https://hdl.handle.net/10419/199122 Sun, 15 Nov 2026 22:40:14 GMT 2026-11-15T22:40:14Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/334473 Title: Sanitation governance and its implications on environmental health in Nakuru City, Kenya Authors: Bug, Marius; Gerlspeck, Maria; Grassl, Aline-Victoria; Metz, Saskia; Vogel, Johannes S.; Wicke, Carolin; Subramanian, Saravanan V. Abstract: Sanitation and proper disposal of human waste are key to a dignified life. The importance of maintaining reasonable standards of sanitation is acknowledged in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG target 6.2) as well as in the Art. 43, I b from the Constitution of Kenya (Government of Kenya, 2010). However, the integration of sanitation policies, their associated legislations and lived practices, and their implications for the environment and human health remain opaque. Understanding is particularly limited regarding sanitation governance in Kenya's fast-growing secondary cities, where responsibility for sanitation has only recently been devolved from the national to the county level. Our study examines these complex interactions, shedding light on how power relations constitute a determining factor in shaping the access to sanitation and its unequal socio-environmental hybridities. Empirically, we focus on three sub-locations in Nakuru City. Nakuru City has been described as a role model in the Kenyan context. Our research design combines both a quantitative, georeferenced household survey and qualitative, semi-structured interviews with actors at various levels. Our descriptive, regression and qualitative content analyses of the collected data reveal that levels of political interest vary considerably. Collaboration along the on-site sanitation service chain and with other sectors, such as solid waste management, presents numerous challenges, and a significant discrepancy exists in degrees of access to safe sanitation between and within sub-locations. As value-driven leadership at a time of heightened political attention has made Nakuru's role as a "sanitation champion" possible, we believe that many of these challenges can be overcome with increased collective awareness and a more substantial political commitment to realise the constitutionally guaranteed right to sanitation. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/334473 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/262365 Title: Natural resource governance in light of the 2030 Agenda: The case of competition for groundwater in Azraq, Jordan Authors: Dombrowsky, Ines; Hägele, Ramona; Behrenbeck, Lukas; Bollwein, Thomas; Köder, Mirjana; Oberhauser, Daniel; Schamberger, Ronja; Al-Naber, Majd; Al-Raggad, Marwan; Salameh, Elias Abstract: This study analyses a complex social-ecological system (SES), the case of competition for groundwater in Azraq, in the light of the 2030 Agenda. Building on the Institutional Analysis and Development Framework (IAD) and the concept of Networks of Adjacent Action Situations (NAAS) it assess the complex governance system in a consistent and systematic manner. It includes aspects of power through the political economy concept of the social contract. It furthermore assesses the performance of the investigated SES against the 2030 Agenda's core principles 'leaving no one behind', 'interconnectedness and indivisibility', 'multi-stakeholder partnerships', and 'inclusiveness'. The study finds that in Azraq, agricultural, domestic and environmental water users compete for shrinking groundwater resources. The core of the conflict lies between a heterogeneous group of farmers, who use groundwater for irrigation agriculture supported by a strong political lobby, and the water authorities, which rely on the aquifer for domestic water supply at national level. Water, agricultural, environmental, energy, and land governance, but also high-level decision-making and the monarchy's underlying social contract and the informal concept of wasta influence the outcomes on the ground. As a result, groundwater governance in Jordan hardly does justice to the 2030 Agenda's core principles. The study shows that no panacea exists, but that systems thinking may help identify a range of intervention points, some more sensitive than others, that could support a social-ecological transformation towards sustainability. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/262365 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/266406 Title: Decarbonising cities: Assessing governance approaches for transformative change Authors: Roll, Michael; von Haldenwang, Christian; Grohmann, Christina; Gronen, Maria Elisabeth; Laible, Anne; Orth, Johanna; Wengel, Florian; Zumegen, Lisa Abstract: While cities are important emitters of greenhouse gases (GHG), they are also vulnerable to the impacts of climate change; at the same time they constitute innovation hubs for climate action. For cities to fulfil their potential for global climate action, a thorough understanding of the governance of transformative change towards the decarbonisation of cities is necessary. This study asks: Which governance approaches facilitate successful transformative change towards zero carbon in cities? It specifically addresses the three key aspects stakeholder involvement, financing, and impact assessment, and looks at how they contribute to transformative change - particularly to the dimensions CO2 reduction, the dynamics of transformation, and acceptance by citizens. The empirical analysis is based on a mixed methods approach. An international survey involving city government officials of cities that are proactive in the fight against climate change was conducted in order to obtain an overview of socio-ecological transformation paths. In addition to this macro-level approach, in-depth case studies of three cities that are widely regarded as proactive on climate action in their respective world regions - Bonn, Quito and Cape Town - provide complementary insights. The survey data show a generally positive tendency in the way local governments approach GHG emission reduction activities. Most of the participating cities engage in the mainstreaming of policies to address climate change in local decision-making and have established climate action plans and emission reduction targets; however, on actual climate action and the reduction of emissions, the picture is more mixed. While stakeholder involvement is generally considered a key success factor in the survey responses and in the three case-study cities, stakeholders were seldom involved in a truly inclusive and cooperative way. While Bonn has gradually expanded citizen engagement, in Quito relations between the local government and stakeholder groups have often been short-term and project-bound, while a close connection between city government and academic institutions has been established in Cape Town. In terms of finance, cities mostly rely on traditional financing sources such as intergovernmental transfers, local taxes and fees, as well as international grants to cities of the Global South. Additional funding through the generation of local revenues or market-based finance mechanisms is less widespread. Both Quito and Cape Town depend heavily on external funding from international organisations and donors, along with central government transfers, which are less relevant in Bonn. While building the metro is absorbing finances for additional climate action in Quito, perverse incentives exist in South Africa where cities receive revenues from re-selling fossil fuel-based energy to consumers. Bonn has recently started to experiment with a sustainability budget to align budgeting with sustainability and climate goals. As far as impact assessment is concerned, most cities in the survey including the three case-study cities collect relevant data. However, systematic impact assessment or the incorporation of lessons learned from monitoring and evaluation into policy occur less frequently. Despite its limitations, this study contributes to the theoretical and empirical discussions in the field of transformative urban governance by suggesting a conceptual framework for dimensions of success for transformative change, by combining survey and case study-based data, and by looking at finances and impact assessment which are two important governance dimensions that are not frequently investigated. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/266406 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10419/247783 Title: Kommunale Entwicklungspolitik in Deutschland Authors: Marschall, Paul; Wingens, Christopher; Dick, Eva Abstract: Kommunale Entwicklungspolitik (KEpol) gewinnt in Deutschland an Bedeutung: Städte, Gemeinden und Landkreise engagieren sich zunehmend und leisten durch KEpol einen zentralen Beitrag zur transnationalen Nachhaltigkeitspolitik. Die vorliegende von der Servicestelle Kommunen in der Einen Welt (SKEW) finanzierte Studie leistet eine Bestandsaufnahme der deutschen KEpol und ihrer thematischen Ausrichtung. Sie untersucht (a) Motivationen des entwicklungspolitischen Engagements von kommunalen Verwaltungen, (b) Merkmale, die Engagement fördern oder hemmen und (c) Wahrnehmungen über die Förderung von KEpol. Auf Grundlage einer bereits 2009 vom DIE durchgeführten Studie beschreibt sie zudem die Entwicklungstrends in diesem Politikfeld. Die Analyse von Sekundärliteratur, eine deutschlandweite Befragung von Kommunen und vertiefende Interviews zeigen ein zunehmendes Engagement vor dem Hintergrund verbesserter politischer Rahmenbedingungen und veränderter globaler Leitbilder, insbesondere der Agenda 2030. Die In- und Auslandsaktivitäten reichen von Informations- und Bildungsarbeit bis hin zu vielfältigen Partnerschaften mit Kommunen im Globalen Süden. Kommunen agieren als Umsetzende, Multiplikator*innen und Vernetzende. Dabei gehört KEpol zu den freiwilligen kommunalen Tätigkeiten und wird daher nicht überall praktiziert. Die notwendigen Kapazitäten für KEpol sind ohne externe Förderung oftmals unzureichend. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10419/247783 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z