Strengthening Governance of Small-Scale Fisheries: An Initial Assessment of the Theory and Practice

Preferred citation for this report: Basurto, X., Virdin, J., Smith, H. and R. Juskus. 2017. Strengthening Governance of Small-Scale Fisheries: An Initial Assessment of Theory and Practice. Oak Foundation.Often hidden in national statistics, small-scale fisheries have been poorly measured at a global level, and in thepast often ignored in states' policy-making. Yet estimates suggest their aggregate global contribution tonutrition, food security and poverty eradication is massive. The most recent estimates available suggest thatsmall-scale fisheries account for over 90 percent of the world's commercial fishers, processors and otherpersons employed along the value chain, equivalent to over 108 million people. Roughly half areemployed in the ocean and the other half in inland fisheries—making small-scale fisheries far and awaythe ocean's largest employer (greater than oil and gas, shipping, tourism, etc.). This level of activitytranslates into a large portion of the global fish catch: an estimated 46 percent of the total, and 38 percentof the fish caught in the ocean. SSFs are also estimated to provide over half the animal protein intake inmany of the world's least developed countries, and over half of the fish for domestic consumption indeveloping countries more broadly. In sum, in many regions of the world SSFs provide both incomes tohelp reduce poverty and safety nets to help prevent it

Using Lifecycle Analysis (LCA) Towards Environmental and Human Health Footprints of Electrically Assisted Velomobile, PODBIKE

Master's thesis in Industrial Asset ManagementThe transportation sector is responsible for the second largest ratio of the greenhouse gas emissions that can cause severe effects on human health and the environment. On the other hand, this sector is important by providing human beings with access to education, health care, employment opportunities, etc. and also leads to economic growth. As a result, sustainability is vital for this sector. Many initiatives have been introduced to lead to sustainability for this sector such as electric cars, e-scooters, car-sharing business models, etc. Recent studies have proved that among the current available means of urban transportation, electric cars, conventional bicycles and electric bicycles have the lowest level of environmental and human health impacts. However, the damages associated with the production phase, and energy consumption during the use phase of the electric cars are still too high. Also, lack of safety and comfort of the bicycles can decrease their uptake among the public. Hence, a state-of-the-art concept of velomobile is developed to bridge the gap between the cars and bicycles. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the undesirable environmental and human health impacts caused by the use of the velomobile. Therefore, in this research, a systematic, comprehensive, and scientific approach is proposed in order to measure and document the sustainability of the velomobile with respect to the environmental and human health footprints, this approach is called Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) or Cradle-to-Grave Analysis. Meanwhile, this methodology can enable the stakeholders of the asset to identify the points with the highest contribution to the environmental and human health damages, and accordingly improve the environmental and human health footprints performance of the velomobile. Also, the study can provide a practical application of the LCA study for four-wheeled pedelecs with electric assist. Based on the application of the study, the EndPoint LCA was selected to be implemented. The LCA framework is developed for the asset in compliance with two main international standards, ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. The results and analysis have shown that if the velomobile is ridden using renewable energy, the environmental and human health impacts of the vehicle can be half, and the damages can be mainly attributable to the manufacturing phase of the product, otherwise, the impacts can mainly come from the use phase of the velomobile. Also, the results have demonstrated that the electrical system and rolling chassis assemblies are primarily accountable for the impacts caused during the production phase. Moreover, aluminium components, batteries, electric motors and electronics for control units have the highest environmental and human health impacts potential. In the meantime, the maintenance of the product during the lifetime of the velomobile can lead to the second largest proportion of the damages due to the battery replacement times over the lifetime of the vehicle. The study concluded that recycling development, technical improvements of the battery packs, aluminium components and electric motors, involvement of the stakeholders in the improvement processes, and continuous follow-up on the environmental and human health footprints performance improvement of the product using the developed mind map can bring about a significant reduction of the impacts

