Role Of Local Institutions Research Articles

Resilience and Vulnerability of Coastal Communities: A Case Study of Tambak Lorok, Semarang-Indonesia in Facing Flood Risks

This study examines the resilience and vulnerability of the Tambak Lorok coastal community in Semarang to recurring flood events. The research adopts a descriptive qualitative approach to explore the socio-economic, environmental, and infrastructural aspects influencing the community’s adaptive capacity. Through in-depth interviews, field observations, and document analysis, the study identifies key factors contributing to the community’s vulnerability, including reliance on flood-prone economic activities, inadequate housing infrastructure, and limited access to resources. The role of local institutions is also highlighted as a critical factor in enhancing community resilience through training and support programs. Despite ongoing mitigation efforts, such as the construction of levees and drainage improvements, the findings indicate that these measures have not fully protected the community from flood impacts. The study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at improving infrastructure, diversifying economic activities, and strengthening disaster mitigation strategies to enhance the long-term resilience of the Tambak Lorok community. This research contributes valuable insights into the challenges faced by coastal communities in adapting to the increasing risks posed by climate change and environmental hazards.

Heritage Resilience and Identity: Lesson from Trabocchi Coast about Climate Change Adaptation Strategies

Climate change and land use are major drivers of environmental and socioeconomic transformations in landscapes and in coastal areas. The objective of this study was to present an interdisciplinary and participatory research methodology for analysing the evolutionary process of a coastal case study, the Trabocchi Coast in the Abruzzo Region (Italy), from multiple perspectives, including climate change, technological history, conservation protocols, and social function. The goal was to assess the resilience of these coastal structures, i.e., their ability to cope and adapt to changes while maintaining their identity and recognition. The adopted approach combined qualitative and quantitative data from the meteorological analyses, literature review, and field investigations involving a participatory workshop, from which a significant portion of the analysed results presented here emerged. The results indicate that the Trabocchi Coast has undergone significant changes in recent decades, posing a serious threat to cultural heritage due to climate change (sea-level rise, coastal erosion, storms, flooding and salinisation), changes in use and mass tourism. However, these changes have also presented challenges and opportunities for coastal development, stimulating diverse resilient responses from local communities, ranging from resistance to innovation. The paper discusses the factors that may make the Trabocchi Coast a model of resilience considering these changes. This is supported by the role of local institutions as guarantors of the cultural heritage value of the trabocchi in that specific landscape context, as evidenced by the approval of the “Costa dei Trabocchi Special Territorial Project” by the Abruzzo Region in 2023.

The role of local institutions in cooperative banks’ efficiency. The case of Italy

A large body of literature investigates various sources of bank efficiency. Nonetheless, little empirical evidence is available on the role played by institutional quality. Further, the extant research neglects the relevance of local institutions, which should be particularly important for local banks. To fill this lacuna, this paper investigates the relationship between local institutional quality and the cost-efficiency of Italian cooperative banks. Applying Stochastic Frontier Analysis to data spanning the years from 2006 to 2015, we find that better institutions – and especially control of corruption – are associated with improvements in bank cost efficiency. This evidence suggests important implications for the definition of suitable strategies aimed at controlling corruption and improving law enforcement at the local level, to decrease bank operating costs and mitigate moral hazard problems jeopardising managers’ incentives.

Assessing efficiency of disaster management institutions at local level in the coastal region of Bangladesh

