Local Democracy and Resilience in Ukraine: Learning from Communities’ Crisis Response in War
The research report explores the resilience of local self-governments (LSGs) in Ukraine during the Russian invasion, highlighting their crucial role in crisis response despite significant challenges. LSGs have adapted to wartime conditions by relocating operations, managing resource shortages, and engaging with citizens and stakeholders to meet critical needs such as infrastructure repair, IDP support, and…
A cry for justice by “invisible squatters” – Colonial legacy, local democracy, and the quest forhuman rights in land dispossession by Kakuzi PLC in Makuyu, Murang’a County, Kenya
This thesis examines the enduring impact of colonial legacies on local democracy and human rights concerning land dispossession in Makuyu, Murang’a County, Kenya, focusing on the experiences of ‘invisible squatters’ affected by Kakuzi PLC. Through the lens of decolonization and post-colonial thinking practices theories, the research reveals that historical injustices rooted in colonial land policies…
Workbook for problem-oriented project planning
In this workbook, we lay out a multi-step process for doing this kind of deep reflection and using it to develop an action plan to tackle your chosen problem. This tool is designed to help you and your team strengthen key capabilities for tackling complex problems. The tool is focused on project planning and project…
Tactical Urbanism for Inclusive Transport
Tactical urbanism, a citizen-led, resource-efficient strategy for urban improvement, is largely unexploited in rapidly urbanizing African cities. This approach promotes safety, inclusivity, and democracy, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 11. In response to prevalent urban challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa such as slums and inequality, tactical urbanism could enhance urban landscapes by involving communities in low-cost…
Nudging Towards Sustainability: Insights for Sustainable Consumption and Waste Management in Mombasa and Västernorrland
This study explores nudging as a transformative tool for promoting sustainable consumption and waste management in Mombasa, Kenya and Västernorrland, Sweden. By a literature review and global best practice analysis to benchmark successful nudging interventions worldwide, the research gathered insights on the nuances, challenges, and tailored nudges, to offer actionable and evidence-based strategies for local…
Nudging Towards Sustainability: Advancing Sustainable Consumption and Waste Management Through Nudging
Nudging – subtly guiding people’s behaviors through modifying the decision-making environment – can effectively promote sustainable behaviors, with significant improvements observed in waste management and environmental practices. This policy brief highlights the potential of culturally sensitive and context-based nudging as a cost-effective tool for enhancing broader sustainability goals. It presents an actionable framework for employing…
Provisions of social workers to victims of internal child trafficking in Uganda: A case study of children living on the streets of Kampala City
Human trafficking has become a serious global challenge in the recent past. Regarded as a global epidemic, it has triggered an increase in numbers of children living on the streets especially in countries where internal trafficking in children is a common social vice. This has resulted into a syndemic as a social evil in human…
Fostering Women’s representation in Local Democracy – A Qualitative Analysis of the Factors Surrounding Female Political Participation at a Mayor Office Level in Colombia
This study critically examines the gendered experiences of female political candidates running for mayoral offices in Colombia. It addresses the systemic exclusion women face in a patriarchal political system, compounded by economic constraints, political violence, and societal norms. Through seven qualitative interviews, the research identifies the strategies used by women to overcome these barriers. The…
QCSOs, Mobilization and Democratization: A Case Study of the 2023 Post-Election Protests in Guatemala
This research examines the essential role of Quotidian Civil Society Organizations (QCSOs) in Guatemala’s efforts to resist autocratization and promote democratization, particularly in light of the 2023 electoral scandal. It studies the mobilization efforts of indigenous and non-indigenous communities, by exploring how QCSOs tackle cultural, economic, and political challenges to support democratic resilience. Using an…
The role of trust in achieving sustainable community-based disaster risk management – case studies from the Philippines
Impacts of disasters are felt acutely at community level, as a consequence communities in the Philippines are among the most affected by the increase in disaster risks. This realization led to an increase of community-based approaches, such as community based disaster risk management (CBDRM). However, literature acknowledges a recurring failure of projects to be sustainable…
