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There is a lack of academic knowledge concerning mechanisms through which sustainable transitions are promoted. Sustainable transitions in the infrastructure system are key to achieve multiple other SDGs, and the infrastructure development gap is particularly critical in developing countries. Agenda 2030 clearly states the importance of joint action. It is, therefore, relevant to investigate how sustainable transitions can be promoted through collaborations between public and private actors. Specifically, how sustainable transitions in the infrastructure system in low-income countries can be promoted. The notion of public-private partnerships (PPPs) was used to describe collaboration, and sociotechnical system (STS) transitions were used to describe transitions. To examine how PPPs can promote transitions in STS, an Ethiopian case study was conducted. The case used was a technical and vocational school called HDECOVA located in Addis Ababa. A collaborative project between public and private actors. The empirical data was obtained from key actors in the partnership surrounding HDECOVA, both in the form of interviews and documents. To analyze the empirical data, a theoretical and conceptual framework was synthesized borrowing from theories on STS, PPPs, the holistic transition framework Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) and Principal-Agent Theory. The result showed HDECOVA has affected sustainable transitions in the infrastructure system, mainly through effects on the labor market and the education system. The results showed that the mechanisms, through which HDECOVA has promoted shifts in systems, are mainly scaling up and decreasing skill gaps. The results suggest that HDECOVA has successfully promoted sustainable transitions by being aligned with identified development challenges in the infrastructure system. On this basis, it can be suggested that PPPs can promote sustainable transitions by affecting regime- and niche levels of the system.

We studied a live video conferencing project based in Ghana, because we wanted to determine whether this is one area where Information Communication Technology (ICT) can have an impact on communication for development. We also wanted to better understand whether live video conferencing is a viable way to go forward with Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) and, if so, what benefits it has to offer. To complement the study, we also looked at two other NGOs which are also using similar technology and have a purpose similar to the WPD live video-conference program, which is to create a space for knowledge and cultural exchange with the help of ICT. The additional programs will add a complementary comparative dimension to the analysis of the case study of WPD. It is important to have these two projects in mind since they use two vastly different methods and can provide a reflective understanding on how WPD can move forward as they are in a transitional phase and are currently exploring different ways to develop the project, mainly involving changes in management structure and technology. We studied the WPD project with the complementary information from the other two projects from an academic perspective to document and analyze the outcomes in order to determine which good practices are available when undertaking similar initiatives. From a theoretical perspective, we analyze the projects using research related to participatory communication, the public sphere, and the digital divide. From a practical perspective, we again examine issues related to the digital divide and the growing influence of communications technologies companies due to public-private partnerships.

