The United Nations and Governance in Middle-Income Countries

2014 ◽  
pp. 309-334
Author(s):  
Nicholas Booth
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The United Nations

scholarly journals The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Efforts to Strengthen a Culture of Prevention in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Heikkilä ◽  
Wadih Maalouf ◽  
Giovanna Campello
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Prevention Programming ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Culture Of Prevention ◽  
Low And Middle Income

AbstractThis article discusses how decision-makers can be supported to strengthen a culture of prevention. This article presents an example of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) work to engage with decision-makers to create readiness, demand, and capacity for evidence-based prevention programming among them, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. First, we utilized two of the UNODC’s data sources to describe the context where the UNODC’s prevention efforts take place. Analysis of the first dataset on prevention activities implemented globally revealed a gap in translating evidence into practice on a global scale. The second dataset consisted of UNODC policy documents mandating and guiding global action to address substance use. The analysis showed that at the level of political frameworks, prevention is gradually gaining more attention but is still frequently left in the shadow of health- and law enforcement-related issues. In addition, these guiding documents did not reflect fully the current scientific understanding of what constitutes an effective prevention response. Against this background, the feasibility of the UNODC’s efforts to bridge the science–practice gap in the field of prevention was discussed by presenting the results from the UNODC’s regional capacity-building seminars focused on the role of monitoring and evaluation in prevention programming. The results showed potential of this capacity building to affect the attitudes and knowledge of targeted decision-makers. Such efforts to increase decision-makers’ readiness and ultimately their endorsement, adoption, and ongoing support of evidence-based preventive interventions should be continued and intensified.

scholarly journals What drives political commitment for nutrition? A review and framework synthesis to inform the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. e000485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip Baker ◽  
Corinna Hawkes ◽  
Kate Wingrove ◽  
Alessandro Rhyl Demaio ◽  
Justin Parkhurst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Synthesis Method ◽  
Income Country ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Political Commitment ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Strategic Commitment ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Actor Networks

IntroductionGenerating country-level political commitment will be critical to driving forward action throughout the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016–2025). In this review of the empirical nutrition policy literature, we ask: what factors generate, sustain and constrain political commitment for nutrition, how and under what circumstances? Our aim is to inform strategic ‘commitment-building’ actions.MethodWe adopted a framework synthesis method and realist review protocol. An initial framework was derived from relevant theory and then populated with empirical evidence to test and modify it. Five steps were undertaken: initial theoretical framework development; search for relevant empirical literature; study selection and quality appraisal; data extraction, analysis and synthesis and framework modification.Results75 studies were included. We identified 18 factors that drive commitment, organised into five categories: actors; institutions; political and societal contexts; knowledge, evidence and framing; and, capacities and resources. Irrespective of country-context, effective nutrition actor networks, strong leadership, civil society mobilisation, supportive political administrations, societal change and focusing events, cohesive and resonant framing, and robust data systems and available evidence were commitment drivers. Low-income and middle-income country studies also frequently reported international actors, empowered institutions, vertical coordination and capacities and resources. In upper-middle-income and high-income country studies, private sector interference frequently undermined commitment.ConclusionPolitical commitment is not something that simply exists or emerges accidentally; it can be created and strengthened over time through strategic action. Successfully generating commitment will likely require a core set of actions with some context-dependent adaptations. Ultimately, it will necessitate strategic actions by cohesive, resourced and strongly led nutrition actor networks that are responsive to the multifactorial, multilevel and dynamic political systems in which they operate and attempt to influence. Accelerating the formation and effectiveness of such networks over the Nutrition Decade should be a core task for all actors involved.

scholarly journals Level of Income and the Investment Development Path Theory: Evidence From Africa

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824402110613
Author(s):  
Justice G. Djokoto ◽  
Paragon Pomeyie
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Development Path ◽  
Unique Data ◽  
The World ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Using Data

The investment development path theory delineates countries in stages I, II, III, IV, and V according to the level of development as developing, transition, and developed countries. The World Bank’s classification of countries by income, however, identifies countries as lower-income, lower-middle-income, upper-middle-income, and high income. In this paper, we test the investment development path theory for countries based on the level of income using data from 1980 to 2019. Africa offers unique data as it is the only continent made up of entirely developing countries together with countries that fit into all four classifications based on income. Income level classifications appear to enhance the position of countries within the investment development path ahead of that based on the United Nations classification. The use of income classification should complement that of the United Nations in the empirical testing of the investment development path theory for a more current investment development path status.

