TTLA: Citizen participation in waste management ensures sustainable urban development.

1. Full name of doctoral candidate: Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: November 7, 1986 4. Place of birth: Hai Phong

5. Decision No. 5658/QD-SDH, dated November 17, 2008, of the Director of Hanoi National University, recognizing the doctoral student.

6. Changes in the training process: Decision to change the thesis title No. 685a/QD-SDH, dated June 2, 2010, by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

7. Thesis title: Citizen participation in waste management activities to ensure sustainable urban development (case study of Hoan Kiem district and Ung Hoa district, Hanoi).

8. Major: Sociology 9. Code: 62.31.30.01

10. Scientific supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Cao Dam, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Hoa

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis

    The firstCompared to previous studies, this thesis not only describes the current state of waste sorting, collection, and treatment by residents, but also adds other dimensions of participation, namely indirect activities such as paying sanitation fees, inspection/monitoring, propaganda, advocacy, and contributing opinions in the decision-making process. The research results showed that different social groups have different levels of participation in direct and indirect waste management in residential areas. Individuals in families with members involved in government and social organizations have a higher level of participation in advocacy than other individuals. Women and those currently retired have a higher level of participation.

    MondayCitizen participation in the development of waste management regulations and policies spans a spectrum, from the lowest level of complying with rules set by the governing body to the highest level of contributing opinions while retaining the decision-making power with the governing body. The level of citizen participation is inversely proportional to the scope of influence of each regulation; that is, regulations with a smaller scope of influence, such as within a residential area, have a higher level of citizen participation and a broader scope of citizen power. Conversely, when the scope of influence of a regulation is larger, extending beyond the community, the level of participation of the community group becomes lower and the scope of citizen power is also narrowed.

Thirdly, the thesis identified factors influencing the level of citizen participation. Citizen participation in waste management activities is more effective when there is consensus between two groups of factors: on one hand, individual needs, motivations, and perceptions; and on the other hand, institutions, including policies and community customs and habits. The thesis found that a lack of transparency in the development and implementation of regulations, along with a lack of attention to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, are limiting factors affecting the participation of all segments of the population in urban waste management. In addition, community habits regarding gender roles in waste management, reluctance and lack of initiative in community meetings, and ineffective communication also affect citizen participation.

    WednesdayThis thesis assessed the current situation and analyzed the factors influencing citizen participation in the context of Vietnam's implementation of sustainable development goals. The analysis in the study indicated that, despite signs of factors contributing to sustainability such as providing more employment opportunities for urban residents (scrap metal collection), mobilizing citizens to participate in the development and implementation of waste management policies, and community projects that encourage people to participate in waste sorting at source, many issues still remain that fail to meet economic, social, and environmental sustainability standards and do not ensure the effective implementation of the principles of sustainable development, including the principle of sustainable development.prevent, principleequality among peersand principlespaid service users.

12. Practical applications:

- This is a reference document that can be used for the Environmental Sociology course.

- The thesis proposes several solutions to enhance citizen participation in waste management activities, such as continuing to maintain local waste sorting at source activities that have been piloted under the 3R project, establishing an official feedback channel through which citizens can directly send their opinions and assessments to environmental sanitation companies regarding the environmental services they are receiving, and implementing a process of gathering citizen feedback on the development of regulations and policies through surveys in residential areas.

13. Future research directions: studying the process of formulating and implementing environmental policies and the impact of these policies on communities.

14. Published works related to the dissertation

- Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung (2014), “Theories of community participation in policy planning and their applicability to the process of making environmental decisions in Vietnam”,Journal of Sociology(2), pp.71-81.

- Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung (2014), "The influence of stakeholders on the level of citizen participation in waste management activities in Hanoi",Vietnam National University Hanoi Journal of Science(2), pp.16-27.

- Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung (2014), “Household waste management in Hanoi today: current situation and problems”,Journal of Human Studies(5), pp.48-62.

- Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung (2012), “Social policies for vulnerable groups under the impact of climate change in Vietnam”,International Workshop “Sharing International Experiences on Social Policy and Social Security”,Hanoi National University, pp. 283-294.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name: Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: November 7^th, 1986 4. Place of birth: Hai Phong city

5. Admission of decision number: 5658/QD-DH, date November 17^th, 2008, issued by the President of Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in academic process: Decision on changing the thesis title, decision number 685a/QD-SDH, date June 2^nd, 2010, issued by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi

7. Official thesis title: Public participation in waste towards urban sustainable development (a case study of Hoan kiem and Ung Hoa Disctrict, Hanoi).

8. Major: Sociology 9. Code: 62.31.30.01

10. Supervisors: Assoc.Prof. Dr Vu Cao Dam, Assoc.Prof.Dr Nguyen Thi Kim Hoa

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

First, compared to the previous studies, the thesis not only describes the situation of public participation in waste separation, collection and disposal, but also adds another level of involvement, such as environmental fee payment, monitoring the activities of waste management, community advocacy and contribution in decision-making processes. The results of this investigation have shown that various social groups have different levels of participation in the process of direct and indirect waste management in residential areas. Within the community, the females, retired-people and the people whose families are involved as leaders of the local government and social organizations participate the most.

Secondly, according to the results of this research, the public participation in establishing the regulations and policies exists in a wide spectrum. At the lowest degree of participation, the public complies solely with government rules and policies, while at the highest degree members of the public actually articulate their ideas, but decisions are still made by the local government. The degree of participation of the people is inversely related to the scope of impact of each rule. Policies with a lower scope (policies at residential areas level) will receive a higher degree of public participation. In contrast, policies with a broader scope of impact that is beyond the local community, will have lower involvement of public participation. As a result, the public lacks the power to significantly impact policies that extend beyond the local community.

Thirdly, the thesis identifies factors that affect the level of participation of the public. Citizens involve themselves more efficiently in waste management activities when alignment exists between two critical groups of factors: personal factors including the people's awareness, motivation and needs, and social factors, such as institutions, policies and the habits of community. This thesis has discovered that the lack of transparency in the development and implementation of regulations, along with inadequate attention to hazardous groups, are factors limiting the potential for public participation in the management of municipal waste. Additionally, the traditional self-limiting community perceptions of gender roles in the process of waste management, timidity of local citizens, lack of initiative during meetings in neighborhoods, and ineffective communication also limit the participation of the people

Finally, the thesis describes the current situation of public participation in urban waste management and analyzes factors affecting the level of public participation from the perspective of urban sustainable development in Vietnam. The thesis results indicate that there exists the potential for sustainable development in the process of waste management, such as providing jobs for urban citizens (waste pickers), improving the quality of public neighborhood meetings to provide people greater opportunities to express their opinions, their needs and problems in their neighborhood. Furthermore, there is a multitude of projects at the community level that strengthen people's awareness and action, such as the project 3R of waste separation in 4 wards in Hanoi. The attainment of the core principles of sustainable development, including the precautionary principle, intra-generational principle and the polluter/user pays principle, are hindered by many remaining issues.

12. Practical applicability

- The thesis could be used as the reference for the Sociology of Environment.

- The thesis recommends a number of solutions to improve public participation in waste management to enhance sustainable urban development, such as continuing waste separation, establishing an official channel for people to give their feedback of waste services to waste service suppliers, and proactively collecting people's opinions on issues related to waste management in the neighborhood through questionnaires.

13. Further research direction: the process of making and implementing environmental policies and the influences of these policies on the community.

14. Thesis-related publications

- Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung (2014), “The theory of public participation in policy making and its applicability into environmental decision making in Vietnam”,Sociology(2), pp.71-81

- Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung (2014), “The influence of stakeholders on the level of public participation in waste management in Hanoi”,Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities(2), pp.16-27

- Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung (2014), “Waste management in Hanoi household at present: situation and problems”,Human Studies(5), pp.48-62

- Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung (2012), “Social policies for the vulnerable people due to climate change in Vietnam”,International conference on “Sharing international experiences on social policies and social welfare”,the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, pp.283-294.