Third Way Regulation? Community Legal Service Partnerships

This article examines recent changes in the civil legal aid scheme in England and Wales (now called the Community Legal Service) and the creation of Community Legal Service Partnerships in particular. The article explores three main interests: it illustrates how third way thinking has been applied to the reform of the legal aid scheme under the Access to Justice Act 1999; it explores how partnership fits within theories of public regulation; and it illustrates how professionalism is being re-shaped by a combination of new public management, contractualism and partnership. It points to important limitations in new public law theories of extended accountability and democratised governance as manifested in partnerships.     

俄罗斯与北约:脆弱但可持续的伙伴关系

由于俄罗斯与北约对合作目标的互惠性认知虽有差异但在战略目标上基本一致,同时从绩效来看,双方各有所获。但双方对东欧和前苏联地区地缘战略空间的争夺,特别是俄罗斯用"楔子战略"和2010年新版军事学说对抗北约东扩,同时,双方对各自在未来欧洲安全机制中的角色定位和相互定位也不同,因此,俄罗斯与北约的伙伴关系将是脆弱的,但是可持续的。     

公私协力法律关系之双阶争讼困境

双阶理论下前后阶段行为之关连及互相影响,学说上的四种可能主张都不足以达成高度之共识。籍助民法上无因性理论,后阶段契约瑕疵和前阶段行政处分瑕疵非同一性理论可以被用来解释前后阶段法律行为效力之独立判断。台湾地区目前关于规范公私协力法律关系"采购法"或"促参法"之解释,立法者对于前后阶段行为效力之关系,采用双阶理论,导致实体法律关系割裂,救济程序陷于困境。而德国采购法新制在采购法程序上稳健线状突破的操作方法,值得参考。     

The EU in the South Caucasus and the Impact of the Russia-Ukraine War

Despite hopes that it would act as a transformative tool in the South Caucasus to strengthen democracy, stability, security and regional cooperation, the Eastern Partnership (EaP) has produced limited results, with the region more fragmented today than it was five years ago. Russia’s war against Ukraine has further exacerbated the situation, raising concerns over the extent to which South Caucasus countries can genuinely rely on the West. Today, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan have different geostrategic trajectories. While Georgia has stuck to the Euro-Atlantic track, Armenia joined the Russian-led Eurasian Union in January 2015. Meanwhile Azerbaijan has the luxury of choosing not to choose. Developments in the region have demonstrated that a ‘one size fits all’ approach does not work and a more differentiated policy is required.     

The impact of community-based capital cash transfers on orphan schooling in Kenya

In this article we report on a community-based capital cash transfer initiative (CCCT) in Kenya that sought to mobilise and enable HIV-affected communities to respond to the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children. With bilateral funding, the Social Services Department in Kenya provided 80 communities across ten districts with advice and resources to set up social enterprises for the support of vulnerable children. A wide range of food and income generating activities were initiated by the communities, whose produce or profits contributed to the improved school attendance and performance of orphaned children, particularly amongst girls. We conclude that CCCT is a viable strategy for improving orphan schooling in sub-Saharan Africa.

L'importance des transferts de capitaux communautaires sur la scolarisation des orphelins au Kenya

Dans cet article nous présentons un compte rendu d'une initiative de transfert de capitaux communautaires (TCC) au Kenya qui a cherché à mobiliser et à permettre à des communautés touchées par le VIH de répondre aux besoins d'enfants orphelins et vulnérables. Grâce à un financement bilatéral, le département des services sociaux du Kenya a dispensé à 80 communautés réparties sur dix districts les conseils et moyens requis pour mettre sur pied des entreprises sociales visant à soutenir les enfants vulnérables. Une variété d'activités génératrices de nourriture et de revenus ont été initiées par les communautés, dont les produits agricoles ou les bénéfices ont contribué à l'amélioration de l'assiduité scolaire des orphelins, ainsi que leurs résultats, en particulier parmi les filles. Nous concluons que les CCCT constituent une stratégie viable pour l'amélioration de la scolarisation des orphelins en Afrique subsaharienne.

