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The prevalence of chronic medical conditions is associated with biological, behavioral, and social factors. In Puerto Rico (PR), events such as budget cuts to essential services in recent years have contributed to deepening health disparities. This study aimed to explore community perceptions, opinions, and beliefs about chronic health conditions in the southern region of Puerto Rico. Framed by a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach, this qualitative study developed eight focus groups (n = 59) with adults (age of 21 or older) from southern Puerto Rico, in person and remotely, during 2020 and 2021. Eight open-ended questions were used for discussions, which were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed via computer analysis. Content analysis revealed four main dimensions: knowledge, vulnerabilities, barriers, and identified resources. Relevant topics included: concerns about mental health—depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicide; individual vulnerabilities—risk behaviors, and unhealthy habits; economic factors—health access and commercialization of health. Resource identification was also explored, and participants discussed the importance of alliances between public and private sectors. These topics were addressed across all focus groups, with various recommendations. The results highlight the importance of prioritizing identified community needs, evaluating available resources, and promoting tailored-made interventions to reduce risk factors for chronic health conditions.

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is considered a human-centered method of public resource management and investment planning, which strongly reflects the needs of the inhabitants of the municipality. The aim of this article is to assess the structure of the inhabitants’ needs expressed in the PB procedures in Częstochowa, Poland and their relation to the social and demographic characteristics of the city districts. The standard methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis were used (Pearson correlation coefficient and content analysis of the municipal documents), based on the data about: (1) the projects implemented in Częstochowa PB in the years 2015–2019; (2) the age structures and population density in the districts; and (3) qualitative data on district development characteristics. Based on the authors’ typology of projects, it was found that the most popular tasks were related to the comfort and safety of mobility and recreational facilities used for spending free time in public spaces. A relatively lower level of activity of the citizens was found when expressing their needs in central, densely populated districts with a high share of people aged over 65, and a relatively higher level of activity was found in the districts with a high proportion of people aged 0–18 and with lower population density. In the densely populated central districts, relatively high interest in the development of green areas was observed, while in the less populated developing peripheral districts, the preferred infrastructure was related to mobility. These correlations can be logically explained by the conditions related to the development processes of individual districts. The authors conclude that PB can be an important mechanism in determining local needs for the development of public spaces; however, it rewards the needs of the most active social groups.

Translational research carries over fundamental laboratory research findings into clinical and community settings in order to ‘translate’ the findings into practice. In addition to its potential in accelerating the time of basic discoveries to be delivered into the population, translational studies also provide opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations in identifying knowledge gaps. However, several issues hindering the advancement of translational research studies have risen in developing countries, such as limited funding, insufficient research evaluation and recognition, absence of government model or consortium, and insufficient communication among researchers and stakeholders. While the original concept of the ‘bench to bedside’ has been known for years, the practice of bilateral flow from bench to bedside, and back to the bench was found lacking. Lack of interactions and involvement of the clinicians, community and resources further deplete translational ability of the research itself. Without understanding the priorities and the environment in which the decision makers work, specific research aims needed by the communities may be failed to be formulated and may result in devaluation of research by formulating similar key questions repetitively. The current commentary aimed to highlight the importance of connecting population health systems, basic demands, and academic institutions, to own the issues, to address the issues, and to translate research findings.

