Split (1)

train · 1.07M rows

content stringlengths 71 484k	url stringlengths 13 5.97k
SWBAT solve division problems with 2-digit dividends using the standard algorithm. Students will learn the standard algorithm process using simpler problems before applying this understanding to more complex division problems. For a detailed description of the Number Talk procedure, please refer to the Number Talk Explanation. For this Number Talk, I am encouraging students to represent their thinking using an array model. For each task today, students shared their strategies with peers (sometimes within their group, sometimes with someone across the room). It was great to see students inspiring others to try new methods and it was equally as great to see students examining each other work for possible mistakes! While we have completed several division number talks in the past, it has been a while! Still in the multiplication mode, many students created 15 x 5 arrays. Before discussing the above task, I modeled a simpler array on the board, 6/2. I asked, What is 6 divided by 2? Students responded, "3." I then drew three arrays: 2x6, 6x2, and 2x3 and asked students: Which array looks right? After discussing this question, I then drew another 2 x 3 and explained: If I draw 6 squares on the inside of this array, does it make sense that 6 squares divided into 2 rows equals 3 in each row? Soon, I heard students say, "Oh, now I get it!" and "That makes sense now." At this point, students went back to the original task, 15/5 without any prompting! Many students drew a 3x5 array: 15:5 =3. This student experimented with decomposing the 15 into multiples of 4+1, 15:5 = (8+4):4 + (2+1):1.. During the next task, most students doubled the array from the first task: 30:5 = 2(15:5). Then, students solved 45/5 by adding on another 15/5: 45:5 = (15:5) x 3.. Some students found other ways to creatively divide 45: 45:5 = (6+10+2):2 + (9+15+3):3. Others took a less efficient approach to solving this problem by making a 9 x 5 and drawing all the squares: 45 square array! For the final task, students guessed that the quotient would be 90. They used the last task and said, "If we multiply the dividend by 10, then we'll have to multiply the quotient by 10." I wrote 90 with a question mark after the equation and said, "Let's see if it really does equal 90! Prove it!" Here, a student used the previous task and multiplied: 10 x 45/5, 450:5 = (150x3):5. I also liked watching this student decompose the 5 and the 450: 450:5 = 450:(2+3). Throughout every number talk, I continually model student thinking on the board to inspire other students. This also requires students to use math words to explain their thinking instead of relying on a model to represent the math. As students solved each task, I wrote the answers on the board to encourage students to use prior tasks to solve the more complex tasks: Listed Tasks. When developing a learning progression for multi-digit division, I decided to teach the standard algorithm (long division) prior to developing a conceptual understanding of this process using hands-on tools and visual representations (such as base 10 blocks, money, grid paper, arrays, and ratio tables). Here's why: In order for students to truly gain a deep understanding of the algorithm, they have to be provided with multiple opportunities to practice the algorithm. If I waited until the end of this division unit to teach this abstract process, students would only have a couple days of practice, leading to very few students achieving proficiency with the standard algorithm. Also, in order for students to truly see the relationship between division models (such as the money model) and the algorithm, I want to provide them with the opportunity to use the algorithm and models side-by-side in upcoming lessons. To begin the lesson, I then shared today's goal: I can solve division problems with 2-digit dividends using the standard algorithm. I explained with great enthusiasm: Today, you get to learn how to complete simple division problems using the standard algorithm, which is also called long division! Students seemed both excited and nervous at the same time. I then showed the following song about long division and pointed to the lyrics on the Division Poster when appropriate. Students immediately recognized the tune of the song. Some said, "I've heard this before!" Others began singing along: Students Singing Along Smiles and giggles filled the air. 1. First you must DIVIDE. 4. Then you BRING IT DOWN. 5. The last think you do is CHECK! Before moving on, I pulled the Division Terms poster from a past lesson off our math wall. I reminded students: With the equation, 18 divided by 3 = 6, the 18 is the dividend (the number being divided). The 3 is the divisor, which also sounds like the divider! This number represents the number of groups we are dividing 18 into. In this case, we are dividing 18 into three groups. And what's the answer to a division problem called again? "Quotient!" I then showed students two other common ways of writing division problems (see bottom of poster). The ordering of the divisor and dividend can be different, depending on how the division problem is written. Since this can be confusing for students, I wanted to begin addressing the ways to write division problems right away. For guided practice today, I wanted to provide my visual students with a fun, yet structured way to learn the steps. I passed out a page protector, an 2-Digit Dividend Template, and a paper clip to each student. I then modeled how to outline boxes within the algorithm grid, one color at a time. Singing the song, I said: First you must divide... I placed an red D on the side of the paper. We then outlined the top two boxes red: Building the Algorithm Mat 1. We then moved on to then you multiply (orange boxes) and sub-tra-ct (yellow boxes): Building the Algorithm Mat 2. Then you bring it down (blue boxes): Building the Algorithm Mat 3. These colors also coordinated with the Dad, Mom, Sister, and Brother Long Division Steps from earlier. Whenever possible, I organize information by color to help the brain categorize new content and skills. When finished, I asked students to place the algorithm inside the page protector and grab a dry erase marker and eraser for today's lesson. I filled in the blanks to the Skylander problem above: Let's say that David has 2 shelves in his room. And let's say he has 22 Skylanders. If he divided the figures equally, how many would be on each shelf? Students knew the answer right away, "11!" Good! Now, let's see if we can get the correct answer by following the steps for the standard algorithm. When we are finished solving this problem, the quotient, or answer to a division problem, will be found at the top of the division sign. We then labeled: dividend, divisor, and quotient. Before solving the next problem, a student suggested that we write these terms on the actual paper inside the page protector. I thought this was a great idea! Then I very slowly modeled the standard algorithm step-by-step while students completed the problem alongside of me: Algorithm Mat 22:2. We placed the paper clip on the side of the page and moved it from D to M to S to B and back to D... to track the long division steps. We also sang along to the tune of the song! 1. We sang together: First you must divide! We placed the paper clip on "D." I then asked: How many 2s are there in 2? Students said, "One!" 2. Write the 1 above the 2 in the tens place, in the first red box. 3. We sang together: First you must divide! Then you multiply! I moved the paper clip to "M." What is 1 x 2? "Two!" 4. Write the 2 below the 2 in the tens place, in the orange box. 5. We sang together: First you must divide! Then you multiply! And sub-tra-ct! We moved the paper clip to "S." I asked: What is 2 minus 2? "Zero!" 6. Write the 0 below the 2, in the yellow box. 7. We sang together: First you must divide! Then you multiply! And sub-tra-ct! Then you bring it down! We moved the paper clip to "B." 8. Now we bring down the 2 in the ones place to the blue box. 9. At this point, we start over at division. We moved our paper clips back to the "D." I asked and pointed: How many 2s are in 2? "One!" We then continued this process until we achieved a remainder of 0. We then discussed: How many Skylanders will be on each shelf? How many skylanders are left over? How do you know there will be 0 Skylanders remaining? Here, a student explains the procedure on her own: Student Explaining Steps. I wanted to provide students with the opportunity to solve 2-digit division problems without remainders so I passed out a Division Practice Page found at CommonCoreSheets.com. We then wrote D, M, S, & B alongside the edge of our papers to help us remember the steps. Next, I modeled the first row of problems for the class, asking for feedback along the way: What do I do first? Then what? What does this represent? Where do I put the 2? What is this number called again? I wanted to be sure all students knew and understood the assignment. What do you always do after you multiply? Here's a student working on Learning Steps. Sometimes it can be discouraging for students who want to pick the steps up quicker, but this is a perfect opportunity to encourage Math Practice 1: Persevere! Throughout this lesson, we discussed the importance of having a great attitude and not giving up easily! Most students were able to complete this practice page. Here's a Student Example.	https://betterlesson.com/lesson/579897/shelving-skylanders
How To Multiply Variables In Python. Op1 = float (box) * 602216900000000000000000 op2 = op1 . Ad use python to create reports, share insights, and automate tasks with machine learning. The most simple one is using asterisk operator (). Multiplication in python is done by ( * ) operator, then the result is saved in the product variable and printed out using string formatting. ('good', 'morning', 'good', 'morning', 'good', 'morning) as you're probably starting to see, using python to multiply strings isn't complicated at all. In The Complex () Method, We Write The Real Part First And Then The Imaginary Part, Separated By Commas. * is the multiplication operator in python as mentioned above. In this tutorial, you will learn how you can multiply two pandas dataframe columns in python. You will be multiplying two pandas dataframe columns resulting in a new column consisting of the product of the initial two columns. )) #Input Value For Variable Num1 Num2=Int(Input(Enter The Second Number: In this article, we will see how to write a code in python to get the multiplication of numbers or elements of lists given as input. In this python tutorial, we will go over several ways to calculate a product (multiply values). Make a result.py file to print the modified global variables. We Use The Complex () Method For The Multiplication Of Complex Numbers In Python. First, the two numbers are stored in the variables num_1 and num_2, respectively. Res = multiple (12, 2, 5) print (res) # in this example, code output is = 120. Download the 5x python cheat sheet course (pdf). #Perform Multiplication Operation Print(The Product Of Given. Import pandas as pd now let’s denote the data set that we will be working on as data. Learn python and future proof your skillset #perform multiplication operation print (the product of given numbers is: Op1 = Float (Box) * 602216900000000000000000 Op2 = Op1 . Op1 = (float (box)602, 216, 900, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) if you then want to multiply the result by 1000, you must still omit the commas: The most simple one is using asterisk operator (*). How to multiply in python multiply two integer numbers num1 = int (input (enter the first number:	https://asturdesign.net/how-to-multiply-variables-in-python/
Say What We Do & Do What We Say Silver Stream Has Your Next Hoop Barn ! Building instructions Squaring Your Foundation. (2) Take the width of your building and multiply it by itself. (30 x 30=900) (3) Add the two numbers together. (6400 + 900=7300) (4) Type that number into your calculator and hit "square root" (85.4) (5) That number is how many feet your building should measure criss-cross. It's simple. You can do it!	http://www.silverstreamshelters.com/building-instructions.html
When putting your money into an investment vehicle, such as stocks, you need to keep track of your gains or losses. This helps you understand how your investment is performing, and if you need to adjust your investments. This is also important when you sell and have to figure out how much tax you have to pay, or what kind of deduction you might have. No matter what kind of investment, net gain or loss is simply the difference between amount paid and amount recovered. Step 1 Calculate the total amount invested. If this were a stock, you would multiply the number of shares by the cost of the shares. As an example, if you purchased 100 shares of stock ZZZ for $10 per share, you have have invested $1,000. Video of the Day Step 2 Determine the total amount received for the sale of your investment. If you sold them for $15 per share, then you grossed $1,500. Step 3 Subtract the total investment from the total return. In the example, you would subtract $1,000 from $1,500 resulting in a net gain of $500. If the number was negative, then you would have incurred a net loss. If you want to get more precise, you can also factor in any additional costs or incomes. Step 4 Subtract any costs associated with the investment. As an example, if you incurred a $25 fee to purchase the stocks and another $25 when you sold the stocks, then your fees would total $50 and your adjusted net gain would be $450, i.e., $50 in fees subtracted from the $500 calculated previously. Step 5 Add in any income gains, such as dividends. If you received $100 in dividends, then your new net gain would be $550, i.e., $450 calculated previously plus the income gain of $100. Step 6 Express your net gain or loss as a percentage by dividing it by the original investment and multiplying by 100. In the example, you would divide the net gain of $550 by the investment of $1,000. You would then multiply the result by 100 to convert the decimal to a percentage. This results in a net gain of 55 percent.	https://www.sapling.com/7486830/calculate-net-gain-loss
When you buy a U.S. Treasury bond, it helps to know how long your money will be tied up. You can calculate a Treasury bond’s payback period to determine the number of years it will take to recoup your initial investment through the bond’s interest payments and principal repayment. Expect to park your cash in a Treasury bond for a while. Investors typically buy these bonds for safety and security rather than quick riches. Treasury bonds pay lower interest than more risky investments and take up to 30 years to mature, or repay their face value. Step 1 Multiply the Treasury bond’s coupon, or interest, rate by its par value to determine the total annual interest it pays. The par value is the price the bond repays on its maturity date. For example, assume you bought a Treasury bond with a $1,000 par value and a 6 percent coupon rate. Multiply 6 percent, or 0.06, by $1,000 to get $60 in total annual interest. Step 2 Divide the price you paid for the Treasury bond by its total annual interest. A bond’s price might differ from its par value due to market interest rate fluctuations. In this example, assume you paid $990 for the Treasury bond. Divide $990 by $60 to get 16.5. Step 3 Check if your result is less than the number of years until the bond matures. If so, your result is the bond’s payback period in years. If your result is greater than or equal to the number of years until maturity, the number of years until maturity is your payback period. Continuing the example, assume the bond matures in 30 years. Because 16.5 is less than 30, the bond’s payback period is 16.5 years. The bond has a high enough coupon rate to pay you back your initial investment through its interest payments in 16.5 years, which occurs before its maturity. References Tips - When a Treasury bond’s payback period equals the years it has until maturity, you’ll get back some of your investment through interest payments and the rest through the principal repayment. - The payback period formula uses annual interest to figure the payback period in years, but you can divide the total annual interest by 2 to figure the semiannual interest a Treasury bond actually pays. For example, a Treasury bond that pays $60 in annual interest would make two $30 semiannual interest payments.	https://budgeting.thenest.com/calculate-payback-period-treasury-bond-25344.html
So, step one is to convert molecules to moles by dividing by Avogadro's number (6.022*10^23). Second step, once you have a number of moles, is to multiply it by the molar mass of the compound. You can find this by adding the molar mass of each atom in the formula. Similarly, you may ask, how many grams is an atom? It is equal to Avogadro's number (NA), namely 6.022 x1023. If we have one mole of water, then we know that it will have a mass of 2 grams (for 2 moles of H atoms) + 16 grams (for one mole O atom) = 18 grams. How do you calculate the number of atoms? Avogadro's number is a very important relationship to remember: 1 mole = 6.022×1023 6.022 × 10 23 atoms, molecules, protons, etc. To convert from moles to atoms, multiply the molar amount by Avogadro's number. To convert from atoms to moles, divide the atom amount by Avogadro's number (or multiply by its reciprocal). How do you determine how many atoms are in a sample? Multiply the number of moles in your sample by the atoms per mole, Avogadro's number. The result is the final answer -- the number of atoms in your sample. In the example you calculated .222 moles. Multiply .222 moles by 6.022 x 10^23 atoms per mole to arrive at the answer, 1.34 x 10^23 atoms.	https://answersdrive.com/how-do-you-go-from-grams-to-molecules-1504035
We live in a world full of devices designed to help us communicate. Mobile phones and the internet are constantly providing new ways to keep in touch. But in reality, many of us are no better at communicating than our ancestors were. We don’t really know how to relate. Jesus wants to set us free to communicate with him. Jesus wants to set us free to communicate with the people around us. True communication is not about having the latest gadgets or apps. It is about learning to be honest and transparent. Expressing gratitude - saying "thank you." Being honest about our needs - saying "please." Telling the truth about our faults - saying "sorry" and asking for forgiveness. Learning to forgive other people too. Resisting the temptation to gossip. Resisting the temptation to judge others. Confess your sins to each other. Stop passing judgement on one another. Don’t grumble against each other.	http://www.ghfc.org.uk/home/free/free-to-communicate-and-relate
Father God, I release my faith to move all the mountains of disruption, confusion, sickness, lack, strife, adversity, and attacks of the enemy. In the name of Jesus I bind all evil and command you out of my life. Thank you, Father, that no evil shall befall us, neither shall any destruction come near my dwelling. My home is blessed with Your love, joy, and peace. I proclaim with boldness and faith that every mountain of adversity must bow down to the name of Jesus. To illustrate how inactive Christians can be in their faith, Dr. James S. MacDonald, senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel, spoke at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Pastors Conference in New Orleans, June 18, 2012, and read the following poem. One night I had a wondrous dream, One set of footprints there was seen, The footprints of my precious Lord, But mine were not along the shore. But then some stranger prints appeared, And I asked the Lord, “What have we here? Those prints are large and round and neat, But Lord, they are too big for feet.” “My child,” He said in somber tones, “For miles I carried you alone. I challenged you to walk in faith, But you refused and made Me wait. “You disobeyed, you would not grow, The walk of faith, you would not know. So I got tired, I got fed up, And there I dropped you on your butt. “Because in life there comes a time, When one must fight, and one must climb. When one must rise and take a stand, Or leave their buttprints in the sand.”2 Don’t allow weak faith to keep you as a squatter, tormented by the enemy. Make a valuable decision to exercise your faith and your power in Christ. All it takes is a little bit, the size of a mustard seed—one honest prayer—one honest decision to trust God. Start with something close to your heart, and activate your faith by praying a radical, fervent prayer. It may be for a prodigal son or daughter, breaking a bad habit, a much-needed breakthrough in a relationship, or praying for a lost friend or relative. See God intervene in a supernatural way. Then go on to a larger challenge of your faith. What is radical? Praying with tenacity and fervency. Reminding God of His Word. Not wavering but persisting and believing that God is able to perform His Word. Going against your will and resisting doubt and unbelief. Radical faith is also resisting temptation and saying no to sin. It is also staying pure in the midst of an ungodly and promiscuous world. “For I am the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass…I will say the word and perform it,” says the Lord GOD. —Ezekiel 12:25 The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. —James 5:16 Effective means, “real, active, producing results, in force, ready for action.” Your real, honest, sincere prayers produce results and benefits—not pity-party prayers of “Lord, I need this or that,” but prayers that yank out all disobedience from your soul and refuse to bow down in defeat to the enemy or to the gods of this world. Those are radical prayers that get God’s intense attention. Satan, You Can’t Have My Promises, pgs. 22-24. By Dr. Iris Delgado.	http://crownedwithpurpose.com/faith/are-you-ready-to-see-god-move-your-mountains/
Integrity is a personal choice, an uncompromising and consistent commitment to honor moral, ethical, spiritual and artistic values and principles. Integrity compels us to be socially conscious and to welcome both personal and professional responsibility. Its values encourage us to be honest in all our dealings and committed to a lifelong search for truth and justice. Integrity requires self-discipline and will power capable of resisting temptation. Its priceless reward is peace of mind and true dignity. There’s one proviso, no one can guarantee that his or her particular version of integrity is actually sound and true, and not misguided. It is a fact that we are not born with integrity. How well it is ingrained into our character depends upon the healthy development of certain key personality traits, especially during the critical stages of early childhood. How well we maintain personal integrity once it develops depends thereafter on the strength of our values and the moral choice we make. Public service is a ‘vocation’ and only on this foundation upon which a moral and responsible government can be based. The civil servants need to be people of absolute integrity because only then they can take the civil service as a ‘vocation’. It strengthens the sense of mission which a civil servant is supposed to undertake to serve the public; perform duties and fulfill obligations. A similar doctrine of vocation was enunciated several thousand years ago by Lord Krishna in Bhagwad Gita (chapter III, verse20). It has been mentioned there, that ”Securing” universal welfare by one’s action is the ultimate measure of a human being but more so of those who hold the public office”. Civil servants have to set out highest standards of integrity and morality. This requires self-sacrifice a concept that rises above individualism and ‘hedonism’ to create an environment of public duty among the civil servants. An exemplary civil servant is not simply one who obeys the laws and behaves within the confines of law but is also one who strives for a moral government. Integrity requires in a civil servant to incorporate the values of honesty, sympathy empathy, compassion, fairness, self-control and duty so that a civil servant will be able to uphold high personal and professional standards in all circumstances. ‘Honesty’ requires ‘truthfulness’, freedom from deception and fraud, fair and straight forward conduct. Sympathy enables a person to be deeply affected and concerned about the well beings of others, to imagine their suffering and be moved by their experience of others especially people who need assistance compassion is a form of spirituality, a way of living and walking through life. ‘Civil Service Conduct Rules’ recommends ‘absolute integrity’ for civil servants, whether they are IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, etc. Also, every civil servant is supposed to take all possible steps to ensure the integrity of all government servants for the time being under his/her control and not only be honest but should also have the reputation of being so. Integrity has been considerably widened by declaring that a civil servant must keep himself within bounds of administrative decency. Breach of trust is termed as lack of integrity and the apex court has ruled that in such matter the civil servant should be removed from service. Possession of disproportionate assets, even temporary defalcation of public money is termed as a lack of integrity. Honesty and faithful discharge of duty, promptness and courtesy, observance of government policies, general good conduct strengthen ‘integrity’ in civil services. This article caters to the Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude, a portion of General Studies – Paper IV in UPSC Main Examination. Verifying, please be patient.	https://iasscore.in/blog/mains/what-is-integrity-and-why-it-is-so-important-for-civil-servants
Our reputation for top-quality service is directly related to the quality of our proficient and devoted carriers. Whether your trucking operation has 1,000 units or a single unit, A&A Transportation strives to provide all carriers with honest and ethical transactions . In order to maintain our carrier base we offer some of the most competitive benefits in the industry. Those benefits consists of :	https://aatrans.com/carriers
Download Lucky Pucker Free ePUB by Hilary Rose Hockey is in my blood—hell, it’s practically my birthright—but when an injury shattered my Olympic dream, I had no choice but to shift my ambitions. Now, instead of being a professional athlete, I work for them. In a world where a person can ruin their reputation in forty characters or less, it’s my job to keep my clients’ phones from being a weapon of mass destruction that decimates their careers. Enter Luke Valentine, the NHL’s hottest, all-star defenseman, whose colossally stupid mistake has him and his team in hot water. They need me to help rebuild their reputation and I need them to boost my resume credentials for a promotion. I want to climb the corporate ladder, but my scorching hot attraction to Luke is getting in the way. With all eyes on me, I must resist temptation, but not mixing business with pleasure is hard as puck.	https://filedb.io/lucky-pucker-free-epub-by-hilary-rose/
The New Testament letters illuminate how the story of Jesus Christ became embedded in the life of Christian communities, while expectation of the return of the Christ diminished and attention was directed to living in the here and now in ways that the gospel demanded. The ethical norms encouraged here are not conspicuously out of line with Jewish ones, or even most non-Jewish ones. Solidarity is, of course, important—a requirement of threatened minorities. The attention paid in the Synoptic Gospels to Jesus’s own lifestyle perhaps betrays an increasing interest in Christian virtue: care for the poor and sick, spreading the good news, fighting evil forces in the world, resisting the temptation of Satan, suffering what must be suffered.	https://www.equinoxpub.com/home/view-chapter/?id=35690
TUESDAY: The Sagittarius Moon will inspire you to explore new avenues for bringing a current dream into reality. You can discover elusive information over the internet, even if you’ve already searched there in the past. The temptation to overindulge will be hard to resist, but consider the long-term effects before you do. Avoid spending money that hasn’t arrived yet, even if what you want happens to go on sale. Dress in green; it can help you maintain a tight grip on your finances. KEEP IN MIND: Your biggest challenge will be resisting temptation; seems it will come at you from all directions today!	https://kajama.com/aquarius-horoscope-january-29-2019/
Here are four great Bible study topics for teens to use. Avoiding Temptation How can you avoid temptation? You can get a better grasp on resisting temptation if you memorize Scripture. Listen to how this verse shows a cause and effect relationship from memorizing or hiding God’s Word in his heart; “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). The psalmist hid God’s Word in his hear so that he “might not sin against” God. You could read this verse like this; “I have memorized Your Word in order that I might not sin against You.” He did say “that I might not sin” meaning it is no guarantee that he will not sin just because he memorized certain Scriptures but Psalm 119:11 does seem to say it might help us not sin. Joseph’s a great example of living a holy life. We see this example when Potiphar’s wife wanted to go to bed with Joseph and he literally ran out of his coat (Gen 39). By his running away, he was resisting temptation in a biblical way just as James wrote “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Joseph certainly submitted to God and His law and he most certainly ran as fast as he could and the Devil had no chance of causing him to stumble. Who your friends Are Pau writes to all of us; “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character” (1st Cor 15:33). There is no way that my wife and I could live together all these years and not rub off on one another. I find myself saying things that she does and that is because I’ve been blessed to be associated with her so very long now. She is a treasure and every friend of hers that I know are women of good character. Maybe they’ve developed their character by associating with good people. Of course, the Bible teaches that none are good (Rom 3:10) but relatively speaking, my wife and her friends are very much alike and are positive influences upon one another but for those who have friends who choose to make poor choices (drugs, alcohol, sex outside of marriage) they will be influenced in a negative way. You become like those you are with the most. That’s why Solomon wrote, “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare” (Prov 22:24-25). You learn the ways of those you run with. In a sense, you are who your friends are. Controlling the Tongue James wrote a lot about the tongue and controlling it as one of the most difficult things that we have to do. James writes “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body” (James 3:2) meaning none of us perfectly control our tongue and so even though “the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things” and “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire” (James 3:5)! The fact is that “no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8) and “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God” (James 3:9). We use the same tongue to bless people but also to curse people (James 3:10) even though they’re made in the image of God (Gen 1:27). Solomon wrote that “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit” (Prov 15:4) and a “dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends” (Prov 16:28) meaning that gossiping about someone can come back to drive a wedge between those who ever close friends. This would make a great teen Bible study but it also is applicable to adults as well. Forgiveness I love Psalm 119:165 which says “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing shall offend them” and yet it seems we are offended so easily and often over minor issues. A Bible study on forgiveness is not just a good idea for teens…it is a good idea for anyone as this seems to be one of the most misunderstood and difficult of all teachings in the Bible. Forgiving someone doesn’t mean you keep letting them take advantage of you but you forgive them because God has forgiven us exponentially more than we could ever forgive someone else. Our debt could never be pain in a million lifetimes but we can and should forgive others even if they choose to not forgive us or apologize to us. We should pray for God’s Spirit to convict them of the need to forgive others and not be offended by what others say or do. At the same time, we should not be doing anything to cause others to take offense. Conclusion Teens are in a tough situation in this world today because they are surrounded by so many temptations to sin and it seems each newer generation is faced with even more temptations than the previous generation. A teen Bible study is not only good for them, it is good for their family, for their church, and for society at large. Article by Jack Wellman Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.	https://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2015/10/26/4-good-bible-study-topics-for-teens/
Subscribe: Google Podcasts \| Spotify \| Stitcher \| RSS \| More Jim talks with James Poulos about the ideas in his new book Human Forever: The Spiritual Politics of Digital War. They discuss his decision to publish the book on the blockchain, going beginner’s-mind on media & communications theory, the meaning of Gnosticism, responsibility as worship & its transfer to machines, returning worth to the human, a short introduction to Marshall McLuhan, raising the first fully digital generation, expert engineers vs ethereal ethicists, “peak woke” & the collapse of wokeness, religion as “the only permanent state of mankind,” resisting the temptation to call down apocalypse, the hubris of messiah-hood, Hebraic British Protestant theology & its incongruence with American civilization, how queerness & transgender identity became culturally dominant, the left’s abandonment of liberalism for a new post-human religion, differentiating transhumanism & human-maxing, and much more. - Human Forever: The Digital Politics of Spiritual War, by James Poulos - Human Forever mailing list - The Art of Being Free: How Alexis de Tocqueville Can Save Us from Ourselves, by James Poulos - James Poulos creates and advises brands and ventures at the intersection of technology, media, and design. He is the Cofounder and Editor of The American Mind at the Claremont Institute and the Founder and Publisher of RETURN at New Founding. He is the author of Human, Forever and The Art of Being Free, and his writing has appeared in The Claremont Review of Books, Le Figaro, National Affairs, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, among many other publications. He lives on the edge of Los Angeles.	https://jimruttshow.blubrry.net/james-poulos/
Code of Ethical Conduct for MAHE members Recognising that the hospitality profession also involves responsibilities, the members of the Malta Association Hospitality Executives adopt this code of ethical conduct. Members of the MAHE shall conduct all professional activities in a manner that reflects this code to uphold the members, the Association and the Hospitality industry. This code shall be published to the general public as our commitment of leading the way to an ethical manner of how business is managed by the local hospitality industry. The Code of Ethical conduct is split into 4 Sections: Section 1. Responsibilities towards the Organisation Members shall: • Follow all legislation in relationship to the management of the organisation. • Promote lawful policies and practices in the organisation based on good management practice. • Support the organisation's overall objectives and contribute actively towards achieving set targets. • Seek to promote enhancements to organisation structure, procedures and controls. • Be accountable for achieving the objectives, projects and tasks undertaken. • Shall use company assets and resources employed or trusted in a responsible manner for legitimate business and not for improper personal use. • Safeguard the reputation and assets of the organisation. • Shall not disclose or use any company confidential information for improper personal advantage. • Exhaust all available internal remedies for dealing with matters perceived to be improper and only resorting to public disclosure as a last resort. • Maintain the highest standards of personal conduct. • Promote academic progress and dignity of the hospitality profession. Section 2. Responsibilities towards the Customer Members shall: • Ensure customers are provided an environment of health, welfare and safety whilst visiting the premise. • Ensure a fair and honest treatment in all dealings with guests. • Should a problem arises between guests and employees, ensures to treat the situation urgently and fairly so as to resolve the situation as effectively as possible. • To treat any complaint fairly and efficiently to minimise any loss to clients and to give a proper explanation to clients within a reasonable time. • Ensures that all dealings by any employee provide a fair treatment towards all guests. • Be honest and show integrity in pricing and the performance in all sales and services. • Offer the best service possible based on the local industry Best Practices. • Be committed to Excellence in all services provided to clients. •Ensure non-discrimination towards guests in any shape or form. Section 3. Responsibilities towards the Subordinates Members shall: • Be a fair employer to all employees without any form of discrimination towards any of them. • Ensure that all legal regulations are followed in respect of health and safety regulations. • Ensure that all working conditions are compliant to local legislations and regulations. • Ensure a just distribution of the work so as to minimise work fatigue. • Be fair in any dispute that could arise between subordinates. • Be proactive in ensuring ethical behaviour by his peers and subordinates. Section 4. Responsibilities towards the Community Members shall: • Act in a manner to minimise the establishment’s impact on the general environment by choosing the best environmentally acceptable route. • Consider as a first option to employ persons from within the local community thus contributing to the general wealth of the community. • Help the community to appreciate the role of the tourism industry to the economy of the nation. • Assist as best possible environmental initiatives undertaken by the community within the limits and constraints of the establishment.	http://www.mahemalta.com/code-of-conduct.html
This content was COPIED from BrainMass.com - View the original, and get the already-completed solution here! How might a minister use the following ministerial ethics in his/her call to ministry? 1. The minister must keep the nobility of the calling uppermost in his/her own mind. 2. The minister must never forget that he/she is one who serves and must be on guard against any temptation the profession presents. 3. The minister must guard the use of his/her name. 4. The minister's work depends on his/herpersonal character. 5. The minister's duty is the cultivation of the his/her mind and the corresponding improvement of professional and spiritual powers by application and study. 6. The minister must hold high in outward acts the established reputation of the Christian ministry. https://brainmass.com/religious-studies/taoism/ministerial-ethics-477656 Solution Preview In regards to all six of these ethical principles, one has to consider using them in ministry. The calling is higher than anyone could ask or imagine because of getting held to a higher standard for teaching others the Word of God. Because of this responsibility, one has to act with integrity and justly with God because one day the minister will get held accountable for their actions on judgment day. Temptation is present, and the devil is going to attack the minister on a regular basis. I saw this much when I first started ministry myself. Satan was constantly attacking me to drop out and to act immoral, but I resisted, and eventually he fled from me. This is why it is all the more important to stay in the Word of God and in prayer daily in order to fend off ... Solution Summary This solution discussed ethics in ministry. The minister's work depending on a character is discussed.	https://brainmass.com/religious-studies/taoism/ministerial-ethics-477656
At SARC our objective is to unceasingly improve the services we deliver to ensure we achieve the highest possible level of client satisfaction. Of special importance to me is the long held reputation the company has earned as a highly professional, reliable and service focused organization – this is the SARC legacy. Evolving with dynamic expansion and progress since 2004, we have seen many changes over the past two decades. The SARC brand, has become synonymous with our commitment to delivering exceptional services to our clients. Moreover, in an age of technological developments, we constantly embrace innovation in order to ensure we accurately and proactively respond to our customers’ requests improving their experience. The SARC team is dedicated to undertake whatever is necessary to move the company forward in an enterprising, positive and determined fashion. Our employees maintain the highest standards of honest and ethical conduct in all dealings with other employees, customers, SARC suppliers, and other third parties. Sarju Bhatnagar CEO, SARC Aviation Pvt. Ltd.	http://sarcaviation.in/the-sarc-chairman-message/
Rafael García de Diego, General Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Directors reflects on socially responsible investment and its role in the way of companies towards a more just and sustainable model. - Tribune Socially responsible investment (SRI), also known as ethical investment, is one that takes into account not only the traditional investment criteria but also the environmental, social, and good governance criteria of organisations. This type of investment, increasingly demanded by society, requires that companies maintain a high level of transparency, in order to allow investors to verify if the company in which they intend to invest incorporates adequate ethical principles, facilitating the decision to carry out a socially responsible investment. The existence of ethical principles shared between the investor and the company target of the investment is another of the essential elements of SRI. This necessarily requires the formalisation of an ideology that includes the values and commitments that govern the activity of the company in which it they intend to invest in and the existence of a responsible management system that ensures compliance with these values and commitments (compliance system). Red Eléctrica, aware of the relevance that SRI has acquired, has incorporated into its Code of Ethics and its social commitment the growing demand of investors, analysts and society as a whole for greater levels of responsibility on the part of companies, with the conviction that one of the keys for recognising the good functioning and the reputation of companies is that they address and effectively respond to such demands. In Red Eléctrica, we are aware that the business conduct of each employee has an influence on the reputation of the Company, through how they carry out their functions and responsibilities in the organisation and how they manage the relationship with stakeholder groups, being a shared responsibility -and so we have undertaken it- to strengthen that reputation through the commitment to embrace the values of integrity, responsibility and respect in all our actions. Investors are a key player in the evolution of the results and reputation of the companies of the Red Eléctrica Group, and relations with investors and other stakeholders must be honest, transparent, loyal, respectful and ethical. In addition, Red Eléctrica tries to address the environmental, social and good governance criteria of the investment world in the undertaking of all the Company’s activities. To this end, adequate systems have been provided to allow any interested person or entity to verify their compliance at any time. More and more, investors believe that SRIs are more efficient than those investments that don’t consider SRI criteria, not only from a business efficiency point of view but also from a profitability perspective, and allow better control of the risks of the companies and sectors in which they invest, which undoubtedly directly influences the security of their investments. This is the reason for the appearance of new tools that are available to stakeholders and which allow them to analyse the behaviour of the companies that are the target of their investment from an environmental, social and corporate governance perspective. Among the most relevant tools that provide investors with adequate information to put together socially responsible portfolios, we can name some prestigious sustainability indexes, such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index or the Ethibel Sustainability Index; indexes in which Red Eléctrica is included and holds very prominent positions. The rating criteria of SRIs enable investors to understand, in a more documented and secure way, where they are investing and how the return of the investment impacts on society and in what aspects the investment approach can be improved in a way that has beneficial results not only for those who make the investment but also for society in general. SRIs are open to both institutional investors and private individuals in general, i.e. both large and small investors. In both cases, the key is that companies shall have adequate systems to ensure compliance with the ethical criteria required by the SRI and to inform investors and stakeholders. As a conclusion, ethical investment entails that when assessing the activity and commitments of each of the companies that are the target of the investments, an assessment of a company’s impact on society and the environment in general is added to their economic or financial profitability. This represents a further step towards a new rationality in business, towards more ethical business models that take into account the well-being of people and the conservation of the natural environment as fundamental elements. Moving in this direction will make the ethical conduct of companies decisively help society move towards a more just and sustainable model.	https://entrelineas.ree.es/en/tribune/socially-responsible-investment-and-ethical-management-companies
We build on extant research of news media effects on perceived political legitimacy to explore the polarizing effects a social media news ‘diet’ – and particularly its ‘fake news’ aspect - may have on public opinion about European integration. Our methodology repurposes public opinion data, and, first, investigates whether those relying on social media for (EU) news express less support for the Union overall and its migration policies compared to those relying on other news sources. As migration policies are a crucial case for a study of social media effects, due to their media salience and potential for polarization, we measure the effects in periods where the chance of external factors like excessive migration inflows acting as omitted variables is as small as possible. We test whether individual attitudes commonly found to predict Euroscepticism, such as low knowledge about the EU, become a more potent driver of Eurosceptic beliefs when they co-exist with a reliance on social media as a news source. This causal mechanism could be assumed due to how online debates frequently act to reinforce existing beliefs. We control for a range of variables common in the literature on public support for the EU (people's experience of feeling European, their knowledge of EU politics, trust in national institutions and already existing image of the EU), which are nonetheless rarely used when investigating the effects of social media use on trust. In a second step, we probe the link between social media news consumption, fake news and polarization by expanding the cross-sectional analysis with country-level analysis of the countries where the largest (Hungary) and smallest (Finland) percentage report encountering news they believe to be fake on at least a weekly basis. Our preliminary results show significant negative effects of social media use, even without mediators, in the Hungarian sample. These effects are smaller, and less consistently significant, in the Finnish case. Our paper thus contributes to the still sparsely researched aspect of social media effects within the extensive literature on media effects on support for European integration. Centrist Populisms of Central and Eastern Europe: New Challengers for Domestic Elites as Well as for Brussels Elites? 1Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Croatia; 2Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia The EU has often been labeled as a 'centrist project', as well as an ‘elite-driven project’, which makes it the target of populist actors spread out all over the political spectrum, sometimes including those near the center. The bulk of research on those actors has, however, focused on radical populist parties rather than centrist populist parties and their attitudes towards the EU. The latter types of parties have made a significant impact on politics in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly during the previous decade. This paper therefore seeks to explore centrist populist parties' attitudes towards the EU during the 2010s. Research is divided into two phases: analyzing the supply and demand side of populism. On the supply side the main research question is what sort of attitudes towards the EU centrist populist parties hold. Case selection is based on two criteria: the party must still be active and must have provided the prime minister. The PopuList database is used to filter out populist parties, whose EU attitudes are first presented based on CHES scores across various EU issues. The cases of Smer, OL’aNO, ANO, List of Marjan Šarec and GERB are analyzed. The analysis is complemented by qualitative accounts based on materials from party manifestos (CMP), other relevant publications and speeches by party leaders. The demand side is explored by combining Eurobarometer surveys, which portray general views of the EU in the researched countries, with European Social Survey (ESS) data, which allows ascertaining EU attitudes of the analyzed parties’ voters. ‘Conference On The Future Of Europe’: An Answer To The Populist Challenge? Universidade Fernando Pessoa & CEPESE, Portugal The European Union faces a growing challenge coming from neo-nationalist anti-integration political forces, which resort to the rhetoric of populism in order to mobilise political and, mainly, electoral support. Although these forces remain minoritarian, notably in the European Parliament, the dimension their representation has so far acquired, the far reaching echoes of their discourse, and the substantial electoral or referendum results at the national and regional infra-national levels, do raise a concern on the future of European integration. The European institutions, and through them, the party families supporting integration, have put forward a project for creating a conference on the future of Europe, as recently agreed in a joint declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission (10.03.2021). Although this does not sound like a brand new initiative (echoing some of the debates at the time of the ‘European Convention’, 2001) the difference may however be in the emphasis on overcoming the routines and the shortcomings of representative democracy, into a more direct, participatory democracy oriented practice. From the point of view of democracy theories, this means an attempt to face the populist challenge in the same field it has proven efficient, i.e., reaching discontent citizens, identifying their claims and bringing them to the fore in the political scenario. However, this is an initiative departing from the heavy, and often criticised for that nature, institutional framework of the Union, precisely the one the populist neo-nationalist discourse targets as the voice of the elites. The article will review the standpoints of the institutions involved and of the European party families, as well as the procedures designed for the purpose, in order to build a perspective on the opportunities this project may introduce for the development of democracy at the EU level, and for the expected fostering of citizens’ support to European integration. While a balance of the results actually achieved will only be possible at the end (the Conference runs from 9 May 2021 to 9 May 2022) the ex-ante analysis should prove useful to understanding the pathways of democracy in the EU, facing the populist neo-nationalist challenge. The Long Shadow of National-Populism: The Case Of Asociación Cultural Alfonso I (ACAI) University of Cantabria, Spain The Spanish far right has remained outside the hemicycle until 2018 when Vox broke into the Andalusian Parliament. However, in the last decade national-populist groups have emerged in Spain that have remained outside the parliamentary spectrum. These organizations have taken as a reference to the neo-fascist organization, Casa Pound Italia (CPI) which, in the words of Elisabetta Cassina Wolff, has kept alive the legacy of fascism. The study aims to analyze one of them, the Asociación Cultural Alfonso I (ACAI) that emerged in Santander, northern Spain, in 2012. To achieve this goal, its ideology will be analyzed. First of all, is not identified with either the right or the left but it has revered the members of the Blue Division. ACAI has also taken as reference the fascist-prone leader, Onésimo Redondo and the architect of the French Nouvelle Droite, Alain de Benoist from whom it has adopted its anti-immigration and ethno-populist discourse. Also, among others, the poet, Yukio Mishima, who had created a youth squad known as “tatenakai”, whose translation is Society of The Shield, which aimed to safeguard Japanese traditions. Secondly, it is nativist because it defends the motto "the Spaniards first". Third, it is authoritarian because it tries to censor left-wing sectors, as well as combat feminism that it pejoratively calls "gender ideology". Finally, it advocates a welfare chauvinism that benefits Spanish citizens. Its strategies to recruit militants through ludic initiatives such as the sale of lottery tickets, raffles of technological products or the promotion of Rock Against Communism (RAC) music concerts will be highlighted. That music is inspired by neo-Nazi themes because in its letters there are anti-Semitic, anti-communist, racist, anti-feminist and anti-democratic expressions. The purpose of this study is to illustrate the mechanisms used by this national-populist association to articulate an extremist, anti-feminist, xenophobic and nativist message. To address it, it will be analyzed its netnography, secondary sources of the newspaper library, its newsletter Galerna and it will do personal interviews to the members of that organization.	https://www.conftool.org/uaces2021/index.php?page=browseSessions&print=yes&form_session=256
MovEurope Forward! is a pan-European campaign focusing on the European Parliament elections of May 2014. MovEurope Forward! aims at informing and raising awareness on the EP elections to give (young) citizens the necessary input for making an informed decision and for fully embracing their European citizenship. The campaign brings together citizens, candidates to the EP elections and European decision-makers and encourages dialogue and exchange on selected topics. Citizens will be involved in the formulation of policy proposals and recommendations that will be collected in a final publication. The outcomes of MovEurope Forward! will be presented to European policy makers, with the final aim of moving issues of particular concern to young people to the top of the political agenda. The campaign targets young people in particular, whose participation in the EP elections is dramatically low (29% in 2009). Social rights Member states of the European Union have a legal obligation to respect, protect and fulfill economic, social and cultural rights of its citizens. They are expected to take “progressive action” towards their fulfillment, however the crisis has led to the reduction of the resources made available to this end. What are the missing tools to guarantee full access to social rights for the European citizens? Do we need European or national minimum wages? Will the youth guarantee solve the problems of today? Should health and welfare be guaranteed on a European level? Migration Migration is at the core of the political debate in Europe and continues to create tension between political parties and society in general. Efforts have been made to address migration and asylum issues in a coherent way at EU level. But is it enough? Is building a wall around Europe a solution to today’s migration problems, or do we opt for visa-free travel for all? Should minority rights be guaranteed for everyone entering the EU? How do we stop human trafficking? Climate justice Having reached its peak before the global Climate Summit in 2009, environmental issues, and the fight against climate change have moved to the bottom of the agenda for the majority of the European countries. The European Union – having established a Directorate-General for Climate Action in 2010 – aims to be at the forefront of international efforts to combat climate change, but is this really the case, let alone enough? How can we minimise the gap between the winners and losers of climate change? How to improve the emission trading system? Should we continue to invest in nuclear energy, or focus more on green innovation? Rise of populism and extremism Populist and extremist movements are popping up like mushrooms overnight all over Europe, creating and feeding into a climate of fear. European states are increasingly inward-looking to find internal solutions for problems that by no means can be solved within national borders. How can we reverse this downward evolution? What is the role of education in the fight against extremism? How can we restore trust in the European project, eliminating the ground for populist and extremist rhetoric? Education Education is paramount to create a reflex of critical thinking among citizens and awareness on topic which are of concern to them. Lack of recourses allocated to quality education, both formal and non-formal, creates inequalities and particularly affects the weaker in society. What is the responsibility of the European decision-makers in guaranteeing equal access to quality education? What alternatives are there to higher education? Should the education system be harmonised all over Europe? Civil rights Protecting European citizens’ fundamental rights must be a key concern for European policy-makers. The rights of children and persons with disabilities, freedom of expression and privacy, the right to property, access to justice and free movement are of utmost importance in the construction of a tolerant and united European society. How can civil rights be effectively ensured for all minorities? Can citizens be legitimately deprived from certain freedoms? Where is the balance between security and privacy? Economic crisis Europe is on a crucial turning point: on the one hand this tremendous economic crisis could become an opportunity for the creation of a more united and better Europe for all citizens to live in, on the other hand a mishandling of the crisis could also put the existence of the European Union at risk. Have the European leaders done enough to put an end to the crisis? Where is the balance between austerity and growth? Is the Banking Union the way to go? How can we create more jobs? Media freedom Some European countries suffer significant interference of political power aiming to exercise a total control over the media, or excessive concentration of media leading to a strong influence of economic interests over political processes. Other countries experience a dangerous overlap and centralisation of economical, media and political interests. Without independent and pluralistic media citizens are deprived of the right of keeping the political power accountable. Do we need a European monitoring system to ensure a free media? Should media be controlled? How can pan-European media contribute to European democracy? Youth unemployment Young people are the age-group who has suffered the worst consequences of the economic and financial crisis. Youth unemployment has now reached unprecedented levels, particularly in Southern European countries, such as Spain where more than 55% of young people are out of work. Is the youth guarantee the solution? Are acquired qualifications sufficiently recognised? How can innovation and entrepreneurship alter the status-quo, and should enterprises be empowered to take responsibility?	http://www.moveurope.eu/about/
One of the most puzzling facets of contemporary Arab politics is the low level of trust in institutionalized political agents. While the average Arab citizens’ levels of trust in the security apparatus, the military, and the judiciary are relatively high, trust in the government/cabinet and local governments decline, reaching their lowest levels with Islamist movements and parties, parliaments, and political parties. Data from the Arab Barometer’s fifth wave indicates very low levels of trust in political parties. With the exception of Yemen (31 percent), political parties obtain trust levels that range from 4-21 percent. In Egypt, those who exhibit some or great trust in political parties were 21 percent, in Lebanon they were 19 percent, in Morocco 18 percent, in Sudan 15 percent, and in Palestine 13 percent. The figure declines to below 10 percent in Tunisia (9 percent), Jordan (7 percent), Iraq (6 percent), and Libya (4 percent). Islamist movements and parties do not fare much better even though they have higher levels of trust. Those who exhibit some or great trust in the main Islamist movement or party were 38 percent in Yemen, 25 percent in Morocco, 24 percent in Sudan, 22 percent in Palestine, 17 percent in Egypt, 16 percent in Tunisia, 14 percent in Jordan, 12 percent in Iraq, and 9 percent in Libya. For those who follow Arab public affairs, these figures may not be surprising. Nevertheless, it is useful to contrast them with levels of trust in the military. Those who exhibit some or great trust in the army were 95 percent in Jordan, 90 percent in Tunisia, 87 percent in Lebanon, 84 percent in Egypt and Iraq, 78 percent in Morocco, 70 percent in Yemen, 64 percent in Sudan, 59 percent in Libya, and 37 percent in Palestine. With the exception of Palestine, these are the highest levels of trust in any of the institutions in which trust was measured. What are possible explanations for diminished trust in parties, and their unpopularity in comparison with other security and political institutions? Of the many hypotheses put forward concerning this phenomenon, one is that Arab citizens feel freer to criticize political parties and parliaments and to blame them for political stagnation in Arab countries. Another is that security institutions have the organization, integrity and discipline that is lacking from most Arab political parties. Lastly, it could be argued that political parties do not control their own decision-making, are unable to influence political developments, and have just become ideological clubs, sitting on the sidelines hesitating to participate in the most basic mass protest movements – as most sat out the Arab Spring demonstrations. The explanation that I privilege, based on my research on the Moroccan case, fuses the above hypotheses by adopting a historical perspective. Arab political parties are social intermediaries between regimes and publics. They participate in the political system, even if they do not participate in the regime (Tunisia, Lebanon and Iraq are exceptions). Of all Arab political structures, they are the easiest to reach and criticize freely in the public sphere. In non-partisan authoritarian regimes (as in regimes that lack a leading party), which includes most Arab countries today, parties form and develop to formulate ideologies and social programs and influence public discourse, knowing well that they may not rule (Tunisia is the exception since 2011). In certain historical episodes, these parties have obtained significant organizational and mobilization capacities, withstood repression at the hands of the authorities, and paid a steep price for confronting authoritarian and repressive structures (indeed, some still do). Over time, regimes have been able to contain these parties either through incorporating them into the regime in a limited capacity (cooptation) or violently repressing them (coercion). The few parties that have been able to maintain their relevance over time are ones that took a critical distance from the regime, maintained their popular bases, adhered to their public discourse, and did not pursue momentary narrow gains. Parties have absorbed some of the public pressure on the regimes for quite some time, which may explain the low trust figures observed above. The problem now, as Instissar Faqir argues, is that by eroding the roles of mediary institutions, Arab regimes have paved the way for open confrontations with their societies. This is what we observed in most Arab countries during the protest wave that started in 2011 and is still ongoing. Parties have found themselves on the losing end for both sides of the confrontation: neither have they obtained ruling authority, nor have they obtained the publics’ trust and respect. Thus, parties face a dual challenge. The first is survival: continuity and coexistence with regimes that make no secret of their historical disdain of any institutionalized public political agency. The second, which I think is more difficult to overcome, is to justify this continuity and convince Arab societies of the value of sustained institutionalized political agency. This is a difficult challenge, one that may exceed the capabilities of Arab political parties. But recent history teaches us that the cost of political party activism may be justified, especially if parties can help evade the most violent aspects of the open confrontations between regimes and societies. Otherwise, Arab societies will fall prey to their security establishments, the trust in which they may have misplaced.	https://www.arabbarometer.org/2020/05/arab-political-parties-and-the-dual-challenge-of-trust/
Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Ron Dudai Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. The Northern Ireland 1998 Good Friday Agreement has generated a global industry of “lessons from Northern Ireland” to other conflict situations. While a lively polemical literature has been debating what exactly should these lessons be and whether they could be validly exported, this article adopts the prism of the “politics of comparison”: examining why and how certain actors appeal to analogies with other societies, and the causes and functions of such appeals. The article explores the case-study of the resonance of the Northern Ireland analogy in Israeli public discourse. It identifies and analyses four themes: the analogy with Northern Ireland is used as an argument for hope; as a source of peacemaking models; as self-justification, to deflect blame; and to legitimize narrow local interventions. The article contributes to literatures on the politics of comparisons, and political dynamics in the context of intractable conflicts. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-06-23T10:03:14Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221103404 - - State Support for Religion and Social Trust - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Jonathan Fox, Marie Eisenstein, Jori Breslawski Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. States support religion to varying extents. What is the effect of state support for religion on generalized social trust' The majority of previous studies of religion and social trust focus on individual-level factors, and none examines the impact of state support for religion. We argue that when a state chooses to support the majority religion, this creates increased levels of doctrinal homogeneity and conformity, which, in turn, cause higher levels of social trust within the majority religion. Drawing upon the Religion and State and World Values Survey datasets, we find that state support for religion is associated with higher levels of social trust. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-06-14T12:24:06Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221102826 - - Racial Profiling and Second-Class Citizenship - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Catalina Carpan Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. I argue that racial profiling gives minority groups reason to perceive a threat of violence and wrongful arrest when interacting with the criminal justice system, consequently leading them to engage in self-limiting conduct in order to avoid being profiled. As a result, they may ultimately exercise a de facto second-class citizenship status through a limited exercise of basic rights and access to public services. This would suggest, contra consequentialist defenders of the practice, that a public ban on profiling would serve to contain an important, but often overlooked source of racial injustice and that a thorough cost–benefit analysis should include these costs. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-06-10T11:56:33Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221099101 - - Security or Social Spending' Perceptions of Insecurity, Victimization, and Policy Priorities in Mexico and Brazil - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Melina Altamirano, Sarah Berens, Sandra Ley Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. In Latin America, deep social inequalities coexist with persistent, high-level criminal violence. Facing competing needs and budget constraints, citizens in the region have to prioritize among different policy choices. We analyze how perceptions of insecurity and crime victimization shape attitudes toward budgetary priorities in social and security policies. Our analysis relies on original data from Mexico and Brazil, two countries exhibiting increased violence at the national level, albeit with important regional variation. We find that exposure to crime takes its toll on citizens’ policy priorities. In both Mexico and Brazil, citizens who feel insecure seem to prioritize public expenditure on the police over social investment policies. Victims of criminal violence are, however, mostly indifferent as to budgetary allocations across the security and social policy fields, suggesting that their spending priorities might diverge from these two spheres of government action or give rise to policy indifference. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-06-10T11:53:14Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221096559 - - Pragmatism and Associative Political Obligations - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: David Lefkowitz Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. Proponents of an associative account of political obligation maintain that individuals bear certain moral duties simply in virtue of their membership in a particular political community. I defend this thesis by interpreting it as a metaethical claim that expresses or implicitly relies on a pragmatist account of the nature of normativity, justification, and knowledge. Such a defense has a number of virtues. First, it offers a compelling rationale for the strategy commonly employed to defend the associative thesis. Second, a pragmatist reading provides the resources necessary to rebut a number of objections advanced against the associative thesis, such as the criticism that associative theorists cannot distinguish actually having political obligations from merely believing or feeling that one has political obligations. Third, a pragmatist metaethics entails a particular model of practical reasoning, namely constructive interpretation, that helpfully illuminates our actual practice of attributing or contesting political obligations. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-06-10T11:49:30Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221099111 - - Engineering Democracy: Electoral Rules and Turnout Inequality - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Brian Paul Boyle Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. The issue of unequal electoral turnout poses serious concerns for both the overall health of democratic politics, and the extent to which certain groups exert an unequal influence on the political process. This article explores the relationship between electoral rules such as: compulsory voting, electoral system proportionality, and voter registration with voter inequality in terms of age, income and education. This is examined using cross-national survey data and cross-level interactions between electoral institutions and socio-demographic variables. The final dataset is based on waves 2–4 of the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems, and contains information on 133,000 individuals, within 45 countries, between 2001 and 2016. The results indicate that compulsory voting is associated with a significant reduction in turnout inequalities, while the effects of proportionality and voter registration are somewhat more mixed. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-06-08T06:07:56Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221096563 - - Digital Domination: Social Media and Contestatory Democracy - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Ugur Aytac Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. This article argues that social media companies’ power to regulate communication in the public sphere illustrates a novel type of domination. The idea is that, since social media companies can partially dictate the terms of citizens’ political participation in the public sphere, they can arbitrarily interfere with the choices individuals make qua citizens. I contend that social media companies dominate citizens in two different ways. First, I focus on the cases in which social media companies exercise direct control over political speech. They exercise quasi-public power over citizens because their regulation of speech on social media platforms implies the capacity to arbitrarily interfere with citizens’ democratic contestation in the political system. Second, companies’ algorithmic governance entails the capacity to interfere with citizens’ choices about what mode of discursive engagement they endorse in their relationships with fellow citizens. By raising the cost of deliberative engagement, companies narrow citizens’ choice menu. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-06-01T05:03:40Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221096564 - - De-centring Populism: An Empirical Analysis of the Contingent Nature of Populist Discourses - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Juan Roch Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. Multiple voices warn about an analytical deadlock in the field of populism studies mainly due to an excess of description and a lack of contextualisation. Reflecting on the current responses to this impasse, this study presents a framework for contextualising populism and seeks to enrich and expand the potential of populism research. The main argument of this article is that a more dynamic and interactive analytical framework is necessary to show the contingent and fragile nature of populist discourses and complement existing research. To illustrate this approach, the case of Podemos is analysed to show how the populist discourse varies over time for the same populist actor and to what extent this variation responds to contextual pressures. The study concludes that the contingent nature of populism can be related to two main conditions: the variable power over discourse of populist mobilisation and the normative pressures within the political sphere. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-05-25T01:57:21Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221090108 - - Affirmative Action in the Political Domain - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Andreas Bengtson Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. This article has two parts. First, I argue that three prominent arguments in favour of affirmative action – the mitigating discrimination argument, the equality of opportunity argument and the diversity argument – may be based on a relational egalitarian theory of justice, as opposed to a distributive understanding of justice. Second, I argue that basing these arguments in favour of affirmative action on relational egalitarianism has an interesting implication when it comes to the site(s) of affirmative action. Whereas affirmative action is usually discussed and pursued in university admissions and in hiring for jobs, the relational egalitarian–based arguments entail, all else equal, that we have more reason to pursue affirmative action in the political domain than in the traditional sites. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-05-21T10:05:23Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221095379 - - Should I Stay (Open) or Should I Close' World Legislatures during the First Wave of Covid-19 - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Israel Waismel-Manor, Ittai Bar-Siman-Tov, Olivier Rozenberg, Asaf Levanon, Cyril Benoît, Gal Ifergane Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. Covid-19 has shocked governance systems worldwide. Legislatures, in particular, have been shut down or limited due to the pandemic, yet with divergence from one country to another. In this article, we report results from a cross-sectional quantitative analysis of legislative activity during the initial reaction to this shock and identify the factors accounting for such variation. Exploring legislatures across 159 countries, we find no relation between the severity of Covid-19 and limitations on legislatures’ operation, thus suggesting that legislatures are at risk of being shut down or limited due to policy “overreaction” and that a health risk may serve as an excuse for silencing them. However, we find that legislatures in democratic countries are relatively immune to this risk, while those in frail democracies are more exposed. In partially free countries, the use of technology can mitigate this risk. We also find that the coalitional features of the government may lead to legislatures’ closing. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-05-12T11:26:44Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221090615 - - Regional Peripheralization as Contextual Source of Populist Attitudes in Germany and Czech Republic - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Tomáš Dvořák, Jan Zouhar, Oliver Treib Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. This article seeks to shed more light on the reasons for the regionally uneven distribution of populist attitudes. We take into account both individual-level and contextual drivers and focus mainly on the latter. We argue that regional peripheralization processes are a key contextual condition driving populist attitudes, especially in post-communist settings. The empirical analysis is based on a unique dataset combining comparable items from two representative surveys covering Germany (N = 2112) and the Czech Republic (N = 1000) with economic and demographic characteristics of relevant regional contexts in both countries (167 constituencies in Germany and 77 districts in the Czech Republic). Using multilevel regression models, the article shows that individual-level characteristics do not alone drive populist attitudes. In contrast, the results show that living in peripheral areas of the Czech Republic and eastern Germany increases the likelihood of having populist attitudes. These peripheries are characterized by unfavourable economic conditions in the Czech Republic and demographic decline in eastern Germany. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-05-11T09:58:48Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221091981 - - How Do Voters Want to be Contacted and Are Parties Listening' Evidence from a Recent Election in Wales - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Joshua Townsley, David Cutts Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. Content, messages and the way voters are contacted are all increasingly tailored to the individual. But are voters really contacted in the way they prefer' What actually drives campaign preferences' Who are parties tailoring these preferences to' For the first time, we address this gap in the literature. Our findings suggest that there is considerable heterogeneity in voters’ contact preferences. While some voters prefer not to be contacted, those who do prefer traditional methods (leaflets) and, in some cases, more personalised modes such as doorstep canvassing. Preferences are primarily driven by previous exposure to the mode, political interest, having an extraverted personality and age. We also examine preference ‘matching’ and find that parties are no more likely to ‘match’ a voter’s specific preference if they have contacted them before. Preference contact matching is significantly more likely to be targeted at women, middle-age voters and especially weak or nonpartisans. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-05-02T09:28:55Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221091503 - - Food for Thought: A Longitudinal Investigation of Reflection-Promoting Speech in Televised Election Debates (1985–2019) - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Emma Turkenburg, Ine Goovaerts Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. In televised election debates, politicians confront each other side-by-side to publicly debate their political viewpoints. As a result, these debates have the potential to promote reflective reasoning in citizens. However, concerns are voiced regularly about politicians’ increasing use of one-liners, slogans, and empty phrases, and decreasing use of elaborate and thoughtful argumentation, which may lower the debates’ reflection-promoting potential. Despite concerns, systematic empirical evidence testing whether reflection-promoting speech is declining is extremely scarce. This study contributes to filling this gap by (1) identifying four reflection-promoting speech components, that is, provision of justifications, substantive information, accessible communication, and engagement with others’ perspectives and (2) conducting a longitudinal quantitative content analysis (1985–2019) of Belgian election debates through the lens of their reflection-promoting potential. The results of all studied speech components point in the same direction: reflection-promoting speech in election debates has not declined, showing that allegations surrounding debates should be considered with caution. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-04-29T11:40:02Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221090102 - - Why Was There a Hard Brexit' The British Legislative Party System, Divided Majorities and the Incentives for Factionalism - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Thomas Quinn, Nicholas Allen, John Bartle Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. The UK parliament of 2017–2019 had to decide what form of Brexit, if any, it would accept in the government’s negotiations with the EU over a withdrawal agreement. Despite a large majority of MPs having supported Remain in the 2016 referendum, with most opposed to a ‘hard’ Brexit of looser ties between the UK and the EU, all attempts to pass a ‘soft’ Brexit failed. The final withdrawal agreement reflected a hard Brexit that was closer to the preferences of a 28-strong group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs than to those of any other party or faction in a 650-seat parliament. This article identifies the two-party system for government as a crucial variable in explaining this unexpected outcome. Governments seek majorities from among their own MPs rather than relying on the uncertain support of the opposition. This not only makes party cohesion vital, but also creates leverage for organised factions to hold sway. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-03-05T09:11:31Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221076353 - - The Role of Novel Citizenship Norms in Signing and Sharing Online Petitions - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Michael Vaughan, Ariadne Vromen, Pablo Porten-Cheé, Darren Halpin Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. Ideas about what makes a ‘good citizen’ continue to evolve alongside the digitalisation of political participation. We examine these interrelated trends through an in-depth analysis of the normative basis for contemporary online petitioning. This article uses original survey data in Australia and Germany to confirm the emergence of distinctive ‘contribution’ citizenship norms which emphasise the importance of sharing content through networked communications infrastructures. We then examine the relationship between these novel citizenship norms and online petitioning, differentiating online petitioning along two dimensions of mode (signing versus sharing) and frequency. First, we find ‘contribution’ norms are more associated with sharing online petitions than signing them. Second, ‘contribution’ norms are more associated with high-frequency sharing and signing, as opposed to more casual instances of participation. In combination, these findings show that contribution norms are distinctively associated with more intensive forms of online petitioning (e.g. frequent sharing), while more casual forms (such as casual signing) are supported by a more diverse range of normative orientations. We conclude that the way citizens engage with online petitions reflects, in part, their normative orientation to contributing information towards networked communication infrastructures. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-03-04T05:30:54Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221078681 - - ‘The Talk’: Risk, Racism and Family Relationships - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Alice Baderin Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. Parents employ a wide range of anticipatory strategies to prepare their children for, and protect them against, risks of racism. This article argues that, while black children need to be equipped with the skills and understanding to navigate racist societies, these practices are also the site of a significant injustice for minority families. Specifically, the imperative to take strategic steps to protect children against threats of racism creates unfair barriers to the enjoyment of some valuable relationship-based goods. In advancing this argument, the article brings recent philosophical work on the family into dialogue with a rapidly developing body of empirical research on racial and ethnic socialization. I show that Brighouse and Swift’s ‘familial relationship goods’ framework generates a valuable new perspective on some contested empirical terrain. But I also highlight, and seek to begin to redress, a problematic silence on race within contemporary philosophy of the family. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-03-03T04:46:19Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217221074894 - - Educating Democrats or Autocrats' The Regime-Conditional Effect of Education on Support for Democracy - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Marcus Österman, Darrel Robinson Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. Political science has long viewed education as an instrumental factor in developing support for democracy and beneficial for democratization. However, governments, both democratic and authoritarian, have substantial control over the curriculum and develop education institutions with the specific aim to instill in students the norms and values that underpin the regime. With this in mind, this study asks, does the effect of education vary by the political regime in which education was undertaken' We use a quasi-experimental approach exploiting European compulsory schooling reforms, implemented under both democratic and authoritarian regimes, to answer this question. We find that education has no effect on principle and functional support for democracy, but that education’s effect on satisfaction with democracy is conditional on regime type. For those educated under a democratic regime, education led to greater satisfaction with democracy, whereas those educated under an authoritarian regime became less satisfied with democracy. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-02-01T09:28:34Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217211067385 - - Does Descriptive Representation Narrow the Immigrant Gap in Turnout' A Comparative Study across 11 Western European Democracies - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Lucas Geese Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. The political representation of citizens of immigrant origin in Western Europe has received much attention in recent years’ political science research. While existing research has advanced our understanding of the drivers of citizens of immigrant origins’ descriptive representation, a lot less is known about its consequences for citizens of immigrant origins’ electoral participation. This article intends to address this gap in the literature by conducting the first cross-country comparative study of whether migrant-specific descriptive representation can attenuate turnout gaps between citizens of immigrant origin and native-origin citizens in 11 Western European democracies. Linking data on migrant-specific descriptive representation in national parliaments with survey data provided by the European Social Survey, results suggest that turnout gaps tend to be lower in countries where descriptive representation is high. However, this relationship is contingent upon citizens of immigrant origin who consider themselves to be in an ethnic minority position, in which they frequently experience discrimination. By contrast, there is no evidence that descriptive representation matters for turnout levels of non-marginalised citizens of immigrant origin. The study sheds light on the widely overlooked link between descriptive representation and the immigrant gap in turnout levels and opens up several avenues for future research. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-02-01T09:20:13Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217211067129 - - Societal Accountability and Grand Corruption: How Institutions Shape Citizens’ Efforts to Shape Institutions - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Fredrik Larsson, Marcia Grimes Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. That civil society activism can strengthen accountability and limit government corruption is theoretically compelling and popular in policy circles. Whether civic engagement can limit grand corruption, and if so in what types of settings, remains an open question. This paper presents the first large-N study of societal accountability with respect to grand corruption. Using objective indicators of procurement corruption from 173 EU regions, the study finds that civil society strength is associated with lower levels of corruption but that the association is not monotonic. Civil society strength seems to constrain procurement corruption where accountability conditions are the least favorable. Where accountability conditions are well-functioning, we find no evidence that societal accountability constrains corruption. The findings help to adjudicate between competing expectations from research on horizontal and societal accountability. Moreover, they confirm that societal accountability can complement horizontal accountability where institutional conditions function sub-optimally, even limiting grand corruption. Citation: Political Studies PubDate: 2022-01-21T04:55:07Z DOI: 10.1177/00323217211067134 - - Leaving the Discursive Definition of Populist Social Movements: The Case of the Yellow Vest Movement - Free pre-print version: Loading... Authors: Ingeborg Misje Bergem Abstract: Political Studies, Ahead of Print. In this article, I analyze whether the case of the Yellow Vest movement fits Paris Aslanidis’ definition of populist social movements, and find that within the discursive theoretical framework Aslanidis adheres to, it does. However, I use the case of the Yellow Vest movement to demonstrate how this discursive approach lacks explanatory potential. I therefore propose moving away from a discursive definition of populist social movements, and advocate for studying political content as a way of detecting common interests shaped by political and societal structures that are shared by participants in a populist social movement. A theory of populist social movements must look at political and economic structures as well as individual agency, framing, and collective identity as a way to explain mobilization. A discursive approach to populism, which only considers language, is therefore not sufficient to explain movements such as the Yellow Vest movement.	https://www.journaltocs.ac.uk/index.php?action=browse&subAction=subjects&publisherID=20&journalID=11257&pageb=4&userQueryID=&sort=&local_page=1&sorType=&sorCol=
