Conference Agenda

Problem Statement and Purpose

Covid-19, climate change and ongoing wars/conflict reversed some of the progress made in eradicating poverty and hunger; and pushed 93 million more people worldwide into extreme poverty in 2020, thus derailing the plan to end poverty by 2030. The setback necessitates unprecedented levels of pro-poor growth by poorer countries to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 1). The South African social grants system, though considered comprehensive, relatively progressive and impactful, is however large and costly, more so with the addition of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, introduced to mitigate the negative impact of Covid-19 on the unemployed population. Thus, questions of expenditure are often central to the investigations of the social grants programme, especially those associated with a need for care due to age or impairment. Despite the enforcement of administrative gatekeeping by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), as prescribed by the 2011 Social Grants Disability Management Model (SGDMM), the number of rejections in the Northern Cape province of South Africa remains constantly high at an average of 29% of all medical assessments conducted. This translated to R9.9 million in what could be considered wasteful expenditure from 2012 to 2018.

This paper aims to explain why, more than ten years later, partial implementation of the 2011 SGDMM and enforcement of the administrative gatekeeping is yet to improve efficiency in the administration of social grants for adult PWDs, and to propose how it can be optimally utilised to achieve its intended purpose.

Methodology

The phenomenological research design associated with the interpretivist paradigm was followed. The primary data, collected by applying the concurrent triangulation approach, consists of semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 10 contracted medical doctors who had been contracted with the SASSA Northern Cape to conduct medical assessments any time from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2018. Purposive, non-probability sampling was used to select respondents for the semi-structured face-to-face interviews (comprising of 16 questions).

Findings

Socio-economic circumstances of the applicants, absence of alternative safety nets for those aged 19–59 years; unavailability of healthcare professionals (especially contracted medical doctors); inadequate and inequitable distribution of resources in SASSA offices; applicants’ level of knowledge; and inadequate beneficiary education negatively influence efficiency in the administration of social grants for adult PWDs. Partial implementation of the 2011 SGDMM, however, exposes the fact that there can never be a one-size-fits-all solution in the administration of social grants for adult persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Proposals

The administration of social grants for adult PWDs is dependent on more than one stakeholder and these mostly extend beyond the SASSA, the National Department of Social Development and the various departments of Health. Revision of policies, education and participation in empowerment programmes that enhance the earning capacity of applicants of social grants for adult PWDs could inspire them to turn elsewhere for their livelihood, rather than focusing solely on social grants for adult PWDs.

References

Kelly, G. 2019. Disability, cash transfers and family practices in South Africa. Critical Social Policy, 39 (4): 541 – 559.

Trafford, Z., Swartz, L. 2022. Five minutes earlier, you were giving hope’: Reflections from interviews with doctors conducting assessments for South Africa’s childhood disability.

United Nations Development Programme. 2018. Disability inclusive programme in UNDP. Available at: http://www.undp.org

Problem Statement and Purpose

Problem statement

In the rapid process of urbanization, city development faces many challenges, including resource depletion, environmental pollution, and ecological degradation. These issues make it difficult to balance economic development with ecological protection, threatening the sustainability of urban development, which requires the coordination of multiple policies to address. The experience of Beijing in achieving ecological protection and green development through policy coordination has important reference value for other cities.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the policy synergy effects of ecological protection and green development in Beijing, and to explain how these policy synergies have influenced the city's sustainable development. It also aims to provide policy recommendations, serving as a reference for other cities to achieve similar paths of sustainable development.

Methodology

This study adopts a case analysis approach, combined with literature review, policy analysis, and comparative research methods. By sorting out relevant policy documents in Beijing in recent years, as well as analyzing data on environmental, economic, and social indicators, the study explores the specific mechanisms and actual effects of policy coordination.

Findings

Beijing's policy synergies on ecological protection and green development are as follows: First, comprehensive planning. The Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission will work with relevant departments to formulate the overall plan for ecological protection and construction to ensure that all policy objectives are consistent. Second, cross-departmental collaboration. The Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Environmental Protection Bureau, water Bureau and other relevant departments work together to promote ecological protection. Third, project management. Set up special funds for environmental protection in a project-based way to break the restrictions of government levels.

Proposals

Policy synergy theory focuses on the interaction and cooperation between different policies adopted by the government to achieve common goals. This coordination aims to generate policy synergy through the coordination and integration of various elements and subsystems within the policy system, thereby forming a macro-system function that is more powerful than the simple summation of individual micro-subsystems. Beijing's policy coordination in ecological protection and green development has provided valuable experience for the city's sustainable development. Applying these experiences to the sustainable development planning of other cities will contribute to achieving regional and global environmental and development goals.