The purpose of the paper is to identify the main prerequisites and ways of the medical reform in Ukraine under decentralization, and the emergency of fee-for-service medicine in particular. Methodology. The survey is based on the study of legally enforceable enactments which regulate medical sphere and the process of decentralization of power. Results. The article outlines the main prerequisites and ways to solve the issue of the implementation of medical reform in Ukraine under decentralization, including the emergence of fee-for-service-medicine. The problem related to health care reform in general in order to improve the availability and quality of health care have been identified. Statistical data on the main healthcare indicators in Ukraine have been presented. National healthcare accounts of Ukraine have been presented and healthcare expenditures per capita in other countries of the world has been demonstrated. Practical implications. The main steps that are necessary to undertake for implementing changes in the medical field have been determined in the article. They are the following: involvement of communities, development of social infrastructure, transportation of patients and women in labor to hospitals, involvement of social workers, support of medical institutions, and assistance by the communities in public control. It is determined that the biggest challenge for the medical sector is the reorientation to a new level of medical services. The main directions in medicine under decentralization on the implementation of material, organizational and financial conditions to provide local authorities with own and delegated powers have been emphasized. Value/originality. An approach to implementing medical reform that meets the needs of the community is developed and its essence has been explained. The complex of actions on introduction of medical reform under decentralization of the power, which has been explained as an increase in powers and financial possibilities of territorial communities has been generalized.

Primary forests are essential ecosystems that can play a key role in mitigating climate change. REDD+ is designed to help countries and communities secure benefits for avoiding deforestation but has faced significant implementation challenges. There are substantial potential benefits for REDD+ in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where shifting agriculture is the major cause of deforestation. However, implementation requires significant capacity building in a number of sectors and at a number of levels. This paper explores how well the capacity building activities within the DRC REDD+ strategy are aligned with the capacity needs identified by provincial government stakeholders and local communities in the Équateur province of the DRC, identified through workshops and surveys. The research suggests that while many technical capacity needs identified by stakeholders could be potentially addressed by the REDD+ strategy, there are number of systemic capacity needs that are unlikely to be addressed. Failure to address these needs risks undermining any implementation of REDD+. The results suggest that education and training in governance and management, as well as fundamental education in sustainability, are key capacity needs that REDD+ may need to incorporate. The results also provide further evidence that REDD+ projects need to be long-term and take into account the local context and needs in order to be effective.

2020 marks the 45th year anniversary of the Southeast Asian American (SEAA) experience, starting with the first wave of refugees who fled Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam as a result of American occupation and wars throughout the region. Collectively, this community is the largest community of refugees ever to be resettled in America. Yet despite four decades in this country, Southeast Asian Americans continue to face disparate challenges like other low-income, immigrant, refugee, communities of color — ranging from poverty, to educational inequity, health disparities, and harsh immigration policies. COVID-19 pandemic has also revealed and exacerbated systemic barriers that have always existed for Southeast Asian American communities. This paper explores those impacts in economic, education, health, and immigration enforcement and concludes with thoughts on the way forward.

There is worldwide geographic variation in the epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI). The aim of this study was to determine whether environmental barriers, health status, and quality-of-life outcomes differ between patients with tSCI living in rural or urban settings, and whether patients move from rural to urban settings after tSCI. A cohort review of the Rick Hansen SCI Registry (RHSCIR) was undertaken from 2004 to 2012 for one province in Canada. Rural/urban setting was determined using postal codes. Outcomes data at 1 year in the community included the Short Form-36 Version 2 (SF36v2™), Life Satisfaction Questionnaire, Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors-Short Form (CHIEF-SF), Functional Independent Measure® Instrument, and SCI Health Questionnaire. Statistical methodologies used were t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Fisher's exact or χ2 test. In the analysis, 338 RHSCIR participants were included; 65 lived in a rural setting and 273 in an urban setting. Of the original patients residing in a rural area at discharge,10 moved to an urban area by 1 year. Those who moved from a rural to urban area reported a lower SF-36v2™ Mental Component Score (MCS; p = 0.04) and a higher incidence of depression at 1 year (p = 0.04). Urban patients also reported a higher incidence of depression (p = 0.02) and a lower CHIEF-SF total score (p = 0.01) indicating fewer environmental barriers. No significant differences were found in other outcomes. Results suggest that although the patient outcomes are similar, some patients move from rural to urban settings after tSCI. Future efforts should target screening mental health problems early, especially in urban settings.

