In the Canadian North, capacity building through post-secondary education is a key policy strategy of territorial and federal governments. However, government support for the University of the Arctic (UArctic), a viable policy instrument that makes an important contribution to the capacity building efforts of the territories, has been inconsistent. This thesis will investigate whether devolution has impacted capacity building through post-secondary education, by using UArctic as a case study.

In 1998, the government of British Columbia introduced a new form of tenure for community forestry. The Community Forest Agreement (CFA) was envisioned as a unique institutional mechanism for devolution, providing resource-dependent communities and First Nations in B.C. with the authority to set the direction of forest management in their locale, and to create local benefits. Relative to the industrial status quo, there were high expectations of community forestry and what it might achieve. This study empirically tested some of these expectations with respect to B.C.’s Community Forest Program. Taking a realist approach to evaluation, a variety of qualitative research methods were used to critically assess the structure, performance, and outcomes of the CFA. Analysis of the CFA revealed that its structure is virtually identical to tenures designed for industrial forestry with a few minor exceptions. In the current tenure regime, the CFA devolves limited power over strategic decisions and community control largely resides at the operational level, affecting on-the-ground aspects of timber harvesting rather than enabling a broader and more holistic approach to forest management. Outcomes of the CFA generally did not satisfy expectations that communities would commercially harvest botanical non-timber forest products, develop capacity for value-added wood processing, and utilize more environmentally-sensitive harvesting treatments. The study did find that CFAs supported local employment and were more labour intensive than industrial licensees in harvesting and silvicultural activities. Assessing the CFA structure and the on-the-ground outcomes side-by-side, this study suggests that the impediments to realizing a more holistic form of community forestry likely have their roots in the institutional mechanism itself, rather than in the efforts of communities. Flowing from the evaluation are recommendations for government to consider devolving more power over key strategic management decisions and increasing the size of CFAs to improve their economies of scale; and recommendations for communities to build their capacity and critical social mass to leverage policy changes that may further the evolution of community forestry in B.C.

This study examines the changing context and implications for evaluation practice of social program and service delivery devolved to small nonprofit and grassroots organizations. The setting is explored through a critical reflection-on-practice of over twenty years experience conducting evaluation. Using a multiple case study approach, the dissertation examines nine broad themes through two broad composite scenarios and twenty-five detailed vignettes that portray the challenges of working as a consultant with and for small nonprofit and grassroots organizations as they grapple with growing demands for accountability through evaluation. The multiple case study analysis is complemented by an analysis of case studies in two broad areas of literature; one on the impacts of devolution in the nonprofit sector, and the other examining recent trends in evaluation conducted in challenging settings, including community-based and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The five broad themes addressed through the case studies and literature on devolution are: 1) accountability, 2) capacity, 3) mandate drift, 4) competition, and 5) complexity. The four broad themes addressed through case studies and literature on evaluation are: 1) theory-based evaluation, 2) inclusiveness (participatory approaches), 3) the changing and multiple roles of evaluators, and 4) the use of dialogue, deliberative and democratic approaches in evaluation practice. The study contends that the ‘rough ground’ of nonprofit settings provides a useful lens for understanding broader challenges and trends in evaluation practice; that evaluators provide more than just technical skills and knowledge, but undertake important roles in linking communities, mediating among stakeholders, fostering dialogue and deliberation about programming, and mitigating some of the more egregious impacts of devolution experienced by nonprofit and grassroots organizations. By acknowledging and supporting the development of such roles and responsibilities, the profession and evaluators working in these settings can provide meaningful contributions to public discourse about the nature of accountability, the broad context of social programming, the complex capacity challenges being faced by nonprofit organizations, and the role of evaluation in exacerbating or potentially mitigating such effects.

