Weak Institutional Capacity Research Articles

The unsustainability of humanitarian aid in internally displaced people (IDP) camps in Nigeria

ABSTRACT The Nigerian state is expected to perform functions critical to the protection of citizens against disasters and harmful emergency situations through effective management of humanitarian aid. However, the reality in Nigeria shows that the government is only interested in the relocation of internally displaced people (IDP) rather than their daily survival in humanitarian camps. In addressing this problem, this article examined the indicators, reasons, and implications of the unsustainability of humanitarian aid. It is believed that research in this direction would provide an understanding of a better approach to improving the sustainability of humanitarian aid. Drawing on the state fragility theory and mixed qualitative methods involving observations, interviews, and document analysis, the findings identified a lack of capacity to control violence causing displacement, weak institutional support, political will, and capacity to finance humanitarian aid as reasons why humanitarian aid is unsustainable in IDP camps in Nigeria. It also identified the depletion of host communities’ resources, untimely deaths, harmful coping strategies, and an increased rate of out-of-school children, among others, as the implications of unsustainable humanitarian aid. The findings suggest means through which the Nigerian government can sustain humanitarian aid in IDP camps in Nigeria.

Fragile Geographies and the Climate-Conflict Nexus: Investigating Climate-Induced Security Risks, Migration, and Inequality in Balochistan, Pakistan

Although climate change has been recognized as a “threat multiplier,” its specific effects on conflict-affected areas remain underexplored. This study investigates the nexus between climate change and violent conflict within the “fragile geography” of Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province. Balochistan’s increasingly fragmented security landscape and recurring natural disasters, notably the 2022 floods, provide a pertinent background for examining the interplay between climate change and violent conflict. A qualitative approach was employed, whereby interviews and group discussions were conducted in two Balochistan districts. The analysis revealed that weak institutional capacity, deep-rooted socioeconomic and political inequalities, and notably, “migration patterns” are critical variables influencing the dynamic interplay between climate change and violent conflict in the region. By analyzing the vulnerabilities inherent in Balochistan’s diverse physiography, this study illuminates how climate change exacerbates violent conflict in a region already beset by instability, highlighting the urgent need for a more nuanced understanding to address these complex challenges.

Kinerja Kelompok Lumbung Pangan Kabupaten Ciamis

Institutional performance is defined as the ability of an institution to use its resources efficiently and produce output that is in line with its objectives and relevant to the needs of its users. The main problems often faced by food barns in Ciamis Regency include weak institutional capacity and low participation, so this research aims to determine the performance of Food Barn Groups in Ciamis Regency. The type of research used in this research is the survey method. The data collected includes primary data and secondary data. Respondents were drawn using a simple random method. The number of respondents was 57. To determine the performance of food barns, they were divided into 3 categories, namely high, medium and low, and descriptive analysis was carried out. The results of the research show that the performance of the Food Granary Group in Ciamis Regency is in the high category. The level of institutional structure, clarity of rules, knowledge and participation of members is included in the high category, while the level of achievement is included in the medium category, this shows that the achievements targeted by the food barn are not optimal. The food barn's target achievement was not optimal due to the food barn members getting harvest results (production) that were less than optimal and the same as the previous year. Production is less than optimal due to pest attacks and erratic rainfall.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM: AN IMPETUS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND POLITICAL SECURITY IN NIGERIA

Over the last decade, the Nigerian government has undertaken a wide ranging policy, institutional, and legal initiatives to enhance the country’s public service delivery. Despite these efforts, the nation has grappled with a myriad of issues that still undermine good governance and political security. These challenges include weak institutional capacity, corruption, poor leadership, inadequate public service delivery, political instability, limited resources, poor infrastructure, and a shortage of skilled human resources. This paper examines the strategies and mechanisms employed by public administrators in Nigeria to enhance good governance and political security, analyses the impact of effective public administration on political stability and security and identifies the challenges affecting the implementation of good governance principles through public administration in Nigeria. The study has adopted the New Public Management Theory proposed by Hood in 1991 and relied on secondary data. Findings from the study show that Nigerian public administration has undergone a series of reforms to enhance good governance and political security through various strategies and mechanisms such as capacity building, international cooperation, and ethical conduct. The study also reveals that corruption and lack of accountability, bureaucratic bottlenecks and insufficient capacity among others have been identified as challenges of the implementation of good governance principles in Nigeria. The paper recommends that the encouragement and promotion of transparency and accountability be given top priority; citizen participation should also be encouraged in the planning and decision-making process; empowering local governments through the allocation of adequate resources to foster political security. The paper also recommends the establishment of a proper recruitment base to promote professionalism and meritocracy in the public service.

