Accountability and Governance Issues

This study conducts a comparative analysis of two subnational sovereign wealth funds in Brasil: the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Maricá (FSM) and the Revenue Equalization Fund of Niterói (FER). Both municipalities are significant recipients of oil royalties in the state of Rio de Janeiro. While both funds aim to mitigate the fiscal volatility and finite nature of oil revenues, they operate under distinct institutional designs and governance models. Through a systematic review of legal frameworks, official reports, and operational practices, this paper investigates how institutional differences shape the effective function of these funds. The analysis reveals that the FSM was designed as a flexible "savings-development" fund, closely aligned with the municipal government's political agenda to finance social and economic development programs. In contrast, the FER was structured as a rigid "stabilization-savings" fund, governed by technical criteria and strict withdrawal rules aimed at ensuring long-term fiscal prudence. The study identifies four causal mechanisms explaining this divergence: (i) formal constraints embedded in their legal instruments; (ii) the degree of autonomy and technicality of their governance bodies; (iii) the nature of their transparency and accountability mechanisms; and (iv) the pre-existing political and institutional context of each municipality. The findings suggest that the design of governance rules is a critical determinant of whether subnational sovereign wealth funds function primarily as instruments of intergenerational savings or as tools for current public policy.

Since the 1970s, there has been a massive shift in key aspects of public administration in the UK, and while the year 1970 can be seen in some respects as a landmark year -with the election of a Government that took the UK into the then European Economic Community (EEC) -it is necessary to begin with a brief background to aspects of public administration before that and to define the scope of the discussion. This paper wishes to paint the « toile de fond » of such changes in public administration. In doing so, the author, coming from an education background, will place special emphasis on the related changes in the education sector over the past quarter century. 2 By « public administration » we are concerned here with four main areas of social sector provision, the policies that inform them and the systems through which they are delivered. These four main areas are : social security, the health services, law and order, and educational provision. All of these sectors have their roots in the nineteenth century. Britain, as it was then, had a tradition of charitable organisations taking the lead in the first three of these areas (i.e. social security, the health services and law and order). It was not until the Liberal Government of 1906 that the idea of a welfare state became official policy. The creation of modern « Local Authorities » in the late nineteenth century, including the new County of London to serve the metropolis, set in place a locally accountable scale of public administration that was to survive for about one hundred years. Consequently the changes with which we are concerned here can be regarded as genuinely radical, albeit inspired or abetted by global trends and certain key events. Though not elaborated on here, the creation and role of « think tanks » over the period An overview of the key changes in public administration in the United Kingfom..

This paper argues that the failure to recognise and address acts of omission within Ireland's Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 represents one of the most serious flaws in the national whistleblowing framework. By excluding omissions from the statutory definition of "relevant wrongdoing" and removing effective judicial oversight, the law has disempowered whistleblowers, undermined transparency, and left public bodies and employers exposed to long-term liability. The analysis shows that the Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner, created by the 2022 Act, lacks enforcement power and cannot compel institutions to act. This legislative gap amounts to a shameful erosion of accountability and a retreat from constitutional principles of justice and access to the courts.

Drawing on the classical and endogenous growth theories articulated by Schumpeter, Solow-Swan, and Romer, this paper analyzes the relationships between CO₂ emissions, inflation, foreign direct investment (FDI), labor-force participation, and economic growth in Pakistan from 1995 to 2020. Using time-series data, we employ several econometric tools-most notably correlation analysis and the bounds-testing ARDL approach-to test the hypothesized links. Prior studies present mixed evidence on these connections, highlighting the need for further inquiry. Our findings reveal that CO₂ emissions and inflation exert a negative long-run impact on economic growth, whereas FDI and labor-force participation enhance it. These results accord with theory predicting an inverse relationship between inflation, CO₂ emissions, and growth. They offer evidence-based guidance for policymakers seeking strategies to counter the adverse effects of inflation and CO₂ emissions on Pakistan's long-term economic development.

This paper examines the Moordkop Massacre, a pivotal event in South African history that occurred on May 30, 1831. The massacre, which resulted in the deaths of estimated 300-400 Griqua men, was instigated by Pilane, a powerful Bakgatla bagaKgafela chief. Through a critical analysis of primary and secondary sources, this study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the complex historical context surrounding the massacre, including the tensions between the Griqua and batwsana communities. The paper also seeks to shed light on the role of Pilane in orchestrating the massacre and the devastating consequences for the Griqua people. Ultimately, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex and often fraught history of South Africa's indigenous communities. The Moordkop (Murder-hill) massacre, which occurred in the 1831s, was a significant event in the history of southern Africa. This article examines the circumstances surrounding the massacre, in which Ndebele forces under the leadership of Mzilikazi launched a surprise attack on the Griqua camp. The aftermath of the massacre and its impact on the broader context of the Ndebele expansion are also explored.

El presente artículo recoge la experiencia de la Universidad Hemisferios en la promoción del gobierno abierto en Ecuador, principalmente en el marco de las políticas públicas sobre el tema implementadas en el Municipio del Distrito Metropolitano de Quito y a nivel nacional, como parte de Gobierno Abierto Ecuador. Con base en este estudio de caso, se busca visibilizar el rol de la academia como un actor relevante en la apertura gubernamental: ya sea poniendo a disposición su contingente a través de los
procesos sustantivos de investigación y vinculación para fundamentar el diseño y ejecución de políticas públicas, como para generar capacidades en distintos actores.

