Governance System Research Articles

The realization logic of rural revitalization: Coupled coordination analysis of development and governance.

Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new stage. The principal social contradiction is the uneven development of urban and rural areas. The rural revitalization strategy has emerged as time has required. The realization of rural revitalization not only requires development to lay the foundation of the countryside but also requires governance to lead the development of the countryside. Development and governance are two indispensable aspects of rural revitalization. However, China's rural areas have long been in a state of development without governance, and this situation must change. Therefore, systematically exploring the relationship between development and governance is the key to solving the current shortcomings in rural areas. Based on the data from the statistical yearbook, the study constructed a set of evaluation indicators for rural development governance and revitalization and verified the model's effectiveness.The entropy method and the assessment model were used to calculate the comprehensive score of rural development, governance, and revitalization. The relationship between rural development and governance was analyzed using a coupled coordination model. The regression analysis model was used to explore the relationship between the coupling results of rural development, governance, and rural revitalization. From the comprehensive results, both development and governance show an upward trend, but the upward trend of development is better. From the analysis of coupling coordination between development and governance, the C value is in good condition, the T value fluctuates wildly, and the D fluctuates with the fluctuation of T. Judging from the comprehensive score of rural revitalization, it also shows an upward trend year by year. Judging from the regression analysis results of coupling coordination degree and rural revitalization comprehensive score, coupling coordination degree will significantly impact the rural revitalization evaluation value. The study found that current rural development and governance present a spiral coupling coordination relationship, and the degree of coupling coordination significantly correlates with rural revitalization. Based on the research conclusions, the study further proposes three paths to promote the coupling and coordination of development and governance. The first is an organizational isomorphism, which builds a coupled coordination system for rural development and governance. The second is to tilt resources and improve the supply of connected and coordinated factors for rural development and governance. The third is the operating mechanism to optimize rural development and governance's coupling and coordination path.

Economic and Financial Concern of Digital Healthcare Systems for better Governance- An Indian Context

"Digital Healthcare Systems bear great promise for better governance in healthcare sector in India. The age of Digitization brought many benefits to many sectors of administrative functions and healthcare remains one of the biggest beneficiaries. Simultaneously there are many issues of economic and financial nature that have emerged during successful implementation of digitization in healthcare. Issues that remain to be resolved are discussed in this research work and the promise that digitization brings for a credible governance of healthcare has also been explained in this work. After getting independence from an exploitative colonial rule India has come a long way to establish her presence in the global arena in terms of agriculture, industry, services and technology sectors. In this research work this long journey of development as a young nation has been refereed. Similarly the challenges that have been successfully faced have also been mentioned. The fact remains that economic and financial aspects being the prime areas of concerns in any developmental work need to need to be addressed properly. Here in this concept paper a detailed analysis has been presented to discover the paradigm of healthcare systems in India and systematic efforts by both public and private sector to resolve the issues in this particular paradigm. Nations change and so does their approach to development. But technology as a key driver in this development process brings many similarities across the world, hence in this paper, this immense applicability of cutting edge technologies that digital world offers to all has been duly acknowledged. India’s adoption and proper utilization of digital healthcare to resolve many issues of economic and financial concerns can throw light and inspire many other developing nations in the Indian subcontinent, has been justifiably presented in this research work, citing the limitations of the approach as"

The way to improve the quality of new smart city public service under the demand heterogeneity

Due to the diversity, difference and dynamics of residents' needs, the improvement of public service quality is faced with many challenges. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to improve the path of public service quality of new smart city under the heterogeneity of needs. This paper first introduces the background and basic concept of the new smart city, as well as the development process of the new smart city in China. This paper discusses the heterogeneity of residents' needs in the new smart city, and explains the impact of these heterogeneous demands on the public service quality of the new smart city. This paper also discusses how to accurately locate the service demand by strengthening demand research, optimize the resource allocation and realize the balanced development; promote service innovation to solve the impact of demand heterogeneity on new smart city, public service supply, public service resource allocation and public service innovation, as the reference direction for the improvement of public service quality of new smart city. Finally, this paper analyzes and systematically looks into the future of the new smart city to meet the direct needs of the public's survival, life, development and other social needs, as well as promoting the modernization of the urban governance system information and governance capacity as the main goal, and commits itself to the path design of improving the quality of public services.

