scholarly journals Global Health Equity and Advocacy: The roles of international Non-Governmental Organizations

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
S G Lurie
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
The United States ◽  
Fund Raising ◽  
Community Empowerment ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations

International health equity and community empowerment are promoted through local and global collaborations with non-governmental organizations (NGO’s). Civil society organizations and inter-agency partnerships assume central roles in addressing global health inequity, within the context of national health and social systems, local realities and priorities. Community health promotion through public-private collaboration by NGO’s on health needs assessments and fund-raising is designed to increase support for local programs in the United States. This paper compares health promotion and advocacy roles of an international non-governmental organization in global and local arenas, based on community case studies by the author in rural Hungary and North Texas from 2009 to 2011, using ethnographic and qualitative research methods. Findings confirm the need for systematic evaluation of the effects of complex socioeconomic, political and multi-ethnic contexts, and the impacts of prevention programs and healthcare on health equity.

scholarly journals Principles to Guide a Volunteer Humanitarian Faith-based Short-Term Medical Mission in Nepal: A Case Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 35-42
Author(s):  
Rebecca Houweling ◽  
Barbara Astle
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Host Country ◽  
The United States ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
International Volunteers ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Mass Migration ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations

Global health inequities, natural disasters, and mass migration of refugees have led to an increase in volunteer humanitarian responses worldwide.  While well intentioned for doing good, there is an increasing awareness of the importance for improved preparation for international volunteers involved in short-term medical missions (STMMs).  This case study describes the retrospective application of Lasker’s (2016) Principles for Maximizing the Benefits for Volunteer Health Trips to international volunteers from two faith-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Canada and the United States partnering with a faith-based NGO in Nepal.  These principles are intended to maximize the benefits and diminish challenges that may develop between the international volunteers and the host country staff.  Lessons from this case study highlight the importance of applying such principles to foster responsible STMMs.  In conclusion, there is an increasing call by host country staff for collaborative and standardized guidelines or frameworks for STMMs and other global health activities.

Democratization, Nationalism and Regional Security in the Southern Caucasus

1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Neil MacFarlane
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
Regional Security ◽  
Political Rights ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Pressure Groups ◽  
Democratic Reform ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Independent States

FOR SOME YEARS NOW, WESTERN ACADEMICS AND POLICY-MAKERS HAVE embraced the cause of democratic reform in Central and Eastern Europe. To take but one well-known example, President Clinton in the 1994 State of the Union Address cited the absence of war among democracies as a reason for promotion of democracy around the world. Assistance to former Warsaw Pact and newly independent states has been made conditional to varying degrees on the acceptance of democratic change. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Union, the United States Agency for International Development and associated non-governmental organizations have unleashed armies of promoters of democracy throughout the region to: observe elections; monitor human rights; draft new constitutions and laws defending civil and political rights; train judges and police personnel; and organize and assist political parties, media and non-governmental pressure groups. In short, they have sought to transplant the fabric of civil society and democratic institutions. These armies have landed on terrain often quite foreign to them and have often displayed little sensitivity to the social, economic and political context in which they are operating. This may have contributed to results other than those intended.

Corruption and Nigerian political economy

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Kawuley Mikail
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
National Development ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Political Theatre ◽  
Colonial Era ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Freedom Fighters

The book analyses the background of corrupt practices in the annals of Nigerian political history from pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial era down to the fourth democratic dispensation. The book also establishes a nexus between corruption and political economy in the Nigerian political theatre. Indeed, corruption undermines the rules of law, equity, transparency democratization and national development which breed poverty, insecurity and general underdevelopment among the populace.Meanwhile, the political economy approach and the theories of corruption and their application on Nigerian political economy is highlighted.The role of policy-makers and stakeholders with their policies and programmes on combating corruption is also analysed. Furthermore, the giant efforts of international organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on combating the menace of corruption are also pointed out. The book serves as a guide to researchers on the subject matter and the freedom fighters with their anti-corruption crusade or mandates so as to proffer solutions to corrupt practices and scandals in Nigeria and beyond.

