An animal’s foraging ecology can vary over a range of temporal scales, mirroring seasonal and longer term changes in prey availability, as well as ontogenetic shifts in diet and distribution. Obtaining individual-based, longitudinal diet information through direct observation, however, is logistically challenging for marine mammals that pursue and consume prey underwater, and are often widely distributed. Isotopic profiling along continuously growing tissues like teeth and baleen, which archive dietary inputs at the time of growth in their stable isotope composition, allows for chronological dietary reconstructions over multi-year timespans. This thesis reports longitudinal diet studies of three Arctic whale species, killer whales (Orcinus orca), bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) and beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), derived from serial isotopic measurements along teeth and baleen. Study objectives varied by species, but general goals were to characterize seasonal, ontogenetic, and/or individual diet variation. Results revealed similar trophic-level diet, but regional spatial separation, among eastern Canadian Arctic/Northwest Atlantic killer whales. However, isotope and tooth wear differences between two individuals and the rest of the sampled whales suggested potential specialisation on sharks, while the other whales likely had diets comprising marine mammals. Cyclic isotopic variation along Eastern Canada-West Greenland bowhead whale baleen was consistent with year-round foraging, although at a reduced rate during winter. Resting zooplankton could be an important food resource outside of periods of peak productivity, and accessibility likely drives winter habitat selection. Isotopic cycling did not differ between female and male bowheads, or among age classes, indicating similar seasonal foraging patterns despite reported spatial segregation throughout their summer range. Individual beluga whales from three eastern Canadian Arctic populations varied in timing of ontogenetic diet shifts (i.e. weaning age), as well as overall trophic position, which could reflect size-specific energetic requirements and foraging capabilities. Population-specific beluga whale diet trends over a period of several decades likely reflected climate-related expansions of southern forage fish. Collectively, findings of seasonal, ontogenetic, and/or individual diet variation contribute a greater understanding of intrapopulation variation in foraging ecology of these species, and of large-scale structuring of Arctic marine ecosystems.

Paropsis atomaria (Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae) is a eucalypt feeding leaf beetle endemic to southern and east coast Australia, and it is an emergent pest of the eucalypt hardwood industry. Paropsis atomaria was suspected to be a cryptic species complex based on apparent differences in life history characteristics between populations, its wide geographical distribution, and extensive host range within Eucalyptus. In this study genetic and ecological characters of P. atomaria were examined to determine the likelihood of a cryptic complex, and to identify the nature and causes of ecological variation within the taxon. Mitochondrial sequence variation of the gene COI was compared between populations from the east coast of Australia (South Australia to central Queensland) to assess genetic divergence between individuals from different localities and host plant of origin. Individuals from four collection localities used for the molecular analysis were then compared in a morphometric study to determine if observed genetic divergence was reflected by morphology, and common-garden trials using individuals from Lowmead (central Qld) and Canberra (ACT) were conducted to determine if morphological (body size) variation had a genetic component. Host plant utilisation (larval survival, development time, and pupal weight) by individuals from Lowmead and Canberra were then compared to determine whether differential host plant use had occurred between populations of P. atomaria; individuals from each population were reared on an allopatric and sympatric host eucalypt species (E. cloeziana and E. pilularis). Finally, developmental data from each population was compared and incorporated into a phenology modelling program (Dymex(tm)) using temperature as the principle factor explaining and predicting population phenology under field conditions. Molecular results demonstrated relatively low genetic divergence between populations of P. atomaria which is concomitant with the single species hypothesis, however, there is reduced gene flow between northern and southern populations, but no host plant related genetic structuring. Morphometric data revealed insufficient evidence to separate populations into different taxa; however a correlation between latitude and size of adults was discovered, with larger beetles found at lower latitudes (i.e., adhering to a converse Bergmann cline). Common garden experiments revealed body size to be driven by both genetic and environmental components. Host plant utilisation trials showed one host plant, E. cloeziana, to be superior for both northern and southern P. atomaria populations (increased larval survival and reduced larval development time). Eucalyptus pilularis had a negative effect on pupal weight for Lowmead (northern) individuals (to which it is allopatric), but not so for Canberra (southern) individuals. DYMEX(tm) modelling showed voltinism to be a highly plastic trait driven largely by temperature. Results from across all trials suggest that P. atomaria represents a single species with populations locally adapted to season length, with no evidence of differential host plant utilisation between populations. Further, voltinism is a seasonally plastic trait driven by temperature, but with secondary influential factors such as host plant quality. These data, taken combined, reveal phenotypic variability within P. atomaria as the product of multiple abiotic and biotic factors and representing a complex interplay between local adaptation, phenotypic plasticity, and seasonal plasticity. Implications for pest management include an understanding of population structure, nature of local adaptation and host use characteristics, and predictive models for development of seasonal control regimens.

