Power relationships and the formulation of anti-poverty policies in emerging countries: the case of Palestine

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Najwa Sado Safadi ◽  
Scott D. Easton ◽  
James Lubben
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Power Relationships ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Palestinian Territories ◽  
International Donor ◽  
Civil Sector ◽  
Partnership Approach

The process for developing social policies in the Palestinian Territories has undergone several changes in recent years. Most recently, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) formally adopted the partnership approach whereby policies are developed with participation by the civil society sector and international donor organizations. However, it is unclear whether these partnerships have been realized as little is known about the power relationships between PNA and these other parties. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 Palestinian ministry officials and a review of archival materials. The findings confirmed that Palestinian agencies, civil sector organizations, and international donor organizations are now helping formulate anti-poverty policies. However, the partnerships are far from balanced or equal. Due to strained relationships with the PNA characterized by tension, conflict, and competition, the influence of the civil society sector remains modest. Conversely, international donor organizations continue to exert extraordinary influence on the policy-making process through financial and technical assistance. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Towards an Innovative Olive Oil Value Chain: Options for Inclusive Development in South-Eastern Tunisia

New Medit ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mondher FETOUI ◽  
Boubaker DHEHIBI ◽  
Aymen FRIJA ◽  
Abderrahman SGHAIER ◽  
Shinan N KASSAM ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Olive Oil ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Agricultural Innovation ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Partnership Approach

The objective of this paper is to analyse the olive oil value chain (OVC) in the Governorate of Medenine (south-east of Tunisia) and the relationships between its main operators for an effective involvement and better performance and resilience of olive sector. Based on semi structured interviews and participatory multi-stakeholders’ workshops, OVC has been analysed and described. MACTOR approach has been applied to establish linkages among chain operators and activities in a partnership approach. Innovative interventions were proposed to strengthen farmers’ organizations to increase profitability of OVC. Empirical findings suggest that public-private-civil society partnerships are essential for the development of pro-poor approaches for uncovering technological and institutional innovations which may involve more inclusive olive oil value chains. The underpinnings of our argument will be of interest and value to both development practitioners and the research community engaged within Tunisia, and the wider region more generally, on initiatives aimed at fostering effective, inclusive and contextually relevant processes for agricultural innovation. ---- , , ,.

Factors Related to Organisational Commitment amongst Social Workers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Najwa S Safadi ◽  
Scott D Easton ◽  
Robert G Hasson, III
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Job Stress ◽  
Employee Attitudes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Service Orientation ◽  
Organisational Commitment ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Palestinian Territories

Abstract This study examined the contribution of social–demographic characteristics, employee attitudes and environmental factors in explaining levels of organisational commitment amongst public sector social workers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected in the summer of 2016 from employees at twelve local directorates of the Ministry of Social Development (N = 237) in the West Bank. Palestinian social workers reported extremely high levels of overall organisational commitment. Results of multiple regressions revealed predictors of this outcome, including job stress, job satisfaction and service orientation. As hypothesised, job satisfaction and service orientation were positively related to the dependent variable. Surprisingly, higher levels of job stress were related to higher levels of organisational commitment. Implications for organisational policies and future research are discussed.

scholarly journals The Attitudes of Pupils towards using Flipgrid in Learning English Speaking Skills

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-168
Author(s):  
Joan Lim Ker Shin ◽  
Melor Md Yunus
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Explanatory Sequential Design ◽  
Primary Pupils ◽  
Learning English ◽  
Speaking Skills

. The objective of this research is to conduct an investigation into the attitudes of primary pupils towards using Flipgrid in learning English speaking skills in a Year 4 Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) classroom. The research used a mixed-methods approach using an explanatory sequential design. Data collection was via a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with 60 CEFR primary Year 4 pupils with low English-speaking proficiency. The results of the questionnaire were analysed descriptively, whereas the data from the semi-structured interviews was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings showed that primary pupils in a CEFR classroom had a high positive attitude towards using Flipgrid to learn English speaking skills. This research has highlighted the potential use of Flipgrid in both learning and teaching English speaking skills in a CEFR classroom. More extensive research into the use of Flipgrid by secondary pupils in a CEFR classroom would be of further interest. Future research on this topic may provide greater insight into the different ways in which English educators can teach English speaking skills to secondary pupils. Moreover, the results could provide useful information to the Ministry of Education on the use of the e-learning approach in the learning and teaching of English speaking skills in the Malaysian CEFR classroom.