El caso de estudio documenta el rol de la Universidad Hemisferios en los foros multiactor, tanto en Quito como en Ecuador; así como en la implementación de la política pública de gobierno abierto, como contraparte de compromisos de los planes de acción. Esto permitió no sólo liderar el proceso de
construcción de los planes de acción, como política pública, sino implementarlos en articulación con los procesos sustantivos de formación, investigación y vinculación con la sociedad. También evidencia su articulación en el desarrollo de nuevas políticas públicas derivadas de la política de gobierno abierto,
como la ratificación del Acuerdo de Escazú y el establecimiento de una Mesa Interinstitucional de Democracia Ambiental para la implementación de dicho Acuerdo.

As artificial intelligence systems become increasingly autonomous and capable of making complex decisions with minimal human oversight, fundamental questions about agency and moral responsibility demand urgent philosophical examination. This paper argues that machine agency is derivative rather than inherent-AI systems exhibit functional agency through their capacity to act autonomously, but lack the moral agency necessary for direct responsibility attribution. Instead, moral responsibility must be distributed across the socio-technical networks that design, deploy, and oversee these systems. We propose a framework for responsibility allocation based on control and epistemic access, implemented through institutional mechanisms including traceability systems, auditability protocols, responsibility ledgers, and escalation frameworks. This approach preserves human agency while enabling the beneficial deployment of autonomous AI systems in complex social contexts.

Chapter 1-Introduction Editors Rosenblatt and Wubbels assert their working definition of accountability in educational institutions, as in any other institutions, from system and individual levels. They perceive system-level accountability as encompassing organizational structure and policy regulation while individual characteristics form the basis of the individual level. For the purposes of this study, The editors use "accountability disposition" (p. 1) derived from "felt accountability" (Hall, Frink & Buckley, 2017, p. 204) to mean "a state of mind and a subjective interpretation of structured accountability context" influenced by social forces (p. 1). By extension, this may remind readers familiar with Urie Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory, a model that crystalizes human behavior as a function of socioeconomic , political, and cultural systems to which an individual is exposed and influenced knowingly or unknowingly (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). In this volume, the focus is accountability. At the crux is the attempt to explain accountability dispositions of teachers and principals as a function of social forces in the form of cultural values.

Chapter 1-Introduction Editors Rosenblatt and Wubbels assert their working definition of accountability in educational institutions, as in any other institutions, from system and individual levels. They perceive system-level accountability as encompassing organizational structure and policy regulation while individual characteristics form the basis of the individual level. For the purposes of this study, The editors use "accountability disposition" (p. 1) derived from "felt accountability" (Hall, Frink & Buckley, 2017, p. 204) to mean "a state of mind and a subjective interpretation of structured accountability context" influenced by social forces (p. 1). By extension, this may remind readers familiar with Urie Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory, a model that crystalizes human behavior as a function of socioeconomic , political, and cultural systems to which an individual is exposed and influenced knowingly or unknowingly (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). In this volume, the focus is accountability. At the crux is the attempt to explain accountability dispositions of teachers and principals as a function of social forces in the form of cultural values.

Thailand's education reform, formally initiated via the National Education Act 1999, has positioned teachers not only as the most important ‘implementers’ of policy but also as a profession in serious need of development. Its various measures include the re-professionalisation of the teaching profession, as well as the introduction of neoliberal mechanisms that make the work of teachers and schools more ‘visible’, ‘traceable’ and ‘manageable’. However, previous research, news coverage and public sentiment have indicated that teachers increasingly experience burnout, disempowerment and detachment from their professional identity and agency, with many leaving their jobs despite the benefits of being in the civil service. This paper draws on in-depth semi-structured interviews with 18 teachers, as part of a larger study examining teachers' deprofessionalisation in Thailand's basic education system. Informed by social constructionist, critical policy and policy ethnography perspectives, data analysis surfaced seven different but interrelated ways in which teachers experience deprofessionalisation. While many of these share similarities with neoliberal education systems of the Global North, they also demonstrate unique distinctions to the Thai teachers' experience arising from pre-existing power relations, bureaucratic structures, institutional cultures, social discourses, traditional expectations and a regime of ‘upward accountability’ operating throughout the education system. Informed by the centrality of bureaucratic structures and hierarchical relations, the 'upward' accountability, governmentality and performativity that teachers enact are directed towards those above them in the command chain, rather than market demands as is the tendency in the Global North. The deprofessionalisation experienced, then, is more a result of complying with (and pleasing) commander-supervisors than of working towards indicators per se. These insights offer a vivid account of how even the best-intentioned policies can have unintended, cumulative and lasting effects on the individuals critical to their enactment. They also make visible the challenges many teachers thought to be private and individual, offering a ‘vocabulary’ for understanding deprofessionalising experiences in more concrete terms.

The Civilian Protection and Government Accountability Act of 2025 (CPGAA) establishes a comprehensive framework to hold federal, state, and local governments accountable for misconduct, negligence, and abuse of power. The Act waives sovereign immunity in defined circumstances, allowing citizens to seek redress for personal injury, property damage, and constitutional violations through monetary damages, injunctive relief, and declaratory judgments. It creates uniform liability standards across all levels of government, strengthens procedural safeguards, and ensures political neutrality so that protections apply equally regardless of a citizen’s political views or affiliations.

Beyond litigation, the CPGAA emphasizes prevention and systemic reform through transparency requirements, mandatory reporting, government training programs, and the creation of an independent Civilian Protection Oversight Board. This body monitors compliance, investigates systemic issues, and recommends policy improvements, ensuring long-term accountability. By combining strong remedial mechanisms with robust oversight and data-driven prevention strategies, the Act seeks to restore public trust, deter future misconduct, and reaffirm the principle that no government entity or official is above the law.

