scholarly journals Networking for knowledge capacity building of procurement professionals in Ghana

Author(s):  
Ernest Kissi ◽  
◽  
Isaac Offei ◽  
Emmanuel Boateng ◽  
Edward Badu ◽  
...  

The role of public procurement professionals in achieving value for money in public procurement activities is widely acknowledged around the globe. This has inspired the organisation of training programmes and workshops for procurement professionals, particularly those in developing countries in order to hone their knowledge and skills for proper management of government projects. This paper sought to explore the opportunities in networking for knowledge in capacity building of procurement professionals in Ghana. The study adopted mixed research methods for both data collection and analysis. The paper revealed that professional networking can offer procurement professionals the opportunity to acquire new knowledge from external professionals, knowing global trends about procurement practice and glean new information from other institutions about procurement. It is recommended that a platform that can support a network of procurement professionals in Ghana should be developed in order to ensure effective interaction and communication among procurement professionals for their capacity building.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-135
Author(s):  
Kristina V. Shvandar ◽  
◽  
Anastasia A. Anisimova ◽  

Global trends in the pension sector show that a funded pension, in addition to a pay-as-you-go component, increases the reliability of pension protection for retired people and improves the stability of the pension system. The article analyzes the main directions of reforms of both distribution and funded components. The common features of the considered pension systems are the presence of several levels and their effective interaction as well as the expansion of the role of accumulative pension systems. Reforms related to increasing the population coverage with accumulative pension plans are among the most common ones in the framework of the analysis. The main directions for improving the Russian funded pension system are highlighted, among which the voluntary payment of contributions and the ability to set the desired amount of contributions are the main components of the proposed changes, based on the analysis of international experience in reforming pension systems.


Author(s):  
Kristina Viktorovna Pogrebnaya

The paper examines the role of charitable activities in the formation of civil society in Transnistria. Based on the results of a survey, various aspects of the population’s attitude towards the issue are char-acterized, including awareness for charitable events, trust in charitable organizations and foundations, as well as public participation in such activities. The author of the paper explains the importance of form-ing the philosophy of philanthropy as a mechanism that promotes the charitable activity and creates a favorable cultural and anthropological, socio-economic, organizational and legal platform for its implementation. It is concluded that today Transnis-tria is disconnected from global trends in the devel-opment of the philanthropy’s culture. In this regard, measures are proposed to activate charity as one of the indicators of capacity building for civil society.


2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 350-375
Author(s):  
Dominic N Dagbanja

AbstractGhana's Public Procurement Act 2003 was enacted to bring about the judicious, economic and efficient use of state resources, transparency, fairness, and non-discrimination in procurement. The primary objective of the act is best value for money. This article assesses how, beyond being used to achieve its primary objective, the law should be applied to propel the capacity and competitiveness of local businesses in Ghana. It argues that effective implementation of the act can indirectly promote competition and industrial competiveness in Ghana. Therefore, procurement entities must follow the requirements for procurement, both to achieve best value for money and to build and improve upon the capacity of domestic industries. Competition, transparency and restrictions on the application of single-source procurement and restricted tendering can promote and encourage the participation of Ghanaian firms in procurement. This can enhance their capacity and competitiveness in both procurement and other economic activities in Ghana.


2006 ◽  
pp. 4-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Abalkin

The article covers unified issues of the long-term strategy development, the role of science as well as democracy development in present-day Russia. The problems of budget proficit, the Stabilization Fund issues, implementation of the adopted national projects, an increasing role of regions in strengthening the integrity and prosperity of the country are analyzed. The author reveals that the protection of businessmen and citizens from the all-embracing power of bureaucrats is the crucial condition of democratization of the society. Global trends of the world development and expert functions of the Russian science are presented as well.


2021 ◽  
pp. 104-109
Author(s):  
Chernysh O.O.

