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21 – 30 of 140Caroline Saunders and Paul Dalziel
The purpose of this paper is to explore how a “capital‐based” framework can be used by a small local government to plan sustainable development to promote the social, economic…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore how a “capital‐based” framework can be used by a small local government to plan sustainable development to promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural well‐being of their communities.
Design/methodology/approach
This New Zealand case study develops a framework for local government action and applies it to measure stocks of human made, natural, human, social and cultural capital for a small rural district.
Findings
The conclusions find that it is possible to apply a capital‐based framework to local government planning, despite some data gaps, especially in the areas of social and cultural capital.
Practical implications
The framework for local government action developed in the paper provides a well‐structured guide for planning investment in capital to promote the well‐being of local communities.
Originality/value
Sustainable development indicator (SDI) frameworks are becoming commonplace at the national level; this paper shows how an SDI framework can be used to guide planning at the local government level.
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Matjaž Koman, Polona Domadenik and Tjaša Redek
European Union (EU) as a whole has made modest short-term progress toward sustainable development goals (SDG). Only in one goal (ensuring healthy lives and promotion of…
Abstract
European Union (EU) as a whole has made modest short-term progress toward sustainable development goals (SDG). Only in one goal (ensuring healthy lives and promotion of well-being) out of 17, the progress was substantial. The most problematic goals, which show movements away from sustainable development objectives, are goals that are focused on building resilient infrastructure, promotion of inclusive, sustainable industrialization, fostering innovation, and the goal that takes urgent action to combat climate changes. The analysis between old and new EU members revealed that median new EU member has made bigger progress in the last five years. For 11 SDGs, the average score is lover for median new EU member compared to median old EU member. However, the last available level of the indicator is in general still more favorable for median old EU member compared to median new EU member.
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Faleh Alshameri and Abdul Karim Bangura
After almost three centuries of employing western educational approaches, many African societies are still characterized by low western literacy rates, civil conflicts, and…
Abstract
Purpose
After almost three centuries of employing western educational approaches, many African societies are still characterized by low western literacy rates, civil conflicts, and underdevelopment. It is obvious that these western educational paradigms, which are not indigenous to Africans, have done relatively little good for Africans. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to argue that the salvation for Africans hinges upon employing indigenous African educational paradigms which can be subsumed under the rubric of ubuntugogy, which the authors define as the art and science of teaching and learning undergirded by humanity toward others.
Design/methodology/approach
Therefore, ubuntugogy transcends pedagogy (the art and science of teaching), andragogy (the art and science of helping adults learn), ergonagy (the art and science of helping people learn to work), and heutagogy (the study of self-determined learning). That many great African minds, realizing the debilitating effects of the western educational systems that have been forced upon Africans, have called for different approaches.
Findings
One of the biggest challenges for studying and teaching about Africa in Africa at the higher education level, however, is the paucity of published material. Automated generation of metadata is one way of mining massive data sets to compensate for this shortcoming.
Originality/value
Thus, the authors address the following major research question in this paper: What is automated generation of metadata and how can the technique be employed from an African-centered perspective? After addressing this question, conclusions and recommendations are offered.
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Olayinka Adedayo Erin and Omololu Adex Bamigboye
The 2030 Agenda and the sustainable development goals (SDG) have gained considerable attention in research and public debate. This calls for accounting research on the subject of…
Abstract
Purpose
The 2030 Agenda and the sustainable development goals (SDG) have gained considerable attention in research and public debate. This calls for accounting research on the subject of SDG disclosure. Based on this premise, this paper aims to evaluate and analyze the extent of SDG reporting by 80 listed firms from 8 selected African countries for the period of 2016 to 2018.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts a content analysis and survey method to evaluate the extent of SDG reporting by the selected African countries. This paper conducted content analysis through the use of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) framework and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework to gauge the extent of firms’ compliance with SDG reporting. Also, this paper uses the business reporting indicators for each SDG developed by GRI to determine the compliance level of the selected firms regarding SDG reporting. The survey was targeted at the big four audit firms (PwC, KPMG, Ernst and Young and Deloitte and Touche).
Findings
The evaluation of SDG disclosure by the 80 listed firms in Africa is still at a very low level except for South African firms. Also, the findings of the business reporting indicators for each SDG target show that most of the firms show little or no concern to report on SDG activities. The result of the research survey indicates that voluntary disclosure, lack of management commitment, lack of regulatory enforcement and cost implications account for low SDG disclosure by the selected African firms.
Research limitations/implications
This study fails to consider the qualitative research approach in determining the extent of SDG disclosure in Africa, as the study did not allow respondents to freely express their opinion on SDG disclosure, as a large part of the survey used close-ended questionnaires.
Practical implications
This study’s findings call for clear responsibility and a strong drive for SDG performance from corporate institutions in Africa. While the overall responsibility rests on the government, the actualization of SDG cannot be achieved without support from corporate organizations. The empirical approach used in this study emphasizes the need for corporate organizations to embrace sustainable practices and to integrate SDG information into their reporting cycle.
Originality/value
This study contributes to growing literature in the area of corporate reporting, sustainability reporting and SDG research in Africa and other emerging economies. Also, this study provides original insight into the contribution of accounting research toward the achievement of SDG.
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Ana Clara Mourão Moura, Camila Fernandes de Morais and Tiago Augusto Gonçalves Mello
There are countless challenges concerning the process of interest mediation. Regarding territorial planning, the participation of different stakeholders is essential. In this…
Abstract
Purpose
There are countless challenges concerning the process of interest mediation. Regarding territorial planning, the participation of different stakeholders is essential. In this sense, Geodesign is a method that supports decision-making based on geocollaboration and co-creation, using geospatial data and tools. The purpose of this study was to use the method to support the co-creation of environmental projects and policies climate-oriented for the Iron Quadrangle region, Brazil.
Design/methodology/approach
The Brazilian platform of Geodesign, GISColab, was used to support the activity. The experiment involved undergraduate and graduate students in Urban Planning and in Geography and technicians that work with planning subjects. Social isolation measures imposed by the pandemic resulted in an adaptation of the dynamic, which was held entirely online.
Findings
The study group proposed 28 designs, in which the most discussed topics were landscape (43%), climate (25%) and risk (25%). This may be associated with the fact that the workshop was conducted in consideration of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the environmental crisis, but it might also suggest the group’s prior concern with such issues. Other SDGs were contemplated, with the productive sector as the most negatively impacted by proposals. This situation reinforces the importance of incorporating different actors (a term used for participants in the Geodesign method, referring to representatives from groups of the society) into planning processes. Geodesign was easily accepted and assimilated by participants.
Originality/value
The proposed methodology proved to be positive for this type of study and GISColab, the Brazilian Geodesign platform, was easily adapted to the characteristics and demands of the experience.
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Robert Berry, Richard Fry, Gary Higgs and Scott Orford
The Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD) is a major new collaborative socio‐economic research programme involving five higher education…
Abstract
The Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD) is a major new collaborative socio‐economic research programme involving five higher education institutions in Wales. This paper introduces the work of the WISERD data integration team and describes their plans for the development of an online geo‐portal. Their aim is to support WISERD researchers by providing a framework for integrating, managing and disseminating quantitative and qualitative socio‐economic data in Wales. This paper outlines the goals of this major project, discusses the concept of the WISERD geo‐portal and reports on initial investigations into geo‐portal development using free and open‐source (FOSS) software. The paper concludes with a brief summary of the future work of the WISERD data integration team.
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