels. The investigation is carried out in a small community, while the vast majority of studies on participation mechanisms so far have concentrated on large urban areas. This contribution presents the findings of a study carried out in 2022 through surveying a random sample of these Peccioli citizens (n = 144). Unlike studies of participatory processes reported in the literature, our study did not rely on the involvement of other public institutions or organized groups but considered ordinary citizens regardless of their potential affiliations. Our research found, firstly, that the respondents were strongly involved in political, social and cultural activities, to a higher extent than reported at national level. Secondly, as expected, their participation in socio-cultural activities was higher than in political activities. Thirdly, even in a small village like Peccioli, the vast majority of participants used a variety of media, particularly digital media, to stay informed and up to date on current affairs.

Ensuring the human rights to a healthy environment: normative regulation and practice of the ECtHR

This article examines the regulatory practice and the practice of the ECtHR in ensuring the right to a healthy environment. At the present stage of humankind, the question of understanding a person as part of an ecosystem is increasingly being raised. In this regard, it is important to emphasize that the current state of international legal regulation of environmental relations strongly indicates the need for serious reforms to international environmental law, primarily in terms of increasing the effectiveness of existing mechanisms for environmental cooperation between states and creating new mechanisms for such cooperation. It has been established that environmental rights are implemented primarily through the formation of international policy and legislation, especially the EU’s strategic position on the environment. This was legally enshrined in the Treaty on the European Community, which declared the EU’s aspirations for a high degree of protection, improving the quality of the environment and people’s standard of living. Over time, this became a starting point for the environmental policy and law of the EU, and then a duty for the implementation of national environmental legislation. It is indicated that the scientific recognition and normative consolidation of environmental rights in international law are important for the development of international ideological concepts of environmental protection, based on the ideas of solving environmental problems in the interests of the individual and all humankind. This is also salient for the formation of a system of international environmental law. A striking example of an international treaty that secures environmental human rights is the Convention of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-​Making and Access to Justice on Environmental Issues, adopted on 25 June 1998, in Aarhus, Denmark (the Aarhus Convention). This identified three main types of environmental rights considered as important factors in the development of democracy: public access to environmental information; public participation in the decision-​making process on environmental issues; public access to justice on environmental issues. These rights are implemented primarily through the formation of international environmental policy and international environmental legislation, especially the EU’s strategic position on the environment. This was legally enshrined in the Treaty on the European Community, which declared the EU’s aspirations for a high degree of protection, improving the quality of the environment and people’s standard of living. Over time, it became a starting point for the environmental policy and law of the EU, and then a duty for the implementation of national environmental legislation.

Nigeria: Failed State and the State of the Nation

Every failed or collapsed state in the world has a history. Such history is often laden with indices of practices abhorred in other progressive and relatively peaceful states. Nigeria has become infamous for her retarded growth when placed side by side with other developing countries. The reasons for these are not in the blues rather are seen in the day to day activities of an average Nigerian not to mention the seeming institutionalization of decadence in the political structure and polity. This article is anchored on the elite theory so as to plausibly explain this precarious situation. The methodology employed is mainly the analysis of secondary data from journals, literature and documentaries, while also carrying out relevant empirical review. Findings revealed that Nigeria as an entity has experienced in good measure and at a very high rate the characteristics of a failed state some of which include lack of adequate security, corruption, human rights violation, lack of development, weak governance, poor administration, enduring social tensions, violent conflicts, ruins or memories of a civil war, lack of respect for rule of law and loss of legitimacy. The study recommends among others that there should be National Action Plan to guide development strategies, reformation of electoral laws, respect for rule of law, public participation in decision making and a fiscal federalism.

Community assessment of public services and its role in decision-making for local development

This study aims to highlight the perception of residents about public services provided by the local government and residents’ perception of participation in public decision-making for the allocation of economic resources by the local government. The research method in this study is based on the study of literature, analysis, and monitoring carried out by independent institutions and organizations on community participation in local government decision-making (Desk research) and observation through interviewing residents in the area of study for the collection of primary data. The results of this study show the fragility of the approach of community involvement in local government for local planning and development in the study area. The improvement of public services and the active participation of residents in local planning and development is one of the most important objectives of local government reform. Efforts for sustainable development, referring also to the data of this study, should be accompanied by efforts to build and consolidate the community field.