The years between childhood and adolescence are a critical stage in a student’s life. During this period, learners experience rapid intellectual, social, and emotional growth. It is a time when foundational skills are reinforced, personal interests begin to emerge, and young individuals start to develop a clearer sense of identity. Educational institutions catering to this age group play a pivotal role in shaping well-rounded, confident, and motivated learners.
Building Academic Foundations
At this stage, the curriculum is carefully designed to bridge the gap between elementary learning and the more rigorous demands of higher education. Students are introduced to a wider range of subjects, including mathematics, science, language arts, social studies, and the arts. Institutions such as middle school in Dubai focus on creating a dynamic learning environment where students can explore these subjects in depth. Unlike earlier years, where learning is often guided primarily through structured lessons, this period encourages independent thinking, problem-solving, and critical analysis.
Practical application of knowledge is emphasized alongside theoretical understanding. Projects, experiments, group assignments, and research activities become regular features of the learning process. Schools in middle school in Dubai integrate global perspectives, modern tools, and collaborative approaches to ensure students not only absorb information but also learn to apply it creatively in different contexts, fostering both curiosity and intellectual resilience.
Social and Emotional Development
One of the most defining aspects of this age group is the rapid development of social skills. Peer relationships become increasingly important, and learners start to navigate more complex social environments. Educators play a crucial role in guiding students through these challenges, helping them develop empathy, cooperation, and effective communication skills.
Emotional growth is equally significant. Young learners are often navigating new feelings of independence, self-awareness, and identity formation. Supportive educational environments provide opportunities for reflection, mentorship, and guidance, helping students manage stress, build confidence, and develop resilience. Extracurricular activities, counseling programs, and leadership initiatives are instrumental in nurturing balanced emotional development.
Encouraging Holistic Learning
Learning at this stage goes beyond academics. Physical education, arts, music, and technology are integral parts of the curriculum, providing students with opportunities to explore diverse interests and talents. Sports and physical activities promote teamwork, discipline, and a healthy lifestyle, while creative arts foster imagination, self-expression, and cultural awareness.
Technological literacy is another focus, with students becoming adept at using digital tools for research, collaboration, and problem-solving. Incorporating technology into the classroom not only prepares learners for modern workplaces but also encourages innovation and adaptability.
Developing Critical Thinking and Leadership Skills
This transitional period is ideal for cultivating higher-order thinking skills. Students are encouraged to analyse information, evaluate perspectives, and make informed decisions. Classroom discussions, debates, and collaborative problem-solving activities are designed to strengthen analytical abilities and promote independent thought.
Leadership opportunities, such as student councils, peer mentoring, and community projects, enable learners to develop organizational, decision-making, and interpersonal skills. By engaging in responsibilities that affect their peers and school community, students gain confidence and a sense of accountability, laying the foundation for future success.
Fostering a Positive Learning Environment
A supportive and nurturing environment is essential for students during this stage. Teachers act as mentors and guides, fostering curiosity, encouraging exploration, and providing constructive feedback. Schools often emphasize inclusive practices, recognizing the diverse backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles of each student.
Safe and stimulating spaces for learning, both inside and outside the classroom, contribute significantly to student engagement and motivation. Collaborative learning areas, science labs, libraries, and technology centers are designed to inspire inquiry and creativity, ensuring that learners are actively involved in the educational process.
Preparing for the Next Academic Stage
This period serves as a bridge to higher education levels, equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary for future academic success. Strong literacy and numeracy foundations, along with an understanding of scientific and social concepts, prepare learners for more specialized and advanced studies.
In addition, the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills ensures that students are not only academically prepared but also emotionally and socially ready to face new challenges. Guidance programs, career exploration activities, and mentorship opportunities help students make informed decisions about their educational pathways, fostering a sense of purpose and direction. Engaging Families and Communities
Family and community involvement play a vital role in supporting students during this transitional stage. Open communication between educators and parents helps monitor academic progress, social adjustment, and emotional well-being. Community programs, volunteer opportunities, and cultural initiatives provide learners with real-world experiences that complement classroom learning and encourage civic responsibility.
Innovative Approaches in Modern Education
Modern institutions for this age group are increasingly adopting innovative teaching methods. Project-based learning, experiential education, and interdisciplinary approaches allow students to connect concepts across subjects and apply knowledge in practical contexts. The integration of technology, including digital classrooms, online resources, and interactive platforms, enhances engagement and provides personalized learning opportunities.
Global awareness and cultural education are also emphasized, preparing students to thrive in a diverse and interconnected world. Collaboration with international programs, exchange initiatives, and multicultural activities broadens perspectives and encourages empathy, adaptability, and open-mindedness.
Conclusion
The transitional years of education play a critical role in shaping young individuals into confident, knowledgeable, and socially responsible citizens. By combining academic rigor with social-emotional support, creative exploration, and leadership development, middle school programs provide learners with a comprehensive foundation for success.
Institutions dedicated to this stage of learning ensure that students are well-prepared for future academic challenges while fostering a love for knowledge, curiosity, and personal growth. The careful balance of intellectual, emotional, and social development during these formative years makes middle school a pivotal milestone in every learner’s journey.

Found Poem: Why Did Santoshi Die?
Re/Published in A-CODE 2025

ALGORITHM, AI AND PLATFORMS ACCOUNTABILITY
"In a world driven by change, where collaboration and creativity merge, a collective emerges to harness the transformative potential of the arts. A-CODE (Art and Collectives for Digital Empowerment) is an effort to enhance collaboration among civil society organisations working in different sectors, and advocating for a more pivotal role in the inclusion of the arts for social change. A-CODE is a platform created with the support of 20+ organisations and fellows who are committed to finding art, expression, culture, and heritage."