El impacto de las transferencias de efectivo a nivel comunitario en la escolaridad de huérfanos en Kenia

En el presente artículo, los autores dan a conocer la iniciativa de transferencia de efectivo a nivel comunitario (ccci) en Kenia, la cual procuró movilizar y facilitar la respuesta de comunidades afectadas por el vih a las necesidades de niños huérfanos y vulnerables. A través del financiamiento bilateral, el Departamento de Servicios Sociales de Kenia proporcionó consejos y recursos a 80 comunidades de diez distritos, con el fin de establecer empresas sociales destinadas al apoyo de niños vulnerables. Las comunidades iniciaron una amplia gama de actividades para generar alimentos e ingresos, cuyos productos y ganancias contribuyeron a mejorar la asistencia escolar y el rendimiento de los niños huérfanos, especialmente de las niñas. Los autores concluyen que ccci es una estrategia viable para mejorar la escolaridad de los huérfanos del África Subsahariana.

O impacto das transferências de recursos de capital comunitários sobre estudantes órfãos no Quênia

Neste artigo fazemos um relato sobre uma iniciativa de Transferência de Recursos de Capital Comunitários (CCCT) no Quênia que buscou mobilizar e capacitar comunidades afetadas pelo vírus HIV para que possam atuar frente às necessidades de crianças órfãs e vulneráveis. Com financiamento bilateral, o Departamento de Serviço Social do Quênia ofereceu a 80 comunidades de dez distritos orientação e recursos para a criação de empresas sociais de apoio a crianças vulneráveis. Uma ampla série de atividades geradoras de alimentos e renda foi iniciada pelas comunidades, cujos produtos ou lucros contribuíram para uma maior frequência escolar e melhor desempenho de crianças órfãs, particularmente entre as meninas. Concluímos que a CCCT é uma estratégia viável para melhorar o aprendizado escolar de órfãos da África Subsaariana.     

Autonomy and policy independence in Africa: a review of NGO development challenges

Drawing on empirical data gathered from discussions with executive directors of NGOs in Ghana, this paper critically analyses the complex multi-tier relationships between NGOs and their donor partners and how these affect outcomes of their development projects in Ghana. The paper discusses how experiences with funding agencies inform crucial shifts in NGO programming for poverty alleviation. This paper argues that, given their (NGOs') peculiar positioning in development practice, a critical appraisal of power dynamics central to NGO operations (such as funding and ownership of development projects) is crucial to proposing new strategies of engagement with NGO activity in Africa.

Autonomie et indépendance sur le plan des politiques en Afrique : un bilan des défis de développement pour les ONG

Sur la base de données empiriques recueillies à partir de discussions avec des directeurs exécutifs d'ONG au Ghana, cet article analyse dans une optique critique les rapports complexes multi-niveaux entre les ONG et leurs partenaires bailleurs de fonds, et l'incidence qu'ils ont sur les résultats de leurs projets de développement au Ghana. Il traite de la manière dont les expériences avec des organismes donateurs façonnent des changements cruciaux dans la programmation des ONG en faveur de l'atténuation de la pauvreté. L'auteur soutient que, étant donné le positionnement particulier des ONG dans la pratique du développement, une évaluation critique de la dynamique de pouvoir centrale aux opérations des ONG (comme le financement et la propriété des projets de développement) est cruciale au moment de proposer de nouvelles stratégies en vue de la participation aux activités des ONG en Afrique.

Autonomía e independencia política en África: una revisión de los retos enfrentados por las ong en el desarrollo

Apoyándose en datos empíricos recabados a partir de diálogos sostenidos con los directores ejecutivos de ong en Ghana, el presente artículo analiza críticamente las relaciones complejas y de múltiples niveles que se establecen entre las ong y sus socios donantes. Del mismo modo, examina la manera en que dichas relaciones afectan los resultados obtenidos por sus proyectos de desarrollo en este país. Asimismo, el artículo revisa cómo las experiencias de las ong con las agencias de financiamiento, influyen en los cambios sustantivos detectados en los programas que han implementado para el alivio de la pobreza. El artículo sostiene que, dado el particular posicionamiento de las ong en la práctica del desarrollo, para proponer nuevas estrategias de involucramiento en las actividades que realizan en África, resulta crucial realizar una valoración crítica de las dinámicas del poder que se establecen en dichas actividades (por ejemplo, el financiamiento y el sentido de pertenencia de los proyectos de desarrollo).

