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.

scholarly journals Enhancing the Role of Civil Society Organizations in the Fight against Corruption in Nigeria

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4(S)) ◽  
pp. 6-14
Author(s):  
Surajo Yahaya Muhammad
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
The State ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Modern State ◽  
Political Will ◽  
Independent Entity

Abstract: To ensure the attainment of good governance and sustainable development, corruption and its scourge must be combated. In Nigeria, the state has had series of anti-corruption measures by successive administrations in its 55 years of existence as an independent entity. While such measures appeared to have been well packaged, however, absence of political will and inability of the state to regard civil society organizations as important partner in the anti corruption has retarded the country’s ability to get rid of the menace of corruption, hence the inability of Nigerian state to provide effective and efficient services to its teeming populace. Being a partner in the development process of modern state, and in order to effectively enhance their roles in the fight against corruption, the paper proper ways upon which civil society groups can organize themselves and work with the state to get rid of corruption in the country.Keywords: Civil Society, Corruption, Democracy, Democratization, State

scholarly journals The role of applying good governance standards on civil society organizations to achieve sustainable development

2022 ◽  
pp. 130-142
Author(s):  
عاصم علي حسن الشرفي
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Effective Role ◽  
The Right

Countries and governments are seeking to develop their societies and achieve prosperity with growth for their people, through achieving comprehensive sustainable development, which guarantees the right of current generations to well-being, and preserving the right of subsequent generations through good exploitation of available resources, wealth and full preservation to the surrounding environment and not to destroy it. However, good governance reflects to recent global developments and changes that have coincided with changing in the system of political governance and the role of governments, as this concept was put forward in the framework of political programs in order to achieve development goals. Thus, good governance was provided and supported by international non-governmental organizations, such as the United Nations and international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, in order to add an authoritative, ethical way to practice power in managing the affairs of states and societies. The problem in this research paper was the extent of the contribution of civil society organizations in the development process, as a result of the weak role of governments and states, which forced these organizations to work side by side with governments in the process of achieving sustainable development. This paper relied on the descriptive and analytical approach and aimed to identify the important and effective role of civil society organizations in the process of achieving the development of peoples and societies. The study concluded that it is not possible for these civil organizations to contribute to achieving sustainable development with the absence or weakness of implementing and activating the standards of good governance, since good governance is the foundation to Achieve the real sustainable development.

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.

Ethical Appraisal of the Role of Civil Society in Nigeria

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Essien D. Essien
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Contemporary Literature ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Significant Implication ◽  
Civil Society Organisations ◽  
Inclusive Society

Contemporary studies surrounding the creation of civil society in Africa have revealed two important findings. First, despite the effort of civil society organizations in supporting inclusive democratic governance, promoting participation, advocating for transparency and accountability, sustainable development and stability remain elusive due to the challenges of social exclusion. Second, institutions central to the exercise of governmental powers exhibit inefficiency, weakness, lack transparency, and low credibility which worsen extreme poverty, inequality, and deprivation. Drawing upon extensive contemporary literature on social exclusion and inclusive growth, this study examines the role of civil society organisations as a pathway for social inclusion and sustainable development. Findings reveal that the management and distribution of services in the Nigerian society is largely inefficient and exclusionary, leading to myriad of social problems. This study has a significant implication for cumulative research on the subject of inclusive society and sustainable development.

scholarly journals Collective Action on Public Goods for Sustainable Development: Ethics in Action

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 14-27
Author(s):  
Lichia Y iu ◽  
Raymond Saner ◽  
Roland Bardy
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Public Goods ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Stakeholder Group ◽  
Moral Foundation ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Private And Public

Maintaining and expanding public goods is synonymous with promoting sustainable development but discussions are needed to clarify how policies need to be coordinated to enable collective action on public goods. Collective action for Public Goods will only be successful if all who partake in such actions can gain complimentary benefits that would be either more costly or impossible to achieve without the collective effort. Such complementary benefits are possible provided all stakeholders contributing to the public good of social peace and social cohesion cooperate with each other and preserve this and other public goods be they citizens, civil society organizations, all public authorities and all business firms. This concerted effort for a good cause can certainly be coined “ethics in action” – a notion which exhibits the moral foundation of the private and public choices inherent in sustainable development implementation of which interactions amongst stakeholders are no longer transactional, but rather aspiring toward greater good. Civil society organizations are key stakeholders producing, maintaining, and benefitting from Public Goods. They should strive for full inclusion, as there are many people who are either excluded or under-provided with respect to public goods. Public authorities, another key stakeholder group, need to cooperate with other stakeholders through collaborative frameworks and mechanisms for collective action that bind states and international organizations at a global scale. Another important stakeholder group, private and public enterprises need to operate within a level playing field globally, conduct business based on Responsible Business criteria and be welcomed to contribute to Public Goods creation in a sustainable and proactive manner without causing negative impacts due to their business activities. This paper presents and discusses how collective action can be achieved through concerted efforts by all members of society aiming to produce and maintain public goods essential for the sustained and equitable functioning of society. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development serves as a shared roadmap in achieving a shared future. Keywords: Collective Action, Public Goods, Sustainable Development, Corporate Social Responsibility, UN Agenda 2030.