References

May, Peter J., Joshua Sapotichne, and Samuel Workman. Policy coherence and policy domains. Policy Studies Journal 34, no.3 (2006): 381-403.

Evert Meijers and Dominic Stead. Policy integration: What Does It Mean and How Can It be Achieved? A Multi-disciplinary Review[Z].Paper presented at the 2004 Berlin Conference on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change: Greening of Policies Interlinkages and Policy Integration, Berlin, 2004.pp2.

Yoon, Jungsub, Yoonhwan Oh, and Jeong-Dong Lee. The impact of policy consistency on technological competitiveness: A study on OECD countries. Energy Policy 108 (2017): 425-434.

Beijing Municipal People's Government. Implementation Plan for Promoting Ecological Protection and Green Development in Ecological Conservation Areas with High Quality in the New Era（2023.01.06）https://www.beijing.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengcefagui/202301/t20230106_2892787.html.

Problem Statement and Purpose

As populations continue to rise, hypertension is an on-going challenge which has resulted in elevated deaths over the years. However, its control may include manipulation of diets which may be beneficial to households depending on their food security status quo. The purpose of the study was to examine the food policies and the relationship between protein intake and hypertension among households in the Gauteng province, South Africa.

Methodology

Data was obtained from the Gauteng City-Region Observatory Quality of Life for 2021/22, a household-based survey where adults (18 years old) were randomly selected as respondents. The survey allowed for a random sampling of 13,616 respondents across 529 wards in the Gauteng City-Region. The analysis focused on households consuming protein-based diets; dry or tinned beans, processed meat, frozen chicken portions, eggs, tinned fish, fresh meat, chicken feet/gizzards/off cuts/offal, dairy and nuts and seeds and assessed hypertension occurrence. The binary regression logistics model was used to analyse the data.

Findings

The results showed that in the past 12 months, most of the households did not experience, were satisfied with the food they consumed, did not skip any meals and their diets mainly consisted of eggs and chicken. Hypertension was common among households that consumed animal-based protein diets. Households that spent more than R2000 on food per month had high probabilities of experiencing hypertension. Food insecurity has possible influence on hypertension based on the type of proteins that households could incorporate in their diets.

Proposals

Food policies on the modification of protein-based diets should consider household incomes and vulnerable individuals for effective control and management of hypertension. Increasing knowledge among households on hypertension will guide adoption of affordable diets and healthy lifestyle.

References

Aljuraiban, G. S., Gibson, R., Chan, D. S., Van Horn, L., & Chan, Q. (2024). The role of diet in the prevention of hypertension and management of blood pressure: An umbrella review of meta-analyses of interventional and observational studies. Advances in Nutrition, 15, 100123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advnut.2023.09.011

Makukule, A., Modjadji, P., Thovhogi, N., Mokgalaboni, K., & Kengne, A. P. (2023). Uncontrolled hypertension, treatment, and predictors among hypertensive out-patients attending primary health facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa. Healthcare, 11(20), 2783. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11202783

Vasei, M. H., Hosseinpour-Niazi, S., Ainy, E., & Mirmiran, P. (2022). Effect of dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet, high in animal or plant protein on cardiometabolic risk factors in obese metabolic syndrome patients: A randomized clinical trial. Primary Care Diabetes, 16, 634–639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcd.2022.09.001

Problem Statement and Purpose

The challenges of government communication policy and structures in developing countries such as South Africa are enormous. The challenges include areas of critical government communication skills and infrastructure that match societal developmental needs. Governments use their public policies as means to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of their citizens. This means public policies need to be placed central in guiding government actions and messages to addressing the developmental challenges faced. Institutionalising public policies through creating appropriate structures serve to realise policy implementation.

The purpose of this paper is to present an argument on the need to ensure effective government policy and communication structures within a Network perspective.

Methodology

This is a conceptual paper which examines official government communication policy. . A Network perspective is applied to demonstrate the relevance of communication approach by government to the various sectors of society. It is on this basis that the conceptual consideration and network perspective form the critical methodological approaches for this paper. In this way, designing a more applicable government communication model within a complex context is pronounced.

Findings

Firstly, unpacking a notion of development communication is undertaken to bring into perspective the conceptualisation aspect of demonstrating intersections of communication, public policy and development scholarship. The question of trust is raised on this aspect of democratisation and integration process as a consideration to determine the legitimacy of government communication policy and structures. Secondly, public policies and communication structures of government are highlighted to demonstrate a need for a link within the existing public policy framework on government communication. Thirdly, a Network perspective is discussed in the context of developmental communication to impress upon government’s ultimate goal of empowering its citizens.