scholarly journals Silencing Their Critics: How Government Restrictions Against Civil Society Affect International ‘Naming and Shaming’

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Smidt ◽  
Dominic Perera ◽  
Neil J. Mitchell ◽  
Kristin M. Bakke
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
The Other ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
The One ◽  
Naming And Shaming ◽  
Flow Of Information ◽  
Cross National

Abstract International ‘naming and shaming’ campaigns rely on domestic civil society organizations (CSOs) for information on local human rights conditions. To stop this flow of information, some governments restrict CSOs, for example by limiting their access to funding. Do such restrictions reduce international naming and shaming campaigns that rely on information from domestic CSOs? This article argues that on the one hand, restrictions may reduce CSOs’ ability and motives to monitor local abuses. On the other hand, these organizations may mobilize against restrictions and find new ways of delivering information on human rights violations to international publics. Using a cross-national dataset and in-depth evidence from Egypt, the study finds that low numbers of restrictions trigger shaming by international non-governmental organizations. Yet once governments impose multiple types of restrictions, it becomes harder for CSOs to adapt, resulting in fewer international shaming campaigns.

Academic Analysis and U.S. Policy-Making on Africa: Reflections and Conclusions

1991 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-48
Author(s):  
David S. Wiley
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
The United States ◽  
Think Tanks ◽  
Scholarly Community ◽  
Private Foundations ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
The Voice

Late in the 1980s, several major U.S. private foundations concluded that the concern for Africa in the country was weak. This weakness was reflected in the faint focus on U.S. foreign policy toward Africa in all three branches of government, in the halting voice for Africa or for U.S. interests there in the non-governmental organizations (think-tanks, religious organizations, lobbies), and in the small concern for U.S. policy or for affecting it in the African studies scholarly community. Indeed, the voice for Africa in the United States was neither strong nor effective.

Powerful Allies and Weak Consensus: Towards a Deeper Understanding of how Health-Harming Industries Seek to Influence Global Health Governance; Comment on "Competing Frames in Global Health Governance: An Analysis of Stakeholder Influence on the Political Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases"

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Zenone ◽  
Benjamin Hawkins
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Global Health Governance ◽  
Commercial Sector ◽  
Health Governance ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
The One

Suzuki et al. have identified commonalities in the policy positions adopted at a global forum by commercial sector actors and high-income countries, on the one hand, and non-governmental organizations and low- and middle-income countries, on the other, in ways that may allow commercial sector actors to block or delay evidence-based policies through the creation of political controversy. The ability of industry actors to draw on the support of the most politically and economically powerful countries for their favoured policy agenda is an important contribution to understanding the dynamics of global health governance in the area of non-communicable diseases and beyond. Here we assess the relevance of this paper for the field of corporate actors’ research and the potential avenues this opens up for further study. More specifically we emphasize the need for comparative, cross disciplinary research to examine the power of heath-harming industries and the relevance of these findings for decolonizing global health.

Participation, Civil Society and the Facebook Use of NGOs in Turkey

2017 ◽  
pp. 223-246
Author(s):  
Kamil Demirhan
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Civic Culture ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Emergency Education ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Political Events

This study finds out the use of Facebook by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Turkey to engage the social and political events of the country. NGOs are civil society organizations aiming at promoting participation of citizens in social and political issues. They are a part of democratic system and they have important role to struggle with corruptions and improve the legitimacy of political-legal organization in political system. NGOs work using social networks and promoting civic culture. Therefore, the use of new communication and interaction channels is necessary for NGOs to develop social networks and civic participation. Social media can be a new channel to promote social and political life. This study focuses on Facebook activities of 40 NGOs selected from eight different activity fields: politics, environment, woman rights, economy, emergency, education, human rights, and democracy. It uses content analysis method to understand the NGOs' activities in Facebook, in terms of social and political issues realized in the year of 2012.