scholarly journals Connected growth: Developing a framework to drive inclusive growth across a city-region

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 565-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Beel ◽  
Martin Jones ◽  
Ian Rees Jones ◽  
Warren Escadale
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Future Research ◽  
City Region ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
City Regions ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Region Scale ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Manchester City ◽  
The City

This ‘in perspective’ piece addresses the (re-)positioning of civil society within new structures of city-region governance within Greater Manchester. This follows on from the processes of devolution, which have given the Greater Manchester City-Region a number of new powers. UK devolution, to date, has been largely focused upon engendering agglomerated economic growth at the city-region scale. Within Greater Manchester City-Region, devolution for economic development has sat alongside the devolution of health and social care (unlike any other city-region in the UK) as well. Based on stakeholder mapping and semi-structured interviews with key actors operating across the Greater Manchester City-Region, the paper illustrates how this has created a number of significant tensions and opportunities for civil society actors, as they have sought to contest a shifting governance framework. The paper, therefore, calls for future research to carefully consider how civil society groups are grappling with devolution; both contesting and responding to devolution. This is timely given the shifting policy and political discourse towards the need to deliver more socially inclusive city-regions.

scholarly journals Non-Territorial Spaces of Belarusian Political Nomadism

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-182
Author(s):  
Viktorija Rusinaitė
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Political Regime ◽  
Critical Events ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Democratic Development ◽  
Migration Strategies ◽  
Civil Sector

Abstract In Belarus the state systematically hinders the development of civil society. NGOs have difficulties registering, functioning and sustaining their organisations. Some individuals related to the civil sector are persecuted, fined, imprisoned. Therefore a number of NGOs are registered abroad and civil society activists move with them to continue their work on Belarusian issues. In this article we aim to define people who left Belarus in order to work for Belarus as Belarusian Political Nomads, using the notion of transnational subjectivity to explore their migration strategies. The article is based on 15 semi-structured interviews held in London (UK) and Vilnius (LT). Interviews were analysed using the concepts of transnational subjectivities and political nomadism, and combining elements from a critical events narrative analysis approach. People who left Belarus to work for Belarus are Belarusian Political Nomads, because they create new democratic development visions for Belarus. Their individual political motivation can stem from the critical events that were registered in this research as turning points. Informants, individual conditions, histories and life experiences influence the outcomes of these events in terms of interpretation and induced motivation to engage in civil society activities. Belarusian Political Nomads form their migration strategies on the basis of their transnational subjectivities, which can be characterised by temporal and symbolic relations to the receiving country, and long-term intensive dissociative relations to the sending countries’ political regime, as well as a strong relationship to the new visions of Belarus.

Management of Records in Adapted Buildings as Records Centres in Zimbabwe

Mousaion ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samson Mutsagondo ◽  
Getrude Maduyu ◽  
Godfrey Tsvuura
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Records Management ◽  
Personal Observation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Professional Management ◽  
The Government

This paper discusses the challenges of records management that arise from the use of adapted buildings as records centres in Zimbabwe, despite the advantages of using such buildings. A qualitative research approach was used as well as a case study research design. Data were collected from seven officers of the Gweru Records Centre through semi-structured interviews. Personal observation was used to triangulate findings from interviews. It was found that the use of adapted buildings as records centres was a cheaper and quicker way of establishing records centres throughout the country. However, a number of preservation, security and management challenges cropped up as the conditions of the buildings and the environment of the adapted buildings were not conducive to the proper and professional management of records. This study is important in that it explores the prospects and challenges of using adapted buildings as records centres in Zimbabwe, an area that has not been researched by many authors. This provokes archival authorities and the government to seriously consider establishing purpose-built records and archival centres.

scholarly journals Mapping domain characteristics influencing Analytics initiatives: The example of Supply Chain Analytics

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Tino Herden
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Research Collaboration ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Impact

Purpose: Analytics research is increasingly divided by the domains Analytics is applied to. Literature offers little understanding whether aspects such as success factors, barriers and management of Analytics must be investigated domain-specific, while the execution of Analytics initiatives is similar across domains and similar issues occur. This article investigates characteristics of the execution of Analytics initiatives that are distinct in domains and can guide future research collaboration and focus. The research was conducted on the example of Logistics and Supply Chain Management and the respective domain-specific Analytics subfield of Supply Chain Analytics. The field of Logistics and Supply Chain Management has been recognized as early adopter of Analytics but has retracted to a midfield position comparing different domains.Design/methodology/approach: This research uses Grounded Theory based on 12 semi-structured Interviews creating a map of domain characteristics based of the paradigm scheme of Strauss and Corbin.Findings: A total of 34 characteristics of Analytics initiatives that distinguish domains in the execution of initiatives were identified, which are mapped and explained. As a blueprint for further research, the domain-specifics of Logistics and Supply Chain Management are presented and discussed.Originality/value: The results of this research stimulates cross domain research on Analytics issues and prompt research on the identified characteristics with broader understanding of the impact on Analytics initiatives. The also describe the status-quo of Analytics. Further, results help managers control the environment of initiatives and design more successful initiatives.