The present study builds the existing scenarios of the Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) through in-depth investigation for further exploration of policy instruments as well as amendment of Standing Orders on Disaster and scopes the disaster risk reduction of the NBS journal. The objectives were to investigate the efficiency and role of local institutions with three (pre, during and post) phases of disaster risk reduction, considering three pillars (social, economic and environmental) of sustainability and to investigate the satisfaction level of local communities over the activities of local institutions round the year. Considering the cyclone and storm surge vulnerabilities, three coastal villages from three different coastal districts of Bangladesh were selected purposively to collect primary data through household questionnaire survey and key informants’ interviews. Besides, secondary data were also collected from various government and non-governmental sources. Both descriptive and inferential statistics are used to analyze data. The findings of this study present diverse institutional efficiency of different study locations at different phases of disasters. At pre-disaster period, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) provide services more efficiently than Union Parisad (UP) and Red Crescent Society (RCS) in the study area. Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) volunteers disseminate early warning massages at pre-disaster period more efficiently than any other institutions but most of the people ignore the warning massages and hardly take the decision for seeking refugee to cyclone shelter during disaster. At post-disaster stage, UP and NGOs cannot play appropriate role due to bureaucratic complexities, corruption and nepotism of local government. However, the present study findings expected to provide useful guidelines to the concerned policy maker for ensuring sustainable disaster management in the coastal regions of Bangladesh.

Natural resources, (Mis)governance, and the lack of diversification in mining regions: A reconsideration of the Dutch disease at a local level

This paper aims to refine the understanding of the resource movement effect of the Dutch disease at a local level by (1) broadening the focus to include access to natural resources and (2) considering the local role of institutions as a channel for this effect. We propose an expanded theoretical approach to evolutionary economic geography on interpath dynamics, considering the role of local institutions in access to scarce assets by integrating the conceptualization of governance structures provided by transaction cost economics. This proposed framework is applied to a case study of Calama, located within the hyper-arid Atacama Desert in the Antofagasta region of northern Chile. The case demonstrates how local inequities in access to freshwater increased permanently due to the Chilean 1981 Water Code in correlation with a temporal copper price super cycle. The results reveal how the mining sector and indigenous associations concentrated access to water rights originally inscribed in irrigation canals by small farmers through a market governance structure, constraining economic diversification through negative interpath dynamics. This research denotes the importance of considering institutional bottom-up approaches to overcome resource dependency.

Governance in the Italian Processed Tomato Value Chain: The Case for an Interbranch Organisation

Collective action among producers is a corrective measure for power imbalance, which affects primary producers in agro-food supply chains. As associations of producers and processors, Interbranch Organisations (IBOs) promote dialogue, best practice, and market transparency. However, interbranch cooperation is still a less explored subject in agro-food governance studies. Therefore, the present paper aims to analyse the role of IBO North Italy for Processing Tomato (IBO NIPT) in the governance of the processed tomato value chain. The IBO for Processing Tomatoes of Northern Italy was chosen as a case study as it is one of the eight recognized IBOs in the country and Italy is the third biggest producer of tomatoes for processing worldwide. Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders involved in the processed tomato value chain were carried out to reach this aim. Abridged transcripts were analysed through thematic analysis by two or three researchers. The present study has three research steps: first, to explore the history of the IBO NIPT; second, to explore its current role as collective institution acting towards power imbalances; third, the IBO’s role in reference price streamlining. A multi-theoretical approach based on the following three theoretical frameworks was used to analyse the interviews: New Institutional Economics (NIE); Devaux’s framework for collective action; and Transaction Cost Economics. The paper highlights the role of local institutions in bringing innovations in the food supply chain and suggests that the future of IBOs in Italy has to be expanded beyond reference price streamlining and could benefit from the cooperation of retailers.

Collaboration between Chiefs and Local Government Actors in Combating Climate Change: Evidence from New Juaben, Ghana

Institutional barriers remain a constraint to efficient adaptation to climate change in many countries. Therefore, there is much to be desired regarding knowledge on the capacity and roles of local institutions in responding to climate change across sectors and locales. Drawing evidence from randomly selected chiefs and local government actors, and purposively selected officials of the Municipal Assembly, we examined how partnership between local government actors and informal institutions such as chieftaincy could enhance coordinated and integrated climate action and adaptation planning in local communities. All interviews were transcribed and analysed in themes generated from deductive codes. Participants demonstrated varied levels of knowledge on the causes and impacts of climate change. We observed the implementation of several unstructured climate change activities in local communities as actors of the two institutions individually and collaboratively implemented some adaptation and mitigation actions. We therefore conclude that when given the right attention, by addressing the problems which include financial allocation, low capacity of personnel, and the lack of coordination between units that confront the local institutions, informal institutions and local government actors, could spearhead lasting climate change adaptation and mitigation programmes, and produce equity and sustainability at the national level.