Disinformation and propaganda – impact on the functioning of the rule of law in the EU and its Member States. Study Requested by the LIBE committee. CEPS Special Report, February 2019

This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs and requested by the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, assesses the impact of disinformation and strategic political propaganda disseminated through online social media sites. It examines effects on the functioning of the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights in the EU and its Member States. The study formulates recommendations on how to tackle this threat to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It specifically addresses the role of social media platform providers in this regard

Project Managers\u27 Strategies for Megaproject Success

In Africa, most oil and gas megaprojects exceed their original budget and time deadlines despite advancement in project management processes and systems. This study explored strategies project managers used for megaprojects\u27 success in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, from the perspectives of the owner and contractor organizations. Multiple case study design was utilized to collect data by asking open-ended questions in separate interviews with 4 project managers. Archival project data was also reviewed to eliminate information incongruences. The conceptual framework for the study is the contingency theory that there is no universal management structure for every project. The data analysis approach was thematic coding. Study findings from the data analysis were aggregated into 5 themes. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd themes include the project managers\u27 view of measures of megaproject successes, project managers\u27 strategies for managing the business environment, and the strategies for achieving megaproject execution excellence. The 4th and 5th themes are the strategies for facilitating employee performance and the typical social change development and social change performance initiatives to benefit neighboring communities because of a megaproject. The conclusion from the evidences gathered is that megaproject success is contingent on the ability of the project manager to unravel and address complexity leveraging strategic leadership and systems thinking. From these findings, project managers from the client and contractor organizations may use, adapt, learn, refresh, and improve their project management skills. The significance of the study to positive social change from improving the success rates of megaprojects includes improvement in human capacity development and infrastructural additions that can facilitate economic growth in the region

Poverty, Agriculture and a Nigerian Rural Farmer

Reforms in Nigeria’s agricultural sector offers an opportunity to improve the livelihood of a substantial number of its people living in poverty, and, in turn, have positive effects on the nation as a whole. Despite the potential advantages agriculture possess as a tool to reduce poverty in Nigeria, a large number of Nigerians living in its rural areas who in most cases engage in agricultural activities to earn a living continue to live in poverty. Thus, this research sought to understand the limiting factors that hinder agriculture in Nigeria from effectively challenging poverty. In addition, this research project provided a perspective that centred on the Nigerian rural farmer, the conditions created by the current state of Nigeria’s agricultural sector with attention to rural smallholder farmers and the Nigerian consumer public. The study adopted a “farmer’s experience” view to identifying the key challenges that require immediate attention for agriculture to more effectively limit the incidences of poverty in Nigeria. Furnished with an understanding of the key challenges of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, the study concludes with an exploration of possible steps that can be taken to reposition agriculture in Nigeria to become a more effective tool for reducing rural poverty

EU cultural policy 1974-2007

The development of EU cultural policy has been characterised by a high degree of continuity. The objectives underlying present-day policy actions can be traced back to historical roots that date back to the mid-1970s. Since the first cultural actions were taken, EU cultural policy has had multiple objectives. Involvement in the cultural field has been justified on the basis of economic, social, political and, to a certain extent, cultural arguments. Although there have been shifts in accents and priorities, these various justifications can be found to co-exist throughout the process. In more recent times, the contribution of cultural actions to the emergence of European citizenship has emerged as a more dominant theme. Although peaks in expansion can be seen, Community involvement in the cultural field has overall developed through a slow process of developments and adjustments through relatively small-scale actions. As the Member States have retained much of their control over this area, policy development has been restricted to a limited range of actions for which only a narrow budget has been available. Given the dominance of the subsidiarity principle in all Community actions in the cultural field, the main policy mode has by necessity been one of consensus-seeking between actors with at times conflicting interests. However, over time the main priorities of all actors have become more or less aligned, so that the continuity of policy appears to be safeguarded. Recent developments suggest that culture has gradually come to take up a more prominent role within EU policies. However, consensus will continue to dominate the general approach as far as the development of Community actions is concerned