- Siddhesh Gautam, Sharada Kerkar. Osama Manzar (A-CODE 2025) 

The thesis examines the ownership model and various control arrangements of state-owned companies (SOCs) to establish how the division of corporate power between the boards of directors and shareholder-representatives and the exercise of corporate power by these organs impact corporate governance. The thesis makes several claims. First, it argues that the architecture of ownership and control is not underpinned by a sound theoretical base and lacks a clear and consistent economic and political logic. Second, the motivations for state ownership are vague and contradictory, resulting in an irrationally amorphous ownership model. Third, shareholder control powers are excessive, often abused, and lead to shareholder proximity to the locus of governance, which engenders interference and erodes boards' autonomy and authority to govern effectively. Fourth, the legal and regulatory regime governing SOCs is plural, complex, fragmented, and contradictory. Collectively, these and other con...

This article examines the problem of Uzbekistan's high geographical export concentration and explores how it can be reduced by developing new markets outside the CIS. An analysis of the current export structure shows that the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) reveals a significant dependence on a limited group of partner countries, while revealed comparativeadvantage (RCA) indices highlight product niches in which Uzbekistan is competitive (e.g., cotton, non-ferrous metals). Using principal-component analysis (PCA), we construct a composite priority score for prospective markets-India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam-taking into account economic size, import demand, growth rates and trade barriers. The resulting scores are compared with those of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan-countries with similar export profiles-to identify common trends and differences. The findings indicate that Uzbekistan's exports are highly concentrated both regionally and by product, creating vulnerability to external shocks. Entering South and Southeast Asian markets could improve the resilience of its export activities. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for diversification: negotiating trade agreements, supporting non-commodity sectors, upgrading product-quality standards and improving logistics.

Although research has shown that female representatives are more liberal, less capable of handling national security, budget and economy, foreign policy, and are more adept at dealing with social welfare issues like education and health care, this article aims at discussing and presenting the gender balance within the Romanian Parliament permanent working committees that are said to be further away from women’s interest. We will be discussing the gender imparity of the following three committees from the Chamber of Deputies: the Committee for Economic Policy, Reform, and Privatization, the Committee for Budget, Finance, and Banks, and the Committee for Industries and Services. As for the committees within the Romanian Senate, there are four such committees: the Economic Committee for Industries and Services, the Committee for Budget, Finance, Banking Activities and Capital Market, the Committee for Economic Development and Strategy, and the Committee for Regional Development, State ...

This study analyzes the impact of legislative paralysis on decision-making in the Palestinian public sector, focusing on how the absence of an active legislative body affects governance quality and institutional accountability. The purpose is to explore the consequences of prolonged political deadlock on policy formulation, oversight, and administrative performance. Using a qualitative methodology, the research examines governance reports, legal analyses, and case studies from key public institutions. Findings indicate that legislative paralysis concentrates power in the executive branch, weakens oversight mechanisms, and fosters non-transparent decision-making processes. The study concludes that reactivating the legislative process is critical to restoring institutional balance, enhancing accountability, and improving policy legitimacy. Its added value lies in linking legislative functionality to decision-making quality, offering insights for governance reform in politically divided contexts.

The field of international development has been shaped by a diverse set of theories, each offering distinct perspectives on how societies can achieve progress. From the linear growth model of modernization theory to the structural critiques of dependency and world-systems theories, these frameworks have influenced policy, funding priorities, and program design for decades. The rise of sustainable development reframed progress as a multidimensional goal, integrating environmental and social considerations alongside economic growth. More recent perspectives-post-development and de-growth-challenge the very foundations of traditional development, advocating for culturally grounded, ecologically responsible, and non-growth-oriented approaches. This paper examines these key theories, highlighting their conceptual foundations, critiques, and implications for contemporary non-profit practice. Understanding their strengths and limitations enables practitioners to design development initiatives that are contextually relevant, inclusive, and sustainable.

Development goals have become a central framework for guiding global action on poverty reduction, health, education, environmental protection, and equality. This paper examines the progression from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), exploring their respective achievements, limitations, and lessons for the non-profit sector. While the MDGs marked the first global effort to set measurable development targets, they faced criticism for their limited scope and uneven progress. The SDGs expanded the agenda to encompass universality, sustainability, and interconnectedness, introducing broader targets and stronger accountability mechanisms. The analysis emphasizes the importance of localizing these global frameworks to ensure context-specific relevance, community engagement, and equitable outcomes. For non-profit organizations (NPOs), understanding this evolution is essential for designing effective interventions that align global ambitions with local realities.

Setting strategic goals is a cornerstone of organizational planning, yet in the non-profit sector, this process must reconcile vision with complexity, aspiration with feasibility. This article critically examines goal-setting practices in non-profits, revisiting foundational principles such as clarity, challenge, and commitment while assessing the utility-and limitations-of popular models like the SMART framework. Drawing on real-world case examples, the paper contrasts long-term and short-term planning horizons, and outlines implementation strategies that foster alignment, adaptability, and measurable impact. Goal-setting is reframed not as a checklist, but as a dynamic, iterative discipline grounded in mission, informed by data, and sustained by participatory ownership.