Open source development is subject to challenges and failures that can negatively affect participation, adoption or sustainability. The Islandora Collaboration Group (ICG) has developed an iterative project lifecycle that supports sustainable open-source development based on: (1) building community, outreach, listening to community needs; (2) gathering and spending funds on rapid vendor development, resulting in (3) a product that the community can refine and improve. This is cyclical, not linear, and always returns to building community. This self-reinforcing cycle has provided the ICG with feedback and impetus to radically change our consortium's focus from that of a small insular group to one seeking to bring all institutions together to collaborate in welcoming and inclusive participation. This path, from our first mission statement, has led us out of our comfort zones, but results in an increased alignment within our development community, with the goal of increasing the sustainability of Islandora within the larger community. The ICG would like to share specific lessons learned from our Islandora for All project, including techniques used in the ISLE and LASIR technical projects for: listening to the needs of the community; the importance of timing; crowdsourcing funds; structuring successful grant applications; and building community and coalitions.

Diplomsko delo je sestavljeno iz teoretičnega uvoda in raziskovalnega dela. V teoretičnem uvodu sem raziskala pojem skupnosti, trajnostnega razvoja in trajnostne oblike skupnosti. Opisala sem socialnodelovno podlago in orodja za trajnostni razvoj ter raziskala deinstitucionalizacijo, inkluzijo in orodja za raziskovanje življenjskega sveta prebivalcev v skupnosti. V raziskovalnem delu sem predstavila kvalitativno raziskavo, ki sem jo izvedla s priložnostnim vzorcem v Krajevni skupnosti Branik. Opravila sem 16 intervjujev, s katerimi sem raziskovala življenje, potrebe in želje prebivalcev. S tem sem analizirala možne vire v Krajevni skupnosti Branik za trajnostni razvoj skupnosti. The thesis consists of a theoretical introduction and a research part. In the theoretical introduction I studied the concept of community, sustainable development and sustainable communities. I presented the base and tools in social work for sustainable development – deinstitutionalisation and social work methods for analysing community life. I carried out a qualitative research with a casual pattern in The Community of Branik. I interviewed 16 participants. I studied the life and needs of the residents. By doing this, I analysed the potential sources in The community of Branik for sustainable development.

This volume, comprising eight chapters from experts in a variety of fields, examines the use of three-dimensional (3D) and virtual reality (VR) technologies in research and teaching, and the library’s vital role in supporting this work. 3D modeling, 3D capture techniques, and VR enable faculty and students to engage with highly detailed 3D data—from cultural heritage artifacts to scientific simulations—in new ways. As 3D and VR projects scale up and move outside of the specialist disciplines where they have existed for decades, many academic libraries are taking the lead in supporting such projects because they are already centers for collaboration, instruction, research, and collection preservation.The volume seeks to prompt greater awareness for library professionals as they develop programs that use 3D and VR technologies and work to integrate changing scholarly demands and conventions with existing library services and policies. Chapters cover 3D contentcreation, VR visualization and analysis, 3D/VR-based educational deployment, and 3D/VR data curation, providing a snapshot of professional objectives and workflows that have developed around 3D/VR.

This article explores the feasibility of South African National Parks (SANParks) endorsing a community development agenda, using Mokala National Park (MNP) and two neighbouring rural communities as case study. A three-phase sequential exploratory, mixed-methods approach was followed: an initial exploratory qualitative phase aimed at identifying the development needs of the two communities; a quantitative phase aimed at verifying and quantifying the identified needs; and a final qualitative phase (with a minor quantitative component) to determine what parks can reasonably achieve in terms of community development based on their available resources, capacity and expertise. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews (Phase 1: n = 22; Phase 3: n = 6), which were thematically analysed. Quantitative data were collected via a structured questionnaire (Phase 2: n = 484; Phase 3: n = 6) and analysed using SPSS 23. Findings revealed that the communities’ most significant needs centred on employment opportunities; improved healthcare, service delivery and waste management; and education. Community members also expressed the need for improved community policing, safety and security; social services; agricultural support and training; general skills development and training; local leadership; recreational facilities; local economic development and conservation initiatives. Results from the third phase of the study suggest that parks such as MNP can realistically only address some of the identified community needs significantly; primarily job creation (via temporary employment), skills development, local economic development, support of local conservation (especially via environmental education) and, to a lesser extent, agricultural support and training and permanent job creation.Conservation implications: The findings could be of practical use to SANParks to steer its community development initiatives towards attaining a more optimal balance between actual community needs and what the organisation can realistically offer, thus rendering SANParks’ efforts more efficient and effective in supporting the establishment of equitable and sustainable rural communities.