On October 8, 2009, the Latin American Program convened a distinguished group of Latin American, U.S., and European scholars to discuss the revival of populism in 21st century Latin America and its consequences for the future of democratic governance in the region. The conference took place in the context of a three-year project on "Democratic Governance and the ‘New Left' in Latin America." Papers presented at the conference addressed the differences and continuities between the populist regimes of the 1930s and ‘40s and contemporary populist manifestations, the defining characteristics of 21st century populism, and the sources of mobilization, appeal, sustainability, and relevance for regional politics of today's populist regimes. Authors grappled to come to agreement on the definition of populism, its relationship to democracy and political institutions, and the nature of social policies introduced to address problems of poverty and social inequality. Francisco Panizza of the London School of Economics distinguished between populism and "populist interventions," in which leaders appeal directly to "the people," identifying and seeking the support of social sectors not well represented through existing political arrangements. Such leaders promise a form of redemption from the exclusion of the past. Panizza argued that such populist interventions characterized the discourse of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former Argentine president Carlos Menem, and even Barack Obama in the United States. Other participants took issue with the notion that populist discourse was the defining aspect of populism, in that all politicians make direct appeals to and identify with constituents in their quest for votes. Instead, Carlos de la Torre of FLACSO-Ecuador defined populism as a mode of direct political representation that challenges democratic political institutions and rests on a highly polarized concept of society. Populist regimes emphasize the social divide between the privileged few who have benefited from existing political practices (whether democratic or not) and the underprivileged majority that hitherto has been excluded. Populist leaders claim to represent "the people"—that is, the poor and underprivileged—and promise to bring about social justice. Such leaders reject any type of political intermediation that can effectively check and limit their power. Populism is authoritarian, nationalistic, redemptive in rhetoric, and dependent on wide bases of social mobilization and support. Hector Schamis of Georgetown University suggested that populism be understood more narrowly in its time-bound dimension, emerging in Latin America in the wake of the Great Depression. So-called populist leaders of the 21st century may appear like populists, but labelling them as such dilutes the specificity and historical relevance of the concept. Kenneth Roberts of Cornell University explored the relationship between populism, political parties, and political regimes. Populist regimes can destroy traditional parties, he argued, but by mobilizing new sectors of the electorate, they may also contribute to rebuilding party structures. Roberts identified "critical junctures" in which populist regimes emerged in the context of severe economic crisis. Current populist manifestations reflect the collapse of import substitution industrialization and the inability of traditional market reforms to sustain economic growth, generate employment, and reduce poverty and inequality. Roberts argued that the type of political regime that emerges in a critical juncture depends on two key variables: the degree of institutionalization of party systems and the extent of contestation of neoliberal orthodoxy. These factors explain why "polarized populism" emerged in such places as Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador (under President Rafael Correa), all countries with non-institutionalized party systems and strong contestation of neo-liberal orthodoxy. In countries such as Peru and Ecuador under prior governments, with non-institutionalized party systems but low levels of contestation of neoliberal orthodoxy, populism appeared to be more recurrent, or "serial" as he called it. Enrique Peruzzotti of Argentina's Universidad Torcuato di Tella discussed the concept of representation in populist regimes, arguing that populism emerges as a response to a deficit of political representation. While populist leaders use democratic means—elections—to come to power, once in office, they undermine democratic institutions. By claiming to represent "the people" directly, populist leaders reject mechanisms of intermediation between the state and civil society; under democratic regimes, these mechanisms serve to check and balance the power of the executive. The distinguishing characteristic of populist regimes, as opposed to other types of authoritarianism, is the claim to represent those who have been excluded by the "oligarchic" system (which can itself be a formal democracy). Finally, Peruzzoti argued that populism is different from the "delegative democracies" described by social scientist Guillermo O'Donnell. While both are personalistic and hyper-presidential, delegative regimes are based on mass social apathy rather than on the mass mobilization characteristic of classical populism. Whether Latin America will move in the direction of greater populism in the future, Peruzzotti concluded, depends on the ability of current governments to deepen democracy and strengthen democratic representation. Kurt Weyland of the University of Texas, Austin, analyzed the content and implementation of social policies introduced by populist regimes. He explored whether populist regimes had designed and introduced social policies distinct from those in social democratic regimes such as Chile and Brazil. Weyland compared Alberto Fujimori in Peru and Hugo Chávez in Venezuela, arguing that despite their different ideological orientations, both can be described as populist. Both Fujimori and Chávez claimed to represent the poor and underprivileged directly; they relied on mass mobilizations in support of the leader, were not bound by democratic mechanisms of accountability, and introduced social policies that claimed to address the long neglected grievances of the poor. Weyland argued that populist regimes have not really designed innovative social policies: what distinguishes them from their social democratic counterparts is the way in which social policies are implemented. Populist regimes can act quickly and are more agile, as they are not bound by traditional mechanisms of accountability. However, haste has some major disadvantages. Populist social policies are not well planned and coordinated; they are often reactive, improvised, chaotic, and often capricious. Moreover, they lack transparency and, in many cases, fail to reach their targeted beneficiaries. Unlike social democracies, populist regimes devote large amounts of resources to social programs, but they are not fiscally sound and hence, not sustainable financially or politically. Social spending tends to pick up during electoral cycles only to decline afterwards. Weyland concluded that populist regimes spend more on social programs but also waste more resources due to inefficiency and corruption. In addressing the case of Bolivian President Evo Morales, Oxford University professor John Crabtree took issue with the characterization of Morales as a populist. One of the legacies of Bolivia's 1952 revolution, Crabtree argued, was the weakness of state institutions in controlling and disciplining large social sectors that had been mobilized against the oligarchic regime. During the 1990s, the state was unable to channel or control popular social movements that organized against the implementation of neoliberal economic policies. Evo Morales' appeal to the poor, indigenous, underprivileged sectors of society resembles the typical populist discourse against the status quo. However, a key distinction is that Morales' party, the MAS, is distinct from the social movements that support him and with which Morales must constantly negotiate. It remains a grassroots, participatory movement that requires responsiveness and accountability of its leaders. Morales has also been more cautious and prudent than his populist counterparts in the use of state resources from natural gas, avoiding irresponsible spending programs. Crabtree concluded that Bolivia constitutes more of a hybrid case that combines some elements of populist discourse and rhetoric with autonomous social movements that defy top-down mobilization. Cynthia McClintock of George Washington University argued that the Peruvian case in one of almost constant populist upsurges, or, as Ken Roberts would put it, a case of "serial populism." From the founding of the APRA party in the 1920's to the present, a spectrum of political leaders has used highly divisive rhetoric and, when in office, has abused power. Populist leaders have hailed from both the left and the right and have often been allied with Peru's military. Part of the explanation is in Peru's combination of deep social inequalities, a weak party system, and the perception that liberal democratic governments have been ineffective in bridging the gap. Like APRA founder Víctor Haya de la Torre in the 1920's and 1930s, General Juan Velasco during the military regime of the 1960s and 1970s, and Alberto Fujimori during the 1990s, Ollanta Humala in 2006 portrayed himself as the candidate of the poor and excluded and as an alternative to traditional politicians. The appeal of these populist politicians will remain, she argued, so long as the social grievances of the poor are not seen to be adequately addressed and the party system remains fragmented. The current government of Alan García has been successful in bringing about economic growth, but social spending remains low and the gap between rich and poor is not perceived to have been bridged. Alexandra Panzarelli of the Universidad Central de Venezuela presented the prototypical case of Hugo Chávez. She explored the social and political context preceding Chávez's election, a period during which the two established political parties imploded and social protests escalated. Panzarelli indicated that between 1989 and 1992, there were on average 720 protests per year. By 1998, the year of Chávez's election, Venezuelan citizens were ready to welcome an outsider who promised to represent the poor and to reject neoliberal economic policies. Chávez has been highly divisive and polarizing within Venezuelan society; he has increasingly centralized power and resorted to authoritarian practices to deal with his opponents. Oil revenues have provided Chávez vast state resources to maintain his power. Exploring the Brazilian case, Leslie Bethell argued that there were several possible candidates for consideration as "classical populists" during second half of the the 20th century: Getulio Vargas, Ademar de Barros and Janio Quadros in São Paulo, Leonel Brizola in Rio Grande do Sul and Rio de Janeiro. Former president Fernando Collor de Melo could be characterized as a neo-populist of the Right, but he was impeached in 1992 after only two and a half years in office. In Bethell's view, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva should not be considered a neo-populist of the Left. A union leader, he had created the Workers Party (PT) from the bottom up during the 1970s and 1980s. The PT drew its support from organized labor, the professional middle-class, the progressive wing of the Catholic Church, and intellectuals of the Left, not the poorest sectors of society. Lula contested - and lost - three presidential elections before being elected in 2002. Although his discourse and style have been somewhat populist in nature, Lula has maintained "responsible" fiscal and macroeconomic policies, while adopting social policies to alleviate poverty and reduce social inequality. Brazil is a reasonably well functioning representative democracy with an institutionalized party system, an independent media, and a strong, active civil society. Most important, Lula understands the importance of the alternation of power and, despite his enormous popularity, did not attempt to change the constitution to permit a third mandate. However, Bethell noted at the end of his presentation that the extraordinary lengths to which Lula was going to elect Dilma Rousseff his successor in 2010 have raised the suspicion in some minds that she, if elected, will represent a third mandate and that he plans to return to power in 2014 "in the arms of the people." Ana María Bejarano of the University of Toronto discussed whether or not to characterize Colombian President Álvaro Uribe as a populist. The answer, she argued, is both yes and no. During the last several years, Bejarano argued, Uribe has worked to amend the constitution in order to remain in power, but his populist style is reactionary, not leftist. In sharp contrast to other countries in the region, Colombia lacks a prior populist experience in\ the 1930s and 1940s. Populism as a leftist expression became the realm of the guerrillas. The emergence of left-wing political outsiders was kept in check by the strength of the landed elite as well as of the country's two traditional political parties. While Uribe is by no means a political outsider, he cast himself as an anti-establishment candidate in 2002, promising to re-establish security in the wake of a failed peace process with the guerrillas during the Pastrana years. Unlike populist presidents, Uribe does not claim to govern on behalf of poor, nor has he attempted to mobilize them on behalf of an effort to overcome poverty and inequality and poverty. Rather, his appeal and popularity have rested on military successes against the guerrillas and on significant reductions in levels of violence and crime. Like other populist leaders, however, Uribe has resorted to a highly divisive and polarizing discourse of "us" against "them." By seeking a third term in office through a second process of amending the 991 Constitution, President Uribe, like populist presidents of the Left, has come to undermine traditional institutions of democracy. Finally, Hector Schamis contrasted the Peronist movement of the 1940s and 1950s in Argentina, a regime that became the prototype and reference point of populism in Latin America, with the so-called populism of the 21st century. The populist experiences of the past are no longer viable in the 21st century, he claimed, and the term neo-populism does not provide a good analytical definition of the nature of these regimes. At best, he said, today's regimes can be considered post-populist, because they are dealing with populism's legacies. Populism, Schamis argues, came as a result of the Great Depression and its aftermath. As such, it is related to a particular industrialization strategy based on import substitution and the mobilization and political inclusion of vast sectors of the population, particularly industrial workers. Neither former presidents Carlos Menem or Néstor Kirchner, nor current President Cristina Kirchner, can be classified as populists. While they have appealed to the poor and underprivileged, they have confronted serious limits to their ability to take on strong private sector interests. Menem campaigned as a populist, but once in power, he pacted with big business and introduced pro-market reforms, including the controversial privatization of state enterprises. The Kirchners look and sound like populists, but they lack an industrialization strategy, have not articulated or introduced a social program to reduce poverty, and have not been able to organize and institutionalize a multi-class coalition of support. Political patronage, not populism, characterizes the rule of both Kirchners. Their strategy is to concentrate power in the hands of the executive, something facilitated by Argentina's deep political fragmentation.	https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/populism-the-21st-century
The electoral success of populists in the advanced industrial democracies has brought new attention to a topic that was previously studied mostly in the developing world, especially Latin America. The sense of urgency is great. Populism is seen as problematic for democracy: populists often undermine liberal democratic institutions once they are in power, yet populists also respond to democratic failures, basing their appeal on an argument that institutions and politicians are systematically denying segments of the electorate their voice. Thus, populism is not just a problem for democracy but a symptom of its failures. This means that the study of populism offers political scientists a unique window into democracy. If we can identify the reasons why citizens support populist movements, we may also come to understand the ways in which liberal democracy sometimes fails in its promise of representation. Happily, scholarly efforts to identify the causes of populism are growing more advanced. For the past decade, scholars studying populism have been locked in a debate over whether the causes are mostly economic, rooted in declining material well-being; or cultural, representing a reaction to changing values and identities. More recent work moves beyond this debate by studying the individual-level causal mechanisms by which distant structural forces activate citizen’s populist anger. Most of this work argues, not surprisingly, that the key mechanism underlying populism’s electoral success is one of resentment or anger over perceived failures of democratic representation. Impressively, findings based on these arguments are coming from multiple countries in different regions and historical periods. In this panel we showcase these recent, synthetic efforts to explain the causes of populism. Not only do these papers offer more generalizable causal arguments, but they present data from various regions and levels of analysis using multiple methods.	http://politicalsciencenow.com/erosion-of-democracy/
Strong correlation between corruption and electoral success of populist parties The quality of society’s institutions affects not only the service people receive but also who wins the political power. Research from the University of Gothenburg shows that corruption is one reason some European populist parties have achieved great electoral success in recent parliamentary elections. Public services such as law enforcement, health care and education often comprise the most direct contact people have with the state. The quality of these services is therefore critical to people’s confidence in public institutions and democracy in general. ‘Low confidence in public institutions is one of the most distinguishing features of populist voters,’ says Mattias Agerberg, PhD student in political science. One common characteristic of societies with poorly functioning social institutions is corruption, which has a severe negative impact on virtually everything related to people’s quality of life. Examples include that citizens may have to pay to gain access to health care or to get good grades in school, or that they need to belong to a particular family in order to get a job as a civil servant. Researchers at the Quality of Government Institute at the University of Gothenburg have previously assessed the incidence of corruption by compiling interviews with 85 000 people in 24 European countries. The interviews provide a measure of citizens’ experiences of corruption, something that other studies on the topic have shown correspond well with the actual situation in a country. Based on this data, Agerberg has now found a clear link between high levels of corruption and people’s willingness to vote for populist parties. This is for example true for the National Front in France and the Five Star Movement in Italy, both of which have grown dramatically in popularity in recent years. ‘Populist parties are more vocal than others about politicising corruption. It is part of their anti-establishment rhetoric. For voters who face corruption on a daily basis, the populist parties simply offer a political alternative that is perceived to take these issues seriously,’ says Agerberg. While previous research on the increased support for populist parties often has focused on the effect of election systems or major public corruption scandals, Agerberg’s study looks at factors that are closer to voters’ daily lives. ‘In times of cutbacks and austerity packages, my study shows that the quality of public services can determine not only the service people get, but also who ultimately wins the political power.’ Contact: Mattias Agerberg, PhD student in political science, tel.: +46 (0)31 786 1113; email: [email protected] The results have been published in European Journal of Political Research: Mattias Agerberg (2017), “Failed Expectations: Quality of Government and Support for Populist Parties in Europe”. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1475-6765.12203/full Thomas Melin Press Officer The University of Gothenburg +46 31 786 20 21, +46 734 04 20 21 (Mobile) [email protected] University of Gothenburg is one of the major universities in Europe, with about 37 800 students and a staff of 6 200. Its eight faculties offer training in the Creative Arts, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Humanities, Education, Information Technology, Business, Economics and Law, and Health Sciences. The University’s unique breadth in education and research provides an interdisciplinary environment conducive to collaboration with private enterprise and public institutions. The quality of the University has earned recognition in the form of numerous awards, including a recent Nobel Prize, and a steady stream of applicants at all levels. Tags:	https://news.cision.com/goteborgs-universitet/r/strong-correlation-between-corruption-and-electoral-success-of-populist-parties,c2235048
Coming to grips with the proliferation of populist movements in Europe is not a new preoccupation. Right-wing and left-wing protest parties have long been part of the political landscape. Until recently, they have not advanced much beyond the local or regional levels of support and some have almost completely disappeared over time. Yet today we are seeing the emergence of a larger base for such movements. We’ve seen in the recent elections in France and the Netherlands, when both Marine Le Pen and Geert Wilders garnered significant support as well. In both cases, they remain in the opposition. In Germany, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has just won a presence in a thirteenth state parliament after the elections in North Rhine-Westphalia. When one looks around Europe, the presence of protest movements is widespread in various degrees and numbers. There are many shared characteristics: a backlash against immigration; a fear of globalization embodied for some in the institutions of the European Union; a nationalist fervor wishing to regain a form of sovereignty, both politically and culturally. On the right side of the spectrum, there is a trend toward authoritarian responses to these threats—and some governments currently embody that trend. But the populist movements circle around the opposition between the common people and elites, the rejection of elected officials, a return to authority and indeed moral values, and an emphasis on national security. The authors of Far-Right Politics in Europe, a rather academic examination of far-right phenomena, set out to examine the common denominator of the populist movement in Europe, but they also see the need to emphasize the diversity within the broader context. For example, the impact of right-wing movements in Germany since the end of World War II has been constrained by the impact of the Nazi experience on German society in ways that are not comparable to the scenario in France or Holland. However, the authors do suggest that two major tectonic shift in the last fifteen years have contributed to an enhanced movement of populist parties: the 9/11 attacks in the United States and the world financial crisis in 2008-2009. The argument is that these two events unleashed a sense of anxiety and fear about the future while also undermining trust in government and in social institutions. They argue that this has generated a complex series of identity questions which many people are having difficulty answering in Europe. As a result, many find consolation in right-wing leaders and movements as a community with which they can identify. The authors also argue that the appearance of these movements underline the need for reform in liberal democracies throughout Europe: “in a globalized and uncivil society, where citizens are no longer incorporated into the political realm through trade unions, parties, and churches, there is a demand for a protective enclosure. For the moment, the only path leading in that direction involves a critique of cultural liberalism and a demand for social authoritarianism” (p. 204). The authors tend to suggest that the appearance of these populist movements provides Europe with the choice to include more people in the democratic process and thereby keep these movements on the periphery of politics. It’s likely that there are a lot more complications and indeed more dangers than they indicate with this argument. In an earlier chapter, they reference the emergence of the fascism that destroyed Europe in the first half of the twentieth century. To what extent such dangers now might emerge in the twenty-first century is left unanswered in this book. There seems to be a suggestion that as long as the right-wing movement stays out of power it will stay out of inordinate influence. Whether that is true remains to be seen.	http://staging.aicgs.org/2017/05/from-the-aicgs-bookshelf-far-right-politics-in-europe/
Is the rise of actors who are everywhere described as populists, protest party leaders or even anti-politicians a decisive indicator of a crisis in political representation? This thesis is automatically confirmed if any opposition to established parties is equated with a crisis of representation or any expression of popular anger is interpreted as a potential danger to democracy. Jan-Werner Müller To person is Professor of Political Theory and History of Ideas at Princeton. In the academic year 2016/17 he is a fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. Most recently, "What is populism?" (2016). [email protected] Political scientists today largely agree: political parties as such, at least in Europe, have seen their best days. This can be seen in the dramatic decline in membership, but also in the now very unsteady identification of voters with certain parties. Some democracy researchers like Simon Tormey go even further: They believe that they can already see an end to representative politics. Indeed, something is happening politically in the western democracies. But the diagnosis of a crisis in political representation is premature. The decline of the traditional popular parties and the emergence of new groups such as Podemos in Spain and Syriza in Greece are not synonymous with a crisis of representation. To a certain extent, the opposite is true: party systems are changing because old parties are discredited and moral-political entrepreneurs like the leaders of Podemos and Syriza respond better to new conflicts in society. That is not to say that everything is fine with Western democracies. Real populism - which can be recognized by the fact that its representatives claim that they and only they represent the true people, always thought of as homogeneous - is dangerous for democracy. Populists are always anti-pluralistic; however, democracy can only be had in a pluralistic form. The crucial question of our time is whether populists develop to the point of accepting this, or whether they continue to try to discredit democratic institutions that do not express the "true popular will" they postulate - or whether the established parties take on the legitimate concerns of voters in populist parties without becoming populist themselves. What crisis?How can an alleged crisis of representation be determined? Certainly partly through surveys. In fact, almost all opinion polls in Western democracies confirm that elites are perceived as "aloof" and that parties are becoming increasingly unpopular. For a long time, parties have enjoyed the worst reputation in comparison with almost all other political institutions. In addition, as the political scientist Peter Mair has impressively shown, in many European countries citizens have literally run away from the parties in practice: They no longer identify with a particular party, which has made voting behavior very erratic; and they certainly do not want to become a member of a party. There are hardly any popular parties in the classic sense which, for example, in a country like Austria were able to collect more than 90 percent of the votes. It can also be shown, at least in some cases, that many of the material concerns of different social classes are de facto completely left out in the supposedly representative democratic institutions - this was shown by the political scientist Martin Gilens using the example of the United States. What follows from these empirical observations? That there is political dissatisfaction is nothing new. Some may remember that the political scientist Ernst Fraenkel diagnosed widespread "disaffection with parliament" in Europe as early as the 1960s, or that in the 1990s there was endless debate in Germany about disaffection with politics. Political scientist Klaus von Beyme once remarked that lamenting about the decline of the legislature was as old as parliamentarism itself. In order to bring analytical clarity and historical awareness into this discussion, three aspects of today's representational relationships should be distinguished here. First I point out that in post-war Europe parliaments were systematically weakened. Although the widespread term post-democracy and the implied thesis of a crisis of representation suggest so, there has never been a golden age of political representation. Secondly The aim is to show that party systems are changing, but we are still far from being beyond the principle of representation, as Tormey claims. Third is illustrated by the example of the EU that you are not in the mood if you complain about representation deficits today, but you have to understand them exactly and cannot reduce them to the usual clichés that "Brussels" is "too far away" or too "bureaucratic". Post-war order marked by mistrustMeetings of representatives of the people are at the heart of modern representative democracy. The relative degradation of parliaments in Europe after 1945 was based on conscious political decisions and cannot be attributed to apparently anonymous processes such as globalization or Europeanization. After 1945, architects of the post-war political order in Western Europe were very skeptical of the idea of popular sovereignty, with the important exception of Great Britain. The skepticism was due in part to a discourse about "the masses" that supposedly paved the way for totalitarianism. But even without these interpretations of contemporary history, the question arose: How should one trust peoples who brought fascists to power or who collaborated with fascists during the occupation? This kind of skepticism extended to popular assemblies as well. The new constitution-makers wanted to prevent what the German constitutional lawyer Hugo Preuss had called "parliamentary absolutism". After all, it was the people's representative bodies that could transfer all power to Adolf Hitler or Philippe Pétain, leader of the Vichy regime that collaborated with the National Socialists. It was necessary to restrict the powers of the legislature as much as possible. At the same time, institutions were strengthened whose members never have to stand for election to the people - such as central banks or constitutional courts. Almost all of Western Europe was true: the executive and judiciary won, the legislature lost influence. This process went furthest in France, where the Assemblée nationale is the weakest parliament in the western world. But the decline of the people's representative bodies was not only reflected in the constitutions; power also migrated to the individual administrations and was increasingly exercised in concerted actions and "Chancellor rounds". In this respect, the post-war order in Europe is not only decidedly anti-totalitarian, it is also "anti-populist" in a broad, colloquial sense: the citizens are kept at a distance, and the opportunities to participate in political decisions are restricted by courts and institutions such as the central bank . One can criticize this from a normative point of view, but then one should also bear in mind that at least some aspects of this order were justified with democratic principles: above all with the protection of individual and political rights. Constitutional courts should strengthen democracy as a whole, including with supposedly undemocratic measures such as banning extremist parties. Today we still live with this post-war order, which was basically characterized by mistrust. One explanation for this is perhaps that this order has proven to be astonishingly flexible. Especially in the 1960s and 1970s, completely new claims to the representation of interests and identities were made. And after many disputes, many of these claims could also be realized. The success of the Greens in the Federal Republic is a good example of this. In this sense, many of the dramatic developments in Europe over the past decade can be understood as a test case for the specifically European model of democracy. Despite all the diversity, the protest movements in southern Europe have one thing in common: They accuse established parties of being corrupt, oligarchic and unrepresentative. Professional politicians are all members of la casta damned. In addition, it is often said that all parties are ultimately identical. Many of these protest movements initially positioned themselves beyond any party politics - including the Spanish Indignados ("indignant") and Beppe Grillo's five-star movement in Italy. For many observers, the allegations sounded populist. With good reason: The distinction between a morally immaculate, homogeneous people and a corrupt, unrepresentative elite is a core element of the populist world of ideas. Only those who criticized the actually corrupt conditions in Spain, for example, made no moral claim to sole representation - they did not claim to represent the authentic people alone. In the beginning, movements like Podemos tried to organize themselves horizontally in order to break with traditional concepts of political representation, and the Five Star Movement also advocated grassroots decision-making. And yet: The movements became parties that are now partly led in an authoritarian manner - Grillo is the notorious example of this, but the personal dominance of Pablo Iglesias at Podemos or Alexis Tsipras at Syriza is also exemplary. It remains to be seen whether this change from the ambitions of horizontal organization to vertical leadership was purely pragmatic. It would be premature to diagnose "populism" simply because of the presence of charismatic leaders. The fact is that groups like Podemos and Syriza have integrated themselves into the existing party system instead of restricting themselves to extra-parliamentary strategies. Syriza has de facto replaced the once dominant social democratic PASOK in the Greek party spectrum. Podemos has no government responsibility at the national level in Spain and has not yet been able to overtake the established socialists in favor of the electorate, but together with the liberal association Ciudadanos it has already fundamentally changed the party system and, in cooperation with other parties, at least the corruption economy at the local level can stop. New parties as a corrective?All of this does not indicate a crisis of representation, but can be understood as an affirmation of the existing political systems - even if this observation does not, of course, always coincide with the self-perception of the political actors: Podemos continues to criticize the "regime of 1978", So the post-Franco democracy, but at least for the moment cannot achieve majorities to replace this system with another. The fact that the new parties can be understood as protest parties is not a counter-argument: in any democracy it is legitimate to protest against ruling parties or to complain that existing opposition parties do not convincingly represent the interests and identities of many citizens. Peaceful protest, which is not based on a moral claim to sole representation of the supposedly "true people", as is the case with the populists, is not automatically undemocratic or a symptom of a deep crisis - the opposite is the case. This can again be illustrated by the Spanish example: Here Podemos was able to bring voters to the polls as a new group who had not previously participated in the political process and who did not find a plausible political or protest offer in the existing radical left party Izquierda Unida. [ 5] The increased participation is first and foremost a gain for democracy. The diagnosis of a "non-crisis" of representation should not, however, go too far. For example, a Greek reader could object: "It is all very well and good that I am now represented by Syriza, who are not corrupt and are trying to pursue a progressive policy within the country. But my most important concern, namely the desire for a different euro rescue strategy, one that does not ruin my country is still not effectively represented - despite several electoral successes by Syriza. " Now the criterion for any "feeling represented" cannot be to see one's own political preferences implemented one-to-one. And yet the fictional Greek reader is right in that he can claim that the European Union as a whole suffers from specific representational deficits. It is important to understand these deficits precisely in order not to join the unreflected complaints about the "distant" and "oh so bureaucratic" Brussels - ultimately, in its complex decisions, the German cartel office is hardly closer to us, and there is no bureaucracy at all no governing in the modern world. In a nation-state democracy, parties and their supporters who find themselves in the opposition after an election consider the decisions of a government to be legitimate in principle. Or to put it another way: in a democracy you know that you can be on the losing side, but you can also be sure that you will not be a political loser forever. Because there is always the chance to convince other citizens of the correctness of their own political ideas. Minorities can become majorities. In the EU, however, the ideal of democracy theory may not coincide with reality in three ways: First some citizens are not ready for what English-speaking political scientists are so blunt losers' consent call - to recognize the defeat as a "loser". They have the feeling that strangers will determine their fate. This impression was also used very skilfully by the Brexit supporters to their own advantage. Secondly Citizens who are quite ready to accept the majority situation as it is in the EU can object that they are not correctly mapped in the political decision-making process: Instead of transnational coalitions that define themselves based on common economic interests, in the euro crisis compared to nation states. And these in turn are led by governments that have an interest in coding the conflicts in national categories as far as possible, since they have to answer to their national electorate. ThirdAs the legal scholar Dieter Grimm pointed out, thanks to the "constitutionalization" of the European treaties, many economic and financial policy decisions, which in a nation-state democracy would be subject to daily political debate, are made in an apolitical mode. Disputes about the treaties would be decided by a court that does not see itself as neutral, but as a pioneer of an ever deeper deepening of European integration. An EU citizen can indeed object that the treaties (and not Brussels) are very "far away" - away from any democratic access, whether through national parliaments or the EU parliament. And - this is also an important insight from Peter Mair - precisely because it is so difficult to articulate opposition in the EU, opposition to the EU seems to be the last resort, at least for some Europeans. Which finally brings us to the populists. Populism: symptom of crisis for what exactly?Far too many actors in Europe are currently labeled "populism". But not everyone who criticizes elites is a populist. The portrayal of the fact that in western democracies there are currently conflicts between the "establishment" and the "people" (or at least popular rebels), or, as the philosopher John Gray put it, we are experiencing an "uprising of the masses", is far too simplified. In many countries there are good reasons to criticize elites. Democracy thrives on criticism, and anyone who takes the effort to criticize has obviously not lost hope that someone will also listen and that engagement within the existing democracy can be worthwhile. A populist is only someone who claims that he and only he represents the true people - with the result that political competitors are actually all illegitimate, or that citizens who refuse to support the populist leader do not really belong to the people. Think of a statement by the US Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, which, given the many scandalous things the billionaire is constantly saying, received little attention, but which clearly demonstrates his populist view of politics.Trump said at an election rally in May 2016: "The only thing that matters is the unification of the people, and all the other people don't matter." "The only thing that counts is the unity of the people" - that sounds rather harmless compared to what he says everything else. The second part of the sentence is decisive: "All the other people don't count." So there is one true people and one true representative of this people - namely Trump. Anyone who is against him is automatically not part of the true people and therefore does not count morally and, above all, politically. Another example is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's rhetorical question to his critics in 2014: "We are the people, who are you?" This is a claim to sole representation that is simply incompatible with democracy, which is necessarily pluralistic. So the crucial question for the well-being of democracy is not which political actors are protesting for whatever reason or which can somehow be classified in the extremely vague "anti-establishment" category. The question is who makes this kind of moral claim to sole representation and thus denies all opponents the legitimacy in principle. The question is also who (as is always the case with populists) assumes a supposedly clearly identifiable will of a homogeneous people, which then supposedly only has to be implemented by the populists. This notion, according to which disputes are unnecessary in a pluralistic community and political decisions do not require lengthy decision-making processes, is then in fact "anti-political" because it is anti-pluralistic. Democratic equality does not mean homogeneity or, in Carl Schmitt's word, similarity. In a democracy, according to Jürgen Habermas, the people only appear in the plural. But what does the fact that Trump, Erdoğan, Orbán, Le Pen and the chairman of the Dutch Partij voor de Vrijheid Geert Wilders are populists mean about the state of representative democracy? First of all, just this: The success of these politicians shows that there are apparently many citizens who consider the representations offered by these actors to be convincing. We cannot automatically assume that all voters of populist parties also have anti-pluralist attitudes - even if there are some indications of this based on political science studies. Rather, one should in principle accept that the political offers of populists also cover legitimate concerns of citizens. It is wrong to think that interests and identities are always objectively present and that the successful politician only has to appeal to them - on the contrary, the rhetorical offer of the politician can only lead to parts of the population perceiving themselves as politically important collectives. What is sometimes contemptuously referred to as the "Trumpen proletariat" certainly did not arise out of nowhere or even to be understood as Trump's personal invention. But the self-perception of the "Trump people" as the silent majority and thus the true people would probably not have existed without Trump's frightening ability to evoke a kind of "White Identity Movement". And yet the successes of the populists point above all to a basic conflict between, to put it very briefly, a pluralistic principle that calls for greater openness to the world and inwardly the recognition of minorities, and a desire to preserve existing conditions - which is also reflected in it relates to the balance of power in matters of gender and minorities. This conflict has economic, but also moral-cultural dimensions. Both can be openly talked about, but not with a moral claim to sole representation, as the populists do - and certainly not in the racist way that Trump is constantly demonstrating. Trump's argument about the "false song of globalism" and the question of whether everyone is really always a winner of free trade deserves a democratic debate; the claim that Muslims should all be suspected of terrorism is not. outlookSo the question is whether the parties described can also act in a non-populist way - whether they can accept social change and, more specifically, their own election defeats and not repeatedly seek to delegitimize them in the name of a supposedly silent majority or even a true people . To give an example: It is not in itself questionable for the Federal Republican democracy if there is still a party to the right of a CDU that has moved far to the left. Criticism of the euro bailout policy, demands for partial withdrawal of European integration or even less immigration - you don't have to like such positions, but they can be part of a normal democratic debate. In other words: The AfD in its original, above all euro-critical version was not a threat and could even be seen as a gain for representative democracy - disaffected CDU voters had another option. The AfD in its current state is largely a different matter. Anyone who thinks that all other parties are illegitimate and that one is living in a dictatorship just because one is not in power as a representative of the supposedly true people; Anyone who whispers about a secret project for the exchange of the German population and ignites them with slogans such as "Resistance" and "Revolution" is a populist. So the question is in which direction parties that "protest" in the broadest sense will develop. At least one thing is clear: if they take a populist route, they will consciously try to stir up more and more citizens against pluralistic democracy - according to the motto: "Something cannot be right with our democratic institutions, because the real people have nothing to say ". The next step is then the conspiracy theory. There are no patent remedies for influencing these developments. There are examples of situations where the emergence of relatively "normal" nationalist parties has clearly weakened racist parties - think of the competition between the Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie and the Vlaams Belang in Belgium. There is no doubt that politicians who seek to morally discredit legitimate protests against the euro bailout policy ("Anyone who says that is an enemy of Europe!") Can contribute to the radicalization of citizens - here, "mainstream representatives", not least Angela Merkel, are doing the Ultimately, populists do a great favor. Instead, democratic politicians should try to take the economic concerns of the "trump proletariat" seriously - and at the same time counteract the consolidation of the self-perception of Trump voters as a kind of persecuted white majority. - What are techniques to cure digestive problems - What is a recruiter - How to relieve sternum pain naturally - What counts as flirting - What is the brutal truth about women - What skin color do the Turks have - Why don't Americans eat fish for breakfast? - Why is everyday life so sucking - What is your favorite way of cooking meat - What's next for Craigslist - How can I express myself - What are the benefits of mystery shopping - What is the total population of Australia - What is the average salary for a pediatric dentist - Why are moral values essential - Who was Hans Magnus Enzensberger - Where is actress fan Bingbing missing - How are the jobs in DevOps - What are the worst things about Islam - How many years did Jesus preach? - Eat Chinese rhinos - How can I be more aggressive?	https://familyhealthandwealth.info/?post=1406
BSF Address: Populism in the 2020s: Beyond the Populist Zeitgeist Discussion points: - Is there any guilt among us for the rise of populism? - How do we proceed from here – where can we find members of new, progressive political elites who will lead the way? Modern populism is very often portrayed as one of the biggest deviations from what we used to call liberal democracy – a concept that was seen as the most developed democratic form of all. But although we definitely live in the “populist Zeitgeist” as Cas Mudde defined it in 2004, we have to be fair and to say that populism is not something new. Populism is an ideology that is known for ages in different forms. It is inherently tied to right-wing politics, but can also be seen on the far left of the political specter as well. But what is maybe one of the greatest problems of present political life is the fact that populism became the prevailing feature of the political culture in the world. We do not need to look far in order to see examples of populist movements with more or less success in getting power – some of them even ruling some of the most powerful countries in the world. Populists base their political programs on the conflict between the “ordinary” people and corrupt political elites which ruled the world for decades. Their success is based on the fear, concern, and anger of “ordinary” people and their mistrust in the institutions and elites that were shaping the world order for a long period of time. Feeling despair for not being able to influence their own lives, living in great crises that they did not even understand, the only possibility that they had was voting against establishments – politicians, institutions, banks, bureaucracies, and supranational organizations. It was as Cas Mudde wrote an illiberal democratic response to undemocratic liberalism. And how can we fight the populism amidst our ranks? Only by creating and educating new elites that will bring back the optimism of citizens who will then be able to believe that the future will be better for their children and that their economic chances will be better in the days to come. These citizens will be more devoted to democracy and not prone to become pray of populists from all sides.	http://www.belgradeforum.org/session/bsf-address-2-2020-modern-populism/
Explanations for the rise of illiberal political movements in the West have focused upon the respective roles of economic grievances and “cultural backlash.” However, many “authoritarian populist” leaders outside the West—from Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines to Vladimir Putin in Russia to Narendra Modi in India—derive their legitimacy neither from economic promises nor from social conservativism alone, but also from a third commitment: to restore public order and state authority. If we are to understand why this platform has been and continues to be appealing to voters, we must examine the ways in which state capacity has eroded in many developing democracies, resulting in a profound crisis of democratic confidence and a willingness to embrace populist alternatives. After five years of populist breakthroughs across Europe, the United States, Latin America, and South and Southeast Asia, scholars are far from discovering any “universal theory” that can explain why illiberal politicians appeal to voters in every time and place. Yet in the context of Western societies, at least, recent theories examining the respective roles of “economic grievance” and “cultural backlash” have helped to shed some light on the issue. On the one hand, scholars such as Barry Eichengreen, Dani Rodrik, and Hanspeter Kriesi have examined how the economic disruptions caused by globalization, including rising income inequality, have led voters in the West’s “left-behind” industrial and rural regions to support extremist parties such as the French National Rally or Greece’s Golden Dawn.1 On the other side of this debate, scholars such as Ronald Inglehart and Pippa Norris have shown how the political divide between prosperous metropolitan areas and conservative hinterlands in Europe and the United States is rooted not only in socioeconomic disparities, but also in diverging values and beliefs, as formerly dominant groups react against socially progressive policies.2 Yet while such theories capture important dynamics at play in Western countries, they do not travel well to democracies in the developing world. Contrary to theories of economic grievance, many “authoritarian populist” leaders outside the West—from Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines to Vladimir Putin in Russia to Narendra Modi in India—find their support base not among the excluded or downtrodden, but instead among upwardly mobile, small-town business owners and new urban professionals. And contrary to theories of cultural backlash, it is often [End Page 52] the supporters of establishment parties—such as the rural backers of India’s Congress party or the heartland northeastern electorate of the Workers’ Party in Brazil—who offer the best examples of “traditional” beliefs or lifestyles, in contrast to the generally urban and socially “modernizing” supporters of the new antisystem challengers.3 If we are to understand why authoritarian strongmen have won elections in so many developing democracies, we also need to acknowledge the void that such leaders claim to fill—namely, the erosion of political authority. In many such societies, corruption, criminality, and violence not only are pervasive, but have worsened over time, granting the “law and order” pitch of leaders such as Duterte in the Philippines, Modi in India, or Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro a reach that goes well beyond mere cultural conservatives. In particular, their platforms typically resonate with a section of the new urban middle class that is self-made and upwardly mobile, situated outside the existing network of patronage politics, and frustrated at the persistence of urban crime, inefficient public services, and widespread clientelism and graft. It is this coalition of supporters that has secured these leaders an electoral majority.4 In developing democracies it is not so much the losers but the “winners” of globalization who are most likely to support such forms of conservative populism—and ironically, perhaps, they do so precisely because rising expectations regarding probity in office, public order, and public-sector clientelism and graft have pushed voters away from establishment politics and toward antisystem parties and movements. Democratization and State-Building To understand the rise of authoritarian strongmen in developing democracies, then, it is important to recognize the divergence of state-building trajectories and democratization trajectories over recent decades. In the early twenty-first century, democratic reform and building state capacity were generally seen as complementary processes, with international policy makers advocating competitive multiparty elections as a solution for countries facing problems ranging from endemic corruption to state fragility to gaps in infrastructure or welfare provision. Yet the reality is that elections by themselves cannot guarantee progress on the road to building an effective bureaucracy, clamping down on organized crime, or ensuring the efficient and equitable provision of schools, roads, and hospitals. Across the world there is wide variation in the degree to which new democracies have succeeded in building effective institutions and strengthening public accountability (Figure 1), and this divergence may help to explain when and where authoritarian challengers emerge triumphant. Since the “third wave” of democratization that occurred across the [End Page 53] world from the 1970s to the late 1990s, there have undoubtedly been success stories, in which democratic transition has brought newfound scrutiny of senior politicians by journalists and activists. In South Korea, for example, the 2016–17 “candlelight revolution”—which brought improved executive oversight after years of presidential scandals—provides a demonstration of the robust democratic culture that has taken shape since the country’s 1987 transition. In Taiwan, a “bureaucratic authoritarian” state has been steadily transformed into a democracy with robust civic engagement, most recently notable for its role in combatting the novel coronavirus pandemic. In postcommunist Europe, the three Baltic states have shown how in the span of one generation, cohesive national elites can steer a country through a transition from authoritarian central planning to a regulated market economy under democratic rule. And in one of the world’s largest new [End Page 54] democracies, Indonesia, a combination of radical decentralization and top-down enforcement from Jakarta are starting to check the distributed system of clientelism that replaced the centralized kleptocracy of the Suharto years. For scholars of democracy, these “success stories” highlight an important point: Simultaneous democratic transition and state-building are possible, and can be achieved across diverse regions and stages of economic development.5 Skeptics of democratic state-building, however, have no shortage of counterexamples to draw upon. Across Latin America, Africa, and both Southern and Eastern Europe, newly elected governments have struggled to overcome endemic problems of corruption, criminality, and state fragility.6 These difficulties are reflected across a wide range of indicators, ranging from homicide rates to assessments of the ease of doing business to ratings of bureaucratic quality.7 But if we restrict ourselves to a fairly conventional measure for some of the world’s largest new democracies—Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index—we can see that in the last decade alone Brazil has fallen from 75th to 105th place, Mexico from 89th to 138th, and South Africa from 55th to 73rd position. So why have public accountability and transparency eroded in so many young or reemerging democracies? There is not a single explanation that fits all cases. In countries where political parties swept to power with ambitious social-reform agendas, clientelism has grown as direct party-to-voter channels have been used to distribute public goods and benefits, leading to resentment over unequal access to resources.8 In South Africa, for example, the state apparatus developed since 1994 under the aegis of the dominant African National Congress has largely relied on patronage networks extending from that party, leading to a situation where patronage networks work “in parallel with, and sometimes in opposition to, the impersonal political institutions of the state.”9 Similarly in postauthoritarian Greece, the distribution of public jobs and contracts to party supporters began under Andreas Papandreou in the 1980s, while in Brazil and the Philippines political parties have long existed primarily as vehicles for channeling resources to political clans.10 Even in countries where voters are not offered privileged access to benefits in exchange for political support, political parties may seek to undermine the bureaucracy’s independence in order to gain a strategic [End Page 55] advantage over their rivals. This can be seen in postauthoritarian polities that engage in selective policies of lustration—that is, the removal of civil servants who ostensibly have ties to the former regime, but in practice are not members of the governing party. In Ukraine, for example, a 2014 lustration policy purged seven-hundred officials who had served in the administration of ousted president Viktor Yanukovych, while in Hungary Viktor Orbán has justified his attacks on the independence of the courts and the civil service with claims that these institutions represent the forces of communism.11 Finally, a very different problem faced by many new democracies is the persistence and growth of organized crime and criminal violence. Urban security has deteriorated across much of Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Eastern Europe in the decades following democratic transition. In particular, this problem has been exacerbated in countries where the security services were tarnished by their association with a former dictatorship, and have faced chronic underfunding since its fall. In Brazil, for example, the murder rate during the final years of military rule was similar to the 10 per 100,000 rate found in the United States at that time, but five years after democratization had already doubled to 20 deaths per 100,000. It reached a record high of slightly above 30 per 100,000 in the year before the 2018 election of Bolsonaro, whose presidential campaign had promised to liberalize gun laws (enabling Brazilians to “defend themselves”) and give security forces the right to “shoot and kill” armed criminals. In Russia, the murder rate also soared to more than 30 per 100,000 during the first decade after the Soviet collapse. Finally, in the decade leading up to Duterte’s 2016 election as president of the Philippines, the country’s murder rate climbed from about 7 to 11 per 100,000, creating popular support for calls for harsh measures to restore urban security. In much of Eastern Europe and Latin America, not only criminal violence but also the growth of organized criminal networks threatens perceptions of democratic state efficacy. These groupings now form a shadow export sector, based upon the trafficking of narcotics, arms, sex workers, and undocumented migrants to major cities in Western Europe or North America, that runs in parallel to the official supply chains of the global economy. Regardless of their exact nature, shortcomings in state capacity and the rule of law pose a serious challenge to the legitimacy of new democracies. Although political science teaches scholars to distinguish between “state legitimacy,” “regime legitimacy,” and “government legitimacy,” these three concepts are rarely so discrete in the minds of citizens.12 A newborn democracy in a state that is failing to contain corruption, conflict, or criminality will take on these attributes as its own in the public mind. Meanwhile, a succession of elected governments that become mired in scandal and policy paralysis will undermine civic [End Page 56] evaluations of the democratic system as a whole, and not simply evaluations of individual administrations. This can be seen from Figure 2, which shows the relationship between changes in citizen evaluations of democracy—the average response when publics are asked if they are “satisfied” with the functioning of their democratic system—and changes in levels of corruption, as measured by the Worldwide Governance Indicators. The trend is clear: In those new democracies that have seen the greatest improvements in transparency and accountability in public life, satisfaction with the political system has risen. That is the case for the Baltic states, Taiwan, and South Korea. Yet in democracies where accountability has deteriorated most sharply, it is evident that public satisfaction has collapsed. This pattern can be observed in countries such as Greece, Brazil, and South Africa. The Rise of Authoritarian Populism Once we consider the effects of inadequate state capacity, the rise of “strongman” leaders across emerging democracies becomes a great deal less puzzling. Figures such as Putin in Russia, Modi in India, or Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan win support by pledging to bring back public order, state authority, and national pride, in the context of political systems exhibiting various pathologies of state failure. In early twenty-first century Russia, for example, Putin’s promise to “restore the power vertical” and end a decade of delayed salary payments, urban violence, and petty corruption proved critical to winning the support of the country’s fragile middle class, and this promise remains key to the loyalty of his dwindling support base today.13 In the Philippines, a sense of physical insecurity among the country’s swelling urban population, shaken by a homicide rate that has soared in the last decade, helps to explain why between seven and eight out of ten Filipinos continue to support Duterte’s brutal “war on drugs” despite its heavy toll in lives lost and rights violated.14 And in Brazil, almost 70 percent of voters in São Paulo state voted for Bolsonaro in the 2018 presidential runoff not because of any newfound distaste for homosexuality—after all, the state’s capital has hosted the world’s largest gay-pride parade annually for almost two decades—but due more to widespread disgust with political corruption, despair at the persistence of urban crime, and sympathy with calls for harsh measures to restore “order and progress.”15 A similar misunderstanding is common in analysis on other emerging democracies, where the opposition of “cosmopolitan liberalism” to “social conservatism” does a poor job of explaining the salient social cleavages and dividing lines between political parties. In Poland, for example, both the populist Law and Justice party (PiS) and the more moderate Civic Platform opposition rose to prominence in the early 2000s on socially conservative platforms, advocating stances against [End Page 57] abortion, gay marriage, and secular schooling that were broadly in line with majority public opinion. The real difference between the parties was the prominence given by PiS to issues of anticorruption and social justice, in the wake of bribery scandals that had brought down the rival Democratic Left Alliance. In particular, the party chose to decry what it termed “Latinization”: the nexus of economic privilege, political connections, and unequal access to justice depicted as characteristic of Latin American societies and, to a lesser extent, the countries of Southern Europe. One prong of PiS’s approach was to promote welfare programs for those in “left-behind” regions of the country, while the second was a “law and order” campaign that became increasingly populist in both style and implementation. Ministers during the party’s first stint in government, from 2005 to 2007, went so far as to arrange televised arrests of alleged offenders, which proved widely popular despite their reliance upon weak or circumstantial evidence. [End Page 58] This intersection of the populist style with preexisting social and institutional grievances is critical to understanding populist breakthroughs across developing democracies. It is true that populist politicians are often distinguished by a rhetorical approach that, as Cas Mudde’s classic definition puts it, contrasts the “pure people” with a “corrupt elite.” Yet to cast populism simply as a rhetorical device risks ignoring its contextual significance in developing democracies where malfeasance in office is in fact relatively widespread, and deep inequalities do in fact separate political elites from the rest of society. This can also help to explain why conspiracy theories, which play a central role in populist discourse, have greater resonance in countries with dense elite networks facing only fragmentary exposure to the public eye. In a democracy where investigative reporting does at regular intervals expose conspiracies and malfeasance among key political, economic, and bureaucratic actors, it is difficult to dismiss such theories out of hand, and any such accusation begins from a baseline level of “truthiness.” For concerned citizens, the line between “pragmatic skepticism” and simple naïveté is blurred; there emerges a form of “post-truth politics” in which any number of plausible yet unverified claims can be circulated about one’s political opponents, leaving the average voter adrift on a sea of half-facts and falsehoods. It is therefore unsurprising that among both developed and developing democracies the relationship between support for populist politicians, who habitually lambaste corruption among elites, and the objectively assessed level of corruption is fairly strong (Figure 3). This suggests that the appeal of such anti-elite messaging is due at least in part to the behavior of elites themselves and the plausibility of conspiracy accusations, regardless of whether they turn out to be real or fictitious. The rise of “authoritarian populism” in developing democracies, in short, may require an explanation that is quite different from the theories about cultural backlash or the economically “left-behind” that are commonly applied to mature democracies. In polities where elites are distrusted, parties are weak, and welfare systems are clientelistic, antisystem movements that promise to overhaul the status quo may make broad inroads among middle-class voters, as well as among poorer voters tired of endemic corruption and urban insecurity. Meanwhile, in democracies where elite networks conceal genuine malfeasance among politicians, businessmen, and career bureaucrats, the conspiracy accusations promulgated by populist demagogues find broad resonance in society—and not simply among those who are less educated or especially credulous. This relationship has a number of implications, most importantly for democratic stability. In mature democracies such as the Netherlands or Denmark, populists are first and foremost identitarians campaigning on a platform of grievance, and this curtails their electoral appeal to at most [End Page 59] a third of the vote. They must compete with an established moderate center-right that remains appealing to the median middle-class voter, and in this context they frequently struggle to make inroads among citizens who value traditional conservative goals such as stability, accountable governance, or “law and order.” Where populist parties are able to enter government, as they have in Austria and Denmark, it is only by forming coalitions with establishment conservatives, who limit their partners’ capacities to damage liberal and democratic institutions. In this way, as Daniel Ziblatt has argued, conservative parties may play an essential role in preserving democratic stability today, as they have done in Europe historically.16 And as James Loxton contends, the same may be true in postauthoritarian regimes where former elites form “successor parties” bound to the democratic rules of the game.17 [End Page 60] In fragile democracies, by contrast, authoritarian populists are able to sweep to power by combining a narrow identitarian support base with a much broader coalition of supporters among the urban middle class, who are motivated by the desire for public order, accountability, and an end to clientelism and graft. This is clear within movements such as Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India, which must balance its religious-nationalist “Hindutva” wing against reformist supporters in the urban middle classes, but is also evident elsewhere. Putin’s early administrations, for example, included relatively liberal and Westernizing reformers such as Andrei Illarionov, Alexei Kudrin, and Hermann Gräf alongside the “siloviki” network brought in from the security services. In Brazil, Bolsonaro’s government initially included reformist technocrats such as economist Paulo Guedes or the (now departed) judge Sérgio Moro alongside ideologues such as Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo. These choices satisfied the swing voters who, tempted by promises of order and reform following the mammoth Lava Jato corruption scandal, opted for Bolsonaro in the second round of the 2018 election. Finally, Erdoğan’s governments in Turkey have included technocratic reformers such as Ali Babacan, the deputy prime minister who was previously responsible for IMF-negotiated reforms and EU accession talks, and Ahmet Davutoğlu, who before serving as prime minister (2014–16) inspired the government’s “dual-track” foreign policy of seeking both “neo-Ottoman” influence in the Middle East and eventual EU membership. Coalitions of this kind are a response to real societal problems, but it is precisely the convergence of interests between populist currents and pragmatic reformers that imperils democratic survival. It is far easier for authoritarian populist leaders to enter office where public institutions and norms of accountability have decayed, because this allows such leaders to reach out beyond their ideological base and tap into a broader upswell of antiestablishment feeling—both among voters and among figures within the technocratic elite itself, with the latter’s participation adding legitimacy to the populist cause. Then once such temporary alliances have smoothed a populist’s path to power, they may give way to a more complete consolidation of personalist rule after liberal reformists are marginalized. We have seen this pattern in Russia since Putin’s return to the presidency in 2012, in 1990s Peru following Alberto Fujumori’s “self-coup,” and in Turkey following Erdoğan’s 2017 constitutional reforms. In the latter case, Erdoğan’s own premier and vice-premier, Davutoğlu and [End Page 61] Babacan, went from leading the government to founding opposition parties committed to restoring parliamentary democracy and reversing the authoritarian drift that had occurred on their watch. In this way, technocratic and liberal reformists can end up facilitating an authoritarian turn, much as they may attempt to resist this tendency from the inside—and even if they eventually join forces with their onetime civic opponents on the streets. Democracy’s Prospects A generation has passed since the onset of the third wave of democratization, while we are more than a decade into a phase of populist mobilization sweeping both developing and developed democracies. It is therefore possible to begin drawing some general conclusions regarding the subsequent trends in democratic performance, their implications for the health of democratic institutions, and prospects for the future. While there are individual cases of countries that have managed to achieve state strengthening and political liberalization simultaneously, the general record among new democracies has been disappointing. In many countries, bureaucratic structures inherited from authoritarian regimes have been subject to attrition and clientelism. Elected politicians have used public-sector jobs as a form of patronage, engaged in partisan vetting and lustration of civil servants, tolerated corruption among party allies, and politicized formerly autonomous government agencies. Meanwhile, persistent challenges of organized criminality and violence have beset new democracies in Latin America, Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia. These shortcomings have not only eroded support for the first generation of posttransition political elites, but also led to fraying confidence in liberal democracy among the growing urban middle class. For this reason, authoritarian politicians promising to cut through the gridlock and “make tough decisions” have acquired a mass base of political support. In many cases, they have managed to gain elected office, and from that position have begun eroding democratic rights and freedoms—by pursuing authoritarian approaches to law and justice or to fighting ethnic insurgency, and by removing legislative checks and balances while consolidating their own power. Yet there are still reasons for optimism when it comes to the challenge of authoritarian populism in fragile democracies. First, in democracies suffering from persistent graft, scandal, and maladministration, populist movements—whether authoritarian or not—frequently serve as magnets for individuals attracted by the goal of political reform, and are sometimes capable of delivering positive measures when in office. As in the classic visual illusion, such parties may appear alternately as both the “duck” of populism and the “rabbit” of democratic refoundation, with no clear indication as to which form they will finally take. In Ukraine, [End Page 62] for example, Volodymyr Zelensky’s 2019 candidacy had all the hallmarks of a populist campaign: Zelensky was a celebrity outsider lacking a political party, a policy platform (beyond overturning the political duopoly of then-president Petro Poroshenko and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko), or political experience (beyond performing as a Ukrainian president in a comic television series). Yet Zelensky’s campaign attracted veterans of the 2013–14 EuroMaidan protest movement, and his administration implemented serious governance reforms during its first year in office, even if this momentum has since faded. Similarly, Italy’s Five Star Movement includes under its broad tent a panoply of conspiracy theorists, postcommunist radicals, and graduates of the country’s many anticorruption campaigns, and it has now swung its support behind a technocratic administration led by former law professor Giuseppe Conte. The confusing reality of course is that such parties are both “duck” and “rabbit” simultaneously—they genuinely do include both populist extremists and idealistic reformists, and for a long period may oscillate between these tendencies. And this same contradiction lies at the heart of more authoritarian forms of populism, such as that of India’s BJP or Bolsonaro’s founding cabinet of ideologues and technocrats. The “Janus-like” fusion of populist authoritarians and reformist technocrats does for a time yield genuine opportunities for governance reform, with no clear indication as to which faction will ultimately predominate. Second, right-wing populist administrations may eventually moderate to form establishment conservative parties within stable multiparty systems. Models for such a trajectory can be found in the political histories of established democracies—the 1958 refounding of the French Republic under General Charles de Gaulle, for example, or the evolution of authoritarian “successor parties” into moderate conservative parties in many new democracies, as illustrated for instance by the Alianza Popular in post-Franco Spain. The tension within “law and order” populist movements between their more liberal, technocratic wing and their illiberal, identitarian, and authoritarian leadership is a genuine political contest—and one in which moderates do sometimes prevail, not least when the founding autocrat passes from the scene. And even when populist leaders manage to concentrate power in their individual office rather than in the ruling party—as Putin has done in Russia and Erdoğan has done in Turkey following the 2017 constitutional referendum—this frequently alienates moderate insiders, who then become a source of credible and experienced opposition. In addition to the abovementioned defection of Erdoğan’s top officials, examples include an oppositional turn by Fujumori’s 1990 presidential running mate following the 1992 Peruvian autogolpe, or former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad’s spectacular unseating of his own chosen successor [End Page 63] in alliance with a jailed opposition leader during Malaysia’s 2018 election. These observations give cause for hope regarding the future of back-sliding democracies. It is by no means inevitable that, once started down the road of democratic decay, a country will continue until it reaches consolidated authoritarianism. Democratic consolidation may be hard, but authoritarian consolidation is a great deal harder. Not only does the personalistic nature of populist movements make them vulnerable to changes of leadership, but factions within them may be far more amenable to political liberalization than is commonly appreciated, as the past decade’s steady defection of liberal reformists from the Putin and Erdoğan administrations illustrates. In this respect it is also important to learn from the experience of third-wave democratizations, in which internal reformists such as Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev or Taiwan’s Lee Teng-hui often played pivotal roles in paving the road to political liberalization. Working with such actors may be distasteful to many Western NGOs and activists. But if or when there is a fourth wave of democratization, its prospects for success may depend as much on reformist successors located within today’s populist movements as on liberal dissidents without. NOTES 1. See Barry Eichengreen, The Populist Temptation: Economic Grievance and Political Reaction in the Modern Era (New York: Oxford University Press, 2018); Dani Rodrik, “Populism and the Economics of Globalization,” Journal of International Business Policy 1 (June 2018): 12–33; and Hanspeter Kriesi, “The Populist Challenge,” West European Politics 37, no. 2 (2014): 361–78. 