Viešojo administravimo institutas / Institute of Public Administration

The concept of co-governance is understood as a way to build trust in government and to increase public involvement. It should lead to improvements of public services and solve wicked problems related to service provision. However, the idea of co-governance itself requires the sharing and devolution of decisionmaking power, which becomes challenging in relation to the public sector's role, their willingness to retain control, and at the same time – seeking to engage citizens. Although the aim of national strategies in Lithuania is to involve NGOs more actively in service provision, this can be challenging given the diverse characteristics, capacities, and expectations of stakeholders. Furthermore, municipalities are responsible for ensuring the provision of social services and are under pressure to guarantee their availability and quality. The case study of Marijampolė municipality was chosen as an example for analysis because it has one of the highest demands for social services in Lithuania and experience of transferring service provision to NGOs. In this context, this study aims to analyse the shifting boundary between the state and civil society in the context of public service provision. To achieve this aim, the following tasks have been set: 1. Examine the theoretical assumptions and changes in cooperation between the public sector and NGOs. 2. Identify the current cooperation between NGOs and the Marijampolė municipality in the field of service provision. 3. Provide scientific insights into the conditions necessary for co-governance of social services. The case study was conducted in several stages. First, the scientific literature, legal acts and other documents related to the research problem were analysed. Then, a qualitative study was conducted, including interviews and focus groups with representatives of the Marijampolė municipality and NGOs.

Constructive co-operation between municipal administrations and independ-ent public service providers, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), establishes favourable conditions for the development and dissemination of best practices in the delivery of high-quality social services. This research aimed to assess the development and effectiveness of co-operation between a municipal administration and NGOs in delivering social services, using Marijampolė municipality as a case study. A qualitative empirical approach, comprising interviews and focus group discussions, was employed. The Stakeholder Relationship Manage-ment Maturity (SRMM) model was used to evaluate the level of co-operation. The municipal-ity chosen for the present analysis is distinguished by a substantial presence of NGOs actively delivering services. The research findings indicate that, according to the SRMM model, the maturity of co-operation between municipal administrations and NGOs in providing social services is primarily at the procedural level, whereas relational aspects are evident within the process standardisation dimension. To foster mature co-operation, it is recommended that participants within the co-operation network establish a shared vision regarding the future of social service provision and the role of NGOs. The findings of the empirical research under-score the necessity for participants in a co-operation network to cultivate competencies essen-tial for sustaining and enhancing co-operation (e.g. communication and conflict resolution) and highlight the importance of establishing a unified culture of co-operation.

The Institution of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) provides non-judicial protection of citizens, acting as one of the key mechanisms for responding to unlawful actions or inaction by government agencies. The purpose of this article is to compare the practice of the ombudsmen of Kazakhstan, Sweden and Georgia and to identify foreign experience for the development of the national model of this institution. To achieve this goal, comparative legal analysis, analysis of regulations, official reports of ombudsmen and statistics of citizens' appeals were used. The results of the study showed that despite the similarity of the basic functions, the actual influence of the ombudsmen varies significantly and is determined by the scope of the mandate, the instruments of influence, the level of parliamentary participation and the degree of publicity of the activities. Based on the results of the analysis, a number of recommendations were formulated to strengthen the role of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Kazakhstan, including the development of parliamentary control over the implementation of recommendations, the use of publicity potential and the exercise of powers to appeal to the Constitutional Court, which makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of human rights activities. Keywords: Commissioner for Human Rights, Ombudsman, human rights, powers, complaints.

Land degradation is a global ecological and environmental issue to which the drylands with vulnerable socio-ecological systems are particularly sensitive. Ecological restoration is regarded as a vital approach to halt, curb or reverse land degradation. However, the lack of accurate information on land degradation dynamics poses a significant barrier to developing effective restoration strategies. Here, we selected fourteen typical land degradation processes in China's drylands, employed a generalised additive model to identify degradation thresholds and classify degradation states, and analysed degradation trends using the Theil-Sen slope statistic and Mann-Kendall test. We then applied the convergence of evidence method to conduct a comprehensive, multidimensional assessment coupling degradation states and trends, ultimately identifying priority areas for ecological restoration. The results showed that aridification, loss of soil organic carbon, and soil alkalisation are the most widespread forms of land degradation facing China's drylands. 70.33 % of the area is affected by 1 to 7 types of land degradation (mildly degraded state), 25.63 % is affected by 8 to 14 types (severely degraded state), and 4.04 % shows no signs of degradation (non-degraded state). While land degradation across all three states generally exhibits a stable trend, mildly degraded areas showed signs of improvement, whereas severely degraded areas remain at risk of further degradation. Based on the states and trends of land degradation, China's drylands can be categorised into restoration-priority areas (6.79 %), conservation-priority areas (11.74 %), and management-priority areas (81.47 %), each with distinct focus and intervention needs. This study can help decision-makers understand the dynamics of land degradation and develop priority strategies for ecological restoration.

The main problem in the study of sports management is the low performance of our athletes in international arenas, the article shows the financing issues with the prerequisites for solving these problems. The article shows the special place of digitalization in improving the management of Olympic and non-Olympic sports in our country. The country's management strategy in this area for 2021–2025 allows us to draw conclusions by analyzing, comparing, and processing statistical information. In the course of innovations, such features as the sports history of athletes, the work experience of coaches, the awarding of sports titles and ranks, qualification categories, and the timing of sports events in accordance with a single sports calendar are highlighted. In order to clarify the scientific work, foreign information was used comparatively. In this direction, work is shown to align the legislative acts in the field of physical culture and sports with a number of subordinate acts. In addition, information will be provided on the development of non-state financing of Olympic and non-Olympic sports, and on this basis, the prerequisites for work to be carried out to end state financing of the country's sports industry will be considered.

Nuolatiniai pokyčiai neišvengiami organizacijoms norint veikti tvariai šiandieninėje darbo rinkoje. Skyriuje atskleidžiama pokyčio ir pokyčių valdymo samprata, jų klasifikavimo būdai, apžvelgiama pokyčių valdymo modelių kaita, pradedant klasikiniais, pvz. K. Lewin, J. Kotter darbais, ir baigiant šiuolaikiniais pokyčių valdymo modeliais, tokiais kaip ADKAR sistema, analizuojamos šios sistemos integracijos galimybės su CLARC pokyčių valdymo pozicijomis. Skyriuje kalbama apie pokyčių valdymo svarbą bei naudą, identifikuojamos dažniausiai sutinkamos darbuotojų pasipriešinimo pokyčiams priežastys, jų šalinimo būdai ir žmonių išteklių valdymo skyrių funkcijos bei galimybės šiuose procesuose. Taip pat skyriuje aptariamas organizacinės kultūros vaidmuo veiksmingam pokyčių valdymui. Pokyčių valdymas žmonių išteklių valdymo kontekste analizuojamas ne tik per procesų atnaujinimą, bet ir tikslingą elgsenos, įgūdžių bei technologijų suderinimą.