Assessing the Sustainability of Urban Water Supply Systems in Shillong, India

Abstract This article examines urban water supply systems by using indicators such as quantity, quality, accessibility, and reliability. Shillong city is divided into numerous localities, each governed by both formal (municipal) and informal (non-municipal) institutions. This study focuses on domestic water aspects in non-municipal areas and argues that water inequity is more prominent and widespread, and the role of local institutions in water governance is greater and more significant. The article underscores the complementarity between water distribution and water governance rendered by the local institutions.

Developing a framework for sacred grove management using stakeholder analysis: evidence from sacred groves in Gujarat, India

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to use the framework of stakeholder analysis in a participatory democracy, used in forest management planning, for arriving at the best management option for selected sacred groves of Kachchh. This is achieved by accounting for economic, cultural and ecological values and the resulting outcomes in the complex institutional mechanism. Additionally, this study provides a framework for complex decision-making that characterizes the management of sacred groves involving multiple criteria and options accounting for multiple stakeholders that involve conflicting interests.Design/methodology/approachThe analytical hierarchy process was used to calculate the global priorities of management options using the relative importance of stakeholders, weights of different decision criteria to arrive at the best management practice for selected groves of Kachchh. The global priorities of management options rank management practices based on stakeholders' values and their effects on the choice of management strategy as well as on the potential to attain a compromise between competing interests. For this purpose, survey responses of 141 individuals belonging to seven different stakeholder categories were analyzed. Along with focus group discussions, and personal interviews, a stratified random sampling technique was used to survey respondents.FindingsBased on the global priority weights of the alternatives, it is determined that the restoration management option (guggal is restored by planting new guggal sapplings, cattle grazing is prohibited and high levels of ecosystem goods and services are provided) had the highest score, followed by the preservation management option (grazing is allowed on the periphery, juvenile guggal is preserved and moderate ecosystem goods and services are provided). Therefore, restoration of sacred groves is the best management practice of sacred groves in West Kachchh, offering a compromise between maximizing provision of ecosystem services and economic benefits in terms of allowing cattle grazing.Originality/valueThough there are several studies on best management practices for community-owned forests, irrigation systems, and pasture lands, and the role of local institutions in sustaining these common-pool resources; such studies for sacred groves are absent, despite sacred groves being one of the longest surviving common-pool resources that has sustained it over several decades. This is the first study that uses the framework of stakeholder analysis to arrive at the best management practice for sacred groves. The uniqueness of the study lies in a comprehensive evaluation of ecological–economic–cultural interests of multiple stakeholders toward management of sacred groves.

HIV Disease Burden and Stigma in Pakistan: The Role of Local Institutions

With the ongoing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in the developing world, Pakistan has been registering 20,000 new HIV cases every year for the past few years, the highest rate of increase among all countries in the region.1 In Pakistan, HIV disease has affected high risk, key populations for more than 30 years2, with key populations defined as sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, injections drug users, and recipients of contaminated blood.3,4 In April 2019, a completely new HIV landscape rose to the global spotlight when around 800 children tested positive (in 12 weeks period) for HIV in Sindh, Pakistan, followed by similar reports from other parts of the country.5 These new infections are attributed to new risk factors outside of the historical key populations, including use of contaminated needles for routine vaccination and intramuscular and intravenous medical treatment. These statistics were alarming: the country’s healthcare system was not ready, nor is it currently ready, for a widespread HIV epidemic. In addition to international aid, Pakistan requires active involvement from the local healthcare sector to curb the HIV epidemic. At the local level, an understanding of HIV disease is the first step towards this goal.

PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PREPAREDNESS ON LOCAL INSTITUTIONS COPING STRATEGIES TOWARDS NATURAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Recent years, Malaysia had experienced natural disasters such as landslides and flood. Lack of emergency management when dealing with natural disaster will exacerbate the problem and lead to financial, structural and even human losses. This study intends to examine the impact of coping strategies by local institutions on public awareness and preparedness towards natural disaster management. This research involved an exploratory phase and a detailed reflective phase which covered the Klang Valley. In this study, about 1500 copies of self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the respondents. Questionnaires were collected once the respondents completed the survey. During the reflective phase, in-depth interviews were conducted to measure the level of awareness and preparedness towards natural disaster management of communities. The local residents and residence association representatives were the targeted respondents for the in-depth interviews. The findings of this study are the coping strategies used by local authorities are unsustainable and had not constructed permanent solution in overcoming the growing negative effects of hazards. This research will help promote a safe and secure urban society in Malaysia through a better understanding of the proactive disaster management activities and the significant role of local institutions.

Access and allocation in global biodiversity governance: a review

Access and allocation is one of the five analytical themes of the science plan of the Earth System Governance (ESG) project. Concerns over access and allocation are at the core of struggles and conflicts brought about by the often ineluctable trade-offs related to biodiversity conservation and the global, national and local governance systems that aim to contribute to global biodiversity conservation. Access and benefit-sharing mechanisms, integrated conservation and development projects, payments for ecosystem services or community conservation programmes have all tried balancing environmental objectives with concerns for the allocation of natural resources and associated rights within society, and for access to basic human needs. As a contribution to this special issue on access and allocation, this paper aims to contribute to the analysis of the relevance of questions of access and allocation to ESG by providing an in-depth review of the literature on access and allocation in biodiversity conservation at different scales. We describe how the concepts of access and allocation have been used and conceptualized in the literature produced between 2008 and 2018, and we discuss the two key issues which dominate the literature (1) benefit-sharing; and (2) the role of local institutions. By drawing on the trends and evidence from the literature, we consider the lessons for the next generation of ESG scholars and draw out some key policy implications to be included in the debates on the post-2020 strategic plan for biodiversity.

PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PREPAREDNESS ON LOCAL INSTITUTIONS COPING STRATEGIES TOWARDS NATURAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Recent years, Malaysia had experienced natural disasters such as landslides and flood. Lack of emergency management when dealing with natural disaster will exacerbate the problem and lead to financial, structural and even human losses. This study intends to examine the impact of coping strategies by local institutions on public awareness and preparedness towards natural disaster management. This research involved an exploratory phase and a detailed reflective phase which covered the Klang Valley. In this study, about 1500 copies of self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the respondents. Questionnaires were collected once the respondents completed the survey. During the reflective phase, in-depth interviews were conducted to measure the level of awareness and preparedness towards natural disaster management of communities. The local residents and residence association representatives were the targeted respondents for the in-depth interviews. The findings of this study are the coping strategies used by local authorities are unsustainable and had not constructed permanent solution in overcoming the growing negative effects of hazards. This research will help promote a safe and secure urban society in Malaysia through a better understanding of the proactive disaster management activities and the significant role of local institutions.

