scholarly journals Recognizing Determinants to Smallholders’ Market Orientation and Marketing Arrangements: Building on a Case of Dairy Farming in Rural Kenya

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 572
Author(s):  
James Wangu ◽  
Ellen Mangnus ◽  
A. C. M. (Guus) van Westen
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
External Support ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Empirical Inquiry ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Research ◽  
Commercial Farming ◽  
Market Perceptions ◽  
Cooperative Marketing

Smallholder commercialization is central to international development policy and practice. As a result, several arrangements to foster market linkages are being implemented. Especially popular are farmers’ organizations, which are believed to be owned, controlled, and financed by smallholders. As such, their design is considered inclusive given every household in a community is theoretically allowed to become a member, and the governance and management structure encourage participatory decision-making. However, even in the context in which farmers’ organizations are actively promoted, a notable proportion of smallholders may not be able to engage in market-oriented production or may opt for the existing alternative marketing arrangements, as dictated by individual households’ socioeconomic characteristics. Focusing on the case of smallholder farming in Olenguruone, Nakuru county, Kenya, where a donor funded dairy farmers’ cooperative marketing arrangement is promoted alongside existing marketing opportunities, the present research investigated the factors that determine smallholders’ commercial farming orientation and marketing arrangements. It employed a case study approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods for a more complete empirical inquiry. The findings demonstrate that irrespective of the external support provided through marketing opportunities such as farmer organizations, smallholders’ engagement in commercial farming and marketing is dictated by the socioeconomic attributes and market perceptions that are heterogeneous among households in a smallholder community.

scholarly journals Charting a course to an emerging field of 'research engagement studies': A conceptual meta-synthesis

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jude Fransman
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Development ◽  
Higher Education Policy ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Research Engagement ◽  
The Past ◽  
Narrow Definition ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Education Science

The past decades in the UK have witnessed renewed interest by policymakers, research funders and research institutions in the engagement of non-academic individuals, groups and organizations with research processes and products. There has been a broad consensus that better engagement leads to better impact, as well as significant learning around understanding engagement and improving practice. However, this sits in tension to a parallel trend in British higher education policy that reduces the field to a narrow definition of quantitatively measured impacts attributed to individual researchers, projects and institutions. In response, this article argues for the mobilization of an emerging field of 'research engagement studies' that brings together an extensive and diverse existing literature around understandings and experiences of engagement, and has the potential to contribute both strategically and conceptually to the broader impact debate. However, to inform this, some stocktaking is needed to trace the different traditions back to their conceptual roots and chart out a common set of themes, approaches and framings across the literature. In response, this article maps the literature by developing a genealogy of understandings of research engagement within five UK-based domains of policy and practice: higher education; science and technology; public policy (health, social care and education); international development; and community development. After identifying patterns and trends within and across these clusters, the article concludes by proposing a framework for comparing understandings of engagement, and uses this framework to highlight trends, gaps and ways forward for the emerging field.

scholarly journals Problematizing Scientization in International Organizations

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 6-22
Author(s):  
Teklu Abate Bekele
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Global Governance ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Comparative Education ◽  
Organizational Legitimacy ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Recent Emergence ◽  
Education And Development

Comparative education studies examined the roles multilateral organizations and non-governmental organizations play in global governance and international development. Emphasis has been given to their engagements both at policy and practice levels as well as their impacts. Generally, the mechanisms international organizations use to govern education and development seem qualitatively to change over time. The most recent emerging research trajectory explains how international organizations primarily use the power of scientific knowledge for organizational legitimacy, credibility, and impact. This is referred to in the literature as soft governance, epistemic governance, scientization, or scientific multilateralism, as it significantly relies on the authority of scientific knowledge as opposed to hard, financial preconditions, for global governance and development. Our understanding of scientization is still in its ‘infancy’, partly due to its relatively recent emergence and partly due to the use of varied indicators to assess it across organizational types. To contribute toward further theorization, this study problematizes scientization in international organizations, with a focus on multilateral, intergovernmental organizations. The study is organized around answering this overarching question: What are the conceptual and methodological attributes or features of scientization in international organizations? Using sociological theories and conceptions of policymaking and transfer, it discusses core substantive, methodological, and theoretical issues of scientization having relevance for further research.

