Prépublications

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure — Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being; Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies; Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet. This study examines the comparative approaches to big data for urban planning in Singapore and Rwanda, focusing on how each country leverages digital technologies, data analytics, and spatial information systems to manage urban growth, enhance infrastructure efficiency, and promote sustainable development. The research analyzes the technological infrastructures, governance frameworks, and implementation strategies that characterize each country's approach to data-driven urbanism, while critically examining the transferability of models across vastly different contexts. A comparative analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including government documentation, academic research, institutional reports, and news coverage covering recent developments to 2025-2026. Singapore presents a globally recognized model of advanced data-driven urbanism, where the "Smart Nation" vision has evolved into a comprehensive ecosystem of integrated digital infrastructure. At the heart of this system lies the Open Digital Platform (ODP), co-developed by GovTech and JTC, which serves as a "digital nervous system" enabling diverse urban systems—from elevators and energy sensors to security turnstiles and autonomous vehicles—to communicate through a unified platform . This convergence of Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI),…

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 1: No Poverty — Target 1.4: Ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services; Target 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty; Target 1.5: Build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure to climate-related extreme events. This study examines the comparative approaches to microfinance institutions (MFIs) and their social performance in Bolivia and Indonesia, focusing on how each country's unique institutional contexts, regulatory frameworks, and measurement practices shape the ability of microfinance to contribute meaningfully to poverty reduction. The research analyzes the evolution of social performance management, the tensions between financial sustainability and social impact, and the innovative strategies being deployed to ensure that microfinance serves its intended purpose of reaching the poor and vulnerable. A comparative policy and institutional analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including academic research, institutional reports, field mission documentation, and contemporary case studies covering developments from the 1990s to 2025-2026. Bolivia presents a dynamic and evolving microfinance landscape where institutions are increasingly prioritizing the systematic measurement and management of social and environmental performance. With over 45,000 borrowers served by institutions like Idepro IFD, the sector is undergoing significant transformation, including mergers that combine rural and urban lending portfolios . Following the 2024 merger between Idepro IFD and the rural-focused…

Cette étude examine les approches comparatives de la diversité des genres dans la direction des entreprises en Norvège et en Inde, en se concentrant sur la manière dont les cadres politiques uniques, les contextes culturels et les mécanismes de mise en œuvre de chaque pays façonnent les résultats pour les femmes dans les conseils d'administration et les postes de direction. La recherche analyse l'évolution des interventions législatives, l'écart entre la représentation formelle et l'influence substantielle, et les obstacles structurels persistants qui limitent la progression des femmes vers le leadership. Une analyse comparative des politiques et de la culture a été menée en examinant des sources primaires et secondaires, y compris les cadres législatifs, la documentation réglementaire, la recherche académique et les données contemporaines sur les entreprises couvrant les développements récents jusqu'en 2025-2026. La Norvège présente un modèle mature de diversité des genres basé sur des quotas, devenu une référence internationale pour la gouvernance paritaire. La loi de 2003 imposant 40 % de représentation féminine dans les conseils d'administration a été étendue en janvier 2024 par une nouvelle législation s'appliquant à environ 11 000 entreprises dont les revenus dépassent 50 millions de couronnes norvégiennes ou comptant plus de 30 employés, avec une mise en œuvre progressive jusqu'en 2028 . Le Centre de registre de Brønnøysund assure le respect de la loi en refusant l'enregistrement aux conseils non conformes, les violations persistantes pouvant déclencher une dissolution forcée, transformant ainsi l'équilibre des genres d'un "engagement mou à une exigence légale stricte" . Les…