Analysis of multi-factors affecting resource consumption efficiency in Vietnam

Theprimary objective of this study is todelve into the factors potentially influencing resource utilisationefficiency at the provincial level in Vietnam. We leverage 185 data points gathered from 63 Vietnamese cities or provinces, obtained from two key sources: the General Statistical Office of Vietnam and the Ministry of Information and Communications Vietnam. The collected data was subjected to analysis using an empirical econometric model that incorporates time-series characteristics to explore the connections between these potential determinants of resource consumption efficiency. The analysis revealed a strong correlation between resource utilisationefficiency and the quality of digital transformation, logistics performance, and various aspects of public governance,including accountability to higher authorities, control of corruption, administrative procedures, and public service delivery. Additionally, the provincial competitiveness index, encompassing factors like entry costs, policy bias, and labourpolicy, also demonstrated a significant association. These findings highlight a clear link between effective public governance and efficient resource utilisationin Vietnamese provinces. This suggests that robust public governance systems, combined with advancements in digitalisationand logistics, can play a crucial role in optimisingresource utilisationwithin Vietnamese provinces.

The Missing Piece of the Puzzle: How Different Water-related Public Concerns Contribute to Water Governance in China.

Public participation is crucial to improving the performance of water governance systems, especially in a governance model dominated by a top-down hierarchical structure. Public concerns, as a vital form of public participation, have been acknowledged as an essential component in contributing to water governance. However, few studies explore the varying effects of diverse public concerns in leading to different water governance outcomes. This study addresses this gap by exploring the direct and indirect effects of water-related public concerns on water pollution control and governments' pollution mitigating actions, using citizens' water-related posts crawled from China's social media. Results show that public water-related concerns contribute to water governance both through its direct effects on reducing water pollution and indirect effects by promoting policy actions. Specifically, the concerns related to water pollution hazards, water pollution monitoring, prevention products, and water pollution control measures have more positive impacts on water pollution reduction compared to other types of concern. Meanwhile, public concerns demonstrate stronger effects in triggering economic-related and infrastructure-related water pollution mitigation actions. This study provides nuanced insights to understand the role of public participation in improving water governance, the findings of which are insightful to enhance accountability of water governance systems through a bottom-up approach.

Resilience of the governance systems of two MSC certified fisheries in northwestern Mexico

Incentive-based management is an encouraging option in the quest for sustainability, and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is the most prestigious certification standard. It implies sustainability and resilience, but the latter has yet to be explored. Accordingly, we selected two MSC-certified fisheries, the small-scale red lobster fishery (RL) in Baja California (BC) and the small pelagic industrial fishery in Sonora (SP), to prove whether the certification success is reflected in a resilient governance network structure. To do so, we identify structural patterns that drive the resilience of the governance network in two MSC-certified fisheries. Data obtained through stakeholder interviews on different types of stakeholder relationships were used to construct weighted communication matrices to model governance networks. We assessed the individual role of each actor using centrality indices. We also analyzed how stakeholders are integrated into cohesive subgroups of the network. To evaluate resilience, we compared changes in the structure of governance networks by analyzing how network properties change each time the loss of an actor and/or its functionality is simulated. In both fisheries, most of the stakeholders belonged to the productive sector, actors involved in capture, processing, commercialization, and industrialization in the case of SP. For all centrality indices, the most relevant actors were similar or the same in both fisheries and belonged mainly to the regulatory and productive sectors. Cohesive subgroup analysis revealed that both networks are highly connected and collaborative systems. The simulations showed that in both fisheries, the decrease in the number of stakeholders did not cause abrupt changes in the structure of the governance systems. This approach reveals that, even in worst-case scenarios, the tolerance of governance systems to this severe loss of stakeholder diversity is high and suggests that following sustainable certification standards can lead to the promotion of effective and resilient governance networks.

Transitioning through a crisis: industrial customer responses to a green technology innovation scheme

ABSTRACT Government-driven innovation diffusions have addressed the intersections between technology, the environment and society, with far-reaching implications for both diffusors and adopters. In this paper, we introduce how industrial customers respond to a crisis using a case of a renewable heat incentive scheme that led to an elected government collapse. This crisis exposed institutional breaches, or an absence of functionalities in the scheme’s governance systems. Our findings test and extend the theory of Etzioni (1975) on responses to market crisis conditions: (i) calculative responses during the scheme’s initial diffusion; (ii) strategic responses during the surfacing of institutional breaches; (iii) distrustful responses after customer hardship was not addressed. We contribute a process model of the interaction amongst breaches and responses over time. Overall, this study brings forth insights on industrial customer responses to institutional processes and shows the evolved retorts amidst a crisis. It also identifies diffusion implications for policy makers.