This thesis analyses the changing role of central government strategy units in the devolved UK polity using a lifecycle model. At each stage of the lifecycle the units develop a different aim, undertake different tasks and follow different working approaches. At different stages agency, in the person of the Prime/First Minister, existing structures, or culture and attitudes, particularly around the concept of a corporate centre, form the main influence on change. Following through the lifecycle, it becomes apparent that such central strategic units have a defined life trajectory tending towards their demise through bureaucratic capture or ideological marginalisation. Divergence or convergence between the units is primarily based on leadership style rather than pre-existing structures or constitutional arrangements. Adopting a lifecycle approach, more commonly associated with the business world, provides an alternative conceptual approach to examining the maintenance of governmental organisations. It is a logical progression from the borrowing of business ideas on management and organisation generally categorised as New Public Management. It provides a more appropriate framework of analysis in a situation whereby government is less dependent on traditional polarised ideological positions and instead adopts a strategic, managerial approach to government. As governmental organisations copy the modes of operation of large corporations, the tools of the business world add additional insights into formation, development, change and decline in such organisations not clearly revealed by more commonly adopted political science models.

In 1998, the government of British Columbia introduced a new form of tenure for community forestry. The Community Forest Agreement (CFA) was envisioned as a unique institutional mechanism for devolution, providing resource-dependent communities and First Nations in B.C. with the authority to set the direction of forest management in their locale, and to create local benefits. Relative to the industrial status quo, there were high expectations of community forestry and what it might achieve. This study empirically tested some of these expectations with respect to B.C.’s Community Forest Program. Taking a realist approach to evaluation, a variety of qualitative research methods were used to critically assess the structure, performance, and outcomes of the CFA. Analysis of the CFA revealed that its structure is virtually identical to tenures designed for industrial forestry with a few minor exceptions. In the current tenure regime, the CFA devolves limited power over strategic decisions and community control largely resides at the operational level, affecting on-the-ground aspects of timber harvesting rather than enabling a broader and more holistic approach to forest management. Outcomes of the CFA generally did not satisfy expectations that communities would commercially harvest botanical non-timber forest products, develop capacity for value-added wood processing, and utilize more environmentally-sensitive harvesting treatments. The study did find that CFAs supported local employment and were more labour intensive than industrial licensees in harvesting and silvicultural activities. Assessing the CFA structure and the on-the-ground outcomes side-by-side, this study suggests that the impediments to realizing a more holistic form of community forestry likely have their roots in the institutional mechanism itself, rather than in the efforts of communities. Flowing from the evaluation are recommendations for government to consider devolving more power over key strategic management decisions and increasing the size of CFAs to improve their economies of scale; and recommendations for communities to build their capacity and critical social mass to leverage policy changes that may further the evolution of community forestry in B.C.

This study examines the changing context and implications for evaluation practice of social program and service delivery devolved to small nonprofit and grassroots organizations. The setting is explored through a critical reflection-on-practice of over twenty years experience conducting evaluation. Using a multiple case study approach, the dissertation examines nine broad themes through two broad composite scenarios and twenty-five detailed vignettes that portray the challenges of working as a consultant with and for small nonprofit and grassroots organizations as they grapple with growing demands for accountability through evaluation. The multiple case study analysis is complemented by an analysis of case studies in two broad areas of literature; one on the impacts of devolution in the nonprofit sector, and the other examining recent trends in evaluation conducted in challenging settings, including community-based and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The five broad themes addressed through the case studies and literature on devolution are: 1) accountability, 2) capacity, 3) mandate drift, 4) competition, and 5) complexity. The four broad themes addressed through case studies and literature on evaluation are: 1) theory-based evaluation, 2) inclusiveness (participatory approaches), 3) the changing and multiple roles of evaluators, and 4) the use of dialogue, deliberative and democratic approaches in evaluation practice. The study contends that the ‘rough ground’ of nonprofit settings provides a useful lens for understanding broader challenges and trends in evaluation practice; that evaluators provide more than just technical skills and knowledge, but undertake important roles in linking communities, mediating among stakeholders, fostering dialogue and deliberation about programming, and mitigating some of the more egregious impacts of devolution experienced by nonprofit and grassroots organizations. By acknowledging and supporting the development of such roles and responsibilities, the profession and evaluators working in these settings can provide meaningful contributions to public discourse about the nature of accountability, the broad context of social programming, the complex capacity challenges being faced by nonprofit organizations, and the role of evaluation in exacerbating or potentially mitigating such effects.