Background: Despite the instruments on the right to adequate food adopted by the United Nations, there exists limited information on how this right is perceived. Following a major 2010 landslide disaster in the Bududa district of Eastern Uganda and the resettlement of some affected households into the Kiryandongo district in Western Uganda, we surveyed both districts to explore perceptions about the right to adequate food among households with different experiences; disaster-affected and controls. Methods: We deployed qualitative and quantitative techniques to a cross-sectional survey. The index respondent was the head of each randomly selected household from the landslide affected communities and controls from a bordering sub-county. Data was collected by interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs). Structured entries were tested statistically to report associations using Pearson's Chi-square at the 95% CI. Information from FGDs was transcribed, coded, sequenced and patterned. Findings from both techniques were triangulated to facilitate interpretations. Results: Analysis included 1,078 interview entries and 12 FGDs. Significant differences between the affected and control households (P < 0.05) were observed with: age; education level; religious affiliation; existence of assets that complement food source; and having received relief food. Analysis between groups showed differences in responses on: whether everyone has a right to adequate food; who was supposed to supply relief food; whether relief food was adequate; and preferred choice on the means to ensure the right to adequate food. FGDs emphasized that access to land was the most important means to food and income. Affected households desired remedial interventions especially alternative land for livelihood. Despite the provision of adequate relief food being a state's obligation, there was no opportunity to exercise choice and preference. Comprehension and awareness of accountability and transparency issues was also low. Conclusion: Though a significant proportion of participants affirmed they have a right to adequate food, relief food was largely perceived as insufficient. Given the high regard for land as a preferred remedy, a resettlement policy is of the essence to streamline post-landslide displacement and resettlement. Information materials need to be assembled and disseminated to stimulate awareness and debate on the right to adequate food.

This chapter examines the situation of rural water and sanitation services in Cameroon within the context of sustainable development goals (SDGs), to establish whether Cameroon is on right track of meeting the SDG, and proposes actions to be taken to achieve universal access for water and sanitation. Based on the analyzed data obtained from national surveys and the Joint Monitoring Program for 2021, it argues that Cameroon is unlikely to reach universal access to water and sanitation in rural area by 2030. Factors contributing to poor access to rural water and sanitation services include the poor application of the policy and legal framework, the poor coordination of interventions between the actors involved in the sector, the low financial viability of the sector, the low efficiency of expenditure related to water and sanitation, and the lack of human resources in the sector. The implementation of the policy and legal framework, the stability of the institutional framework, the reaffirmation of the major role of the State of the changed Ministry of water, and the collaboration of all the actors of the sector within the mechanisms provided for this purpose are of fundamental importance to achieve SDG 6.1 and 6.2 in Cameroon.

In recent years, many of South Africa's State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) have been subjected to an immense and devastating castigation in economic and social dialectical discourses. These debates are often waged by socioeconomic pundits in academia, civil society, media and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The criticism of the SOEs is warranted by the misplacement of their organisational goals which are supposed to revolve around the provision of enabling infrastructure for socioeconomic advancement of the people of South Africa. In view of the aforementioned realities, South Africa's SOEs are in the relentless predicament of catastrophic leadership bankruptcy which can be attributed to the derailment of the real purposes of parastatals as catalysts for public value creation. This leadership conundrum has led to the loss of confidence and trust in SOEs' ability to play their central roles of development and revenue generation to sustain their operations. South Africa's SOEs are generally known for their financial mismanagement, treasury bailouts, lack of accountability, political cronyism, lack of respect for the rule of law, unstable leadership structures, productivity inefficiencies and thriving impunity culture. All these undesirable institutional complexities emanate from leadership deficiencies that are undoubtedly evident in many SOEs. Thus, this article contends that leadership is one of the major determinants of efficiently performing institutions towards achieving their set objectives. This implies that injudicious leadership arrangements always lead to disastrous consequences that are noticeable in many of South Africa's SOEs. The current leadership bankruptcy in SOEs undermines government's objectives that it seeks to achieve

Hegemonic international relations in and of the Pacific are often cast in geopolitical and economic terms in scholarly literature, diplomacy, and media. This article builds from work on "geoculture" to advance the practice of thinking geoculturally about international relations. I argue that thinking geoculturally is a useful heuristic to examine the spatial fix on the Pacific which is exemplified in "blue" environmental discourses. Blue discourses are deployed by global, continental hegemons to demarcate the Pacific into regional formations, hegemonic development paradigms, and ongoing forms of peripheralization. Concurrently, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), a multinational diplomatic entity, inverts continentalist dynamics by advancing the counternarrative of the "Blue Pacific Continent" to advocate a pan-Pacific affinity politics which is currently focused on countering the climate crisis. However, recent events within the PIF indicate ongoing hegemonies of Polynesia and Melanesia at the expense of Micronesia. The construction of "blue hegemonies" envelops Native Pacific ways of engaging with seas and oceans into imperialist discourses while blue hegemonic entities imagine and attempt to actualize different Pacific futures. The article follows Diaz (2018; 2019b) in suggesting that contracting notions of oceanic world enlargement into specific locales and depths of place holds potential for more liberatory politics.

For years, urban communities and specific ethnic groups within the US (mostly Blacks and Hispanics) have been targeted for racial profiling by our local police. Since the 1990's, the outcry for justice by our Black and Hispanic communities increased the interests to find ways to address and fight against the act of racial profiling. This phenomenological study used a qualitative approach to collect information and gain the understanding and lived experiences of Black males between the ages of 20 -49 who experienced racial profiling during routine traffic stops. Twelve Black Males between the ages of 20 to 49 were interviewed for the research study. Everyone was interviewed separately to gather experiences and meanings from their own points of view. In addition, 25 Black males within the same age group participated in a 1 hour focus group discussion. The information gathered from the interviews and focus group sessions were compiled into a Microsoft word transcript and reviewed and analyzed by the researcher to form seven themes. In order to come up with key findings, I isolated similar responses from the experiences shared by the research participants during the interviews and focus group session. In isolating some of the key responses revealed, I dissected racial profiling from a shared experience point of view based on common approaches practiced by law enforcement officers. The research study will contribute to field on conflict resolution through the voices of those who experienced racial profiling, and finding ways to encourage mediation through projecting the underlying concerns or issues to community leaders, government officials, concerned groups, and law enforcement agencies.

