scholarly journals Using Open Public Meetings and Elections to Promote Inward Transparency and Accountability: Lessons From Zambia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taryn Vian ◽  
Rachel M. Fong ◽  
Jeanette L. Kaiser ◽  
Misheck Bwalya ◽  
Viviane I.R. Sakanga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Good Governance ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Democratic Accountability ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Governance ◽  
Public Meetings ◽  
Governance Committee ◽  
Transparency And Accountability

Background: Community-led governance can ensure that leaders are accountable to the populations they serve and strengthen health systems for maternal care. A key aspect of democratic accountability is electing respective governance bodies, in this case community boards, and holding public meetings to inform community members about actions taken on their behalf. After helping build and open 10 maternity waiting homes (MWHs) in rural Zambia as part of a randomized controlled trial, we assisted community governance committees to plan and execute annual meetings to present performance results and, where needed, to elect new board members. Methods: We applied a principally qualitative design using observation and analysis of written documentation of public meetings to answer our research question: how do governance committees enact inward transparency and demonstrate accountability to their communities. The analysis measured participation and stakeholder representation at public meetings, the types and purposes of accountability sought by community members as evidenced by questions asked of the governance committee, and responsiveness of the governance committee to issues raised at public meetings. Results: Public meetings were attended by 6 out of 7 possible stakeholder groups, and reports were generally transparent. Stakeholders asked probing questions focused mainly on financial performance. Governance committee members were responsive to questions raised by participants, with 59% of answers rated as fully or mostly responsive (showing understanding of and answering the question). Six of the 10 sites held elections to re-elect or replace governance committee members. Only 2 sites reached the target set by local stakeholder committees of 50% female membership, down from 3 at formation. To further improve transparency and accountability, community governance committees need to engage in advance preparation of reports, and should consult with stakeholders on broader measures for performance assessment. Despite receiving training, community-level governance committees lacked understanding of the strategic purpose of open public meetings and elections, and how these relate to democratic accountability. They were therefore not motivated to engage in tactics to manage stakeholders effectively. Conclusion: While open meetings and elections have potential to enhance good governance at the community level, continuous training and mentoring are needed to build capacity and enhance sustainability.

E-musrenbang: a digital framework for local participatory planning at the community level

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (0) ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Dhimas Bayu Anindito ◽  
Saut A. H. Sagala ◽  
Ari Krisna Mawira Tarigan
Keyword(s):  
Public Participation ◽  
City Planning ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Participatory Planning ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Digital Version ◽  
Digital Engagement ◽  
Transparency And Accountability

It has been a longstanding mission of policymakers, good governance activists and scholars to encourage greater public participation in formulating legal drafts for better city planning. In recent years, emphasis has been placed upon digital engagement as a process which arguably allows more citizens to voice their needs and desires. In Indonesia, an example of such practices can be seen in the e-musrenbang platform, a digital version of a local public participation mechanism in city planning. This study highlights the case of Bandung City of Indonesia by shedding light on the implemented mechanism of e-musrenbang and the stakeholders involved as well as perceptions from its participants. The findings suggest that e-musrenbang has enhanced the transparency and accountability of the overall planning process, however, it has failed to deliver on promises to channel the voices of citizens and solve existing issues of participation.

The New Governance

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. W. Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Democratic Accountability ◽  
British Government ◽  
New Governance ◽  
New Public ◽  
Cybernetic System ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Self Organizing

The chapter reviews the several definitions of governance: the minimal state; corporate governance; the new public management, ‘good’ governance; a socio-cybernetic system. It then stipulates a definition of governance as self-organizing, inter-organizational networks. It argues there is a trend from government to governance in British government because of the hollowing-out pressures and the tools for intergovernmental management are integral to effective steering. Policy networks are already widespread. This trend is not widely recognized and has important implications not only for the practice of British government but also for democratic accountability. Governance as self-organizing networks is a challenge to governability because the networks can become autonomous and resist central guidance. They are set fair to become the prime example of governing without government.

scholarly journals Photovoltaics Enabling Sustainable Energy Communities: Technological Drivers and Emerging Markets

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1862
Author(s):  
Alexandros-Georgios Chronis ◽  
Foivos Palaiogiannis ◽  
Iasonas Kouveliotis-Lysikatos ◽  
Panos Kotsampopoulos ◽  
Nikos Hatziargyriou
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Energy Market ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Local Energy ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Open Research ◽  
Energy Community