Challenges against the Achievement of Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies in African States

Disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies play a pivotal role in formalizing and enhancing the efficacy of disaster risk reduction efforts. The overall objective of this study was to assess the progress the African Union member states are making in developing DRR strategies as required by Target E of the Sendai Framework. The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches where an in-depth desk review of DRR strategies and online questionnaires were administered to 53 respondents. The findings shows about 68 % of the AU member states have national strategies and 35% have sub national strategies but generally there is sluggish progress in updating DRR strategies in accordance with Sendai Framework Target E. An array of formidable challenges has come to light, casting a shadow over the seamless execution of these strategies. Weak technical and institutional capacities, paucity of financial resources, limited decentralization of DRR initiatives, and governance deficiencies emerge as pivotal obstacles that warrant immediate attention. In light of these findings, it is imperative for African governments and their collaborative partners to expedite the development of risk-informed strategies. By doing so, they can successfully actualize the visionary objectives set forth within the Sendai Framework.

Sustainable Urban Planning and Development: A Systematic Review of Policies and Practices in Nigeria

This study provides a systematic review of sustainable urban planning and development policies and practices in Nigeria, analyzing their effectiveness, challenges, and successes. The Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act and the National Physical Development Plan form the core of the country's urban planning framework, aimed at promoting balanced regional growth and environmental sustainability. Through an in-depth analysis, the study reveals significant regional disparities, with major cities like Lagos and Abuja leading in infrastructure development and housing availability but falling short in environmental sustainability. Key barriers to effective implementation include inadequate funding, weak institutional capacity, and corruption. Despite these challenges, successful initiatives such as the Eko Atlantic City project and the Abuja Mass Transit Project demonstrate the potential for sustainable urban development through comprehensive planning, stakeholder collaboration, and local adaptation. The study underscores the importance of integrating environmental, social, and economic considerations into urban planning and offers practical recommendations for policymakers and practitioners. By comparing Nigerian practices with global examples, the study identifies valuable lessons and provides a foundation for future research and innovation in sustainable urban development.

One Health in Somalia: Present status, opportunities, and challenges

One Health (OH) is an integrated approach aiming at improving the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. It recognizes the interconnectedness of human health with the health of animals, plants, and the environment. Since Somali people's livelihoods are mainly based on livestock, agriculture, marine resources, and their shared environment, OH-oriented initiatives could significantly impact the country toward reducing complex problems affecting the health of humans, animals, and the environment. The term “One Health” was first introduced into the global scientific community in September 2004 and in 2013 in Somalia. After ten years, there is still a long road ahead for implementing the OH approach in the country. Herein, we present the status, opportunities, and challenges of OH in Somalia and recommend ways to promote and institutionalize it. The country has been involved in various OH initiatives solely driven by external funding, focusing on research, capacity development, and community interventions, apart from university-led initiatives such as Somali One Health Centre. In Somalia, OH initiatives face numerous challenges, ranging from limited infrastructure and resources to weak governance and institutional capacity. We urge the Somali government to address these challenges and prioritize OH as the main approach to tackling critical health issues. We suggest the Somali government institutionalize and implement OH actions at all administrative levels, including Federal, State, District, and community, through a mechanism to improve multisectoral coordination and collaboration to predict, prevent, detect, control, and respond to communicable and non-communicable diseases at the human-animal-ecosystem interface for improving health outcomes for all.