2. Pippa Norris and Ronald Inglehart, Cultural Backlash: Trump, Brexit, and Authoritarian Populism (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2019). 3. On the sociodemographic basis of electoral support for Modi, see Pradeep Chhibber and Rahul Verma, “The BJP’s 2014 ‘Modi Wave’: An Ideological Consolidation of the Right,” Economic and Political Weekly, 27 September 2014. 4. See Kurt Weyland, “Neoliberal Populism in Latin America and Eastern Europe,” Comparative Politics 31 (July 1999): 379–401. 5. See Thomas Carothers, “How Democracies Emerge: The ‘Sequencing’ Fallacy,” Journal of Democracy 18 (January 2007): 12–27; Francis Fukuyama, “Exchange: Liberalism versus State-Building,” Journal of Democracy 18 (July 2007): 10–13. 6. Francis Fukuyama, “Why Is Democracy Performing So Poorly?” Journal of Democracy 26 (January 2015): 11–20. 7. Roberto Stefan Foa, “Modernization and Authoritarianism,” Journal of Democracy 29 (July 2018): 129–140. 8. Yi-Ting Wang, “Clientelistic Parties and Satisfaction with Democracy,” Party Politics 26 (July 2020): 402–14. 9. Alexander Beresford, “Power, Patronage, and Gatekeeper Politics in South Africa,” African Affairs 114 (April 2015): 226–48. 10. Only in new democracies where the posttransition parties ran on a platform of economic liberalism—as in much of Central Europe and East Asia—has clientelism been less common, as parties have not significantly extended the provision of public goods or transfers to their voters. 11. Anne Applebaum, “Ukraine Battles a Second Enemy: Corruption,” Washington Post, 29 October 2015; Cynthia M. Horne, Building Trust and Democracy: Transitional Justice in Post-Communist Countries (New York: Oxford University Press, 2017). 12. David Easton, “A Re-Assessment of the Concept of Political Support,” British Journal of Political Science 5 (October 1975): 435–57. 13. See Aleksandar Matovski, “It’s the Stability, Stupid! How the Quest to Restore Order After the Soviet Collapse Shaped Russian Popular Opinion,” Comparative Politics 50 (April 2018): 347–68. 14. Samantha Raphelson, “Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte Sustains Support for Deadly War On Drugs,” National Public Radio, 13 November 2017. 15. For election results, see https://www.tre-sp.jus.br/eleicoes/eleicoes-anteriores/eleicoes-2018. 16. Daniel Ziblatt, Conservative Parties and the Birth of Democracy (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2017). 17. James Loxton, Conservative Party-Building in Latin America: Authoritarian Inheritance and Counterrevolutionary Struggle (New York: Oxford University Press, forthcoming).	https://journalofdemocracy.com/articles/why-strongmen-win-in-weak-states/
A recent op-ed piece in The New York Times urged the Republican Party not to “throw away free enterprise” and embrace populism. Arthur C. Brooks, the author of the article, makes two bold but erroneous claims. First, he asserts that populist moments throughout history — including the Trumpian moment in the US — are triggered by severe financial crises that result in protracted and uneven recoveries that exacerbate existing income and wealth disparities. In resorting to naïve economic determinism to explain populism, Brooks completely overlooks the awakening of the broad American middle class to political institutions and policies that have been designed by the entrenched elites of both parties to oppress and plunder them. The never-ending and immensely costly war against “terror;” the Federal bailout of multi-billion dollar financial institutions both domestically and abroad; the ineffective and grossly expensive war on drugs; the pandemic of political correctness unleashed by Federal mandates and regulations that has infected American colleges and universities, and the egregious and unrestrained spying on American citizens by the bloated US security apparatus. All of these issues seem to count for nothing in Brooks’s simplistic analysis. For Brooks, “The real issue is weak, unevenly shared growth.” Brooks’s attribution of the rise of populism in the US and elsewhere almost exclusively to increasing income and wealth inequality is not only peculiar but absurd on the face of it and I will refrain from further comment on it. The second claim that Brooks makes is more commonly accepted and is fervently promoted by the mainstream media, and academics and political analysts of the “responsible” left and right. This claim is that populism comprises specific ideological positions and policies. Thus, Brooks refers to “populist positions on issues such as trade and immigration” and to “populists who specialize in identifying culprits: rich elites who are ripping you off; immigrants who want your job; a free trade that’s killing our nation’s competitiveness.” According to Brooks, populist policies thus “involve some combination of increased redistribution, protectionism, and restrictionism.” In other words, on economic issues at least, populism is the polar opposite of classical liberalism and libertarianism. But nothing could be further from the truth. For populism is not a right-wing ideology but a strategy that may be used by any ideological group whose political agenda differs radically from that of the ruling class. Surely, Brooks has heard of left-wing populists such as Juan and Eva Perón, Huey Long, the “Radio Priest” Father Charles Coughlin, Fidel Castro, and Hugo Chávez. And what about classical-liberal and libertarian populists such as Thomas Paine and Samuel Adams, Richard Cobden and John Bright, and more recently, Dr. Ron Paul? Lately, we have seen the dramatic rise in popularity of the populist Pirate Party in Iceland, which may win the next election and whose membership is ideologically diffuse and comprises libertarians, hackers, Web geeks, and anti-globalist anarchists. Although populism may be either ideologically left or right, libertarian or statist, it is always hated and feared by the political center. The reason is that the center is occupied by those individuals and groups comprising the “moderate” left wing and right wing who are allies in defending the political status quo and take turns ruling and operating the levers of power to distribute privilege and wealth to themselves and their cronies. Regardless of ideological bent, populist thinkers and movement builders take to heart, at least implicitly, the profound insight of great political theorists from La Boétie and David Hume to Mises and Rothbard that there is no such thing as an unpopular government. They thus set about exposing the moderates who run the State apparatus as a powerful and wealthy elite whose interests are inherently opposed to those of the masses of productive workers and entrepreneurs. In order to grab the attention of people who are not yet fully conscious that they are being exploited — or in Marxian terms, to help them develop a class consciousness — it is only natural that populist leaders employ extreme, emotional, and embittered rhetoric. Such inflammatory rhetoric is especially necessary for the US today and most European countries where the mainstream media, while ostensibly free, operate as a privileged mouthpiece for government and spew non-stop propaganda designed to camouflage State exploitation of the productive class and to discredit dissenting political movements. [T]here’s a lot to be bitter about: crushingly high taxes on businesses and individuals, submergence of national sovereignty in international organizations and alliances, fumbling and incompetent government, endless fighting in colonial wars. Especially taxes. A final point: once it has penetrated into the public discourse, populism — precisely because it is the only effective political strategy for radical political change — will not wither away as a result of a few more percentage points of “evenly distributed” economic growth. Trump’s threat to contest the election, Brexit, the continuing growth of right-wing populist movements throughout Europe, all attest to the fact that populism is here to stay. This should be cause for celebration among the libertarians who for the first time since its inception in the mid-1960s have at their disposal an effective strategy for rolling back the US welfare-warfare State.	https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/10/joseph-salerno/populism-magnificent-strategy-liberty/
The theme of the upcoming conference is “Changing political communication, changing Europe?”. Currently, we are witnessing massive changes in media and political systems all over Europe. To mention a few of these changes, the number of communication channels, in particular social media continues to grow, making media diets more and more individualized. Media organizations around the Europe have been hit hard by the economic crisis, and newspapers struggle to reinvent their business model. These changes make journalists vulnerable to economic and political pressures. Politically, the global economic crisis and sociodemographic changes put pressure on governments for structural reforms. We see that trust in institutions and elites as well as social cohesion are under pressure, while EU scepticism and populism are on the rise. At the same time new social movements are emerging, transforming the dissatisfaction and ideals of citizens into new forms of political participation. Technological developments have simultaneously given governments more means of surveillance of their citizens and made them more vulnerable to information leaks. This conference will address these diverse changes. We will discuss how and under which conditions changes in the political and media systems reinforce, but also counteract each other. We will discuss the normative and empirical implications of these changes for the functioning of our democracies and their political communication practices as well as the implications for our scholarly research and teaching. We welcome new empirical studies as well papers presenting new theoretical approaches relating to the theme “Changing political communication, changing Europe?”, in the broadest sense. Among the many possible approaches to the conference theme, some questions that submitters may want to address could be: - How do social media, media polarization and fragmentation of news use affect social cohesion and political participation? - Is media logic particularly suited for populist politicians and anti-EU messages? - How do new demands of transparency and surveillance techniques affect government communication? - What is the role of social and traditional media in new modes of citizenship and political activism? - How has the economic crisis affected the power balance between journalists and politicians? Submission details - You are asked to submit abstracts of no more than 300 words. - Submission will undergo scholarly peer-review. - When submitting, you will be asked to specify who will present the paper. Only one presentation per presenter can be accepted. - Deadline for submission is 1 April 2015. - Notifications of acceptance will be issued no later than 1 May 2015. Please send your submissions to: ecrea [at] sam.sdu.dk—thank you! For more details see: https://ecreapoliticalcommunication2015.wordpress.com/.	https://ecreapoliticalcommunication.com/2015/01/29/call-for-papers-3/
Certifications: Omni Studio (required) Industries CPQ Developer (required) Salesforce System Admin & App Builder Dual is desired Duties Provide technical expertise on decisions and priorities regarding the enterprise’s overall systems architecture. Provide technical guidance to project team areas as appropriate. 20% Diagnose, isolate, and debug software problems and perform problem resolution. Identify issues that the vendor is responsible for and refer those issues appropriately. 20% Provide technical guidance to project team areas as appropriate. Evaluate vendor-supplied software packages and make recommendations to IT management. In coordination with Project Leads, provide input on all proposals that could potentially impact systems. May perform sizing on proposed new services and systems through simulations of system configurations and capacity modeling for multiple platforms to establish capacity requirements. 20% serve as an expert resource to IT groups in planning the resource requirements for systems under development. Review and design system software and hardware builds analyzing system options, risks, cost vs. benefit, and impact on the enterprise business process and goals. Develop and document the framework for integration and implementation for changes to technical standards. 20% Coordinate installation, testing, and maintenance of systems software. Provide data needed to ensure reliability and availability of platforms to meet business objectives. Schedule system downtime in a way that minimizes user impact. 10% Review customer requests, security patches, and audit requirements for additions or changes to systems, and evaluate feasibility to determine if/how to handle the request while maintaining an adequate/appropriate overall systems infrastructure. To determine if requested changes are possible, review system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations. Ensure data integrity and space requirements are met across a variety of platforms. 5% Facilitate the establishment and implementation of standards and guidelines that guide the design of technology solutions, including architecting and implementing solutions requiring integration of multiple platforms, operating systems, and applications across the enterprise. 5% Provide technical and disaster recovery support for systems software.	https://www.salesfrcejobboard.com/job/salesforce-architect-w2/
Biomass combustion for power generation is a commercially mature technology and there are many examples worldwide at a wide range of scal Most plants employ either grate furnace or fluidised bed combustion technology and the heat produced is virtually always used to raise steam for use in a conventional steam turbine... Project Site The proposed site for this feasibility study lies within the Cambois Peninsular a 140 hectares of land almost surrounded by the tributaries of river Blyth and the A189 Road Fig 1 The land houses some few settlement and electric pylons from the former power station pass through the area... technical review of biomass conversion and power generation technologies for the mill and use this knowledge to carry out a technical and economic feasibility study to determine the best overall CHP project for the site The Sundre sawmill has a considerable inventory... Dec 31 2019 0183 32 This case study examines the feasibility of a biomass energy plant on the Cocopah reservation in southwestern Arizona It considers feedstock availability cost and energy content technology options nameplate capacity discount and interest rates construction operation and maintenance O M costs and alternative investment options... Solar Power Plant Today anyone can set-up a solar power plant with a capacity of 1KW to 1MW on your land or rooftop spac The Govt of India MNRE latest guidelines state that Now anyone can generate electricity through solar power system and surplus electricity can be export through net-metering system The installation of net-metering at the site will connect it to grid via state... Company A Level 1 CHP Feasibility Study is based on receiving biomass wastes 40 moisture from local suppliers that would pay Company A a 2000 per ton tipping fee Table 1 presents the economic comparison of the various options... Burns McDonnell completed a feasibility study for a confidential industrial client for a 60 000 pound/hour biomass wood boiler installation Upon completion of this study Burns McDonnell competitively bid and won engineering procurement and construction of this biomass boiler project including material handing and ancillary systems work... The feasibility of wood based energy plants in the off-grid Brochet community in Manitoba were analyzed by survey interviews and document review in this research Four areas were explored to assess the suitability of biomass energy generation... May 01 1995 0183 32 Feed pretreatment Biomass is prepared in the forest usually as chips although bundles from short-rotation forestry and whole logs from conventional forestry may be delivered in some circumstanc Annual crops would be delivered in bundles for example from miscanthus or sorghum as bales eg from straw or possibly chopped from any crop... Biomass feasibility study Project information The University of Victoria acting on its commitment to being a leader in sustainability has examined the possibility of using biomass thermal energy as a primary source to heat campus buildings and to replace the existing natural-gas fired boilers... biomass fuel for 5 per m 3 or about 10 per ton have been signed 13 PROJECT DESCRIPTION A 10 MW biomass fuelled power plant is a state-of-the art facility and will utilize approximately 168 green tons per hour t/hr of biomass fuel to produce approximately 43 tons/hr 94 000 lbs/hr of 424... BIOMASS FEASIBILITY STUDY BLACK HILLS REGION SOUTH DAKOTA 6 METHODOLOGY This study was carried out by the following BERC staff 1 Timothy Maker Executive Director 2 Kamalesh Doshi Program Director 3 Adam Sherman Business Development/Project Manager 4 Sarah Galbraith Program Assistant 5 Jeff Forward Contractor 6 John Hey PE... the contract to conduct the feasibility study of which this draft report forms the principle deliverable The tasks of this feasibility study are to 1 Provide recommendations on whether an existing GHG methodology approved by the VCS is compatible for the project site 2... Feasibility of Biomass Briquette Production from Abstract A technical and socio-economic feasibility study of biomass briquette production was performed in Iloilo City Philippines by integrating a registered group of the informal sector activities intended for these collaborative projects by the city and GIZ The workers were chosen... HAL Project Number VG13049 Purpose of this report This report presents the findings of the feasibility analysis of on-farm biogas for Australian vegetable farms There is significant interest within the vegetable industry in maximising efficiency and productivity across the production... PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Feasibility Study will evaluate the benefits of implementing biomass technology at UVic It will assess how energy is used now and in the future and determine if biomass is a valid alternative... GEC has completed feasibility study for less than 10MW Biomass Project in the 3 Southern Province GEC s has partnered with our partner and succesfully passed the technical bid for less than 10MW biomass project in 3 Southern Province GEC has completed a feasibility study for 30tons per day of biomass energy fuel mill in the 3 Southern Province... Biomass is a plant matter used to generate electricity or produce heat usually by direct incineration Examples include forest residues such as dead trees branches and tree stumps yard clippings wood chips and even municipal solid waste... categori A biomass facility at MR as conceived for this study would consume 24 500 to 26 000 bone dry tons1 BDT of fuel annually depending on whether it was a stand-alone2 plant or a cogeneration plant respectively Thus the amount of fuel that would be consumed by the plant annually is substantially lower than the estimated annual supply... Feasibility study on rural biogas CDM project development In recent years significant attention has been paid to biomass energy development in the course of promoting rural sustainable development in China While providing renewable energy and improving the ecological environment of the rural areas a biogas project also contributes... Feasibility study for a 1MW biomass community-energy district heating system to provide low-carbon heat to Firle village in East Sussex including an upgraded biomass energy centre serving over 80 homes via a 15km heat main... Many of them have resulted in the preparation of business plans and subsequent realisation of the project in question Recent exampl Feasibility of biomass CHP at SITA Agora France Feasibility study of the possible production of bio-energy at the former site of... 3 Availability and Types of Biomass Types and Quantities of Woody Biomass A requirement to identify the feasibility and sustainability of a pellet plant in the vicinity of Taholah is to find the current availability and the future availability of woody biomass in the area In the vicinity of Taholah there are many different types of biomass... Feasibility Study of 1 MW Standalone Hybrid Energy is a combination of different renewable resources such as wind solar biomass the wider use of alternative energy resources for example... these factors the implementation of a biomass facility at this location was not pursued Consequently a full feasibility study was not performed and our focus was turned to a more concise report that illustrates the basics of biomass power projects the effort that was undertaken and the key factors that affect the decision-making process... The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the reader to feasibility studies project appraisal and investment analysis Feasibility studies are an example of systems analysis A system is a description of the relationships between the inputs of labour machinery materials and management procedures both within an organisation and between an... detailed analysis and feasibility study This report should not be taken as investment advice and any potential project developer must do his or her own due diligence 11 Study Goal and Objectives The goal of this study is to assess the business case of establishing a biomass pelletization or briquetting plant in or around Greensburg Kansas... Several feasibility studies on experimental project for off-shore wind power system Evaluation of financial viability Revenue expected from the project will be the sales of generated electric power to the Ceylon Electricity Board The purchase price of electric power from biomass based power generation as of 2014 is as shown in Table 4... Biomass Power Generation Plant - Manufacturing Plant Detailed Project Report Profile Business Plan Industry Trends Market Research Survey Manufacturing Process Machinery Raw Materials Feasibility Study Investment Opportunities Cost And Revenue Biomass is biological material derived from living or recently living organisms... Most of the projects are on hold until there are appropriate feed-in tariffs available for the national grid In case of exclusive in-house use of electricity the feasibility studies show that plants can only be operated economically if there is also a profitable use for the thermal en-ergy output of the CHPS...	https://www.spa020.nl/quantity/3726/7lojdlbr4sbks.html
Investments in information technology have become crucial for firms to improve the quality of their products and services. Investment in information technology or information system has increased over a decade. “IT spending has grown 166 percent per decade since the 1970s as companies looked to technology as the “silver bullet” to spur their business growth” (Cohan 2005). Investing in IT/IS is very crucial for all businesses in every industries. For example, “The foodservice operators must adopt technology as more than simply a cost of doing business. They must view it as a tool to help them attain their strategic business objective.” (Rubinstein 1997) At the same time, there are numerous possible IT projects that firms could invest in, such as, e-commerce, ERP system, new software development, etc. Due to the limited resources and time, companies must wisely choose to invest in the projects that match their business and economic goals. Therefore, the feasibility study is an integral part during the planning phase of the system development life cycle (SDLC). (For more information on SDLC, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_Development_Life_Cycle) One of the feasibility factors that need to be assessed is economic feasibility. Management can assess economic feasibility by doing the cost-benefit analysis, as well as using financial techniques, such as time value of money or break-even point analysis. In addition to the economic feasibility analysis, this paper will also look at some other feasibility factors, such as technical, operational, scheduling, legal and contractual, and political feasibility. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ A feasibility study, also known as feasibility analysis, is an analysis of the viability of an idea. It describes a preliminary study undertaken to determine and document a project’s viability. The results of this analysis are used in making the decision whether to proceed with the project or not. This analytical tool used during the project planning phrase shows how a business would operate under a set of assumption, such as the technology used, the facilities and equipment, the capital needs, and other financial aspects. The study is the first time in a project development process that show whether the project create a technical and economically feasible concept. As the study requires a strong financial and technical background, outside consultants conduct most studies. (Matson 2000) A feasible project is one where the project could generate adequate amount of cash flow and profits, withstand the risks it will encounter, remain viable in the long-term and meet the goals of the business. The venture can be a start-up of the new business, a purchase of the existing business, and expansion of the current business (Hofstrand and Holz-Clause, 2006). _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Developing a new IT/IS project is difficult, complex, and time consuming. There are many ideas that do not develop into business operation. Even though these ideas make it to the operational stage, most fail within the first six months. - According to the CHAOS report (2004) by the Standish Group, 15% of IT projects were canceled before they ever got completed in 2004. 20% of the projects were cost over 43% of their original estimate. Also, only 34% of the software projects were complete on time and on budget (even though it’s up from 16.2% in 1994). Therefore, before investing in the proposed project, one must determine whether that IT projects can be economically viable and the investment advantages outweigh the risks involved (Matson 2000). Also, many IT projects are quite expensive to conduct and it also involve unfamiliar risks. - The total spending in IT projects was $255 billion in 2004. (The CHAOS report 2004) - “IT spending has grown 166 percent per decade since the 1970s as companies looked to technology as the “silver bullet” to spur their business growth. Yet, with all the billions spent, the returns on those investments are hard, if not impossible, to fully gauge. (Cohan 2005) Moreover, there are numerous possible IT projects that firms could invest in. If companies had unlimited resources and infinite time, all projects would be feasible (Pressman 2005). However, in the real world business, there are problems of scarcity of both time and resources. Management is constantly faced with a wide array of possible investment alternatives and forced to choose one project over the others. Also, most projects must be developed within the time constraints and under the limited budget. The feasibility study allows us to preview the potential outcome and to decide whether they should continue. Although the cost of conduct this study may seem high, there are relatively minor when compared with the total project cost. This small initial expenditure on feasibility study can help to prevent larger loss later. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Chen (1996) classifies types of capital investment into three board areas, depending on their impact on cooperate profit: - New Profit : expansion of product volume, cost savings, or to enter into new operations. - Business Protection : maintaining present capacity to do business and avoid loss of existing profits. - Obligatory Investment : necessary investment to provide safety for employees, meet government regulations such as pollution control, and providing modern facilities for employees. Only new profit investments will increase a corporation’s rate of return. The business protection investments help maintain corporate profitability, but usually won’t increase it. Pure obligatory investments may not pass the profit tests, as it will reduce corporate profitability from prior-year levels; however, it could expand its scope to include profitable item to justify the investment. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Estimation is to figure out the approximate result which is usable even if input data may be incomplete or uncertain . Estimating is the main part of feasibility analysis. In doing the estimation for IT/IS project, there are four major variables that need to be considered; time, requirements, resources (cost, labor, materials, infrastructure), and risks. Unexpected changes in any of these variables will impact an outcome of the project. Therefore, making good estimates of time and resources for a project is crucial. Underestimating project needs may cause the inadequacy of time, money, infrastructure, materials, or people to complete the project while overestimating needs can lead to reject of this adequate project, or postpone the project because it is too expensive. According to the Article in developer.com , Estimates can be roughly divided into three types; Fair estimates, Rough estimates, and order of magnitude estimates. - Fair estimates: This is a very good estimate. It will be only 25% to 50% off the actual value. Fair estimates are possible when you are very familiar with the project as you may have done it many times before, such as maintenance type project where the fixes are known, and it has been done before. - Rough estimates: The estimate is closer to the actual value. Ideally it will be about 50% to 100% off the actual value. Rough estimates are possible when working with well-understood needs and one is familiar with domain and technology issues. - Ballpark or order of magnitude: The estimate would fall within two or three times the actual value. Most estimation, especially for the estimation of a new project, is fall within this type. Some may think that this type of estimation is close to no estimate at all. However, the order of magnitude estimates are very valuable because they give the organization and project team some idea of what the project is going to need in terms of time, resources, and money. It is better to know that project is going to take between two and six months to do rather than have no idea how much time it will take at all. Knowing which of these three different estimates you can provide is crucial. Also, in many cases, we may be able to give more detailed estimates for some items rather than others. For example, we may be able to provide a rough estimate of the infrastructure we need but only an order of magnitude estimate of the people and time needed. Estimation Technique for new projects (Order of magnitude estimates) - Break the project down into the different tasks needed. - Evaluate each task on two scales: complexity and size of work. Tasks effectively fall into one of nine combinations of complexity and size. For example, a less complex task may still involve a large amount of work, such as, loading a database from paper forms. - For each combination, define an expected amount of time and resources required. For example, the low complexity and small-size tasks will take one week at most, the medium complexity and small-size tasks will take three weeks. These weighing factors will differ based on the team and project and should be reviewed after the project to help get better values the next time. - Add together all these values for each task to get an estimate of time and resources required. Estimation Techniques familiar projects (Rough or Fair estimates) According to Murthi (2002)’s article in developer.com, system analyst could estimate familiar projects by doing Rough or Fair estimates by follow these following techiniques: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ There are several techniques for cost estimation, but the 2 basic approaches are top-down and bottom-up. - Top-down approach: Cost is derived from a business analysis of the major project components, or start with the management’s expectations on the range of costs. Then, figure out what you can deliver for those numbers. - Bottom-up approach: Cost is derived by accumulating estimates from the people responsible for various components. By doing the bottom-up approach, one would break down a task into small components, estimate each piece, and add the estimate together. The primary techniques for cost estimation are & : Description Advantage Disadvantage Expert Judgments Using experts in both software development and the application domain to predict software costs. - Relatively cheap estimation method. - Accurate if experts have direct experience of similar systems. - Very inaccurate if there are no experts! Estimation by Analogy Using the cost of a similar project in the same application domain - Accurate if project data available - Impossible if no comparable project has been tackled. - Needs systematically maintained cost database Parkinson's Law Using any available resources. - No overspend - System is usually unfinished Pricing to Win The project costs whatever the customer has to spend on it - Get the contract - The probability that the customer gets the system he or she wants is small. - Costs do not accurately reflect the work required Algorithmic Cost Modeling Cost is estimated as a mathematical function derived from a study of historical costing data _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Economic evaluation is a vital part of investment appraisal, dealing with factors that can be quantified, measured, and compared in monetary terms (Chen 1996). The results of an economic evaluation are considered with other aspects to make the project investment decision as the proper investment appraisal helps to ensure that the right project is undertaken in a manner that gives it the best chances of success. Project investments involve the expenditure of capital funds and other resources to generate future benefits, whether in the form of profits, cost savings, or social benefits. For an investment to be worthwhile, the future benefit should compare favorably with the prior expenditure of resources need to achieve them. To assess economic feasibility, management has to analyze costs and benefits associated with the proposed project. The capital cost of a project affects the economic evaluation. Cost estimating is essentially an intuitive process that attempts to predict the final outcome of a future capital expenditure (Chen 1996). Even though it seem impossible to come up with the exact number of costs and benefits for a particular project during this initial phase of the development process, one should spend the adequate of time in estimating the costs and benefits of the project for comparison with other alternatives. When talking about the cost of IT/IS project, one would first think of the tangible costs that are easily to determine and estimate, such as hardware and software cost, or labor cost. However, in addition to these tangible costs, there are also some intangible costs, such as loss of goodwill, or operational inefficiency. One methodology for determining the costs of implementing and maintaining information technology is Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). It is a financial estimate designed to help consumers and enterprise managers assess direct and indirect costs. Bill Kirwin, VP and Research director of Gartner, stated that “TCO is a holistic assessment of IT costs over time. The term holistic assessment implies an all-encompassing collection of the costs associated with IT investments, including capital investment, license fees, leasing costs, and service fees, as well as direct (budgeted) and indirect(unbudgeted) labor expenses”. An advisory firm Garter, Inc. has identified and offered statement on the financial impact of deploying information technology during its whole life-cycle as following : - End-user computer Hardware purchase costs - Software license purchase costs - Hardware & Software deployment costs - Hardware warranties and maintenance costs - Software license tracking costs - Operations Infrastructure Costs - Cost of Security Breaches (in loss of reputation and recovery cost) - Cost for electricity and cooling - Network hardware and software costs - Server hardware and software costs - Insurance costs - Testing costs - Cost to upgrade or scalability - IT Personnel costs - "C" Level Management Time costs - Backup and Recovery Process costs - Costs associated with failure or outage - Diminished performance incidents (i.e. users having to wait) - Technology training costs of users and IT staff - Infrastructure (floor space) costs - Audit costs - Migration costs On the other hand, IT/IS projects can provide many benefits, both tangible and intangible, to an organization. The tangible benefit, such as cost saving or increasing in revenue, would be easier to estimate while intangible benefits are harder to quantify. The examples of benefits in IT/IS projects are shown in many articles. - Meta Group’s Executive Vice President Howard Rubin and Battery Venture’s General Partner Dave Tabors suggest that IT accounts for most of this productivity improvement. (Cohan 2005) - Kevin Moody, director of Babson College’s Center for Information Management Studies (CIMS), suggests that companies have recently reduced some of their IT costs be a factor of 10 by replacing expensive servers running proprietary software with cheaper blade servers running on Linux. (Cohan 2005) There are several economic evaluation methods available to assess an investment. The most widely used methods are Net Present Value (NPV) and Discounted Cash Flow Rate of Return, or Internal Rate of Return (IRR). Even though, NPV approach and IRR approach will normally provide the same decision result, polls of industry indicate that the IRR is the number one economic evaluation decision method use by about two-thirds of industrial companies (Chen 1996). This is due to the fact that some managers prefer a percentage rate of return more than the dollar amount from NPV. Before calculating NPV and IRR, one should have an understanding of basic finance concept called “Time value of money”. The concept of Time value of money is that a dollar today is worth more than a dollar available at a future date because a dollar today can be invested and earn a return. Someone investing a sum of money today at a given interest rate for a given period of time would expect to have larger sum of money at the future date (Baker and Powell 2005). As different projects may provide benefits at the different time in the future, all costs and benefits of the projects should be viewed in relation to their present value. Present value is the value of a future cash stream discounted at the appropriate market interest rate, called discount rate. The present value of the future cash flow can be calculated using the following equation: Net Present Value (NPV) Internal Rate of Return (IRR) Concept Adding the present values of each individual positive or negative cash flow based on the opportunity cost of capital. In this case the present is taken as the time at which evaluation is carried out. (Chen 1996) The discount rate at which the net present value of an investment is zero. (Ross, Westerfield, and Jaffe) Decision Rule (from Baker and Powell) For independent projects, - Accept if NPV is greater than zero - Reject if NPV is less than zero For mutually exclusive projects (choose one project over others), accept the project with the highest positive NPV. For independent projects, - Accept if IRR is equal or greater than required rate of return. - Reject if IRR is less than required rate of return. For mutually exclusive projects, accept the project with the highest IRR that is greater than required rate of return. Strengths (from Baker and Powell) - NPV is a direct measure of a project’s dollar benefit. - NPV approach fully accounts for time value of money and considers all cash flow over the life of the project. - NPV assumes that firms can reinvest all of the cash inflow at the project’s required rate of return throughout the life of the project. This rate is more realistic than the IRR rate. - NPV approach provides the accept-reject decision for both independent and mutually exclusive project. - IRR measures profitability as a percentage showing the return on each dollar invested. - IRR approach fully accounts for time value of money and considers all cash flow over the life of the project. - IRR provides the safety margin information to management. Thus, the higher IRR is the safety margin. - Some managers prefer the IRR because they like dealing with the percentage rates of return more than with the dollar value in NPV. Weaknesses (from Baker and Powell) - NPV does not provide a gauge for relative profitability. For example, NPV $1,000 is highly desirable for a project costing $2,000 but not for a project coating $1 million. NPV only provide the total profits gained, but not the percentage gained. - Some people have difficulty understanding the meaning of NPV measure. Therefore, in practice, managers often prefer a percentage return to a PV of dollar return. - IRR method can provide no IRR or multiple IRRs if a project has a non conventional cash flow pattern, such as, cash flow pattern has more than one sign change (-/+/-). - IRR assumes that firms can reinvest all of the cash inflow at the IRR rate throughout the life of the project. This rate may be unrealistic. - IRR may lead to inconsistence of ranking for mutually exclusive projects as it does not provide the magnitude or duration of its cash flow. Break-even analysis is a type of cost benefit analysis to identify at what point (if ever) benefits equal costs (Hoffer, George, and Valacich). Break-Even Ratio = Yearly NPV Cash Flow – Overall NPV Cash Flow Yearly NPV Cash Flow The break-even point is usually expressed as the amount of revenue that must be realized for the firm to have neither profit or loss. It expresses a minimum revenue target. (Marshall, McManus, and Viele) It can be expressed in numbers or by the use of graphs. A system analysts estimate the cost for the new system as $42,500 one time investment for developing, updating hardware, and user training. Also, firm needs to pay $28,500 each year for software maintenance, incremental communication cost, and supplies. On the other hand, the system will provide approximately $50,000 per year. Assume the expected rate of return (discount rate) is 12%. After determining costs and benefits of a new system, the system analysts evaluate the project using NPV, IRR, Break-even analysis, or other methods. Also, using a time diagram is helpful to illustrate the timing of cash flows, especially for situations involving cash flows at the different points in time that are not equal (Baker and Powell 2005). Also, there are other financial methods that are used to evaluate the project investment. - Return on investment (ROI) equals to net cash receipts of the project divided by the cash outlays of the project. Firms choose the project that provides the highest ROI. (Hoffer, George, Valacich) - Payback period (PP) is amount of time required for an investment to generate sufficient cash flows to recover its initial cost. Payback period is similar to the break-even analysis, except the fact that payback period ignores the concept of time value of money. (Baker and Powell) - Profitability index (PI) shows the relative profitability of any investment. It equal to the present value of cash inflow divided by present value of cash outflow. (Baker and Powell) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Assessing technical feasibility is to evaluate whether the new system will perform adequately and whether an organization has ability to construct a proposed system or not. The technical assessment help answer the question such as whether the technology needed for the system exists, how difficult it will be to build, and whether the firm has enough experience using that technology. One examples of the technical feasibility is shown in the credit union management. - “It worked great and clients were happy with it and felt that it met their needs, but obviously that platform needed to be upgraded to meet the current technology direction for the industry. It was no longer going to be supportable long-term” said Sara L. Brooks, chief strategy officer for Fiserv’s credit union division. (Swedberg 2005) - Even though a particular operating system may run on different computer architectures, the software written for that operating system may not automatically work on all architectures that the operating system supports. For example, in 2006, OpenOffice.org did not natively run on the processors implementing the 64-bits standards for computers. Therefore, implementing the OpenOffice at that time would not be feasible in technical term if the company have 64-bits computer architectures. In developing the new system, one has to investigate and compare technology providers, determine reliability and competitiveness of that system, and identify limitations or constraints of technology, as well as the risk of the proposed system that is depend on the size of the system, complexity, and group’s experience with the similar systems. - Project Size: Project size can be determined by the number of members on the project team, project duration time, number of department involved, or the effort put in programming. (Hoffer, George, and Valacich) The larger the size of the projects, the riskier the project is. The CHAOS Report (1999) confirms that small projects are more likely to succeed than large projects. “The smaller the team and the shorter the duration of the project, the greater the likelihood of success.” (CHAOS Report 1999) - Project Structure: The project that its requirements are highly structured and well define will have lower risk than the one that the requirements are subject to the judgment of an individual. - Familiarity with Technology or Application area: The project will be less risky if the development and the user group is familiar with the technology and the systems. Therefore, it would be less risky if the development team uses the standard development tool and hardware environments. Also, on the users’ side, the more users familiar with the systems development process, the more likely they understand the need for their involvement; this involvement can lead to the success of the project. However, one thing to keep in mind is that a project with the highly risk may still be conducted. Most company would have the reasonable combination among high-, medium-, and low-risk projects. Without the high-risk project, the organization couldn’t make the major breakthroughs in innovative uses of systems. (Hoffer, George, and Valarich) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Assessing operational feasibility is to gain an understanding of whether the proposed system will likely to solve the business problems, or take advantage of the opportunities or not. It is important to understand how the new systems will fit into the current day-to-day operations of the organization. Also, system analysts need to assess whether the current work practices and procedures support a new system and how the organizational changes will affect the working lives of those affected by the system. (Jaffe 1967) Implementing the new IT/IS project may cause some obstructs and may increase difficulty to the staffs in their day-to-day operation. - It is not only important to evaluate whether a system can work, but also evaluate whether a system will work. A workable solution might fail because of the end-user or management resistance, such as, how will the working environment of the end-users change, or whether end-users and management can and will adapt to that change. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Assessing schedule feasibility is to assess the duration of the project whether it is too long to be complete before it is useful. System analysts have to estimate how long the system will take to develop, and whether all potential timeframes and the completion date schedules can be met, as well as whether meeting these date will sufficient for dealing with the needs of the organization. - The project would not be feasible in term of schedule if the project should be use to provide the benefit for the event occurs in up coming summer, but it schedules to be done 4 months after that summer. Moreover, another thing to consider is the learning curve of the new technology and new system. We may have the technology, but that doesn't mean we have the skills required to properly apply that technology. Even though all information systems professionals can learn new technologies, the learning curve will specifically impact the schedule feasibility. Also, one needs to determine whether the deadlines are mandatory or desirable. Unless the deadline is absolute mandatory, it is preferable to deliver a properly functioning information system two months late than to deliver an error-prone, useless information system on time. Missed schedules are bad, but inadequate systems are worse. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Legal feasibility determines whether the proposed system conflicts with the legal requirement or not. A project may face legal issues after completion if this factor is not considered at the first stage. - The European Union has taken quite a different tack from American's market-driven approach to online privacy. The EU's 1998 Data Protaction Directive basically allows individuals to decide how their collected data can be used. Thus, if a European consumer provieds personal information such as an address when buying from an online store, the store cannot legally send an ad to the purchaser without first seeking permission. The directive also prohibits the transfer data to countries outside the European Union that do not have "adequate" provacy rules." (McAdams, Neslund N., and Neslund K.) - Today's software can track every keystroke, file download, and Internet page that appear on an employee's computer screen. In a recent survey of 840 U.S. companies by the American Management Association, 60 percent said they now use some type of software to monitor their employees' coming and outgoing e-mail, up from 47 percent in 2001. Therefore, companies may adopt some of these strategies to protect themselves from lawsuits. Employers wishing to implement the monitoring program should advise their employees of that fact and have all employees sign an acknowledgment so there is no question about whether an employee has any expectation of privacy on computer systems. (McAdams, Neslund N., and Neslund K.) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Assessing political feasibility is to gain an understanding of how key stakeholders within the organization view the proposed system. The new information systems may affect the distribution of power and can have political ramification. Therefore, those stakeholders not supporting the project may block or disrupt the project. - High-tech personal devices are costly to purchase and maintain- how much depend on the device and usage. So is the device cost-effective and is there are real need for this device to get work done outside of the office? Or is the device provided more as a convenience or status symbol? (For example, "The guy next door has one, and I'm higher up in the company than he is, so I should have one too.") (Wilbanks 2007) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Baker, H. Kent, and Powell, Gary E., Understanding Financial Management: A Practical Guide. Blackwell Publishing. Chen, M.T., (1996), “ Simplified project economic evaluation.” Transactions of AACE International. ABI/INFORM Global. Cohan, P.S., (2005), “CFOs to Tech: ‘I’ll Spend For The Right Technology’.” Financial Executive Apr 2005. ABI/INFORM Global. Demirhan, D., Jacob, V.S., and Raghunathan, S., (2006), “Information Technology Investment Strategies Under Declining Technology Cost.” Journal of Management Information Systems. Vol. 22 No. 3, Winter 2006. pp. 321 – 350 Hoffer, J.A., George, J.F., and Valacich, J.S., Modern Systems Analysis and Design. 5th edition. Pearson Prentice Hall. Hofstrand, D., and Holz-Clause, M., (2006), “What is a Feasibilty Study?” Ag Decision Maker. File C5-65. Hofstrand, D., and Holz-Clause, M., (2006), “Feasibilty Study Outline” Ag Decision Maker. File C5-66. Jaffe, J., (1967), "The Systems Design Phase", in Perry E. Rosove(ed.), Developing Computer-Based Information Systems, J Wiley. Marshall, D.H., McManus, W.M., and Viele, D.F., Accountoing: What The Number Mean. 7th edition. McGraw-Hill Irwin. McAdams, T., Neslund, N., and Neslund, K., Law, Business, and Society. 8th edition. McGraw-Hill Irwin. Matson, J., (2000), “Cooperative Feasibility Study Guide.” United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Pressman, R. S., (2005), Software Engineering, 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. Ross, S.A., Westerfield R.W., and Jaffe, J., Corporate Finance. 7th edition. McGraw-Hill Irwin. Rubinstein, E., (1997), “Study: Information technology a strategic asset.” Nation’s Restaurant News; Nov 3,1997; ABI/INFORM Global Swedberg, J., (2008), “The Decision Point.” Credit Union Management. May 2008 THE CHAOS Report (1999), The Standish Group International Inc. THE CHAOS Report (2004), The Standish Group International Inc. Willbanks., Linda (2007), "Passing out IT Toys." CIO Corner, IT Pro. November/December 2007.	https://www.umsl.edu/~sauterv/analysis/F08papers/Katimuneetorn_Feasibility_Study.html
Discuss the Components of a feasibility report. Consider the following types of Feasibility: 1. Feasibility Study The Feasibility study is a study of possible alternate solutions to a problem and a recommendation on the best alternative. (Randall, B. et. al, 2010) It can decide whether a process be carried out by a new system more efficiently than the existing one. 1.1. Economic feasibility: Economic Feasibility study is the study which are related to cost benefit exploration of the project/software. For example staff cost, testing cost. This feasibility assess the efficiency of an prevailing system. (SHARMA, 2014) This types of study that are generally considered tasks as they may benefit more than other’s from computerization and non-functional characteristics such as the time delay between the real world and the different parts of the system. The system costs should also be estimated in terms of basic resources of money, people and time 1.2. Technical Feasibility: The main purpose of a technical feasibility study is to identify if a certain plan of action is feasible—that is, will it work? A technical feasibility assessment should be applied to all projects being considered in order to better comprehend if the project can be done “technically” and if it can be done “here and now.” Furthermore, the early stages of technical analysis will help recognize areas of fortes and weakness in the proposed project so that we know where to direct further thought, planning, resources or assistance. (Kersnaghan, 2012) 1.3. Operational Feasibility This study investigates the factors such as the probable reaction of employees to the project and other proposed organizational changes that may occur by implementing this software. Also Operational feasibility refers to how well a planned system solves the problems of the project and how well it works at using the opportunities of the project. Operational feasibility is therefore one of the key elements of a feasibility study. (Wells, 2014) For example, if the employee are happy with the proposed system and find out no reason to change then there may be a high degree of resistance to the new system. Relevant factors here concern if the project has general management support and whether or not the users have been involved in the development of the proposal. 1.4. Time Feasibility Time feasibility deals to find out if the given project could be completed within the given time phase or not. This study can help mitigate the risk that a project is wasting its time. Furthermore it helps us to do the project orderly and clearly. (Technology.blurtit.com, 2014) Time Viability study helps to identify the various constraints on the project schedule and whether they could be reasonably met, so that letter there would not be any problem to meet the project goal. (Giorgini, 2003) 1.5. Legal Feasibility Legal feasibility study defines whether the proposed system conflicts with legal requirements, e.g. a Data Processing system must comply with the local Data Protection Acts. When an organization has either internal or external legal counsel, such reviews are typically standard. However, a project may face legal issues after completion if this factor is not considered at this stage (John, 2014). It also determine whether the proposed project conflicts with legal requirements such as known Acts, Statutes, or any pending legislation. (Newnorthafrica.com, 2014) 1.6. Social Feasibility This feasibility deals to check if the designed system will be satisfactory with the people or not. This assumption would in general examine the probability that the project would have to be acknowledged by the group of people that are directly affected by the Designed system. (Newnorthafrica.com, 2014) 1.7. Management Feasibility The management feasibility study would determine the organizational chart and qualification of the people involved. It checks if the staff of the organization are capable of running and maintaining the designed system. References John, J. 2014.System Analysis and Design-Feasibility Analysis. [online] Available at: http://www.learnsad.com/Feasibility.html [Accessed: 14 Oct 2013]. Kersnaghan, S. 2012. Technical Feasibility Assessments.Climate Resiliance Framework, 3 Newnorthafrica.com. 2014.Economic, legal, social, and technical feasibility study \| NEWNORTHAFRICA. [online] Available at: http://www.newnorthafrica.com/feasibility/ [Accessed: 13 Oct 2013]. SHARMA, A. 2014.Economic Feasibility ~ All Computer Topics. [online] Available at: http://allcomputertopics.blogspot.com/2013/02/economic-feasibility.html [Accessed: 2 Apr 2013]. Technology.blurtit.com. 2014.What is purpose of scheduling? – Blurtit. [online] Available at: http://technology.blurtit.com/3251022/what-is-purpose-of-scheduling [Accessed: 3 Oct 2013]. Wells, A. 2014.What Is An Operational Feasibility Study? – Blurtit. [online] Available at: http://business.blurtit.com/855874/what-is-an-operational-feasibility-study [Accessed: 2 Sep 2013]. Task 2: Assess the impact of different feasibility criteria on a system investigation. 2. Impact of Feasibility Study 2.1. Impact due to Technology The technical aspect explores—if the project feasibility is within the limits of current technology available within the organization and does the technology exist at all, or is available within given resource constraints (i.e., total cost and time constraint of the project). In the technical feasibility of the Himalayan Library the various requirements of the organization, such as, (I) various input device required to run the project (II) Output devices required to produce the output (III) The availability of processing devices in the organization. This analysis helps in the future to run the program to achieve the full advantages. This deals us to find out various aspects like - Assuming that technology required is applicable, is it available in the current market. - If the technology is already available in the organization, does it support to handle the solution? - In case the technology is not available in, can it be acquired? 2.2. Economic Impact The economic feasibility of the system helps the organization to allot if the implementation of the program is worthwhile. As soon as specific requirements and solutions have been identified we can weigh the costs and benefits of each alternative. This Feasibility study helps to find out the following aspect: Return On investment (ROI) at what period of time does the system start to return the initial investment Payback Period (PP) time required to generate sufficient cash flow to recover its initial cost. 2.3. Operational Impact Assessing this feasibility is to gain an understanding of if the proposed system will likely to solve the business problems, or take benefit of the opportunities or not. It is important to understand how the new system will fit into the current day to day processes of the organization. By analyzing this aspect we could find out if the staff present in the organization are able to run the given system. Then they would be able to make the decision to hire new technical staff or to give the trainings to the staff. 2.4. Social Impact It takes in consideration whether the current work practices and procedures support a new system and social factors of how the organizational changes will affect the working lives of those affected by the system. 2.5. Legal Impact This feasibility also has the major role in the development process. It determines if there are any restriction of the law in the process of development of the proposed software. If any permission is to be taken in order to develop the system then we could find out in this phase. 2.6. Managerial Impact After implementation does the organization have qualified manpower to run the program? Do we have to give additional trainings? These are the main aspect that come under this feasibility study. It helps to identify the capabilities of the employee. Beside that the main aspect it deals with is does the software helps in managing the daily activities of the organization. Conclusion The feasibility study is relevant to the determination of if there should be any further plans implemented. The conclusion might be either the project does not successfully serve the needs of the organization or the conclusions of the study might be positive. In this case the study provides with a clear understanding of what the project to be developed needs in terms of modification, cost, profit, risk, and time. The feasibility study them serves two functions: - The study makes the evaluation of the total cost required for funding the project. - The result of the study may give the inputs for the project to be implemented Task 3: Undertake a systems investigation to meet the business need. Consider the following aspects during investigation: 3.1. Product Description Library Management system for the Himalayan Library is the computerized system which helps the librarian or the user to maintain the daily activities in the systematic order. It reduces the risk of paper work that includes loss of file, damage of file, consuming of time, difficult to search the required data etc. But by the implementation of library management system the user would be able to manage the record more efficiently and time –saving. 3.2. Problem Statement As the Himalayan library is using the manual system for the management of every task in the library, they are facing various issues. So to solve those issues they have planned to implement the computerized system for the day to day management of their task. Some of the Problem they have been facing are: 3.2.1. File Lost: As a lack of computerized system there is a high chance for the file to be lost. It may be due to sometimes the librarian forget to keep the file to the original place due to lot of member queue for borrowing the book or sometimes he might forget the original place. 3.2.2. File Damage: The other problem is the damaged of the file. This might be because of some accident like the librarian hitting the cup of tea on the paper. This might cause due to other potential aspects like animals. Rat or some insects may damage the file/records. 3.2.3. Difficult to search Record: It becomes very difficult to search for the specific record in very less time. A lot of manual task has to be done to search for the user record while lending the book. 3.2.4. Space Consuming: As the day passes the records of the libray are getting more and more. And practically it becomes difficult to manage and keep those record safe. Hence, managing the physical records become space consuming. 3.2.5. Difficult to view Reports: Reports to be created in the manual system is too time consuming. It requires the librarian to go through various files in order to produce one report. 3.3. Objective of the Proposed System 3.3.1. Improvement in control and performance The Himalayan Library management system is developed to overcome the various problem that the library has been facing. The system must be capable of validating the user, storing record and generating reports. 3.3.2. Cost Saving As before the Himalayan library has been hiring about 5 employee, but after implementation of the Library management system the library could be handle with 2members saving the cost of 3 other employee. Beside that it saves the cost of lots of paper. 3.3.3. Save time Librarian is able to search for the books or generate various reports within the certain clicks, compared to the manual system it saves a lot of time. 3.3.4. Security As all the information are saved in the centralized machine and are being backed up regularly, there is a minimum chance of the data being lost. 3.4. Requirement Software Requirement - .NET framework 4 or higher - SQL Server 2008 or higher - Windows OS 7 /8/8.1 Hardware Requirement for Smooth Running - Processor- 1.5 GHz - Ram- 2 GB For synchronization between computer LAN connection is required 3.5. Fact Finding Techniques On-site Observation As a junior system analyst, it was the responsibility to check the functioning of library. So, on the visit to the library for two days we observed librarian issuing and returning books as well as other functioning of the library. We also inspected the place where the cards are stored and from that it was seen that it was a real mess. To see if a particular book is already issued, it is a difficult and effort intensive process. The analyst also saw the records for books, members, and accounts. From site visit we had a good understanding of the functioning of the system. After this, we performed some personal interviews of library staff and few members. The interview is show below. Interview Beside the on-site observation interview with some selected stake holders were performed as the part of the requirement gathering. In this process we conducted structured interview with administrator, 2 librarian and some users about their expectation of the library management system. Task 4 Use appropriate systems analysis tools and techniques to carry ot a system investigation. You can consider the following tools:	https://customwritings.co/feasibility-study/