Building Success in Development and Peacebuilding by Caring for Carers: A Guide to Research, Policy and Practice to Ensure Effective, Inclusive and Responsive Interventions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor Gordon ◽  
Briony Jones
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Knowledge Communities ◽  
International Organisations ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
The Individual

The experiences and marginalisation of international organisation employees with caring responsibilities has a direct negative impact on the type of security and justice being built in conflict-affected environments. This is in large part because international organisations fail to respond to the needs of those with caring responsibilities, which leads to their early departure from the field, and negatively affects their work while in post. In this toolkit we describe this problem, the exacerbating factors, and challenges to overcoming it. We offer a theory of change demonstrating how caring for carers can both improve the working conditions of employees of international organisations as well as the effectiveness, inclusivity and responsiveness of peace and justice interventions. This is important because it raises awareness among employers in the sector of the severity of the problem and its consequences. We also offer a guide for employers for how to take the caring responsibilities of their employees into account when developing human resource policies and practices, designing working conditions and planning interventions. Finally, we underscore the importance of conducting research on the gendered impacts of the marginalisation of employees with caring responsibilities, not least because of the breadth and depth of resultant individual, organisational and sectoral harms. In this regard, we also draw attention to the way in which gender stereotypes and gender biases not only inform and undermine peacebuilding efforts, but also permeate research in this field. Our toolkit is aimed at international organisation employees, employers and human resources personnel, as well as students and scholars of peacebuilding and international development. We see these communities of knowledge and action as overlapping, with insights to be brought to bear as well as challenges to be overcome in this area. The content of the toolkit is equally relevant across these knowledge communities as well as between different specialisms and disciplines. Peacebuilding and development draw in experts from economics, politics, anthropology, sociology and law, to name but a few. The authors of this toolkit have come together from gender studies, political science, and development studies to develop a theory of change informed by interdisciplinary insights. We hope, therefore, that this toolkit will be useful to an inclusive and interdisciplinary set of knowledge communities. Our core argument - that caring for carers benefits the individual, the sectors, and the intended beneficiaries of interventions - is relevant for students, researchers, policy makers and practitioners alike.

The Role of Social Media in Public Involvement

2018 ◽  
pp. 310-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tooran Alizadeh ◽  
Reza Farid ◽  
Laura Willems
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
International Development ◽  
International Institutions ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Planning Profession ◽  
Show Evidence

This chapter explores social media's potential to enhance public involvement to pursue sustainable practices on an international scale across planning and development projects. Using a case-study approach, the international institutions of the World Bank, UN-Habitat, Unilever, and World Business Council for Sustainable Development are investigated. The relationship between public versus the institutions' intake on sustainability is examined. Findings identify strong public push for increased sustainability in international development and show evidence of the ways in which international institutions respond to the public. Contributing to the social media research field, it offers an alternative application to the planning profession via e-planning. This could contribute to an extended form of public engagement through social media that goes beyond the limiting geographical borders of each local community, and assesses planning and development projects for their broader sustainability implications on an international platform.

scholarly journals ‘Dudes Are Meant to be Tough as Nails’: The Complex Nexus Between Masculinities, Culture and Health Literacy From the Perspective of Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Males – Implications for Policy and Practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 155798832093612 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Smith ◽  
Anthony Merlino ◽  
Ben Christie ◽  
Mick Adams ◽  
Jason Bonson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Charles Darwin ◽  
Well Being ◽  
External Support ◽  
Support Structures ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Data Ethics ◽  
Torres Strait

