scholarly journals Valuing the Invaluable(?)—A Framework to Facilitate Stakeholder Engagement in the Planning of Nature-Based Solutions

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2657
Author(s):  
Sophie Mok ◽  
Ernesta Mačiulytė ◽  
Pieter Hein Bult ◽  
Tom Hawxwell
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Context Specificity ◽  
The Public ◽  
Climate Resilience ◽  
A Value ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Different Types

Nature-based solutions (NBS) have emerged as an important concept to build climate resilience in cities whilst providing a wide range of ecological, economic, and social co-benefits. With the ambition of increasing NBS uptake, diverse actors have been developing means to demonstrate and prove these benefits. However, the multifunctionality, the different types of benefits provided, and the context-specificity make it difficult to capture and communicate their overall value. In this paper, a value-based framework is presented that allows for structured navigation through these issues with the goal of identifying key values and engaging beneficiaries from the public, private, and civil society sector in the development of NBS. Applied methods such as focus groups, interviews, and surveys were used to assess different framework components and their interlinkages, as well as to test its applicability in urban planning. Results suggest that more specialized “hard facts” might be needed to actually attract larger investments of specific actors. However, the softer and more holistic approach could inspire and support the forming of alliances amongst a wider range of urban stakeholders and the prioritization of specific benefits for further assessment. Consequently, it is argued that both hard and soft approaches to nature valuation will be necessary to further promote and drive the uptake of NBS in cities.

Comparing Intelligence Accountability

2021 ◽  
pp. 22-43
Author(s):  
Christian Leuprecht
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Intelligence Community ◽  
The Public ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Media ◽  
Legislative Committees ◽  
Institutional Architecture ◽  
Key Terms

This chapter reviews the literature of intelligence accountability, reviews different theories, and introduces readers to key terms such as oversight, review, control, and governance. This book complements the process of intelligence oversight—the practice of holding ISAs to account, whereby ISAs have to justify their activities—with other types and levels of accountability. Typologically, accountability bodies differ by ways and methods they use to hold ISAs accountable: they can review, oversee, or control Intelligence and Security Agencies (ISA), and/or accept and address complaints concerning actions or activities of an ISA. Although conventionally they assessed compliance within an intelligence community, as of late they have been performing additional functions, such as promoting innovation. The different types of accountability are complemented by various layers in which Intelligence and Security Agencies are held accountable: internal, managerial, and external. The chapter introduces readers to the institutional architecture of intelligence accountability: legislative committees, judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, bureaucratic and administrative bodies, and executive oversight. It goes on to review intelligence accountability frameworks: laws, legislatures, the executive, the judiciary, the media, the public, civil society, and the democratic interest. The chapter closes on developments in international and supranational accountability cooperation.

THE ORIENTERS OF DEVELOPMENT OF FORMS OF COMMUNICATIVE INFLUENCE OF CIVIL SOCIETY ON THE PUBLIC POLICY

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (12) ◽  
pp. 228-235
Author(s):  
Iryna Vіtalіivna Chaplay
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Public Relations ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
State Policy ◽  
Public Management ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
The Public ◽  
Inaccurate Information ◽  
Wide Range

The article presents the theoretical and methodological foundations of the development of forms of communicative influence of civil society on the public policy, provides the main methods and conditions of their use for gaining advantages in solving problems of public-management relations. A wide range of issues related to the peculiarities of public relations organization, taking into account domestic and foreign experience, is covered. The specifics of the use of marketing communications in communicating of public authorities with the public are shown. It is substantiated that in the institutional sense, the greatest interest is the classification, depending on the scope of distribution. The public, when communicating with government, through certain communication tools, is called the external form of communication. The external forms of the communicative influence of civil society on state policy help them convey to the state authorities the necessary information about their thoughts, needs, requests, etc. Of course, such information should be constantly updated and accurate. All non-governmental organizations should maintain friendly relations with state organizations and prevent any misinformation of the latter. At the same time, informatization of public administration contains both positive potential and difficulties and contradictions, neglection which, as practice shows, turns negative result. To date, they are insufficiently developed and require scientific comprehension and substantiation, in particular, the issue of organizational, regulatory and legal support for the implementation and implementation of modern marketing tools and management in public administration. Concerning the prospects for further research on the concept of "the form of communicative influence of civil society on state policy", they consist in streamlining its conceptual apparatus as the basis for improving its system, since incomplete and inaccurate information becomes, as a result, the cause of many problems in the system of reforming public administration .

scholarly journals Assessing ‘good governance’:‘scientific’ measurement and political discourse

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Gregory
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Public Goods ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Political Discourse ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
The Public ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
The Past ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
State Authority

The idea of governance – as distinct from government – has become intellectually fashionable in academic circles over the past decade or so, constituting a new conceptual paradigm that embodies ideas about the dispersal and fragmentation of formerly centralised state authority, the increasing involvement of civil society in the delivery of public goods and services, and the networked collaboration of a wide range of governmental and nongovernmental bodies in the pursuit of public purposes and the public interest.

