Journal of Sustainable Institutional Management

Northeast Bank of Brazil's Role in Promoting Entrepreneurial Innovation in Family Farming through Renewable Energy Financing

Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Objective: This study aims to analyze the influence of Banco do Nordeste (Northeast Bank of Brazil) in promoting innovative entrepreneurship in family farming through its renewable energy financing policies.

Method: A quantitative research methodology was employed, involving a survey of 164 family farmers located in the rural areas of Rio Grande do Norte. The collected data were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and multiple linear regression (MLR) to assess the relationships between entrepreneurial innovation, renewable energy adoption, and competitive advantage in family farming.

Results: The findings demonstrate that innovative entrepreneurship facilitated by Banco do Nordeste's financing policies significantly contributes to 59.5% of the development in family farming. Furthermore, renewable energy adoption is shown to have a considerable influence, accounting for 39.3% of the entrepreneurial innovation by lowering operational costs and minimizing environmental impacts. These results underscore the critical role of Banco do Nordeste in supporting regional development and encouraging sustainable practices among family farmers.

Conclusions: The study concludes that Banco do Nordeste’s renewable energy financing policies are instrumental in fostering entrepreneurial innovation and promoting the sustainable development of family farming. This emphasizes the need for increased awareness and dissemination of such financing programs to enhance their effectiveness. Additionally, the development of a framework for analyzing entrepreneurial innovation in family farming offers a valuable resource for future research and policy development.

Corporate ESG Practices in High-Risk Sectors: The case of Vale S.A.

Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Objective: This study seeks to examine the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices adopted by corporations operating in high-risk sectors, with particular emphasis on the case of Vale S.A. following the Mariana and Brumadinho disasters in Brazil.

Methodology: The research employs a qualitative methodology, grounded in a single-case study design. Documentary analysis was conducted on sustainability reports, institutional statements, and secondary data, with the objective of identifying discrepancies between the ESG narrative promoted by the company and its actual institutional conduct.

Findings: The findings reveal a disjunction between the ESG commitments publicly communicated and the company’s operational realities. Although Vale has enhanced its ESG disclosures and reporting mechanisms, such initiatives proved insufficient to prevent reputational crises and recurring socio-environmental tragedies. The evidence suggests the prevalence of symbolic conformity, wherein governance rhetoric fails to translate into substantive organizational practices.

Practical Implications: The study underscores the imperative of strengthening oversight and accountability mechanisms in ESG management, particularly in sectors characterized by elevated environmental and social exposure.

Originality/Value: By analyzing a paradigmatic case within the Brazilian extractive industry, this research contributes to the broader discourse on institutional sustainability, ethical governance, and the risks of formalistic adherence to ESG frameworks.

Analysis of ESG practices in brazilian oil and gas companies

Francisca Noeme Moreira de Araújo, Janice Queiroz de Pinho Gonçalves — Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Objective: To analyze the ESG practices adopted by Brazilian companies in the oil and gas sector, highlighting implemented strategies and observed impacts.

Theoretical Framework: The concept of ESG is addressed, as well as its growing importance for companies in terms of competitiveness, reputation, and organizational resilience, based on current studies.

Method: Adopts a qualitative approach, analyzing sustainability reports of selected companies in the oil and gas sector. Environmental, social, and governance dimensions are considered, using specific variables to consistently assess ESG practices.

Results and Conclusion: The results reveal a variety of focuses adopted by companies regarding ESG. Some companies prioritize environmental management, while others focus on social or governance aspects. Initiatives include carbon emission reduction, waste management, workplace safety, diversity, and business ethics, among others.

Research Implications: Provides valuable insights for oil and gas companies to enhance their ESG practices, contributing to academic advancement in understanding ESG implementation, especially in the energy sector. Socially, it highlights the relevance of corporate responsibility and sustainability for society.

Originality/Value: This study is significant for advancing socio-environmental management, focusing on ESG practices in oil and gas companies. Its originality lies in the analysis of these companies' strategies in Brazil, providing a unique perspective on sustainability and corporate governance in the country.

From Policy to Practice: Organizational Culture and ESG Implementation in the Wind Energy Sector

Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Purpose: To analyze the main challenges and organizational practices related to gender diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the wind energy sector, within the framework of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This is a qualitative multiple case study based on 10 semi-structured interviews with professionals from managerial and executive roles across organizations in the Brazilian wind energy sector. Thematic content analysis was applied using both deductive and inductive categories supported by software-assisted coding.