The paper reviews different approaches to quality of life measurement used in Russian and international statistics. It outlines the essence of J. Stiglitz’s recommendations on development of quality of life statistical indicators, analyses proposals and practical application of innovative approaches of quality of life measurement by the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE). The paper reviews Rosstat’s (Russian Federal State Statistics Service) new research as well as an independent research in the area of quality of life research. The authors make proposals to extend the list of aspects analyzed an quality of life research and underline the importance of such a review through regional specifics. They suggest extending the system of quality of life statistical indicators by certain coefficients characterizing economic development disparity and its influence on the quality of life.

Access to ICTD projects has increased over the years; however, they have not significantly changed the lives of the targeted communities. This discrepancy relates to the gap that exists between the reality of the community, its needs and the ICTD strategy of the project. This research paper presents a Needs-ICTD strategy alignment framework to support the alignment of ICTD strategy, and the development and promotion of contextual needs of marginalized areas. The framework also contributes to the identification of preliminary impact indicators, which can support impact assessment. Through a multi-case study investigation of the Siyakhula Living Lab and the SAP Living Labs, key findings indicate that a lack of involvement of local stakeholders in the development and alignment of ICTD strategy has negative implications. These include failing to understand the holistic needs of the community with available resources, and the inability to provide appropriate information on opportunities for the general development of the community.

The relationship is one of interdependency with direct influence from both sides. At the same time, the role of the elements of these “golden triangles” – named this way by Hinzen H. in the paper “Standards and Demandings in Adult Education” (coord. Soitu, 2006) – will be modified, and each of them will become a priority eventually.This study will show the used and useful paths in the building process of individual and of communities.

This synthesis report details the process, outputs, intermediate outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations of the World Bank executed technical assistance (TA) on strengthening local providers for improved rural water supply in Pakistan implemented by the water and sanitation program of the global water practice. The development objective of this TA was to support the Government of Punjab (GoPunjab) in strengthening service provision by communities to ensure improved access to rural water supply, particularly for the marginalized and poor. These objectives were targeted through capacity building and introducing systems to better respond to community needs to manage rural water schemes via community based organizations (CBOs). This TA was primarily focused on the province of Punjab having a population of 100 million with of which 60 percent population live in rural areas. From inception, this TA was focused on institutional strengthening and sustainability. The back-up support mechanism for CBOs and information and communication technology (ICT) monitoring of scheme performance are extremely significant initiatives to have been integrated into the government system.