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth — Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men; Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation; Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers. This study examines the comparative approaches to employee motivation and the cultural values that shape them in Japan and the United States, focusing on how each country's unique historical context, institutional frameworks, and deeply embedded cultural norms influence workplace engagement, reward systems, and the relationship between employees and their organizations. The research analyzes the foundational philosophies underlying motivation—from Japan's emphasis on loyalty, collective identity, and intrinsic purpose to America's focus on individual achievement, performance-based rewards, and career mobility. A comparative cultural and policy analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including academic research, institutional reports, contemporary surveys, and cross-cultural management studies covering developments from 2000 to 2025-2026. Japan presents a distinctive motivational landscape rooted in collective values, lifetime employment traditions, and an emerging recognition of purpose-driven engagement. The traditional Japanese workplace has been characterized by loyalty, stability, and long-term employment, where employees stay with companies for decades—but this loyalty does not automatically translate into motivation or productivity . With only 7% of Japanese employees engaged at work—the lowest among 139 countries surveyed and dramatically below the global average of 21%—Japan faces a profound engagement crisis . This paradox of loyal disengagement…

This study examines the comparative dynamics of fintech for financial inclusion and the role of trust and community banking in Kenya and Singapore, two countries at vastly different stages of financial development yet both leveraging technology to expand access to financial services. Despite their divergent economic contexts and institutional infrastructures, both nations grapple with fundamental questions about how to build trust in digital financial services, reach underserved populations, and integrate fintech innovation with community-based financial institutions. The research employs a comparative case study methodology, drawing on policy documents, empirical data, academic research, and scholarly analyses spanning 2020-2026. Kenya's fintech revolution, anchored by the M-PESA mobile money platform launched in 2007, has become a global model for financial inclusion through technology. M-PESA now reaches 98% of households, with 77% of adults using mobile money services, transforming how Kenyans save, borrow, and transfer money . The platform's success is rooted in the trust built through Safaricom's extensive agent network—local shopkeepers and vendors who serve as trusted intermediaries, particularly in rural areas . Building on this foundation, Kenya's fintech ecosystem has expanded to include lending platforms like Tala and Branch, which use alternative data (smartphone usage patterns, social network analysis) to assess creditworthiness for previously unbanked populations . However, challenges persist: a 2024 study of digital credit users in Nairobi found that 42% had defaulted on loans, with aggressive debt collection practices causing psychological distress . Regulatory gaps in the digital lending sector led to the 2022 Digital Credit Providers Regulations, requiring licensing…

In the healthcare sector, exchanges between community health workers and traditional healers remain a significant challenge for improving patient care in their respective communities, especially in low-income countries where access to healthcare is limited. This study will allow us to examine the forms of collaboration that exist between these two entities within their respective communities, namely Ethiopia and Brazil. In Ethiopia, the community takes the role of traditional healers very seriously. As such, they play a vital role in the therapeutic care of the population, giving them a major place in the healthcare system, particularly in low-income rural areas where they are often the first point of contact for care. Furthermore, while there is indeed excellent collaboration with community health workers, this collaboration unfortunately faces numerous challenges, including a lack of institutional recognition, the absence of cooperation protocols, and differing understandings of illness. In contrast, in Brazil, collaboration between the population and traditional healers is better organized thanks to the political and public health system, which has highlighted the sector, particularly for primary care in Indigenous communities. Community health workers play a central role in mediating between modern health services and traditional knowledge. In this respect, the comparison between the two communities underscores the central role of policies, therapeutic dialogue for primary care, cultural recognition of each community, and early disease detection for improved population management.

This study examines the comparative dynamics of informal workers' rights and social protection in Peru and Senegal, two countries where informal employment constitutes the majority of the workforce yet where policy approaches to extending social protection have taken distinct pathways. Despite their divergent regional contexts and institutional histories, both nations grapple with the fundamental challenge of designing social protection systems that reach workers outside formal employment relationships. The research employs a comparative case study methodology, drawing on policy documents, program evaluations, statistical data, and scholarly analyses spanning 2020-2026. Peru presents a case of persistent structural informality despite decades of economic growth. With over 70% of workers in informal employment—including 73% of employed women—the majority lack access to pensions, health insurance, or employment protection . The Peruvian constitution guarantees universal right to social security, yet legislation ties access primarily to contributions from formal salaried employment, leaving a significant portion of the population with limited or no coverage . Non-wage labour costs, amounting to 23.4% for average-income workers but reaching 124% of labour income for informal salaried workers in the bottom income decile, create powerful disincentives for formalisation . Special regimes for micro and small enterprises, while designed to encourage formalisation, have created distortions that discourage firm growth and perpetuate informality . Recent analysis by Peruvian scholars calls for a paradigm shift from "labour protection" focused on formal employment to "social protection" covering workers throughout their life cycle, regardless of employment status . The ANITA research project on women domestic workers in…