Autonomia e independência de política na África: uma revisão dos desafios de desenvolvimento de ONGs

Baseando-se em dados empíricos coletados a partir de discussões com diretores executivos de ONGs de Gana, este artigo analisa de maneira crítica as relações complexas de vários níveis entre ONGs e seus parceiros doadores e como elas afetam os resultados de seus projetos de desenvolvimento em Gana. O artigo discute como as experiências com agências financiadoras influenciam mudanças cruciais em programas de ONGs para redução da pobreza. Este artigo argumenta que, tendo em vista o posicionamento peculiar (das ONGs) na prática de desenvolvimento, uma avaliação crítica da dinâmicas de poder central para operações de ONGs (tais como financiamento e posse de projetos de desenvolvimento) é crucial para se propor novas estratégias de engajamento com a atividade das ONGs na África.     

Strengthening public health supply chains in Ethiopia: PEPFAR-supported expansion of access and availability

When the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)-supported Supply Chain Management System (SCMS) programme began working in Ethiopia in 2006, the estimated population of people living with HIV exceeded one million, while only 24,000 were on treatment and only 50 treatment sites were in operation. SCMS and other key partners entered into this context to support the Ethiopian government in significantly strengthening the public health supply chain system, with the aim of increasing the availability and accessibility of pharmaceutical products. The country now has 1,047 treatment sites and is nearing complete treatment coverage. This article discusses how priorities were set among many competing challenges from 2006 until 2014, and how the four-step strategy of build, operate, transfer, and optimise has resulted in a successful partnership.     

NGOs as intermediaries in post-disaster rural reconstruction: findings from research in India

Drawing upon research conducted in Gujarat, India, this article identifies the potential and limitations for NGOs to serve as intermediaries (between beneficiaries, governments, and international relief/development organisations) on post-disaster rural reconstruction projects. Findings reveal that NGOs can play important roles in facilitating the design and construction of high-quality, culturally appropriate housing; revitalising and diversifying livelihoods; and reducing physical and social vulnerability to future disasters. NGOs should have clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and accountability measures in post-disaster reconstruction projects, but they also need a certain amount of autonomy to protect their organisational philosophies and flexibility to make day-to-day decisions.     

Learning from a leprosy project in Indonesia: making mindsets explicit for stigma reduction

International attention for disability recognises that it plays an important role in persistent poverty. Leprosy can cause preventable disability. Stigma associated with leprosy often has greater implications for people affected than physical impairments. The Stigma Assessment and Reduction of Impact (SARI) project in Indonesia employs an action research methodology to develop stigma reduction interventions. By exploring the different mindsets of the stakeholders in the reconnaissance phase of the project, the project identified differences in aspirations, attitudes to research, and conflicting intrinsic models of disability. The differences in mindsets are not symptoms of failure but, rather, should be actively sought out.     

Taking Freedom of Information into the Commonwealth: The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative at Work

Abstract

This article outlines the commitment of the Commonwealth and its institutions to a public right to official information, its promotion of the enactment and effective implementation of freedom of information (FOI) legislation, and progress to date in member states. It identifies obstacles to more widespread introduction of access to information laws, and describes the work of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative through years of advocacy for the adoption of such laws, the training of bureaucrats, lawyers and parliamentarians from around the Commonwealth, and collaborations with civil rights organisations, coalitions and activists. It stresses that engendering a regime of transparency is more complicated than merely enacting an FOI law. Citing successes of the Indian grass-roots movement in promoting the right to information, and successfully encouraging the use of enacted statutes through the dissemination of information about its provisions and usage, it calls for capacity building in both civil society and the media to work towards successful outcomes elsewhere in the Commonwealth.