Community preparedness of Afdeling Gunung Pasang to face flash flood disasterPurposeThis research aimed to determine community needs to develop community preparedness on health aspect by needs awareness surveys to prevent flash flood disaster in Afdeling Gunung Pasang, Suci village, Panti district, in Jember.MethodsThis research was a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach. The main informants were community members of Afdeling Gunung Pasang, and supporting informants were leaders of the community, heads of village offices, community stakeholders (local plantation industry) and disaster management stakeholders from the local government institution in Jember. Data were collected by focus group discussions, in depth interviews, and observation. Data validation used triangulation methods. ResultsMany kinds of needs awareness were found in the community, to develop community preparedness in health aspects. The community needs stimulus to prepare for disasters, such as training emergency response, fulfillment tools, disaster information, and coordination with stakeholders.ConclusionThe community needs to prepare health aspects in the event of disasters and observe dangerous zones in Afdeling Gunung Pasang., PurposeThe purpose of this study was to analyze the needs of the community to improve community preparedness related to health aspects in facing flash floods disaster in afdeling Gunung Pasar, Jember.MethodA phenomenological study was conducted through focused group discussions, indepth interviews and observations of the Afdeling community, community leaders, head of village office, community stakeholders and stakeholders of disaster management (institution of local government) at Gunung Pasang Jember.ResultsThe study found that first, the community needs a preparedness drive for health preparation and area monitoring, including the provision of disaster facilities and infrastructure, training, coordination and disaster information. Second, efforts to fulfill normative need in health preparedness by stakeholders are still minimal.ConclusionStudy of social representation of community experiences in disasters, stimuli of community needs such as emergency response training, compliance tools, disaster information and coordination with stakeholders. These needs are needed as prevention efforts related to health problems and observation of dangerous zones at Afdeling Gunung Pasang. Education, counseling and emergency response training needs to be done to the community to improve community preparedness and awareness of the hazards of the disaster.

Numerous case studies have shown that ICTD projects lacked critical monitoring, sustainability and scalability, and were mostly anecdotal in nature. As a result, investors and stakeholders have increasingly required the proof-of-concept provided by a promising or successful pilot project, in order to convince them to invest in larger projects that will have greater impact on more communities. Scalability assessment aims to guide how and why a project should be replicated based on the success of the project. This assessment should be based on a comprehensive evaluation of the ICTD project, which can provide an indication of the level of success of that project throughout its life, and post-implementation or some aspects of an ICTD initiative. The question is then, how can the scalability of an ICTD project be assessed based on a comprehensive evaluation, and taking into consideration the impact and potential sustainability of a project, and imperative factors for up-scaling.