LOGISTICAL PLANNING PROCESS – PLANNING AND DESIGN METHODOLOGY To match the changing environment in the logistics due to the changes in the markets, competitors, suppliers and technology, there is a need for systematic planning and designing a methodology to formally include the relevant consideration and effectively evaluate the alternatives for a flawless Logistical System. The logistics relational and operating environment is constantly changing. Even for the established industries, a firm’s markets, demands, costs and service requirements change rapidly in response to the customer and competitive behavior. Just as no ideal logistical system is suitable for all enterprises the method for identifying and evaluating alternative logistics strategies can vary extensively. However there is a general process applicable to most logistics design and analysis situations. The process can be segmented into three phases: problem definition and planning, data collection and analysis, and recommendations and implementation. The following discussion describes each phase in detail. PHASE I – Problem Definition and Planning \| \| We must understand and assess the present industrial environment, study the characteristics of present industrial environment, study the characteristics of present system, and find out if any modifications are required. In feasibility assessment, there are following three categories. \|a) Situational- Analysis\|\|The purpose of the situational analysis is to provide senior management with the best possible understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the existing logistics capabilities for both current and future environment. The situational analysis is the performance of measures and characteristics that describe the current logistics environment through:\| \|Internal review\|\|Examines all major resources such as work force, equipment facilities, relationships and information These are required to understand if customers’ requirements are met. Internal review is made regarding customer service, materials management, transportation, warehousing, and inventory.\| \|Market Assessment\|\|This is required to assess customers’ desires. It should focus on external assessment like suppliers, customers and consumers.\| \|Technological Assessment\|\|The new and better technologies which are available in the areas of \| transportation, materials handling, storage facilities, packaging, and assessed and compared with the existing facilities. Modes of better form of communications have also to be looked in to. \|b) Supporting Logic Development\|\|This consists in integrating the findings of internal review, market assessment and technological assessment made above. Here, we study the following:\| \|Justification\|\|Potential benefits change must be clearly identified.It has also to be justified if detailed research and analysis is necessary to implement the new logistical system.\| \|Identification\|\|Areas where improvements can be made should be identified, like for \| example, streamlining inventory, realigning distribution centers. \|Redesign Alternatives\|\|This includes a) knowing the current procedures and system \| b) Identifying the most likely alternative procedures and system. c) Constructing flow diagrams \|c) Cost Benefit Estimates\|\|The final feasibility assessment is a preplanning estimate of the potential benefits of performing a logistic analysis and implementing the recommendation. Benefits should be categorized in terms of:\| \|Service Improvements\|\|This refers to increasing the loyalty of the existing customers to the firm’s products, attracting new customers.\| \|Cost Reduction Benefits\|\|This indicates whether installing the new, logistical system will reduce the financial expenses whether will reduce amount of capital deployed, decrease variable expenses.\| \|Cost Prevention\|\|Cost prevention reduces involvement in programs and operations experiencing cost increases. Any cost prevention justification is based on an estimate of future conditions and therefore is vulnerable to some error. E.g. many material – handling and information technology upgrades are at least partially justified through financial analysis of the implications of future labor availability and wage levels. \| \| \| This comes after Feasibility Assessment. It involves the following categorizations: \|Statement of Objectives \| \|It documents cost and service expectations of the logistical system revisions in measurable factors. The objectives define time frame for revisions, specific performance requirements, like inventory availability, customer shipments requirements, mixed commodity orders, core customers.\| \|Statement of Constraints\|\|It can happen that senior management will place restrictions on the scope of permissible system modifications. Restrictions may be in terms of large financial investments. Again, the management may agree for modifications in some department only. Therefore, a statement of constraints gives a well defined staring points and overall perspective for the planning effort.\| \|Managerial Measurement Standards\|\|Managerial performance standards must be fixed. Standards must be with respect to overall systems performance. But the goals fixed must not be impractical.\| \|Analysis Procedures\|\|Once the project objectives and constraints are developed, planning must identify alternative solution and select the best approach. Analysis techniques range from simple manual methods to elaborate computerized procedures.\| \|Project work Plan\|\|A project work plan must be determined and the resources and the time \| required for completion identified. Project management is responsible for the achievement of the expected results within the time and budget constraints. \|PHASE – II Data Collection And Analysis \| Once Feasibility Assessment and Project Planning are completed Phase II focuses on Data Collection and Analyses which includes the following: \|1. Assumptions and Data Collection \| This activity builds on the feasibility assessment and project plan to develop detailed planning assumptions and identify data collection requirements \|Define Analysis Approach and Analysis Techniques\|\|The analytical approach ach uses standard numerical methods to evaluate each logistical alternative. The common techniques are simulation and optimization Simulation techniques are used when significant uncertainty Optimization involves the use of linear programming or mathematical programming to evaluate alternatives and select the best one.\| \|Define and review Assumptions\|\|For planning purposes, the assumptions define the key operating characteristics, variables and economics of current and alternative systems. Business assumptions define the characteristics of the general business environment such as trends in the market, consumer wants, product changes, and competitive actions. Management assumptions include definition of alternative distribution facilities, transport modes, logistic processes and fixed and variable costs. Analysis assumptions define the constraints and limitations such as problem size, solution methodology.\| \|Identify Data Sources\|\|Detailed data must be collected and organized to support analysis. When Data are extremely difficult to collect or when the necessary level of accuracy is unknown, sensitivity analysis can be used to identify data collection requirements. Data regarding sales \| and customer orders, specific customer data, costs associated with manufacturing and purchasing, modes and rates of transportation, are all relevant for analysis. \|Collect data\|\|Once data sources have been identified, the process of collection of data begins. Care should be taken to collect latest data that do not contain errors. Also, the data collected should be useful for logistical analysis.\| \|Validation of Data\|\|Validation of data is required to verify that the results accurately reflect reality. The objective of validation is to increase management credibility regarding the analysis process. If in case the process does not yield credible results, management will hold little confidence in the alternative analysis.\| \|2. Analysis \| The analysis uses the technique and data from the previous activity to evaluate logistics strategy and tactical alternatives. This consists of the following: \|Define analysis questions\|\|The questions asked should be specific and pertaining to alternatives, \| which are suggested. For Example question regarding a distribution center should pertain to evaluation of combinations of locations. In case of inventory analysis, questions should be focused on alternative availabilities and uncertainty levels of Mock. \|Complete and validate Baseline analysis\|\|Baseline analysis other current logistics environment is made. Potential errors may result from incorrect or inaccurate input data, inappropriate or Inaccurate analysis procedures, or unrepresentative validation data. These must be rectified.\| \|Complete the Alternative analysis\|\|Once the approach has been validated, the next step is to complete an evaluation of the various alternatives available. Relevant performance characteristics of each alternative must be determined. The options may include changes in management policies and practices with regards to number of distribution centers, inventory levels, transport shipment size,etc.\| \|Complete the sensitivity analysis\|\|The best performing alternatives are targeted for further sensitivity analysis. Uncontrollable factors such as demand, competitive actions are used (for analysis purposes) to assess the ability of potential alternatives to operate under a variety of conditions. E.g.: Suppose the alternative strategy suggest five distribution centres. Sensitivity analysis investigates whether the five distribution centres will still be a correct decision if the demand increases or decreases by 10%.\| \|PHASE III – Recommendations and Implementations\| \|1. Development of Recommendations\| \|Evaluate costs and benefits\|\|After selection from among the best of the alternatives, an analysis comparing the present cost and service capabilities with projected conditions must be made for the alternative. Benefits can be either in terms of one time savings or recurring operational economies or both.\| \|Develop a risk Appraisal\|\|Risk appraisal considers the probability that the planning environment will match the assumptions. It also considers the potential hazards related to system changeover. External risks include uncertainty associated with demand, competitive actions, etc. Internal risks include labour and productivity considerations, changes in resource accessibility.\| \|Develop presentation\|\|A presentation has to be made to the management which identifies \| rationalizes and justifies the suggested changes. The presentation and the accompanying report must justify the changes in terms of service, expenses, asset utilization, productivity ‘Improvements. The presentation should incorporate extensive of graphs, maps and flow charts.	https://www.bms.co.in/explain-the-logistical-planning-process/
We offer support to customers ordering Internet, intranet, extranet and e-commerce projects. To support project planning, we make feasibility studies in which we map out the company’s digital service strategy and business goals, plan the content and timeline of the project and assess the necessary tools and costs for the new service. In a typical feasibility study phase, we evaluate the organisation’s current situation and desired goal through workshops and interviews with key personnel. At the end of the feasibility study, areas to be developed are prioritised. The final results of the feasibility study support management in decision-making at the beginning of the project, and also provide them with a road map for long-term development of services. Partner companies usually specialise in specific areas of web or intranet projects. Some, for example digital design agencies, are oriented toward concept design and technically simpler implementations, while others, for example large IT integrators, are more focused on technically challenging implementations. The type of partner (or partners) used in realising the project always depends on what will be included in its scope. We have exceptionally wide-ranging knowledge of implementation partners in Nordics, and we can suggest suitable partners for each particular need. The final decision about partner selection is always made by the customer, but our experts provide a systematic approach and clear criteria on which to base the selection. We assist with drawing up documented requests for proposals, describing the requirements for the entirety to be procured, setting comparison criteria and handling comparison of the proposals received. As an independent consulting company, we can assist customers in assessing platform products and implementation companies without bias. We are also familiar with the demands of competitive bidding process for public sector projects. In defining requirements we pinpoint the goals and target groups of the new service and describe its basic concept design. The concept design for the new service is clarified in workshops led by our experts. Definition of requirements also includes technical workshops, usually with members of the IT department. The final product is a requirements specification document reviewed and approved by the customer. There is a large selection of content management systems, e-commerce platforms and portal systems on the market, and different products are suited for different use cases. In some situations, it is just as reasonable to build tailored applications separately from platforms. We have exceptionally wide-ranging expertise and experience with platforms and content management solutions for intranet, Internet, e-commerce and extranet. That enables us to truly evaluate the suitability of various technologies for each customer’s needs and recommend the best possible option. We can be of assistance in negotiations and in checking or revising the terms of agreements. When needed, we can draw up the contract documents based on terms we have found applicable on a given case. When your supplier has drafted a contract agreement, we can give our remarks on its terms and we can make sure it complies with your request for proposals. Furthermore, we can ensure that the terms and project proceedings are beneficial also from the perspective of the customer. When the project is in progress, we can oversee the work of the supplier as an advocate for the client. We take willingly part in project steering groups and offer supervision to solve any problematic situations in project implementation. We can also assess the outcome, suggest a resolution in conflicts between the interested parties and decipher the meaning behind the suppliers’ technical jargon. When the project is launched, all those concerned should be well aware of the line of action, objectives and critical success factors of the project. Our input on clarifying the goal is to organise a kick-off event: a joint workshop for all project members that ensures full understanding of the project’s priorities and preliminary plans. Often, the content management team has a heavy burden in a project. We can be of assistance in organising the content creation and in outlining the administration model for the site. Furthermore, we can help you with your plans regarding the contents, or with launching the site, or in organising user training. When the project is on the finishing line, it is critical to detect errors before acceptance of the delivery. We can help you plan, organise and document the acceptance inspection. When it comes to the classic dispute whether something is a bug or a feature, we can resolve the argument. We regularly hold training programmes and theme workshops on good practices in web and intranet projects. You can order training tailored for your own organisation, or take part in our open training programmes. We regularly act as a trainer for programmes organised by Alma Talent Events, among others. The cost of our services is based on hours per consultant. The cost of one hour is 168 € (VAT 0). The cost of one day (7.5 hours) is 1260 €. The price for one workshop and a recommendation for next steps based on the workshop (for example a technology recommendation) is typically 5,000 €. A typical initial assessment which includes interviews and a number of workshops is about 20,000 €. The process of defining requirements costs 15,000–40,000 € depending on the scope of the entirety. Realisation of the entire competitive bidding process based on requirements we have documented is 5,000–10,000 €. Training and lectures are priced on a case by case basis.	https://northpatrol.com/services/
Jamey Mulligan ’07 has been selected as a judge for the $100 million XPRIZE for carbon removal, a global competition designed to fight climate change by rebalancing the Earth’s carbon cycle. A senior scientist at Amazon, Jamey Mulligan ’07 is serving on a panel of 12 judges for the four-year XPRIZE competition for carbon removal, funded by Elon Musk and the Musk Foundation.Competition participants are tasked with creating and demonstrating solutions that can draw carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere or oceans, and then sequester the gas durably and sustainably. Mulligan explains that while reducing carbon emissions is crucial, current levels mean “you also have to figure out how to take some out of the atmosphere.…There are multiple technologies that we know work; the challenge is cost — which solution can scale the fastest, at the lowest cost, and who’s going to pay for it? The XPRIZE is one element of that puzzle.” At Amazon, Mulligan serves as the technical and strategy lead on the company’s carbon neutralization team. His work focuses on assessing a range of natural and technological measures for carbon removal and abatement on feasibility, lifecycle performance, cost, social impact and scalability parameters, as well as implementing strategies to scale those measures. He previously held positions at the World Resources Institute, where he built and led the institute’s U.S. carbon removal practice, and the White House Office of Management and Budget. He has played a role in several major climate initiatives, including the LEAF Coalition, Amazon’s Agroforestry and Restoration Accelerator, and the U.S. Climate Alliance Natural and Working Lands Initiative. After graduating from HWS with a B.A. in public policy, Mulligan went on to earn an M.S. in natural resources and environment and an M.A. in applied economics at the University of Michigan. XPRIZE carbon capture teams can be composed of college students, high school students, startups, small to midsize companies, community-based organizations, families or individuals. Mulligan and his fellow judges, chosen for their expertise in the science and engineering of carbon removal, will review the submissions and make all award decisions. The competition will last through Earth Day 2025.	https://www2.hws.edu/mulligan-07-to-judge-musk-funded-xprize-competition/
Responsibilities: Ability to independently conceptualize, drive new ideas Be a strong thought leader and clearly communicate your ideas Partner with business leaders to understand requirements and work with architects to implement data driven technical solutions Proactively identify gaps, risks and issues and navigate organizational structure to resolve them Provide technical inputs, evaluate and take lead on implementing new and emerging technology solutions for software, security and DevOps. Analyses and estimates feasibility, costs, time, and work effort needed to design and implement moderately complex technical solutions. Work with other groups with-in Yodlee to own end-to-end software development: Architecture, Solution, Dev, Automation Testing, Performance Testing, Continuous integration testing, Devops. Provide coaching and guidance to junior engineers Evaluate, propose and own best practices/standards, process improvements, and security policy to provide the highest levels of availability, security and data privacy Experience & Qualification Progressive experience (~15 years) in software development Good knowledge of Architecture Principles what works, what does not work & why Core Java programming language experience of at least 10 years Experience with Web Service Frameworks like Spring Boot, Play Framework Experience with Big Data processing Engines Kafka, Spark Experience in working with AWS, open stack is a plus. Knowledge of Python, R is a plus Experience no-sql (MongoDB)and rdbms databases (Oracle) Working experience of Unix/Linux Exposure to agile/iterative development process and unit testing, JUnit Strong understanding of the server side software, scalability, performance and reliability aspects Ability to work in a fast paced, collaborative and iterative programming environment.	https://m.timesjobs.com/mobile/job-detail/technical-architect-yodlee-infotech-pvt-ltd-bengaluru-bangalore-15-18yrs-jobid-d7H2T9MqA1pzpSvf__PLUS__uAgZw==
LNG-to-Power Feasibility Study The Government of Kenya intends to create a domestic natural gas market for power generation and industrial use with the aim to help diversify the country’s energy mix, improve energy security, reduce the cost of electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The primary objective of this project is to conduct a feasibility study for the development and operation of infrastructure for importation of liquefied natural gas, conversion of the existing HFO (MSD) Power Plants and development of a natural gas power generation plant. KenGen contracted K&M to analyze the technical, financial, economic, environmental and social feasibility of the development and operation of infrastructure for importation of liquefied natural gas, conversion of the existing HFO (MSD) Power Plants and development of a natural gas power generation plant to determine what, if any, options would be optimal for natural gas power generation in Kenya. As part of the study, K&M will complete the following tasks: - Evaluate indicative LNG demand and where the demand is located - Identify the least-cost LNG import and logistics solution to meet the demand - Develop a business case for LNG at the cost estimated - Evaluate LNG supply & infrastructure procurement strategy - Develop preferred procurement option and conduct financial, economic and value for money analysis - Conduct technical assessment of feasibility to convert 10 existing power plants from HFO/diesel to LNG - Develop conceptual design and cost estimates for plants to be converted - Carry out financial viability analysis for plants to be converted - Prepare implementation schedule and risk assessment for plants to be converted - Conduct technical assessment of a greenfield gas power plant - Develop conceptual design and cost estimates for greenfield gas power plant - Assess preliminary environmental and social impact of greenfield gas power plant - Carry out financial viability analysis for greenfield gas power plant - Prepare implementation schedule and risk assessment for the greenfield gas power plant Oserian Two Lakes Power’s (OLTP) geothermal power plant is an important part of Kenya’s renewable energy and climate change prevention strategy. OLTP engaged POWER Engineers for support in ensuring a total load of 8 MW can be provided to industrial clients at Oserian via a high-voltage interconnection to Kenya Power and Light Company’s (KPLC) 33 kV distribution grid located nearby to avoid short-term use of diesel generation while OLTP further develops its geothermal resources. K&M was engaged by POWER Engineers on a project to support the development of a geothermal/solar hybrid industrial park in Naivasha, Kenya by providing an analysis of the requirements for interconnection of the industrial park to the national grid of Kenya to supply backup power. This project will provide technical assistance for the specification and design of a synchronized interconnection between the nearby 33kV KPLC line to the OTLP 11kV mini grid. K&M’s scope of work includes: - Assessing the commercial and economic viability of the KPLC interconnection and its impact on the cost of power to OTLP’s industrial clients - Identifying the factors that influence the economics of the project and of combined power provision by both geothermal resources and the KPLC distribution grid - Recommending an operating procedure for decision makers to choose between OTLP geothermal/solar and KPLC grid-provided power As part of its scope of work, K&M will consider a range of technical options coupled with capital and operating expenditures (CAPEX, OPEX) to assess the economics of grid-supplied vs. geothermal-supplied electrical energy. K&M will incorporate factors such as KPLC time-of-use and bulk rate electricity tariffs, expected utilization characteristics of OTLP electrical load (timing, intensity, duration), and estimate investment and operational requirements to model and evaluate the project economics. K&M will identify factors that influence the economics of the project and evaluate their sensitivity and impact during fluctuations. Lastly, K&M will provide clear recommendations and operating procedures that identify when to use OTLP-provided geothermal power and when to use KPLC grid-provided power. K&M will compare the two (2) options (OTLP or KPLC supplied energy) on the basis of the lowest cost per unit of electricity under standard assumptions and produce a Cost-Benefit Analysis for the project. K&M was contracted to develop a business plan for a rooftop solar company in Jamaica. This business plan will provide accessible financing and savings on monthly electricity payments through leasing and hire purchase rooftop solar models to residential, commercial and industrial customers. K&M was contracted by a development bank to provide a global market assessment on floating solar projects and the potential development of a pipeline of such projects. This market assessment will expand across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and Central Asia, but will primarily identify key markets in Africa and Asia. K&M will also suggest potential business models for the floating storage projects. K&M was hired to advise on the submission of a bid to build, own, and operate 1-2 large LNG terminals and a gas-fired combined cycle power plant in the Dominican Republic. K&M supported the planning and implementation of a comprehensive prequalification, reviewed the Request for Qualifications of Prequal documentation provided by the procuring entity identifying submission and qualification requirements and evaluating qualification criteria and methodology, and established a plan to collate all documentation, produce submission documentation, and successfully qualify for the proposal stage for both lots. K&M also submitted a Request for Information (RFI) and submission checklist, and drafted all documentation required. K&M was hired by one of the industry’s leading integrated waste technologies solutions provider in the region. The client’s 10 MW Waste to Energy pilot project innovation is a first of its kind in Kenya. The project is based on three specific forms of biomass: municipal solid waste, agricultural crop residues and livestock waste or manure. The WtE pilot which is also phase 1 of the project will be located in Kibera, an informal settlement in Nairobi. This is a single line facility with a capacity of 300 tons per day, and a total of 100,000 tpa. For this pilot phase, the output will be biomethane and electricity. The expanded facility will have a capacity of 250,000 tpa and the outputs will be biomethane, ethanol and electricity. K&M Advisors will provide financial / commercial advisory services with the primary objectives of (i) raising the necessary funds to complete project development and (ii) successfully achieving project financial close for the pilot project. K&M was contracted to assist a private client on the negotiation of the Regasified LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement (RLSPA). A draft version of the RLSPA was submitted to the client on March 31, 2021. In addition to the RLSPA, the LNG supplier proposed that the client and themselves enter into a Pipeline Interconnection Agreement (PIA) that will govern the construction of the pipeline from the LNG terminal to WEB’s battery limit. K&M will review and comment on the RLSPA and PIA. Africa GreenCo has retained K&M Advisors to advise on the development of the company’s procurement procedures and policies. In Zambia, Africa GreenCo will act as an intermediary offtaker and service provider, purchasing power from renewable IPPs and selling that electricity to utilities and private sector offtakers (i.e. commercial and industrial users) as well as other markets of the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP). Therefore, Africa GreenCo must have procurement policies and processes that reinforce its role as a credible, independent party. K&M is working closely with Africa GreenCo to develop procurement policies, procedures and documents; and a due diligence and appraisal framework through which Africa GreenCo determines how, and from whom, it purchases and sells power. K&M will: • Review, assess, and recommend changes to existing documents regarding procurement • Develop procurement policies and associated rules and procedures best suited to meeting the evolving needs of GreenCo • Develop project appraisal and due diligence framework, including bid documents and associated templates CUC is considering LNG as a new fuel for power generation. There are several LNG import solutions that Cayman could consider, and the majority of them are likely to result in a cost of fuel that is lower than diesel. However, before proceeding with the development of a specific solution, CUC wants to develop an LNG-to-Power strategy that considers all the technically viable LNG-to-Power options, and narrows the options to two or three that have the lowest costs, a manageable level of risk, and could be implemented in a reasonable timeframe. IFC has retained K&M Advisors to set up and manage a virtual data room (VDR) platform for the Shire Valley Irrigation Project, for which is IFC assisting with the procurement of the O&M contract and negotiation of water purchase agreements with off-takers. K&M is working closely with IFC to set up, manage and monitor activity within the VDR to help facilitate timely communication and information sharing with the bidders.	https://www.km-advisorsllc.com/project_service/transaction-advisory/
Economic feasibility studies for projects is one of the very significant and influential factors when choosing a new investment project, as the main objective of the feasibility study is to investigate the possibility of establishing such project, achieving the maximum possible return from the available resources and gaining profits that exceed the cost invested in it, and to reach a final decision to accept or reject the idea. Phases of economic feasibility study for projects: 1- Market Study • How valuable is the project for the market • To determine the target sections. • To determine the competitors. • To evaluate how the market is needy for the studied product. • To study product supply and demand. • To offer a mini-study of the marketing methods to be used for the product and to suggest the most appropriate marketing methods to reach targeted sales. 2- Technical Study • To study and select the project site. • To plan for the production process and milestones. • To select and describe the production equipment. • To determine the operational cycle. • To study the variable and nonvariable costs. • To estimate the investing costs required for the project. 3- Financial Study • To study the suggested revenues and selling prices. • To prepare the project future statements of income and cash flow 4- Financial and Economic Indicators: • Analysis of profitability, liquidity and repayment period of capital 5- Project Evaluation: • General recommendations on the project, from economic-social perspective.	http://darelkhebra.net/service/feasibilty-studies/
Migration software systems to the cloud causes challenges. This applies especially for companies that do not have sufficient cloud expertise. In many of these companies there is a clear ideas about expected benefits. There is also an awareness of some potential problems. However, this is often not sufficient to assess the risks before starting on a full cloud migration of a legacy system. Technical and conceptual analyses can only help to identify risks in the migration process with from a cost and a quality perspective to a limited extent. So, we investigate here the suitability of feasibility studies with a focus on experimental exploration. These studies would generally only cost 5% of the overall costs of a migration project, but can strongly support a reliable risk assessment. These can determine how much of the expectations and intentions can achieved in a cloud deployment. The cost of the migration, but also the cost of operating an IT system in the cloud can be estimated in the context of quality expectations. Using a feasibility study with an experimental core based on a partial prototype delivers much more reliable figures regarding configurations, quality-of-service and costing than a theoretical analysis could deliver. We will embed our feasibility study approach into a pattern-based migration method. We report on a number of case studies to validate the expected benefits of feasibility-driven migration. KeywordsCloud migration Experiment Prototyping Migration patterns Cloud architecture Cloud cost model Performance Scalability Notes Acknowledgements This work was partly supported by IC4 (the Irish Centre for Cloud Computing and Commerce), funded by EI and IDA.	https://rd.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-94959-8_9
Human Capital Partners (HCP) is a professional services firm specialising in the provision of professional services covering the entire spectrum of the Human Resources function. HCP is the successor firm of the erstwhile Executive Selection and Training Services group of KPMG in Nigeria. The Group existed as the Executive Selection unit within Arthur Andersen Nigeria and in 2002, became KPMG Nigeria’s Executive Selection & Training Services Group. The practice was established as an independent entity in July 2011. Human Capital Partners is a member of the International People Services Network, a network of independent but collaborating ex-KPMG firms operating globally and is registered with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, The Nigerian Institute of Training and Development, and the Centre for Management Development (CMD) Lagos, Nigeria. Job Summary - The Project Engineer will manage various projects by providing technical advice, supervising staff, and ensuring that projects are completed on time and within budget while ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, and other statutory regulations Responsibilities - Plan and design major civil projects such as buildings, roads, bridges, dams, water, and waste management systems, and structural steel fabrications - Develop construction specifications and procedures, evaluate and recommend appropriate construction materials - Incorporate special features which relate to the project at hand into specifications such as order of work, physical conditions at the site, construction work schedules, method of payment and measurement, construction procedures and special methods, and coordination with contractors and other stakeholders - Establish, monitor, maintain and update construction work schedules - Conduct feasibility studies, economic analyses, municipal and regional traffic studies, environmental impact studies, or other investigations - Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards - Estimate quantities and cost of materials, equipment, or labor to determine project feasibility - Direct engineering activities ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations - Oversee all engineering processes in construction projects, provide subject matter expertise, perform regular tests on procedures to ensure compliance to all regulations, and evaluate all designs prior to implementation - Support the implementation of construction/rehabilitation of infrastructure facilities, where required, and advise on project contracting requirements - Monitor day-to-day progress of project activities and promptly report any abnormality or risks to the respective project managers and project teams - Develop and design interventions based on accurate information and risk analysis Requirements - First Degree in Engineering or related discipline from an accredited university - A post-graduate Degree or relevant professional qualifications is desirable - Minimum of ten (10) years construction Industry experience/knowledge of construction techniques, estimating, and construction management - Ability to carry out effective technical and feasibility studies, as well as site investigations. Method of Application Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to the email below using the Job Title as the subject of the mail, on or before 5th November, 2021.	https://careersome.com/site/job?id=project-engineer-at-human-capital-partners-hcp
About the Job: We're looking for a passionate, versatile individual with great ideas and a desire to solve problems, seize opportunities and develop solutions in a dynamic fast-paced environment. As a software engineer, you may work solo, or in a small team, switching teams and projects as required by our business. With your technical expertise you may be asked to manage individual projects priorities, deadlines and deliverables. You may consult, propose, design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and enhance software solutions. Responsibilities: o Analyse problems and opportunities to propose innovative solutions; o Conceive, manage, develop and extend software tools, applications and services for PwC's internal systems; o Create robust scalable applications, and develop prototypes quickly; o Contribute to a wide variety of projects from web and mobile technologies to integrating cloud computing solutions; o Solve all complex, challenging and interesting problems that come your way; o Determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints; o Obtain and evaluate information on factors such as reporting formats required, costs, and security needs to determine hardware configuration;and o Determine system performance standards. Work Context: o Requires face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams; o Requires contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise); o Requires making decisions that impact the results of co-workers, clients or the company, Opportunity to make decisions without supervision; o Requires making decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization, Freedom to determine tasks, priorities, and goals; o Requires meeting strict deadlines; o Requires coordinating or leading others in accomplishing work activities;and o Requires work with others in a group or team. Requirements: o Bachelor's degree above in Computer Science or related fields or equivalent practical experience; o 3 years of relevant work experience in software development; o Previous experience in WCF, Web Services, XML, SQL Server, Reporting Service.	https://www.nashangban.com/jobs/YWJQQz?f=index_jobs
Maybelline is the world’s leading mass cosmetic company, with tremendous success and commanding market share, particularly in the “eye make-up” category. But Maybelline also acknowledges a weakness in the strategic “face” segment, most notably in the profitable "foundations" product lines. This case approaches the challenge of successfully growing this important category through looking at every aspect a company would need to make this move, including: consumer marketing strategy; consumer behavior and purchasing patterns; demographic analysis; segmentation and targeting; product management; distribution channels; pricing; advertising; and understanding the competitive environment.	https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/kellogg-case-publishing/case-search/case-detail.aspx?caseid=%7BEAC57ED6-59F5-4EDA-8C98-CC29A9C762AE%7D
we have considered two different types of primary data. First one was demographics and socioeconomics. And the second one was personality and lifestyle variables. Now, we are here going to consider the other types of primary data. The first one we are going to discuss is personal values. So what do personal values mean? then of course for a marketer, he has to be targeted in a certain way. to be very careful in what kind of products he is trying to sell. or altruistic, in that case, again, the marketing strategy will be very different. So personal values are very important. we are going to consider today is awareness and knowledge variables. about the competition, and other prices, as well as the overall industry. on what kind of products you are trying to sell to the consumer. The third type of primary data we are going to discuss is called intentions. because some consumers might be buying a product to use it immediately. there might be some consumers who use the product at a latest stage or a later date. what's the intention of the consumer when he is purchasing the product. This is definitely something more on the psychological side of the consumer. Do the consumer feel something when he purchases the product? Does he consider certain psychological aspects of the product? Or is he angry, is he elated, and so on, when he's using the product? So this data is also important when you are trying to understand your consumers. The final type of primary data is actually behavioral data. This is where you collect data on the real behavior of consumers. brands they're purchasing, are they brand conscious or are they not brand conscious. as a marketer, you are interacting with each other. which is secondary data, and discuss the different implications of secondary data.	https://fr.coursera.org/lecture/investigacion-de-mercados/4-2-datos-primarios-ii-SURMR
Analytical market review and marketing research Checking the demand for your product consists of collection of information about the market, initial negotiations with potential partners, settlements. Structure: I. Market characteristic and conditions a. Market size and volume b. Actual tendencies c. Description of consumer behavior d. Possible market niches II. Characteristics of market competition a. General review b. Major competitors (local, foreign) c. Competitive advantages d. Advertising and marketing activity III. Overview of distribution channels a. Overall picture of the distribution of goods in this category b. List of potential distributors c. Working conditions d. Pricing e. Logistics f. Certification of goods g Surcharge of distributors h. Prices for end consumer in competitive items i. Regulation of market prices j. Sensitivity of the market prices IV. The estimated budget for the entry into the market (certification, logistics, marketing etc.) V. Possible risks and barriers for the entry into the market VI. Initial assessment of goods by market participants (distributors, special companies, developers etc.) VII. Recommendations by Executor related to entry of goods into the target market.	http://importo-group.com/our-services/market-analysis/
1. Information Collection 1.1 Personal Information. We do not collect any personal information from or about when you when you visit or use the Website. We do not collect, and you are not required to submit, your name, email address, or other personally identifiable information. 1.2 Tracking and Aggregated Information. We may now or in the future use tools, including third-party analytical software, to automatically collect certain information about the computer or other device you use to reach the Website, without any active submission of information from you. We may automatically and through third-party tracking services (e.g., Google Analytics) gather certain non-personal information about your use of the Website and store it in log files. This information may include IP addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (“ISP”), referring/exit pages, operating system, date/time stamps, and related data. For non-member visitors, we remove all identifying information and the aggregated tracking information solely to improve the quality of our products and services. Out of respect for your privacy, we do not link this automatically collected data to your personal information. We may also collect deidentified, anonymous and aggregate information such as age, gender, race, religion, household income for analytical purposes. This information may be collected via several technologies, including cookies, web beacons, clear GIFs and other means. All of this information belongs to us, and we use it to improve effectiveness, content, layout and/or operation of our website. You can remove certain cookies by following the directions in your Internet browser’s “help” file or through our Cookie Preferences (see Section __ below). If you disable cookies, your ability to use areas of the Sites may be limited. 1.3 Location Information. At this time, we do not collect location information from mobile devices. 2. Information Use We do not sell any personal information. 2.1 How We Use Automatically Collected Information. The information we collect automatically is statistical data and generally does not contain personal information. However, we may maintain it or associate it with personal information we collect in other ways or receive from third parties. We will use this automatically-collected information to improve the Website and to deliver a better and more personalized service, including to: - Estimate our audience size and usage patterns; - Improve the design and content of our website; - Store information about your preferences, allowing us to customize the Website according to your individual interests; - Speed up your searches; and - Recognize you when you return to the Website. 3. Usage of Cookies and Other Network Technologies Further, if you want to delete any cookies that are already on your computer, please refer to the file management software to locate the file or directory that stores cookies under the following file names. Other information on deleting or controlling cookies is available at www.allaboutcookies.org. Please note that by deleting our cookies or disabling future cookies you may not be able to access certain areas or features of our website. 3.2 GIFs. We or our service providers may also use “pixel tags,” “web beacons,” “clear GIFs,” “embedded links” and other commonly-used information-gathering tools in connection with some website pages and HTML-formatted email messages. We use these tools for such purposes as compiling aggregate statistics about website usage and response rates. A pixel tag is an electronic image (often a single pixel), that is ordinarily not visible to website visitors, and may be associated with cookies on visitors’ hard drives. Pixel tags allow us and our service providers to count users who have visited certain pages of the Website, to deliver customized services, and to help determine the effectiveness of the Website and services. When used in HTML-formatted email messages, pixel tags can inform the sender of the email whether and when the email has been opened. 3.3 Clickstreams. As you use the Internet, you leave a trail of electronic information at each website you visit. This information, which is sometimes referred to as "clickstream data”, can be collected and stored by a website's server. Clickstream data can reveal the type of computer and browsing software you use and the address of the website from which you linked to the website. We may use clickstream data as a form of non-personal information to determine how much time visitors spend on each page of the Website, how visitors navigate through the Website, and how we may tailor our web pages to better meet the needs of visitors. We will only use this information to improve the Website. 3.5 User Behavior Tracking. We may track the webpages and links our users visit within the Website, in order to determine what services are most popular. We may use such tracking data to deliver customized content and advertising to users whose behavior indicates they are interested in a particular subject area. We may also collect user data to track the areas of a webpage where users most frequently move the mouse or click. These tracking activities make it possible to monitor and analyze web traffic and evaluate user behavior to customize our services. 4. Do Not Track Notice Many modern web browsers give you the option to send a “Do Not Track” signal to the websites you visit, indicating that you do not wish to be tracked. At this time, the Website and services do not specifically respond to “Do Not Track” signals. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of our third-party advertisers and analytics service providers to learn about your choices about information they collect from you. In addition, the Network Advertising Initiative offers information about some of the Internet advertising companies we may use, including how to opt-out of interest-based advertising they deliver. For all the details, including how to turn on Do Not Track, visit www.donottrack.us. 5. Disclosure and Sharing We may share anonymous, deidentified aggregate information with third parties, including affiliated and non-affiliated organizations such as advertisers. 6. California Residents The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”) and other California privacy laws provides California residents (i.e., consumers) with specific rights regarding personal information. This Privacy Notice describes those CCPA rights and how to exercise those rights. 6.1 The Information We Collect and How We Use Your Information \|Categories of Personal Information We Collect From You\|\|Use of Personal Information\| \|De-identified Website usage data (e.g., features/pages accessed by a member)\|\|To operate and improve the Website and associated services.\| \|Identifiers: Name, email address\|\|To provide you with information, products, or services that you request from us, or that may be of interest to you. To fulfill any other purpose for which you provide it or for which you have given us consent to use it.\| Identifiers: Name, email address To provide you with information, products, or services that you request from us, or that may be of interest to you. To fulfill any other purpose for which you provide it or for which you have given us consent to use it. 6.2 Access to Specific Information and Data Rights California residents have the right to request that we disclose certain information to you about our collection and use of your personal information over the past twelve (12) months. You shall have the right to request that your information be provided to you in a portable and readily usable format, to the extent technically feasible (“data portability”). We do not sell your personal information. You have the right to request that we delete certain of your personal information that we collected from and/or related to you and retained, subject to certain exceptions. To the extent that we can delete your personal information, once we receive and confirm your verifiable consumer request, we will delete (and direct our service providers to delete) your personal information, unless an exception applies. 6.3 Exercising Your Access, Data Portability, and Deletion Rights To exercise the access, data portability, and deletion rights described above, please submit a verifiable consumer request to us by either: - Contacting us at [email protected]; or - Calling us, at (800) 309-9351. Only you or a person registered with the California Secretary of State that you authorize to act on your behalf, may make a verifiable consumer request related to your personal information. You may also make a verifiable consumer request on behalf of your minor child. You may only make a verifiable consumer request for access or data portability twice within a 12-month period. 6.4 Annual California Privacy Rights Request Metrics (January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021) \|Request type\|\|Number received\|\|Number completed\|\|Number rejected\|\|Average number of days for response\| \|Access My Information\|\|152\|\|123\|\|29\|\|15\| \|Delete My Information\|\|7085\|\|6188\|\|897\|\|10\| \|Do Not Sell My Information\|\|3583\|\|3191\|\|392\|\|5\| 7. Links To Third Party Sites Occasionally, at our discretion, we may link to third party sites or content on third-party sites. We may do this for the convenience of you and other users of the Website, but we do not have control over the operation of these third-party websites. These third-party sites have separate and independent privacy notices. We, therefore, have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of our Website and welcome any feedback about these third-party sites. We urge you to review the privacy notices posted on these third-party websites at the time you first visit such sites. 8. Changes to this Policy 9. Contact Us	https://www.infopay.com/privacy
Seaport BUS C150 Quiz 2 – 15th Ed. Seaport BUS C150 Quiz 2 – 15th Ed. 1. Which of the following statements regarding the nature of the business market is true? Distribution channels for business products are significantly longer than those for consumer products. Customer relationships for business products tend to be short-term and transactions-based. Personal selling plays a larger role in business products markets than in consumer markets. Customer service plays a smaller role in the distribution of business products, as compared to the consumer market. 2. Which of the following is the largest segment of the business market? Trade industries, which include retailers, wholesalers, and resellers. The commercial market, which includes anyone who acquires products to support production of other goods and services. Government organizations, including the military, state, and federal governments. Institutions such as schools, hospitals, and churches. 3. Which of the following statements does not describe the advantage of leasing? Requires a high level of capital commitment Provides the ability to easily upgrade equipment as needs change Provides flexibility for a growing business Spreads out costs compared with lump-sum costs for up-front purchases 4. Businesses choose outsourcing as an alternative to making goods in-house or providing in-house services when: in-house processes often do not incur costs for overheads that an outside vendor would otherwise charge. proprietary technology has the potential to raise security concerns. conflicts arise between nonunion outside workers and in-house union employees. they need to reduce costs to remain competitive. 5. Which of the following statements is true regarding the influence of organizational factors on purchasing decisions? A company with a centralized procurement function operates very similarly to one that delegates purchasing decisions to divisional or geographic units. Centralized buying tends to emphasize short-term results. Decentralized buying focuses more on long-term relationships with suppliers. Personal selling skills and user preferences carry more weight in decentralized purchasing situations. 6. Related party trade is defined as the trade relationship between: countries with free trade agreements. countries with the same language. companies in the same industries. a corporation and its overseas subsidiaries. 7. A nation’s size, per-capita income, and stage of economic development determine its prospects as a host for _____. regional economic integration international business expansion free trade association public private partnership 8. The Export Trading Company Act of 1982, exempts companies from _____ so they can form export groups that offer a variety of products to foreign buyers. few international laws business monitoring specific quotas and tariffs antitrust regulations 9. A complete ban on the import of a product is known as a(n) _____. import quota embargo revenue tariff protective tariff 10. The ideal way for a nation to stop a foreign company from dumping is to: pay the exporter with soft currency. impose protective tariffs. cite international law. appeal to the IMF. 11. In recent years, advances in computer technology have significantly changed the nature of marketing research by: narrowing the focus of the data collection process. allowing marketers to evaluate alternatives through the use of computer simulations. eliminating the need for outside research firms. providing an in-house market research group with primary data. 12. Wal-Mart prefers transaction records sorted by customer type, product, sales method, type of order, and order size. Analyzing internal data sorted in this manner is called: sales analysis. financial iteration. transactional hypothesis. marketing cognizance. 13. Information collected for the first time specifically for a marketing research study is called _____ data. secondary primary tertiary screening 14. Which of the following is a limitation of secondary data not found in primary data? Secondary data is more expensive to collect and analyze than primary data. Secondary data requires that market researchers spend more time to locate and analyze. Published information can quickly become obsolete. Published data often involves non-standardized analytic patterns. 15. Which of the following federal agencies is the most important source of secondary data for marketing research studies? Federal Reserve Treasury Department Census Bureau Bureau of Labor Statistics 16. The division of the total market into smaller, _____ groups is called market segmentation. equivocal randomly selected relatively homogeneous conveniently stratified 17. Which of the following is a basic requirement for effective market segmentation? The firm must avoid focusing on non-variables, such as profitability and volume. The market segment must have measurable purchasing power and size. The company must expand beyond its marketing capabilities to capture growing markets. The market segment must reflect the population’s changing attitudes and lifestyles. 18. Japanese automaker, Subaru, generates approximately one-half of its sales in just four states (Alaska, Colorado, Maine, and Washington). These states constitute Subaru’s: primary market. core region. secondary market. sales region. 19. The most common method of market segmentation is: product sampling. demographic segmentation. economic segmentation. psychographic segmentation. 20. In terms of numbers, which age group is the largest? Baby Boomers Generation X 9/11 Generation World War II Generation 21. The government segment of the B2B market commonly buys products: for resale to the public. to provide public benefits. to export them to other countries. to improve its gross domestic product. 22. A strategy for going global through contractual agreements in which the production of goods or services is assigned to local companies is termed as _____. franchising licensing offset strategy subcontracting 23. One of the very first marketing research studies involved of an examination of people’s: phone bills. literacy levels. newspaper reading habits. garbage. 24. A positioning map: is used primarily by companies utilizing undifferentiated marketing strategies. will remain constant through the entire product life cycle. shows how consumers view a product relative to competitive products. outlines how to introduce a new product to the marketplace. 25. One of the characteristics of relationship marketing is: the short-term goal of creating an immediate sale. consolidating purchases based on promotions and other inducements. an orientation toward added value through superior customer service. longer distribution channels between suppliers and buyers. We are ready to write this paper for you from scratch. Place an order for this assignment or any other paper with us. We guarantee that the paper will be delivered within the specified deadline. We also have a personalized customer support and you will be able to communicate with your writer throughout the order preparation process. Thank you for choosing us.	https://contentfence.com/seaport-bus-c150-quiz-2-15th-ed/
Despite the global pandemic, the California Attorney General will begin enforcing the California Consumer Privacy Act on July 1 as planned, so even in this new work-from-home environment, businesses must continue to work towards compliance and resolve any open issues. One question we’ve been asked is whether the CCPA provides a complete exemption for financial institutions. We address that question below. The CCPA imposes new requirements on businesses that collect and maintain the personal information of California consumers. It is meant to apply broadly to nearly every type of business that meets certain thresholds, even those, such as financial institutions, that are already regulated by federal privacy law. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act regulates the collection and disclosure of much of the same type of personal information that is regulated by the CCPA, and imposes strict requirements on financial institutions to protect customer data and provide notice to customers about the information they collect and maintain. Under the GLBA, financial institutions are required to assess and implement controls for risks to customer information, with a focus on areas that are particularly important to information security, including employee training and management, information systems, and preventing and responding to attacks and system failures. In light of the obligations already placed on financial institutions by the GLBA (as well as the California Financial Information Privacy Act), the California Legislature sought to ease some of the burden placed on them by the CCPA by creating a carve-out. However, CCPA does not fully exempt financial institutions from its requirements. Rather, the CCPA exempts the data that is covered by the GLBA, not the institutions themselves. Specifically, the CCPA exempts “personal information collected, processed, sold, or disclosed pursuant to the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and implementing regulations . . . .” What does this mean for businesses? The CCPA covers a wider range of information than does the GLBA, and financial institutions are likely to possess such data. The CCPA covers “personal information” which is defined as “information that identifies, relates to, describes, is capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular consumer or household.” By contrast, the GLBA applies to a narrower category of “personally identifiable financial information,” which is defined as any information that a consumer provides to a financial institution “to obtain a financial product or service” or “about a consumer resulting from any transaction involving a financial product or service” between the company and a consumer or that the financial institution otherwise “obtains about a consumer in connection with providing a financial product or service to that consumer.” This may include information on an insurance application, account information, and information from an internet cookie or other digital record, where that information is collected in connection with providing a financial product. Given that it is covered by the GLBA, the CCPA exempts such information from its requirements. In other words, the financial institution does not have to provide customers with the various rights with respect to “personally identifiable financial information” that must otherwise be provided under the CCPA. However, where the financial institution collects information for some purpose other than providing a financial product or service, such as when it collects information for marketing purposes, it must meet the requirements of the CCPA. Notably, the CCPA’s definition also includes any “inferences drawn” from any personal information that is used “to create a profile about a consumer reflecting the consumer’s preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, intelligence, abilities, and aptitudes.” Thus, certain activities such as targeted online advertising, tracking web page visitors, collecting geolocation data, and obtaining information from visitors to the site who are not necessarily (and may never become) customers, may involve the collection of information that falls outside the scope of the GLBA but within the scope of the CCPA. In practice, this means that financial institutions that collect personal data unrelated to providing financial products or services must have a process in place to identify what information is subject to the GLBA and what information they have that otherwise would be covered by the CCPA. This will require them to map their data, make sure they can identify what data they collect and for what purpose, and perhaps reassess their privacy policies and practices to account for the interaction between the GLBA and the CCPA. It is possible that, in certain situations, the same data may be regulated differently depending on how and why it was collected. For instance, an internet cookie or IP address may be subject to the GLBA (and thus exempt from the CCPA) if collected to provide a financial service; but if the same data was collected solely for marketing purposes, but never culminated in the provision of a service, it is likely to be covered by the CCPA. Finally, regardless of the type of information collected, the GLBA exemption does not apply to the private right of action provided under the CCPA. The private right of action allows consumers to seek statutory damages if the consumer’s information “is subject to an unauthorized access, exfiltration, theft, or disclosure as a result of the business’s violation of the duty to implement and maintain reasonable security procedures and practices.” Accordingly, even if a financial institution’s data is exempt from the CCPA requirements of notice, choice, and access, it is still subject to potentially significant damages in the event of a data breach involving that information. As stated above, the Attorney General will not begin enforcing the CCPA until July 1 and it remains to be seen how this exemption will be interpreted. In the interim, it is incumbent on all financial institutions to ensure that their privacy policies are updated to account for the fact that certain information in their possession may be subject to the CCPA and to be prepared to respond to consumer requests for information. See more » DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations. © Cozen O'Connor Refine your interests »	https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/does-the-ccpa-apply-to-financial-27567/
A public company's internal control systems shall comprise the following constituent elements: Control environment: Control environment is the basis of the design and implementation of internal control system across the company. Control environment encompasses the integrity and values of the company, governance oversight responsibility of the board of directors and supervisors, organizational structure, assignment of authority and responsibility, human resources policy, and performance measures and reward and discipline. The board of directors and management shall prescribe internal standards of conduct, including the adoption of a code of conduct for directors and a code of conduct for employees. Risk assessment: A precondition to risk assessment is the establishment of objectives, linked at different levels of the company, and with the suitability of the objects for the company taken into consideration. Management shall consider the impact of possible changes in the external environment and within its own business model that may render internal control ineffective.. The risk assessment results can assist the company in designing, correcting, and operating necessary control activities in a timely manner. Control activities: Control activities are the actions of carrying out policies and procedures taken by the company on the basis of risk assessment results to limit relevant risks to a sustainable level. Control activities shall be performed at all levels of the company, at various stages within business processes, and over the technology environment, and shall include supervision and management of subsidiaries. Information and communications: Information and communication means the relevant and quality information that the company obtains, generates, or uses from both internal and external sources to support the functioning of other components of internal control, and the capability of effective communication between the company and external parties. Internal control systems must have mechanisms for generating information necessary for planning, implementation, and monitoring and providing timely information to those who need it. Monitoring activities: Monitoring activities means ongoing evaluations, separate evaluations, or some combination of the two used by the company to ascertain whether each of the components of internal control is present and functioning. Ongoing evaluations means routine evaluations built into the course of operations at different levels of the company. Separate evaluations are evaluations conducted by different personnel such as internal auditors, supervisors, or the board of directors. Findings of deficiencies of the internal control system shall be communicated to the management at appropriate levels, the board of directors, and the supervisors, and improvements shall be made in a timely manner. A public company designing and operating its internal control systems or carrying out self-assessment, or a certified public accountant (CPA) retained to conduct a special audit of the company's internal control systems, shall fully consider the constituent elements enumerated in the preceding paragraph, and, in addition to the criteria prescribed by the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), shall add additional items as dictated by actual needs.	https://twse-regulation.twse.com.tw/ENG/EN/law/DOC01_print.aspx?FLCODE=FL021141&FLNO=6
Director of Technology Marburn Academy operates in a MAC environment. This position provides onsite support and leadership of the school’s technology program in three distinct areas. The first is the management of the technology infrastructure through a third party consultant. The second is the identification, development and implementation of cutting technology to enhance our students’ creativity, productivity, access to curriculum, and executive function skills. And the third is the development of a faculty culture around technology through effective delivery of professional development. PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Technology Infrastructure Manage the relationship with the selected third party consultant to assure the ongoing maintenance and upgrading of the school’s technology infrastructure including the development of upgrade and improvement plans; research and evaluation of necessary upgrades; assuring technology disaster recovery plans are developed and updated; and maintaining inventories of technology equipment. Additionally, responsible for developing and implementing systems and guidelines for orderly and reliable workflow in response to Tech Requests. Technology Initiatives Serves as a strong advocate for 21st century skills and technology integration implementing strategies for initiating and sustaining technology innovation in the classroom. Disseminates information regarding technology resources, emerging technologies, best practices using technology and professional development opportunities. - Identification, development and implementation of technology to enhance our students’ creativity, productivity, access to curriculum, and executive function skills - Determine AT (Assistive Technology) needs and make recommendations to the Senior Leadership Team for appropriate purchases. - Conduct AT evaluations on all incoming students to ensure that their AT needs are identified and met before they begin classes. - Conduct AT evaluations on outgoing students as they transition to college, the workforce or other post-secondary settings. - Ensure that appropriate AT tools are loaded on student computers and that students can use them effectively. - Teach technology classes in all grade levels. - Spend time in teacher classrooms, observing lessons and student activities and make recommendations/offering one-to-one tutoring on the integration of helpful technology tools and strategies for learning support. Faculty Culture and Professional Development Work collaboratively with the leadership team and teachers to develop the technology strategy and direction for the school. Implement selected technology tools and train staff and parents in the effective use of these tools. Build meaningful and purposeful technology tools into the school’s curriculum. - Conduct ongoing professional development related to effective integration of technology into the classroom for faculty. - Support teachers in presenting workshops on technology both internally and externally. - Conduct parent and community education sessions for adults interested in learning more about the school’s technology program and services. - Ensure that parents are informed of the nature and uses of software that is installed on student computers. - Conduct meetings with faculty regarding new students and discuss effective and appropriate AT tools for that student.	https://marburnacademy.org/director-of-technology/
Implementation researchers are increasingly using economic evaluation to explore the benefits produced by implementing evidence-based practices (EBPs) in healthcare settings. However, the findings of typical economic evaluations (e.g., based on clinical trials) are rarely sufficient to inform decisions about how health service organizations and policymakers should finance investments in EBPs. This paper describes how economic evaluations can be translated into policy and practice through complementary research on financing strategies that support EBP implementation and sustainment. Main body We provide an overview of EBP implementation financing, which outlines key financing and health service delivery system stakeholders and their points of decision-making. We then illustrate how economic evaluations have informed decisions about EBP implementation and sustainment with three case examples: (1) use of Pay-for-Success financing to implement multisystemic therapy in underserved areas of Colorado, USA, based in part on the strength of evidence from economic evaluations; (2) an alternative payment model to sustain evidence-based oncology care, developed by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services through simulations of economic impact; and (3) use of a recently developed fiscal mapping process to collaboratively match financing strategies and needs during a pragmatic clinical trial for a newly adapted family support intervention for opioid use disorder. Conclusions EBP financing strategies can help overcome cost-related barriers to implementing and sustaining EBPs by translating economic evaluation results into policy and practice. We present a research agenda to advance understanding of financing strategies in five key areas raised by our case examples: (1) maximize the relevance of economic evaluations for real-world EBP implementation; (2) study ongoing changes in financing systems as part of economic evaluations; (3) identify the conditions under which a given financing strategy is most beneficial; (4) explore the use and impacts of financing strategies across pre-implementation, active implementation, and sustainment phases; and (5) advance research efforts through strong partnerships with stakeholder groups while attending to issues of power imbalance and transparency. Attention to these research areas will develop a robust body of scholarship around EBP financing strategies and, ultimately, enable greater public health impacts of EBPs.	https://implementationscience.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13012-021-01137-9
Tetra Tech International Development Services headquartered in Arlington, VA is searching for a Utility Reform Advisor for an anticipated USAID energy project based out of Papua New Guinea (PNG). This energy project will contribute to significantly achieving the goal of connecting 70% of PNG’s population to electricity by 2030. The PNG Electrification Partnership (PEP) will do this through strengthening of key energy sector institutions, off-grid electrification, and increasing private investment. The Utility Reform Advisor will provide technical assistance to reform/restructure utility companies and improve their operational performance to make them self-sufficient and sustainable. This role is a fixed term for the duration of the five-year project. Position responsibilities: · Lead activities in planning, design, development, and implementation of utility related projects, focused on power generation, transmission, or distribution. · Carry out and lead the development of resource assessments, utility management and operation due-diligence, utility performance assessment, feasibility studies, technology evaluations, market assessments, policy evaluations, and economic analyses in electricity sector · Document and report on project activities, prepare position papers and technical review documents to assist in sharing project successes and lessons learned · Interact directly with client, sponsors, and stakeholders Essential KSA’s required (experience, skills, education, certification, etc.): · Master’s degree in Power Systems, Electrical Engineering, or related field; · Minimum of 10 years of work experience in the electricity sector, especially in utility management positions, operation, and maintenance; · Experience in the implementation of power generation, transmission, or distribution technologies · Experience in implementing improvements in utility operations, including electricity loss reduction strategies, outages reduction, network quality improvements, etc.; To be considered applicants must submit the following as part of the online application process: * Cover Letter * CV in reverse chronological format Please ensure that all necessary documents are uploaded, as incomplete applications and/or corrupt files may delay processing of your application or remove you from consideration. Applications that do not meet the minimum requirements listed above will not be considered. No phone calls will be accepted. Tetra Tech is a leading provider of high-end consulting and engineering services for projects worldwide. With more than 20,000 associates working together, Tetra Tech provides clear solutions to complex problems in water, environment, infrastructure, resource management, energy, and international development. Tetra Tech combines the resources of a global, multibillion dollar company with local, client-focused delivery in over 400 locations around the world. We offer competitive compensation and benefits and are searching for innovative people to join our teams. We are Leading with Science® to provide sustainable and resilient solutions for our clients. We are an equal opportunity employer: EOE AA/M/F/Vets/Disability. Find Us On... Home \| TetraTech.com/IntDev \| Copyright © 2019. All Rights Reserved.	https://careers.tetratechintdev.com/IDSCareers/App/USPostingDetail.aspx?PostingId=3549
Indeed, as Rog correctly points out, program evaluators (and program sponsors) often ignore at their own peril, program context. Too often evaluations begin with attention focused on methodology, then later—often when it’s too late–discover that the results, meanings, and uses, of evaluation findings have been hampered by insufficiently considering the context in which an evaluation is conducted. Five Aspects of Context Rog says there are 5 aspects of context that directly and indirectly affect the selection, design, and ultimate success of an evaluation: 1. the nature of the problem that a program or intervention seeks to address 2. the nature of the intervention—how the structure, complexity, and dynamics of the program (including program life cycle) affect the selection and implementation of the evaluation approach 3. the broader environment (or setting) in which the program is situated and operates (for example, the availability of affordable housing may profoundly affect the outcomes and successes of a program intended to assist homeless persons to accesses housing.) 4. the parameters of the evaluation, including the evaluation budget, allotted time for implementation of evaluation activities, and the availability of data 5. the decision-making context for the evaluation—who are the decision-makers that will use evaluation findings, which types of decisions do they need to make, and whcih standards of rigor and levels of confidence do decisions-makers require Context-Sensitive Evaluations – What to Look For Rog underscores the importance of conducting “context-sensitive” evaluations—evaluations that first consider the various aspects of the context in which programs operate and in which program evaluation activities will occur. She makes a plea to evaluators and evaluation sponsors to refrain from engaging in a “method’s first approach” which too often fetishizes methodologies at the cost of conducting appropriate evaluations that can be of maximum value and use to all program stakeholders. In our experience, the most effective context-sensitive evaluations address: - Who program stakeholders are (funders, program managers, program participants, community members, etc.) - What stakeholders need to learn about a program’s operation and outcomes - The social and economic context of the program’s operation - Key questions to guide the evaluation research - Research methodologies that provide robust and cost-effective findings - A logic model that clearly specifies the program activities and results - A wide range of evaluation research methodologies and data collection strategies to ensure that program results are systematically and rigorously measured. - Clear, accessible reports so that all stakeholders benefit from evaluation findings - Detailed recommendations for how sponsors and program managers can strengthen further efforts When it comes to program evaluation, not only does context matter, it is on the critical path for getting the best results. To find out about how we consider context in our evaluation methods visit our Data collection & Outcome measurement page.	https://bradroseconsulting.com/context-is-critical/
Presentation is loading. Please wait. Published byBrian Haynes Modified over 5 years ago 1 Moving Research into Practice 2 Implementation is the routine use of a SHRP 2 product by users in their regular way of doing business. Users can include state DOTs, MPOs, resource agencies, and other highway stakeholders. There are a number of strategies and tactics that can be used by FHWA, AASHTO and NHTSA to help agencies implement SHRP 2 products. 3 Research & Report of Findings Pilots & Products Deployment & Tech Transfer Activities Mainstream Practice National GoalsState NeedsLeadership Input 4 ResearchDevelopmentDeployment Study, experimentation, testing to develop new knowledge, tools, methods Additional lab and field testing, improvements to increase usability (reliability, cost, complementary products, training, etc.) Routine use by ordinary users Innovators …………. Early Adopters ….…Early/Late Majority... Delivery 5 Development involves taking research results and converting them into usable products Examples: development of a web tool, a software application, a guidebook or handbook, a specification, or a training module from research results; pilot tests of a new process and modifications based on what is learned from the pilot test TRB is in the lead for most of these activities. 6 Acceptance of products that are tested and ready to be used by implementing agencies May involve demonstration projects, adoption of standards or specifications, use of IT products that have been through a beta test, changes in business practices by implementing agencies Although additional refinements may occur as a result of experience in using the products, they are in mainstream use and not expected to have major changes 7 Guides, Syntheses, Handbooks Models and Methodology Databases and Datasets Web tools Software Application Model Specifications, Technical Guidance & Strategic Plans Technical Training Materials Videos 8 Bridges Nondestructive Testing Techniques Pavements Project Delivery Utilities and Railroads 9 Collaborative Decision Making Economic Impact Analysis Dynamic Integrated Models & Networks Integrating Conservation, Highway Planning & Environmental Review Planning for Freight Demand 10 Data & Analysis for Travel Time Reliability Performance Reliability in Planning, Programming & Geometric Design Organizing Transportation Agencies to Improve Reliability Preparing for the Future Reliability IDEA Program 11 Data to Improve Highway Safety Tools for Data Analysis Advancing the State of the Art 12 A concentrated effort to assist a limited number of volunteer states or agencies to adopt and use the highest priority SHRP 2 products Early implementers will serve as “role models” who will demonstrate and promote use of the products to their peers. This approach is based on SHRP 1 experience and research from the field of technology deployment and marketing 13 Multiple tactics will be used to encourage implementing agencies to adopt priority SHRP 2 products: Demonstration projects Evaluations Training/technical assistance Showcases Seminars Workshops Webinars Marketing and communication 14 Funding will depend on decisions that Congress will make regarding reauthorization; the amount of funding is highly uncertain. $70 million is currently available to FHWA. A continuation at current funding levels through FFY 2015 would provide $170 million. The highest potential level is $250 million. If all products were to be implemented, the estimated cost is $400+ million. Therefore there is a need to prioritize which products would be implemented. 15 Seven products that were completed early and identified as priorities by AASHTO and FHWA were selected to demonstrate how implementation would occur and to show the value of SHRP 2 products. The implementation process is just getting under way on these products. Five are from Renewal and two are from Reliability 16 Due to limited and uncertain funding, FHWA and AASHTO are undertaking prioritization processes all anticipated products. The FHWA process is evaluating relevance, readiness, risks, resources and roles and rank orders products in each focus area. An AASHTO SHRP 2 Implementation Task Force will identify highest priority products on March 22-23. 17 The need is being addressed by the product Resource requirements for implementation Difficulties expected in implementation Benefits relative to resource requirements How much of an improvement will result in practice Priority and interest expressed by states & AASHTO committees Likelihood that state DOTs will implement the product 18 Establish costs and schedules for implementation of priority products Reach consensus between FHWA and AASHTO on priorities and responsibilities for implementation Develop strategic implementation plan Develop implementation plans for individual products Marketing and communication plan IT Plan 19 Successful implementation of SHRP 2 products will require a partnership among FHWA, AASHTO and other implementing agencies The ultimate test of the program will be the degree to which users of the highway system experience improvements SCOR members represent “innovators” within state DOTs, and I hope that you volunteer to be among the early implementers of SHRP 2 products. Similar presentations © 2020 SlidePlayer.com Inc. All rights reserved.	http://slideplayer.com/slide/6240941/