The Right to Independent Living and being included in the Community: Lessons from the United Nations

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (24) ◽  
pp. 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piers Gooding
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Disability Services ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
The Right

<p align="LEFT">This review will consider recent United Nations activity on article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) concerning the right to live independently and be included in the community. The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted its ‘General Comment’ No. 5 in August 2017, which offers guidance to governments on art 19 implementation. This review critically examines content relevant to mental health and capacity law, policy and practice. It considers the strengths and potential limitations of the General Comment with reference to key issues in the field. Gaps include commentary on the rising marketisation of disability services globally and a focus on low and middle-income countries. Yet overall, the General Comment offers useful guidance on implementing this unusual right, including concepts that may help resolve controversies about the role of coercion in mental health and capacity law.</p>

scholarly journals Global, regional and national epidemiology and prevalence of child stunting, wasting and underweight in low- and middle-income countries, 2006–2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paddy Ssentongo ◽  
Anna E. Ssentongo ◽  
Djibril M. Ba ◽  
Jessica E. Ericson ◽  
Muzi Na ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Human Development ◽  
Human Development Index ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Years Of Life Lost ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Development Index ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Meta Regression ◽  
Low And Middle Income

AbstractIn 2016, undernutrition, as manifested in childhood stunting, wasting, and underweight were estimated to cause over 1.0 million deaths, 3.9% of years of life lost, and 3.8% of disability-adjusted life years globally. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) using the 2006–2018 cross-sectional nationally representative demographic and health surveys (DHS) data and to explore the sources of regional variations. Anthropometric measurements of children 0–59 months of age from DHS in 62 LMICs worldwide were used. Complete information was available for height-for-age (n = 624,734), weight-for-height (n = 625,230) and weight-for-age (n = 626,130). Random-effects models were fit to estimate the pooled prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight. Sources of heterogeneity in the prevalence estimates were explored through subgroup meta-analyses and meta-regression using generalized linear mixed-effects models. Human development index (a country-specific composite index based on life expectancy, literacy, access to education and per capita gross domestic product) and the United Nations region were explored as potential sources of variation in undernutrition. The overall prevalence was 29.1% (95% CI 26.7%, 31.6%) for stunting, 6.3% (95% CI 4.6%, 8.2%) for wasting, and 13.7% (95% CI 10.9%, 16.9%) for underweight. Subgroup analyses suggested that Western Africa, Southern Asia, and Southeastern Asia had a substantially higher estimated prevalence of undernutrition than global average estimates. In multivariable meta-regression, a combination of human development index and United Nations region (a proxy for geographical variation) explained 54%, 56%, and 66% of the variation in stunting, wasting, and underweight prevalence, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that regional, subregional, and country disparities in undernutrition remain, and the residual gaps to close towards achieving the second sustainable development goal—ending undernutrition by 2030.

scholarly journals The importance of mental health in the Sustainable Development Goals

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (01) ◽  
pp. 2-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Votruba ◽  
Graham Thornicroft
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Health Target ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The United Nations

The United Nations' draft Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) only briefly mention mental health. In the context of a growing burden of disease due to mental disorders and psychosocial disabilities, the inclusion of a clear mental health target and indicators in the SDGs will acknowledge the needs and rights of hundreds of millions of people. It will mobilise international funding and policy development, and support other SDGs; it will also strengthen mental health structures, governance and services in low- and middle-income countries. We argue that for a just, sustainable and inclusive post-2015 development agenda, it is vital that the United Nations includes a clear mental health target and indicators in the SDGs.

Health Systems and Services During COVID-19: Lessons and Evidence From Previous Crises: A Rapid Scoping Review to Inform the United Nations Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery

2021 ◽  
pp. 002073142199708
Author(s):  
Prativa Baral
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Essential Services ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Practice Gap ◽  
The Impact

This rapid scoping review has informed the development of the November 2020 United Nations Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery, by providing a synthesis of available evidence on the impact of pandemics and epidemics on (1) essential services and (2) health systems preparedness and strengthening. Emerging findings point to existing disparities in health systems and services being further exacerbated, with marginalized populations and low- and middle-income countries burdened disproportionately. More broadly, there is a need to further understand short- and long-term impacts of bypassed essential services, quality assurance of services, the role of primary health care in the frontline, and the need for additional mechanisms for effective vaccine messaging and uptake during epidemics. The review also highlights how trust—of institutions, of science, and between communities and health systems—remains central to a successful pandemic response. Finally, previous crises had repeatedly foreshadowed the inability of health systems to handle upcoming pandemics, yet the reactive nature of policies and practices compounded by lack of resources, infrastructure, and political will have resulted in the current failed response to COVID-19. There is therefore an urgent need for investments in implementation science and for strategies to bridge this persistent research–practice gap.

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