This study examines the comparative dynamics of microfinance and savings group cultures in Burundi and Bangladesh, two countries with distinct historical trajectories yet shared reliance on community-based financial mechanisms to address poverty and financial exclusion. Despite their divergent contexts, both nations grapple with the fundamental question of how informal and semi-formal financial institutions can effectively serve the poor, build social capital, and contribute to sustainable poverty reduction. The research employs a comparative case study methodology, drawing on empirical studies, project reports, impact evaluations, and scholarly analyses spanning 2020-2026. Bangladesh is globally recognized as the birthplace of modern microfinance, with the Grameen Bank's pioneering model demonstrating how group lending using social collateral can achieve high repayment rates while reaching millions of poor, predominantly women, borrowers. The Grameen model, developed since 1976, institutionalized practices including self-selected groups of five, compulsory weekly savings, public repayment meetings, and peer monitoring, creating a disciplined savings and credit culture that has been replicated worldwide . By 2025, Grameen Bank alone had millions of borrowers, with repayment rates consistently above 95%. The model's success catalyzed a vast microfinance sector in Bangladesh, including BRAC, ASA, and numerous NGOs, reaching an estimated 30-40 million borrowers. Research on Bangladesh's microfinance culture highlights the critical role of social collateral—where borrowers' social reputation within their community serves as guarantee—and the importance of disciplined weekly meetings in reinforcing repayment norms . However, challenges persist, including concerns about over-indebtedness, high interest rates, and the transformation of some MFIs into for-profit institutions. The Village Savings…

This study examines the comparative dynamics of women's participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in Germany and India, two countries with distinct cultural contexts, policy frameworks, and trajectories in gender equality. Despite their divergent pathways, both nations grapple with the fundamental question of why women remain underrepresented in STEM fields and what cultural barriers and enablers shape their educational and professional trajectories. The research employs a comparative case study methodology, drawing on empirical research, statistical data, policy documents, and scholarly analyses spanning 2020-2026. Germany presents a paradox: a highly developed economy with strong institutional frameworks yet persistent underrepresentation of women in STEM. A 2024 group concept mapping study involving 70 women professors and scientific staff across German universities revealed that stereotypical beliefs about women, heteronomous gender roles, gender workload imbalances, sexism, and structural power relations remain significant factors hindering female success in STEM careers in higher education. Women researchers report that despite top-down measures, these issues persist, though they see potential in pedagogical interventions that raise awareness of gender bias, particularly in collaborative learning scenarios. Statistical data shows that women comprise only 29.4% of researchers in Germany overall, with representation varying dramatically by sector: 41.4% in higher education, 38.3% in government, but merely 15.6% in the corporate sector. Yet individual success stories and institutional initiatives demonstrate pathways forward. The Fraunhofer TALENTA program offers customized development for women in STEM across all career phases, providing qualifications, support programs, and networking opportunities. Young researchers like Teena tom Dieck, awarded the…