Due to the textile industry’s polluting impact on aquatic environments the Sweden Textile Water Initiative (STWI) was established. This Sida funded collaboration between SIWI (Stockholm International Water Institute), Swedish fashion brands and their suppliers received international recognition for their success in achieving tangible environmental results after implementing sustainability measures at the suppliers. However, the financing from Sida was only for a limited period of time and the projects lost momentum when the money ran out. Moreover, claims have been made that monetary savings which suppliers made from more efficient resource use has been subject to profit theft from the brands by reducing their order prices. Furthermore, the brands genuine desire to achieve sustainability in the supply chain is questioned by modest supplier nominations. Previous research shows problems in value chain management and how both intentional and unintentional actions affect power dynamics and other factors in the value chain. This research contributes to the sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) literature by including a Swedish partnership perspective. In addition, new research is continuously needed in sustainability and textile value chains as conditions in the industry change rapidly (such as increased environmental awareness, and not least the covid-19 pandemic).  The purpose of this thesis is to answer the research question; "Is there a pattern of economic benefits for sustainability efforts in the textile supply chain being unfairly distributed between stakeholders in international partnerships?" This is achieved by conducting a case study of the Sweden Textile Water Initiative (STWI), including a supplier survey, semi-structured interviews with brands and supplier representatives, as well as a literature study.  The results showed that no coherent definition of "fair" had been established within a STWI context, and although suppliers were the only ones to receive direct financial profits, brands still indicated that this was not necessarily unfair. Furthermore, it was discovered that order quantities had decreased, but that motivations for decrease could be due to a number of reasons; restructuring in business model, changed consumer behavior/demand, and order placement with other suppliers. Regarding the order price, the majority of suppliers considered that these had decreased, while brands unanimously claimed they had increased. Contradictions in the respondents' answers does not necessarily render their experiences untrue, as they rarely have direct financial transactions due to the structure of the value chain. Another result showed that the brands modest number of nominated suppliers was largely due to hesitation from suppliers to join the partnership, as well as brands focusing on strategic placement, and being more oriented towards where the projects will have the largest impact. Finally, the results led to a number of suggestions on how improved partnerships can be achieved.  The plethora of factors that affect the complex structure of the industry also leaves many opportunities to explore cause-effect relationships. Further research needs include mapping market-, upstream- and downstream- pressure on suppliers, definitions of justice and risk responsibility, driving forces leading to relocation of production countries and comparisons of environmental legislation related to textile production. / Till följd av den förorenande miljöpåverkan som textilproduktion har på vattendrag bildades partnerskapet Sweden Textile Water Initiative (STWI). Detta Sida-finansierade samarbete mellan SIWI (Stockholm International Water Institute), svenska modeföretag och deras leverantö rer erhöll internationellt erkännande för sin framgång med att nå konkreta miljöresultat efter implementering av hållbarhetsåtgärder hos leverantörerna. Finansieringen från Sida pågick dock endast under en begränsad tidsperiod och projekten förlorade momentum när pengarna tog slut. Dessutom har påståenden gjorts om att de monetära besparingar som leverantörer gjort genom effektivare resursanvändning har hamnat hos modeföretagen genom sänkta orderpriser. Vidare ifrågasätts modeföretagen genuina vilja att uppnå hållbarhet i leverantörskedjan av sparsamma leverantörsnomineringar till partnerskapet, då det indikerar vilja att vara delaktiga, utan transparens kring den egna värdekedjan. Tidigare forskning visar på problematik i värdekedjeledning samt hur både avsiktliga och oavsiktliga handlingar påverkar maktdynamik och andra faktorer i värdekedjan. Detta arbete avser att bidra till den större SSCM-litteraturen med ett partneskapsperspektiv mellan aktörerna i värdekejdan istället för topstyrt från varumärken. Dessutom behövs kontinuerligt ny intersektionell forskning inom textil värdekedjor eftersom förhållandena i branschen ändras snabbt (såsom ökad miljömedvetenhet och inte minst covid-19-pandemin).  Syftet med detta examensarbete är att besvara forskningsfrågan; “Finns det ett mönster av att ekonomiska vinster från hållbarhets-insatser i textil värdekedjan fördelas på ett orättvist sätt mellan intressenter i internationella partnerskap?”. Detta görs genom att utföra en fallstudie av Sweden Textile Water Initiative (STWI), inkluderande enkät till leverantörer, semi-strukturerade intervjuer med mode- företag och leverantörs representanter samt en litteraturstudie.  Resultaten påvisade att det saknades en gemensamt definierad tolkning av “orättvist” inom STWI och trots att leverantörer var de enda som erhöll direkt ekonomisk vinst indikerade ändå modeföretag att detta inte nödvändigtvis var orättvist. Vidare upptäcktes att orderkvantiteter hade minskat men att detta kunde bero på ett antal anledningar; omstrukturering i affärsmodell, förändrat konsumentbeteende/efterfrågan och orderplacering hos andra leverantörer, medan genomförande av STWI inte ansågs vara en betydande anledning. Gällande orderpris så ansåg majoriteten av leverantörer att dessa hade sjunkit medan modeföretag enhälligt hävdade att de hade ökat. Att det finns motsättningar i svaren betyder inte nödvändigtvis att deras erfarenheter är osanna, eftersom dessa aktörer sällan har direkta ekonomiska transaktioner till följd av värdekedjans struktur. Ett annat resultat visade att modeföretags låga antal nominerade leverantörer till stor del berodde på tveksamhet från leverantörer att medverka i partnerskapet samt att fokusering på leverantörer där åtgärder skulle ge störst nytta. Slutligen ledde resultaten till ett antal förslag på hur förbättrade partnerskap kan uppnås.  Överflödet av faktorer som påverkar den komplexa strukturen i textilindustrin lämnar många möjligheter att utforska orsakssamband. Ytterligare forskningsbehov inkluderar kartläggning av marknad-, uppströms- och nedströms tryck på leverantörer, definitioner av rättvisa och riskansvar, drivkrafter som leder till omlokalisering av produktionsländer och jämförelser av miljölagstiftning relaterad till textilproduktion.