In their experience as academics and consultants, Dr. C. Brooke Dobni and Dr. Mark Klassen have concluded that many organizations need something to improve their organization’s innovation, but they are not quite sure what. Through their research, they have learned much about assessing an organization’s culture of innovation and the practice and implementation of innovation. Dobni is the founder of InnovationOne, a research and management consulting firm. Dobni and Klassen have discovered that innovation is most successful when two factors occur. First, it succeeds when there is executive leadership support for a culture of innovation. Second, it succeeds when there are systemic approaches to embed and reinforce innovative behaviors. Their article, “Linking Innovation Measurement to an Implementation Framework: A Case Study of a Financial Services Organization at the Front End of Innovation,” appears in the June 2018 issue of the Journal of Innovation Management. It outlines a case study of an organization in the financial services sector, and reports on the progress of a sustained, deliberate approach to improve innovation and business results. In addition, the organization improved it business results. The research highlights the relationship between an innovation-culture-assessment model, the scientifically developed InnovationOne Health Index, and its use as a framework to manage the implementation of innovation activities in the financial services industry. By actively observing the organization, including two cultural assessments over a four-year period, the researchers showed that an innovation assessment model is successful as an approach to advance the innovation agenda in the organization. The business context for their case study is one facing many industries. The financial sector in recent years has seen an increasing complexity of product offerings combined with customers with higher expectations. Innovative products such as the mortgage-backed securities, exchange-traded funds, and derivatives are now commonplace financial instruments available to the mass market. Technology, the internet, and non-traditional competitors and business models, as well, are critical components of infrastructure that is reshaping the financial sector. The research findings of this paper should interest practitioners looking to advance their innovation platform. They will find the framework useful as they plan initiatives aimed at advancing their innovation goals—and put in place measures to track their progress, make adjustments, and achieve improved business results. The research findings will also interest academics looking to conceptualize a broader implementation framework that is closely associated with the innovation measurement. Over the four years studied, the financial services organization was able to improve its innovation capability. Specifically, the researchers learned the following: - The drivers that improve innovation are related to employee skills and creativity, organizational learning and technical and financial support. Investments were made in customer service and innovation training and to improve general operational processes that were inefficient. - The organization had major infrastructure process and technology gaps related to customer information, business intelligence and general operational processes that were inefficient. These customer and business intelligence gaps meant that the organization no longer had the critical insights on how their customers’ needs were changing and how to serve them. Without intimate knowledge of customer needs and how the industry and technology is changing, innovation falters. Larger information system and process improvements projects were launched to improve customer relationships and business intelligence, including the implementation of a new banking system. - Knowledge management is key to innovation. The important drivers are 1) generating and disseminating knowledge related to the industry, competitor, and clients, and 2) being able to make value-added decisions in respect to that knowledge. The technology and process improvements mentioned above helped executive leaders understand how customer needs and the financial sector were changing. With this knowledge executives were able to understand what changes they needed to make and the strategic direction for innovation. However, two gaps remained, the inclusion of information from partners and alliances for open innovation concepts and developing a process to disseminate this knowledge to the employees. These two gaps were ultimately closed by implementing a knowledge management project which gathered and disseminated information to the workforce and innovation teams. Through this process, the organization ultimately launched products and services that created better value. - The organization needed to improve its processes directed at the ability to execute initiatives. To improve execution, the organization created an innovation team armed with a mandate to “get things going” and a budget to achieve the innovation goals. The team was comprised of a cross-section of employees from the organization, ranging from senior managers to operational employees. Prior to the intervention, senior managers were responsible for achieving goals, the decision-making structure and the implementation environment. To a certain extent, this did not change. The innovation team, however, gave management a new tool to assist in the execution and created a culture where employees were more active in decision making and execution, as well as embedding the innovation culture. - The innovation team had a wide-open agenda. For example, they developed programs such as “innovation moments” that ensured all working groups in the organization were allowed time to “blue sky” ideas to achieve innovation goals. For specific projects, SWAT-like teams were assembled and given the mandate to solve problems or enact opportunities. The innovation team was also responsible for providing direction to innovation projects. In some cases, projects were deemed, “quick wins” and executed immediately and without sanction by the SWAT teams, whereas larger projects such as information system improvements were labeled as a key innovation projects subject to a charter. The innovation teams were given the resources to advance these more significant projects. - One of the traditional adjustments the organization made to its implementation environment was to change its organizational structure. The structure become more customer-centric and aligned with functional areas grouped around product and service offerings as opposed to core functional areas such as finance and human resources-which became support entities within the structure. - Finally, performance management systems changed to accommodate innovation goals and reward employees for ideas, or successful implementation of innovative projects. The organization improved its overall InnovationOne Health Index score over four years. It also achieved its highest net income ever, improved its business success, and was named “top 100 workplaces in Canada” at the end of the five years. What Dobni and Klassen learned from this action research case study is that pursuing an innovation culture can be accomplished on a systematic and planned basis. Initially, organizations can benefit the most from investments in leadership, and discussions around innovation. It is also essential that employees be allowed to be creative and empowered. Economic and competitive issues are not treated solely as obstacles, but rather as imperatives for innovative change. Innovation is a challenging, and the key question becomes one of how C-suite executives should focus their limited time and resources on a handful of key drivers that support innovation. CEOs that get innovation have already communicated a strong case for change, obtained senior leadership resolve, and have strategically analyzed the innovation activity choices to execute innovation through an integrated approach. The article includes a literature review, insightful analysis and further insights on innovation and the implementing of an innovative culture. It can be downloaded from the Journal of Innovation Management About the authors: Dr. C. Brooke Dobni is Professor and Hanlon Scholar for International Business, Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, and the founder of InnovationOne. Dr. Mark Klassen is the Assistant Professor, Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. Victor Assad is the CEO of Victor Assad Strategic Human Resources Consulting. Victor, Dr. C. Brooke Dobni and Ed Colby are Managing Partners of InnovationOne. Victor consults and provides “hands-on” support for innovation, global talent strategies, developing agile leaders and teams, and other strategic initiatives. Contact Victor Assad at [email protected]. Visit http://www.victorhrconsultant.com for valuable free reports. For research on innovation visit http://www.InnovationOne.io.	https://victorhrconsultant.com/2018/07/17/new-case-study-links-innovationone-health-index-and-innovation-implementation-framework-to-improved-innovation-nine-lessons-from-case-study/
Evidence on Payment Reform: Where Are The Gaps? The US health care system is transforming how it pays for and delivers care. New payment models and benefit designs aim to promote and sustain improvements in health and care delivery, specifically focusing on better outcomes and lower costs. Supporting better payment policies is increasingly critical as rising costs affect the ability of individuals to afford coverage. However, the transition to new models is not easy. Published studies of payment reforms have shown mixed results, leaving providers, payers, purchasers, and patients uncertain about how to proceed. There is a strong consensus among health care stakeholders about the need for better evidence on the impact of payment reforms. Better evidence would give providers and the public more confidence in implementing payment and delivery reforms—and also knowing which ones to avoid. Evaluations can help stakeholders identify where to make necessary changes. In short, better evidence would ensure that we realize the promise of payment reforms to improve care and reduce costs. To accelerate the development of better evidence, the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy established the Payment Reform Evidence Hub, with support from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation and guidance from a multistakeholder expert working group. To support the Hub’s efforts, we built an inventory consisting of all the evaluations we could locate, 355 in total, of various payment reform initiatives implemented by commercial health plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and other state programs. The inventory has helped us assess the state of available evidence and identify gaps. What Specific Types Of Payment Reforms Need Better Evidence? We categorized the reports and results of payment reform evaluations using the categories of payment reforms developed by the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network (LAN). LAN Category 1 is traditional fee-for-service (FFS) arrangements. The other LAN payment reform categories are: - Category 2: Pay-for-performance initiatives, generally consisting of rewards or penalties built on top of the traditional FFS system (that is, FFS payment adjustments based on measures of quality or value). - Category 3: Payment reforms based on a FFS infrastructure that includes some accountability for results at the level of a population of patients, generally either for episodes of care or for all services. These payments are divided into two subcategories. Category 3A includes accountable care organizations (ACOs) that share savings or losses based on quality and total spending performance for a population of patients on top of FFS payments but do not require any downside risk for the accountable providers. Category 3B payments include bundled payments for an episode of care with some downside risk, again in conjunction with FFS payments for the providers involved. - Category 4: Population-based payments mainly tied to patients rather than services. This requires partial or full capitation with substantial adjustments for quality performance—a major change away from FFS. About 40 percent of evaluations of LAN Categories 2 – 4 address pay for performance and other Category 2 payments. About 60 percent focus on Category 3 and Category 4 payments. Of those, the plurality examine ACOs, a slightly smaller percentage focus on bundled payments or episode-based payments for procedures, and a very few look at Category 4 population-based payments not closely tied to FFS. This distribution is consistent with a 2016 LAN survey across a set of public and private payers. Figure 1. Summary of the Hub inventory of evaluations according to LAN payment category, with examples of each payment category shown in the right-hand column However, our findings raise questions about the overall rigor and diversity of the evidence presented in these studies. Of the private payer evaluations of Category 3 and 4 payments, 51 percent are “internal,” which meant they did not release details of how the reform was assessed or detailed results, or they were studies in which we could not identify the type of assessment done. Category 3A and Category 4 payments have the highest proportion of internal studies. We also have just 17 evaluations of Medicaid payment reforms, showing a strong need for more evaluations of state-run programs. Most of the rigorous evaluations that have been released publicly with detailed methodologies are from federal government programs or federally funded initiatives, as a result of statutory requirements for Medicare and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center) programs. Our results show a substantial need for additional evidence across health care programs, especially given the importance of Category 3 and Category 4 payments for the future of payment reform and their growing prevalence in commercial and state programs. For example, the number of ACOs nationwide continues to grow, with more than 28 million people now covered by an accountable care arrangement. There are shifts to Category 4 payments by states and private insurers. Category 3 and Category 4 payments are likely to qualify as Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) alternative payment models (APMs), and Category 4 payments with significant “downside” financial risk may qualify as advanced APMs eligible for additional bonus payments. While pilots of these APMs in Medicare will eventually be evaluated, there remains a clear gap in evidence on similar or more advanced models outside of Medicare. Geographic Disparities In Evaluations The impact of payment reforms may differ across health care markets, based on differences in population demographics, rural versus urban areas, provider capabilities in the region, and other market features. We found substantial variation in the number of value-based payment reform evaluations by state, as shown in Figure 2. Evaluations are more likely to occur in states with large urban areas, and less so in more rural states. In states with fewer evaluations, the vast majority of them are Medicare or Innovation Center multistate evaluations of national programs. (This is why the minimum number of observations for a state is 35, rather than zero.) These national evaluations may not be designed to provide the evidence necessary to draw conclusions about distinct consequences in particular states, especially less populous and rural states. This figure covers all types of payment reforms; there is further variation in terms of specific types of payment reforms across states. Figure 2: Number of Payment Reform Evaluations by State Evaluation Designs Evaluators can use a variety of study designs to develop relevant evidence, while also reflecting the needs, resources, and practical realities of the organizations involved. Some methods can deliver faster results at a lower cost, potentially enabling more rapid modification of reforms. Other methods take longer and require greater resources to support sophisticated analysis but can deliver more comprehensive and more reliable evidence. Figure 3 shows the distribution of study designs from the inventory, among the studies for which methods could be determined. No study design is dominant. Figure 3: Study design of evaluations with known methodologies The emphasis, then, should be on making it easier for individual organizations to conduct evaluations, regardless of the study design they choose. Supporting feasible improvements in both the design and basic transparency of reported evaluations will allow stakeholders to see best where and how reforms have worked elsewhere, fostering collective learning and allowing them to better implement their own reforms in the future. While the trade-off described in the paragraph above will always be present to some extent, there are federal, state, and commercial evaluations that have produced quality, publishable evidence in a timely manner. Moving Forward: Steps Toward A Better Evidence Base Our inventory of evaluations is intended to serve as a resource for identifying existing methods and evaluations that can inform future work, as well as to help assess findings. The inventory can be updated to reflect progress and encourage more evaluations. The initial results from the inventory found particularly large gaps in evidence for state and commercial-based payment reforms, as well as for payment reforms in less urban geographies and many regions and populations. At the same time, a wide variety of payment reforms are underway that affect these populations. The large gaps between reform implementation and applicable evidence from those reforms are a significant obstacle to incorporating what we’ve learned into payment reform efforts underway now. To help address these gaps, the Payment Reform Evidence Hub is taking steps designed to increase the capacity for implementing evaluations. We have consistently heard widespread interest from the public and private sectors in addressing the gaps in the evidence base. However, this interest is often not enough to overcome the significant challenges and barriers that make carrying out an evaluation difficult. Stakeholders frequently have concerns about data acquisition, control over information, statistical power, and the financial costs and time required to participate in payment reform evaluations. These findings suggest that it is essential to meet states and employers where they are in developing tools and other resources to support a range of evaluation approaches based on their needs and capabilities. We are seeking to help states and employers connect with resources to assist them in carrying out practical but meaningful evaluations of payment reforms. There are opportunities for such evaluations in the payment reforms supported by LAN’s Action Collaboratives in primary care, episode payments, and other areas. Multipayer evaluations of programs such as the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus pilot can take advantage of existing data-sharing agreements that can produce aggregated analyses relevant to federal, state, and commercial stakeholders. Actuarial analyses that guide employers and states in their health plan contracting can be another potential source of useful evidence. Synthesizing their results with evaluations could provide a more informed context for future contracting decisions. There are major opportunities for improving the evidence base on payment reforms. Much is at stake for health outcomes and health care costs and the success of further health care reform efforts. Appendix: Methods For Constructing The Evaluation Inventory We built the inventory of payment reform evaluations from multiple sources. First, we drew from three existing inventories: the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation’s portfolio catalogue; the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative list of innovations and programs; and the Catalyst for Payment Reform’s National Compendium on Payment Reform. We also integrated the 2014 RAND report on evaluations of pay-for-performance programs, ACOs, and bundled payment programs. Finally, we extended the RAND report by using its PubMed search terms to identify additional evaluations up to December 31, 2016. For the extended search, we included only evaluations of programs in the United States that had some reporting of results or outcomes. We also identified information about reforms in publicly available resources. These resources included: academic journal articles identified through an ad hoc Google Scholar search, online public reports about Medicare demonstrations and pilots, state reports on Medicaid innovations, government reports, “gray” literature, and websites of payers and providers. Finally, we used social media, with keyword searches such as #ACO. These searches identified organizations publicizing their alternative payment models. We ran the search using the December 31, 2016, cutoff date and aggregated the findings into our inventory. Authors’ Note This post is part of a project funded by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. The post is an independent work product, and the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the funder. We would also like to thank Rob Saunders and the Evidence Hub expert working group for their guidance in the development of this paper.	http://healthylivingsolution.net/evidence-on-payment-reform-where-are-the-gaps/
The Area Transportation Authority of North Central Pennsylvania (ATA) provides fixed-route and demand-response service to a mostly rural six-county area covering 5,000 square miles with a population of about 290,000. The ATA operates 133 routes, including fixed-route and demand-response, and serves about 372,000 passenger trips every year. The ITS implementation studied occurred as part of FY2001 federal earmark ITS funding. Because of the earmark funding, ATA was able to implement data and voice radio, mobile data computers (MDC), automatic vehicle location (AVL), and computer-aided reservation, scheduling and dispatch (CARSD) components. Other components such as reorganized maintenance management and financial systems were implemented as part of this funding, which may have led to improvements that cannot be separated from those benefits gained from ITS improvements alone. The authors utilized pre-deployment and post-deployment data in order to determine system improvements as a result of the implementation of ITS technologies. Findings attributed to ITS technologies have been highlighted below. Surveys were also conducted with customer study groups for the demand-response service and with driver, staff, and administration. Findings - Utilization of scheduling software has reduced non-revenue vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by demand service vehicles by 5.6 percent to 18 percent of VMT putting ATA below the national average of 24 percent for similar, mostly rural agencies. - AVL data shows that on-time pick-ups improved nine percent and are now over 80 percent. - The scheduling software has yet to be fully utilized and performance is likely to improve as ATA implements "batch scheduling." - Reservationists also reported that the scheduling software has reduced the amount of time spent on each reservation phone call. - The implementation of AVL /MDC technologies provided many benefits to the ATA, especially because they were able to reach agreements with five of the six counties they serve to improve their radio coverage. Using AVL/MDC allows dispatchers to schedule more same-day trips than was previously possible. It also decreased the amount of time spent by dispatchers on radio communication by 28 percent due to text messages being sent to drivers on the MDC rather than repeating instructions over radio. Drivers use the MDC to conduct pre-trip inspections, which are uploaded to the maintenance department daily. This is a task that used to be a two week process when paper forms were used. The maintenance department attributes the 69 percent decrease of in-service breakdowns to the use of MDCs for pre-trip inspections. When breakdowns and crashes do occur, the AVL technology allows the dispatcher to know the exact location of the vehicle and send the necessary resources to deal with the problem. - Surveys indicated that passengers had high levels of satisfaction with the ATA service prior to ITS implementation and the addition of ITS technology left the level of customer satisfaction largely unchanged. Staff and administration were satisfied with the improvements to their work flows due to the help of the CARSD software. This was also helped by the administrative changes as well.	https://www.itskrs.its.dot.gov/its/benecost.nsf/ID/273a3f9e8e1e55b8852578b20052081a
On 20-21 May 2015 6th International evaluation conference “Evaluation results for decision making: Use, challenges and examples” in Vilnius was held. Conference was organized by the Lithuanian Ministry of Finance and ESTEP. The conference took place in the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania. There were 165 participants from 20 different countries (31 presenters/ moderators and 134 participants) in the event. 38 per cent of the participants were guests from abroad, and the rest of 102 participants were Lithuanians. The number of conference participants was similar to that of 2011 conference (then there were 167 participants out of whom 55 were foreigners and 112 ‒ Lithuanians). The evaluation conference of 2013 was also a Lithuanian EU Council Presidency event which attracted the record number of participants – 192 guests (88 foreigners and 104 representatives of Lithuania). This year conference was devoted to the questions of the use of evaluation results and evaluation of evaluation impact. The conference programme was composed of plenary and parallel sessions as well as expert discussion about challenges and solutions in promoting the use of evaluation results. The summary of conference contents is presented below. Measures to promote use of evaluation results. Participants of the conference stressed the role of the evaluation contractors (specialists) in the process of “translating” evaluation results into the language which is understandable to policy makers. Such “translating” means to deliver relevant evidence (evaluation results) at the appropriate time of political agenda. Although the use of evidence and evaluation hardly depends on the general culture of public management, but in the EU as well as in international and national institutions the current attention to the evidence and evaluation results is increasing. Not only the quality determines the use of evaluation results and the implementation of their recommendations, but also the organization of evaluation process, involvement of interested stakeholders, and also abilities to communicate relevant evaluation results together with inspiration and encouragement for stakeholders to act (the importance of psychological factors was emphasized by several conference speakers). Measures to increase the benefits of evaluation use, and warnings about the quality and reliability of evaluation results. The importance of evaluation results synthesis (systematic reviews) and metaevaluations is growing with the increasing number of evaluations and their results. Both, in Lithuania and in other countries, this receives rather little attention, therefore, it is necessary that each new evaluation would be initiated only after assessment of already available results and gaps of evidence. Speakers draw attention to the methodological limitations of evaluations. For instance, it is dangerous to give prominence to quantitative evaluations results, as they too much simplify the reality and are not always based on valid and verifiable assumptions. Because of the lack of knowledge, for contractors and policy makers it is difficult to understand and assess such limitations. Evaluations of Cohesion Policy are rather too much focused on the impact of the investments of the EU funds, however, broader benefits of the EU membership are left without evaluation. It is important that not only the demand side effect of EU funds investments would be evaluated (which in many cases is temporal and finishes with the end of financial support), but also the supply side effect which asks if investments contributed to larger efficiency, and if changes are sustainable, etc. Limitations of evaluation to keep in mind and act on. Evaluations do not have to be only quantitative and very advanced in methodological terms, because such evaluations require very comprehensive and high quality data, which is not always available. Sometimes qualitative research is enough to highlight tendencies and also sufficient to understand the situation as well as to offer solutions. Limitations of data quality and availability are very common to international organizations that pay a lot of attention to data gathering and verifying. Not the complexity of evaluation method is important to the increase of evaluation impact and its benefit, but the reduction of fragmented evaluations. Fragmented evaluations could be understood as an insufficient number of evaluations in the context of the scope of investments; too strong orientation to the financial source (for example, fund), but not the policy goal (for example, so far there are no evaluations at the level of the EU or the countries of the impact of various investments of different funds on the development of specific territories, for instance rural). First plenary session. What factors influence evaluation use and impact? In this session there were two main questions of evaluation use discussed. Bastiaan de Laat from European Investment Bank stressed that the use of evaluation results is still problematic. Although good evaluation technique may increase the credibility of an evaluation, however, it is not the main factor that determines evaluation uptake. Several other factors come into play, e.g. timeliness, senior management support and the evaluation process. Also the systems ‒ and notably incentives ‒ for the concrete follow-up of recommendations are important. Ramūnas Dilba from the Lithuanian Ministry of Finance and Lina Kriaučiūnienė from Visionary Analytics in their presentation delivered conclusions about advantages and impact of evaluations carried out in Lithuania. The main finding was that around half of evaluation recommendations could be considered as of high quality, and 70 per cent of them were implemented. The largest number of evaluations contributed to better management and administration of EU co-funded programmes. However, the role of new knowledge in designing better programmes (i.e. reflection on objectives and implementation instruments) is considerably smaller. Karol Olejniczak from Warsaw University highlighted the importance of knowledge brokering in the use of evaluation results. In the context of Cohesion Policy, evaluation units play the role of knowledge brokering. While being intermediaries between evidence producers and users, evaluation units are in charge of accumulating and steering knowledge flows. This capacity, although promising, is difficult to develop because it requires experimentation and real life experience. Second plenary session. How to conduct evaluation to make it reliable and influential? The first presenter of the second plenary session prof. David Gough from University College London draw attention to the fact that there is little investment to the synthesis of primary research. In order to improve decision making process, it is necessary to consider all available data and thus to carry out primary research synthesis. One way of the evidence synthesis is metaevaluation ‒ synthesis of previously undertaken research findings and preparation of the systematic review. In his presentation prof. D. Gough reviewed the techniques of evidence synthesis and evaluation use. He also used the examples from the London 2012 Olympics to the development of practice guidance in the UK National Health Service. The second presenter Grzegorz Gorzelak from Warsaw University discussed the experience of new EU member states in implementing Cohesion Policy. The main findings show that in almost all the EU states there was an evident progress in developing infrastructure (communication, environment). On the other hand, the impact of Cohesion Policy on economic potential and innovations of the new EU member states was less evident. It is recommended that in the future the investments of Cohesion Policy should be more devoted to the creation of innovative economic structures and development of research. According to the third session presenter Andrea Saltelli from Bergen University, the prevailing modern positivistic model of science for policy, known as ‘evidence based policy’, is based on dramatic simplifications and compressions of available perceptions of the state of affairs and possible explanations. Therefore, this model can result in seriously flawed prescriptions. Evidence based policy has to be replaced by robust policy, where robustness is tested with respect to feasibility (compatibility with processes outside human control); viability (compatibility with processes under human control, in relation to both the economic and technical dimensions), and desirability domain (compatibility with a plurality of normative considerations relevant to a plurality of actors). Third plenary session. Evidence-based policy making and dissemination of evaluation results in the real world: challenges and solutions. The first presenter of the session Tony Verheijen, representative of the World Bank, emphasized that effective engagement with governments is essential in order to implement public policy goals (reaching more people with better health, education and infrastructure services, etc.). The creation of national strategies which involve public policy goals should be based on evidences. The World Bank proposes new evidence based policy tool ‒ the Systematic Country Diagnostic (SCD) which provides an in-depth analysis of the critical constraints to sustainable and inclusive economic development. This tool provides evidence-based platform for discussion on national priorities. While country strategies themselves remain the outcome of a discussion on client needs and interests and what the World Bank as an institution can provide, there is early evidence that the introduction of SCD can create a different dynamic in the discussion. The authors of the second presentation Zsuzsanna Lonti and Sorin Dan from OECD draw upon OECD’s vast experience in collecting, using and disseminating evidence on government performance in OECD member and non-member countries. The presentation introduced key OECD instruments for supporting public governance and illustrated how the OECD uses these instruments to foster governments’ performance. They include tools such as Government at a Glance, and the Public Governance Review series. Government at a Glance offers a unique international comparison of more than 50 government indicators that cover the entire policy process from input to outcome indicators. The Public Governance Reviews consist of analyses of selected public governance issues and explore, amongst others, how the centre of government promotes and supports sound performance management, evidence-based policy making, open government, integrity, procurement, HRM and budgetary management. Authors of the presentation also stressed that exchange of good practise examples could foster learning and development of the countries. Session A: Counterfactual impact evaluation: challenges, results and lessons. The first speaker of the session Dovilė Žvalionytė presented the results of the counterfactual impact evaluation implemented in collaboration with Lithuanian Ministry of Social Security and Labour. Evaluation funded by European Commission revealed that wage subsidies have positive impact on the employment and income after the end of the project, and vocational training does not have positive impact neither to the unemployment level, nor to the income. D. Žvalionytė also drew attention to the challenges to evaluators of how to present results of methodologically rigorous counterfactual impact evaluations. Attila Beres from Equinox Consulting presented counterfactual impact evaluation results of two types of subsidies ‒ repayable and non-repayable ‒ for small and medium sized enterprises. Evaluation carried put in two regions of Hungary confirmed conclusions of some previous research that repayable subsidies for business are more effective. A. Beres also emphasized that both types of subsidies have more significant effects in less developed regions. Representative of Latvian Ministry of Finance Normunds Strautmanis presented counterfactual evaluation carried out together with European Commission’s Centre for Research on Impact Evaluation (CRIE) on the impact of training to employees to raise the competitiveness of enterprises in Latvia as well as the essential conditions for successful evaluation. According to Strautmanis, both the contractor and evaluator should well understand the context of evaluations and applied methods, and the availability of micro data should be guaranteed in the phase of planning intervention. The last speaker of the session Giulia Santangelo from the CRIE devoted some time of the presentation to introduce the CRIE. While speaking about the evaluation by the Latvian Ministry of Finance G. Santangelo stressed that it was complicated because of the lack of important data. The importance of amount and quality of data given to evaluators for successful counterfactual impact evaluation was also emphasized in the discussion. The moderator of the session Santiago Loranca Garcia from European Commission DG EMPL drew attention to the need of quality control of counterfactual impact evaluations. Session B: Impact evaluation of public investment on economic growth and cohesion: methods, results and lessons. The session B was opened by Jerzy Pienkowsky from European Commission DG REGIO. He drew attention to the fact that in recent years a number of papers have made use of econometric approaches to address the impact of Cohesion Policy (CP) funds on economic growth and convergence. However, only a number of studies use good quality data on CP transfers. Moreover, some important variables, such as national policies or quality of governance, are largely excluded from the regressions, and the conclusions for CP drawn by these studies are not well developed and sometimes contradictory between the studies. The second presenter of the session Biagio Perretti from Basilicata University discussed the results and impact of Cohesion Policy in 2007–2013 period on the less developed regions of the South of Italy (Mezzogiorno). Despite the EU support, in comparison to Central and Northern Italy the poor economic performance of Mezzogiorno did not decrease. Speaker emphasized that programming activities in Mezzogiorno are rather slow, and absorption of funds is dramatically delayed. According to B. Perretti, in the future programming of Cohesion Policy financial sources should be faster and based on evaluations, and implementation of the policy should be guided by the examples of good practise. The Session was concluded by the presentation of Andreas Lillig from European Commission DG AGRI and Hannes Wimmer from European Evaluation Helpdesk for Rural Development. Speakers highlighted that a core element of DG AGRI’s evaluation practice is the systematic recourse to independent external expertise. The presentation described the purpose of the Common Monitoring and Evaluation system, provided an overview of its components (common intervention logic, indicators, evaluation questions and data sources, etc.) and assessed how these components will help to overcome the evaluation challenges. Session C: Evaluating impact of R&D investment: methods, results and lessons. There were three evaluations presented in this session. Klaudijus Maniokas from ESTEP Vilnius in his presentation focused on the evaluation results of impact of public investment on territorial cohesion in Lithuania and raised the question if EU structural support moved Lithuania to the economy generating high economic value. Presented evaluation analysed macro, mezzo, and micro level factors that have impact on the competitiveness indicators of Lithuania. Pijus Krūminas from Research and Higher Education Monitoring and Analysis Centre (MOSTA) presented evaluation of the R&D investment. The study analysed return to investment and impact of High technology development programme (HTDP) for 2011‒2013 and IntelektasLT instrument. Counterfactual analysis was used to evaluate the impact of the instrument on the enterprise employee number. The analysis was also supplemented with theory-based evaluation method. The third speaker of the session Peter Varnai from Technopolis Group presented evaluation of capacity building programme for international union of tuberculosis and lung disease financed by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). Evaluation aimed to analyse the general effectiveness and impact of the programme. The findings of the evaluation informed policy makers about the drawbacks of the programme and contributed to the design of the next five years of the programme. Discussion focused on the specific methodologies presented in evaluations and their impact on the conclusions of these evaluations. Also the impact of joining Common Market on Lithuanian economy competitiveness was discussed. Session D: Enhancing and evaluating impact of evaluation: instruments, results and lessons. The session analysed the possibilities of increasing the impact of evaluations in the process of implementing evaluation, and tools that may increase the use of evaluations. Krišjanis Veitners from Latvian Evaluation Society based on academic studies presented comprehensive theoretical model on how to learn from evaluation process in each of its implementation stage. Based on this model K. Veitners analysed several evaluations conducted in Latvia and concluded that although the potential to learn from evaluations was big, but not all possibilities were used. The audience of the session agreed that usually the potential of evaluation is not used at a full scale. There are several reasons for that: the lack of time to go deeper into the various aspects and results of evaluations, also not suitable organizational culture, and the fact that a lot of contractors are not the users of evaluations. Technopolis Group representative from Estonia Katre Eljas-Taal presented a tool which helped to increase the quality of evaluations in Estonia. By the initiative of evaluators a short document by evaluators was prepared which generalised practise of each evaluation phase. Now both contractors and evaluators use this document and it helps to solve various questions related to the implementation of evaluation. Participants of the session agreed that such a tool is relevant in order to implement a high quality evaluation. Razvan Ionescu from the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration of Romania based on the relevance of recommendations and the scope of their implementation overviewed evaluation findings and their use from separate evaluations which were conducted in the last five years within the Managing Authority for the Operational Programme Administrative Capacity Development (OP ACD). Tomasz Kupiec from Kozminski University in Warsaw and EGO S.C. presented evaluation use analysis of almost 50 evaluations of three regional programmes in Poland. The analysis revealed various different aspects and factors of evaluation use its influence to the increase of evaluation impact. According to the presenter, one of the most important and necessary, but not sufficient factors to the quality and use of evaluation is dominating management position in the contracting institution which contributes to favourable culture for evaluations. Such view was supplemented by the opinion from the audience that implementation will be used if contractor has a real, not formal need to implement such evaluation. Discussion “Evidence-based policy making and dissemination of evaluation results in the real world: challenges and solutions”. In the beginning of the discussion representatives of European Commission DG REGIO and DG EMPL overviewed challenges and requirements of evaluations in 2014‒2020. Speakers emphasized that in order to promote the use of evaluation results, verbal communication rather than large scale publicity of the report is more important. Despite that publicity of the evaluation reports and public consultancies with society are also necessary. Discussion moderator Klaudijus Maniokas generalised the contents of the conference and distinguished three groups of the questions: about the ways to use evidence; about the results of Cohesion Policy evaluation and implementation of recommendations; and about the role of international organizations and evaluation units in promotion of evidence use. Bastiaan de Laat noted that the use of evaluations could be improved not only by the raise of questions about the evaluation object, but also by questions about how to use the evaluation results. Andrea Saltelli stressed that evidence and evaluation results are not self-speaking: evaluation units must be mediators and translators – to translate evaluation results into the language of policy makers. Tony Verheijen from the World Bank noticed that for the use of evidence their quality is important as well as capabilities to properly present evidences which are not always in the line with political priorities to policy makers. Zsuzsanna Lonti from OECD presented her view that gathering data of high quality is a huge challenge, but the “golden standard” methodologies are not always needed, thus approximate evidence are sometimes enough. Kai Stryczinski emphasized that the methods of counterfactual impact evaluation are complex, but theory-based evaluations are even more complicated and also required by the European Commission. It is more difficult to implement high quality theory-based evaluation than counterfactual. It was also stressed, that in the beginning of evaluation it is necessary to synthesize evidence (not only results of evaluations). In the end, Bastiaan de Laat noted that in the context of forming evaluation culture, participation in evaluation process is not a burden any more, but an opportunity to learn.	https://www.esinvesticijos.lt/en/news/evaluation-results-for-decision-making-use-challenges-and-examples
To ensure the implementation of assigned projects is in compliance and adherence with Oxfam Financial Reporting, guidelines and procedures and within donor requirements. Funções Program Reporting and Management 25% • Provides regular management information on the financial status of the assigned program funding arrangements, including the preparation of the monthly funding report and analysis; • Reviews program grant budgets, activity plans and partnership agreements regularly to ensure compliance with Organization requirements, policies and procedures; • Ensures that the program reporting deadlines are met and that reports ; • Monitors for the assigned partner that the program is implemented within budget, conform donor contract, in a cost effective and efficient way and that reporting adheres to Organization requirements; • Leads in financial monitoring compliance with Oorganization’s contract management policies and procedures through setting up and implementing appropriate systems and tools, and report exceptions; • Checks and appraises the financial aspects of specific projects on internal and external risks and opportunities; communicates on the findings with the PM and /or PC and counterparts, and makes proposal on the (method of) financing; • Manages and timely updates the project information in SAP; • Prepares and consolidates donor financial reports; • Monitors project expenditure and activity and reports about deviations and comes with pro-active solutions to prevent and act upon under and over expenditures; • Is compliant with Organization financial and administrative policies and requirements, donor specific requirements, country accounting principles. Donor Reporting and Management: 25% • Provides financial advice and figures for the development of donor proposals, budget submissions and other necessary activities to secure funding for program objectives; • Prepares, organize and provide input to Audits and external evaluations/finance assessment as part of the Finance systems in place; • Draws up the budget for (externally funded) project proposals on the basis of the intended project activities. When a project is approved: prepares the financial management reports in line with the standards of the back-donor(s), including a (first) analysis, and submits them to the project leader for his/her approval. Partner Management and Capacity Building: 50% • Develops and implements a detailed plan for building the business services capacity of partner organizations, specifically related to financial and funding management procedures. This will include needs assessment, capacity building approach and delivery plan including tools and methodologies, performance standards, and evaluation approach; • Provides on job training, coaching and capacity building to partner organizations to develop Finance and business support expertise; • Ensure that partner organizations work in accordance with agreed Organization acceptable standards and objectives/priorities; • Conduct regular performance assessments and reviews of partner organizations, including undertaking audits, to ensure that the capacity building program is delivering agreed results, making necessary adjustments as circumstances change; • Initiates regular meetings with partner organizations to ensure that the working relationship between them and Organization is positive, open and conducive to the successful achievement of agreed objectives; • Conducts regular monitoring visits to partner organizations to fully understand the context and operating environment to ensure that timely effective support is provided, reports on deviations to management; • Ensure partner related documentation is properly filed both physical and electronically; • Adapt and maintain for each partner organization an effective partner grants and reports monitoring system, ensuring adherence to Oxfam policies and procedures on partner management; • Checks and appraises the financial reports and audits of counterparts; communicates on the findings with the PM and /or PC and counterparts, and where necessary makes proposals for follow-up; • Checks and appraises together with the programme officer the organizational structure, the (financial administrative) capacity and the used management systems of the counterparts. If necessary, makes proposals to counterparts and/or works out ideas for their improvement and strengthening; • Contributes to the drawing up and implementation of the annual (partner) contract, and makes proposals for approval and spending targets. Monitors periodically the approvals, spending and performance at country level and revises the (financial) planning where necessary. Records this in the management information systems. Requisitos Relevant academic degree in financial management, commerce, economics or related field. • Significant knowledge and experience of all core financial management activities, including accounts payable, accounts receivables, cash management, budget development, statutory requirements (particularly related to Mozambican standards). • Good knowledge and experience of managing donor grants or donor funded programmes; • Ability to prioritize work issues to meet deadlines with minimal supervision and adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through; • Ability to identify financial risks, use proactive approach to identifying and resolving problems and suggesting improvements that continuously seek to provide a better service to Organization. Strong attention to detail.	https://vagas.infromoz.com/2019/12/06/finance-officer-agir-ac/
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF POSITION: To lead the implementation and maintenance of indirect tax technology solutions in order to help support the Company in its efforts to comply with state and local sales and use tax, excise tax, and unclaimed property laws and regulations. MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 1. Manages indirect tax audits for North American operations from planning to completion to ensure conformity with all laws and regulations. 2. Negotiates and defends tax positions with jurisdictional auditors. Reviews, accepts, or rejects audit findings. Protests audit findings with management’s approval. 3. Performs tax research and analysis to ensure items are taxed properly according to statutes and/or regulations. 4. Works closely with business units and across Finance to ensure that systems and processes enable strategic and operational requirements and to ensure process and system changes are defined and implemented correctly. 5. Identifies tax technology needs, including process improvements and efficiencies through best practices of utilizing new technology and/or maximizing existing technology. 6. Plans for core tax system growth and works closely with IT development team. Partners with IT department to monitor software updates and maintenance. 7. Leads efforts to develop, communicate, and implement strategies and processes related to tax systems, reporting and retention, including tools used by tax department to facilitate reporting. 8. Integrates plans and expands capabilities of the Avalara and Vertex sales and use tax software engine. 9. Develops requirements and designs test scripts to thoroughly test systems for functionality. Troubleshoots system issues. 10. Leads tax incentive projects to capitalize on tax savings for the Company. Creates work plans and manages projects through to completion. 11. Documents processes and participates in data warehouse and other data retention projects. 12. Keeps supervisor informed of important developments, potential problems, and related information necessary for effective management. Coordinates and communicates plans and activities with others, as appropriate, to ensure a coordinated work effort and team approach. 13. Performs related work as apparent or assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: • Bachelor's degree, preferably in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or Information Technology. • At least 5 years of experience with demonstrated progression of responsibilities in a combination of Indirect tax audit and Tax Technology roles, preferably within a corporate tax environment or a combination of experience within a corporate tax environment and a public accounting or consulting firm; or other relevant experience. • At least 3 years of experience with Vertex configuration rule functionality for sales and use tax. • Experience integrating other systems/businesses to Vertex in a project environment. • Intermediate knowledge of general tax principles and advanced knowledge or experience with tax technology solutions. • Preferred knowledge of SQL and SQL Developer tools; including the ability to data mine, analyze results and make recommendations. • Strong communication skills (written, verbal and presentation). • Experience with MS Dynamics AX, Microsoft Excel, Word, Access and Tax Software such as Vertex and Avalara. • High level of ethics, integrity, judgment, discretion and confidentiality. • Create and sustain good working relationships with internal and external partners.• Advanced organization and project management skills. • Demonstrates Northern Tool + Equipment’s 12 Core Competencies.	https://jobs.jobvite.com/northerntool/job/o88Xbfw8
The HHS agencies, ASPE, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and OPHS develop evaluation plans annually in concert with HHS’s program planning, legislative development, and budgeting cycles. Plan development is coordinated by ASPE. Each agency or office plan generally states the evaluation priorities, or projects under consideration for implementation. Typically, HHS evaluation priorities include: congressionally-mandated program evaluations, evaluations of Secretarial program or policy initiatives, assessments of new programs and ones that are candidates for reauthorization, and evaluations that support program performance management and accountability. HHS evaluation planning activities are coordinated with three department-wide planning initiatives. First, HHS evaluation activities support the Department’s strategic planning and performance management activities in several ways. Completed evaluations are used in shaping the specific HHS strategic goals and objectives. Evaluation findings provide an important source of information or evidence about the success of various HHS programs or policies that collectively make up the strategies to achieve the goals and objectives. The HHS Strategic Plan highlights evaluations that document efficacy or effectiveness of strategic programs or policies and lists future evaluations that will benefit strategic planning. HHS agencies also use findings from their evaluations to support GPRA annual performance reporting to Congress and program budget justifications. Second, Congress requests that HHS coordinate all of its research, demonstration, and evaluation (RD&E) programs to ensure that the results of these projects address HHS program goals and objectives. ASPE and the Assistant Secretary for Budget, Technology and Finance work together with HHS agencies to provide the Congress with a special annual research, demonstration, and evaluation budget plan that coincides with the preparation of the President’s fiscal year budget. The plan outlines HHS agency research, demonstration, and evaluation priorities as related to the Department’s strategic goals and objectives. The newly-formed Research Coordination Council (chaired by the ASPE, and containing representatives of HHS agencies), seeks to foster greater interactions among its research programs. The Council’s work includes streamlining research and evaluating Department-wide research priorities to ensure greater efficiencies in research, demonstration, and evaluation. The Council seeks to strengthen HHS research coordination and planning around key Departmental priorities and themes. Third, those agencies and offices that use the PHS evaluation set-aside authority–AHRQ, CDC, HRSA, NIH, ASPE, OPHS, SAMHSA–submit a formal plan to ASPE, which coordinates and develops the individual plans into the HHS report to the Congress on the use of the PHS authority. The statute requires that this report be submitted to the Congress before HHS implements the plan.	https://aspe.hhs.gov/report/performance-improvement-2003/evaluation-planning-and-coordination
(2016). Cognition and decision-making in adoption of agricultural decision support systems. Skara : Sveriges lantbruksuniv. ISBN 978-91-576-9433-1 eISBN 978-91-576-9434-8 [Licentiate thesis] \| PDF \| 1MB Abstract Precision agriculture (PA) has a central role to play in a sustainable intensification trajectory of agriculture, including increased yields and decreased environmental impact. Although grounded in advanced technologies this still implies that the individual farmer will have to develop knowledge that is complex, diverse and local. To manage adaptation to the within-field variation in large scale agriculture, so-called agricultural decision support systems (AgriDSS) are necessary. This thesis aims to 1) investigate farmers’ naturalistic decision-making in their socio-technical system, aiming to increase their situated knowledge and care in critical, complex situations, and 2) investigate and present strategies to improve the development processes of AgriDSS. This is done by discussing the so-called problem of implementation of AgriDSS in practical precision agriculture. Aspects of the implementation dilemmas are considered within three research questions: 1) What characterises a socio-technical system that supports farmers’ decision-making in complex and critical situations? 2) How can AgriDSS support farmers’ decision-making and development of situated knowledge, in order to increase sustainability of their practices? 3) How can the development process for new precision agriculture technology, such as AgriDSS, be improved to decrease or go beyond the problem of implementation? The research questions are addressed using the theoretical framework of distributed cognition (DCog) from the research field of cognitive science and using user-centred design (UCD) approach from the field of human-computer interaction. Two case studies were performed and the main contribution is the novel concept of enhanced professional vision, which states that both technology and intuitive experience-based knowledge are necessary in decision-making. Neither one of them is replaceable when an increased adaptation to within-field variation and complexity in farmers’ care for their local situation is needed. The thesis also reveals the importance of social interactions for technology adoption and use: 1) during the participatory development process of AgriDSS; 2) for decision-making and learning when applying these technologies; and 3) to encourage farmers to use new technology to increase sustainability. These findings have potential implications for farmers and advisors, by changing the dominating perspective in farm technologies from knowledge transfer to participatory approaches. The discussions provided here about expertise in relation to ICT, human beings and care in the trajectory of sustainable intensification will hopefully influence how farmers’ experience and situated knowledge is acknowledged in future research and development (R&D). More studies on R&D in advisory work in relation to new technologies and strategies to facilitate their use, and social learning and decision-making among farmers are needed, as are improved possibilities for advisors to interact and exchange experiences and strategies relating to technology use.	https://pub.epsilon.slu.se/13702/
The National Wildlife Refuge System is committed to building partnerships which encourage conservation and preservation of our natural and cultural resources. Partnerships with the Refuge System bring innovative approaches to solving land management and water disputes in the most environmentally protective manner. Scientifically-informed and technologically-based stewardship of our public lands, waters, wildlife and special places must be collaborative efforts between the Refuge System, other government agencies, and private organizations if conservation efforts are to succeed. Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge continues to build and maintain strong partnerships with a diversity of agencies, organizations, local communities, businesses and more. Recent partnerships include the propagation and planting of native grasses by the Elsberry High School Future Farmers of America members; restoration and enhancement of wetland habitat with Ducks Unlimited using North American Wetland Conservation Act grant opportunities; planning and organization of "Summer of Paddling" events with members of the America's Great Outdoors committee; and much more.	https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Clarence_Cannon/what_we_do/partnerships.html
Founded in 1961, WWF is a network of non-governmental environment organizations, with 6,500 staff operating in more than 100 countries, some six million members, and 22 million Facebook and 14 million Twitter followers worldwide. WWF’s efforts are grounded in its work with local communities, businesses and governments and other actors to conserve and restore nature and secure sustainable development for people in priority places around the world. We also work extensively with major private and public institutions to reduce the impacts of climate change, infrastructure projects, unsustainable food production, and consumption on nature and people. In 2016, WWF launched a new global strategy to help the nations, states, and cities of the world achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Climate Agreement, and Convention on Biological Diversity. WWF works through strong country programs, linked through global practices, to drive local innovation and large-scale solutions that seek to safeguard nature and nature’s contribution to people. The largest organization within the WWF global network, works with partners across the United States and other countries to advance the WWF mission. WWF-US plays a pivotal role driving conservation and development action in the broader WWF network, collaborating closely with WWF offices around the world. President and CEO Carter Roberts leads the Senior Management Team out of the WWF-US Washington, DC headquarters. We conceptualize our work and achievements in two pillars: area-based conservation and whole-planet solutions. These pillars represent our commitment to secure some of the most critical places in the world while bolstering the services they provide to local communities—and at the same time addressing the systemic global threats to these landscapes and seascapes. Area-based conservation is our approach to working in places. It puts people and nature as co-equal and ensures our programs balance conservation with economic growth, now and in the future. We strive for conservation that is locally led, with WWF providing support as needed. We take the long view, designing interventions to be financially sustainable, sufficiently managed, and climate smart. As a science- based organization, our approaches are rooted in discipline while also seeking to contribute to new scholarship. Whole planet solutions are important because our work in specific places can’t be successful if we don't address some of the bigger challenges that threaten the planet as a whole. This pillar includes our approaches to drive solutions within global systems. WWF-US Arctic Program WWF-US Arctic implements conservation programs in marine and coastal ecosystems in the Bering, Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, while also promoting smart governance at the national and international levels to bolster our conservation goals. Now is a great time to join the WWF-US Arctic team. We are growing and developing our next five-year strategy. WWF has been active in Alaska and the broader Arctic region for more than 30 years. In 1999, WWF-US opened an office in Anchorage. Our team partners closely with indigenous communities, tribal and state governments, businesses, fishermen, scientists, universities and other conservation groups, and non-governmental, non-profit organizations. Together WWF and its partners have accomplished a lot, including: - Supported and replicated a community-led polar bear “patrol” program that protects polar bears and residents in coastal villages. Now dozens of such patrols are working across the Russian and Alaskan Arctic. - WWF partnered with Alaskan fishermen and University of Washington to take their innovative approach to reducing by-catch of seabirds and replicated this effort in Russia (reduced seabird bycatch +80%). - Served as a key member of a coalition of NGOs, fishermen, community organizations, commercial fishing businesses and that succeeded in permanently withdrawing Bristol Bay from future offshore oil development. - Fostered US-Russia bi-lateral cooperation to support designation by the International Maritime Organization of a new shipping route and areas to be avoided by maritime vessels in the Bering Sea. From the Anchorage, Alaska office, the US-Arctic team also cooperates with the entire WWF global Arctic team working especially closely with WWF Russia and WWF Canada. The global Arctic priority species for WWF are polar bear, walrus, bowhead whale, beluga whale, narwhal. About the Role WWF-US is seeking a passionate and experienced person to lead its US-Arctic conservation programs. Reporting to the SVP, Oceans, the Managing Director leads the WWF-US Arctic team and partners with the WWF Global Arctic Program by contributing to the oceans conservation agenda of the Global Arctic Program. The Managing Director is also a member of the WWF-US Oceans management team. Duties & Responsibilities Area-based Conservation Management Develops & accountable for the conservation priorities and includes: - Provide overall leadership and management for the Arctic Program staff in Alaska - Ensure support for teamwork, as well as individual accountability and team cohesion - Manage and oversee budget and fundraising strategy - Design and implement WWF-Arctic conservation programs - Integrate climate science and monitor emerging science into conservation strategies - Identify science and traditional ecological knowledge that can inform and strengthen conservation implementation - Partner with colleagues to evaluate conservation finance opportunities - Support team members in preparing responses, background material to respond to major threats to Arctic biodiversity (including climate change, maritime shipping, oil development) - Manage project oversight to ensure the timely completion of projects and the availability of resources (human and financial) to facilitate a smooth and efficient implementation - Maintain close ties to and communication with WWF Global Arctic Program and ensure alignment between global Arctic and WWF US Arctic priorities. - Ensure strong integration among quality improvement, monitoring & evaluation and program learning efforts - Ensure the effective implementation of WWF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards - Develop program budgets and ensure compliance with WWF policies and procedures Leadership and Management The Managing Director will lead a growing and dispersed team of 3-6 staff, set transparent goals and priorities. They will foster staff engagement through frequent communication in a manner that’s consistent with WWF’s values of courage, respect, integrity and collaboration. The Managing Director will uphold and support WWF’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the planning, implementation and monitoring of conservation efforts. WWF is committed to strong management and seeks an inspiring, inclusive and supportive manager who ensures their team not only performs but thrives. Major duties include: - Identify, develop & support new and current staff, provide coaching to improve individual and team performance - Engage with staff to identify clear goals and objectives, group strengths and needs to achieve goals and ensure success - Encourage and facilitate a collaborative work environment that builds acceptance and commitment through engagement and open dialogue - Communicate and solicit input when managing and promoting change and sharing in efforts that involve staff embracing change Partnership Development The Managing Director develops a strategy to build partnerships with stakeholders and Alaska Natives in our priority landscapes and coaches staff to implement. Partners include other NGOs, Alaska Native organizations, local, state and federal agencies, universities, businesses, elected officials and tribes. Major duties include: - Develop and maintain effective working relationships with Alaska Natives and key stakeholders, partners and donors - Represent WWF-US Arctic externally to strengthen existing relationships and generate new partnership opportunities Fundraising The Managing Director persuasively conveys the mission of WWF to solicit program support from diverse groups. In coordination with WWF Development staff and MD, major duties include: - Raise funds to support the US-Arctic work - Oversee development and conceptual framework for multi-year proposals - Edit staff drafts and/or directly prepares proposals - Communicate with individual donors, attending events or field site visits as needed About You The successful candidate will demonstrate the following: - Master’s degree or equivalent experience and ten years work experience, a minimum three years in wildlife conservation, conservation biology, related science fields with program design, management and implementation. Experience in marine science preferred. - Three+ years of management experience, including the ability to motivate, lead, set objectives and manage the performance of an experienced multi-disciplinary team, in accord with best practices for diversity, equity and inclusion - Extensive experience with and commitment to working in Alaska and in partnership with community leaders and tribal representatives - Demonstrated ability to deliver results through the development, management and delivery of large-scale programs - Knowledge and experience with conservation finance models - Demonstrated ability to think creatively, assess and develop emerging opportunities, and set staff on a course that delivers results - Demonstrated success packaging big ideas for individual donors, government grants and foundations - Excellent critical thinking skills. - Excellent written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated skills in grant writing, technical writing and public speaking - Demonstrated ability and understanding about how to forge partnerships with a wide variety of players – local communities, government, NGO, tribal communities - Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines - Must be able to travel for about 7-10 trips/year with a duration of 3-4 days or more as needed (when it is safe to do so) Compensation and Location Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. This position will be based in Anchorage, Alaska. Post COVID-19 restrictions, some domestic and international travel will be required for the role. To Apply CEA Recruiting is assisting WWF with this search. To be considered for this position, interested candidates should follow the link below to submit a resume, cover letter, and salary requirements through CEA’s job portal. Please direct all applications and inquiries to CEA Recruiting. This position will remain open until filled. Please direct all inquiries to Tamara Evans, Senior Search Lead \| [email protected]. As an EOE/AA employer, WWF will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status. WWF values diversity and inclusion and welcomes diverse candidates to apply. CEA Recruiting works with leading environmental nonprofits, foundations, and businesses to recruit top talent and design effective organizational staffing strategies.	https://job.ceaconsulting.com/jobs/managing-director-us-arctic-program-anchorage-ak-106062
Using innovative conservation strategies and collaborating closely with local communities, partner NGOs, national parks, and government agencies, Big Life seeks to protect and sustain East Africa’s wildlife and wild lands, including one of the greatest populations of tusker elephants left in Africa. The first organization in East Africa with coordinated anti-poaching teams operating on both sides of the Kenya-Tanzania border, Big Life recognizes that sustainable conservation can only be achieved through a community-based collaborative approach. Big Life has established a successful holistic conservation model in the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem that can be replicated across the African continent. Our Mission On the ground in East Africa, partnering with local communities to protect nature for the benefit of all. Our Vision We believe that if conservation supports the people, then people will support conservation.	https://biglife.org/who-we-are/mission-vision
