scholarly journals The Gambia: Citizenship and Civic Consciousness

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. p96
Author(s):  
Fatou Janneh
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
National Development ◽  
Visionary Leadership ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Civic Consciousness ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Informed Citizenry ◽  
Media Reports

Citizens are an important component of national development enterprise. This is because citizenship is crucial to the promotion of nationhood. But being a citizen alone means very little if it does not come with certain responsibilities and civic consciousness. Through the historical lens of The Gambia, this paper argues, an understanding of citizenship and civic consciousness is necessary for sustained national development. It draws an interrelation among these concepts. Therefore, supports for responsible citizenship through education and emphasizes education’s role in attaining national development. Also, refers to primary and secondary sources. It uses oral interviews, content analysis of government publications, academic journals, books, and media reports to provide context to the paper. The article suggests some viable strategies for sustainable national development in The Gambia such as free and fair election, informed citizenry, visionary leadership and vibrant civil society organizations.

scholarly journals Measuring collaborative stakeholder influence and open budget actions

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 593-609
Author(s):  
Welles Matias de Abreu ◽  
Ricardo Corrêa Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Social Development ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Stakeholder Influence ◽  
Methodological Aspects

Abstract Collaborative stakeholder influence and open budget actions are important elements in governance in order to promote social development (Ansell and Gash, 2008). However, it is important to clarify how to measure these supposedly independent elements. The aim of the article is to identify ways to measure the influence of collaborative stakeholders and open budget actions. The methodological aspects focus on data collection through interviews and content analysis. The conclusion is that the number of civil society organizations and the presence of social councils and their operational components are relevant measures of collaborative stakeholder influence and open budget actions, respectively. In addition, this article highlights the relevance of integrating collaborative stakeholder influences with open budget actions. Finally, a research agenda is proposed.

scholarly journals Images as Afro-positivist narratives and counter hegemonic strategy: A study of #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (16) ◽  
pp. 601-628
Author(s):  
Floribert Patrick C. Endong
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
African Soil ◽  
Digital Cultures

To arrest the negative stereotypes of Africa in and outside the African continent, a number of civil society organizations and activists have launched various social media-assisted initiatives aimed at showcasing the positive facets of African cultures as well as the beautiful touristic attractions existing on the continent. One of such initiatives is the #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou movement launched in 2015 to combat the negative and colonial stereotypes of Africa through the sharing of beautiful images and videos of Africa on Twitter. The movement encouraged Africans of all horizons to share attractive images of Africa, particularly the ones that are rarely or never shown on mainstream media. Six years after the project was launched, it is high time to evaluate its strength and know some of its merits and implications. In line with this aphorism, this paper uses secondary sources and a qualitative analysis of images and videos shared on Twitter to examine the contribution of the #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou movement to the imperative of challenging colonial representations of Africa. It specifically discusses the genesis, trans-nationalization and promises of the project; and assesses the movement in the light of two philosophico-cultural currents/theories namely Afro-positivism and counter hegemony. The paper argues that the #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou movement put to question the popular but problematic belief that Africa is all about negativisms. It started a visual-assisted conversation not only about the wonders found on African soil but also about some of the cultures which non-Africans have often viewed as problematic or controversial. Such a conversation is a proof that Afro-optimism is still much alive on the continent and that; Africans are conscious that the fight against colonial stereotypes is a perpetual battle which must be fought even with the help of new digital cultures such as digitalized image-based activism.

scholarly journals The Landscape of Civil Society Organizations in the Economy of Kosovo

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 334-343
Author(s):  
Kushtrim Vllasaj
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Research Gap ◽  
Using Data ◽  
In The Beginning

Civil society organizations (CSOs) in the scientific literature have been studied broadly from various aspects such as cultural, political, social and economic. But as far as the last one is concerned, there is still a research gap because there is a lack of study about their contribution to economies under development, such as Kosovo, and which must be filled because of its importance. This paper tends to analyze the present situation of CSOs in Kosovo and their potential contribution to economic activity. Highlighting the activities, the structure and the place of these organizations in the economy will be the approach, in the beginning, to pave the way for further study of specific areas related to them. The methodology established contains analyses of secondary sources that are done by using data from the Ministry of Public Administration of Kosovo, Kosovar Index of Civil Society which is a regular report of the Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF), and other supplementary data. However, this will proceed after the scientific conceptual issues of CSOs and their place within the economy. Finally, the results show that civil society in Kosovo is very diverse with organizations in different sectors, and the economic activity sector consists of mostly agricultural NGOs.   In transition countries, CSOs are seen as an alternative that improves a particular sector. Thus far, there are over 10,000 organizations established in Kosovo, but relative studies suggest only 1000 to be active. Furthermore, their activity and contribution to economic development is little known so far, while the main problem of the economy remains unemployment.