Ethnic leadership in the age of disruption: implications for South African municipalities

Municipalities are mandated to follow the principles of democracy, accountability, and good governance. This is evident in the delivery of basic services. Municipalities are directly responsible for ensuring that communities have water, sanitation, and so on, and that community members have a voice that affects their existence. This is, however, not the case in most South African communities, where squalor and sordid conditions prevail. In 2021, it was reported that 64 municipalities were dysfunctional and that the dysfunction was attributed to “poor governance, weak institutional capacity, poor financial management, corruption, and political instability”. A Code of Conduct is available in the South African public sector, governing the behavior and work ethic of public officials, councillors, and the like. Yet corruption and maladministration at the local government level prevail. Therefore, the Local Government Ethical Leadership Initiative was launched in 2020 with the view of devising another code focused on ethical governance in South African local government by October 2023. The research question that this article addresses is centered on whether a new code of conduct is needed and whether the problem with the existing code does not lie with its enforcement or the ethnicity of the public officials in leadership positions and their view on how to conduct business. The article employed a qualitative research approach where secondary sources of information, constituting document analysis, premised around disruption and ethnic leadership as well as the legislative framework in relation to the Code of Conduct governing South African local government in particular and anti-corrupt behavior in general, were explored. Four provinces were purposefully selected to partake in the study. Extracts from the AG’s report formed the locus of the study. It was found that one cannot explicitly say that ethnicity plays a role in how municipalities are governed. However, governance in selected provinces was marred by poor governance practices and inadequate leadership. The Code of Conduct for Public Servants is generally not adhered to. Further research around ethnic leadership in the South African public sector is called for.

Special Autonomy Fund Management and Strengthening Institutional Governance in Realizing Sustainable Development

Granting special autonomy to Aceh Province is the government's response to support sustainable development in post-conflict. This study aims to optimize the management of Otsus funds for the overall welfare of the Acehnese people, with the ultimate goal of achieving independence. This study focuses on explaining and addressing issues related to managing the special autonomy fund and strengthening institutions to realize sustainable development and prosperity for the Acehnese. Descriptive qualitative research methodology was employed, involving data collection, reduction, presentation, and conclusion. The analysis utilizes the accountability and transparency theory to evaluate fund management practices in Aceh. Findings revealed that the special autonomy fund has not been effectively implemented due to weak institutional capacity, hindering sustainable development and welfare. Transparent fund management aligned with good governance has not been optimally achieved. The dominance of local political elites in policy-making has led to ineffective government management of the special autonomy fund, while bureaucratic efforts have yielded limited results. Nonetheless, Aceh has undergone some changes over the past 15 years, although not yet significant.

Collective versus individual interests: The varying effects of public goods and services on tax attitudes in Africa

AbstractObjectiveTaxation is crucial for revenue, political participation, and the demand for accountability in Africa. Most existing theories do not predict tax attitudes in informal economies with weak institutional capacity nor do they demonstrate how service delivery translates to stronger tax regimes. This article examines the fiscal exchange theory— how government's expenditure affects voluntary compliance—across Africa, showing mechanisms through which service delivery affects tax morale.MethodsThe study uses a public opinion survey of over 41,000 respondents from 29 countries in sub‐Saharan Africa. The statistical analysis employs an ordered logit model and linear probability model to test the hypotheses.ResultsThe study finds that service delivery determines tax attitudes. In addition, the study examines aspects of service delivery that are of most concern to citizens and finds that services that cater to individual needs are stronger in inducing tax morale than those that address collective needs. The article also finds that citizens’ acknowledgement of receipt of goods is not an indication of inherent incumbent support.ConclusionThis study sought to understand the relationship between different modes of service delivery and the likelihood of having tax morale among African citizens and ultimately sheds light upon citizen–state relationships, effective governance, and voluntary compliance.

The Role of International Human Rights Norms in Combating Discrimination and Promoting Equality

This research explores the role of international human rights norms in combating discrimination and promoting equality in Indonesia. This paper examines the influence of international human rights norms on legal and policy reform, the implementation of these norms in addressing discrimination, and their overall effectiveness in the Indonesian context. Its theoretical framework includes an intersectionality approach to discrimination and recognizes the social construction of discriminatory practices. The study used a mixed methods approach, including literature review, legal framework analysis, and case studies, to provide a comprehensive analysis. Its findings show significant alignment between international human rights norms and Indonesia's legal framework. However, there are still challenges in its implementation due to limited awareness, cultural barriers, weak institutional capacity, and regional variations. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of raising awareness, overcoming cultural barriers, and strengthening institutional capacity to strengthen the role of international human rights norms in combating discrimination and promoting equality in Indonesia.

ДЕМОКРАТИЧЕСКИЙ ПРОЦЕСС В ЗАПАДНОЙ АФРИКЕ В XXI ВЕКЕ

The article contains an analysis of the democratic process in the West African states. The democratic process, widely imposed by Western countries and international institutions on extroverted African states with weak institutional capacities, is an obstacle to the development of some of these countries. If paradigms come from international prescriptions, then the transfer of public policies goes through complex processes of rethinking and selective adoption.