RESUMO: Background: Problemas de saúde mental são um grande problema clínico e social na República da Moldávia, representando uma quota significante de deficiência, sendo classificada no top cinco das dez linhas na hierarquia das condições. A taxa de incidência tem sido crescente na República da Moldávia, atingindo cerca de 15.000 por ano (14,655 em 2011), ou seja, 411,4 por 100 mil habitantes, e uma taxa de prevalência de 97.525 pessoas em 2011, ou seja, 2,737.9 por 100 mil habitantes. Sistema de atendimento psiquiátrico fornece serviços de saúde mental escassos a nível da comunidade, visando principalmente terapia hospitalar, centralizada, através de uma rede de três hospitais psiquiátricos, com 1.860 camas e 4 sanatórios psico- neurológicos com 1890 camas, assim alimentando-se a estigmatização do paciente. Objetivos: O objetivo deste estudo foi a avaliação das necessidades individuais dos beneficiários e do seu nível de autonomia dentro de cuidados residenciais, para o planeamento de reformas de saúde mental e desinstitucionalização na República da Moldávia. Este estudo foi encomendado pelo Ministério do Trabalho, Proteção Social e da Família e pelo Ministério da Saúde, com o apoio da Organização Mundial da Saúde, para determinar o cumprimento eficaz do artigo 19 da Convenção da ONU. O estudo tem os seguintes objetivos: Avaliar o nível de autonomia dos residentes nos hospitais psiquiátricos e sanatórios psico-neurológico, usando uma amostra representativa de 10 por ce nto do número total de pacientes/residentes e comparação cruzada; Para avaliar quatro sanatórios psico-neurológicos para adultos e três hospitais psiquiátricos; Para desenvolver recomendações para o planeamento da desinstitucionalização das pessoas com problemas de saúde mental e colocação na comunidade com base nos resultados do estudo. Metodologia e resultados: O estudo fez uso de duas ferramentas globais: questionário para a avaliação individual dos residentes do estabelecimento de saúde mental, e questionário de avaliação institucional. Todos os entrevistados foram divididos em quatro categorias conforme com o grau de dependência e preparação de viver de forma independente na comunidade. Apenas 1,2% dos entrevistados de PNHB eram totalmente dependentes de terceiros ou serviços especializados, tornando-se a categoria 4, que necessitam de cuidados e apoio contínuo. No PH esta categoria de pessoas é ausente. Conclusões: A condição dos entrevistados foi pior em PNBH que em PH. No entanto, ainda, aqueles que estão prontos para ser desinstitucionalizados correspondem com a maior parte dos entrevistados. Todos os hospitais tinham o consentimento do utente para admissão e tratamento, enquanto não houve consentimento qualquer em PNBH. É bastante óbvio que tanto os hospitais como também a sistema de assistência residencial não atingem a sua finalidade, o que significa que a maioria dos utentes pode ser desinstitucionalizados, sem qualquer terapia de suporte.------------------ABSTRACT: Background: Mental health problems are a major clinical and social issue in the Republic of Moldova,accounting for a significant share of disability and ranking in top five of the ten lines in the hierarchy of conditions. The incidence rate has been growing in the Republic of Moldova to reach approximately 15 thousand a year (14,655 in 2011), i.e. 411.4 per 100 thousand population, and a prevalence rate of 97,525 thousand people in 2011, i.e. 2,737.9 per 100 thousand population. Psychiatric care system provides for scanty mental health services at community level, aiming mainly at centralized hospital-based therapy through a network of three psychiatric hospitals tallying up 1,860 beds and 4 psycho-neurological boarding houses with 1,890 beds, thus fuelling up patient stigmatization. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the individual needs of beneficiaries and their level of autonomy within residential care for the planning of mental health system reforms and deinstitutionalization in the Republic of Moldova. This study was commissioned by the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family and by the Ministry of Health, with the World Health Organization support, to provide for effective enforcement of article 19 of the UN CRPD. The study pursued the following goals: To evaluate the level of autonomy of the psychiatric hospital and psycho-neurological boarding house residents by using a representative sample of 10 per cent of the total number of patients / residents and cross-comparison; To evaluate four psycho-neurological boarding houses for adults and three psychiatric hospitals; To develop recommendations for planning the deinstitutionalization of people with mental health problems and community placement based on the study findings.Methodology and results: The study made use of two global tools: questionnaire for individual assessment of mental health facility residents, and institutional assessment questionnaire. All interviewees were divided into four categories by one’s degree of dependence and readiness to live independently in the community. Only 1.2% of respondents from PNHB were fully dependent on a third party or specialized services, making up category 4, requiring continuous care and support. In PH this category of people is absent.Conclusions: The condition of respondents was worse in PNBH than in PH. However, yet, those ready to be deinstitutionalized accounted for most of respondents there. All hospitals had the resident’s consent to admission and treatment, whereas there was no consent in PNBH whatsoever. It is quite obvious that both the hospitals and residential care system do not achieve their intended purpose, meaning that the majority of residents may be deinstitutionalized without any support therapy.

Thesis (Master of Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013. The aim of the research was to understand the experiences and challenges of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Thabazimbi and the implications and consequences for communities in terms of dependency and empowerment, as seen from the perspective of the mining representatives. As corporate citizens, mining companies generate profits through the exploitation of mineral resources. There is an expectation that some of the benefits of this mining endeavours should be passed on to communities surrounding the company. This is generally considered the best sustainability practice and companies are expected to act as responsible corporate citizens. Most of the previous research on CSR has focused on the perceptions of community members. This research is unique in that it focuses on the effects of CSR on the experiences and perceptions of key personnel from the mining companies who are responsible for the designing and implementing CSR strategies. Mining company representatives did acknowledge that the past approach to CSR has created some dependency issues. However, more recently the company has moved to a strategy that focuses more on empowerment. They also acknowledge that, going forward, a new challenge emerges for mining companies, communities and local government. This challenge is to work towards ensuring sustainable development and empowerment with the focus on actual community needs. The conclusion was that for empowerment to be realised all relevant stakeholders need to play a role in the development process. Masters