Innovation is defined not only by the type of technology used, but also by who creates it and the processes by which it is developed and deployed. This paper explores the development of AI-based anti-corruption technologies by providing empirical evidence on applications implemented by governmental and non-governmental organisations in Italy, Estonia, Germany, Brazil and Venezuela. Based on in-depth desk research and interviews with public officials, activists, developers and journalists, this study identifies three types of development models for AI-based ACTs: in-house development, outsourcing off-the-shelf solutions, and cocreation. The adoption of each model depends on funding availability, urgency for innovative solutions, and AI expertise. The paper also discusses key drivers, opportunities, and challenges of each model. It reflects on the benefits and risks of AI-based ACTs, which, while offering potential powerful solutions, may also add complexity to an already discordant world, facing political instability, social fragmentation, and technological disruption.

International law serves as the legal framework governing the relations between sovereign states and other international actors. It establishes norms, rules, and principles that promote peace, security, cooperation, and justice on a global scale. This article explores the foundations of international law, its core principles, and contemporary challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.

2025.07.31 V1: Μία από τις πέντε εκδόσεις του ίδιου θέματος, δηλαδή την ταυτόχρονη τάση ενίσχυσης εκτελεστικής εξουσίας και διοικητικής αποκέντρωσης (χαρακτηριστικά, αίτια και συνταγματική κατοχύρωση), εν μέρει συγκριτικό Ελλάδας έναντι άλλων χωρών. V2: 2025.08.02. Disclaimer: Views my own. No conflict of interest. All rights reserved.

There is no question that the widespread adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in financial reporting systems poses new uncertainties to ethical standards in place in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in developing economies. The paper is a critical analysis of various ethical implications of the adoption of AI-driven financial reporting among SMEs in Ghana, particularly noting the dialectic of technology and conventional accounting professionalism as a part of the financial reporting process. Adopting the perspectives of Stakeholder Theory, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and Resource-Based View (RBV), the present research helps question the intricate relationships between the AI integrations, ethical responsibility, and the resulting organizational performance. It becomes clear after the analysis that, though AI technologies have significant potential in terms of improving the reporting efficiency and the ability of organizations to make strategic decisions, they also create critical ethical questions about professional autonomy, transparency of algorithms, and endorsing stakeholders with confidence. The research helps establish the emerging field of AI ethics in the accounting body by contrasting the unique and complex challenges faced by SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa because of the norms and pressures of resource-shy environments and institutional frameworks that provide a distinct environment in which AI should be implemented. The evidence highlights the urgent need for thorough ethical governance systems capable of balancing technological innovation and traditional standards of the profession and overcoming the local peculiarities of the developing digital economy in Ghana.

This study is a public service that reflects the state of the nation, and no nation has been able to advance beyond its public service. The need for transformation in the public service, therefore, cannot be underestimated. It is at the heart of the public service's efforts to improve performance and productivity. It is essential to recognize that the logic of public service performance is undergoing profound changes due to transformations and innovations in governance and government policies. This development paves the way for new forms of interaction and socioeconomic composition in social and economic life. This article provides a specific objective of an overview of the ongoing service transformation and applies it to public service delivery in West Africa. Our focus is on transformation in public service delivery, which refers to innovations that aim at renewing or improving public service performance. Using secondary data, primary and content analysis as a desk scientific research methodology, where the research adopts both descriptive survey and quantitative and qualitative data, newspapers, journals, published textbooks, and other researchable academic writings. However, research revealed that despite more than ten and a half years of democratic governance, the populace continues to suffer from extreme poverty, insecurity, unemployment, inadequate access to electricity, subpar housing and medical care, corruption, a lackluster enforcement of accountability and transparency, exclusion of the public from decision-making, and a crisis of legitimacy. The study noted, using the principle of political participation, that the public service remains significantly estranged from the people it is supposed to serve. It typically looks out for its interests rather than the general welfare. This is a major factor in its alleged dismal performance in delivering democratic dividends throughout the nation due to poor governance. This article looks at the issue of poor public service delivery in two West African nations and suggests solutions. In order to support good governance in Nigeria, the essay concludes that while innovations in the public sector ensure survival and enhance performance in the delivery of public services, regime change also necessitates changes in the mindset, organizational design, and operational dynamics of the public service. The report offered comprehensive suggestions on how to get the nation out of this undesirable circumstance. Promoting core democratic values, emphasizing professionalism in the public sector, developing public servants' capacity, advocating for the new public management principles, zero tolerance for corruption, maintaining political stability, encouraging participatory decision-making, and advancing distributive justice are a few of these.

📑 Abstract

This paper employs a policy analysis framework to examine the persistent implementation deficits undermining Sierra Leone’s development agenda. Despite comprehensive policy designs targeting health, education, agriculture, and youth employment, systemic barriers—including institutional fragility, entrenched corruption, political interference, insufficient funding, and weak stakeholder engagement—have consistently impeded effective execution. This study unpacks these multi-dimensional challenges and offers sector-specific recommendations aimed at enhancing governance, institutional capacity, accountability mechanisms, and participatory processes. By bridging the gap between policy formulation and on-the-ground delivery, this analysis contributes to the scholarship on public sector reform and provides practical pathways for recalibrating Sierra Leone’s socio-economic development trajectory.