Species’ ranges arise from the interplay between environmental preferences, biotic and abiotic environmental conditions, and accessibility. Understanding of – and predictive models on – species distributions often build from the assumption that these factors apply homogenously within each species, but there is growing evidence for individual variation. Here, I use movement data to investigate individual-level decisions and compromises regarding the different costs and benefits influencing individuals’ geographic locations, and the species-level spatial patterns that emerge from these. I first developed a new method that uses tracking data to quantify individual specialisation in geographic space (site fidelity) or in environmental space (environmental specialisation). Applying it to two species of albatrosses, I found evidence of site fidelity but weak environmental specialisation. My results have implications for how limited research efforts are best-targeted: if animals are generalists, effort are best spent by understanding in depth individual patterns, i.e., better to track fewer individuals for long periods of time; whereas if animals tend to be specialists, efforts should be dedicated to tracking as many individuals as possible, even if for shorter periods. I then investigated individual migratory strategies and their drivers in nine North American bird species, using ringing/recovery data. I found latitudinal redistribution of individuals within the breeding and non-breeding ranges that generally did not follow textbook patterns (‘chain migration’ or ‘leapfrog migration’). Migratory individuals tend to trade off the benefits of migration (better tracking of climatic niche; better access to resources) and its costs (increasing with migratory distance). I found that birds are more likely to remain as residents in areas with warmer winter temperatures, higher summer resource surpluses and higher human population densities (presumably because of a buffering effect of urban areas). Overall, my results highlight the importance of considering individual variation to understanding the ecological processes underpinning species’ spatial patterns.

Depuis 2014, la Commission Européenne incite les régions de ses états-membres à établir un nouveau type de stratégies de développement territoriales devant les pousser à se spécialiser dans des domaines qui sont ancrés sur leur territoire afin de dégager des avantages concurrentiels originaux et difficilement imitables : les « Stratégies de Recherche et d’Innovation pour la Spécialisation Intelligente » (RIS3). Depuis 2014, les RIS3 conditionnent également l’obtention des fonds FEDER qui servent à financer le développement de ces régions. Mais la principale originalité des RIS3 réside dans le fait que ces processus de sélection et de priorisation des spécialisations qui s’établissent à l’échelle globale des régions selon une dynamique décisionnelle classique qui va « du haut vers le bas » doivent désormais reposer sur des processus d'identification des domaines à fort potentiel qui doivent être menés « du bas vers le haut » via un processus de Découverte Entrepreneuriale (DE) devant permettre à un maximum d’« Entrepreneurs régionaux » (RE) (de toutes tailles, statuts ou secteurs) de participer à la définition des orientations de leur territoire. Cependant, un certain manque de préconisations méthodologiques se fait ressentir pour instrumenter concrètement ces processus au sein des réalités de chaque système d’innovation régional. Cette thèse présente donc deux prototypes logiciels que nous avons développés pour instrumenter ces mécanismes bidirectionnels au sein du système d’innovation de la Nouvelle-Aquitaine : (1) « WeKeyInnovation, une plateforme collaborative qui doit permettre à tous les RE de partager des informations utiles pour innover, mais aussi de poser les bases d’un véritable observatoire dynamique pour aider la puissance publique régionale à identifier en temps réel les pratiques, les besoins et les initiatives à fort potentiel émanant des acteurs de terrain qui évoluent sur le territoire ; (2) « DialoJ », un outil de matching en ligne reposant sur la résolution de questions dialogiques en amont d’évènements afin d’aider les RE qui entendent y participer à expliciter leurs expectatives et à mieux visualiser celles des autres acteurs dans le but de faciliter les processus d’identification et de correspondance avec des partenaires d’affaires potentiels plus adéquats en tant qu’étape préliminaire à toute démarche d’affaires collaborative. / Since 2014 the European Commission enhanced all member-states regions to establish a new type of territorial development strategies which call them to specialize within areas that are really embedded into their territory in order to push them to build a set of original competitive advantages that are impossible or difficult to imitate. Those new strategies are called: “Research and Innovation Strategies for the Smart Specialization” (RIS3). Since 2014, the formulation of a RIS3 strategy also became the obligation that conditions the possibility for regions to access to the European Regional Development Fund which is one of the main financial resources of regions to finance their development. But the main originality of RIS3 is certainly the fact that the classical “top-down” processes of selection and prioritization of the strategic orientations of territories that will be decided by each public government at regional level will also have to be based now on an “Entrepreneurial Discovery” process: a “bottom-up” process of identification of the domains of strong potential for the region which stresses the need to involve all the “regional entrepreneurs” (RE) (of all size, sectors or status) into the design of their territory orientations. However, it seems that there is a lack of practical recommendations to concretely implement those complex mechanism into the very heterogeneous contexts of each regional innovation system of European regions. Thus, this work present two propositions of tools that we developed to instrument those complex processes within the innovation system of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine: (1) “WeKeyInnovation, a collaborative platform to help RE to share information about innovation supports, and to create also the basis of a dynamic observatory at regional level in order to help policymakers in the design of more suitable territorial strategies; (2) “DialoJ”, a matching tool that will allow to all RE to clarify their needs before to participate to any networking events, in oder to help them to identify and to match with more suitable potential partners before to eventually start any collaborative business process with them.

