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Increasing rates of adult-onset diabetes in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs) present a growing healthcare concern that requires a regulatory approach and local community engagement. Cross-sector collaboration (CSC) is an effective strategy for improving community health. CSC is not effectively used to manage adult-onset diabetes in LMICs, nor is there public policy advocating CSC in the management of diabetes. This qualitative exploratory case study explored how leadership and resources affect the use of CSC to assist in managing the adult-onset of diabetes in a CSC in Cameroon. A purposeful sampling strategy was used to identify participants for semistructured interviews of 10 executives involved in the CSC. CSC theory provided a theoretical framework. Collected data were organized by audio recording, transcribing, translating, member checking, and thematically coding data using NVivo 12 software. Data from a review of documents and researcher observations were triangulated with interview data. Findings revealed that poverty, access to health care, and rising diabetes prevalence contributed to environmental turbulence. Goal-setting and objectives, intersectoral-communication, fostering trust and respect, and sharing data and motivating people presented leadership effectiveness challenges. The following resource challenges emerged in the CSC: public policy, money, skills and expertise, equipment and supplies, and connection to the target population. This increased scientific understanding could help government policy-makers and nongovernmental organizations expand public policy leading to a decrease in the prevalence and burden of adult-onset diabetes.

Sustainable urbanization is crucial for the Agenda 2030. The purpose of this study is to provide insights into how organizational structures of public institutions can be optimized for sustainable urban development.  This study utilizes an explorative research design. A cross-case analysis had been chosen to investigate cross-sector collaboration for environmentally sustainable urban development by studying two areas in Malmö: Västra Hamnen and Sege Park. Cross-sector Collaboration and Community Governance theories are selected as a foundation of the study. Empirical data was collected through semi-structured interviews with municipality representatives, residents, representatives of the third organizations, and external experts in sustainable urban development. Thematic coding was used to identify patterns in the interviews, and was followed by the empirical analysis.  The present study uncovered key findings related to public governance, sustainability evaluation, cross-sector collaboration and communication in complex sustainable development projects. The findings indicate that balancing stakeholder interests with project’s requirements and embodying the responsibilities of each actor in formal agreements followed by interim follow-ups are vital for successful cross-sector collaboration in sustainable development. Another finding suggests that sustainability should be a central element in a municipality's strategy, as politics and power dynamics play a significant role. In the studied cases the use of climate-friendly materials in construction fell short due to industry lobbying and the lack of national regulations. Finally, the research reveals contradictions between environmental and economic sustainability, as well as environmental and social sustainability. These contradictions, though, are arguably solvable with proper project management and cross-sector communication. Overall, there is room for improvement in recognizing the need for socially just and inclusive development that prioritizes the desires and well-being of the people. These findings shed light on the complex nature of sustainable urban development and emphasize the importance of aligning diverse interests to achieve long-term environmental and social goals.

Cross-sector social partnerships have become a widely used instrument to work towards sustainable development and especially to deal with social issues. However, research on this phenomenon commonly addresses possible solutions directly, without a deeper analysis of the underlying obstacles and possibilities. The purpose of this study is to fill this gap by exploring the obstacles and possibilities for cross-sector social partnerships in achieving sustainable development. To do so, an empirical case study of a multinational mining corporation and its partners is conducted. Data is gathered from seven semi-structured interviews. The study shows that cross-sector social partnerships (CSSPs) are used by the interviewees to address social issues. Interviews are conducted with actors in different sectors who have relationships with the multinational corporations, this allows a diverse data collection. The study provides analytical results by identifying the obstacles and possibilities that are significant to the collaborations among partners, that is to say the CSSPs. Thus, three main obstacles are found: ​power imbalance, diverging focus and lack of trust among partners​. Whereas, three main possibilities are identified: ​optimism towards future development, broader involvement and more frequent & constructive dialogue​. The study also provides insights on partners at different influential levels and thereby makes a contribution to existing literature. From a practical perspective, understanding the underlying obstacles and possibilities could help to make the partnerships more effective.

In today's society, we face many complex and major challenges, several of them concerning human rights - at both global, regional and local level. To enable solutions to these problems, collective action and effort is required. As a result, cooperation between all sectors within the UN, as well as the public and the private sector, not to mention civil society, is crucial. In September 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted a historic framework: Agenda 2030, which addresses the importance of partnerships and engagement from all sectors to achieve sustainable development and the application of human rights for all. In light of this, the present study investigates partnerships between the private and non-profit sector from a human rights perspective. Previous research has dealt with both cross-sector partnerships for social issues, the role of companies in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals, and CSR and human rights. The research about cross-sector partnerships for social issues, which are the partnerships that are addressed in Agenda 2030, often lacks the perspective of how they can promote human rights. The aim with this thesis is to therefore research how human rights are understood in cross-sectoral partnerships, in which ways these partnerships can promote human rights, as well as the successes and challenges that exist for them. The methodological design of this research consists of interviews with participants from partnerships between the private and the non-profit sector, with representatives from both sides. The present study shows that there is an interdependency between cross-sector partnerships and human rights and that it is clear that partnerships between different sectors are necessary to solve the social problems we are facing today. We need to partner for change.