Navigating college can be both exciting and stressful, and having someone to guide you through it can make a world of difference. In this blog, we’ll explore the numerous benefits of having a mentor, how to find the right mentor and the lasting impact mentorship can have even beyond your educational journey.

This article introduces the Ombudsmus Council as a proposed Fourth Branch of Government-Quarta Politica-designed to protect citizens from government failures and strengthen democratic accountability. Expanding on the traditional ombudsman model, the Council would be constitutionally independent from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the authority to investigate, rule on, and enforce remedies against abuses of power and policy failures. While existing democratic systems rely on checks and balances among the three traditional branches, they often lack a formal, independent institution dedicated specifically to defending citizens when those branches fall short. Unlike the media-which faces growing political and economic pressures-the Ombudsmus Council would be structurally embedded in the constitution as a permanent watchdog with public oversight functions.

Electricity access is a cornerstone for social progress and economic growth, yet millions of rural Nigerians remain disconnected from the national power grid. This study critically examines the legal and institutional controls placed on the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), as established under Nigeria’s rural electrification policies and the Rural Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan (RESIP). Drawing on statutory frameworks such as the Electricity Act 2023, the Public Procurement Act 2007, and the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, the research investigates the legal obligations, regulatory mandates, and institutional mechanisms that govern rural electrification efforts in Nigeria.

At the core of this inquiry is the role of the REA in promoting off-grid and on-grid solutions to extend power access to underserved and unserved communities. The research evaluates the agency’s compliance with statutory mandates, including transparency in procurement, accountability in project implementation, and the facilitation of stakeholder and community engagement. Using the Benue rural electrification project as a case study, the work uncovers major lapses in project delivery, ranging from land dispossession and resource misallocation to project abandonment and poor community inclusion. These challenges raise serious questions about the operational effectiveness of both the REA and its partner institutions.

The analysis further reveals that despite well-articulated policy goals—such as those in the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP), which is supported by the World Bank—implementation is often hindered by weak institutional oversight, limited enforcement of procurement guidelines, and a failure to apply inclusive, community-centred approaches. Notably, the lack of compliance with legal reporting requirements and stakeholder consultations contravenes express provisions of the Electricity Act and undermines trust in public infrastructure initiatives.

The study concludes that while Nigeria has laid a comprehensive legal and institutional foundation for rural electrification, achieving universal energy access will require more than policy articulation. It calls for a concerted effort to strengthen institutional capacity, enforce regulatory frameworks, enhance community ownership, and adopt scalable renewable energy technologies. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers, legal practitioners, and development agencies aiming to bridge Nigeria’s rural energy gap and meet the national target of 90% electricity access by 2030.

Land remains a contentious issue in South African history to date. It provides people with hope and various opportunities. This paper discusses the right of access to land and the right to mine. The paper discusses at length the requirements set at law and considered significant for compliance to attain these rights. Four dominant issues emerge from the discussion namely land, mining rights, consultation and consent as well as deprivation as pillars adjoined to critique the fundamental legal requirements needed to access land and to mine it. Mining companies compete for access to the country's mineral lands and petroleum resources to exploit them relentlessly. Whilst South Africa has been installed as the conduit of the nation's mineral and petroleum resources, the need to enforce compliance with the requirements set a national law is critical to avoid illegal mining and unlawful deprivation of land for mining purposes. This is because most of the land in South Africa is communal or belong to private owners, concentrated with the mineral wealth. Legislation such as the Interim Protection of Informal Land Rights Act 31 of 1996(IPILRA) and the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002(MPRDA), as amended, are triggered for this discussion.

A trip to the museums of Stockholm was always part of our museology master’s program at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. We did it, this time alone. Fifteen great exhibitions in five days. I will only comment here on the five at Fotografiska, the most successful photography museum internationally. It has … siblings in Berlin, Tallinn, Estonia, Shanghai, New York, which is moving to a new location, and Oslo, where it will open in 2027. The 15-year-old Fotografiska in Stockholm was founded by brothers Jan and Per Broman. The major shareholder and Executive Director is Yoram Roth, a former photographer and cultural events organizer. They have managed to turn it into an international destination for photography exhibitions, cultural programs, and distinguished dining experiences. ...The main exhibition, “ToiletFotoPaperGrafiska”, now on display at FotografiskaBerlin until August 31, was the one presenting photographs from ToiletPaper magazine. ...Humor was omnipresent and the joy of discovering the meaning behind each photograph. Along with the happiness of swimming in a shower of colors, which, with the short and concise texts, compose an exhibition that is a feast for the eyes, sharpens the mind, entertains and pleases the heart, keeping the visitor in constant alertness from beginning to end.

This paper investigates how internal audit can serve as a catalyst for organizational learning and accountability. It focuses on mechanisms such as post-audit reviews, audit follow-ups, and stakeholder feedback loops that ensure audit findings lead to actionable improvements. The research finds that integrating these elements into audit workflows strengthens accountability and fosters a culture of continuous improvement. The added value lies in its practical roadmap for linking audit outcomes with governance reforms, driving measurable organizational development.