Cette thèse analyse le traitement public du chômage artistique en France. Elle prend pour objet deux dispositifs publics spécialisés, qui visent le « retour à l’emploi » d’artistes demandeurs d’emploi et/ou allocataires du RSA : l’un relève de la politique nationale de l’emploi (ANPE puis Pôle emploi spectacle), l’autre de la politique sociale départementale (RMI puis RSA artiste). L’enquête, socio-historique et ethnographique, a été conduite à Paris et en Gironde entre 2010 et 2014. Elle a permis de récolter un matériau diversifié, composé d’archives administratives, d’entretiens et d’observations, à tous les niveaux de l’action publique – ministères et élus locaux, experts et partenaires institutionnels, cadres territoriaux, street-level bureaucrats et usagers. La spécialisation sectorielle d’une action publique généraliste accentue les tensions relatives à l’organisation institutionnelle, à la formalisation des rôles professionnels et au traitement ordinaire des usagers. D’un côté, les agents de l’administration des vocations tentent d’adapter des usagers suspectés d’onirisme à la « réalité » du marché de l’emploi. De l’autre côté, ils s’efforcent eux-mêmes de se conformer au fonctionnement d’un domaine d’activités peu porté vers l’intermédiation publique. L’incongruité du rapprochement entre logique bureaucratique standardisée et impératif artistique de singularisation permet de renouveler l’analyse de l’individualisation d’un traitement de masse, caractéristique structurante de la régulation politique des rapports sociaux. / This thesis analyses the public handling of unemployment in the French arts sector. It examines two specialised public schemes devoted to the ‘return to work’ of artists living on welfare benefits. One pertains to national employment policy (ANPE agency, then Pôle emploi spectacle), while the other falls under departmental welfare policy (RMI, then RSA artiste). Socio-historical and ethnographic research was conducted in Paris and in the department of Gironde between 2010 and 2014. The resulting material is varied, including administrative archives, interviews and observations at all public policy levels – with ministers and local representatives, experts and institutional partners, civil service managers, street-level bureaucrats and clients. The sectoral specialisation of a generalist public policy increases tensions surrounding the institutional organisation, the formalisation of professional roles, and everyday interactions with clients. On the one hand, the agents of this administration of vocations tend to seek to adjust clients often suspected of being dreamers to the ‘reality’ of the job market. On the other, they make efforts themselves to adjust to the workings of a field of activity where public intermediation is not well perceived. This unlikely balance between a standardized bureaucratic rationale and the artistic imperative of singularity sheds new light on the analysis of the individualization of a mass treatment, which is a structuring feature of the political regulation of social relations.