Using the sample of three largest stocks from seven main market sectors in the US, the thesis examines the effect of information content of earnings announce­ ments on market reaction across sectors. Our findings prove the asymmetry of market reaction to different earnings surprise categories with negative-surprise reaction being the most profound. The financial markets tend to be less ef­ ficient in response to negative earnings surprises. Leakage of information is not present suggesting that insider trading is well-mitigated on the US capital markets. Furthermore, we investigate the market reaction to earnings surprises in different sectors separately and find that Consumer Staples and IT sector tend to be the most sensitive, on the contrary Telecommunication and Energy sector tend to be the least sensitive. G14; G15; G30JEL Classification Keywords Earnings announcement; Market reaction; Mar­ ket efficiency; Cross-sector analysis; Corpo­ rate disclosure; Insider trading; Post-earnings- announcement drift A u th o r's e-m ail p a v e l.prucekSgm ail. com S u p erv iso r's e-m ail kocenda@f s v . c u n i. cz

Within its scope, the thesis theoretically underpins the concept of sustainable diplomacy, using an evolutionary approach to diplomacy, and introduces criteria that allow its application on exemplary Dutch foreign policy projects. Three Dutch sustainable diplomacy projects are analyzed using a unified framework to allow their comparison and evaluation based on the criteria from the theoretical part. In light of the findings of the analysis, the thesis also acknowledges limitations of sustainable diplomacy encountered during the research to provide foundations for future development of the concept.

Cross-sector collaborations in the form of self-organized interorganizational networks are key mechanisms to address complex social sustainability problems in a systematic manner with accelerated and effective results. Self-organized interorganizational networks allow for collaborations through low degrees of hierarchy and bureaucracy while achieving high levels of ownership and commitment among member organizations. These type of networks have proven useful to achieve policy reforms to tackle societal problems related to rapid evolving and internet related crimes affecting children. This study analyses the initial conditions and emergence of self-organized interorganizational networks, as well as the structuralarrangements and governance structures that facilitate the network organization. To do so, the authors used as case study the criminalization of online sexual grooming in Malaysia that resulted in the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. The analysis of the case was conducted through a qualitative thematic analysis based on semi-structured interviews to 11 leaders of some of the organizations that collaborated by producing public awareness, educating about the implications of this type of crime, and simultaneously, drafting and passing the new law. The results of the study showed that the network in Malaysia was formed and organized organically through a combination of informal and formal methods and structures guided by a high sense of shared purpose and shared leadership.

This research aims to explore the links between cross-sector collaboration, a holistic multi-stakeholder approach, and Sustainable Development, and identify whether such a holistic approach can lead to better collaboration processes, and ultimately results. Specifically, it focuses on sustainability in relation to food, through the lense of a qualitative case-study on the city of Malmö, which aims to identify and implement a more sustainable food system through the development of a Food Partnership where diverse stakeholders from across society are invited to actively engage in the process on a relatively equal basis. The study explores these theoretical concepts through the research question: How can a cross-sector collaboration with a holistic multi-stakeholder approach be developed and sustained in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals?The research uncovers the key factors which should be considered in order to form a holistic and long-term partnership, and based on these factors, an analytical framework is developed and used to assess the empirical findings and develop recommendations for the Malmö Food Partnership.This thesis provides a theoretical contribution by bridging the research gap between the concepts of cross-sector collaboration, a holistic multi-stakeholder approach and Sustainable Development. Furthermore, it also provides a practical contribution with its analytical framework model, which can be adapted to future partnerships for the Sustainable Development Goals in urban settings.

Alleviating poverty is central to the Sustainable Development Goals. It is emphasized that strong partnerships are required for achieving this goal. While governments are responsible for reducing the poverty in their countries, the potential of national civil society organisations (CSOs) in solving social problems in the areas they work in allows them to be effective partners in alleviating poverty. Noting that Jordan’s poverty rate Grew between 2010 and 2018. This thesis examines the literature about the multidimensional poverty of the Jordanians and the Syrian refugees in Jordan to access their basic needs of sufficient food and nutrition, water and sanitation, basic healthcare, and basic education. It also analyses the partnership between the Jordanian government and national philanthropic CSOs by interviewing representatives of two Royal CSOs and two non-Royal CSOs that work to help the poor access their needs and improve their income. The study shows that access to basic needs is more challenging for the Syrian refugees than the Jordanian poor in all dimensions, before and during COVID-19. For Jordanians, the income dimension is more challenging than other poverty dimensions, compared with the Syrian refugees. Moreover, the partnership between the national CSOs and the government is not a strategic partnership. National CSOs are the implementers of the partnership’s projects. They are the accountable. They do their own monitoring and evaluation. They do not receive funds from the government. Their communications with the government are not effective for the partnership. Thus, to improve the partnership and facilitate the national CSOs’ work, the study suggests that the partnership’s terms be renegotiated, the communications and interactions are strengthened, and have common and periodic evaluations and monitoring for the different timeframes.