Capítulo del libro: Transparencia y participación para una nueva gobernanza: en Memoria de Pepe Molina. Coordinadores: José Luis Ros Medina, José Manuel Mayor Balsas y Encarna Hernández Rodríguez.
"El legado de Pepe Molina Molina es demasiado extenso para resumirlo en un libro. Durante su mandato como Presidente del Consejo de la Transparencia de la Región de Murcia desarrolló una intensa labor de control de la transparencia, reflexión sobre su mejora, promoción de su uso y pedagogía tanto hacia la clase política, como hacia los académicos y al resto de la sociedad civil.  Del mismo modo, centró su interés y esfuerzo en que la transparencia no estuviera aislada, sino arropada por la participación ciudadana y la colaboración, dentro del marco del gobierno abierto; de ahí su interés en los presupuestos participativos, en la formación ciudadana y en la rendición de cuentas.
En esta obra hemos pretendido rendir un pequeño homenaje a aquél luchador y visionario de la mano de algunos de sus mejores amigos y compañeros -donde destacan desde directivos y funcionarios de los órganos de control de la transparencia, hasta juristas especializados en el derecho a saber, académicos de la transparencia y de la lucha contra la corrupción, y profesores y activistas de la participación ciudadana y la colaboración-, realizando un compendio de las diferentes temáticas del gobierno/Estado abierto que pueden generar, como Pepe pretendió a lo largo de toda su vida, una nueva gobernanza".

Resumen-La Inteligencia Artificial (IA) se ha convertido en un eje central de la transformación digital a nivel global, y el Perú no es ajeno a esta tendencia. En los últimos años, el país ha comenzado a adoptar tecnologías basadas en IA en sectores clave como la salud, la educación, el comercio y la gestión pública. Este trabajo analiza las principales tendencias de la IA en el contexto peruano, incluyendo el uso de algoritmos predictivos en servicios gubernamentales, chatbots en atención ciudadana, sistemas de recomendación en plataformas de comercio electrónico y herramientas de análisis de datos en la toma de decisiones empresariales. Además, se discuten los desafíos que enfrenta el Perú, como la brecha digital, la falta de políticas públicas específicas y la necesidad de fortalecer el talento humano en tecnología. Finalmente, se destaca el potencial transformador de la IA para reducir desigualdades y mejorar la calidad de vida, siempre que se implemente de manera ética e inclusiva.

Promoting Democratic Participation In The Commonwealth Republics And Fighting Nepotism And Corruption.

Head of State Document by the Executive Office of the Head of State of Earth on 27/06/2025.

This Executive Order is enacted and promulgated to promote democratic participation In the Commonwealth Republics and fight nepotism and corruption.

O presente artigo expõe a visão que as elites sociais e institucionais têm sobre os Tribunais de Contas (TCs) subnacionais brasileiros. Realizada no bojo do processo de diagnóstico e reforma dos TCs, o Programa de Modernização do Sistema de Controle Externo dos Estados e do Distrito Federal (Promoex), esta pesquisa revela quais são os problemas que afetam o desempenho administrativo e a legitimidade institucional desses órgãos fiscalizadores, bem como as suas qualidades, as quais podem ser utilizadas como motor de sua reformulação. A partir da interpretação das opiniões dos atores entrevistados, a análise final procura revelar quais caminhos podem ser trilhados para se modernizarem os Tribunais de Contas subnacionais.

Desde la perspectiva del control, la rendicion de cuentas consiste en la obligatoriedad deresponder por las acciones y el comportamiento propio, y en el caso del uso de recursos publicos,implica la responsabilidad de responder por las acciones y decisiones relacionadas con el uso deesos recursos. El ejercicio del control se facilita con la rendicion de cuentas, asumiendo las caracteristicasvinculadas al modelo de gestion publica en el cual se encuentra inserta. A partir de unexamen de fuentes secundarias, el proposito de este articulo es presentar una revision teorica sobreel tema de rendicion de cuentas y los sistemas de control en organizaciones de la sociedad civilen Venezuela. Para concluir, se reflexiona sobre el peso y fuerza que adquieren estas organizaciones,convirtiendose en intermediarias entre el Estado y la poblacion, asumiendo la prestacion dedeterminados servicios o representando a la comunidad para presionar a favor de ciertas politicaso programas gubernamentales.

This research was conducted with the aim of an overview of the references published in the field of politicization. For this reason, we used a scoping review along with bibliometric analysis. After presenting the most important and influential authors and sources in this field (co-citation and co-occurrence), the scientific productions of authors and different countries examined, and finally the existing trends in politicization, and 4 types of thematic mapping (motor, niche, emerging or declining, and basic themes) presented. Recent trends have included issues related to administrative traditions, patronage models, administrative turnover, and most recently the Covid-19 and populist governments.

This research was conducted with the aim of an overview of the references published in the field of politicization. For this reason, we used a scoping review along with bibliometric analysis. After presenting the most important and influential authors and sources in this field (co-citation and co-occurrence), the scientific productions of authors and different countries examined, and finally the existing trends in politicization, and 4 types of thematic mapping (motor, niche, emerging or declining, and basic themes) presented. Recent trends have included issues related to administrative traditions, patronage models, administrative turnover, and most recently the Covid-19 and populist governments.

Este ensayo académico reflexiona y plantea algunas inquietudes acerca de la convergencia, útil y necesaria, entre las políticas públicas y el territorio. El texto es de carácter reflexivo y se suma al debate que hay en la comunidad mexicana acerca de la trayectoria y balance que se hace de la disciplina de las políticas públicas. El documento plantea un encuentro metodológico entre las políticas públicas y el territorio en México. Para después resaltar la importancia del territorio en el estudio y análisis de las políticas públicas para, finalmente, cerrar con la cuestión de si hay un enfoque, mixtura o perspectiva interdisciplinaria al respecto.