Most albatrosses are critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable due to the deleterious impact of fisheries, pollution, introduced species, habitat alteration, and climate change. Foraging behaviour influences many aspects of seabird biology, and a detailed understanding of foraging ecology is required to better predict the impacts of significant changes to the marine environment. Campbell Albatross (Thalassarche impavida) is a threatened endemic, confined to a small number of locations on Campbell Island, New Zealand and was recently split from the closely related Black-browed Albatross (T. melanophrys). We currently lack much basic information on the foraging behaviour of this species, hindering our ability to understand how change may have occurred in the past and make predictions about it’s long-term future. First, I used GPS loggers and stable isotope analysis of blood to investigate how distribution and foraging effort (distance travelled and duration) varied with sex and breeding stage. I found that Campbell Albatrosses are sexually dimorphic and showed sex-specific foraging behaviour and habitat use – although this varied by stage of reproduction. Because males and females may be vulnerable to different threats, such as interactions with fisheries, I compared the spatial overlap and high resolution spatio-temporal overlaps between fisheries vessels and albatrosses within New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Albatrosses utilised 32% of the EEZ, however they overlapped with fisheries vessels in only 0.20% of the area. Previous research has demonstrated that the influence of fisheries vessels goes beyond the immediate location of the boat itself. Campbell Albatross have low levels of spatio-temporal overlap with fisheries – with males overlapping more than females. More generally, my results indicate that adding data on fine scale interactions will improve fisheries risk assessments, and provide information needed for the conservation and management of the Campbell Albatross. A key development in recent ecological research has been a greater appreciation that inter-individual variation in foraging behaviour can have profound population-level consequences. Accordingly I tested for individual differences in foraging behaviour in Campbell Albatrosses. The majority of individuals demonstrated both annual and inter-annual individual consistency in foraging locations, and the degree of specialisation was influenced by both sex and year. Consistent terminal latitude and longitude of foraging trips indicated high foraging area fidelity with a degree of flexibility in the fine-scale location. During brooding, females used the Campbell Plateau and showed more consistent behaviours than males, which tended to forage in the Southern Ocean. This adds to a growing body of evidence of individual foraging specialisation among seabirds in general and albatrosses in particular and reveals marked inter-individual differences in vulnerability to threats. In light of the evidence of individual foraging specialisations in the Campbell albatross, I also preformed a literature review of individual foraging specialisations across all seabirds. I found studies examining foraging specialisation for 35 species, with 28 (80%) providing evidence of consistent inter-individual differences (i.e. specialisation). Current studies suggest that specialisation is influenced by environmental variability and resource predictability, however, with limited data in tropical regions, more studies are needed to test these links. In summary, my thesis has provided new information on Campbell Albatross foraging ecology. Sex specific variations in behaviour and habitat use may influence conservation and management strategies. I have been able to contextualise the consistent individual differences in foraging distribution described for this species in light of global patterns of individual foraging specialisation in seabirds and highlight future areas of research.

With Youth work being one of the key interventions used to advance the development of young people, through this study, the researcher takes a closer look at how Youth work can be enhanced to ensure its maximised contribution to empowerment and development of young people. On that basis, the researcher investigates the perceptions, attitudes, and opinions of social service professionals towards emergence and future status of Youth work practice in South Africa. This is essential, given that policy directions ought to be guided by rational, fact-based information. The researcher used two-phased sequential mixed methods research approach, which combines qualitative and quantitative methods in sequence, to explore the research phenomenon. Qualitative data was gathered from four (4) focus groups, conducted in each of the selected South Africa’s provinces. Quantitative data was gathered from five hundred and ninety-three (593) respondents who completed a measuring instrument. Some of the key empirical findings suggested that the social development factors compared to human resources and diversion factors are key drivers behind emergence of Youth work. Therefore, there is a need to ensure that interventions primarily and consequently enhance the social functioning of young people. On the current status of Youth work, a significant majority of respondents indicated that Youth work is the responsibility of a multi-disciplinary team. The evidence also pointed to Youth workers being more skilled than Social workers and Child youth care workers in rendering services to the youth. Additionally, the findings showed that the involvement of social service professionals in Youth work was mainly in collaborating with other professionals when rendering Youth work services, and also in direct service delivery. Their involvement in policy development was to no extent. This was associated with a limited number of Youth workers in the public sector. The findings on perceptions of social service professionals regarding the future status of Youth work showed that 75% of the