The urgency of the researched problem is connected with the growing role of mass media in modern conditions leads to change of values and transformation of identity of the person. The active growth of the role of the media, their influence on the formation and development of personality leads to the concept of “media socialization” and immutation in the media. The aim of the study is to outline the possibilities of the process of media socialization in the context of immutation in the media. The methods of our research are: analysis of pedagogical, psychological, literature, synthesis, comparison, generalization. The article analyzes the views of domestic and foreign scientists on the problem of immutation in the media and the transformation of the information space. In the context of the mass nature of the immutation of society, the concept of “media socialization” becomes relevant, which is the basis for reducing the negative impact of the media on the individual.The author identifies the lack of a thorough study of the concept of “media socialization” in modern scientific thought. Thus, media socialization is associated with the transformation of traditional means of socialization, and is to assimilate and reproduce the social experience of mankind with the help of new media.The article analyzes the essence of the concepts “media space”, “mass media” and “immutation”. The influence of mass media on the formation and development of the modern personality is described in detail.The study concluded that it is necessary to form a media culture of the individual, to establish safe and effective interaction of young people with the modern media system, the formation of media awareness, media literacy and media competence in accordance with age and individual characteristics for successful media socialization. The role of state bodies in solving the problem of media socialization of the individual was also determined. It is determined that the process of formation of media culture in youth should take place at the level of traditional institutions of socialization of the individual.The author sees the prospect of further research in a detailed analysis and study of the potential of educational institutions as an institution and a means of counteracting the mass nature of the immutation of society.Key words: immutation, media socialization, mass media, media space, information.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-223
Author(s):  
Ioan-Gabriel Popa

AbstractIn order to understand the principles of public procurement in Romania, it is necessary to analyze, on the one hand, the European directives that regulate the actual public procurement and, on the other hand, the context in which the European directives were adopted. Even with the directives in force, the more general provisions contained in the Treaty of the European Economic Community (EEC) in Rome, hereinafter referred to as the Treaty, are applied, as well as many more general principles of law that will guide the interpretation of these directives. The Treaty was adopted in Rome, in 1957 and became applicable from January 1, 1958. It is considered that the source of the principles of public procurement is the Treaty. Even if in Treaty contained no specific provisions regarding the field of public procurement, it reflects the principles and the general framework for the functioning of the single market, a market characterized through the prism of the fundamental freedoms established by the Treaty: the free movement of goods, services, capital and persons. As the field of public procurement is closely linked to the free movement of goods, this principle is promoted and implemented in the practice of this field based on the regulations, directives and decisions of the Community institutions. The role of the free movement of goods is to harmonize the relationships involved in the process of purchasing goods, but also to ensure the homogeneity, coherence and balance of this process.


Author(s):  
Victor Shpak

This article is devoted to analysis of the modern problems of book publishing in the context of national information space. Development of the Ukrainian state is impossible without development of national book publishing, which is a part of its information space. In Ukraine, as one of the post-Soviet states, the formation of new information and communication system is based on its own information tradition, mentality and features of spiritual culture of the Ukrainians. It plays an important role in shaping culture, spirituality, comprehensive vision and consciousness of the nation. They were and they are a source of knowledge and the most effective way of its transfer. The transience of processes occurring the era of information society, radical socio-economic reforms, sectoral technological revolution requires the continuous scientific researches and analysis, identifying the trends in publishing industry as one of the most important factors in the state’s democratic progress. The author summarizes the development of book publishing of Ukraine and shows its role and place in the modern information society. The study of the modern book publishing is impossible without digression into the past, without finding out the roots of studying of the analysis object. The specific problems of the book industry are identified. It is concluded that in the modern Ukraine the publishing business has intensified, although the positive changes are taking place very slowly: the appropriate economic conditions for development of the publishing industry have not been created, the equipment are outdated; editorial, publishing and printing equipment of domestic manufacture are nonavailable; introduction of advanced technology are low; purchasing ability of the population is low; the sales network of printed products has been destroyed and so on. The businesses are becoming increasingly uneconomical. We propose some measures to improve this situation, strengthening the role of industry in the national information space. The key to improve the situation may be systematic and persistent efforts of the Ukrainian government to support the industry.The reason is that a comprehensive study requires from the performers not only historical knowledge, but also economic, managerial, psychological, political efforts and so on. The most important thing that the society and the state should need is the component of doctrine of information security in the context of the national security


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 181
Author(s):  
Francesca Zonta ◽  
Christian Borgo ◽  
Camila Paz Quezada Meza ◽  
Ionica Masgras ◽  
Andrea Rasola ◽  
...  