scholarly journals The Silent Gatekeeper: Authoritarianism and Civil Society in China

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-72
Author(s):  
Kate Mah
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Chinese Communist Party ◽  
Social Mobilization ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Authoritarian State ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Government ◽  
Market Capitalism

This paper examines the emergence of civil society in China under the authoritarian system in the last thirty years. It seeks to explore the ways in which an initial, traditional notion of civil society has altered in the context of China, as well as the respective challenges faced by both the organizations and the government in carrying out their goals and governance. The rapid rise of market capitalism, globalization and Chinese economic success in the last forty years to present day has made room for the rise of non-governmental organizations as well as social mobilization and engagement from citizens. This paper suggests that China has been able to accept the emergence of civil society, however, despite these developments, the government has been able to sufficiently suppress civil society from carrying out any objectives of transparency, social justice and accountability. It surveys the history of civil society within the authoritarian state, analyzes the specific government-NGO relations between the Chinese Communist Party and civil society organizations, and reflects upon the implications of the current legal and political framework that Chinese civil society must operate under.

Exploring the Influence of NGOs in Corporate Sustainability Adoption: Institutional-Legitimacy Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-147
Author(s):  
Lamin B. Ceesay
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Institutional Legitimacy ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Social And Environmental Performance ◽  
Power And Influence

This review seeks to examine the power and influence of Non-Governmental Organizations in the course of corporate sustainability adoption (i.e., sustainability reporting). Using the institutional-legitimacy and governance theories, our findings suggest that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have great potentials in sustainability discourse through two salient actions, namely (a) collaborative partnership, and (b) confrontational tactics. While the former promotes stakeholder involvement in corporate decision-making through dialogue, joint-projects on corporate social responsibility, and sustainability reporting, the latter, however, is the last resort—involving “naming and shaming” corporations for poor social and environmental performance. The objective of such action is to cause reputational damage to businesses. Finally, it is also observed that crucial to NGO power and influence is the collaboration with government and civil society organizations in the fight for environmental sustainability and accountability.

Preliminary Investigation into the Role of Physiotherapists in Disaster Response

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 462-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalind M. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Response ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Multiple Roles ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations

AbstractIntroduction:Increasingly, disasters and disaster response have become prominent issues in recent years. Despite their involvement, there have been almost no investigations into the roles of physiotherapists in emergency disaster responses.Additionally, physiotherapists are not employed in emergency disaster response by many of the principal non-governmental organizations supplying such care, although they are included in military responses in the United States and United Kingdom, and in Disaster Medical Assistance Teams in the US.This paper, based on a small qualitative study, focuses on the potential role and nature of input of physiotherapists in disaster response.Methods:A qualitative approach was chosen due to the emergent nature of the phenomenon. Four physiotherapists, all of whom had been involved in some type of disaster response, agreed to participate. Semi-structured telephone interviews were used to explore participants' experiences following disaster response, and to gain ideas about future roles for physiotherapists. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and later analyzed using coding and categorization of data.Results:Four main themes emerged: (1) descriptions of disasters; (2) current roles of the physiotherapist; (3) future roles of physiotherapists; and (4) overcoming barriers. Although all four physiotherapists had been ill-prepared for disaster response, they took on multiple roles, primarily in organization and treatment. However, participants identified several barriers to future involvement, including organizational and professional barriers, and gave suggestions for overcoming these.Conclusions:The participants had participated in disaster response, but in ill-defined roles, indicating a need for a greater understanding of disaster response among the physiotherapy community and by organizations supplying such care. The findings of this study have implications for such organizations in terms of employing skilled physiotherapists in order to improve disaster response. In future disasters, physiotherapy will be of benefit in treating and preventing rescue worker injury and treating musculoskeletal, critical, respiratory, and burn patients.

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