Findings: Results reveal a structural gap between corporate D&I initiatives and organizational culture. Five major challenges were identified—organizational culture, democratization of information, governance composition, social politicization, and institutional training. Ten D&I practices were mapped, forming a roadmap that can support ESG implementation in the global wind energy sector.

Research Limitations: The study is limited to the Brazilian context and focuses on qualitative perceptions, which may not be generalizable to all wind industry environments.

Practical Implications: Provides actionable insights for industry leaders and policymakers seeking to advance ESG integration through inclusive practices. The roadmap serves as a reference for improving organizational alignment with sustainability and diversity goals.

Social Implications: Emphasizes the importance of promoting inclusive labor markets and equitable access to training and leadership roles, especially in emerging energy economies.

Originality/Value: The article offers a novel contribution by combining ESG implementation with organizational culture and gender-related challenges in the wind energy sector, bridging the gap between policy discourse and practical integration.

Geopolitical Instability and the Challenge of Achieving Zero Hunger: The Impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War on Global Food Security

Komlan Edem Agboklou, Burhan Özkan, Rashmi Gujrati — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Objective: This study investigates the impact of armed conflicts—particularly the Russo-Ukrainian war—on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), highlighting the interplay between geopolitical instability and global food insecurity.

Methodology: Adopting a qualitative, documentary-based approach, the study analyzes data from 2015 to 2023 concerning the incidence of armed conflicts and food insecurity trends. Special emphasis is given to the effects of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict on agricultural production and the disruption of global food supply chains. Sources include reports from the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, and other institutional datasets.

Results: Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, there has been a marked increase in armed conflicts, contributing to a rise in global food insecurity. The Russo-Ukrainian war alone has disrupted food exports critical to low-income countries, affecting approximately 1.7 billion individuals and pushing 276 million into acute hunger. These figures underscore the systemic vulnerabilities of the global food system in conflict-affected regions.

Contribution: The study contributes to the literature on sustainable development by illustrating the inseparable link between peace and food security. It urges policymakers to embed conflict resolution and peace-building strategies within food security agendas to ensure meaningful progress toward SDG 2 by 2030.

The Role of Corporate Governance Institutes in the Development of Good Practices: Analysis Between Brazil and Portugal

Hernani Vidigal, Claudio Felisoni — Mon, 26 May 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Objective: This study investigates the role of corporate governance (CG) institutes in Brazil and Portugal in developing and promoting good governance practices. Specifically, it seeks to understand how the institutional configurations of the Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance (IBGC) and the Portuguese Institute of Corporate Governance (IPCG) differ, and how these differences influence the adoption of governance practices.

Methodology: A qualitative, descriptive case study approach was employed, combining in-depth interviews, document analysis, and direct observation. Key actors, including founders and board members, were interviewed, and official documents were analyzed using content analysis with NVivo software, focusing on institutional and educational categories.

Results: Findings reveal that the IBGC emphasizes educational activities, offering extensive training and publications to enhance the governance capacities of diverse companies, from small family-owned businesses to large listed corporations. In contrast, the IPCG plays a more institutional role, developing the national governance code and overseeing its implementation among listed companies under a “comply or explain” framework. While both institutes contribute to enhancing corporate governance, their approaches are shaped by country-specific institutional, economic, and cultural factors.

Theoretical Contribution: This study reinforces the relevance of institutional theory by demonstrating how governance practices are shaped by local contexts. It also enriches the understanding of how governance institutes influence corporate behavior beyond merely drafting codes, by acting as educators or institutional enforcers.

Practical Implications: Managers, investors, and policymakers can use these insights to better align governance practices with local realities and to design strategies for improving governance effectiveness and trust in different markets.

Do Corporate Governance Mechanisms Contribute to Organizational Resilience? Evidence from Agricultural Cooperatives

Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the corporate governance mechanisms of agricultural cooperatives in continuing and discontinued conditions and their relationship with organizational resilience.

Method: A multiple case study was conducted with four agricultural cooperatives, two in operation and two in liquidation. Content analysis was performed based on secondary data and interviews with members of the board of directors. The study assumes that a cooperative in liquidation (or liquidated) is not resilient.

Results: The results highlight that governance mechanisms, such as member participation in assemblies, existence of management reports, cooperative education, separation of ownership and control, and qualification of the Fiscal Council, are the main aspects that help to explain the organizational resilience of agricultural cooperatives.