<p>The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of academic and decision-maker researchers participating in a public health integrated knowledge translation (IKT) and exchange program of research in Ontario and British Columbia. This research sought to identify structures and processes that acted as enablers or barriers for all partners on a research team as they engaged in collaborative research. The researcher answered the following research questions: <em>What are the experiences of academics and decision-makers participating in the first two years of an integrated knowledge translation program of research?</em> <em>What structures and processes positively and negatively influence the engagement of partners on the collaborative research team?</em> Through answering these two questions the research contributes relatively new knowledge in the form of strategies for engaging academics and decision-makers engaging in collaborative public health systems and services research.</p> <p>A qualitative descriptive approach was used to gain a contextual understanding of experiences of participants in the IKT research program. Twelve semi-structured, one-on-one interviews were conducted with academic and decision-maker researchers working in British Columbia universities and Health Authorities. Qualitative content analysis of transcripts was used to explore and identify concepts emerging from the data.</p> <p>Data analysis identified IKT processes and concepts that encompass and underlie a collaborative research team. An overarching systems approach is used to examine the evolution of the collaborative team. Themes are presented in relation to IKT engagement concepts identified from the literature as well as those that emerged from analysis including: establishing and maintaining relationships, communication, capacity building, multidirectional knowledge sharing, and multidisciplinary capacity.</p> <p>By examining experiences of research partners representing both academia and decision and policy-making, this research contributes new knowledge about strategies to support collaborative health services research which can subsequently strengthen the Canadian public health systems and services research agenda.</p> / Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perceptions of community college administrators in Mississippi regarding the early college high schools located on their campuses. While the ECHS model has become prominent in several states, Mississippi’s efforts to implement the model have yet to be fully examined. Six administrators from three community colleges with ECHS located on their campuses were individually interviewed and asked to share their perceptions of the ECHS model. The participants were asked a series of 12 questions composed by the researcher. The results of the study indicated that each of the administrators overwhelmingly view the ECHS model as a beneficial template and resource for students in Mississippi. Six major themes were described throughout the research: access and opportunity, student achievement, evolving maturity of the students, navigating college/college readiness, benefits to the community college, and community pride. This study provided the first comprehensive assessment of community college administrators regarding the benefits and challenges of the ECHS model in Mississippi. The perspectives shared by these community college leaders are intended to help policymakers and other stakeholders assess the partnerships and benefits of the ECHS in the state.

ABSTRACT This is a case study of how a community education program became institutionalized at Temple University. The Pan-African Studies Community Education Program (PASCEP) has been located at Temple since 1979. The research illuminates the events that led to PASCEP coming onto Temple University's campus. The main research question was: "Why and how did Pan-African Studies Community Education Program develop from a Community Education Program in North Central Philadelphia to a Temple University campus-based program, and what were the important factors contributing to its development and institutionalization within Temple University?" The research used a qualitative case study method. Data were collected from archival repositories at Temple University and the City of Philadelphia as well as from original documents provided by the Community Education Program and participants in the study. Documents included newspaper articles, letters, reports, and organizational histories as well as transcripts from thirty semi-structured participant interviews. Semi-structured interviews were held with 30 participants who were involved or familiar with the movement and the university between 1975 and 1979. The research indicates that the Community Education Program acted as a local movement center connected with the Civil rights movement. I employed Social Movement theories and Aldon Morris's Indigenous perspective to examine the trajectory of the Community Education Program from the neighborhood to the University. Much of the organizing, mobilizing, and planning done by the members in the Community Education Program/local movement center was managed by Black women. Therefore, the research employed Belinda Robnett's perspective on Bridge Leaders and Toni King and Alease Ferguson's standpoint on Black Womanist Professional Leadership Development to illuminate the leadership styles of the Black women in the local movement center, and their relationships with Temple University faculty and administrators, as well. Results from the inquiry demonstrate that community activism constituted social movement collective action behavior as the Community Education Program and its supporters became an effective local movement center. The study indicates that leadership, political opportunity, resource mobilization, and participation during the tenure in the Program in the community as well as after the introduction of the Community Education Program to the University were indispensable factors in the institutionalization of the Community Education Program. / Urban Education

Over the past 10 years individual capitalists have become increasingly involved in philanthropy, setting up charitable foundations targeted at helping to reduce social problems such as poverty, disease and food security. This form of neoliberal capitalist philanthropy is both politically and ideologically committed to market-based social investment through partnerships, to make the market work or work better for capital. The new structures of philanthropy have received much praise in the media for imbuing capitalist business principles into the non-profit sector and for their potential for social transformation. While philanthropic activities may be considered worthy in themselves, this article examines the relationship between giving and business interest and the agency associated with neoliberal capitalist philanthropy. It questions partnerships between philanthropists and private corporations and their motivations for engaging in poverty-related philanthropy. The discussion focuses on capitalist philanthropic foundations' involvement in the process of agricultural commodification in sub-Saharan Africa through the New Green Revolution and genetically modified (gm) technologies.