Proposals

It is a considered focus of this paper that asserts that existing public policy gaps require a substantial revision of the National Development Plan Vision to incorporate critical elements of developmental communication in order to realise a developmental mandate of the country. Lastly, the question of communication structures is highlighted as a way of proposing developmental communication alignment within the complex nature of government systems and processes.

References

1. Frederickson, H.G., Smith, K.B., Larimer, C. & Licari, M.J. 2012. The Public Administration Theory Primer. London: Routledge.

2. The African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET). 2021. COVID-19 and governance in Africa: threats, opportunities and the way forward. Available from: https://acetforafrica.org/publications/policy-briefs-and-discussion-papers/covid-19-and-governance-in-africa-threats-opportunities-and-the-way-forward/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw0umSBhDrARIsAH7FCoei1FDrezGCj8lxEsNOJ_u6ifb2S2vVUyLvKGHsNxGDGaf721SCcigaAhz-EALw_wcB (18 April 2022).

3. Ramphele, M. 2012. Conversations with my sons and daughters. Johannesburg: Penguin group.

4. Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS). 2018.Government communication policy. Pretoria: GCIS.

5. UNDP. 2021. Policy Brief: Trust in public institutions: A conceptual framework and insights for improved governance programming. Olso/Norway: UNDP.

6. Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME). 2021. Policy brief: Trust in government. Pretoria: DPME

7. Moosa, M. & Hofmeyr, J. 2021. South Africa’s trust in institutions and representatives reaches new low. Afrobarometer dispatch No. 474, August. Cape Town: Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.

8. National Planning Commission. 2011. National Development Plan Vision 2030. Pretoria: The Presidency.

9. Kapucu, N. 2014. Complexity, governance, and networks perspectives from Public Administration. E-Journal University of Bamberg Press. DOI: 10.7564/14-CGN3.

10. Mefalopulos, P. 2008. Development communication source book: broadening the boundaries of communication. New York: World Bank.

Problem Statement and Purpose

In recent years, in order to promote the long-term balanced development of population, China has begun to implement active fertility support policies, but the adjustment of fertility policies lags behind the international average level. For the policies currently being implemented or planned to be implemented, the assessment of the willingness and support of the target group to comply with the policies is conducive to timely adjustment of the policies, improvement of policy design and improvement of policy performance. At present, there are no studies systematically evaluating the preference of couples of childbearing age in China.

This study evaluates the current preference of Chinese people for fertility support policies, which has theoretical and practical significance for improving the design of fertility policies and improving the validity of policy implementation.

Methodology

In this study, five incentive birth support policy tools including maternity care subsidies, education subsidies, maternity leave guarantees, tax deductions and housing guarantees are included in the same analytical framework to assess the preference of couples of childbearing age for birth support policies.

Chinese aged 18 to 45 were selected as the study subjects. From April 18 to May 1, 2022, questionnaires were distributed and surveys were conducted on the platform of the Data Survey Company. Respondents were asked to choose which option they preferred, and to rate each policy option in terms of support. This paper uses ordinary least squares (OLS) to estimate the mean marginal component effect (AMCE).

Findings

The study found that various fertility support policies significantly increased people’s support for fertility policy programs. However, people have different preferences for birth support policies, in order from high to low, education policy, maternity and medical policy, maternity leave protection, housing protection and child tax credit. The cost of education is the most important issue for child-bearing couples.

In addition, this study found that different types of people have different preferences for birth policies. Factors such as reproductive experience, reproductive intention, gender and housing are important moderating variables of people’s preference for reproductive policy.

Proposals

This paper provides a reference for the policy design of the government’s birth support policy. Due to the Chinese financial resources and other constraints, the government can focus on the adoption of education, medical care and other policies that the people prefer, effectively reduce the cost of childbirth and rearing, and increase the people’s willingness to have children.

As the current birth support policy is in the stage of policy design and implementation, it is hoped that the specific policy with more technical details, such as the amount and scope of education subsidies, need to be further evaluated.

References

[1] Zhan, X., Tang, S. Y. Political opportunities, resource constraints and policy advocacy of environmental NGOs in China. Public Administration, 2013, 91(2): 381-99.

[2]Chen Ling, Li Lili. Government decision-making and NIMBY Movement: Triggering Mechanism and improvement Direction of Social stability Risk in Public project decision-making [J]. Review of Public Administration, 2016, 9(1): 26-38.

[3]Fang Guoyang, SHAO Jianshu, JIN Xiao. How does public participation affect the effectiveness of government purchases of public services?—A case study based on government purchase of services [J]. Chinese Administration, 2022, (04): 36-46.