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 Discovering the Future Canadians Want: Insights from the We Canada Cross-Country Tour

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Nasteska and V. Wee
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Earth Summit ◽  
Environment And Development ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Heads Of State

In 1972, the first United Nations Conference on Human Environment (UNCED) was held in Stockholm, Sweden. At the conference, government officials from industrialized and developing nations met alongside civil society organizations to create the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “This conference put environmental issues on the international agenda for the first time, and marked a turning point in the development of international environmental politics. It has also been recognized as the beginning of modern political and public awareness of global environmental issues” (Baylis & Smith, 2005, pp. 454-455). Twenty years later, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Earth Summit, was held in Rio de Janeiro. One hundred and seventy two government officials participated, of which 108 were heads of state (United Nations, 1992, United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, para. 1). This conference was one of the largest gatherings of heads of state, civil society organizations, and individuals in human history to date. Stakeholders met with the purpose of charting a course for a more sustainable future. From the conference emerged agreements, most notably Agenda 21, which created a framework for developing global, national, and regional plans for sustainability. The Rio Earth Summit has since stood as an example of what is possible when governments and citizens work together. The outcomes of this conference still affect human lives today, mainly through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meetings, which led to the Kyoto Protocol, the only legally binding agreement to cut down carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as Earth Summit 2012 or Rio+20, is regarded as one of the most crucial events in United Nations history and has been referred to by the Secretary General of the United Nations (2011), Ban Ki-moon, as “the most important global meeting on sustainable development in our time" (The Future We Want, p 2).

scholarly journals Guidelines for Operationalizing Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) as a Methodology for the Design and Implementation of Sustainable Development Strategies

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harlan Koff ◽  
Antony Challenger ◽  
Israel Portillo
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
National Development ◽  
Development Strategies ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Development Cooperation ◽  
Policy Coherence ◽  
Discussion Section ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Policy Coherence For Development ◽  
The Impact

Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) is considered a pillar of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. It aims to promote whole of government approaches to sustainable development. Despite its prominence in development cooperation discussions, many national development professionals or stakeholders have not heard of PCD, indicating that its effectiveness is significantly limited. This article contends that the impact of PCD has not been maximized because it has been presented as a political objective or a policy tool by multilateral organizations and their member states. Instead, the article argues that PCD should be implemented as a methodology that can be adopted by domestic government and non-governmental actors alike, in order to understand trade-offs and co-benefits within and between policy sectors, thus promoting a participative approach. I-GAMMA is a research project in Mexico that examines data-driven public policy in order to promote PCD. It is based on in-depth reviews of policy documents and interviews with development actors. It is committed to open data, evidence-based policymaking, and collaborative dialogue between academics, government officials, and representatives of civil society organizations in sustainable development discussions. In the results section of this article, the project proposes participative PCD as a methodology for policy analysis through which a plurality of actors can identify mechanisms that either reinforce or undermine sustainable development strategies. This section then applies the methodology to the governance of protected natural areas in Mexico. The discussion section and the conclusions highlight the relevance of this approach for participative policymaking in sustainable development.

National Research and Knowledge Systems

2020 ◽  
pp. 273-293
Author(s):  
Ronald Munatsi
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
National Development ◽  
Research Synthesis ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Knowledge Systems ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
What Works ◽  
Institutional Landscape ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Research And Policy

Strong national research and knowledge systems are important in national development. If libraries are well integrated in national research and knowledge systems vibrant spaces of intellectual interrogation, research synthesis and translation can be created. Such an institutional landscape is key in linking research and policy, and this is critical for national development. Research and knowledge systems connect and facilitate sharing of lessons learned, what works, where, when, and how among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers thereby strengthening strategic collaborations to drive vital national development initiatives. Research and knowledge systems where libraries are an integral component create robust communities of practice where there is effective use of research and knowledge in policy and practice. This chapter focuses on how libraries can be part of a national research and knowledge system through institutional collaborations and partnerships and how such a system contributes to sustainable development through promotion of evidence informed policy and practice.

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