This study examines the comparative approaches to business ethics and corruption prevention in Chad and Singapore, two countries occupying radically different positions in global corruption perceptions and institutional development. Despite their divergent trajectories, both nations face the fundamental challenge of creating ethical business environments that foster investment, economic growth, and sustainable development. The research employs a comparative case study methodology, drawing on policy documents, corruption indices, empirical studies, and scholarly analyses spanning 2020-2026. Singapore represents a global paradigm of successful corruption control, consistently ranking among the world's least corrupt nations. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), operating directly under the Prime Minister's Office, combines strong investigative powers with political independence. Singapore's anti-corruption framework rests on three pillars: comprehensive legislation (Prevention of Corruption Act), rigorous enforcement, and preventive education. The CPIB's prevention mandate emphasizes clear business processes, gifts and entertainment policies, conflict of interest declarations, and accessible whistleblowing systems (CPIB, 2026). However, recent research reveals persistent challenges. A 2025 study found Singapore's anti-corruption disclosure score dropped to 63% in 2024, with 23.7% of listed companies not disclosing whistleblowing investigation panels (Singapore Business Review, 2025). More strikingly, 86% of Singapore board members surveyed admitted uncovering corrupt practices in their organizations, while 56% acknowledged their anti-bribery policies do not work effectively (The Edge Malaysia, 2026). These findings suggest that even mature systems face implementation gaps between formal policies and lived practice. Chad presents a fundamentally different reality. Ranked 162 out of 180 on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (2019) and 182 out of…

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions — Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels; Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels; Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms. This study examines the comparative approaches to government communication and citizen trust in Gabon and Rwanda, focusing on how each country's communication strategies, institutional frameworks, and governance philosophies shape the relationship between the state and its citizens. The research analyzes the mechanisms for citizen engagement, the handling of dissent and public protest, the use of digital platforms for government-citizen interaction, and the implications for institutional trust and legitimacy. A comparative analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including news reporting, institutional documentation, governance assessments, and academic commentary covering recent developments to 2026. Gabon presents a contemporary landscape of government communication marked by increasing centralization and control in response to social unrest. In February 2026, the High Authority for Communication imposed an indefinite suspension of social media platforms including Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp, citing concerns over "inappropriate, defamatory, hateful and insulting content" that allegedly undermines human dignity, institutions, and national security . This action comes amid Gabon's first major wave of social unrest since President Brice Oligui Nguema's election in 2025, with teachers striking over pay and conditions and protests spreading to health, higher education, and broadcasting sectors. Critics accuse the government of imposing a "climate of fear and repression" and clamping…

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being — Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all; Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines. This study examines the comparative approaches to bioethics frameworks governing genetic research in the United States and China, focusing on how each country's regulatory architecture, institutional mechanisms, and ethical traditions shape the oversight of transformative technologies like CRISPR and human genome editing. The research analyzes the foundational principles, governance structures, and implementation challenges that characterize each nation's response to the ethical imperatives of the genomic era, particularly in the aftermath of the 2018 He Jiankui incident. A comparative legal and policy analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including constitutional provisions, federal regulations, academic commentary, and institutional documentation covering recent developments to 2025-2026. The United States presents a mature yet fragmented bioethics landscape characterized by decentralized governance, robust institutional review mechanisms, and growing attention to group-level ethical considerations. The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) mandates that at least 5% of its budget be dedicated to studying the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genomic research—a pioneering commitment that has shaped global discourse . The Common Rule (45 CFR 46) provides the foundational framework…

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy — Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix; Target 7.1: Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services; Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. This study examines the comparative approaches to green economy transitions and their implications for social equity in Costa Rica and Norway, focusing on how each country's energy policies, institutional frameworks, and political economies shape the distribution of benefits and burdens associated with decarbonization. The research analyzes the tensions between ambitious climate goals and the realities of social inclusion, the treatment of marginalized and indigenous communities in energy planning, and the conceptual challenges of defining truly sustainable development. A comparative analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including academic research, institutional documentation, and critical policy analysis covering recent developments to 2025-2026. Costa Rica presents a complex picture of a nation long celebrated as a global leader in environmental policy, yet facing emerging tensions between its green reputation and contemporary political-economic realities. The country has achieved over 99% renewable electricity generation and adopted one of the world's first national decarbonization plans, with its constitutional abolition of the military in 1948 freeing resources for social spending and environmental investment . Recent UN-backed initiatives demonstrate continued commitment: a February 2025 joint programme with the United Nations mobilizes over $410,000 to develop a National Biomethane Strategy, focusing on converting agricultural waste from coffee, banana,…