Quail Management for the 21st Century: Evaluating the concept of edge, habitat interspersion, and usable space in the modern agricultural landscape. Abstract: Biologists and hunters alike have managed for quail using decades old mid-western, or “traditional” management model centered around the integration of annual crop fields and block plantings of permanent nesting and woody cover. This model has and can be an effective management approach in cropland-dominated landscapes. However, in recent years, research has shown that there can be important disadvantages to this management model and has shed light on advantages of a more holistic management approach for quail conservation. This workshop will briefly outline these differing management philosophies, present recent research findings, and propose an alternative management approach for the large-scale conservation of quail and other shrubland/grassland obligate species in Missouri. Abstract: Across the country, our society has seen an increasing number of active shooter events where people are being killed or severely injured. According to the FBI, the “rate of which ASE [active shooter events] occur went from approx. 1 every other month from 2000-2008 to more than 1 per month between 2009-2012.” About 40 % of these events occur in the business or work place. The Missouri Department of Conservation is being proactive by implementing a training program to inform and educate its employees on how to react if they find themselves in an active shooter event. MDC will provide training based on the nationally accepted A.L.I.C.E. system. A.L.I.C.E [Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate] is a set of proactive strategies that moves beyond traditional lockdown and increases the chance of survival during a violent intruder event. ALICE is supported by more than 1,800 law enforcement agencies around the country and complies with the new standard of care recently developed by the Federal Department of Education, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This seminar will introduce you to the ALICE system and show you why and how, you and your work team should prepare for an active shooter event. Abstract: Missouri has a variety of forest types that are managed by a variety of landowners for a variety of objectives. However, all forest and woodland management is underlain by a common truth: forest management is habitat management. Forest and woodland management can benefit a variety of wildlife species while also meeting other management objectives, such as a sustained timber yield, restoration of natural communities, or provision of recreational opportunities. In this directed workshop, we will provide participants with guidance on integrating wildlife habitat management concepts with accepted and widely applied forest management treatments (for example, even-aged management systems that create early-successional habitat, uneven-aged management systems that create complex horizontal and vertical forest structures, and prescribed fire management that promotes the development of woodlands with diverse ground flora communities). Presentations in this workshop will focus on the impact of forest and woodland management techniques on habitat characteristics and a variety of wildlife species, such as songbirds, bats, reptiles, and amphibians. Following the presentations, a panel of Missouri forest and woodland managers, wildlife biologists, and researchers will discuss and answer audience questions regarding the habitat needs of game and non-game wildlife and the management options to promote quality habitat while also providing a sustained yield of timber and other forest products and services. Abstract: “While conservation scientists and managers work to better understand Missouri’s natural resources and manage land, wildlife, and waters using the best possible science, legislators in Jefferson City and Washington may help or hinder efforts through policies they support. Engaging in the legislative and policy process may seem like an intimidating process. It doesn’t have to be. There are many facets to law making, but none should be considered more important than citizen input. The primary goal of this workshop is to help bridge gaps between science, policy, and public perception by bringing together interdisciplinary collaborators across a range of natural resources organizations. Our target audience for the workshop will include scientists and managers wishing to more actively engage in science policy as private citizens and experts. We plan to teach skills such as interacting with elected officials on social media, requesting in-district meetings, sending effective emails, and staying informed on pressing legislative and policy issues. We plan to have a panel of state and federal legislative staff to talk with workshop participants about the most effective communication strategies with elected officials. As part of this hands-on workshop, we will discuss differences that exists between local, state, and federal policies and how to more effectively engage at various levels. Through the workshop, participants will gain skills to become more actively engaged citizens and advocate for evidence-based conservation legislation and policy in Missouri and Washington, DC. Abstract: Conservation practices that take acres out of production are critical for some resource concerns, but they are not going to have large scale impacts on improving water quality, reducing soil erosion, and improving habitat on vast grassland landscapes in Missouri. To really move the needle conservation practices must be integrated into crop field, pastures, and hay fields. I propose a workshop to highlight the challenges and opportunities that agriculture producers face and success stories where conservation practices have been integrated into a working farm. Speakers will include agronomists, NGO partners, and MDC staff. Abstract: From turkeys to elk, from paddlefish to flathead catfish, there is a lot of ongoing research about game animals in Missouri. Some of these projects we are all aware of, but may not know what is being learned. Other projects, many of us do not even know are being conducted. The intent of this workshop is to touch on some of the interesting observations that researchers have noted during their field work. Many of the projects are not completed so speakers will not be spending as much time convincing you of the rigidity of the experimental design as they will talking about some of the observations they have made to this point in their research. The workshop will consist of two separate 2-hour sessions, one focused on wildlife and the second on fisheries. Abstract: Invasive plants and animals have serious impacts on virtually all aspects of forest, fish, and wildlife conservation, and to some degree, soil health as well. The Missouri Invasive Plant Task Force (MoIP), the Scenic Rivers Invasive Species Partnership, the Feral Hog Partnership, the Missouri Invasive Forest Pests Council, and other invasive plant control collaborations are gaining momentum in the state. New alliances and tactics are underway to identify, fund, and tackle invasive plant and animal species to reduce their threats to native biodiversity and many facets of the state’s economy. This session will provide in-depth information from the “front lines” on how these groups are working with landowners and other stakeholders to control invasives on a landscape scale. MoIP’s comprehensive, ranked list of all known invasive plants in the state—along with maps illustrating abundance, trend, and impact—will be unveiled, and successful outreach campaigns will be shared. Updates on feral hog eradication efforts, forest pest control initiatives, and regional and cross-agency control projects will be presented. Attendees will come away from the session understanding how to plug into these collaborative efforts and make a tangible difference in invasive species management. The White Oak Initiative: What is it and how will it impact you? “The White Oak Initiative is a recently formed collaboration among universities, agencies, investment holders, non-industrial private land owners, and conservation groups to reverse the anticipated decline of oaks in eastern forests during the next century. Of particular interest is the future availability of stave-quality white oak because of its use in barrels for making whiskey, wine, and craft beer. The White Oak Initiative now includes a board of directors and members from agencies and universities across the native white oak range. 1. What is the white oak initiative and why take a collaborative approach? There will also be a question-and-answer/panel discussion session. “Workshop Goal: Introduce natural resource professionals to the broad array of land conservation services offered and work being completed by private not-for-profit land trust partners across the state of Missouri. • Non-Profit Conservation – How private partners are helping conserve Missouri’s lands and natural communities. o Broad overview of the various types of organizations working in conservation across the state, including rural and urban perspectives. o Partnerships between private organizations and public agencies on conservation projects. o Conservation Easements – Detailed discussion about conservation easements, what they can accomplish, and their limitations. Discussion of the pros/cons of using a conservation easement, key laws that protect landowner easement rights, and the process to put an easement in place, including a brief overview of some specialized types of easements. o Other Tools – a discussion of other tools used by private conservation organizations to advance conservation, including fee-title ownership, private land conservation practices (e.g., partnering to implement cost-share programs and best management practices), outreach and education, assisting partners in acquisition, staff support, legal support, funding support, partnerships, etc. • Landowner Perspective – Private landowner(s) will share their decision-making process, why they chose a conservation easement or partnered on other projects with the non-profit partner, and their experience with the process. • Panel Discussion – A guided discussion and question/answer session with the speakers about collaborating to achieve conservation goals. Abstract: The Missouri Department of Conservation’s Wetland Planning Initiative was completed by an interdisciplinary coordination team in 2015 and is composed of two linked documents, the Strategic Guidance Document and the Implementation Plan. The Strategic Guidance Document lays out the Department’s philosophical approach toward wetland conservation in Missouri and describes six interconnected goals that acknowledge the importance of both ecological and social considerations to accomplish wetland conservation. The Implementation Plan is essentially an outline and, as such, serves as an invitation to partners and stakeholders to work together to address wetland conservation issues of mutual interest. It is a living document that will continue to evolve as we learn from our wetland conservation actions. The Implementation Plan offers a range of actions that could serve as potential starting points for collaboration across scales (e.g., continental, multi-state, state, area), and a more strategic, or adaptive, approach to wetland conservation decision-making. The first steps needed before proceeding with the roadmap outlined in the Wetland Planning Initiative involved assessments of Missouri’s wetland status (past, present and desired future condition), wetland-dependent species, and citizen connections with wetlands. This session will focus on work completed thus far on these assessments as well as a partner’s assessment initiated after a Partner Wetland Meeting conducted in September 2018. We look forward to this session serving as a conduit toward continued collaboration with partners as we explore taking a more coordinated and adaptive approach to wetland conservation in Missouri. Abstract: Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticide widely adopted for agricultural use throughout North America and Europe, in large part because they are selectively more toxic to insects than vertebrates. Neonicotinoids are highly water soluble and have reported half-lives of greater than 1000 days. The combination of these characteristics in concurrence with their widespread use suggests horizontal movement of neonicotinoids via runoff into surrounding terrestrial habitats, as well as various surface waters such as streams and wetlands. Due to the widespread use of neonicotinoids in the midwestern United States and the recent concern over the effects on non-target taxa, we implemented a series of field experiments to quantify neonicotinoid concentrations neonicotinoids in Missouri public lands and associated impacts to native pollinators, aquatic invertebrates and reliant avian species. This workshop will present an overview on neonicotinoid insecticides and present research findings on 1) neonicotinoid distribution and concentrations on MDC terrestrial and wetland ecosystems, 2) impacts of neonicotinoids on native pollinator communities, 3) aquatic invertebrate response to neonicotinoids in wetlands and 4) whether neonicotinoids influence food energy transfer from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems and the avifauna that rely on these resources. We will conclude the workshop with a synthesis on potential for neonicotinoids to impact non-target taxa in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and facilitate a discussion on actions land managers can take to reduce these effects. Abstract: “This 2-hour workshop will be devoted to an exploration of the themes that surround the basic question “why bother with wildlife disease?” The conversation will be framed broadly from a “One Health” perspective. The concept of One Health focuses on the interdisciplinary connections between the health of the environment, humans, and animals, including wildlife. A series of presentations from natural resources professionals and others of diverse backgrounds will address this question from both an agency relevancy and ecological viewpoint. We will consider in this discussion the public’s perception of disease in individual wildlife which is sometimes in conflict with ecological considerations and agency response framework. Potential presentation topics may include the importance of wildlife as sentinels for disease, changing patterns of pathogen and disease emergence, potential impacts of wildlife disease, and wildlife diseases of greatest significance. When considering wildlife disease, it is easy to become demoralized. As a secondary theme to this session, we will suggest that there is reason for hope. We will present experts on CWD and White Nose syndrome to illustrate that there is good news among all the doom and gloom. The session will conclude with a panel discussion with the presenters to address audience questions and deal with issues raised in the session. “This workshop reports on three projects that investigate how management practices and climate change affect hydrology, soil properties, and riparian forests in Mark Twain National Forest. First, beginning in Fall 2015, Missouri State University (MSU) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) implemented a hydrologic monitoring program in Big Barren Creek Watershed in the Doniphan-Eleven Point District. One component focused on monitoring stream hydrology including rainfall, continuous flow, and water temperature at 15 sites. Another monitored surface soil and litter characteristics at 30 upland sites with varying prescribed-burn frequencies including unburned sites. The final component focused on assessment of stream channel form, stability, and sediment over historical and recent timescales. Second, beginning in Fall 2017 and funded by the National Science Foundation, MSU and two other universities assessed the impacts of an extreme flood on riparian forests along tributary creeks of the North Fork of White River in the Willow Springs District. UAV (drone) flights were used to collect aerial photographs to evaluate geomorphic response and forest effects using geospatial analysis. Field assessments were used to inventory down and living trees and to identify landform-tree response relationships. Finally, in Spring 2018, MSU and USFS began to implement the Forest Soil Disturbance Monitoring Protocol (GTR WO-82a & b), used for the first time in Missouri, to monitor the effects of timber harvest on soil disturbance in the Doniphan-Eleven Point and Popular Bluff districts. Procedures for sampling schemes, geo-location, and data collection are being modified for long-term use in Mark Twain National Forest. This workshop will have a moderator and six oral presentations each lasting no more than 20 minutes. Abstract: The workshop will focus on complex resource effects from conservation practices and suites of practices used in conservation planning and resource improvement. The practices will focus on activities funded by the Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP). These practices and suites of practices will emphasis production ag lands including; cropland, pastureland, forestland, and hayland and the effects on environmental improvements within soil, air, water, plant, and animal systems locally, regionally and globally.	https://mnrc.org/workshops/
California is entering a transformative period as we start to adapt communities to climate change while maintaining and enhancing the state’s natural resources. The San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) provides scientific support to communities, local government, and agencies to plan and implement resilient, ecologically-functional watersheds and shorelines. We make scientific information accessible for decision-makers by bringing watershed science; riparian, wetland, and estuarine ecology; geomorphology; sediment science; and landscape design to local and regional management and planning challenges. We write influential regional documents that inform stakeholders, such as the Adaptation Atlas, Sediment for Survival, and Delta Landscapes. We partner with local governments, community organizations, resource agencies, flood control districts, NGOs, wastewater districts, transportation agencies, land trusts, academic scientists, and others to develop strategies for nature-based adaptation with multiple benefits. We are looking for several talented individuals to join our Resilient Landscapes Program to work on projects, primarily focused on the San Francisco Estuary, including the Delta, the Bay, and upstream watersheds. We are keen to expand our expertise in tidal/freshwater wetland ecology and biogeochemistry, estuarine and fluvial geomorphology, wetland monitoring (e.g., CRAM), historical ecology, GIS analysis, and technical writing. The positions offer an opportunity to work with an outstanding multidisciplinary team of scientists on innovative nature-based projects that help improve the resiliency of communities and wildlife to land use change (both historical and ongoing) and various aspects of climate change. Work in this area is expanding rapidly, and we are looking for individuals who can start immediately. We anticipate filling 4-5 positions with varying levels of experience: a senior tidal wetland ecologist and an ecologist or physical scientist (combined in 1 job announcement), and up to 3 early-career environmental scientists (combined in 1 job announcement); although the exact mix will depend on applicants. Brief descriptions for each position are listed below in italics, with additional details below for the job announcement; please use the application form for the position that most closely fits your background (senior tidal wetland ecologist / ecologist OR early-career environmental scientist). Senior Tidal Wetland Ecologist: The selected candidate will be an expert tidal wetland ecologist (PhD + min 8 years of experience) with strong technical background and a demonstrated ability to lead complex scientific projects and communicate findings to scientific and non-scientific audiences. The position consists of 2 main responsibilities – performing the lead scientist duties for the Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program (WRMP) and contributing to shoreline adaptation planning and working on Delta wetland and landscape planning projects. Ecologist or Physical Scientist: The selected candidate will work on and manage applied science projects related to planning adaptation strategies at the landscape and project level, and implementing nature-based solutions including wetland restoration. We anticipate that this position would be set up as a postdoc opportunity for a recent PhD graduate. Early-career Environmental Scientist: The selected candidates will work on applied science projects related to tidal/freshwater wetland ecology (including CRAM), wetland/river/riparian restoration, geomorphology, and/or historical ecology. Candidates will have expertise or experience in GIS analysis and writing. Senior Tidal Wetland Ecologist Position Description The position consists of 2 main responsibilities: 1) performing lead scientist duties for the Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program (WRMP), and 2) contributing to shoreline adaptation planning and Delta wetland projects. The WRMP role will include coordinating with the WRMP staff, serving as the co-chair of the WRMP TAC to implement the WRMP Science Framework and prioritize monitoring indicators included in the Master Matrix, making decisions related to the monitoring site network, managing technical workgroups, leading collaborative meetings, and managing budgets and work plans for consulting scientists. Shoreline adaptation planning and Delta wetland project responsibilities will include developing adaptation strategies that incorporate nature-based solutions, contributing to studies on cross-sector adaptation, advancing landscape-scale planning that promotes healthy estuarine and urban ecosystems, and advancing multi-benefit projects in complex social and ecological systems. Years of Experience: PhD with minimum 8 years of experience or Masters with minimum 12 years of experience. Location: Bay Area location preferred due to regional meetings, but willing to consider transition time from elsewhere. Duration: permanent Pay: This will be a Senior Scientist position with an anticipated minimum salary of $105,000/year. Pay and job title will be commensurate with experience. Ecologist or Physical Scientist Position Description The position consists of working on and managing applied science projects in San Francisco Bay and the Delta regions focused on helping develop nature-based solutions for multi-benefit landscape management under a changing climate. The work includes leading focused scientific investigations and providing science support for watershed management efforts, tidal wetland restoration projects, and community-level adaptation planning along the Bay shoreline. This requires working closely with multiple project partners and stakeholders to arrive at resilient management measures that support both people and wildlife. Years of Experience: PhD with minimum 2 years of experience, MS with minimum 9 years of experience. Location: Bay Area location preferred, but willing to consider remote location. Duration: Position may be permanent or lasting 1 year, with the possibility of becoming a permanent position. Pay: This will be an Environmental Scientist position with an anticipated minimum salary of $84,000/year. Pay and job title will be commensurate with experience. General Qualifications for Both Positions We seek highly creative and technically-strong candidates with expertise in the ecology of tidal wetland ecosystems (or related fields) and knowledge of San Francisco Bay. We are also interested in project management experience. Specific qualifications include: Strong scientific/technical background and quantitative skills. Desired areas of expertise include familiarity with the San Francisco estuary and its tidal wetland ecosystems, landscape-scale conservation and restoration, nature-based adaptation, ecosystem service quantification, and California wetland restoration science. Ability to lead large projects, including collaborating with scientific partners, and overseeing staff, budgets, schedules, and deliverables. Experience in community-based planning and approaches to facilitate discussion on shoreline adaptation planning. Excellent communication skills; demonstrated ability to communicate findings clearly in writing and presentations and synthesize scientific information for general and technical audiences. Ability to develop and maintain excellent working relationships with diverse groups of external partners and stakeholders. Experience presenting at professional or academic conferences and to stakeholder groups. About the Resilient Landscapes Program SFEI’s Resilient Landscapes Program develops innovative ecosystem restoration and management strategies to re-establish and sustain essential ecosystem functions and services. These strategies are helping integrate natural and human infrastructure to create systems that are more adaptive to climate change and other stressors. We are an interdisciplinary program of approximately 30 scientists (geomorphologists, hydrologists, ecologists), landscape architects, and GIS specialists – we work closely together and collaborate with staff in SFEI's other programs: Clean Water and Environmental Informatics. About SFEI SFEI’s mission is to deliver visionary science that empowers people to revitalize nature in our communities. We provide independent science to assess and improve the health of the waters, wetlands, and wildlife, in rural and urban landscapes of the San Francisco Bay, the Delta, and beyond. SFEI is a boundary organization at the interface between science and policy, recognized nationally for our ability to build consensus to support effective environmental decision-making and policy. Our 70 or so scientists and experts deliver data, technology, and tools that empower government, civic, and business leaders to create cost-effective solutions for complex environmental issues – from cleaner water and sustainable communities to climate change. In addition to our science mission, SFEI also commits to a mission for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ): to more deeply integrate DEIJ principles into our internal policies and culture, as well as to build and implement a long-term strategy for forging authentic partnerships with diverse organizations and communities, with a particular focus on historically underserved communities. We celebrate the diversity of our staff and the places we serve, and believe that diversity is a strength – as such, we are committed to growing together and creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace. We highly encourage applications from candidates from under-represented groups in environmental science, including candidates with disabilities and/or candidates who identify as women, people of color, LGBTQ+, or other under-represented identities. For more information on our mission, values, programs, and staff, visit the SFEI website www.sfei.org. Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action Employer SFEI is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We are committed the principle of equal employment opportunity, and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, family or parental status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Application Information If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, please contact us at 510-746-7355 or [email protected]. Please note that SFEI cannot sponsor an employment visa (e.g., H-1B) to fill this position. SFEI staff are currently working remotely. We are planning to return to a hybrid workplace sometime in mid 2022. In order to protect the health and safety of our staff, SFEI now requires employees who work in the office or in the field to provide proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 or receive a medical or religious exemption. Please do not use any 3rd party websites to apply for the position. Please do not contact us directly via email or phone.	https://app.trinethire.com/companies/37269-san-francisco-estuary-institute/jobs/60148-senior-tidal-wetland-ecologist-ecologist-scientist
Who We Are? LEGAL STATUS: Parivartan Nepal is a non-governmental organization (NGO) working established in 2007. It is committed to contribute to sustainable development through conservation and promotion of local means and resources, skill and technologies. Parivartan Nepal was registered (# 1,131 dated 2007.12.26) at District Administration Office, Makawanpur district. It is affiliated (# 24,374 dated 2008.01.29) with Social Welfare Council, Kathmandu and NGO Federation, Nepal. VISION/MISSION: To help vulnerable communities of Nepal for transferring into resilient and vibrant societies GOAL: To help for poverty reduction, sustainable development and social justice of marginal communities through meaningful participation of people, conservation and utilization of local skills, knowledge and technologies including agricultural bio-diversity. OBJECTIVES: The overall objective of Parivartan Nepal is to contribute to poverty reduction by providing the target groups with opportunities for harnessing their development potentials though their increased access to required services and resources. The specific objectives are to: (i) help local communities in conserving and promoting agro- biodiversity and its sustanable uses, (ii) promote organic farming including research and development, (iii) facilitate the target beneficiaries in harnessing local resources, indigenous knowledge, skills, technologies and cultures for improving their socio-economic status, (iv) contribute in sustainable peace and development by bringing economically, socially and politically backward communities in development mainstream, (v) enhance capacity of local institutions, self-help groups, community-based organizations and others for ensuring their effective involvement in community development, (vi) assist local communities for having and extenstion of basic social services such as education, health, drinking water and sanitation etc. WORKING STRATEGIES Broadly speaking, the working strategies of Parivartan Nepal include: (i) conduct of research, training, development project/ program implementation, seminars/workshops, advocacy and publication; (ii) formation and mobilization of agro-biodiversity resource centers/networks, users groups, women’s groups and other self-help groups at local and area levels; (iii) partnership with local stakeholders in sharing resources and information for the execution of project/programs; (iv) capacity enhancement of target groups and service providers including human resources of Parivatan Nepal; (iv) social mobilization and use of participatory and social accountability tools in information collection, planning, implementation and monitoring/evaluation of development project/programs, (iv) establishment of working coordination and linkages with local bodies, line agencies, civil society organizations and other self help groups, (v) sensitive to environment protection, gender equity and social inclusions in all activities, and (vi) focus on mobilization of youths in all activities. BROAD PRIORITY AREAS/THEMES: Climate Change, Mitigation and Adaptation, Environment, Agro Forestry and Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable and environment friendly agriculture system, Promotion and Sustainable uses of Agricultural Biodiversity, Strengthening Rural Economy, Promotion of gender equity and social inclusion, Strengthening Community Based Organizations, and Development of basic social services. HUMAN RESOURCES: Parivartan Nepal has a team of professional staffs and consultants who are represented from various discipline such as economics, sociology, engineering, agriculture scientist etc. It also has maintained a roaster of experienced technical and non-technical professionals who are involved in the projects/programs as and when needed. PROGRAM COVERAGE: Parivartan Nepal is currently working in Sarlahi district and Makawanpur district of Nepal in direct partnership with the targeted communities focusing on its broad priority areas/themes. Presently, around 6,000 households are benefiting from its programs. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Parivartan Nepal has achieved commendable results in the areas of River Bank Conservation, Soil and Water Conservation, Promotion of Organic Farming, and Seed Security and Diversity. Some of them include the following: + A total of 5,822 hectares of river bank land from 13 rivers and their rivulets is brought under conservation in Sindhuli, Sarlahi and Makawanpur districts of Nepal. Out of this, 524 hectares of land is already used for cultivation purpose. More than 400,000 saplings of different species of perennial plants are planted and more than 1,000 kilograms of seeds of different varieties of fodder trees were sowed. + Chhatiwan of Makawanpur District was declared as Open Grazing Restricted VDC in 2013. It has planned to extend this program to other remaining VDCs of Makawanpur district in the future. This innovative and unique concept of river bank and Chure conservation and management was pioneered by Parivartan Nepal in Nepal. + Promotion of Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT), gully control, conservation ponds, digging of trenches for accelerating infiltration, plantation and open grazing control are some of the interventions for soil and water conservation program. It is initiated in four communities of Sarlahi and Makawanpur districts. It is spread in around 150 hectares of slopped land. More than 100,000 saplings are transplanted which include bamboo grass, bamboo and fruit saplings. + More than 4,000 farming households are adopting organic farming practices in project VDCs. + Participatory Varietal Selection, Participatory Plant Breeding, Community based Seed Production and Community Seed Banking helped a lot in enhancing seed security. More than 500 farming households in seed banking and around 200 households in producing seeds of major crops like paddy, wheat, maize, soybean and mustard. Similarly, diversity kit, PVS, PPB and diversity block helped in maintaining and increasing crop and varietal diversity. Communities are mobilized for conservation of endangered species of different crops. + Four field gene banks of taro, yam, banana, mango and litchi are maintained. + Promoted 20 cooperatives includes savings & credit and Organic Agriculture and are in well operation. + Supported to built/renovate 20 small irrigation systems that provide irrigation facility to around1300 hectors of land. + Supported to built 791 tapstand and 34 deep wells and provided drinking water for 4,167 households. Parivatan Nepal has been provided with letters of appreciation and rewards on various occasions for its commendable contribution to the community for their sustainable development by Kathmandu based Nepal Children Organization and Agriculture Business Promotion Center and Makawanpur district based District Forest Office, District Development Committee; Village Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Coordination Committee, NGO Federation of Nepal etc. NETWORKS: ã Active member of NGO Federation of Nepal,	http://parivartannepal.org.np/who-we-are/
The National Wildlife Refuge System is committed to building partnerships that encourage conservation and preservation of our natural heritage of wildlife and wildlands. Scientifically-informed and technologically-based stewardship of our public lands, waters, wildlife and special places must be collaborative efforts between the Refuge System, other government agencies, local communities, and private organizations, if conservation efforts are to succeed. At Breton National Wildlife Refuge we collaborate with the Coastal Wetland Planning, Protection and Restoration Act partners (CWPPRA), the US Geological Survey, the US Coast Guard, the State of Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Coastal Research Lab at the University of New Orleans to fulfill our stewardship mission.	https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Breton/what_we_do/partnerships.html
Our network of partners are coordinating and collaborating to grow the global movement for a more equitable and sustainable society and a healthy blue planet. Our Mission and Values The Ocean Project catalyzes and supports collaborative action for conservation in partnership with aquariums, zoos, museums, youth leaders, and others in a growing global network. Everything The Ocean Project does is based on the values of collaboration, inclusion, impact, and a respect for all people and life on our blue planet. Organizational Overview The Ocean Project is all about collaborating for conservation impact. As a foundation for our work in helping our diverse network of partners advance conservation and sustainability as effectively as possible, The Ocean Project has conducted and applied public opinion and market research for more than 20 years. To help our network of partners be as effective as possible, we support them by openly sharing our data, insights, and related information for action. Together with our Partners we co-develop campaigns for conservation impact, sharing lessons learned for all involved in our growing global Partner Network to benefit from. The Ocean Project has grown from a handful of founding organizations in 1997 into the world’s most extensive network for advancing conservation and solutions-oriented action for our blue planet. We focus on collaboration to support and enhance our partner institutions’ individual and collective conservation efforts. In developing World Oceans Day, since 2002 we have grown a global network including approximately 2,000 organizations in 150 countries from all sectors, including youth groups; schools and universities; zoos, aquariums and museums; businesses and industry organizations; diving, surfing, sailing, and other outdoor recreation organizations; faith communities; government agencies, and many more. Our collaborative global youth initiative supports youth-led and youth-serving organizations, to develop a broad, diverse, active, and united youth constituency for our blue planet. To achieve the most impact, we focus largely on supporting the efforts of non-traditional stakeholders, such as aquarium and zoo partners, and youth leaders around the world. This focus is based on years of research that shows that 1) youth tend to be the most interested and the most willing to act, with a high potential to influence others and 2) that visitors to zoos and aquariums not only expect and trust, but also appreciate conservation information and guidance on how to help with solutions, from personal behavior change to community engagement and policy and societal level improvements. The Ocean Project intentionally does not actively promote itself but rather we aim to promote our key partners and youth leaders and 'brand' the ways to help with solutions to the issues worldwide. As such, much of our work is done behind-the-scenes, supporting our partners to be bolder and connecting them with our global network and beyond to scale success. Together, we strive to protect and restore our blue planet and create a more equitable and sustainable society. The Ocean Foundation has served as the fiscal sponsor for The Ocean Project since 2006. Primary Strategies Enhance capacity of our partners to effectively communicate for conservation impact - Support and help effectively activate the communications, education, and outreach capacities of our partners to effectively engage their target audiences, as well as leaders in the public and private sectors Scale solutions within and beyond our network - Develop and expand our partner network, sharing successes and catalyzing more effective approaches, ensuring these efforts add maximum value to local, regional, national, and global conservation campaigns and movements Priority Initiatives We work in partnership with leading aquariums, zoos, and other organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative conservation campaigns. Based on 20+ years of comprehensive public opinion and market research, we focus on improving and emboldening public engagement and increasing both the number of participating organizations and the impact of their efforts. This work evolves continuously, building upon the success of our Innovative Solutions Grants + program developed with NOAA, as well as other initiatives, including those supported by the SeaLife Trust, UN Environment, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. and the Heartwired to Love the Ocean project. Based on our market research and others' communications research that underscores the importance of engaging younger generations in conservation, our collaborative global youth initiative helps to develop a broad, diverse, active, and united youth constituency. Connecting with youth leaders, key partners and other youth-focused organizations, the initiative seeks to accelerate youth engagement and leadership development worldwide. We support youth to become ocean champions and provide opportunities to connect with policymakers and corporate leaders. Among our youth activities, the World Oceans Day Youth Advisory Council shapes and grows development of World Oceans Day and leads conservation action year-round; the Sea Youth Rise Up advocacy campaign connects youth from within and beyond our network and provides a platform for young people to express their ideas directly with decision-makers and the media. Look for exciting new global youth developments coming in 2021! World Oceans Day provides a unique way to raise the profile of the ocean on 8 June and rally the world for both individual and collective action and global impact. Since 2016, World Oceans Day has been led by a Youth Advisory Council. Since starting efforts in 2002, The Ocean Project has grown World Oceans Day into a United Nations-recognized event (beginning in 2009) and a truly global celebration of our ocean with more than 2,000 events in 150 countries. We help focus the world - especially through youth involvement - on June as "ocean month" and expand engagement with the fast-growing World Oceans Day network for targeted conservation campaigns in collaboration with existing campaigns and other efforts year-round. We intentionally connect with all sectors and provide meaningful tools and resources for organizers to inspire and activate diverse audiences to help protect and restore our shared ocean that we all need to survive and thrive. Get involved and join the fast-growing global network of partners! Have your organization join today or sign up as an individual to be kept informed a few times a year by email. All is free and open to everyone, to collaborate and grow the global movement for our blue planet!	https://theoceanproject.org/about-us/
One of the hardest-to-spot mammals in Chile can often be found underwater, foraging among the roots of native trees in Patagonia’s rivers, lakes, and fjords. But what really makes the huillín—also known as the southern river otter, or “river cat”—so tough to come across is not just its aquatic habitat but also the fact that only an estimated 500 huillín remain in Chile and Argentina, according to experts. The largest animal in the Mustelidae family in Chile, the huillín (Lontra provocax)—with its thick fur, webbed feet, and long, rudderlike tail—is also the second-largest carnivore in the country, after the puma. With long whiskers, called “vibrisas,” that help it detect prey under logs and rocks in the riverbed, the huillín, which was once prevalent in the region, is in rare company as one of the few animals that can thrive in both freshwater and coastal-marine waters while also using coastal areas on land as burrows. Today, this otter is classified as endangered by both the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Chile’s Environment Ministry. That’s why, in June 2021, a plan—known by its Spanish acronym RECOGE, for the recovery, conservation, and management of huillín—began taking shape, with the goals of improving conservation and Chilean government agency coordination to effectively conserve and manage this species. As part of the RECOGE plan—being developed by the consulting firm Huella Natureza, with financial support from The Pew Charitable Trusts and government agency coordination by the Environment Ministry—organizers will facilitate nearly three dozen interactive workshops between June and December of this year. These sessions are intended to engage a broad swath of stakeholders, from government and scientists to nongovernmental organizations and companies in the forestry, tourism, and aquaculture sectors, to develop a strategy to help local residents learn the importance of—and their shared responsibility for—protecting this iconic species and helping it recover. Healthy huillín habitat would also benefit communities by providing a range of ecosystem services, including clean sources of drinking water and seafood, climate regulation, and some protection from coastal flooding and erosion. The plan includes 14 workshops for representatives from academia, NGOs, private sector firms, and public agencies along with a dozen meetings at the regional level, sessions with Chilean and Argentine groups, and workshops for Indigenous people. Numerous factors have driven the huillín’s decline, including the destruction of shoreline vegetation caused by agriculture, pine and eucalyptus plantations, wetland drainage, urbanization, salmon farming, and diseases transmitted by invasive species such as the American mink. Because huillín rely on so many different ecosystems—from river basins to coastal-marine areas—conserving and managing this species may seem like a daunting task. But preserving and restoring these ecosystems is worth the effort because it will result in a healthier environment, not just for the huillín but also for the local communities that share its habitat. Maximiliano Sepúlveda works on The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Chilean Patagonia project.	https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2022/03/03/plan-aims-to-save-emblematic-patagonian-otter-from-extinction
GOMEZ-RUIZ, Emma P. et al. Conservation nectar bats (Phyllostomidae: Glossophagini) at risk in Coahuila and Nuevo Leon. Therya [online]. 2015, vol.6, n.1, pp.89-102. ISSN 2007-3364. http://dx.doi.org/10.12933/therya-15-233. INTRODUCTION: Cave-dwelling nectar-feeding bats (Phyllostomidae: Glossophagini) face greater danger of extinction compared to other bats due to their restricted diet and the limited availability of suitable caves. Recent conservation biology literature suggests that successful conservation strategies should consider both biological and social perspectives. This paper presents the biological and social perspectives considered to implement conservation efforts for the threatened species Leptonycteris nivalis and Choeronycteris mexicana in the states of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon. Our objectives were to: 1) document caves used by these species, 2) describe community-based conservation strategies that link key actors (local communities, scientists, educators, government entities) resulting in a network, and 3) propose strategies to strengthen the links between key actors in the bat conservation network in order to maintain it in the long term. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To document caves used by L. nivalis and C. mexicana in Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, we combined searching available literature for known roosting sites and field surveys to confirm sites not previously reported. We implemented community-based conservation strategies with targeted local communities through workshops and used surveys to obtain indicators of knowledge and perception of bats by members of the communities. RESULTS: We report six caves used by nectar-feeding bats, which together house 12 species of bats (Table 1). The community-based conservation strategies that we implemented with local communities are described in four phases: information, communication, education, and training. A total of 574 residents from 52 communities participated in the study area. Surveys indicate that 60 % of the participants do not have knowledge of bat biology, 80 % are not aware of bats' ecological functions, and 71 % mention that bats are animals that cause fear. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a conservation network consisting of key actors (local communities, scientists, non-governmental organizations, government entities, and financial institutions) with links that are strengthened by bi-directional communication (Figure 2). Flow of resources and information through networks such as this will facilitate the integration of social and biological perspectives for successful conservation actions. Palabras llave : environmental education; conservation planning; community-based conservation; Leptonycteris nivalis; Choeronycteris mexicana.	http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&pid=S2007-33642015000100089&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=en
Browse Species Stressors science related to: A systems approach to modeling effects of climate and land-use change on prairie wetland ecosystems This effort is focused on developing an process-based, systems model for prairie-pothole wetlands to facilitate forecasts of how climate and land-use change will influence wetland processes and biota. The Pothole Hydrology Linked System Simulator model (PHyLiSS) simulates changes in hydrology, water chemistry, plant communities, invertebrates and other biota as a result of altered temperature... Understanding consequences of management strategies for farmed wetlands to ecosystem services in the Prairie Pothole Region NPWRC is leading a partnership with North Dakota State University to examine ecological, social, and financial considerations of farming practices within temporarily-ponded wetlands. Farmers seemingly strive to maximize crop production on their land; yet, they may be able to be more successful with more information on costs and benefits of certain management practices. There has been a long... Restoration of wetland invertebrates to improve wildlife habitat in Minnesota Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (NPWRC) is investigating limitations to restoring abundant aquatic macroinvertebrate populations to Minnesota wetlands and shallow lakes. Recent research on larger more permanent wetlands in Minnesota indicates that there have been decreases in quality of wetlands of use by ducks. That research also describes a decline in abundance of amphipods, a... Importance of wetlands in intensively farmed landscapes to duck production The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the northern Great Plains annually hosts 50–80% of North America’s ducks during the breeding season. The PPR ecosystem has a number of stressors, intensive agriculture being chief among them. Accordingly, there are significant government and private funds that go to conservation for the purposes of improving duck production in the PPR. The current... Interactions of consolidation drainage and climate on water-level dynamics, wetland productivity, and waterbirds Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (NPWRC) recently completed a project aimed at understanding the impacts of wetland drainage on wetlands that receive drainage water. The biological communities of prairie pothole wetlands evolved in a hydrologically dynamic system due to periodic wet and dry conditions. NPWRC research indicates that relative to wetlands in undrained landscapes,... Interaction of land use and wet/dry cycles on invertebrate populations of northern prairie wetlands: Implications for waterbird habitat conservation This effort is aimed at understanding how productivity of larger and more permanent wetlands is influenced by a combination of inter-annual hydrological dynamics and land-use impacts. Historically, aquatic-invertebrates productivity and abundance was driven by inter-annual hydrological dynamics because drying periods allow for nutrient cycling and a subsequent pulse of productivity when wet... Impacts of wind-turbine energy complexes on northern prairie grouse Wind-energy development in the northern Great Plains primarily occurs along the Missouri Coteau and Missouri River Plateau in North Dakota and South Dakota. While these areas rank high in wind-energy potential they also contain important breeding habitat for sharp-tailed grouse and greater prairie-chickens. The impact of these wind-energy developments on prairie grouse populations and trends... USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) durability assessment with FORT Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center is assisting the Fort Collins Science Center (FORT) in conducting an assessment of the current status of agricultural lands that were previously, but not currently, enrolled in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The goal of this effort is to provide USDA with information on the fate and condition of grasslands... Potential effects of energy development on environmental resources of the Williston Basin in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota Federal resource managers in the Williston Basin need to understand how the recent expansion of oil and gas development is affecting a range of natural resources. The Bakken Federal Executive Group (BFEG), a group of representatives from over a dozen federal and tribal agencies, called for a report that synthesizes existing information about the potential impacts from energy development. The... Inventory, mapping, estimation, and monitoring of least tern and piping plover habitats on the upper Missouri River using satellite imagery Emergent sandbar maps of the Missouri River produced by Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center continue to be used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to monitor and manage critical breeding habitat for the endangered Interior population of least terns and the threatened Northern Great Plains population of piping plovers. These maps have been created and... Assessment of greenhouse gas fluxes from wetland catchments in the Prairie Pothole Region Greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes and carbon cycling of prairie-pothole wetlands are not well understood, leading to high uncertainty in model estimates of these processes. Additionally, unprecedented changes to land-use and cover in the Northern Great Plains have potential to alter the hydrology and water quality of wetland ecosystems, impacting GHG and carbon processes. Management, restoration,... Can wetland water-management influence mercury bioaccumulation in songbirds and ducks at National Wildlife Refuges with mercury problems? During summer 2017, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (NPWRC) initiated a collaborative research study focused on understanding if water-level management of wetlands at refuges can influence mercury bioaccumulation in wetland-dependent migratory birds. Birds are susceptible to the effects of mercury and can serve as indicators of contamination in ecosystems. We examined mercury...	https://www.usgs.gov/Centers/NPWRC/Science/Species-Stressors
Message: [ First \| Previous Next Last ] By Topic: By Author: Font: Monospaced Font LISTSERV at MSU FWGRADJOBS Home FWGRADJOBS September 2019, Week 1 Subject: FW: Michigan Wetland Habitat Biologist position - posting closes Sept. 10 From: "Schneider, Jim" <[log in to unmask]> Reply-To: Schneider, Jim Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2019 18:02:41 +0000 Content-Type: text/plain Parts/Attachments: text/plain (1 lines) From: "Avers, Barbara (DNR)" <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at 12:39 PM To: Jim Schneider <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Michigan Wetland Habitat Biologist position - posting closes Sept. 10 Hi Jim! Michigan DNR has created an exciting new statewide Wetland Habitat Biologist position within the Wildlife Division. If you could please distribute it to your emails lists, it would be greatly appreciated. More details on the position follow. Half of this new Wetland Habitat Biologist’s time will be spent co-leading Michigan’s new Voluntary Wetland Restoration (VWR) Program with the Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and review and make recommendations for wetland restoration permits. The position will also serve on the interagency Wetland Working Group and develop guidance documents and processes to facilitate the VWR program. The other half of the position’s time will be spent serving as an advisor for the state for wetland habitat management in conjunction with other federal, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including participation in multi-state cooperative conservation efforts coordinated through the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP). This position is responsible for assisting with coordination of activities of the Michigan DNR Wildlife Division's statewide Wetland Program. This position leads the Division's Wetland Habitat Workgroup in the development of a statewide wetland habitat strategy and provides guidance to the Division on annual work planning activities to implement the strategy. Other tasks for this position include leading the development and coordination of monitoring programs as called for in the statewide strategy; providing expertise on wetland habitat needs and management practices; providing policy recommendations for resource management; and building partnerships with agencies and organizations that are interested in wetlands. This person will also participate in outreach related to wetland habitat such as developing written communications for the public and wetland management community on wetland habitat issues. We are looking for someone with at least three years of professional experience carrying out wildlife biologist assignments. Ducks Unlimited’s Great Lakes Atlantic Regional Office is providing partial support for the first year and potentially subsequent years and the new position will have ample opportunities to collaborate with DU and other wetland conservation partners in Michigan. Michigan is a great place to live and work and play, and the State of Michigan offers very competitive salary and benefits. The posting and additional details can be found by clicking on the following link: Wetland Habitat Biologist posting<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.governmentjobs.com_careers_michigan_jobs_2558607_wildlife-2Dbiologist-2D12-2Dwetland-2Dhabitat-3Fkeywords-3Dwildlife-2520biologist-26pagetype-3DjobOpportunitiesJobs&d=DwMFAg&c=nE__W8dFE-shTxStwXtp0A&r=Znw7vQJ85zwmeBWJKUyE3A&m=NJb7UNr827cpIO2xLR2cG13q2yh9k_uIn8g62iSF_og&s=dS9i3hbczcHAws3-oI5Ix4El-CbhSZPe9612BezW5S4&e=> If you know of excellent qualified applicants, please forward this announcement along to them and encourage them to apply. I see this new position as an exciting opportunity to shape Michigan’s wetland conservation activities through developing diverse partnerships. Any interested applicants can feel free to reach out to me. Thanks!	https://list.msu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1909a&L=FWGRADJOBS&D=0&P=770&F=P
Wetlands are particularly important environmental assets whose sustainability requires meaningful participation of the riparian communities in their management. Yala Wetland is an important resource whose key challenges involve land and water resource use for competing interests which prompted Siaya and Busia County regional Governments to initiate preparation, a Land Use Plan (LUP)/Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to resolve these. A LUP/SEA Framework with Yala Project Advisory Committee (YPAC) for local communities guided the planning process and implementation. Concurrently, an action research was conducted to assess the level and effectiveness of Yala Wetland community participation in the SEA/LUP processes and improve the outcomes. Research data was derived from 410 respondents from 60 local community groups, 34 key informant interviews, 187 students and satellite images. The Spectrum of Public Participation Model revealed that wetland communities’ participation was at lower levels (Inform (17%) and Consult (83%) while the measure of effectiveness on 10 indicators were poor (20%) and unsatisfactory (80%) thus not meaningful nor effective. Consequently, Yala Hub Framework was developed, occasioning significant improvements in the final LUP. The study concluded that effective community participation determines and influences effective implementation of decisions made and that increased participation through deliberate intervention will eventually increase the effectiveness of community development and encourage long-term sustainability. Key words: Yala Hub Framework, community participation, strategic environmental assessment, land use planning, wetland. INTRODUCTION Wetlands are one of the world’s most important environmental assets which provide homes for large, diverse biota as well as significant economic, social and cultural benefits related to timber, fisheries, hunting, recreational and tourist activities. Yala Wetland is an important resource shared by Siaya and Busia counties of Kenya. It supports the livelihoods of surrounding communities, including water, papyrus and fisheries, among others, and provides vital ecosystem services such as purification and storage of water. It also acts as a carbon sink, thus regulating global and local climatic conditions and is internationally recognized as a Key Biodiversity Area that hosts globally and nationally threatened bird, fish and mammal species. The wetland is also an important agricultural asset that has attracted both local farmers and external agricultural interests (EANHS, 2018). Wetlands constitute an important resource for riparian communities and therefore it is important that they participate in their management. Community participation in natural resource management has evolved from the realization that people living with natural resources should be responsible for their management and benefit from using the resources (Ostrom, 1990; WWF, 2006; Bond, 2006; Lockie and Sonnenfeld, 2008; GoK, 2010a; Hardin, 1968; IUCN, 2009). The Aarhus Convention of 1998 states that citizens must not only have access to information but must also be entitled to participate in decision making and have access to justice in environmental matters (DETR, 2000; Stec et al., 2000). However, participation of local communities in seeking solutions to wetlands resources use remains a grave challenge as managers of participation processes engage in low level consultations that do not empower them to co-manage these resources alongside government agencies mandated to do so (GoK, 2010a; Springate-Baginski et al., 2009; Okello et al., 2009; Olson, 1965). Besides, the dynamics of communities’ participation and their activities on the wetland are not clearly understood despite wetland’s continued degradation in size and value (Dobiesz and Lester, 2009; Dugan, 1993). The Papyrus Wetlands challenges and public participation A synthesis of research and policy priorities for papyrus wetlands presented in Wetlands Conference in 2012 concluded that more research on the governance, institutional and socio-economic aspects of papyrus wetlands is needed to assist African governments in dealing with the challenges of conserving wetlands in the face of growing food security needs and climate change (van Dam et al., 2014). The other three priorities identified were the need for: better estimates of the area covered by papyrus wetlands as limited evidence suggest that the loss of papyrus wetlands is rapid in some areas; a better understanding and modelling of the regulating services of papyrus wetlands to support trade-off analysis and improve economic valuation; and, research on papyrus wetlands should include assessment of all ecosystem services so that trade-offs can be determined as the basis for sustainable management strategies (‘wise use’). In Africa, wetlands degradation is on the increase as wetland ecosystems are relied upon to lessen industrial, urban and agricultural pollution and supply numerous services and resources (Nasongo et al., 2015; Kansiime et al., 2007). Similarly, lack of recognition of the traditional values of these wetlands, desire for modernisation and failure to appreciate their ecological role aggravate their degradation (Maclean et al., 2003; Panayotou, 1994). Public participation Public participation has been the focus of many Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Strategic Impact Assessment (SEA) studies globally (Doelle and Sinclair, 2005; Hartley and Wood, 2005). This article defines public participation as the process of ensuring that those who have an interest or stake in a decision are involved in making that decision. The many ways that organizations interpret and use the term public participation can be resolved into a range of different types of participation. This range from passive participation, where people are told what is to happen and act out predetermined roles, to self-mobilisation, where people take initiatives largely independent of external institutions. Participation has become a key element in the discussion concerning development particularly in natural resources management (Cooke and Kothari, 2001). Today, the concept is seen as a magic bullet by development agencies who are making participation one, if not the core element of development (Michener, 1998). According to the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2, 2008) public participation consists of five levels: Information (lowest level, where participation does not go beyond information provision), consultation, involvement, collaboration and empowerment (highest level, where the public are given a final say on the project decision. Models and Types of Participation Participation has been studied and different models offered to show the levels and challenges therein. The models include the ladder of citizen participation (Arnstein, 1969) which show the hierarchies of participation from non-participation, to tokenism and to citizen power with meaningful happening at the apex (citizen control); the wheel model with four levels namely inform, consult, participate and empower (Davidson, 1998); and the spectrum model with five levels from inform, consult, involve, collaborate and empower (Stuart, 2017; Gaventa, 2004) and citizen as partners with five levels from Information and transaction, consultation, deliberative involvement, government – led active participation and citizen-led active participation (OECD, 2001). Spectrum of public participation The Spectrum of Public Participation was developed by the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) to help clarify the role of the public (or community) in planning and decision-making, and how much influence the community has over planning or decision-making processes (Stuart, 2017; IAP2, 2008; Gaventa, 2004). It identifies five levels of public participation (or community engagement) from inform, consult, involve, collaborate and empower shown in Table 1. The further to the right on the Spectrum, the more influence the community has over decisions, and each level can be appropriate depending on the context. It is important to recognize they are levels, not steps. For each level it articulates the public participation goal and the promise to the public. The first level the Inform level of public participation does not actually provide the opportunity for public participation at all, but rather provides the public with the information they need to understand the agency decision-making process. Some practitioners suggest that the Inform level should be placed across the Spectrum (e.g. above or below it) to demonstrate that “effective engagement with stakeholders at all levels on the Spectrum requires a strategic flow of information” (Chappell, 2016). Since Arnstein (1969) proposed a ladder of citizen participation, almost 50 years ago (ranging from manipulation and therapy, to delegated power and citizen control) there have been several attempts to classify levels of community engagement. The Spectrum of Public Participation is one of the best attempts so far (Stuart, 2017).This study therefore uses Spectrum of public participation to assess the level of community participation in Yala SEA/LUP processes. White’s (1996) work on the forms and functions of participation distinguish four forms of participation: nominal, instrumental, representative and transformative. She reasons that each form has different functions, and argues actors ‘at the top’ (more powerful) and ‘at the grass roots’ (less powerful) have different perceptions of and interests in each form. Nominal participation is often used by more powerful actors to give legitimacy to development plans. Instrumental participation sees community participation being used as a means towards a stated end – often the efficient use of the skills and knowledge of community members in project implementation. Representative participation involves giving community members a voice in the decision-making and implementation process of projects or policies that affect them. Transformative participation results in the empowerment of those involved, and as a result alter the structures and institutions that lead to marginalization and exclusion. White’s work helps us to think about the politics of participation (hidden agendas and the dynamic relationships between more and less powerful actors). It is only in ‘transformative participation’ that the power holders are in solidarity with the less powerful to take actions and shape decisions. White emphasizes that this framework needs to be seen as something dynamic, and that a single intervention can include more than one form of participation. One type of participation may not in itself be ‘better’ than another. Different types of public participation are appropriate in different situations, with different objectives and with different stakeholders. Some stakeholders have a greater right to more control of the process than others, some have greater capacity to participate than others and some are quite happy to participate less in some decisions- allowing others such as representative organizations or politicians to take decisions for them. Emerging lessons and good practices of public participation From these six project areas carried out in Participation in Planning Water management options, European Union (EU) life environment wise use of flood plain project notes the following six early lessons as emerging on when to do participation (Harrison et al., 2001): 1. Scale: Participation exercises have taken place at a variety of scales with some areas involving communities to consider issues at river catchment level whilst others have broken down into sub catchments or even more local areas along the catchment. Catchment level discussions have generally taken place more with organizations than with individual members of the community. 2. Context: Always the degree to which participation has been successful in involving people, getting views, or even aiming at consensus, has depended greatly on issues of context. These include political contexts, employment contexts, issues contexts, such as flooding, water quality and on cultural contexts relating to a history or not of co-operation and participation. 3. Transferability: Many of the methods including mapping, surveys, timelines etc have been used in the WUF project areas and the experience has been valuable to test different techniques for different issues and with different stakeholders. Flexibility of using techniques is essential and so it is important to have a wide range of techniques. Techniques are transferable but need to be applied and adapted to local circumstances. 4. Training/ capacity/resources: Participation can be resource hungry though some areas have saved costs through using local networks and facilities. The main resource investment is usually time. Techniques for participation vary and the more complex ones need careful training and professional implementation. 5. Processes of participation – early involvement of communities in the decision making process has led to gradual decision making and planning and helped achieve consensus amongst stakeholders. 6. Partnership working – using local host organizations can not only save time and money but also help build up trust and ongoing relationships – especially in cross border situations if the host has a history of cross border working. Effectiveness of public participation using emerging lessons and World Bank indicators From the application of participatory approaches in various projects and subsequent emerging lessons and the World Bank public participation lessons (World Bank, 1998:2002, Harrison et al. 2001) some 10 indicators have been identified as key in evaluating public participation effectiveness namely: 1. Objectives – why do participation? what are the objectives – this is a vital reference point for evaluation. 2. Contexts for the participation – helps evaluation. Was participation, for example, part of a larger strategy. political contexts, economic. 3. Levels of Involvement – all to do with how early you involve people, how much power is handed over and when. 4. Who was involved, how chosen – mistakes made (by who?) 5. What methods were used, maps, interviews etc. – did they work? 6. Innovation –of method or just participation itself for the area 7. Commitment – to use or not? 8. Inputs – time, money etc. and results in relation to those inputs 9. Outputs, hard outputs, reports, posters, press, completed survey forms 10. Outcome – most important culmination of the evaluation. The indicators point at different elements of public participation and this study will use the 10 indicators as well as spectrum of public participation to evaluate community participation framework of Yala Land Use Planning. The synergy of the two methods would help bring the best of each other as well as complement each where they have weaknesses. The World Bank's Internal Learning Group on Participatory Development conducted a study in 1994 to measure the benefits and costs of their participatory projects. A total of 42 participatory projects were analyzed and compared with equivalents. The principal benefits were found to be increased uptake of services; decreased operational costs; increased rate of return; and increased incomes of stakeholders. But it was also found that the absolute costs of participation were greater, though these were offset by benefits: the total staff time in the design phase (42 projects) was 10-15% more than non-participatory projects; and the total staff time for supervision was 60% more than non-participatory projects (loaded at front end). It is increasingly clear that if the process is sufficiently interactive, then benefits can arise both within local communities and for external agencies and their professional staff. Okello et al. (2009) study on public participation in SEA in Kenya concludes that it was unsatisfactory. The study noted that Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) of 1999 and its 2015 amendment and Environmental Impact Assessment Audit Regulations 2003 (EIAAR) did not have provisions detailing consultation with the public during SEA and that knowledge and awareness of the public at all levels of society were found to be poor (EMCA, 2015). The undoings of public participation included information inaccessibility in terms of readability and physical access, inadequate awareness of the public on their roles and rights during EIA, incomprehensible language and incomplete regulation for public participation during SEA. Those undoings have to be overcome if public participation in Kenya is to be improved and moved to higher levels (that is, collaboration-empowerment) of participation on the spectrum of public participation level. Therefore, this study uses cumulatively the 10 indicators to measure the effectiveness of community participation in Yala Wetland Land Use Planning. The synergy of the two methods (spectrum model and 10 Indicators) brought the best of each other as well as complemented each other where they had weaknesses. Thus, Yala Project Advisory Committee (YPAC) framework weaknesses were identified and consequently an addendum to the framework designed to optimize participation of Yala wetland communities in the then ongoing SEA/LUP processes called the Yala RAPPEF-CF-IR Hub framework simply called the Yala Hub Framework. The Yala RAPPEF-CF-IR-Hub is a 5- steps facilitative model used to optimize YPAC framework participation but was also deployed in Siaya County Integrated Development Planning (CIDP) with substantial success Odero, 2021. Rationale for Effective Community Participation in Yala Wetland SEA and LUP Yala Wetland is facing many challenges that revolve around land and water resource use for competing interests and also from catchment degradation (GOK, 2018; Odhengo et al., 2018a; Ondere, 2016; Odero, 2015a, 2015b; Muoria et al., 2015; van Heukelom, 2013; Raburu, 2012; Thenya and Ngecu, 2017; Onywere et al., 2011; GOK, 2010b; Kenya Wetland Forum, 2006; Lihanda et al., 2003; Otieno et al., 2001; GOK, 1987). Additionally, the weak frameworks for stakeholder participation especially the local communities in resources management created suspicion and tension among various interest groups in the wetland. These challenges pointed to the need for a well-considered LUP that would provide a rational and scientific basis for future development and use of the resource. This situation prompted and encouraged County Governments of Siaya and Busia, and Nature Kenya to initiate processes that culminated in the present effort to prepare a LUP that will help resolve these challenges so that Yala Wetland will be able to sustainably support local residents’ livelihoods while its ecological integrity and that of its associated ecosystems is protected. Preliminary processes implemented by Inter-ministerial Technical Committee (IMTC) and a Deltas Management Secretariat prepared a LUP Framework to guide the planning process and was agreed upon by stakeholders. The IMTC’s responsibility is coordination, policy and planning processes of major deltas in Kenya. The Framework was as result of a participatory and collaborative process that involved various stakeholders at the local, county and national levels. As required by Kenya Constitution article 69(1) and part VIII section 87-92 and 115 of County Government Act, 2012 on devolution provisions, and part 2 section 6 (1-2) Public Participation Bill, 2020 provided for participation of local communities in the Yala SEA and LUP process through a Yala Project Advisory Committee (YPAC) (GOK, 2010; GOK, 2012a, b, c and d, GOK, 2020). This paper seeks to first, determine the level of community participation in the ongoing SEA and LUP processes; second; to determine the effectiveness of community participation in the ongoing Yala Wetland SEA and LUP processes; and, consequently, to develop a framework for optimizing community participation in the ongoing Yala Wetland SEA and LUP processes and Yala Wetland ecosystem management. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Yala Wetland Area Yala Wetland is located on the North eastern shoreline of Lake Victoria between 33° 50’ E to 34° 25’E longitudes to 0° 7’S to 0° 10’N latitude (Figure 1), and is situated on the deltaic sediments of the confluence of both Nzoia and Yala Rivers where they enter the north-eastern corner of Lake Victoria. It is highly valued by local communities (NEMA, 2016). Yala Wetland is Kenya’s third largest wetland after Lorian Swamp and Tana Delta and has a very delicate ecosystem. It is shared between Siaya and Busia counties of Kenya and covers an area of about 20,756 ha (about 207 Km2) (JICA, 1987; LBDA, 1989; Odhengo et al., 2018b). Yala Wetland and its environment have a high population density (KNBS, 2009). The Siaya County side had human population density estimated at 393 per Km² in 2009 while Busia County had a higher concentration of up to 527 persons per Km² (KNBS, 2009). Based on the 2019 National Census Results, the population of Siaya and Busia Counties were 743,946 with a growth rate of 1.7% and 833,760 with a growth rate of 3.1% respectively. The population of the planning area (wetland and its buffer of 5km radius) was estimated at 130,838 in 2014 and was projected to be 171,736 in 2030 and 241,280 in 2050 (KNBS, 2009). The mean household size was 5.05, although population density in the wetland and adjacent areas were not uniform. High population concentrations were found in the Busia County side around the banks of Nzoia River and to the South in Siaya County side around Usenge town and north of Lake Kanyaboli (KNBS, 2009). The study focused on the communities inside and within 5km from the wetland boundaries because their propensity to use the wetland is inversely related to travel distance (Abila, 2002). The study also extended to communities living in the upper Yala cluster (lower catchment of river Yala) whose activities affect the Yala Wetland water flow and quality (IWMI, 2014). Environmental livelihoods of the wetland communities Yala Wetland has diverse scenic sites that attract visitors from Kenya and beyond. Such attractions include Ramogi Hills, sandy beaches of Usenge, sand dunes around Osieko beach, Oxbow lakes, migratory birds, and endangered wildlife species among others. Potential tourist attractions in the Yala Wetland include the scenic appeal, bird watching, wildlife viewing, sport fishing, boat riding, outdoor sports and several cultural and traditional ceremonies. However, tourism potential for the area is largely unexploited and poorly developed in the area at present. Muoria et al (2015) estimated that visitors to Yala Swamp contribute Kshs 1,170,200 (USD$1,170.2) annually to the local economy. This is a very low value compared to the estimated potential of Kshs 499,912,500 (USD$ 499,912.5) estimated by Kabubo-Mariara et al (Unpublished data) who used the willingness to pay method (Yala Wetland ICCA, 2020). Cultural diversity The communities of Yala Wetland have diverse cultural practices and beliefs, some of which can be exploited for tourism and for conservation. Local communities have strong attachments to the wetland because of their social, cultural and spiritual importance. Some religious or spiritual purposes include baptism, traditional passage rites and ceremonies appeasing evil spirits, cleansing, as shrines etc. The communities also promote indigenous knowledge and practices on environmental functions and values that are essential for their survival such as the use of medicinal herbs. Some villages in the wetland are taken as custodian of clan spirits hence the residents consider it their duty to protect the graves and shrines of their departed clan members (Odero, 2021). However, there is lack of sound documentation and uptake of indigenous knowledge in biodiversity conservation. Scientific and educational values The Yala Wetland has immense potential for scientific research, formal and informal education, and training values. The wetland ecosystem is ideal for excursions and fieldwork for learning institutions. The wetland can also serve as important reference areas for monitoring environmental vulnerability such as floods, drought and climate change. Carbon sequestration Yala Wetland is among the most effective ecosystems for carbon storage. The Yala wetland vegetation takes up carbon from the atmosphere and converts it into plant biomass during the process of photosynthesis. The Yala wetland therefore is a giant ‘sink’ which is recovering the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, from the atmosphere. In many wetlands, waterlogged soil conditions prevent decomposition of the plant material thereby retaining carbon in the form of un-decomposed organic matter (Peat). The long retention of carbon in wetlands prevents excessive amounts of atmospheric carbon, thereby reducing global warming. The retained carbon is easily released into the atmosphere wherever peat lands are drained and exposed to fires. A detailed study of carbon storage in the Yala Wetlands was performed in 2015/2016 (Muoria et al., 2015) and confirmed that the present wetland is storing close to 15 million tonnes of carbon within the papyrus swamp, with less than 1 million tonnes stored in the remaining areas (reclaimed farmland and immature papyrus). This study further revealed that natural and semi-natural papyrus dominated habitats is better carbon sinks than drained farmed areas. Biodiversity The Yala Wetland, which is the largest papyrus swamp in the Kenyan portion of Lake Victoria, is an exceptionally rich and diverse ecosystem, containing many rare, vulnerable and endangered species of plants and animals (EANHS, 2018). The wetland is almost entirely covered in stands of papyrus. Over 30 mammal species have been recorded in the Wetland. They include the Sitatunga (Tragecephalus spekeii), a shy and rare semi-aquatic antelope that is nationally listed as Endangered (Thomas et al., 2016; Wildlife Act, 2013; KWS, 2010). The Wetland provides an important refuge for Lake Victoria cichlid fish, many of which have been exterminated in the main lake by the introduction of the non-native predatory fish, Nile Perch (Lates niloticus). Recent surveys in Lake Kanyaboli recorded 19 fish species within nine families, which included all the two critically endangered cichlids species: Oreochromis esculentus and Oreochromis variabilis (IUCN, 2018; KWS, 2010; Ogutu, 1987a; Ogutu, 1987b). The fishes use the wetland as a breeding ground, nursery, and feeding grounds (Aloo, 2003). The Yala Wetland climate has a variable rainfall pattern that generally increases from the lake shore to the hinterland (Ekirapa and Kinyanjui, 1987; Awange et al., 2008). The mean annual rainfall ranges from 1050-1160 mm and is bimodal. The mean annual daily maximum and minimum temperatures are 28.9 and 15.9°C respectively – giving a mean annual temperature of 24.4°C (Luedeling, 2011; Semenov, 2008). The hydrological conditions within the Yala Wetland are characterized by five main water sources namely: inflows from the Yala River, seepage from River Nzoia, flooding from both rivers, backflow from Lake Victoria, local rainfall and lakes within Yala Wetland (Okungu and Sangale, 2003). River Yala is the main source of water for the wetland and other satellite lakes. The naturalized mean monthly discharge is 41.1 m3/s. The lowest flows barely fall under 5m3 /s in the months of January to March while the highest discharge of 300 m3/s occur in the months of April/May and August/ September. The minimum suspended silt load of River Yala Water is 543 ppm (BirdLife, 2018; Sangale et al., 2012; Okungu and Sangale, 2003). Originally, the Yala River flowed through the eastern wetland (now ‘reclaimed’) into Lake Kanyaboli, then into the main wetland, and finally into Lake Victoria via a small gulf. The Yala flow is now diverted directly into the main wetland, and a silt-clay dike cuts off Lake Kanyaboli, which receives its water from the surrounding catchment and through back-seepage from the wetland. A culvert across the confluence of the Yala, some metres above the level of Lake Victoria, has cut off the gulf on the lake and, through back-flooding, created Lake Sare (BirdLife, 2018; Gichuki et al., 2005). This river flows on a very shallow gradient through small wetlands and saturated ground over its last 30 km before entering Lake Victoria through its own delta. The soils in this region have a very high clay content which impedes ground water flow but there is known to be a gradual movement of seepage water into the northern fringes of the Wetland. Flooding occurs annually and the very high discharge rates mean that the river channels are overtopped with floodwater passing into Yala Wetland. Parts of the western wetland lie below the level of Lake Victoria and are constantly filled with backflow in addition to being subjected to flooding from the lake and upper catchment. Annual rainfall in Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) encompasses a bimodal pattern. The Yala/ Nzoia catchment has high precipitation in the Northern highland (1,800-2,000 mm per annum) and low in the South-Western lowlands (800-1,600 mm per annum). Local rainfall contributes to Yala Wetland water. The water balance for Yala Wetland also includes the water retained within the three freshwater lakes found within the wetland: Kanyaboli (10.5 km2), Sare (5 km2) and Namboyo (1 km2). Lake Kanyaboli has a catchment area of 175 km2 and a mean depth of 3 metres. Lake Sare is an average of 5 m deep and Lake Namboyo has a depth of between 10 to 15 m (NEMA, 2016; Owiyo et al., 2014; Dominion Farms, 2003; Envertek Africa Consult Limited, 2015). Action research design Given the nature of the Yala wetland “wicked problems”, action research was the best methodology to unravel participation issues therein. Action research methodologies would assist the “actor” in improving and/or refining his or her actions (Stringer, 1999; Mills, 2000). Also, it seeks transformative change through the simultaneous process of taking action and doing research, which are linked together by critical reflection (Lewin, 1946; Johnson, 1976). Thus, action research is problem centered, client centered, and action oriented. It involves the client system in a diagnostic, active-learning, problem-finding and problem-solving process. The research was done under the regulations and guidance of School of Environmental Studies who subjected the study through its internal review processes and enriched the final outcome-The Yala Hub Framework. The study permit was obtained from the Kenya National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation. Sampling and data collection The study used non- random purposive and stratified sampling to collect data. A total of 410 respondents from 60 local community groups participated in focus group discussions (FGDs) from the swamp and adjacent buffer zones (Table 2). The target organizations that were actively involved in wetland conservation within the last five years; have been affected in one way of the other with projects within Yala Wetland, have been a member of an interest group during a LUP/SEA studies in Yala Wetland, have been involved in research and training in in Environmental conservation, EIA or SEA. The community organizations included beach management units (BMUs), Environmental Conservation groups (Yala Swamp conservancy organization, Environmental volunteers), women groups (Nyiego,), youth groups (Hawinga Boda Boda, smallholder farmer’s cooperatives, Weavers Umbrella group, Lake Kanyaboli Nurseries, religious leaders’ associations, sand harvesters, Yala Swamp Site Support (YSSG), YPAC members. The 60 community organizations were drawn from all the sublocations/ wards of Yala wetland and buffer zones. Each community organization had only one group of 10 persons participating in FGD irrespective of the total membership. The community organizations membership ranged between 8-60 persons with mixed economic abilities but drawn by the mission and ideals of the specific group. The age of members ranged between 15-85 years while the youngest organizations were five years while the oldest was 30 years old. The 10 respondents invited to participate in the FDGs were chosen to represent diversity within the group and the FGDs were held in convenient locations for local communities. The respondents were mainly group members, active and retired civil servants, teachers, retired teachers, respectable elders who were deemed as custodian of communities’ information and religious leaders. The FGDs are very advantageous, as Natasha et al. (2005) maintain since they allow collecting substantial data from many people within a very short period. The structure of these FGDs was kept to a minimum, allowing feelings and characterizations to emerge from the participants themselves (Dawson et al., 1993; Krueger and Casey, 2009) on background information about the wetland, their opinions, ideas, perceptions, and beliefs and experiences that influenced their interactions in the wetland and their involvement in its management over the years (Likert,1932). Data were recorded both by written notes and video recordings. Key informant interviews with 34 highly respected elders and change makers from Usenge, Usigu, Kombo, Hawinga, Uhembo, Bunyala were conducted between April and June 2016. The elders were considered by communities as custodians of the Yala Wetland historical, cultural and indigenous knowledge information. Information received was corroborated with other literature on Yala Wetland to provide historical and contextual information. These informants included deputy chairperson of the Luo Council of Elders from Yimbo, an elder who had also established a Yala community museum in Kombo beach at the shores of Lake Kanyaboli; an elder from Misori Kaugagi; an elder and a youth from Bunyala islands. They narrated the history of the wetland, significant events and trends and their implications. These interviews were video recorded and later used for analysis of the research data and the identity of respondents is concealed in the findings. At the end of each interview session and end of the day the researcher set aside time to record research activities for the day, his observations and experiences for the day and critical reflection in the researcher’s journal (Deveskog, 2013; Greene, 1995; Leggio, 1995). Leggio (1995) in her PhD dissertation titled Magic wand notes: In the last decade, I made some major transitions in my life and the process of writing has helped me think through some of the decisions involved. Writing is a powerful way to create one’s life as well as to record and reflect on it (p.82.). Data were also collected from 187 students who participated through essays writing, debates, poems and artistic works on the Yala Wetland issues and were rewarded for outstanding performance as shown in Plate 1. These were drawn from primary (12), secondary (5) and post- secondary polytechnics and colleges (2) in Yala wetland and its buffer zone. The data were part of what the modified community participation Yala community participation framework brought to the SEA/LUP processes. The qualitative data require triangulation and the data from the learning institutions helped with triangulation as well as bringing students’ perspectives to the study. Sample size determination for this research was based on judgment with respect to the quality of information desired and the respondents’ availability that fit the selection criteria of active involvement in Yala swamp conservation activities (Sandelowski, 1995). According to Neuman (1997) it is acceptable to use judgment in non-random purposive sampling and reiterates that there is no ‘magic number’. Thus, the 410 community respondents, 34 key informants and 187 students were representative of the wetland communities who were actively involved its management (Figure 2). Data analysis Qualitative data were analyzed in using content analysis methods. Content analysis technique allowed the researcher to categorize and code the collected information based on participants’ responses to each question or major themes that emerged from FGDs, in-depth interviews, essays, debates and artworks. Content analysis as Babbie (2015) argues is useful since it captures well the content of communications generated through interviews, essays and FGDs in an inductive manner, where themes were generated based on emerging similarities of expression in the data material. Many of these elements provided quotations in the write-up of research findings and other similar elements were quantified using descriptive statistics to give a sense of the emerging themes and their relative importance according to the respondents. Priority ranking of issues was done to arrive at overall prioritization of issues by wetland communities that informed the final LUP content. The study dealt more with people’s perception than with statistically quantifiable outputs. Thus, data analysis to gauge these perceptions was done by calculating percentage response (Neuman, 1997). The response rates were calculated using the following formula. Where x: respondent groups who gave feedback and y total number of respondent groups. To grade the percentage response, a modification of Lee’s (2000) EIA study review package was used (Table 3). Schools essays, debates and artwork analysis A select team of panelists that adjudicated the learning institutions entries comprised the Researcher, one Research Supervisor from SES, Program Manager from Nature Kenya), Research Assistant from SES and Siaya County Director of Education. Each panelist marked the 187 essays and art works, guided by the following parameters: background information, context, creativity, vision and dream all seen as identification of appropriate key challenges of the Yala Wetland and prescription of potential solutions that address the identified challenges with the potential highest score being forty marks. These parameters were based on the issues that SEA and LUP were investigating to inform the development of Yala Wetland LUP and ecosystem management starting with the vision of Yala LUP, understanding the contextual and historical information about the wetland and finally key environmental issues and what actions are required to ensure sustainable management of the Yala ecosystem. Table 4 shows the adjudication criteria for students’ submissions. The individual panelist scores were recorded and the average score tabulated to arrive at the overall score for the entries. The top 3 students from every school were awarded prizes as well as participating institutions. The essays school entries were further analyzed using content analysis to itemize environmental issues, desired future and strategies for attaining that future for inclusion in the final SEA and LUP outcomes. Satellite images from Google Earth provided detailed photographic evidence of the condition of Yala Wetland and its various land use changes over years. These satellite images also helped to determine the current size of the wetland in line with revised definition of the wetland in EMCA 2015. Satellite images and GIS analysis were used variously to determine land cover/land use changes (EMCA, 2015; Turner, 1998; Liverman et al., 1998; Chambers, 2006; Ampofo et al., 2015; Lillesand and Kiefer, 1987). Literature review was conducted on public participation, policies, laws and relevant studies that provided secondary data and a valuable source of additional information for triangulation of data generated by other means during the research and this has also been used by many researchers (Friis-Hansen and Duveskog, 2012; IYSLP, 2017). Overall, a multidisciplinary research using case study design employed exploratory action research with both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) methodology and participatory approaches and secondary data were used in data collection and analysis (Dweck, 2008; Cooperrider and Leslie, 2006). The secondary data include policy and legal frameworks, wetland ecosystem management guidelines and procedures, relevant studies to Yala wetland and other sensitive ecosystems elsewhere. This qualitative research was supported by quantitative methods on how contextual factors and processes affected the planning and management of Yala wetland ecosystem. Corbin and Strauss (1990) noted that quantitative and qualitative methods are tools that complement each other, while Greene (1995) in her doctoral research demonstrated the value of journaling as research methodology for in-depth reflection by the researcher and vital in action research designs. Greene (1995) says “learning to write is a matter of learning to shatter the silences, of making meaning, of learning to learn” (p.108). The Yala project advisory committee YPAC was the main mechanism for representing the communities of the Yala Wetland in the Yala LUP whose role was to discuss the findings of the SEA and LUP processes and content and obtain views from the wetland communities. The YPAC members were tasked to guide and instruct their own communities on the role and purpose of the LUP and SEA; to provide effective communication vertically and horizontally; to minimize misinformation and were collectively responsible for common good. YPAC consisted of 46 members drawn from local communities and reported to the Inter-County Technical Committee (ICTC). The YPAC organ represented various interests namely ecotourism, cultural groupings/heritage; conservation; religion; islanders; fisherman; hunters; persons with disability, transporters; handicraft; farmers; investors; wildlife (honorary warden); county technical officers (lands, livestock, water, fisheries, crops, forests); sand harvesters; the youth; administration (ward, sub-county); and voluntary scout.The National Government and the County Government officers participated in YPAC meetings as observers and adjudicated on any internal disagreements. RESULTS Assessment of Yala Project Advisory Committee (YPAC) Framework During the period of LUP development, YPAC held over six meetings. The main challenge of YPAC’s members was how to report back the deliberations and seek inputs from a large number of their constituencies (e.g. some over 200 persons). As a result of logistical constraints, they presented their own views and received inputs from only those around them. This offered limited local community participation. Similarly, they were unable to seek broader view of their representation to enrich YPAC meetings and feedback to draft SEA and LUP reports thereby limiting the quality of community participation in SEA and LUP development. Thus, YPAC framework membership was narrow with respect to representation and quality given the entire spatial area of wetland and its buffer zone. Additionally, the YPAC members had inadequate logistics and skills required to undertake their roles and responsibilities. Assessing the level of community participation in SEA/LUP process using spectrum of public participation model The level of community participation in SEA/LUP using Spectrum of Public Participation Model was at low levels (draft 1 SEA/LUP “Inform (17%) and Consult (83%) levels. But, the application of the Yala Community Participation framework (The Yala Hub Framework) significantly improved community participation (draft 2 SEA/LUP Consult (50%) and Involve (50%)” and draft 3 SEA/LUP at (Involve level (80%) and Collaboration level (20%). Figure 3 show the levels of communities’ involvement in various SEA/LUP processes and various drafts of the plan. DISCUSSION With application of Yala Community participation framework in the existing YPAC framework with its identified weaknesses, the wetland communities felt that the process ensured their concerns and aspirations were therefore directly reflected in SEA and LUP and that together with the Government they would implement the resultant LUP recommendations. Thus, the Yala Hub Framework was an optimizer for community participation in the LUP development that understood the Yala wetland context to enhance their participation. This finding is supported by best practices in public participation that noted the need to overcome personal and institutional barriers to public participation, understanding context (political contexts, employment contexts, issues contexts, such as flooding and on cultural contexts relating to a history of co-operation and participation (Harrison et al, 2001,GOK, 2020). Assessing effectiveness of communities’ participation in SEA/LUP processes using 10 indicators for public participation The Community participation in SEA/LUP processes were evaluated for effectiveness using the 10 Indicators for public participation effectiveness. The results of effectiveness with the original YPAC participation framework and the results after the application of the Yala Hub framework. The results reveal communities’ participation effectiveness in SEA/LUP was poor (2 indicators) and unsatisfactory (8 indicators) with YPAC. However, with the application of Yala Hub framework, the effectiveness moved to satisfactory (3 indicators) and good (7 indicators) as shown in Figure 4. The results also show that YPAC framework was poor in levels of involvement of people (30%) and commitment to community participation (30%).The overall score on YPAC effectiveness was 41% (unsatisfactory) but this moved 68% (good) with the application of Yala Hub framework. There was a shift in all 10 indicators with introduction of the Yala Hub framework towards greater satisfaction. Thus, Yala Hub Framework enhanced effectiveness of the Yala wetland community participation in SEA and LUP processes and outcomes. This is further confirmed with spectrum of participation at inform and consult levels in draft 1 SEA and LUP reports. Yet, early people involvement and commitment are key to the outcome of the participation process. These weaknesses had to be rectified very urgently if the process was to achieve desired outcome with the communities’ meaningful participation. Thus, another mechanism to specifically deal with these weaknesses was required thus paving way for the improved Yala Community Participation framework. This result shows that community participation in LUP and SEA processes is ‘alive’ process that requires constant checking and modification to respond to the emerging issues on the content of the plan and the community involvement processes in the plan development. The assessment level of community participation using Spectrum of Public Participation Model and the effectiveness using 10 Indicators of Public Participation show that YPAC framework was poor and unsatisfactory in providing meaningful participation for communities in the development of Yala wetland land use and ecosystem management plan. Likewise, the analysis revealed the need to use different models which triangulate the information but also complement each other for any model’s inherent weakness. Thus, a combination of Spectrum of Public Participation Model and 10 Indicators of Public Participation effectiveness was good for Yala wetland ecosystem management context. The areas of underperformance based on these assessments are the basis for an improved community participation framework presented in below. The Limitations and challenges of YPAC Framework-the rationale for designing an addendum mechanism to Optimize Community Participation The results revealed strengths and challenges of the YPAC participation framework which needed to be addressed to ensure effective community participation in Yala LUP. The limitations and challenges of YPAC included narrow YPAC membership, quality of participation concerns by YPAC members (capacity issues); inadequate points of community participation 6 out of 11 steps in LUP process (2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10); low level of community involvement (spectrum levels); unsatisfactory participation (10 indicators evaluation results); challenge of communicating scientific and technical information to communities; dominant fixed and negative mindsets about the wetland; lack of methodology for integration of indigenous knowledge with scientific information; disconnect between the wetland decision making and provision of adequate scientific and technical evidence/or information; absence of governance framework with communities strong representation; lack of transformational and value driven leadership at the community level, and absence of comprehensive wetland wide information system (rather ad hoc and scattered pieces of data and information). These 12 limitations as an outcome of the analysis of SEA and LUP processes compromised the ability of YPAC to represent wetland communities meaningfully and effectively in SEA/LUP process, thus the basis for designing framework to optimize the given framework. The Yala RAPPEF-CF-IR-Hub framework (The Yala Hub framework) This is a framework designed to optimize community participation in Yala Wetland planning and ecosystem management. The framework sought to remedy the weaknesses of the original YPAC mechanism as well as tap opportunities presented as an outcome of the action research. The framework is called Yala RAPPEF-CF-IR Hub Framework based on the various steps on using it and shall be referred to in short form as the Yala Hub Community Framework. The five steps are 1. React/Act. 2. Restructure/Adjust the participation framework based on the reactions. 3. Participation Preparations. 4. Community Participation and 5: Review, Evaluate and Follow-up and these are supported by a base of a Community Facilitator (CF) with a supportive Information Resources Hub (IR-Hub) to support its execution as presented in Figure 5. The details of how this framework works are discussed subsequently. Step 1: React/Act. The first thing is to gain entry to participate in the process with a high degree of acceptance if the process is already ongoing. The intervener has to find appropriate entry point which depends on the context and how the facilitator positions self (e.g. researcher with their interest at heart, their own representative with technical expertise in the process, known conservationist of good reputation with community) and also application of emotional intelligence to penetrate the ongoing process (e.g. understand their areas of greatest need to participate in the process). If the process is starting, then conduct stakeholder analysis to check on representation particularly of the local wetland communities. If it is in progress then conduct stakeholder analysis tier two, which reviews existing stakeholders and their level of participation, and special preference for local communities. The key guiding question is how effective the processes in representing the local communities (their interests, sharing wetland accrued benefits). The guiding questions for this step are: 1. What does this community regard highly that can lead to high degree of acceptance of an outsider/ a facilitator? 2. Who is participating in this process? Who is missing on the decision-making table? Which other important voices are not being heard on this planning agenda? Are the divergent voices included in this process? Does participation ensure fair geographic representation? The process facilitator should identify these and ensure their inclusion. 3. What are the strengths and challenges of the existing community participation framework currently being implemented? In the three phases baseline, scenario building and alternative land use options and preparation of final plan; the 11-steps SEA/LUP processes and on spectrum of public participation (informing, consulting, involving, collaborating to empowering levels). 4. Using the 10 indicators for public participation effectiveness, what are strengths and weaknesses of the current community participation framework in the SEA and LUP processes? How do you ensure the weaknesses are mitigated going forward? The 10 indicators are Objective of participation; Contexts for the participation; Levels of Involvement; Who was involved, how were they chosen and by who? What methods were used (maps, interviews), if they did, they work? Innovation of the methods used; Commitment to community participation; Inputs (time, money etc. and results in relation to those inputs); Outputs (hard outputs, reports, posters, press, completed survey forms); and Outcome. Step 2: Restructure/adjust the participation framework based on the feedback step The outcome of step one forms the basis for adjustment and restructuring at this stage. In the SEA and LUP processes the researcher adjusted the participation process by bringing to the decision-making table very important stakeholders who were not initially left out. It expanded the representation of local communities to include community formations/organizations and learning institutions at their bases in addition to YPAC. Both preparations and actual implementation methodologies were modified, and new ones added based on step one feedback. If the project or program is new, then it moves from step 1 to step 3 bypassing step 2. Guiding questions were: 1. Who needs to be added to the participation processes? What uniqueness do they bring on board? 2. How can one ensure meaningful participation from the people joining an ongoing process (i.e. language, facilitation, logistics and associated costs) without feeling they are joining the process late? 3. How are the elements that were hampering community participation effectiveness being tackled in the adjusted mechanism? 4. How can one use participatory methodologies (like empathy walks) to improve participation? 5. What should one do to improve the environment for participation and harness creativity? Step 3: Participation preparations The third step called for thorough preparation before the actual participation. Consequently, this step evaluated participation readiness and ensured the process was ready by addressing identified concerns/feedback; identifying facilitator(s) and equipping them to manage the process effectively; practical training on facilitation skills including mock training amongst facilitators; enabling logistical support, and framing issues for discussion with the identified stakeholders in step one using appreciative lenses focusing on root causes and suggesting the possibilities of tackling them. The guiding questions for this step were: 1. What is the community participation process in this activity? Does the process provide local communities with room to articulate their interests and concerns? 2. What are the units of participation? What is the smallest unit for participation in this case? How are they organized to enable smooth flow of information and receive timely feedback? 3. What type of persons will be required to facilitate this participation process? 4. What type of skills and training are required to equip facilitators of this process? 5. What logistical support and budget will be required to conduct this participation? 6. How does one frame issues for effective discussion with the identified stakeholders in step 1 above? 7. Which participatory methodologies (including empathy walk) and how will one use these in community participation processes? 8. What creativity and innovations will one bring to this community participation process? Step 4: Community participation This step is where the wetland communities interact with the planning processes and relay the feedback to the main LUP technical team. Various methods are used for these interactions which enable the communities to express themselves holistically. For example, by empathy walks; consulting in communities’ local languages; artistic works where talented community members express themselves; and cultural artifacts to express themselves. The CF manages the community participation processes using various participatory methodologies and resolves any participation challenges to ensure maximum interaction of communities in the planning process and relaying critical feedback to the technical team and other planning organs outside the formal consultation sessions. The guiding questions were: 1. How does one conduct community consultations that will allow participation of the new groups to smoothly integrate with other existing teams? 2. Summarize the key issues about (SEA/LUP) process to date? What are the areas of convergence? What are the areas of disagreement? What other concerns about Yala wetland do the wetland communities have? 3. What participation tools are appropriate for the targeted community and why? 4. How are the processes outcomes documented, validated by the communities and relayed to the LUP technical team for inclusion? 5. What do the wetland communities’ value most about the wetland and why? What are the communities’ non- negotiable on the wetland ecosystem resources? 6. Identify sites of environmental significance and conduct empathy walk with communities to pool out their issues /feelings on those sites? 7. Immerse oneself in the community to experience their issues and ensure that the participation process brings out what one has experienced even if not comfortable to talk about? Step 5: Review, evaluate and follow-up: Participants feedback about participation processes At this stage stakeholders evaluate the participation processes and outcomes guided by the following questions: 1. Evaluate the community participation process using appreciative enquiry methodologies targeting the key groups involved in the planning process: a. with the wetland communities’ b. with the researchers’ c. with the technical team d. with custodians /County officials from departments of Lands e. with Professionals f. with schools. a. What went very well? b. What could be done even better/improved next time? 2: How does one feel about the final outcome of Yala Wetland Land Use Plan and ecosystem management plan? 3. What follow-up mechanism is in place to ensure community participation issues /outcomes in the plan are later implemented? 4. How does one get the community as a key player in the implementation processes? 5. How does one ensure that the benefits from Yala wetland are shared equitably with the wetland communities and other key wetland actors with a mutual accountability system? Community facilitator At the core of optimizing community participation in SEA and LUP processes is the CF who helps communities navigate those five steps and is supported by an Information Resources Hub (IR-Hub). The Yala RAPPEF-CF-IR-Hub framework is a facilitative model and with the CF being key to its execution. Therefore, a dedicated community facilitator should bring certain attributes to the process that are in synch with the planning context. The attributes that were appropriate for Yala wetland were: skills and capabilities in planning and management; knowledge of environmental sciences; networking and advocacy, proximity and access to decision makers; and, community acceptance to generate a feeling that it was a safe environment of trust and mutual respect. Effective participation demanded the commitment to implement the plan as the local communities saw themselves as co-creators. The researcher became a CF in wetland planning process thereby provided a link amongst local communities, the SEA/LUP technical team and the Inter-County Steering committee. The expanded community consultations feedback was then presented in YPAC meetings and at various writing stages with IMTC technical specialists by the CF. The creation of CF in the framework served many practical concerns of the wetland communities. A key feature it provided was a safe environment of trust, inspired confidence and mutual respect for participation. This was further confirmed by top-level leadership respondents’ remarks who told the CF “you are our son please tell us, will our ideas be taken seriously or they will do like what Dominion Farms did”. The CF-IR-Hub component sought to reduce the disconnect between decision makers and provision of scientific and technical information for Yala wetland. The CF had access to the decision makers and was part of the technical team hence would weigh in to provide this nexus. Among the key framework inputs taken on board in final SEA/LUP documents were: i) Historical and contextual information of Yala swamp (chapter four in SEA report titled understanding characteristics of Yala swamp and its recent history); ii) previous studies on how multipurpose water projects would affect environmental flows of the river Yala and the swamp (i.e. Identification of a Multipurpose Water Resources Development Projects in Gucha-Migori and Yala River Basins in Kenya (2011-2012) where the researcher was part of the team); iii) envisioning the future Yala Wetland and subsequent broader shared ownership of the sustainable Yala wetland vision; iv) creating a sense of urgency on the need to conserve Yala wetland and the role of local communities required to take charge (co-owners of the wetland) in line with the Indigenous Community Conservation Areas (ICCAs) management requirements rather than being bystanders (Davies et al., 2012). Information resources hub (IR-Hub) The IR-Hub was vital in gathering, processing and relaying timely data and information required to inform the processes. The information resources gathered included previous related studies on Yala wetland, feedback from community meetings, validation feedback of various SEA/LUP outputs and draft reports; vital networks/contact persons who were called to inform and input the various parts of the process. In the IR-Hub, facilitators used multifaceted but audience appropriate channels in communicating with them. For example, CF relayed technical process outputs through graphical images, community, storytelling, folklores, sayings, proverbs and metaphors. Constant feedback by CF using appropriate target audience information and channel was key in applying the framework. The IR-Hub should be a ‘live’ entity, constantly growing and replenished with current information. The application of Yala community participation Framework in SEA/LUP process and its outcomes The framework was applied in the then on-going SEA and LUP and the following discussion show the processes and outcomes. Important but ignored actors brought to the decision-making table The second stakeholders’ analysis substantially brought important but initially left out actors in the SEA/LUP process to the table. Consideration here was given to subject matter representation, meaningful geographic representation/spatial spread; the first stakeholder analysis assumptions which did not hold that YPAC would represent the communities and have seamless flow of SEA/LUP information to the local communities; and empathy walk to have a feeling for the community on the Yala Wetland. These eleven additional actors were: the Luo Council of Elders (custodians of communities’ heritage). Schools (nursery schools, primary, secondary and post-secondary) played catalytic role of learning and implementing, ethos for sound management of the wetlands, awareness raising about the Yala wetland sensitivity, envisioning Yala wetland future through essays, debates and artwork). Change makers in the community who brought new planning issues such preservation of herbal trees, land tenure socio-cultural dynamics and how it determines its subsequent care, as one female change maker deeply revealed on gender constraints. “we cannot obtain land title deeds without the permission of our husbands or male guardians. Communities fear losing their land to strangers from different clans when their women are inherited upon the death of a husband or if a woman remarries from a different clan” The professionals from the Yala Wetland (experts on land, water, environmental conservation, academia, scientists and researchers) who brought a deeper analysis of the planning issues, lessons learnt and best practices from elsewhere, interrogated drafts and gave their expert views and recommendations; The local administrators (chiefs, sub-chiefs, village elders (mlangos)-(current and retired) were key entry points into the communities as well as resolving communal conflicts besides providing additional historical and contextual information; The Wetland International Eastern Africa office (WI) wetland experts visiting guest in their network from various African countries on a tour of Yala swamp (unique biodiversity value and those ones under threats like globally threatened species which are endemic to the delta ecosystem); The Tourist Association of Kenya on tourism potential of the Yala swamp and its integration within the western Kenya tourism circuit; the small and medium scale investors in Yala swamp on their plans to expand their farm activities and the need to increase water abstracted from Lake Kanyaboli and the wetland. Additional NGOs giving valuable feedback to draft plans; The Motorcycles Association (Boda boda); and the media who covered subsequent process outcomes in their various media channels mainly newspapers, FM radios and documentaries. Levers for increasing community participation rates The Yala Hub framework provided events for multi-stakeholder participation and feedback which include Annual Wetland Day Events, World Migratory Birds’ Day and Environment Days. Additionally, schools essay writing, debates and artworks, organized community meetings at village levels were new avenues for participation that required its own facilitation as discussed below. Annual wetland and environmental day events Siaya County Wetland Day of 2016 held in Usenge Primary school had schools who extolled the benefits of the Yala Wetland and the need to preserve it. The event was preceded by a bird watching exercise at Goye cause way with identification of 60 bird species while songs, poems and dramas were used to convey wetland conservation messages. The Yala Hub framework also used the occasion to update the communities on the progress with SEA and LUP and researcher launched the school’s competition titled envisioning the Yala Wetland in 2063 at the event (Plate 2-3). The 2017 World Wetland’s Day was celebrated in Hawinga Primary school themed: the importance of world migratory birds where the researchers seized the occasion to discuss the progress of SEA and LUP and then sought community contributions on the same. The results of these participation processes were: strengthening environmental awareness programmes in schools through clubs, tree planting and post planting care, promoting hygienic practices and protection of Lake Kanyaboli and water springs; a deeper understanding on the Yala Wetland challenges and the role of the wetland communities in solving them. Likewise, some of elders gave talks on the values the Yala communities attached to various types of birds and how they then treated them based on these understanding (indigenous knowledge and passing that to school during the event). The structured and goal oriented social interaction/active engagement amongst pupils, parents and guardians and technical staff from the government continued to offer opportunity for cross learning from all the subsets of communities represented. The continued participation of schools inculcated environmental consciousness and subsequent behavior change among the pupils at an early age. Schools debates and artworks contribution to Yala SEA/LUP The participation of learning institutions in SEA and LUP that came with the Yala RAPPEF-CF-IR Hub framework which was done through competitions on essay writing, debates and artworks gave the students an opportunity to focus on Yala Wetland and then contribute based on the environmental issues/challenges and their envisioned future which helped in crystalizing the vision of Yala LUP. The results on envisioning priorities are shown in Figure 6 while the artworks were creatively integrated in one mosaic shown in Figure 7. Community meetings at village levels Communities’ participation was mostly done through community meetings at village levels facilitated by the researcher and assisted by research assistants and YPAC members. Some were done as focus group discussions for smaller groups; community open forums where researcher explained the purpose of mission, briefing on SEA/LUP status and then discussions guided by the facilitator on key themes SEA/LUP issues. To ensure high level of attendance, wetland residents from relatively far-off places were facilitated with transport and light refreshments during the meetings. The YPAC members then got the opportunity to meet communities and discussed YPAC issues during those researcher’s facilitated sessions. The process was enriched as they managed to gather from communities on their priority issues using participatory methodology tools. The feedbacks were captured and processed and the researcher feedback (as a new feedback loops) to the technical team in the form of review of drafts and commenting with input from the community. Second, during the meeting with YPAC the various members were able to bring key summaries from these meetings to the LUP technical team which they could not do before the support they got from the application of Yala Hub framework. Later, the researcher had the opportunity with various subject matter specialists in the technical team and would reach out to them for key inputs for incorporation the plan drafting process (community facilitator secured a place in the technical team to work with them in preparing the LUP). Targeted sourcing for critical inputs into the SEA/LUP The communities’ feelings on participation in SEA/LUP based on the Yala RAPPEF-CF-IR-Hub framework were varied. Majority felt that this should have come at the beginning of the LUP process to allow for intense consultations with communities and solicit their critical input to inform the processes. The pupils and students on their part while expressing gratitude for the involvement; proposed that the competition should be held annually to allow many students to get involved and steer tangible conservation action. Additionally, they suggested that environmental clubs should be actively involved in conservation activities of Yala Wetland and be recognized if they implemented their dreams as captured in the mosaic Figure 7. Furthermore, environmental conservation and education guidelines for lake and river basins and wetland should be developed to guide implementation of these activities. In the guide development, the learners stressed the use of students and young people friendly packaged information and expanding the guide to cover areas brought out in their aspirations, debates and artworks’ submissions. Community participation requires full time institutional support and commitment - Community Facilitator and Information Resources Hub The Community Facilitator and Information Resources Hub was designed as the base of the framework to support the communities navigate the five steps processes accounting for 35% of its improved framework effectiveness. Community facilitators The Community Facilitator (as the researcher) formed a team and networks to enhance community participation in SEA/LUP processes. The team consisted of Research Assistants from School of Environmental Studies, University of Eldoret (for technical know-how); some members of Project Advisory Committee and Yala Site Support Group (YSSG) (for local knowledge, acceptance by community and community level meeting facilitation) and linkage with networks of professionals from and/ or with interest in Yala Wetland (technical expertise and genuine involvement in determining the development paths of their communities); Development Facilitators and partners to allow for navigation into the processes without hindrances (Nature Kenya, The IMTC and County Government Leadership). Thus, relationship building was vital aspect of increasing community participation and the Community Facilitator brought in this aspect by building a safe environment of trust, inspired confidence and mutual respect for participation. The type of stakeholders targeted determined the type data collection tool adopted. For example, the youth preferred a mix of media at the same time (audiovisuals, social media whatsapp, facebook, instagram, group work sent to their phones directly), while in schools the team opted for artwork, debates, essays with queries that focused on challenges and what future they envisioned of the future Yala Wetland, for environmental events days the team choose gallery walks on artistic works display of Yala Wetland, wetland products display, live performances like poems and dramas with conservation messages, display of ecotourism sites and thematic songs delivered with aid of traditional instruments (such nyatiti, ohangla, orutu, pekee, tung) and talks by both government and community leaders based on the theme of the event. The CF also seized those occasions to update wetland communities on SEA/LUP progress, key planning issues and obtained their feedback on the updates. In addition, the steps intentionally involved the use of local leaders to co-facilitate the meetings with the researchers after being trained on SEA/LUP specific issues. This gave them the opportunity to relay SEA/LUP updates from Inter-county steering committee and technical team, which had been a challenge before. Each team was also provided with latest copies of SEA and LUP and YPAC meeting minutes to equip them while conducting community meetings. The CF became a lever for increasing participation rates and new feedback loop for the SEA/LUP processes. Consequently, to perform these functions, the CF needed to be somebody whom they respected, trusted and had the power to engage at main stages and structures of SEA/LUP processes (ICSC, YPAC, Technical team, Learning and Research institutions, various players of policymakers). The CF brought certain attributes to the process that were harmonious with Yala wetland context. The skills and capabilities in planning and management; environmental sciences knowledge; networking and advocacy, proximity and access to decision makers and community acceptance. Information resources Hub for accessing relevant information to make informed decisions that is evidence and outcome based There was a gap of Yala Wetland Information System to collate existing relevant information, information generated by the SEA/LUP studies and processes; and others to increase the quality of community participation in managing Yala Wetland ecosystem. During the process the SEA/LUP secretariat and the researcher carried out some of those tasks. The information resources gathered related to studies on Yala swamp, feedback from community meetings, validation feedback of various SEA/LUP outputs and draft reports; vital networks or contact to review the various parts of the process. For example, CF relayed technical process outputs to the wetland communities through graphical images, storytelling, folklores, sayings, proverbs and metaphors. In repackaging technical information, the communities required less text and tables but rather more visuals, graphics and intuitive information delivered mostly in consultative and experiential processes with adequate time for questioning, reflection and responding. Therefore, IR-Hub enabled communities and their agents to access relevant, timely and repackaged information to facilitate their participation in SEA/LUP processes. The IR-Hub operations thus entailed sourcing, processing, repackaging, storing, retrieving, targeted dissemination, and receiving and acting on feedback. In the IR-Hub, facilitators used multiple audience appropriate channels in communicating with them. Also, there were constant feedback by CF using appropriate target audience information and channel. On framing issues, the team used appreciative words, that is, positive, optimistic and desired result focus to guide the information gathering for some respondents. For community organizations to elicit feedback, the researcher framed guiding questions for each category. For the students, the essay topic was “what is your dream for the future of Yala Wetland in 50 years’ time if money is not a problem?; the religious leaders, they were asked to reflect with their leadership teams and thereafter prepare a compelling God inspired sermon on the theme of a better Yala Wetland; and the professionals, they were asked to give back to their communities their expertise in developing the Yala wetland land use plan, to which some responded by reviewing the SEA/LUP drafts. The researchers used empathy walks shown in Plate 5 as he moved into the Yala Wetland with inhabitants who narrated their issues (e.g. an elderly woman showing the graveyard of her husband and reasserting her unwillingness to leave the grave in Yala Wetland if the residents are to be relocated; mini-boarding school in the swamp where pupils return home over the weekends to replenish food supplies (Plate 4) and in those situations researchers just engaged in deep listening to derive deeper meanings which they reflected in their journals allowing new forms of information to flow into the process and was key in designing the logical steps of the Yala RAPPEF-CF-IR Hub framework. Therefore, the IR-Hub became a ‘live’ entity, constantly growing and replenished with current information. The researchers lived with the communities during the study period which extended for over one year (2016-2018) since the LUP processes delayed. This gave them opportunity to immerse themselves into the communities to experience their lives firsthand, obtain people issues very deeply, and to infuse creativity in the participation process based on those experiences. Some communities (especially in Usonga) very hostile to the LUP but through participatory processes the researcher was able to get their inputs and concerns. They did not welcome the creation of Lake Kanyaboli Game Reserve which they considered would take away some portion of Yala Wetland hence not available for their use (farming, accessing wetland resources) and they had fear of having the KWS staff around that will control their activities in the wetland including poaching. The researchers accessed some insiders among them to get limited entry and their fears and strong opinions over the wetland management. They also felt that the wetland was part of their ancestral land hence could not be taken away. Overall, IR-Hub subcomponent of the Yala Hub framework provided timely access to relevant, repackaged information and kept new forms information flowing into the process thus evidence and outcome-based decision making. Community conservation champions to provide transformative leadership in the wetland During the study, some individuals were found to be active and pursued Yala Wetland conservation matters passionately. Some had been trained by conservation agencies on bird watching, on conservation of fragile wetland ecosystems and while some were change makers who in their respective undertakings brought positive changes in their localities and had earned communities’ respect. The change makers have been profiled in a database and remained strategic community pointers for LUP implementation and ecosystem management in the IR-Hub. More change makers would be required to provide authentic and transformative leadership to champion wetland conservation at community level. Shamir and Eilam (2005) defined authentic leaders as genuine, principled, and original. George (2003) presented five characteristics of authentic leadership that are especially relevant to Yala swamp ICCA leadership: (1) having a clear purpose, (2) having strong ethical values, (3) establishing trusting relationships, (4) demonstrating self-discipline and action, and (5) having passion. These values are key in implementing the Yala Wetland conservation plans and conservation champions will require retooling on these to meet the conservation demands for a sustainable Yala Wetland. Learning institutions active involvement, changing mindsets and updating environmental education curriculum The Learning Institutions in Yala wetland who were involved in expanded LUP development consultations were very positive on the essays, debates and artworks competitions on Yala wetland and proposed that those should be done annually. Intrinsically, a mechanism for yearly competition, participation on key environmental events like Wetland days and strengthening environmental groups in school should be prioritized in the implementation phase. This will require wetland customized environmental education guide. The substantial involvement of learning institutions in SEA/LUP processes revealed weakness in the existing Education for Sustainable Development for Schools in Lake Victoria Basin region given to participating schools as incentive for participation. The submissions and analysis of the current wetland challenges and their propositions for a sustainable wetland called for expanding the curriculum to incorporate the following aspects: mindsets and mindsets for planning conservation, integration local communities knowledge with sustainability ethos and values for managing the wetland ecosystem that provide for required deep changes; transformative leadership Yala wetland conservation, transformational learning methodologies (appreciative inquiry and applying Theory- U for leading deep changes); incentivizing participation in wetlands conservation, the student, the teacher and parent nexus for sound conservation; innovative avenues mobilizing local communities to participate in wetland’s management such as the Wetlands Day Celebrations, Environment day and World Migratory Birds. The upgraded curriculum should aim at instilling higher level environmental consciousness and stewardship among the learners in Yala wetland. This is in line with recommendations of learning and equipping students for 21st century by embracing innovative pedagogies, tailored to particular education settings; hybrid learning environments, which blend formal and nonformal schooling, and; promoting the pivotal role of the “missing middle,” or “meso,” layer of education-consisting of networks, chains of schools, and communities of practice-to scale deep change (Istance and Paniagua, 2019). Information access and seeking behavior and opportunities for optimizing participation The information access and seeking behaviors of the wetland community leaders was diverse. The common approaches they use to get information included peer talks, authoritative policy orders and regulations from administrators. Further, all the leaders had mobile phones and in some groups all the members also had telephone connectivity thereby providing greatest opportunity for telephone communication. The telephone was both a tool for communication and money transaction. The analysis revealed that various group had their different and unique information seeking behaviours and had different interactions among these categories and how they influenced one another. The wetland school children were found to be highly influential on their parents and guardians with conservation messages shared in schools like tree planting and wetland conservation. When pupils were made to plant trees in schools and given seedlings to plant at home, they reported that their guardians helped them to care for them while they were in school (e.g. watering and preventing domestic animals from damaging them). The different information seeking behaviours and outcomes of interactions among wetland communities offer opportunity on what factors and nuances are key in ensuring effective community participation. The further stakeholder analysis tier two revealed primary influencers of decision makers as an avenue of participation which was pivotal to information transmission at both community and government leadership levels and should be utilized as an additional entry points but cautiously since they are not official channels. Local community ownership of Yala LUP and ecosystem management plan The local communities felt valued through their involvement in LUP preparation using Yala Hub framework. As such they committed to implement LUP and Yala management plans recommendations. Similarly, the technical team embraced the application of Yala Hub framework in thinking through methodically and identifying weak points in community participation and took on board some of practical ways of improving community participation in the remaining LUP steps. The technical team and the secretariat were also flexible to take in inputs from these communities’ consultations thus underscoring the transformative learning application in the framework. The final land use plan with it recommended land uses which benefited from the application of Yala Hub framework is shown on the map in Figure 8. Creating incentives for participants Students looked forward to giving their best with a view to winning the prizes announced in the competition advertisement which were Polo T-shirts and certificates of recognition. Therefore, creating incentives for participants contributed to enabling them to focus and give their best during the exercise. As a reward for participation, schools were given booklets for Environmental Studies Curriculum for upper primary and secondary schools developed by Retouch Africa Consulting (RAI) done for World-Wide Fund (WWF) for Lake Victoria Basin Environment Programme. This needs to been updated to respond to some of the research finding and inputs. The schools were also given Model Schools Best Practices on Education for Sustainable Development, Income Generating Activities (IGA) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) village concept in project areas. The students were awarded certificates of participation while the winners got Polo T-shirts with wetland conservation messages. This triggered further demand for the annual competition to give others a chance to participate. Substantial application of participatory methodologies in community participation processes The process incorporated deeper interaction participatory community participatory tools like empathy walks, focus group discussions, community maps, pair-wise ranking and appreciative enquiry methodologies to gather expanded stakeholders’ inputs from different shades of local communities: young and the old, males and females; persons living with disabilities, poorest of the poor into planning process. During an empathy walk with an old lady in Buhuma Village Island, she said. “I cannot leave the body of my husband here due to the fear of being submerged by floods”. Other instance include: while moving into and from the swamp with YPAC representative Gladys we experienced what islanders go through to participate in one day meeting in Siaya but takes a total five days detailed as leaving the island in the afternoon to spend the night in the mainland on the Lake Victoria shore (day one), then start the journey to Siaya the following day where spends the night in readiness for the meeting the following day (day two); one day meeting (day three); journey back to shores in Osieko where she spends the night (day four), crossing back to the island (day five). Other examples include talking to school girls and boys paddling a canoe to go home over the weekend to get food supplies, observing a boy playing with snake on the shore of the island at the entry to their school; and going for data collection in the Buhuma island village and on return at night the boat running out of fuel on the lake, seeking help from Uganda fisherfolk who did not help and finally Osieko chief mobilized rescue team from Obaro village island to bring fuel to the research team in the lake at night. Going to the gravesite of a respondent’s grandfather with his grandmother and attending a meeting with the assistant chief when village elder’s path had been blocked by a rival subclan. The study also identified other participatory methodologies and situations where they are best applicable that would be useful in optimizing communities’ participation in various development interventions. These include the watering plants and circles and stars tools for financial data and services; the extension river tool for community advisory services; the food diary tool for dietary diversity; the ideal job tool for youth job opportunities, the land access and control matrix tool for women empowerment; and the social protection traffic light tool for community social protection. Repackaging information This is providing feedback in ways that communities could understand the information easily. The community focused facilitation helped with simplifying the SEA/LUP processes, languages, and simulations of the issues at community meeting. Likewise, local communities were able to draw simple maps to give their inputs, used their proverbs and sayings to pass their concerns on the LUP which were then repackaged by the researcher and relayed to the technical team. Thus, repackaging SEA/LUP information this way for communities helped to educate them and then sharpened their contribution in LUP remaining phases using different channels namely: community channels, radio, music, religious leader sermon, local administration barazas, funerals, special community events, special events such as World Wetlands Days, Environment Days, and Partners Field days, competition in learning institutions through essays, debates, performances such dramas, songs, and artwork among others. Thus, Yala Hub framework hence responded the study call on public participation during EIA in Kenya’s recommended that EIA study reports should not only be widely available but also translated into indigenous languages with simple explanations and illustrations (Okello et al., 2009). The Yala RAPPEF-CF-IR-Hub Framework as a system The Yala RAPPEF-CF-IR-Hub framework is a system and the relative weights of its subsystems are step 1. React/Act; (10%) step 2. Restructure/Adjust the participation framework based on the reactions of step 1 (7%); step 3. Participation Preparations (20%), step 4. Community Participation (16%) step 5: Review, evaluation and follow-up (12%) and the base CF-IR-HUB (35%). This proposition is supported by the works of Dr. Brent Peterson of Columbia University (2004) who found that learning effectiveness is a product of three subsystems namely pre- work (26%); learning event (24%) and follow-up/post learning event (50%), thus pre-course work and post-event follow-up contributes a combined total of 86% of learning effectiveness. However, the application of Yala RAPPEF-CF-IR-Hub Framework requires a mindset shift among the local communities, technical teams and county government staff; and requisite resources to be operationalized optimally. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The under representation of local communities in Yala wetland management prompted the formation YPAC to remedy this in the development of its SEA/LUP. However, analysis of YPAC using Spectrum of Public Participation Model and 10 Indicators of public participation revealed that YPAC framework had 12 limitations, that compromised its ability to represent wetland communities meaningfully and effectively in SEA/LUP process. As such, Yala RAPPEF-CF-IR-Hub Framework (Yala Hub Framework) was developed and applied in the remainder of SEA/LUP processes to overcome these limitations and eventually optimize community participation. The Yala Hub Framework is a 5- steps process with a Community Facilitator and an Information Resources Hub at its base and has guiding questions for every step in applying it. The Yala Hub was applied in Yala LUP occasioning significant improvements of community participation in levels and effectiveness of participation of Yala wetland communities. They moved to Consult (80%) and Collaborate (20%) levels of the spectrum, while effectiveness moved to satisfactory (3 indicators) and good (7 indicators). Besides, it induced sustainability through ownership of the land use and ecosystem management plans; empowered the stakeholders to take responsibility for sustainable management of Yala Wetland ecosystem; minimized conflicts during plan preparations; and increased transparency, inclusivity and accountability in Yala Wetland ecosystem management decision making process. The Framework was further deployed in Siaya County CIDP 2018-2022, where it also occasioned a significant improvement in public participation processes through a creation of a public participation directorate. From the foregoing study, it is evident that effective community participation determines and influences effective implementation of decisions made therein; and that increased participation through deliberate intervention by Yala Hub Framework, as an optimizer and a diagnostic tool, will eventually increase the effectiveness of community development. However, the application of Yala Hub Framework requires a mindset shift among the local communities, technical teams and county government staff; and requisite resources to be operationalized optimally. Implementation of this framework is recommended for the success of the Yala Wetland Land Use Plan and in other LUP processes to wetlands with “similar challenges” as Yala and in community development. Research Implications The systematic process of the Yala Hub framework underpins the action, reflection, refining aspects of public participations, and calls for learning, applying and modifying as one moves along with participation. A static procedure hampers effective community participation. Instead, procedures for public participation that factor in frameworks providing fluidity is demonstrated by the Yala RAPPEF-CF-IR-Hub as an optimizer and a diagnostic tool community development. Further, community participation requires resources (technical and financial resources including facilitations, incentivization, room for learning/making mistakes and learning from them) and a mindset shift among the local communities. Multiple layers of participation with various actors and feedback loops requires availing expertise to explain community inputs and concerns and relay the same to the participation model used in the development intervention being undertaken. Suggestion for future research Future research needs to be directed at community organizing for effective participation of wetland ecosystems management, sensitive spaces, and other development interventions. Development of an ICT based application for the Yala RAPPEF-CF-IR-Hub (named I-Yala Hub) and linkage with E-Riparian application currently being tested for providing information about the wetlands in Kenya. Conduct mapping, documentation and repackaging of indigenous knowledge and innovations systems for managing the Yala wetland systems; and, integrate with planning knowledge systems. Further studies on Ornithological investigation targeting both migratory and resident species; models for sustainable conservation enterprises identified in Yala wetland, conflict resolution and management options for human wildlife conflicts; capacity assessment and targeted strengthening of community governance and codifying the emerging Yala wetland lessons and resource use efficiency modelling for Yala wetland natural resources. CONFLICT OF INTERESTS The authors have not declared any conflict of interests. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors are grateful to the Yala Delta Land Use Plan Team, the University academics who contributed to this research and finally to the Yala wetland communities who were part of this action research. The authors appreciate Retouch Africa Consulting (RAI) for financially supporting the research. REFERENCES \| \| Aloo PA (2003). Biological Diversity of the Yala Swamp Lakes, with special emphasis on fish species composition in relation to change in L. Victoria Basin: Threats and conservation measures. Biodiversity and Conservation 12(5):905-920. \| \| Ampofo S, Ampadu B, Abanyie SK (2015). Landcover Change Patterns in the Volta Gorge Area, Ghana: Interpretations from Satellite Imagery. Journal of Natural Sciences Research 5(4):2224-3186. \| \| Anyango NO (2019). Mosaic of students' impression of the future Yala wetland in 2063. \| \| Arnstein SR (1969). A ladder of citizen participation. Journal of the American Institute of Planners 35(4):216-224. \| \| Awange JL, Ogalo L, Bae KH, Were P, Omondi P, Omute P, Omullo M (2008). Falling Lake Victoria water levels: Is climate a contributing factor?. Climatic Change 89(3):281-297. \| \| Babbie ER (2015). The practice of social research: Nelson Education. Boston, MA Cengage Learning (14th Edition). USA. \| \| Birldlife International (2018). Important Bird Areas Factsheet.Yala swamp complex. Retrieved January 22, 2018, from http://www.birdlife.org \| \| Bond I, Davis A, Nott C, Nott K, Stuart-Hill G (2006). Community-based natural resource management manual. WWF-World Wide Fund pp. 23-35. \| \| Chambers R (2006). Participatory Mapping and Geographic Information Systems: Whose Map? Who is Empowered and Who Disempowered? Who Gains and Who Loses? Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries 25(2):1-11. Retrieved May 20, 2018 from http://www.ejisdc.org/ojs/include/getdoc.php?id=247&article=264&mode=pdf \| \| Corbin JM, Strauss A (1990). Grounded theory research: Procedures, canons, and evaluative criteria. Qualitative Sociology 13(1):3-21. \| \| Cooke B, Kothari U (Eds.) (2001). The Case for Participation as Tyranny. Participation: The New Tyranny? London: Zed Books. \| \| Cooperrider DL, Leslie S (2006). "Toward a theory of positive organizational change." Organization development: A Jossey-Bass reader pp. 223-238. \| \| Davidson S (1998). Spinning the wheel of participation. Planning, 1262(1415.15). \| \| Davies J, Hill R, Walsh FJ, Sandford M, Smyth D, Holmes MC (2012). Innovation in management plans for community conserved areas: experiences from Australian indigenous protected areas. Ecology and Society 18(2):14. \| \| Dawson S, Manderson L, Tallo V (1993). A manual for the use of focus groups. International Nutrition Foundation for Developing Countries: Boston. \| \| Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions (DETR) (2000). Public Participation in making local environmental decisions. The Aarhus Convention Newcastle Workshop Good Practice Handbook, London. Retrieved May 3, 2018. from www.unece.org/env/pp/enaces/handbook.pdf \| \| Dobiesz NE, Lester NP (2009). Changes in mid-summer water temperature and clarity across the Great Lakes between 1968 and 2002. Great Lakes Resources 35(3):371-384. \| \| Doelle M, Sinclair J (2005).Time for a new approach to public participation in EIA: Promoting cooperation and consensus for sustainability. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 26:185-205. \| \| Dominion Farms (2003). The Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report. Siaya. Dominions Farms Limited. \| \| Dugan P (1992). Wetlands in the 21st Century: The challenge to Conservation Science. In: Mitsch, J.W. (Ed) Global Wetlands: Old World and New World. Elsevier, Amsterdam pp. 75-87. \| \| Dweck CS (2008). Mindset: the new psychology of success. New York: Ballantine Books. \| \| Envertek Africa Consult Limited (EACL) (2015). Proposed sugarcane plantation and processing mill for dominion farms limited in Siaya county location: reclaimed section of Yala swamp on longitude 34.171380 east and latitude 0.022992 north in the flood plain of river Yala in Siaya and Bondo sub counties in Siaya county, Kenya. Environmental and social impact assessment (esia) study report. Dominion farms limited (DFL). \| \| East Africa Natural History Society (EANHS) (2018). Balancing Conservation and Development in Yala Swamp. Posted on January 30, 2018. \| \| Ekirapa AE, Kinyanjui HCK (1987). The Kenya soil survey. Ministry of Agriculture, National Soil Laboratories. \| \| Friis-Hansen E, Duveskog D (2012). The Empowerment Route to Well-being: An Analysis of Farmer Field Schools in East Africa, World Development. \| \| Gaventa J (2004). Representation, community leadership and participation: citizen involvement in neighbourhood renewal and local governance. Report, Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, Office of Deputy Prime Minister, July, 04. https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/bitstream/handle/20.500.12413/12494/Gaventa_2004_representation.pdf?sequence=1 \| \| Gichuki J, Maithya J, Masai DM (2005). Recent ecological changes in of Lake Sare, Western Kenya. In: (eds). Odada EO, Olago DO, Ochola W, Ntiba M, Wandiga S, Gichuki N, Oyieke H Proceedings of the 11th World Lakes Conference, Nairobi, Kenya. Vol II. Ministry of Water and Irrigation; International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC). \| \| Government of Kenya (GoK) (1987). Yala Swamp Reclamation and Development Project: Inception Report'. The Government of Kenya and the Government of Netherlands. Lake Basin Development Authority. \| \| Government of Kenya (GoK) (2010a). Constitution of Kenya, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2015, from http://www.kenyalaw.org:8181/exist/kenyalex/actview.xql?actid=const2010 \| \| Government of Kenya (GoK) (2010b). Schedule-Lake Kanyaboli National Reserve,Government Printer, Nairobi. \| \| Government of Kenya (GoK) (2012a). The National Land Commission Act, 2012. Nairobi. Government Printer. http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/ken112132.pdf \| \| Government of Kenya (GoK) (2012b). The County Governments (Amendment) Act, 2012. http://www.parliament.go.ke/sites/default/files/2017-05/CountyGovernmentsAct_No17of2012_1.pdf \| \| Government of Kenya (GoK) (2012c). The Intergovernmental Relations Act, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2015, from http://www.parliament.go.ke/sites/default/files/2017-05/IntergovernmentalRelationActNo2of2012.pdf \| \| Government of Kenya (GoK) (2012d) Physical Planning Act, 2012. www. kenyalaw.org. \| \| Government of Kenya (GoK) (2015a). The Environmental Management and Co-ordination Amendment) Act, EMCA (2015). Retrieved May 10, 2015, from http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/ken41653.pdf \| \| Government of Kenya (GoK) (2018). Siaya County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022. Nairobi. Government Printer. https://cog.go.ke/media-multimedia/reportss/category/106-county-integrated-development-plans-2018-2022?download=345:siaya-county-integrated-development-plan-2018-2022 \| \| Greene M (1995). Releasing the imagination: Essays on education, the arts, and social change. Jossey-Bass. \| \| Hardin G (1968). The tragedy of the commons: the population problem has no technical solution; it requires a fundamental extension in morality. Science 162(3859):1243-1248. \| \| Harrison A, Schmidt G, Avis C, Hauser R (2001). WWF's preliminary comments on Public Participation in the context of the Water Framework Directive and Integrated River Basin Management. Copenhagen: WWF European Freshwater Programme. \| \| Hartley N, Wood C (2005). Public participation in environmental impact assessment: implementing the Aarhus Convention. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 25: 319-340. http://www.cickenya.org/index.php/legislation/acts/item/227-the-intergovernmental-relations-act-2012 \| \| IAP2 (2008). International Association of Public Participation \| \| Public Participation Spectrum. Retrieved March 6, 2018 from, http://www.iap2.org/associations/4748/files/spectrum.pdf. \| \| International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (2009). Indigenous and community conserved areas: The Legal Framework in India. a bold https://www.iucn.org/downloads/india_3.pdf \| \| International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (2018). Protected Planet Report. IUCN, Geneva, Switzerland. https://www.iucn.org/news/aires-prot%C3%A9g%C3%A9es/201801/analysis-non-state-protected-area-governance-kenya \| \| International Water Management Institute (IWMI) (2014). Wetlands and people. Colombo: IWMI. \| \| Istance D, Paniagua A (2019). Learning to Leapfrog: Innovative Pedagogies to Transform Education. Center for Universal Education at The Brookings Institution. \| \| International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy (IYSLP) (2017). International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy 2016. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-42508-5 \| \| Johnson RA (1976). Management, systems, and society: an introduction. California: Goodyear Publication Company. \| \| Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (1987). The Study of Integrated Regional Development Master Plan for the Lake Basin Development Area. \| \| Kansiime F, Saunders MJ, Loiselle SA (2007). Functioning and dynamics of wetland vegetation of Lake Victoria: an overview. Wetlands Ecology and Management 15(6):443-451. \| \| Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) (2009). 2009 Population and Housing Census. \| \| Kenyan Wetlands Forum (2006) Rapid assessment of the YalaSwamp wetland. East African Wildlife Society, Nairobi. https://na.unep.net/siouxfalls/publications/Kenya_Wetlands.pdf \| \| Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) (2010). Resource Mapping Lake Kanyaboli Ecosystem. \| \| Krueger R, Casey M (2009). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research (4th edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. \| \| Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) (1989). Reclaiming the Yala Swamp. Resources 1(1):9-11. \| \| Lee N (2000). Reviewing the quality of environmental assessments. Environmental assessment in developing and transitional countries: principles, methods and practice pp. 137-148. \| \| Lewin K (1946). Action Research and Minority Problems. Journal of Social Issues 2(4):34-46. \| \| Lihanda M, Aseto O, Atera F (2003). Environmental Assessment Study Report of the Proposed Rice Irrigation Scheme at Yala Swamp - Socio-cultural and Economics Survey, Volume III. \| \| Lillesand TM, Kiefer RW (1987). Remote sensing image interpretation. 2nd edition. Chichester and New York: John Wiley. \| \| Liverman D, Moran EF, Rindfuss R, Stern PC (2000). People and Pixels: Linking Remote Sensing and Social Science (Book Review). The Geographical Bulletin 42(1):61. \| \| Lockie S, Sonnenfeld DA (2008). Communities, natural resources, and environments: African and Asian experiences. Local Environment 13(5):385-391. \| \| Luedeling E (2011). Climate change impacts on crop production in Busia and Homa Bay Counties, Kenya. Nairobi, Kenya: World Agroforestry Centre. \| \| Maclean IMD, Tinch R, Hassal M, Boar R (2003). Social and economic use of wetland resources: A case study from Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda. Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment, University of East Anglia (CSERGE), Working Paper ECM 03-09. \| \| Michener V (1998). The Participatory Approach: Contradictions and co-option in Burkina Faso. World Development 26(12):2105-2118. \| \| Mills GE (2000). Action research: A guide for the teacher researcher. Prentice-Hall, Incorporated. One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458. \| \| Muoria P, Field R, Matiku P, Munguti S, Mateche E, Shati S, Odeny D (2015). Yala Swamp Ecosystem Service Assessment Report. Nairobi, Kenya. http://www.birdlife.org/sites/default/files/attachments/yalaecosystemerviceassessmentreport_-20_july_2015_subimitted_to_prepared_1.pdf \| \| Nasongo AAS, Zaal F, Dietz T, Okeyo-Owuor JB (2015). Institutional Pluralism, access and use of wetland resources in Nyando papyrus, Kenya. Journal of Ecology and the Natural Environment 7(3): 56-71. \| \| Natasha M, Cynthia W, Family Health International (FHI), United States. Agency for International Development (USAID) (2005). Qualitative research methods: a data collector's field guide. North Carolina. \| \| NEMA (2016). Yala Swamp Integrated Management Plan (2016-2026): Enhancing Environmental Management through Devolved Governance. Nairobi: NEMA. \| \| Neuman WL (1997). Social Research Methods: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches, 3rd ed. Boston. MA: Allyn and Bacon. New frontier for conservation. IUCN, Geneva, Switzerland. Retrieved June 2018, from www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/ceesp/topics/governance/icca/ \| \| Odero DO (2015a). Promoting Community Participation in Transboundary Natural Resource Management in Mt Elgon Ecosystem using Geographic Information Systems: Case study of Mount Elgon Regional Ecosystem Conservation Programme. Graduate Seminar Paper, University of Eldoret. \| \| Odero DO (2015b). The Application of Remote Sensing in Community Participation for Managing Mt Elgon Transboundary Natural Resources: Case study of Mount Elgon Regional Ecosystem Conservation Programme. Graduate Seminar Paper, University of Eldoret. \| \| Odero DO (2021). Integrated Community and Participatory GIS in Management of Yala Wetland Ecosystem, Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Eldoret, Eldoret, Kenya. \| \| Odhengo P, Matiku P, Muoria JK, Nyangena J, Wawereu P, Mnyamwezi E, Munguti S, Odeny D, King'uru W, Ashitiva D, Nelson P (2018a). Yala Delta Strategic Environmental Assessment. Siaya and Busia County Governments, Siaya and Busia. \| \| Odhengo P, Matiku P, Muoria JK, Nyangena J, Wawereu P, Mnyamwezi E, Munguti S, Odeny D, King'uru W, Ashitiva D, Nelson P (2018b). Yala Delta Land use Plan. Siaya and Busia County Governments, Siaya and Busia of land use change. International Journal of Science Arts and Commerce 2(3):12-38. \| \| Ogutu MA (1987a). Fisheries and fishing. Siaya District Socio-Cultural Profile. Ministry of Planning and National. \| \| Ogutu M A (1987b). Fisheries and fishing. Republic of Kenya. Pages 86-105. In: Republic of Kenya (1987) Siaya District Socio-cultural Profile. Ministry of Planning and National Development and Institute of Agricultural Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya. \| \| Okello N, Beevers L, Douven W, Leentvaar J (2009). The doing and un-doing of public participation during environmental impact assessments in Kenya. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal Journal 27(3)217-226. \| \| Okungu JO, Sangale FD (2003). Water quality and hydrology of Yala wetlands. ECOTOOLS Scientific Workshop on Yala Swamp. Switel Hotel, Bondo, Kenya. 9th-10th December. \| \| Olson M (1965). The Logic of Collective Action: Public Goods and the Theory of Groups. Havard Economic Studies 124. Cambridge, M.A. Havard University Press. \| \| Ondere LA (2016) Spatial-temporal changes of landcover types in response to anthropogenic dynamics in Yala Swamp, Siaya County, Kenya. https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/14945 \| \| Onywere SM, Getenga ZM, Mwakalila SS, Twesigy CK, Nakiranda JK (2011). Assessing the Challenge of Settlement in Budalangi and Yala Swamp Area in Western Kenya Using Landsat Satellite Imagery. The Open Environmental Engineering Journal 4:97-104. \| \| Ostrom E (1990). The evolution of institutions for collective action. Spanish edition: Fondo de Cultura Económica, Mexico. \| \| Otieno MN, Odenyo VOA, Okeyo JB (2005). The capabilities of Multispectral Landsat TM for mapping spatial landscape characteristics of a tropical wetland. The case of Yala Swamp, Kenya. Knowledge and Experiences gained from Managing the Lake Victoria Ecosystem pp. 118-124. \| \| Owiyo P, Kiprono B E, Sutter P (2014). The Effect of Dominion Irrigation Project on Environmental Conservation in Yala Swamp, Siaya District, Kenya. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 101(39):13976-13981. \| \| Panayotou T (1994). The economics of environmental degradation: Problems, causes and responses. In: Pattanayak, S. & Kramer, R. A. Pricing ecological services: Willingness to pay for drought mitigation in eastern Indonesia. Land Economics. \| \| Raburu PO (2012). Conservation and rehabilitation of Kanyaboli wetland, Kenya. In: Streever W J (EDs). An International Perspective on Wetland Rehabilitation. Springer Science and Business Media, 6 December 2012 - Technology and Engineering pp. 167-172. \| \| Sandelowski M (1995). Sample size in qualitative research. Journal of Research in Nursing and Health 18(2):179-183. \| \| Sangale F, Okungu J, Opango P (2012). Variation of flow of water from Rivers Nzoia, Yala and Sio into Lake Victoria. Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (LVEMP). \| \| Semenov MA (2008). Simulation of extreme weather events by a stochastic weather generator. Climate Resources 35(3):203-212. \| \| Shamir B, Eilam G (2005). "What's your story?" A life-stories approach to authentic leadership development. The leadership quarterly 16(3):395-417. \| \| Simonit S, Perrings C (2011). Sustainability and the value of the 'regulating' services: Wetlands and water quality in Lake Victoria. Ecological Economics 70:1189-1199. \| \| Springate-Baginski O, Allen D, Darwall WRT (2009). An Integrated Wetland Assessment Toolkit: A guide to good practice. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN and Cambridge, UK: IUCN Species Programme xv. \| \| Stec S, Casey-Lefkowitz S, Jendroska J (2000). The Aarhus Convention: An implementation guide.Geneva:United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Retrieved April 20, 2018, from http://www.unece.org/env/pp/acig.pdf> \| \| Stringer ET (1999). Action research second edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. \| \| Stuart G (2017). What is the Spectrum of Public Participation? Sustaining Community. \| \| Thenya T, Ngecu WM (2017). Indigenous strategies and dynamics of resource utilization in tropical wetland. A case study of Yala swamp, Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya. International Journal of Arts and Commerce 6:21-39. \| \| Thomas D, Kariuki M, Magero C, Schenk A (2016). Local people and Tool for Action, Results and Learning prepared for Annie E. Casey Foundation (www.aecf.org and www.organizationalresearch.com) \| \| Turner BL II (1998). Frontiers of Exploration: Remote Sensing and Social Science Research., Pecora 13 Symposium, Human interaction with the Environment: Perspectives from Space (August 20-22, 1996, Souix Falls, SD) pp. 15-19. \| \| Van Dam AA, Kipkemboi J, Mazvimavi D, Irvine K (2014). A synthesis of past, current and future research for protection and management of papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.) wetlands in Africa. Wetlands Ecology and Management 22(2):99-114. \| \| Van Heukelom ST (2013). Security: The controversy of foreign agricultural investment in the Yala Swamp, Kenya. Doctoral Thesis. Centre for International Security Studies, Business School University of Sydney. Wetland Rehabilitation. Springer Science & Business Media, 6 December 2012 - Technology & Engineering pp. 167-172. \| \| White SC (1996). Depoliticising development: the uses and abuses of participation. Development in practice 6(1):6-15. \| \| WWF (2006). Community-based Natural Resource Management Manual. WWF. \| \| Yala Wetland ICCA (2020). The Yala Wetland ICCA Management Plan 2019-2029. ICCA. Copyright © 2022 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.	https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJEST/article-full-text/949B69668423
