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Strengthening mental health system governance in six low- and middle-income countries in Africa and South Asia: challenges, needs and potential strategies

PETERSEN, Inge
et al
February 2017

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The aim of this study was to identify key governance issues that need to be addressed to facilitate the integration of mental health services into general health care in the six participating "Emerald" countries (Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda).  The study adopted a descriptive qualitative approach, using framework analysis. Purposive sampling was used to recruit a range of key informants, to ensure views were elicited on all the governance issues within the expanded framework. Key informants across the six countries included policy makers at the national level in the Department/Ministry of Health; provincial coordinators and planners in primary health care and mental health; and district-level managers of primary and mental health care services. A total of 141 key informants were interviewed across the six countries. Data were transcribed (and where necessary, translated into English) and analysed thematically using framework analysis, first at the country level, then synthesised at a cross-country level.

Local development in West Africa : how to make it inclusive for all?

DIMBARRE KPEHOUNTON, Cathy
et al
January 2013

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“With the push towards decentralization, local governments are gradually emerging as development agents. Overarching development policies are shaped at a national level while public policies are devised and implemented at the local level by local authorities. This film showcases local stakeholders’ contribution to development. It aims to answer the question posed by many local government representatives: ‘How to make local development policies inclusive for all?’ ‘Making it INCLUSIVE’ means not only enabling the citizens to partake in consultation and decision-making processes, but also offering them equal access to services. Within this framework the most vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, are treated on a par with others”

Local development in West Africa : how to make it inclusive for all? : accompanying booklet

DIMBARRE KPEHOUNTON, Cathy
et al
2012

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“With the push towards decentralization, local governments are gradually emerging as development agents. Overarching development policies are shaped at a national level while public policies are devised and implemented at the local level by local authorities. This booklet accompanies the film that showcases local stakeholders’ contribution to development. It aims to answer the question posed by many local government representatives: ‘How to make local development policies inclusive for all?’ ‘Making it INCLUSIVE’ means not only enabling the citizens to partake in consultation and decision-making processes, but also offering them equal access to services. Within this framework the most vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, are treated on a par with others”

Rights in action : good practices for inclusive local governance in West Africa

PIATTA, Francesca
September 2010

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This is a presentation on the report of the Rights in Action initiative. The primary objective of this Making It Work initiative is to promote practical, evidence-based recommendations on how to achieve inclusive local governance in West Africa, based on collected examples of good practice in line with Article 29 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, so that people with disabilities have an active role in shaping the local policies and services that impact directly on their lives. The presentation outlines the objectives of the initiative, the approach used and advocacy activities

Rights in action : good practices for inclusive local governance in West Africa

PIATTA, Francesca
GUY, Michael
2010

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"Rights in Action" is a multi-stakeholder initiative using the Making it Work methodology in seven West African countries. This report analyses examples of people with disabilities actively participating in local governance and influencing decision making in West Africa. It provides a series of practical recommendations for key stakeholders on how to replicate this good practice which links with article 29 of the UNCRPD. This report would be of interest to people working with disability rights and local inclusive governance in West Africa

Rights in action : good practices for local inclusive governance in West Africa|Summary report

PIATTA, Francesca
GUY, Michael
2010

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"Rights in Action" is a multi-stakeholder initiative using the Making it Work methodology to promote practical, evidence based recommendations on how to achieve inclusive local governance in seven West African countries. This summary report presents the key findings and recommendations from the initiative. This report would be of interest to people working with disability rights and local inclusive governance in West Africa

Older citizens monitoring in Ethiopia : a handbook

HUMPHREYS, Andrew
2009

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"The primary aim of this manual is to provide a guide for woreda governments, NGOs and communities to replicate an older citizens monitoring approach to development in the Ethiopian context. The guidance is developed from the experiences of a pilot project on older citizens monitoring which was implemented in several woredas of Ethiopia. The guide outlines 3 main sections: Establish the structure, Develop skills and capacity, and implement monitoring systems. Each section details the steps needed to plan and implement an older citizens monitoring project in the Ethiopian context in an approximate chronological order"

HIV, AIDS and disability : programming initiatives in Africa and Asia

INTERAGENCY COALITION ON AIDS AND DEVELOPMENT
June 2008

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This document provides initial information on initiatives which address the issues of disability and HIV and AIDS in Africa and Asia. It also provides a list of sources on disability and HIV. It would be useful for people looking for information on existing disability and HIV programmes in Africa and Asia