scholarly journals How Much Is Enough? Explaining the Continuous Transparency Conflict in TTIP

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 16-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels Gheyle ◽  
Ferdi De Ville
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Central Issue ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Transatlantic Trade ◽  
Trade And Investment

Transparency has been a central issue in the debate regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), especially on the side of the European Union (EU). The lack of transparency in the negotiating process has been one of the main criticisms of civil society organizations (CSOs). The European Commission (EC) has tried to gain support for the negotiations through various ‘transparency initiatives’. Nonetheless, criticism by CSOs with regard to TTIP in general and the lack of transparency in specific remained prevalent. In this article, we explain this gap between various transparency initiatives implemented by the EC in TTIP and the expectations on the side of European CSOs. We perform a content analysis of position papers on transparency produced by CSOs, mainly in response to a European Ombudsman consultation, complemented by a number of official documents and targeted interviews. We find that the gap between the TTIP transparency initiatives and the expectations of CSOs can be explained by different views on what constitutes legitimate trade governance, and the role of transparency, participation, and accountability herein.

scholarly journals Las fundaciones empresariales y la agendación de políticas públicas mediante la gestión de redes de actores: el caso de NiñezYA en Colombia

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. 32-49
Author(s):  
Natalia Garay ◽  
◽  
Santiago Leyva ◽  
Carolina Turriago ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Network Management ◽  
Agenda Setting ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
National Development ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Development Plan ◽  
Policy Agenda ◽  
Policy Network ◽  
National Development Plan

This article explores the possibilities of network management to increase the capacity of business foundations to exert influence on the process of agenda-setting in public policies. This case illustrates how three foundations (Éxito Foundation, Alpina Foundation and ALAS Foundation) helped to coordinate one hundred civil society organizations to influence the Colombian National Development Plan (2018-2022). The case shows that business foundations can play an important role in setting the policy agenda by working as articulators of multiple fragmented actors of civil society. The article details the specific mechanisms used to pursue this articulation through the creation of a policy network known as NiñezYA. This in turn suggests that other foundations and NGOs could use the same strategies to increase their influence in policy making.

Moving the 2030 agenda forward: SDG implementation in Colombia

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 176-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria A. Pineda-Escobar
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
National Level ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
General Interest ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Development Agenda

Purpose This paper aims to contribute to the debate regarding the understanding of the multiple manifestations and alternatives for the implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs) across national borders. For this purpose, the Colombian context is taken as a case study. Design/methodology/approach The present study performs an exploration of SDGs implementation in Colombia, cutting across the macro and meso levels and the perspectives of governance-making and governance-taking. To answer the research questions, this study applies a two-stage qualitative research design with summative content analysis. Findings The study finds that the companies in Colombia are showing an interest in incorporating the SDGs into their corporate sustainability reporting. Although companies show a general interest in adopting the SDGs as part of their sustainability strategies, the findings demonstrate that very few would go deeply into the analysis of the SDG targets. The Colombian case might be a good example of how local governments are taking actions for the implementation of SDGs in their national action plans, policies and strategies. Research limitations/implications As is frequent with qualitative research, and particularly with content analysis, the generalizability of the findings obtained may only be applicable to those organizations included in the sample. The analysis at the meso level is limited to the private sector, and the findings are not applicable to other organizational actors, such as civil society organizations or academia. Future research can broaden the spectrum of analysis, both at a national and cross-national level. Practical implications The paper is of use for actors from the public, private and civil society sectors in Colombia, as well as for international actors with an interest in the ways in which the global sustainable development agenda can be translated into local action. Originality/value This paper contributes to the understanding of the different ways in which the sustainable development agenda is moving from the global level to the local implementation.