CK2 is a Ser/Thr protein kinase overexpressed in many cancers. It is usually present in cells as a tetrameric enzyme, composed of two catalytic (α or α’) and two regulatory (β) subunits, but it is active also in its monomeric form, and the specific role of the different isoforms is largely unknown. CK2 phosphorylates several substrates related to the uncontrolled proliferation, motility, and survival of cancer cells. As a consequence, tumor cells are addicted to CK2, relying on its activity more than healthy cells for their life, and exploiting it for developing multiple oncological hallmarks. However, little is known about CK2 contribution to the metabolic rewiring of cancer cells. With this study we aimed at shedding some light on it, especially focusing on the CK2 role in the glycolytic onco-phenotype. By analyzing neuroblastoma and osteosarcoma cell lines depleted of either one (α) or the other (α’) CK2 catalytic subunit, we also aimed at disclosing possible pro-tumor functions which are specific of a CK2 isoform. Our results suggest that both CK2 α and α’ contribute to cell proliferation, survival and tumorigenicity. The analyzed metabolic features disclosed a role of CK2 in tumor metabolism, and suggest prominent functions for CK2 α isoform. Results were also confirmed by CK2 pharmacological inhibition. Overall, our study provides new information on the mechanism of cancer cells addiction to CK2 and on its isoform-specific functions, with fundamental implications for improving future therapeutic strategies based on CK2 targeting.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 261
Author(s):  
Md. Mahadi Hasan ◽  
Milan Skalicky ◽  
Mohammad Shah Jahan ◽  
Md. Nazmul Hossain ◽  
Zunaira Anwar ◽  
...  

In recent years, research on spermine (Spm) has turned up a lot of new information about this essential polyamine, especially as it is able to counteract damage from abiotic stresses. Spm has been shown to protect plants from a variety of environmental insults, but whether it can prevent the adverse effects of drought has not yet been reported. Drought stress increases endogenous Spm in plants and exogenous application of Spm improves the plants’ ability to tolerate drought stress. Spm’s role in enhancing antioxidant defense mechanisms, glyoxalase systems, methylglyoxal (MG) detoxification, and creating tolerance for drought-induced oxidative stress is well documented in plants. However, the influences of enzyme activity and osmoregulation on Spm biosynthesis and metabolism are variable. Spm interacts with other molecules like nitric oxide (NO) and phytohormones such as abscisic acid, salicylic acid, brassinosteroids, and ethylene, to coordinate the reactions necessary for developing drought tolerance. This review focuses on the role of Spm in plants under severe drought stress. We have proposed models to explain how Spm interacts with existing defense mechanisms in plants to improve drought tolerance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-57
Author(s):  
Jamie McKeown

This article reports the findings from a study of discursive representations of the future role of technology in the work of the US National Intelligence Council (NIC). Specifically, it investigates the interplay of ‘techno-optimism’ (a form of ideological bias) and propositional certainty in the NIC’s ‘Future Global Trends Reports’. In doing so, it answers the following questions: To what extent was techno-optimism present in the discourse? What level of propositional certainty was expressed in the discourse? How did the discourse deal with the inherent uncertainty of the future? Overall, the discourse was pronouncedly techno-optimist in its stance towards the future role of technology: high-technological solutions were portrayed as solving a host of problems, despite the readily available presence of low-technology or no-technology solutions. In all, 75.1% of the representations were presented as future categorical certainties, meaning the future was predominantly presented as a known and closed inevitability. The discourse dealt with the inherent uncertainty of the subject matter, that is, the future, by projecting the past and present into the future. This was particularly the case in relation to the idea of technological military dominance as a guarantee of global peace, and the role of technology as an inevitable force free from societal censorship.


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