Climate change has exacerbated environmental degradation processes, causing an imbalance in the natural concentrations in atmospheric greenhouse gases. This has resulted in a myriad of socio–economic effects which have focused global attention on methodologies to reduce these effects, such as carbon sequestration. To achieve long term sustainability and success, community involvement in the technical and social aspects of carbon sequestration projects is necessary and must be acknowledged. One such mitigation methodology which incorporates the ideals of community proactive participation is carbon sink reforestation projects. This study is based on a community perspective of a carbon sink reforestation project, carried out in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study provides a holistic perspective of the concept of carbon sequestration drawing together technical aspects of carbon sequestration reforestation projects and the inclusion of the role of communities. The methodology comprised of questionnaires with industry experts and a local community, following a thematic data analysis. The current perception from industry is that the South African government lacks significant technology, capacity and finance to effectively manage national forest carbon sequestration regimes. Project participants expressed the view that these types of projects provided a sense of belonging and hope and articulated their gratitude for the environmental knowledge they gained from the project experience. Technical and social aspects of such projects such as carbon calculations and participatory rural appraisal techniques enhance a country’s ability for successful implementation of such projects. Findings reveal a need for technology, capacity building and finance; and the effects participation in these projects has on individuals. This is followed by recommendations and a ‘How To Guide’ developed by the researcher. This guide intends to enhance the collaboration of the technical aspects and involvement of communities throughout the project implementation process. Carbon regimes in this century will continue to grow in size and complexity. Stakeholder participation will be a strong factor in the success or failure of carbon sequestration reforestation projects. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

This study aimed at investigating perceptions of different stakeholders, which were the community, administration (staff) and councillors on service delivery by Mpofana Municipality. This research provided recommendations that would assist in terms of accelerating service delivery, which is noted as the most fundamental responsibility of all municipalities in South Africa as the fulfillment of the constitutional mandate. The study provided recommendations that will assist in terms of accelerating service delivery, not only in urban areas but in rural areas as well. The study focused on Mpofana Municipality using the Servqual model to measure perceptions in terms of service delivery, i.e. what is expected compared with perceptions of service experienced. The overall SERVQUAL score of the councillors and the staff revealed that the perceptions were equal to the expectations. The results showed that the SERVQUAL calculated from the responses of the staff and councillors were very similar and the gap between their perceptions and expectations was minimal. These results confirmed that staff and councillors hold similar expectations and perceptions in relation to customers. The results of the staff and the councillors were very similar because they were internal respondents associating themselves with the Mpofana municipality. The results showed that the community's expectations about the service which they received from Mpofana Municipality did not match their perceptions. This presents a great challenge to the councillors, as well as to the management of the municipality. The Mpofana Municipality is expected to provide excellent service to its customers all the time. What customers/clienUcommunity wanted and what they got from an institution did not match. This was not a satisfactory indication of the quality of service that the Mpofana municipality was displaying. These SERVQUAL scores also indicated that there were definite areas needing attention e.g. reliability, responsiveness and assurance. Service delivery could be improved if both councillors and staff were to align their expectations to those of the community and design services to the specifications and expectations of the customers. / Thesis (M.B.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

The study did a systemic analysis of eThekwini Municipality's design for effectiveness looking at community participation in local governance. The study was conducted by using Participatory Action Research methodology. The researcherwas able to determine emergent themes. The findings revealed that firstly, people view the Municipality's system of governance as unresponsive. This is because of lack of effective mechanisms of communication between the councillors, officials and the communities. Moreover, there is lack of delivery of services to the community, resulting in people feeling that their needs are not being addressed; therefore there being no need to participate. Secondly, there is also a general feeling that local government does not consult with the people when taking decisions on crucial matters. Thirdly, there is uncertainty about whether community inputs have any influence on decision-making. This concern was expressed in a variety of ways, including the feeling that their input did not matter because the essential decision 'appears' to have already been made before the participation process commencesor ends. Fourthly, there is overwhelming evidence that there is a direct correlation between participation levels and unhappiness and dissatisfaction around the levels of service delivery of the municipality. Lastly people at the grassroots level do not have knowledge on how government structures function. This makes it difficult for them to have meaningful and effective means of participation. All the undesirable effects outlined above, provide a sound and compelling basis on justification for a Community Participation Policy design. While the legislation prescribing citizen and community abounds, local government authorities have remained indifferent; or they have not been visible in pursuing methods and mechanisms that foster citizen participation in project management and decision making processes. As a result of this study, the Council has made the amendment of Section 12 of the Municipal Structures Act to ensure that eThekwini Municipality becomes a ward participatory type of municipality. Also, community participation policy has been developed to change the present situation or context that invited the problem on ineffective participation. The policy aims at changing mindsets for municipal officials so that they take the issue of involving communities more seriously. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of Kwazulu Natal, 2005.

This thesis examines the relationship between women's empowerment and low-income housing sustainability. It argues that housing projects and policies should be designed to enable women take control of their environment, which would not only profit women but ensure economic and social sustainability of the neighborhood, benefiting all its other residents as well as the city. The thesis discusses how housing policies have failed to empower women and analyzes the manner in which a built environment can empower its female residents and consequently be enriched by them, as exemplified by three decades of history of an isolated neighborhood called Mountain Sights situated in the outskirts of Montreal.