The role of local institutions in governance of MPAs

In recent years, marine protected areas (MPAs) have been perceived as a major tool to enhance marine conservation. The range of institutional approaches as well as the range of goals in defining and managing MPAs generates a diversity of ecological, social and economic outcomes. Using Tanzania as a case study, this paper examines the role of village liaison committees (VLCs) as an institutional approach to MPA management in addressing socio-ecological objectives. The main research question is how VLCs affect the success of biodiversity conservation and resource management objectives. Six VLCs from one of the three marine parks in Tanzania were randomly selected for this study. Data was collected through household interviews, key informants interviews, and focus group discussions with selected members of each of the VLCs chosen, and from MPA managers, village leaders, marine resource users, members of NGOs and researchers. The data collected was triangulated with secondary sources from published materials and with information generated during participant observation. The findings show that during the beginning of establishment of the park VLCs mobilised much greater participation and were viewed as effective conduits to MPA activities. However, the active participation of individual members within VLCs decreased with time due to unforeseen outcomes of marine conservation. Over 70% of survey respondents reported that the active role of VLCs to support the park activities has decreased significantly. This study demonstrates how institutional approaches in MPA governance are often poorly translated and adapted to fit the local context they are introduced to.

A causal analysis of the role of institutions and organizational proficiencies on the innovation capability of Chinese SMEs

We attempt to advance the existing narrative about the role of local institutions vis-à-vis the organizational capabilities of Chinese SMEs, and the influence of such linkages on the innovation capability of these firms. Specifically, we complement recent work by investigating the impact of macro- as well as micro-level aspects of Chinese institutions (Government support; Guanxi) on the ‘Improvisation’ and ‘Learning’ capabilities of Chinese SMEs and, ultimately, these firms’ innovation capability. Our conceptual arguments are embedded in Institutional, Organizational learning, and Resource-based theories. We isolate, unpack, and discuss several inter-related, yet distinct, causal mechanisms that ultimately influence Chinese SMEs’ innovation capability development. Based on a Partial Least Squares analysis of more than 200 firms, we find empirical support for all six hypotheses which represent the above-mentioned relationships. Our findings offer insights pertaining to: (1) the relative impact of institutional versus firm-specific factors in developing organizational proficiencies, (2) the mapping of macro- and micro-level institutional effects on organizational proficiencies, and (3) the relative effect of organizational proficiencies on innovation performance.

Globalization and innovation with Chinese characteristics: the case of the automotive industry

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the internationalization of Chinese new global players through innovation-oriented Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As). Design/methodology/approach The paper combines the analysis of East-Asian and Chinese multinationals’ international expansion within international business (IB) and innovation domains, with the “latecomer” perspective. It is a conceptual contribution, based on the role of local institutions and firm’s absorptive capacity. A theoretical framework is developed, and further elucidated with two illustrative cases of Chinese M&As abroad in the automotive sector. Implications for theoretical development and practical application are then drawn. Findings Chinese firms’ M&As abroad have become one of the preferential modes of developing innovation capabilities. The success of these endeavors is argued to be the result of a combination of a strong push from government industrial policies, along with significant internal knowledge assimilation and transformation capabilities. Originality/value The paper extends IB literature integrating the latecomer firms’ perspective within a novel conceptual framework, which adds to the traditional resource-based arguments about incumbent MNEs asset and knowledge-seeking internationalization modes, as well as institutional and multi-dimensional absorptive capacity perspectives.

From Guns to Roses: Understanding Community-Oriented Policing in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, police reform is an important focus of international efforts. After over a decade of assistance, however, there are still daunting challenges of public trust and police effectiveness. From a civilian perspective, the role of the police is a crucial one—and very different from that of the military. Communities, being at the very heart of security challenges, are well positioned to understand the intricacies of security and development. A police service able to work closely with communities plays an important role in managing conflict in the long run. Recognizing this, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior Affairs (MoIA) has steadily increased its efforts in community-oriented policing (COP), despite a deteriorating security situation since the withdrawal of US troops in 2014. This paper explores how COP in Afghanistan links with local communities and institutions to ensure both peoples’ security and trust. It begins by considering police-community relations through a broad lens of human security, which comprises the social, economic, political, cultural and legal aspects of their everyday lives. We then examine international assistance to police reform, how the Afghan police have developed their COP philosophy, and how this has played out in re-defining police-community relations. Using field data from Nimruz Province, we then look at the role of local institutions of chowkidari and shura in addressing people’s insecurities, and opportunities for linking these with COP efforts of the police. We conclude that there is a real potential for COP in Afghanistan that his locally owned and sustainable, if enough attention is given to inclusive processes and developing creative and flexible trust-building relationships with local institutions and organizations.

