South Africa and Namibia: Aspects of a relationship,historical and contemporary

South Africa occupied Namibia for 75 years. After that occupation ended in 1990, numerous ties between the two countries continued to exist and their economies are still intertwined more than 25 years later. In both countries the liberation movements that fought apartheid and then came to power are still in power. This might suggest that the relationship between the two countries would be a particularly close one. When the leaders of the two countries meet, as they regularly do, they speak of fraternal relations and point to ways in which the two countries are working together to enhance co-operation and regional integration. However, the relationship is a very unequal one, and the small state of Namibia retains suspicions of the regional hegemon, suspicions that have a long history. Areas of tension between the two states therefore remain. This paper considers aspects of their bilateral relations, within the multilateral contexts of the Southern African Customs Union and the Southern African Development Community.     

Management and safety of a medical mission: occupational hazards of volunteering

Medical aid missions involve travel to conflict or danger zones, posing safety risks in addition to the usual occupational risks arising from daily medical work. The note reports on a volunteer mission, using personal reports, anecdotal experiences, and the formal annual report to undertake an assessment similar to worksite assessments for hazards and control measures. Hazards were found to be prevalent, including physical noise and heat, infectious exposure from patients and local vectors, poor water sanitation, and psychosocial stress from unfamiliar environments and large patient numbers with limited means. Implementable preventative measures include increasing awareness with appropriate protective equipment usage and safety guidelines. Mission planning and management should also involve occupational health input.     

The role of the IFI and the EU Peace III Fund in creating sustainable peace in Northern Ireland and the border counties

NGOs aided by external economic aid can play a critical part in post-accord peacebuilding situations. This article explores the impact of the International Fund for Ireland and the European Union Peace III Fund in nurturing sustainable peace through development in Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland by examining the perceptions and experiences of 107 local NGO leaders and 13 funding agency development officers. During the summer of 2010, 120 people were interviewed using semi-structured interviews in Derry city and nine border counties. The article explores the role of external economic international assistance aids in building sustainable development, reconciliation, and peace in Northern Ireland and the border counties.     

Reflections of an evaluator navigating between community development and welfare paradigms

This practical note discusses some of the challenges evaluators face when their values clash with those of their employer. A case example where the author was commissioned to complete an evaluation for a community development project within a welfare-minded NGO highlights evaluation issues for welfare-minded NGOs attempting to deliver community development programmes. A fundamental issue is the differing interpretation of key terms including evaluation, participation, and empowerment. The note discusses how the author attempted to navigate between maintaining community development principles in the evaluation process while at the same time fulfilling quantitative evaluation requirements mandated by the organisation and funders.     

“一带一路”战略下的反腐败刑事司法合作

"一带一路"战略是中国提出的重大战略,其已经成为世界经济增长的"引擎"。经济合作是"一带一路"的战略核心,然而经济合作的重点在基础设施建设、金融合作、货物贸易、能源开发等领域。面对这些领域的经济利益,部分沿线国家法治落后,权力得不到有效制约,导致这些领域很容易产生贪污腐败。由此沿线各国应重点加强联合侦查、证据交换、犯罪引渡、赃款追缴等领域的反腐败刑事司法合作,这对打击腐败行为,确保"一带一路"战略实施尤为关键。     

我国城市老年人居家养老与社区照顾初探

我国人口老龄化发展速度快,老龄化地区差异大,城市老人家庭空巢化、高龄化现象日渐严重,传统家庭养老模式已无法满足城市老年人的养老需求,社区的发展使社区成为城市为老服务的最佳载体。推行居家养老与社区照顾相结合的养老方式是解决我国城市老年人养老问题的最佳选择。     

当代中国公共服务实践反思:公共服务全程评估的意义

本文首先概括了当代中国公共服务实践中存在的诸多“怪相”,并把“怪相”归为公共服务需求、供给和结果三类问题,而问题的根源在于公共服务体制缺陷。然后,从公共服务过程的角度,提出公共服务全程评估的概念,即对公共服务需求一供给一结果整个过程的评估,并认为公共服务全程评估,是既定公共服务体制下的一种可行的公共服务改革策略,也是改善公共服务的一种机制保障。     

试论警察公共关系在社区警务中的运用

警察公共关系建设与社区警务战略有着相互影响、相互促进的紧密关系,与社区警务工作在宣传群众、服务群众、组织群众上有着一致性,对于解决当前社区警务工作中出现的新情况、新问题有着积极的促进作用。警察公共关系建设无疑是实施社区警务战略的“推进器”。     

中美公共政策评估系统比较及启示

构思精美,设计精良的政策并非都能达到预期的效果.由于认知的局限性和政策的复杂性,在政策实践中,事与愿违的现象是普遍存在的.因此,政策评估至关重要.现代意义上的政策评估兴起于上世纪60一70年代的美国,而我国在引进政策科学后总体上仍处于"引进"阶段,尚未完全完成"消化、吸收尤其是创新"过程.本文通过比较研究中美两国在公共政策评估系统的差异,从评估者、评估对象、评估目的、评估标准和评估方法五个方面对比分析,得出一些针对我国公共政策评估系统存在问题的启示.     

我国政府公共危机管理问责制的完善——基于矿难行政责任追究的视角

现阶段我国政府公共危机管理的绩效评价工作才刚刚起步,"官员问责"还存在着一些问题。在政府公共危机管理体系中,绩效评价和问责是较为薄弱的一环。从我国近几年发生的六起煤矿特别重大事故行政责任追究结果的分析看,我国政府公共危机管理绩效评价和问责存在的抗拒执法,非法生产;超负荷组织生产;管理混乱,腐败等问题。因此需要借鉴国外政府公共危机管理绩效评价工作的做法,建议应分别从问责目标、问责主体、问责对象、问责内容、问责程序和方法、问责结果的应用等方面完善我国政府公共危机管理问责制。