Access to ICTD projects has increased over the years; however, it has not significantly changed the lives of the communities they are involved in. The cause of this discrepancy is the gap that exists between the reality of the community and its needs, and the ICTD strategy of the project. Through understanding and relaying the needs and reality of the community, projects can effectively develop their strategy to suit the needs of the community. However, the solutions that are provided are often commonly developed without the needs of these communities being sufficiently investigated beforehand. Some of the reasons why ICTD centres or projects have failed include: an inappropriate technological approach that is not developed in accordance with the available resources, mismatches of Information Systems (IS) and local realities, incomplete/abandoned projects; projects failing to meet objectives or which fail to satisfy key stakeholders; and projects which cannot be sustained. As a result, the ICTD strategy of the project is not aligned well with the needs and development objectives of the community. Consequently, when an impact assessment is conducted it is often found that the intended effects are not directly linked to the needs of the community or what the community had hoped to gain from the ICTD initiative. This research paper proposes a framework to support the alignment of ICTD strategy, with needs of rural communities, hence providing a foundation that supports the identification and formulation of relevant impact assessment indicators. The Needs-ICTD Strategy Alignment framework is composed of eight main components that describe the alignment process. These components include: collaboration between internal and external stakeholders, understanding the development of the community, conducting baseline studies, the needs assessment, the ICTD strategy, linking of the needs-ICTD strategy, and lastly the identification of impact indicators.

En el presente artículo se afirma que la humanidad enfrenta dos grandes desafíos: reconciliar nuestro ser material con el ser espiritual y reconciliar las necesidades individuales con las necesidades colectivas. Al no haber reconciliado estas dos dimensiones de la vida humana, nos encontramos en guerra, exclusión social, sufrimiento, desilusión, ira, incapacidad de avanzar, y muchos otros males. Tras aportar un marco de referencia de la sociedad globalizada, el autor el autor plantea algunos aspectos del desafío, tales como el contraste entre una sociedad materialmente rica y espiritualmente pobre y la necesidad de la integración de valores humanistas y espirituales en la economía que derivarían en una “economía espiritual”. Cet article défend l’idée que l’humanité affronte deux grands défis: réconcilier notre être matériel avec l’être spirituel et réconcilier les besoins individuels avec les besoins collectifs. Sans la réconciliation de ces deux dimensions de la vie humaine, nous nous trouvons en état de guerre, d’exclusion sociale, de souffrance, de désillusion, de rage, d’incapacité d’avancer et souffrons de nombreux autres maux. Après avoir établi un cadre de référence de la société mondialisée, l’auteur analyse certains aspects d’un tel défi, comme le contraste entre une société matériellement et spirituellement pauvre et la nécessité de l’intégration de valeurs humanistes et spirituelles dans l’économie qui dériveraient en une « économie spirituelle ». This article asserts that humanity faces two major challenges: reconciling our material with the spiritual and reconcile individual needs with community needs. By not having reconciled these two dimensions of human life, we are at war, social exclusion, suffering, disappointment, anger, inability to move, and many other ills. After providing a framework of a globalized society, the author, the author presents some aspects of the challenge, such as the contrast between a society materially rich and spiritually poor and the need for the integration of humanistic and spiritual values in the economy that would lead a "spiritual economy".

