Browsing by Author "Slunge, Daniel"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

Bridging the Research–Policy Gap for Sustainable Development: A Handbook for Policy Engagement and Impact in the Global South
(2025) Aguilar-Gomez, Sandra; Akpalu, Wisdom; Babyenda, Peter; César, Emelie; Chukwuone, Nnaemeka; Das, Saudamini; Ekbom, Anders; Gebreegziabher, Zenebe; Hansson, Petra; Hepelwa, Aloyce; Hoa, Dang Le; Kebede G., Selamawit; Kigundu, Kenneth; Maldonado, Jorge H.; Mellin, Anna; Mercado, Leida; Muchapondwa, Edwin; Mulwa, Richard; Murithi Makandi, Jackline; Saldarriaga, Adrián; Slunge, Daniel; Sterner, Erik; Wango, Virginiah; Wright, Hannah; Zikhali, Precious
Bridging the Research–Policy Gap for Sustainable Development: A Handbook for Policy Engagement and Impact in the Global South provides guidance for researchers seeking to enhance the societal relevance and impact of their work through proactive policy engagement. The handbook draws on experiences and examples from research centers in Africa, Latin America, and Asia involved in the Environment for Development (EfD) Initiative, offering practical tools and strategies applicable across diverse policy and governance contexts in the Global South. Structured in three parts, the handbook introduces key concepts and frameworks for understanding research impact (Part A), provides hands-on guidance for planning and implementing policy engagement activities and evaluating impacts of research (Part B), and offers tools and advice for effective science communication (Part C). Across all parts, it emphasizes the importance of sustained relationships with policymakers, civil society, community-based organizations, and the private sector. By helping researchers navigate complex policy environments, it contributes to more informed decision-making and progress toward sustainability goals at local, national, and global levels.
Can Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment of REDD+ Improve Forest Governance?
(2011-04) Slunge, Daniel; Ekbom, Anders; Loayza, F.; Guthiga, P.; Nyangena, W.; University of Gothenburg, Dept of Economics
The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility has recently proposed the application of strategic environmental social assessment (SESA) for incorporating environmental and social considerations in the preparation of REDD+ initiatives. This paper discusses the potential contribution of SESA to REDD+ initiatives drawing on experiences from earlier attempts to large scale forestry sector reforms and a recent World Bank pilot program on strategic environmental assessment. The paper suggests that SESA can be a useful approach for strengthening institutions and governance needed for managing diverse environmental and social impacts related to REDD+. More specifically, SESA can enhance policy making and governance through raising attention to environmental and social priorities, strengthening constituencies for policy change and improving social accountability. In order for SESA to contribute to these outcomes it needs to be assured that broad national “ownership” is achieved and that it becomes part of a long-term policy learning process with repeated and sustained stakeholder interaction. Through strengthening constituencies in policy reform SESA can potentially reduce the risk of regulatory capture of REDD+ by vested interests and make institutional checks and balances more effective. An analysis of Kenya‟s process of preparing a national REDD+ strategy is used to illustrate our case in the paper.
Can Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment of REDD+ Improve Forest Governance?
(2011-04) Slunge, Daniel; Ekbom, Anders; Loayza, F.; Guthiga, P.; Nyangena, Wilfred
The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility has recently proposed the application of strategic environmental social assessment (SESA) for incorporating environmental and social considerations in the preparation of REDD+ initiatives. This paper discusses the potential contribution of SESA to REDD+ initiatives drawing on experiences from earlier attempts to large scale forestry sector reforms and a recent World Bank pilot program on strategic environmental assessment. The paper suggests that SESA can be a useful approach for strengthening institutions and governance needed for managing diverse environmental and social impacts related to REDD+. More specifically, SESA can enhance policy making and governance through raising attention to environmental and social priorities, strengthening constituencies for policy change and improving social accountability. In order for SESA to contribute to these outcomes it needs to be assured that broad national “ownership” is achieved and that it becomes part of a long-term policy learning process with repeated and sustained stakeholder interaction. Through strengthening constituencies in policy reform SESA can potentially reduce the risk of regulatory capture of REDD+ by vested interests and make institutional checks and balances more effective. An analysis of Kenya‟s process of preparing a national REDD+ strategy is used to illustrate our case in the paper.