respondents believe that Youth work should become an area of specialisation for Social work and/or Child and youth care work; followed by 17% who are of the opinion that it should remain as an occupation; whilst only 8% said it should be an autonomous profession. Additionally, an overwhelming majority of the respondents agreed with all statements which were listed as advantages or benefits of having Youth work recognised as an area of specialisation or a profession. On the basis of these findings, the researcher recommended that young people’s problems and aspirations should be addressed within their social contexts; there is a need to ensure that interventions primarily enhance the social functioning of young people; there is a need to have Youth work as an area of specialisation for Social work and/or Child and youth care work; and there is a need to create additional capacity to provide services to the youth, especially in government as a policy making structure. It is essential to note that the support for specialisation supports South Africa’s approach to mainstreaming youth development across various sectors. It could also be seen as a clear indication of the positive role and value placed on Youth work, and the potential contribution it might have should it become an area of specialisation for Social work and/or Child and youth care work. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Orientador: Antonio Vicente Marafioti Garnica / Resumo: Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo analisar a dinâmica de idealização e desenvolvimento dos primeiros cursos de especialização com ênfase na Modelagem Matemática, realizados na década de 1980, e as correlações entre tais cursos e a constituição da Educação Matemática no espaço acadêmico-científico brasileiro. De forma mais específica, buscamos interpretar e discutir as experiências pessoais relatadas por professores envolvidos com os primeiros cursos realizados na Fundação Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Guarapuava (Fafig), e investigar os enraizamentos e relações desses cursos com outros realizados posteriormente no Brasil. Empreendemos, para tanto, uma pesquisa de caráter qualitativo e optamos pela metodologia da História Oral, conforme a concebemos e praticamos no Grupo de História Oral e Educação Matemática (Ghoem). Os procedimentos metodológicos nos possibilitaram criar onze narrativas a partir de entrevistas realizadas com doze professores, gestores dos cursos ou responsáveis por ministrar as disciplinas, além de mobilizar fontes escritas encontradas em arquivos, como cronogramas, relatórios e ementas. A análise dos dados nos possibilitou elaborar três narrativas históricas que abordam: (i) o contexto de criação e desenvolvimento da Fundação Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Guarapuava e como os cursos de especialização ofertados nessa instituição se inserem nessa conjuntura; (ii) os movimentos e práticas em torno de uma nova proposta, a Modelagem M... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The purpose of this research is to analyse the earliest academic specialisation courses with an emphasis on Mathematical Modelling, chiefly in what concerns their dynamics of idealisation and development. Furthermore, the study investigates what the correlations that may be identified between such coursesare, dating back to 1980, as well as the constitution of Mathematics Education within the Brazilian academic and scientific locus. More specifically, the research is an endeavour to interpret and discuss the personal experiences that have been reported by professors somehow involved in the first courses that have been taught in the Fundação Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Guarapuava (Fafig) – Guarapuava (Paraná, Brazil) Philosophy, Sciences, and Languages College Foundation. Thereby, it is possible to examine the relations and interconnections of the aforementioned courses with the ones that have been taught subsequently in Brazil. As for the operational basis of this undertaking, the choice has been for a qualitative research, as well as for the Oral History Methodology, in coherence with the way it is conceived and practiced within the Grupo de História Oral e Educação Matemática (Ghoem) – Mathematics Education and Oral History Research Group. As a result, the methodological procedures have allowed written sources found in archives, such as schedules, reports, and syllabi, to be mobilised. Moreover, eleven narratives could also be created, emerging from intervi... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Nouvelle et importante discipline juridique, le droit de l’environnement protège des intérêts collectifs essentiels à la survie de l’espèce humaine. Marqué par la mondialisation, la transversalité et l'influence des sciences dures,particulièrement touché par l'inflation législative,ce droit qui évolue dans la complexité, a trouvé sa place dans les constitutions française et brésilienne. Son application représente un vrai défi pour les juristes, y compris pour les juges. En effet, si le principe d'intégration invite à la prise en compte de l'environnement dans toutes les décisions publiques, c'est aussi le juge qui est invité à exercer un rôle essentiel pour la protection de l'environnement. Dans un tel cadre,émerge l'idée de spécialiser les juridictions environnementales. Vue comme une solution au problème de la complexité – et aussi de l'encombrement de la justice – la spécialisation des juridictions aurait effectivement certains avantages, surtout celui de permettre la familiarisation des juges aux spécificités qui caractérisent ce droit particulier. Mais en termes de spécialisation organique, les difficultés demeurent : la compétence environnementale est difficile à délimiter et certaines formes de spécialisation – qui ne semblent pas compatibles avec les caractéristiques des systèmes français et brésilien – risquent d'entraîner l'isolement de la discipline. La formation environnementale des juges, qui peut être vue comme un mécanisme de spécialisation subjective, apparaît