Financial inclusion choices in post-conflict and fragile states of Africa: The case of Burundi

Financial inclusion has become an important goal of the global development agenda, particularly for post-conflict and fragile states. Enhancing financial inclusion is vital for a country like Burundi which aims to achieve inclusive growth in its attempt to break free of its fragility. However, the adoption of instruments of financial inclusion such as bank account, microfinance account and mobile money account is low due to weak institutional capacity leading to high-risk exposure and a greater risk of economic instability. This study examines the factors that influence the adoption of these instruments of financial inclusion using the Multivariate Probit and Poisson regression models. The results show that there is a significant correlation between the instruments of financial inclusion, signifying that the adoption of these instruments is interrelated. The analysis also reveals that, factors such as receipt of government transfers, receipt of remittances, education, membership of a social network, access to electricity, employment status, and area of residence influence both the probability and intensity/extent of adoption of the instruments of financial inclusion. By implication, policymakers should enhance access to electricity, formalise employment and strengthen social networks to improve the adoption of financial inclusion instruments.

"Application of ARDL modelling in global structural shocks and their dynamic impact on FDI "

In general, sustainable economic growth is highly dependent on technological progress, managerial knowledge, and money supply in the economy. Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused structural shocks to economic systems by increasing high economic uncertainty. For this reason, policymakers are exploring alternative measures to stimulate economic growth. And among these alternative measures we also find foreign direct investment, which represents an instrument widely used worldwide. There is a trend among foreign investors that they increasingly focus on the quality of institutions, especially on FDI policies in domestic countries. For this reason, governments of developing countries are increasingly adopting soft policies to attract FDI. Generally, the policies provide substantial taxation provisions. Thus, by stimulating foreign direct investment in global economic operations, short- and long-term growth is achieved. The beneficial effects of FDI are given by their unprecedented impact on achieving sustainability worldwide. The motivation of this study is to scale the effects of environmental quality and good governance on FDI inflows in European Union member countries for the period 2002-2021. We used the estimation of autoregressive distributed lag and error correction models to investigate the association and elasticity of explanatory variables on FDI inflows in EU member countries. Thus, as independent variables we use CO2 emissions from solid fuel consumption and the sum of exports and imports of goods and services. Environmental degradation comes from the depletion of resources by human activity, and ultimately this leads to increased costs and depletion of capital. As a result, environmental quality is crucial to the health of both people and businesses. In the recent economic booms, international trade needs serious attention to form new policies to invite more foreign investors. And as control variables we introduce Government effectiveness index and Gross capital formation. We introduce these variables because it is believed that weak institutional capacity can have a negative impact on economies. The study results suggest that government efficiency and a less regulated environmentally concerned economy drive capital transfer decisions.

Can I borrow this? Policy transfer from Chile to Paraguay in the wave of diffusion of Conditional Cash Transfer programs in Latin America

AbstractThis article discusses the transfer process of the psychosocial support component of the Chile Solidario program to the Tekoporã program in Paraguay, which occurs within the diffusion wave of Conditional Cash Transfer programs in Latin America. Applying the process‐tracing method, we unpack the transfer mechanism in a temporal sequence of events and identify the actors involved and their motivations and capacities. The findings indicate the development of a mechanism of emulation due to the weak institutional capacities present in Paraguay's social protection system. The case study contributes to the understanding of transfer processes in the Global South and enriches the literature on the transfer and diffusion of policies in Latin America, and the link between the two processes.

Framework for Environmental Protection in Nigeria

This article aims to examine the development of Nigeria's environmental legislation framework. Nigeria needs help balancing economic growth and natural resource preservation as a developing country. This duality is mirrored by severe ecological problems, such as the destruction of the marine environment in the Niger Delta by crude oil and groundwater contamination in Lagos, the country's largest megacity. This research method is in-depth on normative legal research methods/library research. This article argues that more progress has yet to be made despite the greater understanding of the need to protect natural resources. The massive and ongoing contamination of vital natural resources underscores this modest increase. Investigations revealed that the same administration that set up this facility was also one of the primary violators of environmental norms and regulations. This often results in a system failure atmosphere where nothing works, and the environment suffers. The possibility of employment, environmental protection and environmental sustainability are advantages of enforcing environmental standards. Among the barriers to effective compliance with environmental regulations are outdated laws; high cost of environmental standards; weak institutional capacity; bad government; staff shortage; inadequate funding; personal interests; overlapping or conflicting laws; ignorance; and lack of the rule of law.