This dissertation has explored the problem of a yawning gap between policy and the implementation of lay participation in health development activities in Ghana, using data from 577 households in 22 rural communities. / A Health Systems model has been applied to data, to explain relationships and four sets of variables--household need for health services, predisposing attributes, participatory patterns, enabling factors--on household use of available health facilities and services. / Overall, results indicate a complex interdependence of factors which influence modern health services use. A multiple regression procedure identifies the presence of children under 5 years, the household's perception of its influence in the community, household participation in community health-related activities, household socio-economic and educational levels, to be significantly related to services use. Results suggest that Need for services is Not a sufficient condition for the Use of available health services.

As the European Year of Citizens (2013) dawns, the European Union (EU) finds itself at a crossroads. One of the largest international organisations in the world, it has built a reputation as an international community model and democratic figure judged in the context of a multi-level system. However, the EU has recently departed from both roles, as its economic practices suffer dramatically from a lack of political pressure and regulation. The EU now faces an uncertain future: should it break apart or move forward with deeper integration and a “more Europe” attitude? In contrast to public and scholarly concern, this thesis does not treat the crisis as abstract evidence of a structural democracy deficit. This thesis instead attempts to draw attention to the point of departure, the European citizen, and a social cleavage that can be easily addressed despite ongoing economic insecurity. In this sense, this thesis differs from current academic thought in that it focuses less on understanding how democracy can be achieved and more on understanding how democracy, which already exists, can be enhanced. This paper looks at how two discourses identified in the literature (civil society and cosmopolitanism) could be combined in a governance framework that would support the EU to become a civilian power. It will complete this investigation through the use of case studies on two civil society organisations based in Spain and primary data collected from within the European Parliament (EP). The case studies will be used to understand how local civil society can improve the democratic quality of EU governance whilst meeting individuals’ needs and rights. This paper will conclude that, in the case of Spain 2012, local civil society creates three core conditions for active citizen participation that the EU can benefit from, despite the challenging environment surrounding it.

The purpose of this study was to understand why there is such lack of citizen participation among Asian Americans, despite the exponential growth of Asian American population in the state. Based on the literature on sense of community, citizen participation, and psychological empowerment, it was speculated that how individuals experience community may influence their motivation to participate. With the goal to understand and document how Asian Americans define community and experience sense of community, a sample of Asian Americans were interviewed. These individuals were participants of the Photovoice project conducted by a local community-based organization. The second aim of the study was to explore if and how a project like Photovoice enhanced the sense of community among participants. The findings suggested that Asian Americans defined various types and multiple communities. Also, it was suggested that because Asian American community is an imposed community of people of diverse Asian background, Asian Americans may not necessarily define it as a community or experience sense of community within the community. Based on the experiences of the participants, Photovoice seem to have great potential in bringing such diverse group as Asian Americans together as a community. Limitations of the study and future directions are discussed.

Primary health care represents a change from curative approach to preventive approach to rendering health care services. The study analyses the problems encountered in the administration of primary health care in South Africa with specific reference to the Emfuleni Local Authority. The study describes the role of international institutions in the administration of primary health care in South Africa. Furthermore, the historical development, the role of the National Department of Health in the administration of primary health care services is outlined. The study also investigates the role of the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health regarding the implementation of district health system, health promotion, the involvement of the private sector and NGO's in primary health care. Problems encountered by the Emfuleni Local Authority such as lack finance, personnel shartages, security, urbanisation, non-involvement of traditional healers and citizen apathy are investigated. Lastly, governmental relations for primary health care are described.

This study has contributed to two areas of growing interest and involvement: the knowledge base of public participation in community workshops for design practitioners and Muncie's White River project.Two community workshops were conducted and compared to study their processes and end results. All variables were constant between both workshops with the exception of a video, When the Wind Stops by Dianne Haak and Bernard Wilets, shown at the beginning of only one workshop. The group dynamics of the workshops were reviewed to understand their influence. It was determined that group size, persons conducting the workshops, the video, and the composition of the participants all affected the workshops' process and results.Focusing on the proposed White River Corridor Greenway, participants generated 183 ideas for increasing use and extending ownership of the river to the community. Participants produced 51 benefits, 85 potential physical development, and 47 programs and activities for improving connections to the creation and use of the river greenway. / Department of Landscape Architecture

This project examines the effectiveness of a citizens' advisory committee initiated by the author to assist in the development of a bicycle facilities plan for Madison County, Indiana. A "ladder of citizen participation" was used to rank the level of citizen participation achieved. The MCCOG Bicycle Facility Plan was authored as part of the creative project is also studied in this project. Two components of the plan that were analyzed were the plan's success in meeting performance criteria, and the plan's approach in dealing with the question of separating bicycle traffic from auto traffic or integrating bicycles with auto traffic.This study finds that the participatory process is dynamic and that the level of citizen participation is variable and perhaps progressive. The plan was measured for meeting benchmarks of accessibility and continuity in its proposed routes. Local systems were found to have an integrated approach, while regional systems tend to have a nearly even mix of separated and integrated route systems. / Department of Urban Planning