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions — Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all; Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels; Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms. This study examines the comparative approaches to legal pluralism and the recognition of customary law in South Africa and Bolivia, focusing on how each country's constitutional frameworks, judicial interpretations, and institutional mechanisms shape the relationship between state law and indigenous normative systems. The research analyzes the tensions between legal pluralism and constitutional supremacy, the treatment of gender equality within customary law, and the challenges of harmonizing diverse legal traditions within unified state structures. A comparative constitutional and legal analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including constitutional provisions, judicial decisions, academic commentary, and institutional documentation covering the post-1990s constitutional reform periods to 2025-2026. South Africa presents a sophisticated model of legal pluralism rooted in its transformative constitutional project following apartheid. The Constitution of 1996 explicitly recognizes customary law as part of the legal order, subject to constitutional supremacy and fundamental rights protections. The Constitutional Court has played a pivotal role in defining the parameters of customary law recognition through landmark decisions including Shilubana v Nwamitwa (2009) on traditional leadership succession, Bhe v Magistrate Khayelitsha (2005) on primogeniture and inheritance rights, and Mayelane v Ngwenyama (2013) on consent requirements for customary marriages…

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions — Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms; Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels; Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. This study examines the comparative approaches to forensic accounting and anti-corruption frameworks in South Africa and Brazil, focusing on how each country's legal infrastructure, institutional mechanisms, and professional capacity shape the fight against financial crime. The research analyzes the legislative frameworks, investigative methodologies, and systemic challenges that characterize each nation's response to corruption, drawing on recent empirical evidence and institutional developments. A comparative analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including peer-reviewed research, government documentation, professional practice guides, and institutional reports covering recent developments to 2025-2026. South Africa presents a complex landscape where forensic accounting has emerged as a critical tool in the fight against endemic corruption, yet faces significant capacity constraints and enforcement challenges. Research demonstrates that fraud and corruption remain persistent obstacles to democratic values, accountability, and sustainable development, with the Steinhoff scandal exemplifying how corruption permeates both public and private sectors . Forensic auditing plays a strategic role in tackling financial crime, with institutions like the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) employing specialized investigators to protect public interest . However, empirical studies reveal concerning patterns: while current laws and regulations are generally considered adequate to address economic crime, law…

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 4: Quality Education — Target 4.1: Ensure free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education; Target 4.4: Substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship; Target 4.5: Eliminate gender disparities and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable. This study examines the comparative approaches to AI-powered personalized learning and its implications for educational equity in Finland and Singapore, focusing on how each country's unique educational philosophies, governance structures, and technological strategies shape the deployment of artificial intelligence in ways that either bridge or potentially exacerbate existing learning gaps. The research analyzes the policy frameworks, implementation models, and equity mechanisms that characterize each nation's path toward AI-enhanced education. A comparative policy and technological analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including government documentation, academic research, institutional reports, and contemporary news coverage covering developments to 2025-2026. Finland presents a human-centric model where AI integration is guided by a deeply rooted educational philosophy emphasizing student well-being, holistic development, and social cohesion. The 2025 National Guidelines on Artificial Intelligence in Education establish "transparency, fairness, and accountability" as non-negotiable principles, ensuring that technology serves human development rather than displacing it . The renowned Ritaharju Future School in Oulu embeds AI not as a standalone subject but through cross-disciplinary projects woven into mathematics, science, social studies, and arts, where students use AI tools to collect and analyze local environmental data, developing…

The study falls into SDG focus goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being — Target 3.4: Reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment; Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all; Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries. This study examines the comparative approaches to genomics research and population diversity between Iceland and Nigeria, focusing on population structure, genetic diversity, research infrastructure, discovery of medically relevant variants, and implications for global health equity and precision medicine. A comparative analysis was conducted examining peer-reviewed genomic studies from both countries, including deCODE Genetics research on Icelandic population sequencing, ancient DNA studies revealing Iceland's founding history, whole-genome sequencing of Nigerian populations across multiple ethnolinguistic groups, and genetic relationship analyses among Nigerian ethnic groups. Iceland represents one of the world's most extensively characterized founder populations. The Icelandic population, founded approximately 1,100 years ago by Norse and Gaelic settlers, has been shaped by extensive genetic drift due to isolation and small population size . Large-scale sequencing of 15,220 Icelanders to 34X coverage identified over 39 million autosomal variants, including 31 million SNPs and 7.9 million indels, with family-based approaches enabling high-confidence detection of 108,778 de novo mutations . The population's structure reflects recent drift rather than ancient divergence, minimizing false positives in disease association…