Changing the perception of smallholder farmers about cactus pear in Pakistan

The increasing demands on water and feed resources across the world's dry areas require alternative sources of animal feed - specifically crops with better water-use efficiency. One alternative with the potential for widespread contribution toward reducing the impact of reduced feed and water availability is the cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica). Therefore, the aim of this study was to promote O. ficus-indica as a feed resource for livestock, as it is a drought-resistant succulent plant that is spineless and holds a large amount of water. This study examined the adoption of cactus in Pakistan, through targeting 100 households selected from three strata groups: farmers not familiar with, farmers familiar with, and farmers who had already adopted cactus. Results indicated that there is a general acceptance of cactus by farmers, while farmers stated the lack of available technical or financial means as a reason for their lack of interest in cultivating cactus. The survey also showed that a large number of smallholder farmers are familiar with cactus and are also convinced that it can be adopted for livestock feeding. In conclusion, cactus has huge potential in Pakistan as a non-conventional and valuable fodder for resource-challenged areas, especially since farmers have very positive attitudes toward cactus adoption. However, more efforts are still needed to provide the appropriate technical information to ensure that the plant's potential is effectively realized; this can be achieved through the active role of local institutions, NGOs and farmers' associations.

POLA ANTISIPASI KERAWANAN PANGAN DAN PERAN KELEMBAGAAN LOKAL PADA DAERAH TERPENCIL DI KABUPATEN KONAWE

Study aim are: find out the level of food insecurity in Asinua distric of Awua Jaya Village Konawe Regency; to know the pattern of anticipation to food insecurity in remote village; to know the role of local institution toward the pattern of anticipation food insecurity that the communityhas done. This study was conducted in the village of Awua Jaya sub-district Asinua regency konawe March-July 2017. The result of study indicate that food insecurity in Asinua sub-distric is still in medium category tahat is at number three (3), where society experiencing food shortage about 3 month; the pattern of food insecurity anticipation in Awua Jaya village can be done in 2 ways, namely for the long term by increasing the productivity of rice crops through improving technology production and increasing the frequency of planting from one time to 2 time a year on irrigation repair conditions; and in the short term with the aid of food in the famine period from March to April each year. P3A intitutions have no institution related to food insecurity are transmigation service, food crop service, food security agency, farmer group and institutional P3A. The role of such institution has not existed except the transmigration offices that channel raskin 15 kg/3 months so it can not overcome food insecurity.Keywords: food insecurity; patterns of anticipation; the role of local institusions

CROSS-BORDER REGION GORA TREASURE BETWEEN THE THREE STATES

The development of cross-border tourism has been done increasingly popular in recent decades and especially within the European Union through various programs and projects. This study focuses on the challenges and advantages that are directly related to cross-border and prospective visitor co-operation and private entrepreneurs in this region. It will also analyze the attitudes of public actors towards the development of cross-border tourism and the challenges they face in cross-border cooperation. The main task of the scientific work is to recognize tourist potentials and their assessment as well as the current tourism development including prospects and problems which accompanies this development. Because of the importance that Tourism brings to the economy has become a priority of many states, being transformed in a global phenomenon, a key to integrating into the global mark. Tourism is also called the open door for international cooperation. Therefore our study will aim for the Gora Province to have positions in the regional and global market and be provided with a suitable brand. This region is distinguished for a rich and special culture and art. However there is a lack of research and studies as far as the role of local institutions and government is concerned with cross-border cooperation. For a qualitative approach, interviews with residents and surveys were used for tourists and locals with focus on current developments and challenges related to the development of cross-border tourism. Their analysis shows that there is significant interest how much is it to the development of tourism and the recognition of the area in the global markets.