Building Inclusive Political Citizenship in the Aftermath of Village Head Election through Amos Yong's Hospitality Concept

Abstract: Indonesia as a pluralist country holds the principle of equal citizenship, which considers that every individual and community group has the same rights and obligations and adheres to a democratic system of government. One of the main platforms to determine the leader who will represent the will of the people is the village head election. However, after the village head election, conflicts or disputes often occur in various regions including Mamasa, West Sulawesi. This conflict can threaten community unity and integrity. Therefore, the author links the phenomenon of post-village head election conflicts with citizenship politics and Amos Yong's Hospitality theory. The author presents the concept of hospitality as a new approach to overcome post-village head election conflicts and encourage inclusion in society. The method used is a qualitative approach by observing the phenomenon or case study under study, and using literature review to support the analysis. The purpose of this paper is to enrich the understanding of civic politics, apply Hospitality theory, and encourage new thinking in overcoming post-village head election conflicts. Keywords: Citizenship Politics, Conflict, Difference, Hospitality, Village Head Election.

Inventory land era and transformation of China's urban regeneration: An empirical study of Chengdu Hi-Tech West District, China

In the past, under the GDP-centered promotion tournament, the growth coalition theory was often used to explain commercial and residential district regeneration in China, which was property-led and profit-driven. However, currently, due to the new domestic and international environment, China is undergoing an unprecedented and profound transformation and entering the inventory land era, leading to significant changes in the assessment system for local officials. Specifically, the new assessment system incorporates a diverse array of indicators beyond mere economic growth, signifying a transition from a GDP-centered to a multi-objective promotion tournament. Consequently, in this new context, the traditional growth coalition is no longer sufficient to theorize current urban regeneration. Additionally, industrial district regeneration, the mechanism of which may differ from commercial and residential district regeneration, was often neglected before and requires further investigation. Through the case study of Chengdu Hi-tech West District, this study explores the transformation of Chinese urban regeneration in this new era. It argues that China's governmental assessment system has adjusted by dismantling the previous promotion tournament model based on economic growth in the new era. Under the multi-objective promotion tournament, local officials now consider other aspects in addition to economic growth. For them, IDR has been treated as an effective approach to protecting cropland, undertaking new enterprises with limited space, and becoming the flagship in promoting economical and intensive land use, all of which are of great concern to the central government. Therefore, local officials are keen on industrial district regeneration now, even though it does not yield direct and immediate economic benefits. In this process, they mobilize other actors and leverage key resources to achieve and balance their multiple goals. Accordingly, the traditional growth coalition is declining, while a new kind of coalition based on high-quality development is emerging.

Ակնարկ Այաթոլլահ Ռուհոլլահ Խոմեյնիի «Վելայաթ-ե ֆաղիհի» հայեցակարգի շուրջ / An overview of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's concept of ''Velāyat-e faqīh''

The concept of 'Velāyat-e faqīh' as a form of Shia Islamic rule became popular after the Islamic revolution in Iran and is the most important and dominant institution in the system of governance of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Islamic revolution was a radical and far-reaching change in Iranian society, aimed at overthrowing the Shah and establishing a new system of government based on both Sharia and civil law. The political, economic, and cultural future of the state was determined by Shia clergy after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini established a social society based on Islamic religious principles and developed a theory of state development. After the victory of the Islamic revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini put forward the theory of defending "Islamic power" as a religious priority, thereby strengthening the foundations of the religious state. The concept of 'velayat-e faqih' was an opportunity for a solution to the crisis of legitimate state authority in Shi'ism. It has enshrined in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran and is the basis of the state structure of the country and has the closest connection and similarity with the Imamate system.

High and very high risk of osteoporotic fracture in Colombia, 2003-2022: identifying diagnostic and treatment gaps.