The Open Space Institute and Saratoga PLAN are seeking a highly-skilled freelance Consultant who will be tasked with multiple project management and administrative responsibilities for land conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives within Saratoga County’s Southern Palmertown region. The Consultant will oversee implementation of the 2018 Southern Palmertown Conservation and Recreation Strategy, providing project management, public outreach, administrative, and other general support toward the achievement of the Strategy’s goals and recommendations for conservation, recreation, and sustainable economic development. The Conservation Coordinator will work closely with staff from Saratoga PLAN and the Open Space Institute to facilitate convening of multiple stakeholders, including the Southern Palmertown Guidance Committee, extended project partners groups, landowners, land trusts, municipal governments, public agencies, business owners, educational institutions, and community organizations. The Conservation Coordinator will set the stage for program success by: - Crafting initiatives that prioritize and target the plan’s recommendations, - Establishing a framework for building effective partnerships and providing outreach to implement the plan’s recommendations, - Identifying and procuring resources to support the plan and its programs. The ideal candidate will have strong project management and communication skills, have previous experience working on land conservation and/or trail planning projects, possess an intimate knowledge of the landscape and community, and will have enthusiasm for the vision and goals of the Southern Palmertown Conservation and Recreation Strategy. Responsibilities Project Management (60%) - Assist in the development of an implementation plan that targets the goals of the three program areas for the Southern Palmertown Range – Conservation, Recreation, and Sustainable Economic Development. Help identify opportunities for achieving program area recommendations in collaboration with local partners. The coordinator will be tasked with managing and coordinating all facets of the plan, including: - Prioritizing projects, - Establishing goals and benchmarks, - Identifying and coordinating project partners and what they can contribute, and - Monitoring and reporting project progress. - Assist in the procurement and administration of grants that fund conservation, recreation, and economic development activities. - Draft correspondence, memoranda, communications and publicity materials, and other complex documents; assist in the development of maps and GIS data as needed. - Serve as support to the Southern Palmertown Guidance Committee, which will include correspondence, public outreach, and organizing meetings on behalf of the committee. - Work with the Executive Director of Saratoga PLAN, OSI Northern Program Director, and other land trust staff to implement additional related tasks as requested. Communications and Outreach (40%) - Build effective programs and strong partnerships with governmental and non-governmental partners to implement the recommendations of the Southern Palmertown Conservation and Recreational Strategy. - Create and deliver presentations for a variety of audiences, including local government, public agencies, community organizations, etc. - Participate in local committees and outreach activities related to land and environmental protection projects in the region. - Develop and manage content for social media and web-based communications. - Assist with development of a regional branding and marketing strategy. - Coordinate volunteers for projects as identified and needed. Qualifications Minimum - Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in biology, ecology, natural resources or land management, environmental studies, planning, sustainable development, or related field and 2-5 years related work experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. - Experience developing and managing projects and producing work plans with strategic goals/objectives and defined, measurable results. - Exceptional writing and content development skills with an ability to analyze and translate complex information into concise, tailored messages and stories utilizing a variety of communications platforms to reach multiple audiences - Ability to collaborate and work well with others, including local, state, and federal government agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses and corporations, academic institutions and universities, philanthropic organizations and potential funders, etc. - Self-starter with demonstrated experience managing complex projects, balancing multiple priorities independently, and achieving desired outcomes with moderate to minimal supervision. - Attention to detail and demonstrated organizational skills. - Demonstrated understanding of natural resource, regional planning, and conservation principles. Desired - Master’s degree in planning, natural resources, land management, conservation, non-profit management, environmental science (or equivalent disciplines related to job functions), and 3-5 years of progressively responsible professional level planning and/or project management experience in the aforementioned fields. - Experience working in natural resource management, recreation planning, or land conservation in the Adirondack Park and/or Saratoga Region. - Demonstrated understanding of map generation and spatial data, including proficiency with GIS programs. - Aptitude for photography, videography, and social media. - Experience communicating effectively with a variety of stakeholders, including local landowners, public officials, funders, and volunteer groups. Working Conditions - Job will require travel throughout North-Central Saratoga County to attend meetings and help manage projects. The applicant must have a valid driver’s license. - Job requires ownership of a reliable computer or laptop with standard publishing software (i.e. Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe products, etc.) and access to high-speed WIFI. - Job requires frequently working in front of computer in changing locations. - Job may require attendance at some evening and weekend meetings, programs, or events. Physical Requirements - Frequently sits for long periods of time. Work can also require standing, walking, lifting, stooping, bending as necessary, as well as other active outdoor activities such as hiking and biking. - Frequent travel in Saratoga County and the Capital District, mostly same-day trips by car. Overnights are not anticipated. - Frequently speaks, reads, writes, and uses a computer keyboard. Application Instructions To respond to this request for contractual services, email a PDF resume and cover letter to Katie Petronis at [email protected]. All proposals must be submitted prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 8/9/2019. About the Open Space Institute and Saratoga PLAN: The Open Space Institute, Inc. (OSI) protects scenic, natural and historic landscapes to ensure public enjoyment, conserve habitats, and sustain community character. OSI achieves its goals through land acquisition, conservation easements, loan and grant programs, creative partnerships, and analytical research. Saratoga PLAN (preserving land and nature) is dedicated to preserving the rural character, natural habitats, and scenic beauty of Saratoga County so that these irreplaceable assets are accessible to all and survive for future generations. Saratoga PLAN helps communities create plans that balance growth with conservation to sustain the Saratoga Region as a great place to live, work, play, and farm. The Open Space Institute and Saratoga PLAN are equal opportunity employers. Employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination due to race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, or any other protected class established by federal, state or local law.	https://www.saratogaplan.org/blog/request-for-services/
When you apply for this position, please say you saw this job on Green Dream Jobs!! Description ~ Founded in 1951, the Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. ~ We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. One of our core values is our commitment to diversity. Therefore, we strive for a globally diverse and culturally competent workforce. Working in 72 countries, including all 50 United States, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter. Your Position with TNC The Chattahoochee Fall Line (CFL) Program Director serves as The Nature Conservancy’s conservation leader and manager for all aspects of work within the CFL program area, located in west-central Georgia near the city of Columbus. TNC’s strategies for achieving tangible and lasting conservation outcomes include land acquisition, forestry-practices associated with longleaf pine habitat restoration and prescribed fire (on over ~30,000-acres of fee-owned lands), formal partnerships, and community engagement. The CFL Program Director serves as the principle contact to federal and state agencies including the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, to local government leadership including the City of Columbus and county government, as well as other non-profit conservation organizations, private foundations, and the academic community as a principle member of the Chattahoochee Fall Line Conservation Partnership (CFLCP). Essential Functions: The director will uphold trusted relationships with partners, supervise a team of seasoned staff, manage a complex budget, fundraise around conservation priorities, build strategic, scientific, and technical capacity in the field, contribute to conservation planning at the landscape scale, and communicate effectively both internally within the organization and externally. The CFL Program Director develops innovative methods, analyses, tools and frameworks to address the program’s needs, engage local community support for conservation efforts, and negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies and landowners to conserve and protect natural communities within the CFL. The CFL Program Director maintains the Conservancy as a primary conservation partner within the CFLCP. Location: This position will be located within west-central Georgia, near the city of Columbus. Responsibilities & Scope - Provides program leadership and management. - Develops and maintains key partnerships with public and private organizations and community stakeholders. - Builds agreement and cooperation with staff and external parties in accomplishing program goals, including the planning for and the implementation of landscape-scale ecological restoration on state and TNC-owned lands. - Manage multi-disciplinary professional staff, with responsibility for performance management, training and career development. Establish clear directions and set stretch objectives. Recruit, retain and manage high quality and effective staff as necessary. - Establish and maintain optimal standards of performance for the program while controlling costs and administering budgets. - Responsible for ensuring that public and private funds are raised to meet program needs. Writes requests for proposal (RFPs), contracts, grant proposals and other materials to solicit funding, goods and services for program. - Pursues integrating landscape-scale conservation as a vital component of area economic development. - Frequently makes independent strategic decisions based on analysis, ambiguous information and judgment. - Uses common software applications (e.g.; Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Geographic Information Systems) - May participate in controlled burning and in wild land fire suppression activities in partnership with other non-profits, local fire departments, and local, state and federal agencies. - May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. Qualifications Minimum Qualifications: - BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience. - Experience managing complex or multiple projects, including staffing, workloads and finances under deadlines. - Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives and managing performance. - Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies - Experience negotiating. Desired Qualifications: - 5-7 years’ experience in conservation practice or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience. - Knowledge and experience in the conservation and restoration of ecosystems at a landscape scale, preferably within the longleaf pine ecosystem. - Knowledge and experience in ecological forestry and monitoring of restoration efforts. - Demonstrated experience in developing and managing complex budgets. - Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans. - Demonstrated experience in building and sustaining successful partnerships. - Demonstrated experience in fundraising. - Politically savvy. - Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated. - Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions. - Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages. Auto Safety Policy: - This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with the Conservancy's Auto Safety Program. - Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." Please see further details in the Auto Safety Program document available at www.nature.org/careers. - Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record. Compensation: The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond. To Apply - Please click "Apply on Company Website" below to apply online: https://www.nature.org/en-us/connect/careers/ to position number 47808. - Submit resume (required) and cover letter separately using the upload buttons. - All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 29, 2019. - If you experience technical issues, please refer to our applicant user guide or contact [email protected].	https://www.sustainablebusiness.com/job/chattahoochee-fall-line-program-director/
Sound as Divinity with SAVVYZΛΛR Through October, SAVVYZΛΛR takes listeners on sonorous travel tracing a number of archaeological musical artifacts native to Mesoamerica before the arrival of the Europeans. The series of journeys wander into the early perceptions regarding sound conceived as divinity. SAVVYZΛΛR, under the artistic direction of Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung (Faculty ’19, ’20) commissioned composer, educator, musician and instrument maker Luis Perez Ixoneztli to produce a 4-part series which peers into profound observations by indigenous peoples of Mexico and delves into visiting emanations and developments of the evolution of music, as influenced by the sounds heard in the natural world: re-created by using vocal and corporal expressions, and then leading to the incorporation of tools used as sonorous objects, bringing about their evolution to musical instruments. Music was a sacred source to honor creation, to help maintain balance in the natural world, to heal the sick, and to help in the expansion of consciousness. With him, we learn about the process of recovering ancient instruments and their uses by incorporating them into contemporary music. A FOUR PART SERIES - 1. FIRST ENCOUNTERS WITH MUSIC Luis Perez Ixoneztli takes us into the realms of music’s early developments in ancient Mexico and the longstanding processes and efforts part of his embrace and understanding of its very essence, according to his own personal vision. - 2. MAKING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS The first encounters with music by prehistoric humans were based on their deep observations of the already-existing rhythms and landscapes created by the interacting sounds of elements in the natural world. Luis Perez Ixoneztli traces sound as a divinity, guiding us into the cultivation of music and musical instruments in ancient Mexico. - 3. THE MAYAN CITY OF PALENQUE American civilizations were ravaged by European invasions and so was their sacred vehicle to communicate with the divine: music. Still, remnants are re-emerging constantly and continuously at present time to esteem its sacred cosmogony. - 4. REMNANTS Many musical instruments have been recovered from ancient burials, and are being used today in combination with contemporary music styles and technologies, which create new musical languages and renovate the use of such sacred instruments. Listen each Sunday during October: Online streaming here and on Berlin 88.4 FM & Potsdam 90.7 FM About SAVVYZΛΛR SAVVYZΛΛR streams its embodied fields of connections into the auditory. There, in the company of disrupted colonial grammars we form; where a reappropriated grammar stands as a creative act resisting conformities of language, rebuilding a constant future. A future based on self and community affirmirming communication. Slang. Spanglish. Creole. And more. Languages of accented hybrid tongues. Process and recreation as vital living conditions. Charting an open-range receptacle, we ruminate and act upon radio’s sonorous healing potentials, while constantly being aware of its violent chronicles.	https://sfsia.art/alumni-news/sound-as-divinity-with-savvyz%CE%BB%CE%BBr/
This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Binding: Paperback Brand: By Curt Sachs EAN: 9780486466613 ISBN: 0486466612 Item Dimensions: 9106009580 Label: Dover Publications Languages: EnglishPublishedEnglishOriginal LanguageEnglishUnknown Manufacturer: Dover Publications MPN: illustrations Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 336 Publication Date: July 24, 2008 Publisher: Dover Publications Release Date: July 24, 2008 Studio: Dover Publications Related Items:The History of Musical Instruments (Dover Books on Music)The Rise and Fall of Ancient EgyptThe Pharaoh: Life at Court and On CampaignAncient EgyptThe Thames & Hudson Dictionary of Ancient Egypt (World of Art)Music in Ancient Greece and RomeThe Epic of GilgameshThe History of Music and Musical Instruments in Europe: Prehistory Through the RenaissanceAncient Greek Music (Clarendon Paperbacks)The Manual of Harmonics of Nicomachus the Pythagoreansee more Alternate Versions: Click to Display Browse for similar items by category: Click to Display Editorial Review:Product Description:In this groundbreaking, all-encompassing work, an eminent musicologist explores the evolution of music. It ranges from the ecstatic singing and Shaman songs of early civilizations to the development of more structured styles in Egypt, East Asia, India, Greece, Rome, the Middle East, and Europe. Eight plates of illustrations depict players and orchestras from China, Korea, Burma, India, and Egypt.A survey of music in early societies leads to examinations of comparative musicology and its methods, melodic styles, rhythm and instrumental music, and polyphony. Advancing to the Western Orient and Eastern Asia, the author discusses musical systems in general, along with the concepts of scales, melody and rhythm, and notation. Subsequent chapters explore India's Vedic chants and ragas, the early modes of Greece and Rome, and the influence of the music of Islam. The book concludes with a look at the puzzle of medieval tonality and the conflict between European vocal and instrumental styles.	http://books.boatdesign.net/boat/books.cgi?Operation=ItemLookup&ItemId=0486466612&locale=us
The article is devoted to one of the brightest phenomena in instrumental performance of the twentieth century - the development of classical brass quintet. The process of determining the most appropriate instrument compositions for the brass ensemble is considered in historical and geographical aspects. The division into periods for the development process of brass quintet art is suggested. The history of the ﬁrst professional brass quintets of classical composition is examined. Interesting facts about the life and creative activity of ensembles are presented. The article introduces the reader to the outstanding musicians, composers and educators in the ﬁeld of brass ensembles. The organization and activity of domestic and foreign brass ensembles are analyzed. The creation of associations, clubs and brass centers; international forums, symposiums, festivals and brass competitions; tours and concerts, publication of specialized materials are studied as well. Kazunina Anna S. The article highlights brieﬂy some features of the epistolary heritage of A.K. Lyadov. The main attention is focused on the two previously unknown letters by the composer, addressed to his family. These documents are preserved in funds of A.S. Arensky, S.V. Rachmaninoff and A.K. Lyadov Museum in Novgorod the Great. Published materials represent the unique samples of the creative work by Lyadov and demonstrate, in total, the case of including pieces of music in the letters, the process of creation which was atypical for the composer. In this situation there are autographs of the ﬁrst two variations from the cycle Variations on the theme of Glinka. The text of the article provides the facsimile reproduction of musical autographs and the transcribed letters supplied with a commentary. Korchinskaya Ludmila Mikhailovna This article is devoted to the study of chamber music by Paul Hindemith in particular the sonatas for solo instrument and piano op.11. The main content of the research is to try to understand and appreciate what the composer remains true to the tradition, and, in which he acted as an innovator. The article devotes considerable attention to the composer's style, his interaction with styles from different eras. The article also touched upon the symmetry in creation of Hindemith. The most important role of the symmetry and the variety of artistic solutions, makes to revert to this issue. Consideration of the structural symmetry faces and philosophical meanings suggests that the symmetry is one of the carriers of the idea of the world harmony, so important for the composer throughout his life and was reﬂected in the early chamber compositions. Ivanova Olga Anatolievna This article reviews the song genres Astrakhan Lipovans - Old Believers living in the Astrakhan region in the village of Uspeh of Kamyzyaksky area. We consider the spiritual content genres, songs of calendar and family rites, among them - a spiritual verse, wedding song, calendar songs and a number of others. Spend comparative characteristic song form «Arrow» in Romanian and Astrakhan Lipovans, description of the Shrovetide ritual. Identiﬁed characteristics of the Astrakhan Lipovans tradition as a whole. Ustugova Aleksandra Viktorovna The article considers the current state and prospects of studying the problems of music terminology in Russian organology. In Slavic musical culture sufﬁciently widespread bowed instruments. The few written sources (chronicles, administrative and spiritual literature, and glossaries) for bringing this to our time information about East Slavic tools. For modern musical science urgent problem to develop a common understanding and the elimination of ambiguities in the deﬁnition of «Smyk» and «Smychek», presented in the scientiﬁc literature. The lack of sufﬁcient historical documentaries, visual sources illustrating and locating information about Slavic stringed instruments, introduces an uncertainty in the interpretation of these terms. It is still unknown whether there was such a tool as «Smyk» or this designation refers to the full name the Bow. In this paper we attempt to analyze terminological names of Russian ancient bow instruments, shows the change in values and historical use of the term «Smyk» and close to it «Smychek» in ancient culture. The theoretical basis and methodological basis of research constitute the historical and holistic approaches to reveal the essence of musical instruments terms as the historical categories in the relationship and interdependence of social and musical-performing factors.	https://eposlink.com/catalog/library/elibrary/book/muzykovedenie-2241/publication/110316/
It’s hard for anyone to say what music looks like, but a new mathematical approach sees classical music as cone-shaped and jazz as pyramid-like. The connections between math and music are many, from the unproven Mozart effect (the idea that playing Mozart's music to children might improve their mathematical abilities) to the music of the spheres (the ancient belief that proportions in the movements of the planets could be viewed as a form of music). Now scientists have created a mathematical system for understanding music. Clifton Callender of Florida State University, Ian Quinn of Yale University and Dmitri Tymoczko of Princeton University outlined their "geometrical music theory" in the April 18 issue of the journal Science. The team designed a geometrical technique for mapping out music in coordinate space. For music made of chords containing two notes, all musical possibilities take the shape of a Möbius strip, which basically looks like a twisted rubber band (this was first described by Tymoczko in a 2006 Science paper). The team found that the shape of possibilities using three-note chords is a three-dimensional ice cream cone, where types of chords, such as major chords and minor chords, are unique points on the cone. The space of four-note chords is what mathematicians would call a "cone over the real projective plane," which resembles a pyramid in our 3-D universe. Any piece of music can be mapped in these spaces. "You can use these geometrical spaces to provide ways of visualizing musical pieces," Tymoczko told LiveScience. "These spaces give us a much better and comprehensive picture of the space of all possible chords." When they first realized that the shape of two-note chords is a Möbius strip, a fundamental mathematical form discovered in the 19th century, the researchers were "amazed," Quinn said. "But there was also a sense in which we weren’t surprised, because any composer who has spent any time futzing around on a piano invariably finds their fingers end up twisted in a knot," he said. "Knowing that there's a good mathematical reason for that is deeply satisfying." It's probably no coincidence that math and music are so deeply linked, he said. "When music doesn't have words, it doesn't necessarily resemble anything in the real world," Quinn said. "This is a feature people have been amazed by and found remarkable and a little bit terrifying. Traditionally, paintings always looked like things, poetry and literature were talking about things. But music is coming closer to pure truth. People who talk about mathematics say the same thing — it's not necessarily about anything, it's just truth." The new techniques reveal fascinating differences between rock and classical music, and even between Paul McCartney and John Lennon. McCartney's pieces make use of a smaller number of motions in the geometrical spaces, corresponding to his more traditional approach to harmony, while Lennon makes use of a much wider set of options, reflecting his roots in rock, Tymoczko said. "One of the really exciting things about this research is that it allows us to see commonalities among a much wider range of musicians," Tymoczko said. "In some sense, Bach and the Beatles are really exploiting the same geometrical features. In that sense they're not radically different." By looking at the mathematical essence behind the work of various musicians and musical styles, the scientists can better understand how they relate to one another. "You certainly see large trends," Tymoczko said. "Over the course of the 18th and 19th centuries people start exploring a wider variety of geometrical spaces. There's a general push toward increasing complexity and sophistication. They move from the three-dimensional cone to the four-dimensional space." While analyzing the math behind music can provide many insights, it doesn't answer all of our questions. "A lot of people say, 'Will this help us understand which Britney song is going to be a hit and which one isn't?'," Tymoczko said. "There's no hope of that. There is no way that geometry is going to help you become a great composer. Understanding the geometry will help you become a mediocre composer much more quickly, but composing is an artistic achievement. There's no royal road to becoming a great musician. We're not taking the mystery away from music."	https://www.livescience.com/4929-music-reduced-beautiful-math.html
165 million years ago saw the birth of rhythm. 66 million years ago came the first melody. 40 thousand years ago Homo sapiens created the first musical instrument. Today music fills our lives. How we have created, performed and listened to this music throughout history has defined what our species is and how we understand who we are. Yet music is an overlooked part of our origin story. The Musical Human takes us on an exhilarating journey across the ages – from Bach to BTS and back – to explore the vibrant relationship between music and the human species. With insights from a wealth of disciplines, world-leading musicologist Michael Spitzer renders a global history of music on the widest possible canvas, looking at music in our everyday lives; music in world history; and music in evolution, from insects to apes, humans to AI. 'Michael Spitzer has pulled off the impossible: a Guns, Germs and Steel for music' Daniel Levitin 'A thrilling exploration of what music has meant and means to humankind' Ian Bostridge PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Musicologist Spitzer (A History of Emotion in Western Music) explores music as a consistent presence in the human experience in this meticulously researched work. He argues that, over time, man has become less an active participant in vocal sound, instrumentation, and body expression and more a passive listener. To bolster his position, he surveys the biblical era, tribal cultures, and the history of European empires, noting, for instance, that ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras "lectured to his disciples behind a screen so that they could hear his voice without being able to see his face." (His disciples were called the akousmatikoi, translating to " those who hear', and the term acousmatic' came to define the condition of musical listening in the West.") Ancient civilizations in Africa and Australia, meanwhile, relied on vocalization, rhythm, and movement to preserve the past. As Spitzer weaves through musical developments, he points out how Beethoven's compositions were about "life, emotion and the spirit," and examines how cultural attitudes of the 11th century prompted a moving away from primitive sounds in Western classic music. It's a noble if muddled effort to explain millions of years in sound and the components of it that shaped human lives then and now. This one's for specialists only.	https://books.apple.com/ie/book/the-musical-human/id1522952358
India is a magnificent place with a rich culture and history matched only by the greatest civilizations in mankind’s timeline. One such culture is the famous Tamil culture. The Tamil culture comes from the southern parts of the country, from the Tamil Nadu region, which has historic roots dating back to 15,000 BCE. The Tamil people were very good musicians, and it is a great saying that their music has even spread to parts of the Balkan Peninsula. The Tamil Nadu people had their own culture, music, history, language, literature, architecture, performance arts, religion, film and theatre, and even their own martial arts style. But in today’s time, it is the Tamil music that has mostly kept up with the native people of this region. Mostly called Tamil Pannisai, this form of music is the first, ancient, music of the Tamil people. It is the musical form of which modern-day Carnatic music has evolved into. The ancient Tamil music had its own music troops such as Urumi melam, Pandi melam, Mangala Vathiyam, Kailaya vathyam, and more. The musical works of the ancient Tamil music, such as the Sliappatikaram, describe the system of Tamil music. If you want to know more about the latest Tamil musical albums, you can check Tamildada to learn more. What effect did Tamil music had on the Tamil culture? Sound has very much been a part of Indian people’s culture from the earliest parts of their existence. Tamil music has been used by scholars to better understand the cultural insights of its people. The music is the sole identity of the Tamil people, and it is regularly expressed even in today’s time. Much like any part of India, much of the attention of the Tamil Nadu region is focused on film. Music is very important in Tamil movies. It is the thing that separates the region from the rest. Tamil music, specifically Pannisai, is described as one of the oldest and richest musical traditions in the world. The form of music is composed of 72 basic scales on the octave with a rich variety of melodic motion. The people of the Tamil region are very passionate about their music, hence why it is engraved in their everyday life. Some of the world’s most famous performers are students of classical Tamil music. There is a lot of focus on Tamil music, as one of the largest cultural events, the Madras Music Session takes place each year in the city of Chennai. One of the most notable facts about the Tamil music is that the musician M.S. Subbulakshmi, a world famous Carnatic singer, had the honors of singing a Tamil song at the UN Security Council. The music of the Tamil people is present every day in their life. It is simply said, engraved in their DNA. Much of the Indian culture can be learned through Tamil music. The beautiful music has had a couple of variations throughout its history. The earliest forms were the Ancient Tamil Music, and then came Pannisai, which was later changed as Carnatic music. The latest change came in the form of Folk music. Folk music remains the most popular in the Tamil Nadu region and is frequently used in movies. From the various forms of folk music, he urumee mallam remains as the most popular in the region.	https://www.icharts.net/tamil-music-gives-insight-into-indian-culture/
Welcome to the next lesson in our free English class series about Music in America! Today, we’re going to explore the origins of pop music in America. Goals: - Explore some of the history, influences, and genres of pop music in America - Learn basic English terms used around musical topics - Learn some idioms for advanced learners Difficulty Level: Advanced Time: Approximately 15 minutes Talking about Pop Music! Click below to listen to a recording of this passage. What is Pop Music? The term is short for popular music, and American popular music in particular has had a lasting effect on music styles from all over the world. The most simplistic definition of popular music is whatever style of music is most popular at the time. However, this definition has developed over time. Since America is a melting pot, the genre is quite diverse and melds together a variety of styles, including some from specific regions of the country. Since the late 19th century and the evolution of mass communication, many musical styles have emerged. However, the basis for most popular music in America came from a mixture of blues and other forms of folk music played regionally. The spread of many popular tunes resulted from traveling theater troupes of the time. By the early 20th century, Broadway Musicals became wildly popular which forced songwriters to create tunes that appealed to wider audiences. Through this, The Great American Songbook was created. Though not an actual book, it’s a specific list of tunes and musical standards used on Broadway and in early Hollywood films from the 1920’s through the 1950’s. With the help of broadcast radio, these standards grew in popularity, and many musical styles were created as a result. During the mid-1950s, even more regional styles blended together. At the time, “pop” music and “rock” music were the same. But by the late 1960s, pop music distinguished itself as its own genre. The separation came when musicians and music producers started using an incredibly wide range of styles like urban, dance, rock, Latino, country, blues, jazz, and more to create short to medium length tunes that were simple but catchy, often with repeated choruses. This created the transition from popular music to the essence of modern pop music. Today, pop music dominates the world’s music charts. And though the U.S. and British music industries still command the genre, many other regions around the world (Korea, Japan, and Latin nations) have created their own chart-topping forms of pop music and are making waves in the international music scene. Word Focus - Broadway Musical – (noun) – Musical theater performances conducted in theaters located in the Theater District along Broadway in New York City. - My mom and I went to New York last year and saw a Broadway Musical. - Musical standard – (noun) – A popular composition considered as standard in one or many genres. These songs are performed by many musical acts in a variety of arrangements and are copied and used as the basis for many compositions. - Pop musicians use many jazz music standards as the foundation for their songs. - Broadcast radio – (noun) – The transmission of radio waves to audio, which is sent out to a mass audience. - The broadcast radio industry is evolving to keep up with emerging mediums like podcasting. - Essence – (noun) – An indispensable quality or abstract nature of something that defines its character. The core qualities of something. - Honor and loyalty were the values that created the essence of his character. - Music Producer – (noun) – A career with many roles. The producer oversees the production of a song or album. They collaborate with an artist to choose lyrics, melodies, or to help them edit or alter arrangements. - Lady Gaga is an amazing musician, but her work is refined and perfected by the best music producers in the business. - Catchy – (adjective) – A musical tune or lyric or spoken phrase that is memorable and appealing. - I can’t get that song out of my head. It’s so catchy! - Music Chart – (noun) – The ranking of recorded music according to specific criteria. Music charts track statistics like sales, downloads, airplay on the radio, or streams. - Recently, ‘Old Town Road’ set a new record at 19 weeks at number one on Billboard Music Chart’s top 100. Grammar Center Let’s revisit the sentence with a vocabulary phrase from the passage: …many other regions around the world (Korea, Japan, and Latin nations) have created their own chart-topping forms of pop music and are making waves in the international music scene. Making waves is a classic example of an idiom. As an advanced speaker, you’ve probably come across (another idiom!) a few and have a basic understanding of most of the common ones. To review: Idioms are phrases with meanings that differ from the literal translation of what is actually said. They’re similar to metaphors, except that idioms are common sayings whereas a metaphor may not be so common. Idioms are an absolute necessity for fluency in English, and as you grow in your language learning, you must expand your knowledge of these common sayings if you want to understand many conversations. Some of them are quite humorous, but if you don’t want to be left in the dark be sure to check out our English idioms post. Five Advanced Idioms (with examples): Fight tooth and nail – To fight for anything with all of your efforts. The idea is that wild animals fight for food with ferocity with their teeth and nails. The idiom doesn’t have to mean something physical, it’s a reflection of the effort. - Example: Christina had a goal to be elected to parliament, and she fought tooth and nail to achieve that goal. Head over heels – To fall completely in love with someone. Totally enamored with another person. - Example: I know they’re just now getting married after 3 years together, but Tim has been head over heels for her since the moment they met. A dime a dozen – To be so abundant or common that it has no value. - Example: Savvy computer techs might be rare in your city, but they’re a dime a dozen here. Pound the pavement – To walk in search of employment. - Example: I was fired last week, so I’ve got to go pound the pavement. Rent is due next Thursday. Steal someone’s thunder – To take the attention or praise that someone else was to receive. Usually during an announcement or an accomplishment. - Example: We were about to tell my parents that we’re engaged, but my brother stole my thunder when he said that he and his wife are expecting a baby. Quiz - Which of the following captures the central idea of the passage?A. Pop music is the most popular music at a certain period in time.B. Music from the 1920s to the 1950s in America shaped popular music today.C. Pop music is a style of music that evolved from standards created in the early 20th century into a blended style of music known all over the world.D. Music producers blended a number of styles together to create pop music. - Which statement best represents the construction of the passage above?A. It defines pop music.B. It compares and contrasts old pop music to today’s pop music.C. It presents a new idea of what pop music is.D. It refutes an old idea of pop music. - Which of the following sentences best uses the word catchy.A. Everyone is changing their hair to her style; it’s so catchy.B. All of the kids in school keep repeating that catchy line from the movie.C. We were feeling catchy so we went outside to throw the ball around.D. He wears all the latest clothes; his style is very catchy. - Based on your understanding of the word essence, which word would be the best synonym?A. EntityB. VeinC. BackboneD. Core - An idiom is always a metaphor.A. TrueB. False - Which of the following statements is not an idiom?A. Even blankets need to be washed sometimes.B. It’s not rocket science.C. That ship has sailed.D. You can’t judge a book by it’s cover. Show Correct Answers:	https://magoosh.com/english-speaking/magoosh-english-class-pop-music-in-america/
Emeritus Professor Michael Atherton is a composer and performer across several instruments, and several genres and styles of music. His research has focused on Asia-Pacific musical instruments, Australian instrument makers and intercultural music practices. His performances and recordings include creative realisations of ancient Egyptian, medieval and renaissance music, as well as choral music and film scores. Black Inc.	https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/authors/michael-atherton
The purpose of this project is to create a culturally relevant, interactive musical experience using Afrobeat and Funk as a musical medium. Funk, Jazz, Soul and its African counterpart Afrobeat, have proven their ability to remove social barriers, regardless of age/gender/ethnicity. At this critical time in history, as many music and arts programs are being phased out of the schools, these genres have withstood the test of time and have recently inspired a Broadway musical, FELA! These expressions have also energized a new generation of musicians that use improvisational performance styles to express themselves. Historically, these performance ensembles were extensions of the communities where they honed their skills; Think 70s style bands like The JBs, Parliament, Mandrill and Earth, Wind & Fire; 2nd Line Jazz Parades in New Orleans; Afrobeat and Palmwine music in Nigeria, Highlife in Ghana; Calypso, Junkanoo or Carnival in the Caribbean; Atlanta’s HBCU Marching Bands. Mausiki Scales and the Common Collective seek to use The Beltline as an “urban interactive stage” to engagingly perform in the spirit of the “old school” musical traditions mentioned above. The Common Ground Collective is a 15 piece Afrobeat-Soul Orchestra that explores musical styles from West Africa, including Afrobeat and Funk. Common Ground seeks to explore the musical thread that links the music of the African World, including the African Diaspora. Common Ground’s Musical Director is Mausiki Scales, who also serves as keyboardist for the group. Common Ground is based in Atlanta, Georgia and recently performed in Ghana West, Africa. Scales is an adjunct instructor in the African American Studies Department at Georgia State University and has taught history and African World Studies for more than 15 years in Atlanta area colleges and universities including Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College and Georgia Perimeter College. He a multitude of interests which include Nile Valley Civilizations, West African history & culture, the Jim Crow era, and studying various musical genres, including Afrobeat, Blues and Jazz.	https://art.beltline.org/art/no-tables-no-chairs-ii/
Mausiki Scales and Common Ground will welcome the Atlanta community to join a ¼ mile procession, beginning at Ralph McGill Blvd. NE on the Eastside Trail and heading south to the Historic Fourth Ward Skate Park. Once at the performance area, the band will take the audience through an interactive musical journey that will “transform” the park into a World Music platform; exploring the intersections of West African musical expressions, Blues, Classic Soul and Caribbean “riddims”. View full performance details: Artist Bio The Common Ground Collective is a 15 piece Afrobeat-Soul Orchestra that explores musical styles from West Africa, including Afrobeat and Funk. Common Ground seeks to explore the musical thread that links the music of the African World, including the African Diaspora. Common Ground’s Musical Director is Mausiki Scales, who also serves as keyboardist for the group. Common Ground is based in Atlanta, Georgia and recently performed in Ghana West, Africa. Scales is an adjunct instructor in the African American Studies Department at Georgia State University and has taught history and African World Studies for more than 15 years in Atlanta area colleges and universities including Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College and Georgia Perimeter College. He a multitude of interests which include Nile Valley Civilizations, West African history & culture, the Jim Crow era, and studying various musical genres, including Afrobeat, Blues and Jazz.	https://art.beltline.org/art/no-tables-no-chairs/
In Sound, acclaimed musicians, artists, and humanitarians João and Ramiro Mendes take a deep look at the essence of sound, combining their professional music education, four decades of work in the field of music, promotion of peace in Africa, and the study of ancient civilizations and traditional wisdom—all to present a fresh perspective on the nature of the human soul, consciousness, thought, emotion, attention, intention, and reality from a new and intuitive perspective. Using sound as the tool to probe human reality, the authors also present new insights into the essence of peace, agreements, health, and the evolution of human society while offering unconventional solutions to human conflict and the survival of our species and our planet. "We decided to write this book to promote a new global consciousness based on the sound of love. Love is the vibration of life," adds João and Ramiro Mendes. Expanding on the book's core message of universal love, the Mendes Brothers launch a global peace initiative on the birthday of the new sun, 3.21.17, appropriately titled, 321Global Peace to promote love, compassion, kindness, and unity around the world. In promotion of the initiative, the group also launches a new song, entitled ReCreate The World. "Peace is love. Peace is the human vibration of love manifested into light," affirms João and Ramiro. Born in the remote village of Palonkon, Fogo, Cape Verde Islands, the Mendes Brothers have dedicated almost their entire adult lives to music and the promotion of peace and unity in Africa. They are well known for their peace-intervention work in Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe (PALOP). Together the brothers have produced and recorded numerous albums featuring diverse musical traditions, and over twelve songs promoting peace in PALOP. Their peace anthem, Angola Kuia, was the featured theme music of the 2012 Angolan presidential elections. The lyrics of the Mendes Brothers' song Moçambique é Maningue Nice, was added to the eighth grade Portuguese textbook in Mozambique. This instructional book is read by millions of students across the nation. The Mendes Brothers are pioneers of several contemporary Cape Verdean musical genres, including bandera, talaia baxu, kodra, and tchoru. Exploring the sacred rhythms of the island of Fogo, the brothers have launched a new music movement, combining bandera with reggae, salsa, samba, bossa nova, and more, creating new music genres that defy cultural and musical boundaries. Treading the edge of intuition, the Mendes Brothers introduce yet a whole new genre of music: cosmic soul music. Cosmic soul music is a neurological and soul-entrainment medium—an intuitive form of music that removes the ego from the creative process and reconnects human beings with their higher soul essences. As musicians and humanitarians, João and Ramiro have appeared on many national and international television networks and programs, including CNN International, CBS Virginia This Morning, and The Climate Reality Project (featuring Nobel Laureate and former U.S. Vice President, Al Gore). "Thank you for joining us in co-creating this new world, a human community dedicated to harnessing the primal love sound of our hearts and souls to create an abundant and peaceful world." SOUND: The Fabric of Soul, Consciousness, Reality, and the Cosmos is available worldwide on Amazon. To learn more about the book and the global peace initiative, please visit: The Book on Sound at http://www.thebookonsound.com and 321Global Peace at www.321globalpeace.org More about the authors João Mendes Musician, author, artist, and humanitarian Ramiro Mendes Musician, author, artist, and humanitarian Title: Sound: The Fabric of Soul, Consciousness, Reality, and the Cosmos Authors: João Mendes and Ramiro Mendes Published by: Quantum World Enterprises, LLC Published: March 21, 2017 Genre: Non fiction, Mind/Body/Spirit and Spirituality Print Length: 320 pages Kindle Kindle 978-0-9971508-2-7 Hardcover Print Hardcover 978-0-9971508-0-3 About Quantum World Enterprises Sound is published by Quantum World Enterprises, a media company founded by the Mendes Brothers, with offices in Los Angeles and Boston, Massachusetts. It is dedicated to creating positive content with primary focus on music, film, arts, and book publishing. Visit www.quantumworldenterprises.com. Media Contact:	http://www.mendesbrothers.com/news/
Pijarowska, Aleksandra. Redakcja naukowa Music - the Cultural Bridge. Essence, Contexts, References is a unique publication prepared within the Eastern Academic Artistic Platform project as a part of the International Academic Partnerships Programme announced by the National Agency for Academic Exchange. The aim of this project is to establish a partnershipbetween four countries that share elements of culture but have undergone different influences – Estonia, Georgia, Ukraine and Poland – for the purpose of developing mechanisms of collaboration in the field of academic and teaching work. This is implemented through the promotion of the national artistic output ofeach of the four countries, and the exchange of knowledge about innovative research methods. As part of the project, the publication is intended to create abridge uniting a unique musical sector encompassing four academies: Lviv National Music Academy n.a. Mykola Lysenko, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre inTallinn, Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire and the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław. The book includes articles by outstanding scholars, representatives of the partner academies. The introductory paper on Wrocław-Based Composers and Polish Music Trends in the Second Half of the 20th Century and at the Beginning of the 21st Century by Anna Granat-Janki is followed by other studies divided into four thematic sections: Musical Heritage and Political Stigma, Folklore and Traditional Music, Musica hic et nunc, and Figures, Styles, Trends, Perspectives. The publication focuses on the artistic output, achievements and important figures that create the unique cultural idiom of each of the countries and at the same time help to build the long-lasting, recognisable cultural heritage shared by the four partners, and thus we believe it will inspire reflection on the identity, future and perspectives of Estonian, Georgian, Ukrainian and Polish culture.	https://www.dbc.wroc.pl/dlibra/publication/151906/edition/110174
Architectural details A Visual Guide to 5000 Years of Buiding Styles Do you know a Doric column when you see one? Of course. But what about an entablature, a hypostyle, a pylon, or a pagoda? Architecture Styles uses beautifully engraved plates from the great works of architectural history to illustrate a show-and-tell journey round the architecture of civilizations east and west, from Ancient Egypt to the Industrial Revolution. Most of the drawings and engravings have been taken from early sources, unparalleled for their elegance and delicacy of line, as well as for the amount of fine detail they offer. Extended captions and annotation supply you with a complete naming of parts which, as well as identifying and defining the correct terminology, will help you to understand how architects have planned and made the buildings of the past, from Amenhotep to Palladio, and Vitruvius to Wren.	https://peinture-fraiche.be/en/book/architectural-detailsa-visual-guide-to-5000-years-of-buiding-styles-emily-cole-ed/
With the debut of his first solo CD, Joe, "JD", DiBartolo ventures into into the exploration of the essence of music with the total disregard for popular music's insistence on categorizing every artist and their creations. But despite his irreverent mix of genres, there's no mistaking his signature musical roots that meld rock, soul and blues. With his unmistakable vocal and guitar styles that still draw upon his influences; Otis Redding, Eric Clapton, Wilson Pickett, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan, JD easily fuses classic and contemporary styles of lyric and music as he heads for a whole new, no-holds-barred, stripped to the soul direction.	https://www.cdbabylicensing.com/track/NDc5NDQ4Ni1lNjA3MzE
Richard Taruskin pointed out, “a thin veneer of historicism clothes a performance style that is completely of our own time, and is in fact the most modern style around.” In essence, Harnoncourt turned period practice into an avenue of exploration and liberation. The Bach cantata project, which recorded the complete sacred cantatas of J.S. Bach in collaboration with Gustav Leonhardt, took the musical community by storm. Here was Johann Sebastian, as he had never been heard before! Based on historical research, period instruments grouped into smaller ensembles. The tempos got faster and the texture rougher, and vibrato essentially disappeared from the soundscape. It also replaced female voices with those of unbroken boy trebles, even in the solo movements. Concordantly, Harnoncourt published books and articles on performing styles and period instruments while holding the academic chairs of professor of performance practice at Salzburg University and the Salzburg Mozarteum. Harnoncourt brought the same approach to modern instrumental ensembles, including the Concertgebouw and the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics in mainstream classic and Romantic repertoire. Performances of Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Dvořák went back to autograph scores and early printed editions to more thoroughly understand the performance practice during the composer’s own time. Harnoncourt also ventured into operatic territory, and he certainly did not shy away from music of the 20th century. In all, Harnoncourt made more than 500 recordings, and he was at the center of a transformation that gradually erased the distinction between historical and mainstream. Above all, he moved music forward by moving it backward. Johann Sebastian Bach: St. John Passion, BWV 245 Like an enormous surgeon’s scalpel, the Second World War indiscriminately severed musical and cultural arteries. A new world order was gradually taking shape, and music became a pretty adornment to our busy little lives. Coming of age in the years immediately following this great conflict, Nikolaus Harnoncourt lamented the fact that music—one of the foundations of culture throughout European history—had been relegated to serve a purely ornamental function. While the understanding of music had always been part of a general education, it had now been reduced to the merely beautiful and thereby to what can be universally appreciated. In fact he claimed, “Anything related to an actual understanding of music had been eliminated.” So Harnoncourt, child of Austrian nobility and cellist with the Vienna Philharmonic for 17 years, decided to do something about it. For starters, together with his wife Alice, he founded the Concentus Musicus Wien, an ensemble dedicated to period-instrument performance. Over the next decades, Harnoncourt brought scholarship and the sensibility of historical performance to the mainstream repertoire “with sometimes controversial, but always illuminating results.” More Features - The World at Your Door: VirtuMasterClass Here's a chance to study with your favourite performing musicians!	https://interlude.hk/nikolaus-harnoncourt-1929-2016-make-new-making-old/
Figure 12.1 Replicated DNA is seen as a replication eye flanked by nonreplicated DNA. A molecule of DNA engaged in replication has two types of regions. Figure 12.1 shows that when replicating DNA is viewed by electron microscopy, the replicated region appears as an eye within the nonreplicated DNA. The nonreplicated region consists of the parental duplex; this opens into the replicated region where the two daughter duplexes have formed. The point at which replication is occurring is called the replication fork (sometimes also known as the growing point). A replication fork moves sequentially along the DNA, from its starting point at the origin. Replication may be unidirectional or bidirectional. The type of event is determined by whether one or two replication forks set out from the origin. In unidirectional replication, one replication fork leaves the origin and proceeds along the DNA. In bidirectional replication, two replication forks are formed; they proceed away from the origin in opposite directions. Figure 12.2 Replicons may be unidirectional or bidirectional, depending on whether one or two replication forks are formed at the origin. The appearance of a replication eye does not distinguish between unidirectional and bidirectional replication. As depicted in Figure 12.2, the eye can represent either of two structures. If generated by unidirectional replication, the eye represents one fixed origin and one moving replication fork. If generated by bidirectional replication, the eye represents a pair of replication forks. In either case, the progress of replication expands the eye until ultimately it encompasses the whole replicon. Figure 12.3 A replication eye forms a theta structure in circular DNA. Figure 12.4 The replication eye becomes larger as the replication forks proceed along the replicon. Note that the "eye" becomes larger than the nonreplicated segment. The two sides of the eye can be defined because they are both the same length. Photograph kindly provided by Bernard Hirt. When a replicon is circular, the presence of an eye forms the θ-structure drawn in Figure 12.3. The successive stages of replication of the circular DNA of polyoma virus are visualized by electron microscopy in Figure 12.4. Whether a replicating eye has one or two replication forks can be determined in two ways. The choice of method depends on whether the DNA is a defined molecule or an unidentified region of a cellular genome. With a defined linear molecule, we can use electron microscopy to measure the distance of each end of the eye from the end of the DNA. Then the positions of the ends of the eyes can be compared in molecules that have eyes of different sizes. If replication is unidirectional, only one of the ends will move; the other is the fixed origin. If replication is bidirectional, both will move; the origin is the point midway between them. Figure 12.5 Different densities of radioactive labeling can be used to distinguish unidirectional and bidirectional replication. With undefined regions of large genomes, two successive pulses of radioactivity can be used to label the movement of the replication forks. If one pulse has a more intense label than the other, they can be distinguished by the relative intensities of labeling. These can be visualized by autoradiography. Figure 12.5 shows that unidirectional replication causes one type of label to be followed by the other at one end of the eye. Bidirectional replication produces a (symmetrical) pattern at both ends of the eye. This is the pattern usually observed in replicons of eukaryotic chromosomes (Huberman and Riggs, 1968). Figure 12.6 The position of the origin and the number of replicating forks determine the shape of a replicating restriction fragment, which can be followed by its electrophoretic path (solid line). The dashed line shows the path for a linear DNA. A more recent method for mapping origins with greater resolution takes advantage of the effects that changes in shape have upon electrophoretic migration of DNA. Figure 12.6 illustrates the two dimensional mapping technique, in which restriction fragments of replicating DNA are electrophoresed in a first dimension that separates by mass, and a second dimension where movement is determined more by shape. Different types of replicating molecules follow characteristic paths, measured by their deviation from the line that would be followed by a linear molecule of DNA that doubled in size. A simple Y-structure, in which one fork moves along a linear fragment, follows a continuous path. An inflection point occurs when all three branches are the same length, and the structure therefore deviates most extensively from linear DNA. Analogous considerations determine the paths of double Y-structures or bubbles. An asymmetric bubble follows a discontinuous path, with a break at the point at which the bubble is converted to a Y-structure as one fork runs off the end. Taken together, the various techniques for characterizing replicating DNA show that origins are most often used to initiate bidirectional replication. From this level of resolution, we must now proceed to the molecular level, to identify the cis-acting sequences that comprise the origin, and the trans-acting factors that recognize it.	http://genes.atspace.org/12.2.html
Warning: more... Fetching bibliography... Generate a file for use with external citation management software. Bacteria that have a circular chromosome with a bidirectional DNA replication origin are thought to utilize a 'replication fork trap' to control termination of replication. The fork trap is an arrangement of replication pause sites that ensures that the two replication forks fuse within the terminus region of the chromosome, approximately opposite the origin on the circular map. However, the biological significance of the replication fork trap has been mysterious, as its inactivation has no obvious consequence. Here we review the research that led to the replication fork trap theory, and we aim to integrate several recent findings that contribute towards an understanding of the physiological roles of the replication fork trap. Likely roles include the prevention of over-replication, and the optimization of post-replicative mechanisms of chromosome segregation, such as that involving FtsK in Escherichia coli. National Center for Biotechnology Information,	https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19019156?dopt=Abstract
DNA replication, like all mechanisms, must have a way to terminate itself. This avoids situations where too much DNA is present in a cell (known as aneuploidy) or alternatively where cells are replicated too frequently (leading to tumour formation). This article will focus on termination of replication in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, such as E.coli and humans respectively. Luckily, not much is known about the subject, so there isn't too much to learn! All key proteins or enzymes will be in bold, so they're easier to pick out. *Please click the images to enlarge them. DNA in E.coli is present in a double stranded, circular form and all replication is initiated at a single point on the DNA, called the origin of replication. Replication is initiated by the DnaB helicase which opens up the DNA and allows the fork to progress; this helicase comes into play later during termination (figure 1). Replication in E.coli is bi-directional; the replication fork travels in both directions along the circle. In theory, replication should occur at the same speed on both sides of the circle, meaning that both forks should meet exactly in the centre at the bottom of the circle. Unfortunately it doesn’t happen quite as simply as that. Replication occurs at different speeds on each side, this is due to other enzymes being present on the DNA. They may be creating mRNA or repairing DNA for example, but they inhibit the fork until they have finished their task. This would lead to one fork getting further around the circle than the other, which isn’t wanted. To counteract this, both forks are trapped at the very bottom of the circle so they can be terminated in a very specific region (Figures 2 and 3). Present on the DNA near to the bottom of the circle are 6 terminator sequences (3 on each side). These sequences act as landing pads for specific proteins called Tus proteins (figure 4). Tus proteins effectively act as one way gates for the replication forks; they allow one fork through in one direction but don’t allow the progression of the other fork attempting to move through it in the opposite direction (figure 5). This is accomplished by the Tus proteins being in orientated in a specific way; facing the region where the forks will eventually become trapped. Tus proteins manage to trap the replication forks by one face of the protein interacting with the DnaB helicases in such a way that prevents them from continuing to open up the DNA. The effect of this is that both forks become trapped in a relatively short region between the closest two Tus proteins which are in opposite orientations (figure 5). In this region, the original DNA will be catenated (linked) due to the effect on DnaB helicase and will need to be cut so that both new circles can be finished. These two linked circular strands of DNA, each comprising one parental/one newly-synthesised strand (due to semi-conservative replication) have to be separated by the enzyme topoisomerase IV (figure 6). It is not exactly known how, but all of the enzymes required for DNA replication drop off the DNA in a controlled fashion, allowing the DNA to be cut. Not much is known about the process of termination in eukaryotes such as ourselves. As of yet, no such proteins similar to or linked to prokaryotic Tus proteins or terminator sequences have been found in the human genome. This may be due to the fact that there are many origins of replication on a eukaryotic genome and the DNA is also not circular, meaning that the replication forks don't need to be trapped anywhere as in prokaryotic termination. One way in which termination in prokaryotes is known to be different in eukaryotes is the catenation. After replication has taken place on the linear eukaryotic chromosome the two new daughter helices are both completely finished and do not need to be chopped apart by a topoisomerase. Whereas we know that the two new daughter circles of DNA are linked and do need to be chopped apart. A current theory suggests that that the linear DNA is replicated until it encounters another origin of replication and termination occurs by ligation of the separate fragments using an enzyme named DNA ligase. This ligation of fragments causes a problem once the end of a linear chromosome is reached. Replication cannot be terminated just by finishing adding the last few bases as bases need to be added adjacent to an RNA primer. This RNA primer cannot be added though as it would need to be put in place after where the chromosome finished due to replication running in an anti-parallel fashion. To allow the primer to be added, the existing parental DNA is extended by an enzyme named telomerase. This extension is called a telomere and is what allows the last fragment to be created and then ligated with the previous fragment. To understand this concept better and to look at some diagrams of this, please see this link #mce_temp_url#, it is another Fastbleep article written by myself which goes through the topic of replication. These books are both excellent resources, so get hold of one if you can! Alberts, B et al; 2010. Essential cell biology, 3rd ed. Garland science, Taylor and Francis group. New York and London. Brown, T; 2011. Introduction to genetics: A molecular approach. Garland science, Taylor and Francis group. New York and London. Fastbleep © 2019.	https://www.fastbleep.com/wiki/article/976
It is critical that all the DNA in a cell be replicated once, and only once, per cell cycle. Jacob, Brenner and Cuzin defined a replicon as the unit in which the cell controls individual acts of replication. The replicon initiates and completes synthesis once per cell cycle. Control is exerted primarily at initiation. They proposed that an initiator protein interacted with a DNA sequence, called a replicator, to start replication. The replicator can be identified genetically as a DNA sequence required for replication, whereas the origin is defined by physical or biochemical methods as the DNA sequence at which replication begins. For many replicons, such as the E. coli oriC and the autonomously replicating sequences (or ARS) in yeast, the replicator is also an origin. However, this need not be the case: the replicon for amplified chorion genes in silkmoths has an origin close to, but separable from, the replicator. Initiator proteins have now been identified for some replicons, such as the DnaA protein in E. coli and the Origin Recognition Complex in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In both cases, they bind to the replicators, which are also origins in these two species. The replicator is a sequence of DNA needed for synthesis of the rest of the DNA in a replicon. It is a control element that affects the chromosome on which it lies. We say that this element acts in cis, since the replicator and the replicon are on the same chromosome. In contrast, the initiator is a protein that can be encoded on any chromosome in a cell. Thus is acts in trans, since it does not have to be encoded on the same chromosome as the replicon that it controls. In general, a trans-acting factor is an entity, usually a protein, that can diffuse through the cell to act in regulation of a certain target, whereas a cis-acting DNA sequence is on the same chromosome as the target of control. This pattern of a trans-acting protein binding to a cis-acting site on the DNA is also seen in transcriptional control. Exercise Although E. coli has a single origin in a single replicon, eukaryotic chromosomes have multiple origins, and multiple replicons. Consider a line of mammalian cells growing in culture that has an S phase of 5 hr, i.e. all the genome is replicated in 5 hr. The haploid genome size is 3 x 109 bp. If the rate of replication fork movement in this cell lines is 2000 bp per min, how many replication origins are required to replicate the entire haploid genome during S phase? Assume that two replication forks emerge from each origin (this is bidirectional replication, see below). Experimental approaches to map origins and termini of replication and to distinguish between uni‑ and bidirectional replication Several experimental techniques have been established for finding where replication begins and ends on chromosomes, and for distinguishing between unidirectional and bidirectional replication. We will cover two major techniques.	https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Genetics/Book%3A_Working_with_Molecular_Genetics_(Hardison)/Unit_II%3A_Replication_Maintenance_and_Alteration_of_the_Genetic_Material/6._DNA_replication_II%3A_Start_stop_and_control/6.1%3A_The_Replicon
The replication or reduplication of the DNA naturally takes place in eukaryotes during cell division (mitosis), namely during the S phase (synthesis phase), shortly before the cell divides. Replication usually means an exact duplication of the DNA, i.e. the set of chromosomes, so that the new cell receives the complete genetic information. In order to obtain a duplication, the DNA strand (double helix) is first split up so that the separate base pairs located in the 'interior' can be added (semiconservative principle, i.e. semi = half, conservare = preserved, half of the DNA is preserved, the other adds). The starting point (origin of replication or origin, in the case of eukaryotes there are several due to the slowness of the DNA polymerase) is often in the middle area of the DNA strand. From there, replication is usually carried out in both directions (bidirectional). DNA replication is divided into four phases: In the initiation phase, the DNA, which is wound up in many loops, is first "disentangled". Similar to an untied telephone cord, torsional stresses arise, which are eliminated by the so-called topoisomerase by causing targeted single or double strand breaks, smoothing the strand and then patching it again. The topoisomerase is followed by the helicase, which unwinds and splits the double helix structure. This opens the DNA strand like a zipper in two replication forks and can now be duplicated on the inside. In order to prepare the elongation phase, i.e. to pave the way for the main enzyme for elongation, DNA polymerase, primers are synthesized by primase, an RNA polymerase. They serve to provide the DNA polymerase with a suitable possibility of binding to the single strand to be doubled. These primosomes also serve as a regulatory mechanism, since no elongation can take place without a suitable primer. In the elongation phase, the DNA polymerase docks to the primer of the respective strand and now moves along the DNA section in front of it (polymerisation). It is important that the DNA polymerase, like the RNA polymerase in protein biosynthesis, can only read from the 5'-direction to the 3'-direction. That works wonderfully with one strand (the guide strand), here it moves forward directly behind the helicase. In the case of the opposite strand (following strand), on the other hand, replication can only be carried out piece by piece. New primers are regularly applied here so that the DNA polymerase can continue to work. It then works its way ’backwards’ from the primer to the primer of the previous section. The resulting sections are called Okazaki fragments. So that primer residues (RNA fragments) are not stuck everywhere on the following strand, the RNA fragments are dissolved again and the gaps are closed by a second DNA polymerase. The end of the process is the DNA ligase, which closes the connections between the old and new complementary single strands of the DNA. This part is called the interphase. Unlike prokaryotes, eukaryotes do not have a termination sequence that announces the end of replication to the polymerase. The polymerase simply stops as soon as the DNA strand runs out. However, there is a small problem here: At the end of the following strand (the end of the chromosome or telomere), a primer can no longer be added, nor can DNA polymerase add to the last base pairs. As a result, the chromosome becomes shorter and shorter. This shortening is initially without consequence, since the ends contain non-coding elements. However, if these are used up, the cell can no longer divide, and cell death usually occurs. This effect is associated with the aging of organisms and with the development of cancer. - How do you deal with negative comments - Was Einstein proud of his equation - How did Islam conquer the Byzantine Empire - Is Pokemon real - Are relationships ever really really mutual - How can I be banned from WhatsApp - Why don't cars have fire extinguishers? - How is energy different from matter? - Which number state is Hawaii - What are macros in C. - Who are your 5 favorite Stratocaster players?	https://arzillo.info/?post=460

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.