Infrastructure development policies have been criticised for lacking a deliberate pro-gender and pro-informal sector orientation. Since African economies are dual enclaves, with the traditional and informal sectors female-dominated, failure to have gendered infrastructure development planning and investment exacerbates gender inequality. The paper examines the effect of the infrastructure development index, the size of the informal economy, and the level of economic development on gender inequality. The paper applies the panel autoregressive distributed lag method to data on the gender inequality index, infrastructure development index, GDP per capita, and size of the informal sector for the period 2005–2018. The sample consists of 44 African countries. The research established that the infrastructure development index, its sub-indices, GDP per capita, and the size of the informal sector are crucial dynamics that governments need to consider carefully when formulating development policies to reduce gender inequality. The research found that investment in infrastructure in general, transport infrastructure, and energy infrastructure reduces gender inequality. infrastructure development has gender inequality increasing effects in some countries and gender inequality reducing effects in others. The pattern suggests that at the continental level a Kuznets-type patten in the relationship between gender inequality and infrastructure development, gender inequality and size of informal sector, and gender inequality and GDP per capita exists. Some countries are in the region where changes in these covariates positively correlate with gender inequality, while others are in the region where further increases in the covariates reduce gender inequality.
This study proposes a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) method to support strategic decision-makers in choosing a project management research agenda. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) model is the basic tool used in this study. It is a mathematical tool for evaluating decisions with multiple alternatives by decomposing them into successive levels according to their degree of importance. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) oriented theme of project management was chosen from among four themes that emerged from a strategic monitoring study. The FAHP method is an effective decision-making tool for multiple aspects of project management. It eliminates subjectivity and produces decisions based on consistent judgment.
Puppetry is one of the traditional folk art forms with a long history in China.Puppetry is one of the traditional folk art forms with a long history in China. After it was transmitted to the Gaozhou Prefecture of Guangdong by the Fujian Zhangzhou Puppet Show during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, it gradually took root in the local culture of Guangdong, and the Gaozhou Puppet Theatre was born as a result. Under the radiant influence of Cantonese Opera, the number one theatre in Lingnan, in the western part of Guangdong, the Gaozhou Puppet Theatre has been passed down through the generations, and has used the Cantonese Opera cantata, an element of Cantonese Opera that is the essence of the art, in its unique puppetry accent. Nowadays, when many "non-heritage" cultures are facing difficulties in inheritance and development, it is especially crucial for the puppet theatre of Gaozhou to be able to use the elements of Cantonese Opera's singing in the new era, so as to make Gaozhou Puppet Theatre a new life and make the public appreciate the art again by incorporating the elements of Cantonese Opera's singing.
With the declaration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the importance of localisation principles and, consequently, the local-level institutions in implementing development policies came to the forefront. India adopted a thematic approach by condensing the seventeen goals into nine themes, to be worked upon by the local administrative units, furthering that each Village Panchayat (constitutionally known as Grama Panchayats) should select a theme in a plan year and strive towards attaining it. For the South Indian state of Kerala, with its good trajectory of decentralised governance, this localisation process of SDGs was rather smooth. In this article, we discuss the case of the best-performing Grama Panchayat (GP) in Kerala, which has identified ‘Village with Self-Sufficient Infrastructure’ as the development theme. Through qualitative research methodology, we examine how the Panchayat included projects specific to this theme in the development plans and how the implementation helped produce effects on multidimensional aspects of SDGs using the SDG Impact Assessment Tool. The case studies of different infrastructure-based projects endorse that with proper planning and implementation of such projects, the lowest tier of administration can significantly contribute to the improvement of development goals. We have delineated full fund utilisation through convergence schemes, community participation, and strong monitoring mechanisms as the factors leading the selected Panchayat to be the champion of the cause. The accomplishment exhibited by the Panchayat by integrating SDGs into the Village Development Plan through the projects on the theme of self-sufficient infrastructure can be well emulated by other local bodies across the world.
Universal Health Coverage is a health insurance system that ensures every citizen in the population has equitable access to quality and effective promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health services. Meanwhile, the Medan City Government of Indonesia is trying to improve health services through the Medan Berkah Health Insurance Program by adopting Universal Health Coverage, which aims to provide Universal Health Coverage to the entire community. This study aims to explain the implementation and projection of the development of health services of the Medan City Government with the Universal Health Coverage System in the Medan Berkah Health Insurance Program which is intended as a step in providing opportunities for all people to get equal opportunities in health services, especially for the poor. This research uses qualitative research by using the literacy study method by studying related documents and conducting in-depth observations. Data analysis included data reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. The Medan City Government implemented the Universal Health Coverage Program in Jaminan Kesehatan Medan Berkah, which aims to improve health services in the city. The government is committed to simplifying the bureaucracy, managing the medical workforce, and collaborating with stakeholders and the community. However, challenges include low community participation, limited resources, lack of coordination, and limited access to information, which hinder the successful implementation of the program.
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