This study aimed to assess the clinical features and refracture rates among patients with high- and very-high-risk osteoporosis in Colombia, highlighting diagnostic and treatment gaps. A retrospective observational study was conducted using the medical records of patients aged ≥ 50years who experienced fragility fractures between 2003 and 2022. Clinical and demographic characteristics at the time of the initial fracture were analyzed, as well as the subsequent imminent risk (refracture rate) and the diagnosis and treatment gap. 303.982 fragility fractures occurred, and only 5.3% of patients were diagnosed with osteoporosis upon discharge. The most prevalent index fractures were forearm, vertebral, rib, and hip. Only 17.8% of the cohort had a matched osteoporosis diagnosis, indicating a low healthcare capture. Among the diagnosed patients, 10.08% were classified as high- and very high-risk of fracture, predominantly women with a mean age of 73years. Comorbidities included diabetes, Sjögren's syndrome, and heart failure. The prevalence of osteoporosis has increased significantly from 2004 to 2022, possibly due to improved detection methods, an aging population, or a combination of both. Despite this increase, treatment delay was evident. Refractures affected 70.5% of the patients, with forearm, hip, humerus, and vertebral fractures being the most common, with a mean time of refracture of 7months. Significant delays were observed in the diagnosis and treatment of fragility fractures. Colombia's government and health system must address osteoporosis by implementing national policies that prioritize osteoporosis and fragility fracture prevention and reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment.

‘Hyper-active incrementalism’ and the Westminster system of governance: Why spatial policy has failed over time

This article seeks to explain why spatial policy in England has been so ineffective in recent decades. It offers a novel framework – ‘Hyper-Active Incrementalism’ – to conceptualise the way that public policy in this area is prone to being short-term, under-evaluated, reactive, fragmented, incremental and top-down. It applies this framework to a historical survey of spatial policy, offering a nuanced understanding of the causes of these pathologies. We argue that Hyper-Active Incrementalism helps explain the persistence of a range of Westminster pathologies, as it drives the ongoing dialectic relationship between over-centralisation and policy failure. The data drawn from our historical survey suggest that Hyper-Active Incrementalism has accelerated overtime, a dynamic of increasing governance fragmentation that contributes to the incoherence of the UK state. In conclusion, we argue that governments must learn from past failure not just in this policy area but also elsewhere, by adopting a system-wide approach to reform.

Rural Self-Organizing Resilience: Village Collective Strategies and Negotiation Paths in Urbanization Process in the TPSNT Framework: A Case Study of the Hongren Village, China

Studies on rural transformation in the context of urbanization have always analyzed it from a single linear perspective, either top-down or bottom-up. This leads to simplistic generalizations of rural transformation models and the standardization of policy implementation. Based on the TPSN analytical framework, this study adds the temporality dimension to form a more comprehensive TPSNT framework. This paper explores the complex construction of rural space in rural transformation from the five dimensions of “territory, place, scale, network and temporality“ and takes the urban village, Hongren, in Kunming City, China, as a case study to analyze the specific transformation process of a village. The research revealed the following: First, in the face of land loss caused by government land acquisition, traditional rural autonomous organizations that have been hidden under the modern governance system have been revived under the influence of traditional elites and completed bottom-up territorialization by using some “maneuver spaces “to form a spatial base for negotiation with the government. Second, the cohesion of traditional rural autonomous organizations has increased during this process, and with the help of mobile capital such as media and personal connections, they have developed social networks that transcend the spatial boundaries of villages. Third, these newly constructed social networks are used to carry out various political strategies at various scales and finally negotiated with the government to rewrite the planning plan so that the village can continue to develop and integrate into the city. Finally, the analysis of the temporal dimensions of Hongren village revealed that even within the same village, changes in the other four dimensions develop dynamically, and rural transformation is an ongoing process. Therefore, when the government deals with rural issues in the process of urbanization, it should avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Unified policy implementation standards will have an irreversible negative impact on rural autonomous organizations.