Originality/Relevance: This study contributes to the advancement of the field by investigating how the adoption of corporate governance mechanisms can increase organizational resilience in agricultural cooperatives. By emphasizing the fundamental role of governance in promoting resilience, this study sheds light on the factors that contribute to organizational failures in cooperatives, encouraging a deeper understanding of the subject.

Theoretical/methodological contributions: The adoption of governance mechanisms can help cooperatives achieve organizational resilience.

Social/management contributions: Governance practices, such as active participation, transparency, cooperative education, and the separation of ownership and control, strengthen resilience.

Combined Assurance: Enhancing Financial Report Integrity through Integrated Assessment

Rene Guimaraes Andrich, Liliane Cristina Segura — Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Purpose: This study aims to conduct a systematic literature review on the concept of Combined Assurance, focusing on its origins, evolution, and the recommended steps for implementing this process within organizations.

Theoretical/Methodological Approach: The research was based on a systematic review of articles indexed in the Capes, Emerald, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The analysis enabled the mapping of the conceptual development of Combined Assurance and the identification of key practices and guidelines for its implementation.

Findings: The results indicate that the concept of Combined Assurance originated in South Africa, specifically in the King II Report on Corporate Governance for South Africa (2002). The study identified the main steps for adopting the model: (i) establish a mature risk management framework; (ii) raise awareness about Combined Assurance; (iii) appoint a program leader; (iv) develop a structured strategy; and (v) map assurance providers and consolidate assurance results.

Contributions: This study offers a systematized theoretical foundation for professionals, researchers, and institutions interested in implementing Combined Assurance, providing a practical roadmap for its application. The research also highlights that the model enhances internal control environments and mitigates risks, including accounting fraud, thus promoting greater institutional integrity and sustainability.

Originality/Relevance: The topic remains underexplored in most Brazilian organizations, making this review a relevant contribution to the advancement of corporate governance and sustainable institutional management practices.

Integrity and Ethics in Public Governance: Challenges and Practices to Strengthen Institutional Credibility

Gleisiane Carvalho Fernandes, Maria Amélia Alves — Mon, 19 May 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Objective: This study aims to analyze the integration between integrity, ethics, and public governance, identifying the challenges faced and the practices implemented to strengthen the credibility of governmental institutions.

Method: The research adopts a qualitative approach, with documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews conducted with 10 municipal secretaries from different regions of Minas Gerais. The methodology seeks to understand public managers' perspectives and experiences in addressing corruption and promoting institutional ethics.

Results: The results indicate that resistance to change, political interference, and the lack of continuous training for public servants are significant challenges to the effective implementation of integrity practices. Moreover, transparency and citizen participation are seen as key elements for strengthening public governance.

Conclusion: The research concludes that, despite significant efforts to promote transparency and control, substantial challenges remain for fully integrating ethics into administrative practices. Continuous improvement of control mechanisms and civic education are fundamental to strengthening public governance and building a more just and transparent society.

On the implementation of the Green Deal policy in Ukraine

Iryna Sopilko , Nataliya Zhmur, Manuel David Masseno — Mon, 12 May 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Purpose: to conduct a comprehensive study of the process of Ukraine's European integration into the European Union by amending national legislation in order to adopt and adapt the Green Deal policy and its provisions to Ukrainian realities, especially for the agricultural sector.

Research methods: general (analysis, synthesis, comparison, induction, deduction) and special research methods (system-functional, formal-logical, formal-legal) were used in combination.

Results: The article analyzes and studies the legal acts regulating the process of Ukraine's European integration and the fulfillment of its commitments in the field of ecology and EU support for achieving climate neutrality. Successful implementation of the Green Deal policy in Ukrainian legislation requires a comprehensive approach that considers legal aspects. Therefore, these aspects should be addressed in cooperation with international partners who are experienced in successful implementation of such reforms.

Discussion: In the context of the current challenges of the climate crisis and the need for transition to a sustainable economy, the Green Deal policy is becoming a key tool for ensuring environmental sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As it supports the basic principles of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which were introduced to create a greener living environment. However, the implementation of this policy in laws of Ukraine faces numerous practical problems and requires improvement of legal base (laws) in many areas. Therefore, this includes the adoption of new laws and regulations, the creation of financial support mechanisms, regulation of emissions, and the promotion of innovation. Only with an appropriate legislative framework Ukraine will be able to effectively implement the principles of sustainable development and join the pan-European efforts to deal with Climate Change.