/library/oar/handle/123456789/5934 2025-12-22T04:21:28Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/6254 Title: UNDP's role in strengthening democratic governance Abstract: This dissertation focuses on if and how the United Nations Development Programme strengthens democratic governance. This dissertation first begins by giving a brief description of democracy's history throughout the years. It then goes on to describe what is understood by good governance and how democratic governance can be assisted. The next chapter defines what is meant by development and what the UNDP understands by development. Some achievements of the UNDP are described. This dissertation goes on to give a detailed account of how the UNDP works to strengthen democratic governance by explaining each focus area of democratic governance. These focus areas include; access to information and e-governance, access to justice and rule of law, anti- corruption, civic engagement, electoral systems and processes, local governance and parliamentary development. The dissertation also uses Sierra Leone as a case study to analyse how the UNDP works to strengthen democratic governance. Some of the UNDP projects in Sierra Leone are described. This chapter also mentions some of the UNDP's failures in Sierra Leone and what is the future for the UNDP in Sierra Leone. The dissertation concludes by critically analysing the UNDP's work and studying if it really has strengthened democratic governance. This chapter also analyses some of the UNDP's failures and some of its strengths. The research of this dissertation is based on a qualitative approach by reviewing previous literature. Reports, journals, books and also the internet were used for current information. Description: M.A.HUMAN RIGHTS&DEM. 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/6165 Title: Small island states and invasive alien species Abstract: In the world of plants, nature has always exploited various strategies vectors to ensure the widest possible distribution of propagules. Economic plants have been intentionally introduced across continents and oceans. Seeds that contaminated by other seeds often do not find any natural biological control proliferate and displace the local flora. Trade and flow of persons, particularly through tourism, provide unintentional vectors. These alien species disturb the local ecological balance not only at the expense of local flora resulting in loss of biodiversity, but can also result in considerable economic loss. Small islands are particularly exposed to such risk primarily because of the limited number of species amongst which one can find proportionally for their size a higher incidence of endemic species. The displacement of endemic species can result in the extinction of unique species which would be a loss for ever. As trade is identified as one of the major paths of introduction, the international conventions regulating trade have been discussed to provide a better understanding of the parameters within which states have to operate to control such unwanted introductions for the possible setting up of pre-border/pre-entry strategies. The primary aim is to evaluate the effect that these alien species are having on small island states and their ability to fight back these introductions. Also, focusing on four representative island states, an attempt has been made towards trying to establish whether there exists a statistical correlation between the original native range of species and the country of origin of the primary trading partners or their main tourist markets. The results of this study do not show any direct correlation. The possible reason behind this is that while there is not direct correlation with the native range, plant alien species have dispersed so much that an introduction is as much possible to occur through third countries where the alien species has established itself Description: M.A.ISLANDS&SMALL STAT.STUD. 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/6161 Title: The geography of health with special reference to small island states Abstract: The objectives of this dissertation are primarily to map the occurrence of different diseases in small island states in different parts of the world. The focus is on communicable diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The dissertation also investigates whether small island states themselves differ in terms of the incidence of diseases. The five hypotheses tested in this dissertation are the following: - Small island states in different regions have different types of major diseases and risk factors; - There is a relationship between GDP per capita and the incidence of communicable diseases; - There is a relationship between the incidence of communicable diseases and life expectancy; - There is a difference in the relationship between GDP per capita and communicable diseases in small island states when compared to larger countries, and - There is a difference in the relationship between life expectancy and communicable diseases in small island states when compared to larger countries. ¸£ÀûÔÚÏßÃâ·Ñ was mainly gathered from the World Health Organisation databases and involved establishing and determining relevant data which justified the hypotheses. The dissertation sheds light on the regional realities regarding different diseases. It highlights the existing correlation between the economic development of countries and their incidence of communicable diseases. It also establishes a connection between life expectancy and communicable diseases. Subsequently, it investigates whether or not there is any difference in the connection between communicable diseases and life expectancy in small island states when compared to larger countries. The dissertation concludes with a list of policy implications derived from the results and a number of suggestions for further research. Description: M.A.ISLANDS&SMALL STAT.STUD. 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/6158 Title: Investigating the socio-economic impact of jellyfish outbreaks in small island states Abstract: This dissertation is a preliminary attempt to investigate the socio-economic impact of the jellyfish phenomenon in the Maltese Islands and and other Mediterranean islands and regions. This dissertation aimed to identify the typologies of different coastal stakeholders affected by the presence of jellyfish in local waters and acquire information on the degree of awareness of the same stakeholders, tourists and the general public about jellyfish citizen science initiatives and research. This study was conducted during two periods, April-May 2012 and June-July 2012. Two types of structured questionnaires targeting identified stakeholders and tourists, semi- structured interviews with different stakeholders, online newspaper comments and a desk study were the tools used to collect information within this study. Within this study, a considerable number of stakeholders along the coasts of the Maltese Islands confirmed that they suffered an economic loss due to the jellyfish phenomenon. However one stakeholder reported a positive economic impact due to the same phenomenon. From the quantitative questionnaires it emerged that there was a significant difference between the responses of stakeholders and tourists as to whether they are aware of any jellyfish-spotting campaigns. The knowledge of the general public was examined using data from the IOI-MOC Spot the Jellyfish initiative. It was concluded that the knowledge of stakeholders regarding jellyfish research and initiatives was higher than that of the general public which in turn was higher than that of tourists. From the desk study carried out regarding the impact of jellyfish phenomenon on the Maltese archipelago, and other islands and coasts across the Mediterranean, it was concluded that jellyfish are in general detrimental to the tourism industry and tourists who experienced jellyfish stinging might consider choosing a different holiday destination. This dissertation concludes with suggestions for further research on the same thematic and a list of policy implications which should help to increase the awareness about the jellyfish phenomenon and its underlying social, environmental and economic impacts. Description: M.A.ISLANDS&SMALL STAT.STUD. 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z