scholarly journals An Assessment of the Roles and Challenges of Civil Society Organizations on the Process of Democratic Consolidation of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-134
Author(s):  
Musa Kabir Umar
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Democratic Consolidation ◽  
The State ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
The Public ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Democratic Principles

organizations (CSOs) in the democratic consolidation of Nigeria. As the third sector, civil Society is known to be at the forefront in the democratization process for quite a long period of time, but their contributions are continuously being relegated especially by the state who viewed them with negative lenses particularly when they are opposed to their conducts. The paper had therefore tried to examine three civil society organizations namely Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Alliances for Credible Elections (ACE) and Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN). Methodology: It achieved this objective by using a qualitative semi-structured face to face interviews supported with secondary sources of data. Nvivo 12 software was used in coding, categorization and general management of data. Results: The study revealed that CSOs in Nigeria have promoted the reliability of election by observing every phase of the country’s electoral process. Indeed, the CSOs have promoted democratic principles of civic participation, political engagement and tolerance among some political parties thereby advancing democratic consolidation in the polity. They have also stimulated policy changes in some crucial socio-economic policies. Again, the study revealed that CSOs faced economic problems which seriously distresses their operations and sustainability especially inability to extend into rural areas. It has also shown donor organization influence on the organizations which encroach their ideological base. Implications: The paper concluded by suggesting that the civil society must devise a means of economic survival as well as further strengthen their capacity through training and retraining to fully understand how governments operate for effective and concrete criticisms that would enhance democratic productivity to the people. Civil society should be allowed to freely ventilate democratically without threats from the state since it inspires governments to be more accountable, transparent, honest and responsive to the public needs, which will make it further win the support of the public hence reinforce its legitimacy.

Contestation Overshoot

2019 ◽  
pp. 39-81
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Stephen
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Doha Round ◽  
Rising Powers ◽  
Social Purpose ◽  
Institutional Status ◽  
Policy Content

This chapter surveys the demands made towards the WTO during the Doha Round by rising powers and twenty of the most influential trade-related transnational NGOs. It also compares these to the demands of established powers. Using techniques from qualitative content analysis and discourse analysis, it analyses these actors’ substantive policy demands, and the argumentative justifications that they provide for their demands. It finds that while the rising powers are largely satisfied with the institutional status quo, they are strongly dissatisfied with existing policy content. Their demands reveal a social purpose that can be described as developmental liberalism. In this approach they have found allies mostly in market-critical civil society organizations.

scholarly journals Civil society promoting government accountability for health equity in the Caribbean: The Healthy Caribbean Coalition

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor A. Hassell ◽  
Maisha T. Hutton ◽  
D. Beverley Barnett
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
National Development ◽  
Health Inequities ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Government Accountability

Achieving health equity and addressing the social determinants of health are critical to attaining the health and health-related targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals. Frameworks for health, including the Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018 – 2030, emphasize reduction of health inequities and “leaving no one behind” in national sustainable development. Health equity includes advancing universal health and the primary health care approach, with equitable access for all people to timely, quality, comprehensive, people- and community-centered services that do not cause impoverishment. Equally important, and a hallmark of good governance, is accountability for such advances. Governments have primary responsibility for reducing health inequities and must be held accountable for their policies and performance. Civil society has been recognized as a key partner in advancing sustainable and equitable national development. Effective accountability mechanisms should include civic engagement. The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC), the only Caribbean regional alliance of civil society organizations working to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases—a major health priority fueled by inequities—has played a significant role in holding governments accountable for advancing health equity. This case study examines factors contributing to the success of the HCC, highlighting work under its five strategic pillars—accountability, advocacy, capacity development, communication, and sustainability—as well as challenges, lessons learned, and considerations for greater effectiveness.

The Role of Civil Society Organizations in the Pursuit of a Sustainable Development Agenda in South Africa

2018 ◽  
pp. 203-221
Author(s):  
Mbekezeli Comfort Mkhize ◽  
Wela Wellman Manona ◽  
Phathutshedzo P. Madumi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
National Development ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Secondary Source ◽  
Role Of Government ◽  
Development Agenda

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the role of civil society organizations in the pursuit of sustainable development agenda in the post-apartheid South Africa. The chapter examines the factors impeding civil society groups in relation to national development prior and post-apartheid era and how this role/s will affect the future of civil society in the country. This chapter adopts secondary source and argues that the fundamental role civil society plays in society compliments the role of government agencies in terms of solutions for development and poverty reduction. There seems to be a lack of focus in these areas in the post-apartheid South Africa. The chapter concludes that civil society groups in developing countries face challenges ranging from donor dependency, material scarcity, hostile legal environment, fragmentation, public legitimacy, and accountability. It is recommended that civil society groups need to be strengthened to ensure effective service delivery.

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