In this paper, we investigate the economic benefits of an energy community investing in small-scale photovoltaics (PVs) when local energy trading is operated amongst the community members. The motivation stems from the open research question on whether a community-operated local energy market can enhance the investment feasibility of behind-the-meter small-scale PVs installed by energy community members. Firstly, a review of the models, mechanisms and concepts required for framing the relevant concepts is conducted, while a clarification of nuances at important terms is attempted. Next, a tool for the investigation of the economic benefits of operating a local energy market in the context of an energy community is developed. We design the local energy market using state-of-the-art formulations, modified according to the requirements of the case study. The model is applied to an energy community that is currently under formation in a Greek municipality. From the various simulations that were conducted, a series of generalizable conclusions are extracted.

scholarly journals Cost-effectiveness analysis of an intimate partner violence prevention intervention targeting men, women and couples in rural Ethiopia: evidence from the Unite for a Better Life randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e042365
Author(s):  
Jessica Leight ◽  
Negussie Deyessa ◽  
Vandana Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
The Cost

ObjectivesExperience of intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with adverse health and psychosocial outcomes for women. However, rigorous economic evaluations of interventions targeting IPV prevention are rare. This paper analyses the cost-effectiveness of Unite for a Better Life (UBL), a gender-transformative intervention designed to prevent IPV and HIV risk behaviours among men, women and couples.DesignWe use an economic evaluation nested within a large-scale cluster randomised controlled trial, analysing financial and economic costs tracked contemporaneously.SettingUBL was implemented in rural southern Ethiopia between 2013 and 2015.ParticipantsThe randomised controlled trial included 6770 households in 64 villages.InterventionsUBL is an intervention delivered within the context of the Ethiopian coffee ceremony, a culturally established forum for community discussion, and designed to assist participants to build skills for healthy, non-violent, equitable relationships.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThis paper reports on the unit cost and cost-effectiveness of the interventions implemented. Cost-effectiveness is measured as the cost per case of past-year physical and/or sexual IPV averted.ResultsThe estimated annualised cost of developing and implementing UBL was 2015 US$296 772, or approximately 2015 US$74 per individual directly participating in the intervention and 2015 US$5 per person annually for each community-level beneficiary (woman of reproductive age in intervention communities). The estimated cost per case of past-year physical and/or sexual IPV averted was 2015 US$2726 for the sample of direct beneficiaries, and 2015 US$194 for the sample of all community-level beneficiaries.ConclusionsUBL is an effective and cost-effective intervention for the prevention of IPV in a low and middle-income country setting. Further research should explore strategies to quantify the positive effects of the intervention across other domains.Trial registration numberNCT02311699 (ClinicalTrials.gov); AEARCTR-0000211 (AEA Registry)

scholarly journals 254. Community Level Interventions for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) in Pakistan: A cluster randomised controlled trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. S35
Author(s):  
Rahat Qureshi ◽  
Sana Sheikh ◽  
Zahra Hoodbhoy ◽  
Sumedha Sharma ◽  
Marianne Vidler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Cluster Randomised ◽  
Randomised Controlled

scholarly journals Exploring the effectiveness of dextroamphetamine for the treatment of stimulant use disorder: a qualitative study with patients receiving injectable opioid agonist treatment