Submitted by ANGELICA GOMES DA SILVA (angelicagsilva@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-08-23T23:53:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 tese final para impressão e entrega.pdf: 1772877 bytes, checksum: 85f2182e56a4ab0f02c5043eef9d01b2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-08-25T14:03:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_ag_dr_fran.pdf: 1772877 bytes, checksum: 85f2182e56a4ab0f02c5043eef9d01b2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-25T14:03:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_ag_dr_fran.pdf: 1772877 bytes, checksum: 85f2182e56a4ab0f02c5043eef9d01b2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-27 / A pesquisa “Quando a devolução acontece nos processos de adoção: um estudo a partir das narrativas de assistentes sociais no Tribunal de Justiça de Minas Gerais” busca aprofundar a intervenção profissional de assistentes sociais no judiciário mineiro, na área do direito à convivência familiar, nos processos de adoção, particularmente diante das motivações ou decisão dos pretendentes para devolução da criança e do adolescente, consequentemente do rompimento de vínculos. Este buscou um aprofundamento teórico da trajetória sócio-histórica dos direitos sociais na área da infância e juventude, sua estreita relação com a origem do Serviço Social no país, a partir da década de 30 e a legitimação do assistente social como perito social, profissional importante para as decisões judiciais neste contexto. A pesquisa qualitativa se propõe a realizar uma análise crítica, construída através da pesquisa narrativa como possibilidade para apreensão das vivências dos sujeitos diante de experiências concretas, relacionadas ao objeto. Participam desta pesquisa de campo, cinco assistentes sociais que atuam em comarcas nas regiões sul e do triângulo do Estado de Minas Gerais, as quais registraram, por meio de textos narrativos, suas experiências com devolução em processos de adoção. Em um segundo momento, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas, as quais permitiram conhecer a compreensão das profissionais acerca de conceitos importantes que compõem este estudo. As questões subjetivas trazidas pelas famílias adotivas, diante dos conflitos vividos na experiência de se tornarem família, pais e filhos, inserem-se neste trabalho como expressão importante na intervenção profissional. Contudo, diante da relação que o tema ocupou na história da profissão, identificada ao conservadorismo, apresentamos um aprofundamento do tema, buscando relacioná-lo como elemento possível à intervenção crítica, numa perspectiva de totalidade. As histórias narradas e as entrevistas confirmaram que questões subjetivas estão presentes como elemento fundamental no trabalho dos assistentes sociais nos processos de adoção nas Varas da Infância e Juventude e seu conhecimento pressupõe estudos interdisciplinares. / The research "When the devolution takes place in the adoption processes: a study from the narratives of social workers in the Court of Justice of Minas Gerais" seeks to deepen the professional intervention of social workers in the mining judiciary, in the area of the right to family life, in the Adoption processes, particularly in the face of the motivations or decision of the suitors for the return of the child and the adolescent, consequently of the rupture of bonds. This research sought a theoretical deepening of the socio-historical trajectory of social rights in the area of childhood and youth, its close relationship with the origin of Social Service in the country, from the 30's and the legitimation of the social worker as an important professional social expert Judicial decisions in this context. Qualitative research proposes to perform a critical analysis, built through narrative research as a possibility to apprehend the subjects' experiences in the face of concrete experiences related to the object. Five of the social workers who work in the southern regions and in the triangle of the State of Minas Gerais participate in this field survey, which, through narrative texts, recorded their experiences with devolution in adoption processes. Secondly, semi-structured interviews were carried out, which allowed us to understand the professionals' understanding of important concepts that make up this study. The subjective issues brought by adoptive families, faced with the conflicts experienced in the experience of becoming family, parents and children, are inserted in this work as an important expression in professional intervention. However, given the relationship that the theme occupied in the history of the profession, identified with conservatism, we present a deepening of the theme, seeking to relate it as a possible element to critical intervention, in a perspective of totality. The narrated stories and interviews confirmed that subjective issues are present as a fundamental element in the work of social workers in the adoption processes in the Sticks of Youth and Childhood and their knowledge presupposes interdisciplinary studies.