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities — Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums; Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning; Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces. This study examines the comparative approaches to urban slum upgrading and community participation in India and Brazil, focusing on how each country's unique policy frameworks, grassroots movements, and governance structures shape the relationship between state interventions and community agency. The research analyzes the mechanisms for resident participation, the tensions between institutional objectives and community expectations, and the emerging models that seek to bridge the gap between top-down planning and bottom-up action. A comparative policy and case study analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including government documentation, academic research, institutional reports, and contemporary news coverage covering recent developments to 2025-2026. India presents a dynamic and contested landscape where community participation is emerging as both a grassroots reality and a policy aspiration. The country's first Self-Redevelopment Project under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), led by social activist Medha Patkar, represents a historic shift where over 250 families displaced by a 2006 demolition drive are now acting as their own developers . This cooperative model cuts out private builders entirely, with residents deciding on design, quality, and timeline, ensuring "dignity, transparency, and ownership" . However, this grassroots…

This study falls within SDG Focus Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals — Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development; Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources; Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. This study examines the comparative approaches to multi-stakeholder partnerships for SDG implementation in Germany and Ghana, focusing on how each country's unique governance structures, historical contexts, and institutional frameworks shape the design and effectiveness of partnership mechanisms. The research analyzes the formal structures for stakeholder engagement, the integration of science and civil society into policy processes, and the innovative partnership models emerging in both national contexts. A comparative policy and institutional analysis was conducted examining primary and secondary sources including government documentation, United Nations reports, academic research, and contemporary case studies covering recent developments to 2025-2026. Germany presents a mature, institutionally embedded model of multi-stakeholder partnership operating within a federal governance system. The country's approach is characterized by formal structures that systematically integrate diverse stakeholders into policy processes. The Subcommittee on Sustainable Development in Lower Saxony, established for the 2021-2027 EU funding period, exemplifies this approach: voting members represent state institutions, regional trade associations, academia, and civil society organizations, with advisory members able to participate in activities . Meeting six times since 2022, the subcommittee has made valuable contributions to debates on criteria for examining compliance with the cross-cutting principle of sustainable development and…

This study examines the comparative dynamics of small business resilience and the role of social capital in Burkina Faso and Italy, two countries with vastly different economic contexts but shared reliance on small enterprises as backbone of their economies. Despite their divergent development trajectories, both nations face the fundamental challenge of sustaining small businesses through economic shocks, institutional weaknesses, and market uncertainties. The research employs a comparative case study methodology, drawing on policy documents, empirical studies, enterprise surveys, and scholarly analyses spanning 2020-2026. Italy's small business landscape is characterized by the iconic "distretti industriali" (industrial districts)—geographic concentrations of small and medium enterprises, often family-owned, operating in specialized sectors such as textiles, machinery, furniture, and food processing. These districts are sustained by dense networks of social capital built on family ties, local identity, and long-term business relationships. Research documents how social capital within industrial districts facilitates knowledge spillovers, trust-based transactions, collective innovation, and flexible responses to market changes (Becattini et al., 2020). The Emilia-Romagna model, in particular, has been studied as a paradigm of small business resilience, with cooperative networks providing shared services, credit guarantees, and export consortia. However, the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent economic stagnation exposed vulnerabilities: many districts struggled with global competition, succession challenges in family firms, and erosion of traditional social capital (De Marchi & Grandinetti, 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic further tested resilience, with some districts adapting through digitalization and supply chain reconfiguration while others declined. The 2024 budget's support for small business networks and consortia reflects…