Acceptance of the HPV Vaccine in a Multiethnic Sample of Latinx Mothers

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 472-483
Author(s):  
Ana Cristina Lindsay ◽  
Madelyne J. Valdez ◽  
Denisse Delgado ◽  
Emily Restrepo ◽  
Yessica M. Guzmán ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Hpv Vaccine ◽  
Female Adolescents ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Direct Benefits ◽  
Multiethnic Sample

This descriptive qualitative study explored Latinx mothers’ acceptance of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for their adolescent children. Data were collected through individual, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a hybrid method of thematic analysis that incorporated deductive and inductive approaches. Twenty-two ( n = 22), mostly foreign-born, Latinx mothers of male and female adolescents participated in the study. Three main themes and nine subthemes emerged from the analyses. Findings identified the need for increased efforts to raise awareness and knowledge among Latinx mothers of the direct benefits of the HPV vaccine for sons, including stressing prevention of HPV-associated cancers in males. Findings also underscore the need for improved health care providers’ communication and recommendation of the HPV vaccine for Latinx adolescent males. Future research should intervene upon the study’s findings to address barriers that remain and affect Latinx mothers’ acceptance and uptake of the HPV vaccine for their children, in particular their sons.

Achieving Financial Inclusion for Persons With Disabilities: Exploring Preparedness and Accessibility of Financial Services for Persons With Disabilities in Malawi

2021 ◽  
pp. 104420732110275
Author(s):  
Alex Nester Jiya ◽  
Maxwell Peprah Opoku ◽  
William Nketsia ◽  
Joslin Alexei Dogbe ◽  
Josephine Nkrumah Adusei
Keyword(s):  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Commercial Banks ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Persons With Disabilities

Deplorable living conditions among persons with disabilities and the need to improve their living conditions cannot be overemphasized. This has triggered international discussion on the need for deliberate social policies to bridge the poverty gap between persons with and without disabilities. In Malawi, expansion of financial services has been identified as an essential tool to accelerate economic and inclusive development. However, empirical studies are yet to explore the preparedness of financial institutions to extend their services to persons with disabilities. In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers from commercial banks in Malawi to understand their perspectives on extending financial services to persons with disabilities. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and a descriptive thematic analysis was performed. Although participants reiterated the need to provide persons with disabilities with financial services to improve their well-being, few initiatives have been undertaken to improve their participation. Particularly, participants stated that barriers, such as a lack of financial literacy and adaptive technologies, communication barriers, and high rates of unemployment, explained the reluctance of commercial banks to extend financial services to persons with disabilities. The limitations, recommendations for future research, and implications of the study for policymaking have been highlighted.

scholarly journals Staying Home, Staying Alive: Campus Food Pantry Student Clients’ Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 193672442110356
Author(s):  
Elmira Jangjou
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Postsecondary Students ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Income Loss ◽  
Food Pantry ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Seeking Help

In response to students’ food insecurity, a number of colleges and universities have taken action and established campus food pantries as part of their intervention plans. However, many of these pantries ceased operation due to COVID-19 campus shutdowns. The purpose of this study is to illustrate the short-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on postsecondary students, who use a university-provided food pantry. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with 12 participants, the thematic analysis explored the initial coping strategies these students used to endure the pandemic. Findings revealed that many students experienced the immediate effects of the pandemic in the form of income loss, self-isolation, anxiety, and appetite change. Although the pandemic interrupted these students’ journeys to continue their studies and become independent in various ways, the affected students implemented various coping strategies, including seeking help from family or friends, using available resources, cooking at home, and even trying to save money. However, considering that the targeted population in this study was already at risk because of their basic needs insecurity, these postsecondary students require extra attention from their higher education institutions in the case of emergencies, such as a global pandemic. In addition to its timely and relevant findings, this study provides important avenues for future research and intervention efforts.

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