As redes sociais digitais como canais de transparência da informação: uma proposta de parâmetros de avaliação de uso

The growing appreciation of democratic precepts and consequent increase in civil participation in public decision-making, combined with the emergence of new digital information and communication channels, resulted in a paradigm shift that reframed administrative transparency policies, demanding greater attention to production, dissemination and use of public data and information. This study maps evaluation parameters that monitor the quality of info-communicational services mediated by digital social networks as institutional transparency channels. A documentary, descriptive, quantitative and qualitative research was conducted to integrate indicators and criteria used to evaluate info-communicational services on transparency websites and portals to the use guidelines of institutional social networks. The main scientific findings are presented in two tables. The first summarizes the informational framework used as the basis for mapping and consolidating the indicators; the second presents the indicators and their respective evaluation criteria. The five indicators identified seek to assess communicability, accessibility, usability, reliability, and transparency in social channels. Guiding and evaluating the use of digital social networks is paramount for the alignment of services provided by the Public Administration with its own objectives and strategies, with legal provisions and with societal expectations. Besides validating the use of these channels as institutional info-communicational tools, defining these parameters fills a gap in terms of administrative transparency.

Норми орхуської конвенції в аспекті дуалізму права на безпечне довкілля і обов’язку його захищати

By ratifying the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) Ukraine has committed itself to a change of established practices regarding the provision of environmental information and the right of the public to appeal to the court with claims for environmental protection. The implementation of the norms of this Convention has become quite problematic, not least due to the insufficient level of environmental awareness of Ukrainian society. However, positive changes in this area are still taking place, not least due to the active work of various public environmental organizations. It seems that the scientific study of the norms of the Aarhus Convention will also to some extent contribute to the progress of our state and society in the field of environmental protection. We consider it necessary to enshrine the "automatic" recognition of legal interest (i.e. the right to sue in matters relating to environmental protection) for any non-governmental environmental organization registered and operating in accordance with Ukrainian law. This will meet the requirements of Part 4 of Art. 3 of the Aarhus Convention, according to which our state ensures "proper recognition of associations, organizations or groups that contribute to the protection of the environment, and provides them with appropriate support and ensures compliance of its national legal system with this obligation" Among the trends that can be considered extremely positive is the recent legal conclusion of the Supreme Court in the case of banning the dolphinarium. In this case, the Supreme Court stressed that "the right to protection of the violated constitutional right to a safe environment belongs to everyone and can be exercised both personally and with the participation of a public representative". Given the binding nature of the Supreme Court's legal conclusions, we hope that this case will be a significant milestone in bringing domestic legislation and the practice of its application to the requirements of the Aarhus Convention.

Deeping the roots of children’s participation

In the field of childhood studies and child rights activism there is a strong commitment to supporting children's participation in public decision making. There are growing examples of this in practice across Europe. But it is rarely inclusive of marginalised children and can tend to focus on voice rather than action. This article, developed from a recent conference presentation, reflects on15 years of the author's practice and academic work. It suggests that fertile ground for deeper and strongly rooted examples of impactful and inclusive children's participation by picking apart existing participatory processes using a lense of citizenship, challenges, agency and time. This might enable us to dare to consistently name the risk that child participation can become an exercise in neoliberal citizenship, to steer practice towards more radical notions of participation as direct influence over resources (rather than voice) and to help ground calls for action in an understanding of the longterm patterns of inequality that many children are confronting.

E-Government as A Tool to Increase Public Participation in Public Decision Making

The purpose of this research is to examine e-government as a tool to enhance public participation in decision-making. The researcher used qualitative research methods with a field research approach. Field research involves direct observation, interviews, or other data collection methods in the field, allowing the researcher to gain a deep understanding of the phenomenon under study. The research location for this study is the Jakarta Provincial Government. To gather information or collect data, two staff members of the Jakarta Provincial Government were interviewed. The findings of this study indicate that the use of e-government in the Jakarta Provincial Government has proven to enhance public participation in policy-making. E-government enables broader, more inclusive, targeted, and transparent participation. Public participation is facilitated through online platforms where people can easily access information and participate in discussions about proposed policies. In the context of the Jakarta Provincial Government, e-government has also helped improve the efficiency of governance and provide easier access to public services.