Engaging the Public on Technical Issues

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan Breen ◽  
Elizabeth Atherton ◽  
Steve Barlow
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
The Public ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
The Uk

United Kingdom Nirex Limited (Nirex) is responsible for providing the UK with environmentally-sound and publicly-acceptable options for the long-term management of radioactive materials generated by the Nation’s commercial, medical, research and defence activities. An important part of Nirex’s responsibilities in developing these options is to build acceptance of its concepts through effective dialogue and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. One of the options developed by Nirex for the long-term isolation of intermediate-level and some low-level from the accessible environment is to place these wastes in a deep underground repository, excavated in stable rock formations. The repository would remain accessible to allow future generations to have the choice of continuing to store the waste, or to dispose of the wastes by sealing and closing the repository. In conducting the scientific and technical research on this phased disposal concept, Nirex wanted its work programmes to take account of any public concerns with regard to radioactive waste and its management and proposed to develop its understanding of such concerns through public engagement. In October 2001, Nirex engaged an independent organisation to conduct a series of focus group discussions. Focus group meetings were arranged in 4 locations across the UK, selecting varying groups in terms of age, lifestage and socio-economic circumstances in order to engage a broad cross-section of the UK population. Each group attended two, 2-hour sessions on successive evenings. The first session was a general discussion of the issues of nuclear energy and radioactive waste. The second session focused on the more specific detail of the Nirex Phased Disposal Concept. Explanatory material was given to participants at each session. The work has provided some very useful information on issues, which the focus groups considered significant. The groups were able, in the short time available, to grasp many important issues and to provide their views across a range of technical areas. This work has helped Nirex to better understand ways of engaging the public in technical issues and to appreciate some of the key areas and concerns on the more technical areas associated with phased disposal. Several technical queries were identified, which the facilitators were unable to answer during the focus group discussions — Nirex has subsequently provided answers to these questions and made these available on the Nirex Bibliography. This paper describes the approach taken for the focus groups and outlines key findings from the work and some implications for Nirex in communicating technical issues to the public.

Digital Skills and Their Relevance to the COVID-19 Innovative Responses in the European Union

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 45-57
Author(s):  
Fernando Almeida
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Incremental Innovation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Social Dimensions ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Sector Innovation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
Digital Skills

COVID-19 has caused strong restrictions in the activities of companies and people in the European Union. Its effects are not restricted to the public health field, but also include the economic and social dimensions. To face this wide range of challenges, government entities, companies, and civil society have sought to develop innovative solutions to cope with the effects posed by COVID-19. This study aims to explore these innovative initiatives using the observatory of public sector innovation (OPSI) framework and intends to understand the effects of digital skills of citizens and companies in the emergence of these initiatives. The findings reveal that the proposed innovative solutions result essentially from incremental innovation projects and are promoted by government entities at national and local levels. Nevertheless, the relevance of the participation of companies and civil society in these innovative initiatives is also highlighted. Finally, the digital competencies of each EU state member do not appear to influence the countries' capacity to offer innovative solutions.

scholarly journals Actual challenges of institutional rebranding of public organizations of national minorities of Ukraine

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 6-15
Author(s):  
Marian Tokar
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Public Organizations ◽  
The State ◽  
Political Regime ◽  
The Public ◽  
National Minorities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ukrainian Society

Ethnic communities in Ukraine are vulnerable in socio-economic and politically challenging conditions. National minorities today face two problems of survival: 1) maintaining consolidation; 2) deepening integration into Ukrainian society. In such a situation, an important instrumental role is played by civil society institutions, such as civic organizations representing the public interest of national minorities at the institutional level. They have real resource potential, which in the conditions of decentralization and increasing the effectiveness of relations with the state can minimize the risks of socially consolidating component of Ukrainian society. There is a need for the readiness of public organizations of national minorities to fulfill the social and management mission. One such promising step could be the process of institutional rebranding of public organizations of national minorities.The purpose of the article is to analyze the procedure of institutional rebranding of public organizations of national minorities in Ukraine. The study is aimed at a motivational action that brings together citizens who are ready for public interaction with other subjects of social and administrative relations and interested in representing the image of the national minority in the country. Institutional rebranding aims to change public perceptions of public organizations as public organizations as institutions engaging in public activity rather than socially profitable ones. They are updating the social purpose of NGOs. After all, the main tasks of modern institutional re-branding of public organizations are to enhance the social uniqueness of the public institute, to strengthen the role and importance of the organization in civil society, as well as to attract it to a wide range of citizens who increase their social responsibility in a mono-national and nation-wide environment. We propose to follow the impact of institutional rebranding of public organizations of national minorities with the help of several important principles: 1) perception of the political regime; 2) regulatory regulation of activity; 3) the nature of interethnic coexistence; 4) strengthening social and consolidating role.We are aware of the fact that in Ukraine the level of effective authority of the "third sector" is rather mediocre, and in the context of public interaction between state and non-governmental institutions a priority model of cooperation has not yet been developed. Moreover, socio-economic circumstances make it difficult to change existing perceptions of NGOs. Therefore, institutional rebranding is new, but extremely relevant, especially for public organizations of national minorities, a method of public positioning in the current conditions of development of the state and civil society.

OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS OF LOBISTRY ACTIVITY IN UKRAINE: REALITIES TODAY AND EVOLUTIONARY FORECAST

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (12) ◽  
pp. 329-339
Author(s):  
Tikhon Sergeyevich Yarovoy
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Political System ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Public Interests ◽  
The Public ◽  
Political Events ◽  
The Developed Countries ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Industrial Groups

The article is devoted to the research of goals and functions of lobbying activity. The author has processed the ideas of domestic and foreign scientists, proposed his own approaches to the definition of goals and functions of lobbying activities through the prism of public administration. As a result, a generalized vision of the goals and functions of lobbying activities as interrelated elements of the lobbying system was proposed, and a forecast for further evolution of the goals and functions of domestic lobbying was provided. The analysis of lobbying functions allowed us to notice the tendencies in shifting the goals of this activity. If the objectives were fully covered by functions such as mediation between citizens and the state, the information function and the function of organizing plurality of public interests, then the role of strengthening the self-organization of civil society and the function of compromise become increasingly important in the process of formation in the developed countries of civil society and the development of telecommunication technologies. Ukrainian lobbyism will not be left to the side of this process. Already, politicians of the highest level, leaders of financial and industrial groups have to act, adjust their goals (even if they are — declared), taking into account the reaction of the public. In the future, this trend will only increase. The analysis of current research and political events provides all grounds for believing that, while proper regulatory legislation is being formed in Ukraine, the goals and functions of domestic lobbying will essentially shift towards a compromise with the public. It is noted that in spite of the existence of a basic direction of action, lobbying may have several ramified goals. Guided by the goals set, lobbyism can manifest itself in various spheres of the political system of society, combining the closely intertwined interests of various actors in the lobbying process, or even — contrasting them.

Nanoparticles Functionalized with Venom-Derived Peptides and Toxins for Pharmaceutical Applications

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana P. dos Santos ◽  
Tamara G. de Araújo ◽  
Gandhi Rádis-Baptista
Keyword(s):  
Oral Absorption ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Pharmacological Activities ◽  
Venom Peptides ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Direct Use ◽  
Animal Venoms ◽  
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Venom-derived peptides display diverse biological and pharmacological activities, making them useful in drug discovery platforms and for a wide range of applications in medicine and pharmaceutical biotechnology. Due to their target specificities, venom peptides have the potential to be developed into biopharmaceuticals to treat various health conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chronic pain. Despite the high potential for drug development, several limitations preclude the direct use of peptides as therapeutics and hamper the process of converting venom peptides into pharmaceuticals. These limitations include, for instance, chemical instability, poor oral absorption, short halflife, and off-target cytotoxicity. One strategy to overcome these disadvantages relies on the formulation of bioactive peptides with nanocarriers. A range of biocompatible materials are now available that can serve as nanocarriers and can improve the bioavailability of therapeutic and venom-derived peptides for clinical and diagnostic application. Examples of isolated venom peptides and crude animal venoms that have been encapsulated and formulated with different types of nanomaterials with promising results are increasingly reported. Based on the current data, a wealth of information can be collected regarding the utilization of nanocarriers to encapsulate venom peptides and render them bioavailable for pharmaceutical use. Overall, nanomaterials arise as essential components in the preparation of biopharmaceuticals that are based on biological and pharmacological active venom-derived peptides.

Wetting of glass surface using natural surfactants

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nihar Ranjan Biswal
Keyword(s):  
Contact Angle ◽  
Glass Surface ◽  
Pure Water ◽  
Amyl Alcohol ◽  
Synthetic Surfactant ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Natural Surfactants ◽  
Triton X ◽  
Solid Liquid

Background: Surfactant adsorption at the interfaces (solid–liquid, liquid–air, or liquid–liquid) is receiving considerable attention from a long time due to its wide range of practical applications. Objective: Specifically wettability of solid surface by liquids is mainly measured by contact angle and has many practical importances where solid–liquid systems are used. Adsorption of surfactants plays an important role in the wetting process. The wetting behaviours of three plant-based natural surfactants (Reetha, Shikakai, and Acacia) on the glass surface are compared with one widely used nonionic synthetic surfactant (Triton X-100) and reported in this study. Methods: The dynamic contact angle study of three different types of plant surfactants (Reetha, Shikakai and Acacia) and one synthetic surfactant (Triton X 100) on the glass surface has been carried out. The effect of two different types of alcohols such as Methanol and amyl alcohol on wettability of shikakai, as it shows little higher value of contact angle on glass surface has been measured. Results: The contact angle measurements show that there is an increase in contact angle from 47° (pure water) to 67.72°, 65.57°, 68.84°, and 68.79° for Reetha, Acacia, Shikakai, and Triton X-100 respectively with the increase in surfactant concentration and remain constant at CMC. The change in contact angle of Shikakai-Amyl alcohol mixtures are slightly different than that of methanol-Shikakai mixture, mostly there is a gradual increase in contact angle with the increasing in alcohol concentration. Conclusion: There is no linear relationship between cos θ and inverse of surface tension. There was a linear increase in surface free energy results with increase in concentration as more surfactant molecules were adsorbing at the interface enhancing an increase in contact angle.

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