In 1998, the government of British Columbia introduced a new form of tenure for community forestry. The Community Forest Agreement (CFA) was envisioned as a unique institutional mechanism for devolution, providing resource-dependent communities and First Nations in B.C. with the authority to set the direction of forest management in their locale, and to create local benefits. Relative to the industrial status quo, there were high expectations of community forestry and what it might achieve. This study empirically tested some of these expectations with respect to B.C.’s Community Forest Program. Taking a realist approach to evaluation, a variety of qualitative research methods were used to critically assess the structure, performance, and outcomes of the CFA. Analysis of the CFA revealed that its structure is virtually identical to tenures designed for industrial forestry with a few minor exceptions. In the current tenure regime, the CFA devolves limited power over strategic decisions and community control largely resides at the operational level, affecting on-the-ground aspects of timber harvesting rather than enabling a broader and more holistic approach to forest management. Outcomes of the CFA generally did not satisfy expectations that communities would commercially harvest botanical non-timber forest products, develop capacity for value-added wood processing, and utilize more environmentally-sensitive harvesting treatments. The study did find that CFAs supported local employment and were more labour intensive than industrial licensees in harvesting and silvicultural activities. Assessing the CFA structure and the on-the-ground outcomes side-by-side, this study suggests that the impediments to realizing a more holistic form of community forestry likely have their roots in the institutional mechanism itself, rather than in the efforts of communities. Flowing from the evaluation are recommendations for government to consider devolving more power over key strategic management decisions and increasing the size of CFAs to improve their economies of scale; and recommendations for communities to build their capacity and critical social mass to leverage policy changes that may further the evolution of community forestry in B.C. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

This study examines the changing context and implications for evaluation practice of social program and service delivery devolved to small nonprofit and grassroots organizations. The setting is explored through a critical reflection-on-practice of over twenty years experience conducting evaluation. Using a multiple case study approach, the dissertation examines nine broad themes through two broad composite scenarios and twenty-five detailed vignettes that portray the challenges of working as a consultant with and for small nonprofit and grassroots organizations as they grapple with growing demands for accountability through evaluation. The multiple case study analysis is complemented by an analysis of case studies in two broad areas of literature; one on the impacts of devolution in the nonprofit sector, and the other examining recent trends in evaluation conducted in challenging settings, including community-based and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The five broad themes addressed through the case studies and literature on devolution are: 1) accountability, 2) capacity, 3) mandate drift, 4) competition, and 5) complexity. The four broad themes addressed through case studies and literature on evaluation are: 1) theory-based evaluation, 2) inclusiveness (participatory approaches), 3) the changing and multiple roles of evaluators, and 4) the use of dialogue, deliberative and democratic approaches in evaluation practice. The study contends that the ‘rough ground’ of nonprofit settings provides a useful lens for understanding broader challenges and trends in evaluation practice; that evaluators provide more than just technical skills and knowledge, but undertake important roles in linking communities, mediating among stakeholders, fostering dialogue and deliberation about programming, and mitigating some of the more egregious impacts of devolution experienced by nonprofit and grassroots organizations. By acknowledging and supporting the development of such roles and responsibilities, the profession and evaluators working in these settings can provide meaningful contributions to public discourse about the nature of accountability, the broad context of social programming, the complex capacity challenges being faced by nonprofit organizations, and the role of evaluation in exacerbating or potentially mitigating such effects. / Education, Faculty of / Graduate

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The devolution of health programmes from external to local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is a relatively new phenomenon in sub-Saharan Africa. The special characteristics of the devolution of complex programmes pose both managerial and employee challenges, which previous change management research has not adequately addressed. Furthermore, earlier research has mainly viewed organisations as isolated and independent entities, whereas programmes that aim at large-scale interventions, such as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) projects, are embedded in their organisational context. Ineffective implementation of the PEPFAR antiretroviral therapy (ART) devolution process is a potential threat to programme sustainability in Nigeria.