Effect of Structural Constraints, Weak Institutional and Technical Capacities on the Rate of Globalization in a Developing Economy (Nigeria Inclusive)

Effect of Structural Constraints, Weak Institutional and Technical Capacities on the Rate of Globalization in a Developing Economy (Nigeria Inclusive)

Exploring the Design Practice, Trends, and Gaps of Urban Bridges in Ethiopia towards Sustainability

Bridges carrying railways, roads, and pedestrians in rural and urban regions have tremendous characteristics. The case of urban bridges is quite typical for a visual view of the complexity of the characteristics of urban Ethiopia. The existing urban environment in Ethiopia demands great attention regarding bridge infrastructure. The dynamism of urbanity depends on multiple factors such as institutional capabilities for commissioning, monitoring, and decommissioning; professional competence; and culture. The provision of urban bridges should be viewed holistically, beginning with planning and design and continuing through construction. The approach so far has been single-handed, and this creates an unbalanced delivery of the infrastructure. This article explores the existential trends and practices of urban bridge design and identifies the main challenges of practicing sustainability in the design process in Ethiopia. The research is methodically based on a qualitative approach to identify the expert opinions of professionals and designers who are currently participating in urban infrastructure design. The data were gathered through interviews, and the findings show that the practice of sustainable urban bridge design is still in its infancy, and even the concept is unclear to many professionals in the field. While the study emphasizes the importance of sustainable urban bridge provision, it also highlights challenges such as lack of awareness, weak institutional capacity and culture, and lack of mandatory sustainable codes and standards.

Public Administration Developments in Ethiopia Under Three Different Regimes

The paper summarises and analyses the development of the public administration system in Ethiopia under three different regimes. The research mainly follows the traditional legal and administrative history approach methodology, focusing on the most significant historical, political, and legislative events (e.g. adoptions of constitutions) of the given eras, drawing attention to the main problems and reviewing them critically. Under Emperor Haile Selassie (1930–1974), Ethiopia was a centralised unitary state in the form of a feudal authoritarian monarchy. During the Derg regime (1974–1991), it remained a centralised unitary state, but with the concept of socialism, the military junta concentrated the power in their hands. The different government and administrative systems are characterized by weak and strong political, economic, and social achievements. Among these is a lack of good governance, human rights violations, weak institutional capacities, low citizen participation, and an (in)appropriate public administration system. These brought the nationality question to the forefront. The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF, 1991–2019) established a decentralised federation, whereby parliamentary democracy guarantees a separation of powers with checks and balances and acknowledges the rights and self-determination of different ethnicities. In 2019 the EPRDF was dissolved and transformed into the Prosperity Party (PP). The reform forced the resignation of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the ruling party in the Tigray Region, and as a result, the EPRDF split into PP and TPLF. Meanwhile, public administration transformed from a monarchial administrative system into a weak public administration with poorly functioning state agencies; finally, the present system works under western influences. To mitigate these problems, institutional reforms, effective and efficient use of modern technologies, and inter-institutional cooperation play essential roles in improving the public administration system.

Tenure responsive land use planning in Ghana: evidence from peri-urban Tamale

ABSTRACT Due partly to rapid urbanisation and the re-interpretation of customary land tenure, land use planning in Ghana is sometimes associated with tenure insecurities in peri-urban areas. Contributing to the emerging debate on Tenure Responsive Land Use Planning (TR-LUP), this paper assesses the tenure responsiveness of land use planning projects in peri-urban Tamale based on data gathered from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders. It is argued that the current tenure insecurity challenges that characterised land use planning projects in peri-urban Ghana emanate primarily from limited stakeholder participation, land commodification, re-interpretation of customary land tenure, and weak institutional capacities of local planning agencies. The paper adds insights to the challenges surrounding the applicability of the TR-LUP concept by highlighting how land use planning influences tenure security in customary land tenure contexts. Finally, it proposes policy measures to protect the land use rights of peri-urban dwellers.