scholarly journals Capacity development for urban water senior staff members, stakeholders and influencers in Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and Sekondi- Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
George Kwasi Agbenyegah
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Base System ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Customer Data ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
Adequate Quantity ◽  
Capacity Gap

 It is expected that adequate quantity and quality of service delivery is one of the preconditions that contributes to safe water and sanitation delivery. Yet the human resource gap in WATSAN sector is relatively unknown (S. Cavill & D. Saywell, 2009). This paper outlines a piece of research that was conducted to provide a reliable skill gap assessment and  building solution in Ghana to national water utility provider staff members, stakeholders and influencers.The Purpose of the Research is to undertake Training Needs Analysis that will be followed up with Capacity Gap Assessment and Enhancement in urban water management and service delivery in Accra and Sekondi- Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, GhanaThe research found significant relationship between staff, stakeholders and influences service quality delivery and customer satisfaction. Therefore, the study was followed up with staff, stakeholders and influencer’s capacity building initiatives and motivation techniques, communication skills, cost reduction strategies, assets maintenance, billing cycles, monitoring and evaluation as panacea to quality service delivery. Furthermore, the study recommended that the management, influencers and stakeholders should reexamine and re programme the organization’s conceptual framework, vision, mission and operations such as their customer data base system to capture their customer’s profiles and needs so as to deliver customer focused services.Key Words: WATSAN, Utility, Influencers, Service Delivery, Customer, Staff, Stakeholders, Capacity, Ghana

Counting Fish: Environmental Benefits Calculation for Avoided Costs Analysis in Urban Water Use Efficiency Planning

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Shulte Joung ◽  
Mary Ann Dickinson
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Environmental Benefit ◽  
Conservation Programs ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Water Savings ◽  
Urban Water Use ◽  
Use Efficiency

This report documents a project undertaken for the California Urban Water Conservation Council to create a method to calculate water utility avoided costs and assign economic value to the environmental benefits of raw water savings as a result of implementing urban water conservation programs. It is assumed that water savings associated with implementation of conservation programs can be quantified and represented as a reduction in the demand for water from a particular set of supply sources. This demand reduction may in turn result in a change to the availability of an environmental benefit provided by that source. Environmental valuation, as it is applied here, is relatively new and there are numerous complications, ambiguities, data gaps and differences of opinion in the application of the methodology. For that reason, this report should be considered a pioneering effort to put together all the required elements in a single coherent framework.

scholarly journals Parental Involvement Policies for Minors Seeking Abortion in the Southeast and Quality of Care

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kari White ◽  
Subasri Narasimhan ◽  
Sophie A. Hartwig ◽  
Erin Carroll ◽  
Alexandra McBrayer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Parental Involvement ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Health Service Delivery ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Patient Centeredness ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Staff Members

Abstract Introduction Thirty-seven states require minors seeking abortion to involve a parent, either through notification or consent. Little research has examined how implementation of these laws affect service delivery and quality of care for those who involve a parent. Methods Between May 2018 and September 2019, in-depth interviews were conducted with 34 staff members involved in scheduling, counseling, and administration at abortion facilities in three Southeastern states. Interviews explored procedures for documenting parental involvement, minors’ and parents’ reactions to requirements, and challenges with implementation and compliance. Both inductive and deductive codes, informed by the Institute of Medicine’s healthcare quality framework, were used in the thematic analysis. Results Parental involvement laws adversely affected four quality care domains: efficiency, patient-centeredness, timeliness, and equity. Administrative inefficiencies stemmed from the extensive documentation needed to prove an adult’s relationship to a minor, increasing the time and effort needed to comply with state reporting requirements. If parents were not supportive of their minor’s decision, participants felt they had a duty to intervene to ensure the minor’s decision and needs remained centered. Staff further noted that delays to timely care accumulated as minors navigated parental involvement and other state mandates, pushing some beyond gestational age limits. Lower income families and those with complex familial arrangements had greater difficulty meeting state requirements. Conclusions Parental involvement mandates undermine health service delivery and quality for minors seeking abortion services in the Southeast. Policy Implications Removing parental involvement requirements would protect minors’ reproductive autonomy and support the provision of equitable, patient-centered healthcare.

scholarly journals Exploring Challenges of Municipal Service Delivery in South Africa (1994 - 2013)

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Modimowabarwa Kanyane
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Political Process ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Direct Consequence ◽  
Municipal Service ◽  
Community Needs ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Local Municipality

This article aims to explore municipal service delivery challenges in South Africa between 1994 and 2013 in order to stimulate debate in addressing problems and challenges confronting municipalities. A fundamental question to be asked stems from the challenges of municipal service delivery. Why, in spite of the existence of regulatory and institutional frameworks, are municipalities still struggling to satisfy basic community needs such as water and electricity amongst others? All of government’s official documents and contemporary literature reviewed, including the summative record of historical facts and narrative data, are evidence of the qualitative research design employed in this study. It is clearly articulated in this article that the existence of a local municipality with poor service delivery is, amongst others, a direct consequence or manifestation of municipal capacity constraints, financial viability problems, service delivery protests, convoluted political process, corruption and poor planning as well as monitoring and evaluation challenges. In the main, the article accounts for why service delivery has failed to meet the expectations of the communities and thereby provide some possible propositions for consideration to attempt to bring a resolve to critical issues raised.