Layanan Pengaduan Jalan dan Jembatan Dalam Aplikasi SIMANJA (Sistem Informasi Manajemen Jalan dan Jembatan) Dinas Pekerjaan Umum Kota Tangerang Selatan (Studi Penggunaan Layanan Berbasis Sistem Informasi Manajemen Dalam Aplikasi SIMANJA Dinas Pekerjaan Umum Kota Tangerang Selatan)

The implementation and arrangement of management information systems in government and public service environments can be realized by optimizing the use of information technology which is increasingly developing with current changes. The use of information technology in an organization is a complete and interconnected unit in its work process as a system. The implementation of services based on management information systems or IT has become the standard in implementing IT-based government (E-Gov). SIMANJA is an Android-based application belonging to the South Tangerang City Public Works (PU) Department which functions as a public complaint service. However, in the application of the service, there is still a lot that needs to be improved, and there are still many people in South Tangerang who are still unfamiliar with the application. This research method uses a qualitative descriptive approach. In obtaining data, researchers used in-depth interview techniques. The results of the research are in six theoretical points where overall the South Tangerang City Public Works Department has implemented the six elements of excellent service in the SIMANJA application, although there is still room for improvement, especially in disseminating the application to the public and fast response.

Elisabeth Mann Borgese: Reflections from the Past for the Future of Earth Systems Governance

Abstract In a time of global ecological crisis, some legal scholars are calling for the convergence of law and Earth Systems Governance as a pathway for moving forward. Specifically, the Earth Systems Governance Framework is understood as an approach to steering the co-evolution of human-environment systems. However, as I argue, this path forward may not necessarily be new. Elisabeth Mann Borgese (1918–2002), Nobel Peace Prize nominee and founder of the International Oceans Institute, spent the better part of the past century theorizing, as well as seeking to implement, such ecological relational thinking. In this Reflection, I briefly introduce some of Mann Borgese’s contributions to global ocean governance and the ways in which her thinking speaks to ongoing research in the areas of Earth Systems Governance and Earth Systems Law.

Commons are cared for: Coexistence between humans and wild birds on the island of Kihnu, Estonia

Abstract Local knowledge is an essential dimension of humanity's relationship with the environment. Investigating the interdependence between humans and wild birds holds value in fostering a mutually beneficial relationship with avian populations. Gathering bird eggs is a significant practice for Kihnu islanders in Estonia. There are very few studies of this age‐old, complex knowledge that assess the topic from the perspective of the local community. This paper investigates the reciprocity and the relationality between people and birds and the position of commons in the local community practice of bird semi‐domestication. Several methods (interviews, participant observation and literature study) were used in data collection. We obtained information on local knowledge concerning 58 bird taxa. Locals named at least 21 bird species from which they have collected eggs. While collecting eggs is a central activity, the relationship surrounding egg collection is far more intricate. Locals take care of nesting boxes in Common Merganser which birds reside, collecting only a few eggs from every box. These nesting boxes are also constructed for passerine birds. Furthermore, caring for birds influences the soundscape of Kihnu and significantly impacts the cultural bond between local communities and the birds. Kihnu islanders are mindful of the changes occurring in the bird population. The intimate relationship between local people and birds is challenged when traditional ways of life are restricted by stricter nature conservation norms (e.g. banning the collection of bird eggs and visiting islets). However, birdlife is very important in ensuring biocultural diversity. Therefore, this study proposes several important future perspectives in promoting the sustainable development of rural life: (1) the introduction of pluralistic nature protection, including the opinion of local communities in the management of natural resources; (2) the promotion of birds as a means of pest control; and (3) reinforcing the reciprocal coexistence of birds and humans on Kihnu. We advocate for community‐centred nature management which takes into consideration Local Ecological Knowledge and its attached expertise, shared responsibility and benefits, sustainable development trajectories and local community‐based governance systems. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Structural Determinants of Health

This Invited Commentary focuses on a brief summary of how structural determinants of health (DoH) are framed in nursing and how a focus on the political economy of health can support identifying and addressing the ideological drivers of the structural DoH. Structural determinants focus on the politics and histories of enduring root causes of preventable injustices. There is a nascent literature in nursing regarding the structural DoH, which includes policy and governance processes, interlocking systems of oppression and discrimination, and social and economic structures that contribute to forces of power inherent in financial, legal, and governmental systems and policies. However, it is also crucially important to name and analyze their root ideological foundations because this is the space where structural change must be targeted. Various ideologies, intentionally or unintentionally, drive policy, politics, institutional governance and decision-making, and so on. The political economy of health is a foundational field that supports identifying these ideological drivers of the structural DoH. The invited commentary concludes with reflections and recommendations for nursing.