comme une voie nécessaire pour faire évoluer l'application du droit de l'environnement par le juge. / Environmental law is a new and important legal subject which protects collective interests essential do the maintenance of human life. It is marked by globalization and mainstreaming, it is influenced by science and specially by the legislative inflation. Such right,which evolves in complexity, found a place in the French and Brazilian Constitutions. Guaranteeing its application is a real challenge for lawyers and also judges. Certainly, if the integration principle calls for the consideration of the environmental impact in all public decisions, so is the judge also invited to play an essential role in the protection of the environment. In this context the idea of specializing environmental jurisdiction arises. Since it is seen as a solution to the problem of complexity – but also a way to fight the heavy workload faced by judges – the specialization would effectively have certain advantages,allowing the familiarization of specialists to the specific marking of such as a very particular right. However, regarding organic specialization,there are still certain difficulties that remain,such as: the environmental competence that is difficult to define and certain forms of specialization – which seem to differ from the Brazilian and French systems – are in risk of being isolated within the subject. The environmental training of judges, which may also be seen as a subjective specialization, thus appears as a necessary way to the evolution of the application of the environmental law by the judge. / Nova e importante disciplina jurídica, o direito ambiental protege interesses coletivos essenciais à manutenção da vida humana. Marcado pela mundialização e transversalidade, influenciado pela ciência, particularmente marcado pela inflação legislativa, este direito, que evolui na complexidade, encontrou lugar nas constituições francesa e brasileira. Sua aplicação representa um verdadeiro desafio para os juristas, inclusive juízes. Com efeito, se o princípio da integração convida à consideração do impacto ambiental em todas as decisões públicas, o juiz também é convidado a exercer um papel essencial para a proteção do meio ambiente. Neste quadro, surge a ideia de especializar a jurisdição ambiental. Vista como uma solução ao problema da complexidade – mas também como uma forma de lutar contra a sobrecarga de trabalho enfrentada pela justiça – efetivamente a especialização teria certas vantagens, principalmente a de permitir a familiarização dos especialistas às especificidades que marcam este direito tão particular. Mas em termos de especialização orgânica, restam certas dificuldades: a competência ambiental é difícil a delimitar e certas formas de especialização – que não parecem compatíveis com as características dos sistemas francês e brasileiro – riscam levar ao isolamento da disciplina. A formação ambiental dos juízes, que pode ser vista como uma forma de especialização subjetiva, aparece assim como uma via necessária à evolução da aplicação do direito ambiental pelo juiz.

In September 2015, all member states of the United Nations signed upon the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), constituting the core of the 2030 Agenda. The 2030 Agenda form an integrated policy agenda, with the SDGs characterised as inherently interlinked. Policy integration and coordination across customary boundaries are assumed as fundamental when attempting to implement the indivisible and interlinked objectives. The public sector has, however, shown insufficient capabilities of such, characterised by increasing specialisation and fragmentation following from unforeseen effects of New Public Management (NPM) reforms. To facilitate necessary policy integration and coordination, significant alterations to policies and institutions are assumed to be necessary, and post-NPM approaches that seeks to join up the governmental apparatus have surfaced as counter-movements.  Building on the above, the thesis set out to examine policy integration and coordination as cornerstones when attempting to implement the 2030 Agenda, as well as organisational key capabilities and/or barriers for such. The thesis’ theoretical point of departure builds on the fields of organisation theory and public administration, and the longstanding deliberation between the two dichotomies specialisation and coordination. Such dichotomy is elaborated on through the NPM perspective contrasted against the post-NPM perspective. The thesis’ central theoretical concepts are policy integration, coordination and specialisation. The thesis was carried out as a qualitative case study, researching the experiences and opinions of 16 civil servants, from 14 Swedish municipalities, operating strategically within sustainable development on the municipal level, through semi-structured interviews.  Research findings indicate deficient policy integration in the majority of municipalities, with the 2030 Agenda being treated in separate programmes for social, environmental and economic sustainability respectively. Further, is vertical coordination, within the organisation as well as between governmental levels, appearing as insufficient. Identified organisational key factors include: the role of organisation; the role of the budget; the role of the ordinary municipal structure; the role of the leaders; the role of the center; the role of the individual civil servant; and, the role of communication. Many of the organisational key factors are described as capabilities as well as at the same time being barriers, and, hence, constituting contradictory practices for the civil servants and the organisations. The budgetary process especially stands out as one such contradiction. Similarly, are signs of the NPM perspective and the post-NPM perspective surfacing as simultaneous logics, practices and contradictions the civil servants must relate to. To strengthen policy integration and coordination, as well as the advancements of the 2030 Agenda, some practices may have to be modified.