Water, as a resource, is integral to human activities of all kinds. The water sector, as a society's means of ensuring individuals have sufficient water is fundamental to recovery and development. While designing and implementing water supply operations in any societal context is a complicated endeavor, doing so in contexts affected by conflict, fragility and violence is inherently associated with compounded challenges. The objective of this study is to summarize operational lessons from task teams to inform effective water supply and access operations in conflict-affected and fragile situations. This paper defines common operational challenges and describes actions that task teams have taken in Bank projects in order to address those challenges. Further, the paper explores ways to ensure that water supply projects in fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCS) contexts, in addition to achieving technical objectives, can also address perpetual causes of conflict and fragility. The risks of escalating violence and decreasing stability are exacerbated in situations where access to water resources and services is poor, constrained, inequitable, and unsustainable. This knowledge product summarizes lessons from World Bank task teams that have prepared and implemented water supply projects in locations affected by conflict, fragility and violence. The findings intend to support operational problem-solving during water operations that are conducted in these situations. The study engaged task team members and surveyed project documentation, consolidating data on contextual and operational challenges and responsive methods that staff recommend. The findings of this study show that clear priorities in process and organizational capacity, with a focus on access, are needed to ensure that water supply operations in FCS contexts are conflict-sensitive.

Temos aktualumas. 2000 m. Europos viršūnių susitikime Lisabonoje buvo priimta Strategija, kurios tikslas – pasiekti, kad ES per dešimtmetį taptų konkurencingiausia ir dinamiškiausia ekonomika pasaulyje, pajėgi darniai augti. Viena iš sąlygų – stiprinant socialinę sanglaudą. Todėl ir Lietuvoje dėmesys turėtų būti sutelktas į vieną iš svarbiausių sričių – žmoniškųjų išteklių ugdymą, investicijas į žmogų. Bendruomenė – viena svarbiausių socialinio gyvenimo savivaldos, bendradarbiavimo, socialinių subjektų bendradarbiavimo, kūrybiškumo, iniciatyvumo, vertybinio mąstymo ugdymo terpė. Kultūrinė (dvasinė) struktūra užtikrina kultūrinių – estetinių, dvasinių, aukštesnių vertybių patenkinimą. Todėl šioje studijoje bandėme diagnozuoti ir nurodyti galimybes kaip regioniniame mieste galima tenkinti bendruomenės sociokultūrinius poreikius. Prasminga bendruomenės sociokultūrinė veikla gali padėti kurti vieningą, tikslingą veiklą įprasminančią aukštesnėmis vertybėmis pagrįstą bendradarbiavimo, partnerystės sistemą. Bendruomenėje, kitose visuomenės sferose reikšmingus darbus gali nuveikti vadybos pagrindus gavęs kvalifikuotas socialinis darbuotojas, gebantis kritiškai, analitiškai mąstyti, bendradarbiauti ir mokyti kitus dirbti komandoje, būti pokyčių skatintoju. Vertindami Lietuvos regioninę politiką turime konstatuoti, kad periferijoje esančių bendruomenei įtaką darančių kultūros židinių (sociokultūrinių institucijų) veiklos, tenkinant ir ugdant bendruomenės poreikius, problema yra labai... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] Relevance of the theme: European leaders approved the Strategy at Lisabon meeting in 2000. The goal of the strategy is to achieve that EU becomes the most competitive and dynamic economic of the world which is capable to grow harmoniously. One of the conditions is to strengthen the social cohesion. Therefore, the attention should be focused on one of the most significant sectors, i.e. on the development of human resources and on the investments into human, in Lithuania too. Purpose of the research is to provide study of the possibilities to meet the social-cultural needs of the community in the regional town Tasks of the research: 1. To reveal the intensity of the community’s cultural life; 2. To reveal the involvement of the youths in the activity of the social-cultural institutions. 3. To present the role of the social-cultural institutions and their activity possibilities in the regional towns. 4. To reveal the strategy of common activity of the social-cultural authorities. Hypothesis: The developmental interaction with the community would be much more effective if the common strategy of the activity of social-cultural institutions would be established in regional town. Methodical provisions and methods of the research: Culture is a system of values which can be acquired, formed, received and transferred. Person operates in particular environment as subject and object, therefore he/she has influence and create himself/herself. Therefore the relations of the... [to full text]