Environment and Climate Change Management: Perspectives for Post Conflict-Colombia
(2015) Garcia, Jorge; Slunge, Daniel; Center for International Climate and Environmental Research - Oslo, University of Gothenburg
Environment and natural resources are linked to violent conflict and human rights in Colombia in several ways. While conflict over land rights is a well-known cause of involuntary displacement, revenues from illicit drugs fuel conflict through providing financing for armed groups. Conflict and unequal development also lead to environmental degradation and loss of ecosystem services which particularly affect poor men and women. They have least capacity to cope with health problems related to poor water and air quality, food insecurity or economic shocks following natural disasters. This Policy Brief outlines key environmental and climate change issues in Colombia and discusses how these are linked to conflicts, human rights and a post-conflict scenario. The analysis provides input to the ongoing process to draft a new Swedish cooperation strategy for Colombia and responds to the Swedish Governments thematic priority of Environment and Climate Change in Development Cooperation.
Essays in Environmental Management and Economics: Public Health, Risk and Strategic Environmental Assessment
(2017-08-18) Slunge, Daniel
Abstract Current large-scale environmental and climate change leads to the emergence of new and potentially dramatic risks for individuals and societies. The welfare costs associated with these risks largely depend on our ability to take them into account in decision-making and adapt to new circumstances. By analysing how people perceive and manage risks individually and collectively, this thesis aims to improve the understanding of how these environmentally related welfare costs may be reduced. Papers 1–3 focus on risk perceptions and decision-making at the individual level and concern how people perceive and manage risks in relation to the increasing incidence of Lyme borreliosis (LB) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The empirical analysis is based on a survey with 1500 randomly selected respondents in Sweden. Papers 4 and 5 focus on risk assessment and decision-making at the collective level and concern how strategic environmental assessments are used to manage environmental risks in low- and middle-income countries. The empirical analysis is based on interviews with stakeholders involved in environmental assessments of policy reforms. Paper 1: Learning to Live with Ticks? The Role of Exposure and Risk Perceptions in Protective Behaviour Against Tick-Borne Diseases We analyse the role of risk perceptions and exposure for five protective measures against tick bites and the related diseases TBE and LB. We find a strong positive association between exposure and checking the skin for ticks, but no or weak associations between exposure and the use of protective clothing, tucking trousers into socks, the use of repellent or avoidance of tall grass in areas with ticks. Paper 2: Valuation When Baselines Are Changing: Tick-borne Disease Risk and Recreational Choice We estimate willingness to pay to avoid recreational areas with ticks, LB and TBE risk. In northern Sweden, where the presence of ticks is relatively new, the willingness to pay to avoid risk is significantly higher than in southern Sweden, where ticks are endemic. We also find that TBE-vaccinated respondents have a lower willingness to pay. These differences in willingness to pay for risk reduction between groups with different baseline risk should be taken into account when estimating welfare costs of the spread of disease vectors to new areas due to environmental and climate change. Paper 3: The Willingness to Pay for Vaccination against Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Implications for Public Health Policy: Evidence from Sweden We estimate the TBE-vaccination rate to 33% in TBE-risk areas and analyse the role of vaccine price, income and other factors influencing the demand for vaccination. We project that a subsidy making TBE vaccines free of charge could increase the vaccination rate in TBE risk areas to around 78%, with a larger effect on low-income households, whose current vaccination rate is only 15% in risk areas. Paper 4: Greening Growth through Strategic Environmental Assessment of Sector Reforms Based on an evaluation of a World Bank programme, we analyse whether strategic environmental assessments can contribute to greening sector reforms in low- and middle-income countries. We find that the institutional context plays a crucial role for the performance of environmental assessments and suggest that increased attention to institutional aspects could improve effectiveness. Paper 5: Challenges to Institutionalising Strategic Environmental Assessment: the Case of Vietnam We develop a conceptual framework for analysing constraints to the institutionalisation of strategic environmental assessments at four different institutional levels. The framework is tested in an empirical analysis of the environmental assessment system in Vietnam.
Stakeholder Interaction in Research Processes - A Guide for Researchers and Research Groups
(University of Gothenburg, 2017) Slunge, Daniel; Drakenberg, Olof; Ekbom, Anders; Göthberg, Maria; Knaggård, Åsa; Sahlin, Ullrika
In many research projects, stakeholder interaction is ad hoc rather than strategic and systematic. This guide provides advice on good practice, strategies and tools for researchers and research groups interested in finding effective ways to involve stakeholders in their research and have an impact on society.