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Palis ◽  
Kirsten Marchand ◽  
Gerald “ Spike” Peachey ◽  
Jordan Westfall ◽  
Kurt Lock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Substitution Effect ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Opioid Agonist ◽  
Opioid Agonist Treatment ◽  
Stimulant Use ◽  
Practice Elements ◽  
Concurrent Use ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Background A high proportion of people receiving both oral and injectable opioid agonist treatment report concurrent use of stimulants (i.e. cocaine and or amphetamines), which has been associated with higher rates of continued illicit opioid use and treatment dropout. A recent randomized controlled trial demonstrated the effectiveness of dextroamphetamine (a prescribed stimulant) at reducing craving for and use of cocaine among patients receiving injectable opioid agonist treatment. Following this evidence, dextroamphetamine has been prescribed to patients with stimulant use disorder at a clinic in Vancouver. This study investigates perceptions of the effectiveness of dextroamphetamine from the perspective of these patients. Methods Data were collected using small focus groups and one-on-one interviews with patients who were currently or formerly receiving dextroamphetamine (n = 20). Thematic analysis was conducted using an iterative approach, moving between data collection and analysis to search for patterns in the data across transcripts. This process led to the defining and naming of three central themes responding to the research question. Results Participants reported a range of stimulant use types, including cocaine (n = 8), methamphetamine (n = 8), or both (n = 4). Three central themes were identified as relating to participants’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the medication: 1) achieving a substitution effect (i.e. extent to which dextroamphetamine provided a substitution for the effect they received from use of illicit stimulants); 2) Reaching a preferred dose (i.e. speed of titration and effect of the dose received); and 3) Ease of medication access (i.e. preference for take home doses (i.e. carries) vs. medication integrated into care at the clinic). Conclusion In the context of continued investigation of pharmacological treatments for stimulant use disorder, the present study has highlighted how the study of clinical outcomes could be extended to account for factors that contribute to perceptions of effectiveness from the perspective of patients. In practice, elements of treatment delivery (e.g. dosing and dispensation protocols) can be adjusted to allow for various scenarios (e.g. on site vs. take home dosing) by which dextroamphetamine and other pharmacological stimulants could be implemented to provide “effective” treatment for people with a wide range of treatment goals and needs.

scholarly journals PENGELOLAAN DANA DESA BERDASARKAN PERATURAN MENTERI DALAM NEGERI NOMOR 113 TAHUN 2014 (STUDI KASUS PADA NAGORI KAHEAN KECAMATAN DOLOK BATU NANGGAR KABUPATEN SIMALUNGUN

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-91
Author(s):  
Helwin Effendi ◽  
Jubi Jubi ◽  
Elly Susanti ◽  
Musa Fernando Silaen
Keyword(s):  
Community Participation ◽  
Sense Of Community ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Fund Management ◽  
Management Planning ◽  
Village Governance ◽  
Village Government ◽  
The Village ◽  
Transparency And Accountability

The results of this research can be concluaded that: 1. Lack of community participation to participate in village fund management planning, this is due to the lack of motivation of the community to participate in the deliberations. Then there was a delay in submitting a draft village regulation that had been agreed to be evaluated. 2. In the implementation, administration, reporting and accountability of village fund management in accordance with PERMENDAGRI Number 113 of 2014, it shows that the principles of participation in management, orderly and disciplined principles, principles of transparency and accountability principles have been carried out properly.The suggestion from this research is that the village government should develop a participatory concept and foster a sense of community motivation by providing education seminars on managing village funds and leading to the implementation of village governance. Then the village government should pay more attention to the applicable regulations in managing village finances in order to realize Good Governance.

scholarly journals Disaster management strategies and relation of good governance for the coastal Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-279
Author(s):  
Prabal Barua ◽  
◽  
Abhijit Mitra ◽  
Saeid Eslamian ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Management ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Management Policies

Although Bangladesh’s immense steps in preparing the disaster management policies following the values of good governance issue, the quantity to which these policies have productively been executing at the local level remnants mostly unknown. The objectives of this investigation were dual: firstly, to inspect the roles and efficiency of the local-level governance and disaster management organization, and lastly, to recognize the obstacles to the execution of national the policies and Disaster-Risk-Reduction guidelines at the local community level. The authors applied qualitative research and case Study approach, using techniques from the Participatory Rural Appraisal toolbox to collect data from local community members as well as government and NGO officials. From the finding of the study, it was revealed that interactive disaster governance, decentralization of disaster management, and compliance by local-level institutions with good governance principles and national policy guidelines can be extremely effective in reducing disaster-loss and damages. According to coastal community members, the local governments have generally failed to uphold good governance principles, and triangulated data confirm that the region at large suffers from rampant corruption, political favoritism, lack of transparency and accountability and minimal inclusion of local inhabitants in decision-making – all of which have severely impeded the successful implementation of national disaster-management policies. This study contributes to these research gaps, with identification of further research agenda in these areas. The paper deals with International Sendai Framework that called for enhancement of local level community resilience to disasters. Thus, it contributes to numerous policy and practice areas relating to good disaster governance. The study identified the specific manifestations of these failures in coastal communities in Bangladesh. These results underscore the vital need to address the wide gap between national DRR goals and the on-the-ground realities of policy implementation to successfully enhance the country’s resilience to climate change-induced disasters.

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