scholarly journals Making urban water smart: the SMART-WATER solution

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 2691-2710
Author(s):  
Gerasimos Antzoulatos ◽  
Christos Mourtzios ◽  
Panagiota Stournara ◽  
Ioannis-Omiros Kouloglou ◽  
Nikolaos Papadimitriou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Solution ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Unified Framework ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Smart Water ◽  
Utility Companies ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
And Control

Abstract The rise of Internet of Things (IoT), coupled with the advances in Artificial Intelligence technologies and cloud-based applications, have caused fundamental changes in the way societies behave. Enhanced connectivity and interactions between physical and cyber worlds create ‘smart’ solutions and applications to serve society's needs. Water is a vital resource and its management is a critical issue. ICT achievements gradually deployed within the water industry provide an alternative, smart and novel way to improve water management efficiently. Contributing to this direction, we propose a unified framework for urban water management, exploiting state-of-the-art IoT solutions for remote telemetry and control of water consumption in combination with machine learning-based processes. The SMART-WATER platform aims to foster water utility companies by enhancing water management and decision-making processes, providing innovative solutions to consumers for smart water utilisation.

AN ANALYSIS OF LOGICAL CONSISTENCY IN THE APPLICATION OF LEAN TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE BUSINESS PROCESSES AND SERVICE DELIVERY: A CASE OF DEPARTMENT OF FIELD SUPPORT (DFS), UNITED NATIONS

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Michael Boima Kemokai
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Large Field ◽  
Logical Consistency ◽  
Internal Resources

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the logical consistency in the application of lean techniques to improve the DFS business processes and service delivery and to create logistical pinch-points that improved the logistics and physical distribution of goods from the GSC and RSC to Field Missions.Methodology: The study employed a qualitative research design. The study targeted all the senior managers at Director Levels at the GSC and the RSC and all the senior operational staff from supply chain and service delivery pillars in three (03) large Field Missions. These field missions are namely United Nations Stabilization Mission in Congo (MONUSCO); United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS); and the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA). This study used purposive sampling technique. The researcher purposively sampled fifteen (15) personnel; with three (03) participants each from the GSC, RSC, and three (03) participants each from the three (03) Field Mission. Primary data was obtained from the original sources using questionnaires and interview.Findings: The respondents indicated that the logical consistencies observed needed an understanding, through measurement, a reordering model that included lead time, reorder point, and safety stock.  The respondents also indicated that the consistencies observed mainly relates to the overall approach of being more customer oriented while trying to optimize business processes and workflows. However, the respondents indicated that there were limitations in how the various organizations diversely applied lean concepts. There was no clear guidance provided on areas requiring higher prioritization; consistency throughout the departments, divisions and, missions when changes are applied (i.e. in structures, and functional organizational units). Additionally, lean analyzes were conducted mainly by internal resources that may not have been completely objective on areas being investigated, therefore bringing bias and subjectivity. Internal resources using lean techniques may not have been complete. Finally, the respondents indicated that there is no clear guidance yet. Policies and training have to be provided to staff prior implementing lean techniques.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that there is need to establish formal strategic plans to direct and align the work of the organization and supported by objectives and data-driven performance monitoring, analysis, and reporting. The study also recommends that there is a need for more efficient monitoring and evaluation of all GA resolutions and audit recommendations. The organization needs to monitor the manner of compliance with the provisions of the memorandums of understanding.

All Women Are Welcome: Reducing Barriers to Women's Shelters With Harm Reduction

Partner Abuse ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-428
Author(s):  
Angela Hovey ◽  
Susan Scott
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Service Delivery Model ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
Positive Experiences ◽  
Minimal Research

Women who experience domestic violence are more likely to use or become dependent on substances. Their health and safety are at greater risk when Violence Against Women (VAW) shelters have policies prohibiting admission if noticeably impaired. Harm reduction strategies can help reduce harms caused by substance use. Minimal research was found about impacts of integrating harm reduction in VAW shelters. We examined women's experiences with a harm reduction service delivery model at a Canadian rural VAW shelter. Interviews were conducted with 25 former residents to explore their experiences. Most women preferred to have harm reduction implemented, although most women also wanted changes made to harm reduction practices. These recommended changes would enhance positive experiences and feelings of safety for all women, thereby achieving the goal of all women welcome. Overall, our findings support the integration of harm reduction in VAW shelters that balances harm reduction philosophy and practices with the individualized needs of traumatized women and safety of children.

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