Health literacy is generally conceptualized as skills related to successfully navigating health – ultimately linked to well-being and improved health outcomes. Culture, gender and age are considered to be influential determinants of health literacy. The nexus between these determinants, and their collective relationship with health literacy, remains understudied, especially with respect to Indigenous people globally. This article presents findings from a recent study that examined the intersections between masculinities, culture, age and health literacy among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males, aged 14–25 years in the Northern Territory, Australia. A mixed-methods approach was utilized to engage young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males. The qualitative components included Yarning Sessions and Photovoice using Facebook, which are used in this article. Thematic Analysis and Framework Analysis were used to group and analyse the data. Ethics approval was granted by Charles Darwin University Human Research Ethics Committee (H18043). This cohort constructs a complex interface comprising Western and Aboriginal cultural paradigms, through which they navigate health. Alternative Indigenous masculinities, which embrace and resist hegemonic masculine norms simultaneously shaped this interface. External support structures – including family, friends and community engagement programs – were critical in fostering health literacy abilities among this cohort. Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males possess health literacy abilities that enable them to support the well-being of themselves and others. Health policymakers, researchers and practitioners can help strengthen and expand existing support structures for this population by listening more attentively to their unique perspectives.

scholarly journals Environmental management control systems for carbon emissions

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Di Giacomo ◽  
James Guthrie ◽  
Federica Farneti
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Study Approach

Purpose This paper aims to focus on a global consulting company and examine how it struggled to establish an effective environmental management control system for carbon emissions for its employees’ air travel. The organisation was motivated to reduce its carbon emissions both to comply with regulation and to enhance or maintain corporate reputation. Design/methodology/approach The paper takes a case study approach, examining internal and external documents as well as conducting interviews with senior staff. Findings The case study investigates how Beta’s management implemented a system to reduce carbon emissions. The organisation focused on air travel, but the study finds that employee travel preferences did not radically change. Rather than reduction in carbon emissions, as planned by head office, air travel carbon emissions actually increased during the period, and, as a consequence, the reported reduction targets were significantly adjusted downwards to meet the new realities. Practical/implications The study has implications for both policy and practice for organisations seeking to improve their sustainability performance. Originality/value The study responds to calls in the literature to undertake research to identify how management practices might reduce negative sustainability impacts, as there is little evidence of what management practices and accounting tools are being adopted, particularly in relation to carbon emissions from air travel. The paper adds to the creation of new accounting, giving visibility to carbon emission management through case study analysis.

scholarly journals GOVERNANCE AS A TOOL FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Blessing Prince Nwanganga ◽  
Success Anaba
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Role Theory ◽  
Current Issue ◽  
Business Development ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
The Core ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Impact

Governance matters are arguably at the core of international development. This paper addresses the role theory, policy and practice play in shaping matters of governance as it concerns business development in Nigeria. The paper is organised in three parts, In the first part, the theories on the governance and development nexus are outlined. In the second, the role of governance and its relevance to business development is discussed; here, the concepts, principles and framework for enhanced governance in business are brought to the fore, selected reviews by scholars and practitioners and numerous current key issues are highlighted. In the third part, the impact of governance in business practice is examined. Reviews and current issue related to the impact of governance in business development are also discussed. Besides, lessons are drawn from the review of contributions from selected scholars. The conclusion of this paper is threefold: first, it is a fallacy that there is a preeminent system of governance that is universally applicable for business development; second, the relevant theories on the subject have a remarkably limited role to play in sculpting policy and practice; and, third, perhaps the single most important problem in policies and practices on governance for development is the failure to temper interventions to the contextual dynamics found in each developing country setting.

scholarly journals Whose Knowledge? Whose Influence? Changing Dynamics of China’s Development Cooperation Policy and Practice

IDS Bulletin ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Gu ◽  
Xiaoyun Li ◽  
Chuanhong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Development Policy ◽  
Development Cooperation ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Potential Partner ◽  
Rising Power ◽  
Intense Debate

This article aims to investigate the recent evolution of China’s development policy and practice. More precisely, how do China’s policymakers and practitioners understand and debate China’s role in international development, specifically in the context of the global Covid-19 pandemic? China’s growing development activities overseas, particularly in the African continent, have spurred intense debate over its role as a rising power in international development. China is viewed in the West both as a threat and as a valuable potential partner in development cooperation. However, differences between Western and Chinese conceptions of development have complicated cooperation and understanding of China’s development policy. Further understanding of these differences is needed, in order to evaluate their implications for low-income countries, and for potential trilateral cooperation.

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