HIV, AIDS and disability

INTERAGENCY COALITION ON AIDS AND DEVELOPMENT
2008

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This paper briefly outlines the need for collaboration between those advocating the rights of people with disabilities, and those active in the field of HIV and AIDS prevention. It gives an overview of recent studies in the field, and provides information on initiatives which address the issues of disability and HIV and AIDS in Africa and Asia. This document would be useful for people looking for an initial introduction to the cross-cutting issue of HIV and disability with examples from existing programmes in the field

African women are ready to lead

MUTUME, Gumisai
July 2006

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This article provides an overview and assessment of women's participation in the political process in Africa. Many African countries have not yet reached the UN target of 30 per cent female representation in positions of power. The slow pace of progress is partly due to economic factors but the main causes are social beliefs and attitudes. When women do break through the glass ceiling, a combination of factors may explain their success, including access to education and work opportunities, support from family and employers, and lobbying by activists. However, the author observes that women leaders may lack the power to make a real difference for women, and calls for changes in the political environment and power system to allow women to participate effectively

South African cities and HIV/AIDS : challenges and responses

SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES NETWORK (SACN)
2004

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This is the first ever assessment on how South Africa's nine largest cities are managing HIV/AIDS. The report summarises the challenges faced by these cities and outlines the innovative responses developed by municipalities and city stakeholders. The report highlights that the most effective programmes have been those that succeeded in transcending the gap between policy development and consistent implementation. The challenges highlighted in the study are likely to become more acute in the near future. The report lists a number of key strategies that cities should adopt in the development of a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS. These include taking stock of the current HIV/AIDS programmes that are being implemented in the cities; linking HIV programming with other development issues; developing clear guidelines for the mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS; and developing stronger intergovernmental relations with provincial and national government levels

CBR: a participatory strategy in Africa

HARTLEY, Sally
Ed
2002

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This resource provides an important contribution and understanding of how community-based rehabilitation (CBR) operates in Africa. It contains the experiences and reflections of key stakeholders within CBR from 14 African countries. It will contribute to a more mutual and holistic understanding of the concept of CBR and bring about the development of new initiatives. This book is useful tool for CBR planners, policy-makers and managers

What's news : perspectives on HIV/AIDS in the South African media

STEIN, Jo
2002

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This report describes a research project which aimed to not only describe but to influence media practices with reference to HIV and AIDS. It sought to move beyond a consideration of media content, to include an understanding of the context, the actors and the processes involved in facilitating effective media advocacy. It reveals a tension between information provision and agenda-setting advocacy, and concludes with suggestions of areas where training and capacity development strategies could have an impact

Governance in Africa : the role for information and communication technologies

ADESIDA, Olugbenga
2001

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"This paper assesses the role that information and communication technologies (ICTs) can play in Africa’s development with special emphasis on governance. The 21st century challenges for governance in Africa are reviewed. The paper summarises the uses of ICTs in governance and discusses possible risks. It also attempts to offer ideas that should be considered in employing ICTs for governance, and identifies key areas for intervention by African countries and the African Development Bank. The paper stresses the importance of the human factor in realising good governance, given that ICTs are only tools"

The value of advocacy in promoting social change : implementing the new Domestic Violence Act in South Africa

USDIN, Shereen
CHRISTOFIDES, Nicola
MALEPE, Lebo
MAKER, Aadielah
November 2000

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This paper describes an advocacy campaign to ensure the effective implementation of South Africa's Domestic Violence Act. Lessons from the campaign stress the importance of coalition building to draw on diverse strengths, and the use of a combination of advocacy tools, including lobbying, media advocacy and social mobilisation to achieve campaign goals. While many advocacy efforts focus on the development of policy and legislation, ongoing efforts are needed to ensure effective implementation, the commitment of adequate resources and monitoring to identify gaps and propose new solutions. The experience presented highlights the important role of policy advocates in connecting the multiple streams at play in the policy and legislative arena

Child friendly cities initiative

UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND (UNICEF)

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This website is a knowledge base for the global Child Friendly Cities (CFC) Initiative. It contains the CFC Database, which collects information on the role played by local governance systems in the areas of child rights, child participation and services for children; a CFC toolkit, which offers a definition of a CFC, examples of good practice and successful methods from around the world, a framework for action and key references

Capacity Africa

CAPACITY AFRICA TRAINING INSTITUTE

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The website provides information about a capacity building service based in Kenya. It outlines the range of services this organisation offers, such as training materials, courses and project & programme evaluations

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