Is larger always lekker? A comparative analysis of South Africa's water user associations (WUAs) and catchment partnerships (CPs) and their impact on water, energy, and food (WEF) security

Complexities in water, energy, and food (WEF) governance provide varied systems and pathways that shape welfare outcomes. The biggest question relates to the scale and complexities in resource management and governance, which reaches a certain equilibrium to achieve maximum welfare benefits. This is a proposition that is assessed in this study which sought to compare the WEF welfare outcomes of jurisdictions under Water User Associations (WUAs) and Catchment Partnerships (CPs). The study used a multi-stage purposively sampled cross-sectional survey of 1184 households from Greater Taung and Magareng Local Municipalities (Vaalharts Water User Association) and Matatiele Local Municipality (uMzvimvubu Catchment Partnership) in South Africa. The Household Water Insecurity Experiences, Household Multi-Dimensional Energy Poverty Index and Household Food In-Access Scale, Min-Max normalization and Propensity Score Matching were used to analyze the data. There was association between jurisdiction and the level of WEF security. Households under the jurisdiction of a WUA experienced 13.8%, 6.8% and 9.3% higher levels of water, energy, and food insecurity, respectively. The study concludes that households under the jurisdiction of a CP had higher levels of WEF security, with complexities or lack thereof resulting in higher welfare outcomes. Therefore, larger is not always lekker. The study recommends either (i) scaling down of WUA to CP and/or (ii) diversifying by increasing the breadth and scope of stakeholders within WUA. The governance systems should be integrated in an evaluation to ascertain any impact on the welfare outcomes.

Study on the spatial network structure of energy carbon emission efficiency and its driving factors in Chinese cities

How to adapt to climate change while achieving sustainable economic and social growth has become a major topic of concern worldwide. With the constraints of the dual‑carbon strategy, the integration of regional environmental governance and energy carbon reduction governance is a prevalent focus. This study focuses on analyzing 282 prefecture-level cities in China. The SNA approach and modified gravitation model are utilized to estimate the energy carbon emission efficiency of Chinese cities from 2006 to 2021. The spatial correlation network and the QAP model are ultimately utilized to investigate the factors. The study presented the following findings: ① There are notable temporal and regional discrepancies in the energy carbon emission efficacy of Chinese cities. Generally, defined by high values in the east and low values in the west. ② The efficiency of energy carbon emissions in networks connecting urban areas in China is multidimensional, complex, and organic and has improved stability. ③ The developed regions in the east exert a dominant influence on the geographical network, while the central and western parts of the country, which are distant, are considered peripheral. ④ There are few connections within each segment of the geographic correlation network for energy carbon emission efficiency in Chinese cities; however, there are substantial correlations between segments, indicating the presence of a substantial spillover effect. ⑤ The formation of energy‑carbon emission efficiency correlation networks in Chinese cities is significantly influenced by disparities in economic development and government intervention. Conversely, the level of science and education exerts a significantly negative impact on this phenomenon. It is advisable to encourage the development of a spatial correlation network that connects urban energy carbon emission efficiency. This can be achieved through the implementation of specific measures, the establishment of a regional coordination mechanism, leveraging the strengths of energy-efficient regions in the east, maximizing the potential of each sector, and considering the factors that influence the outcomes. Compressing the driving factors and attributes of the spatial correlation network of energy carbon emission efficiency holds substantial practical importance for facilitating the ongoing expansion of the regional low-carbon energy network space and establishing a regional low-carbon synergistic energy governance system.

Advocating for human rights of LGBTIQ+ persons in multilevel governance systems

ABSTRACT Human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) persons have been and continue to be highly contested in different contexts all across the world. Their realization is an on-going struggle beyond the national scope. This article’s main interest is to unpack how the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons are negotiated and fought for in different governance arenas. Towards this end, I examine activist strategies concerning rights of LGBTIQ+ persons in southern Africa. The analysis zooms in on the strategies of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the national (Botswana) and regional (Southern African Development Community, SADC) level. The analysis is structured along the concept of contextualization. As an advocacy strategy in a highly contested field, contextualization is employed by national and transnational NGOs on two levels. They contextualize their strategies within a multilevel governance system; and they contextualize their activism practices to foster the human rights of LGBTIQ+ persons on these governance levels. With this approach, we can explain why some entities, such as the African Union, are targeted as agents of change for the human rights of LGBTIQ+ persons, whereas some are not even perceived as relevant platforms to engage, such as the SADC.