Vol. 4 No. 2 (2023): (October 2023)

This issue has been available online since 2nd October 2023 as part of the regular October 2023 edition. It features six articles authored by twenty-two scholars from Taiwan, Malaysia, and Indonesia—offering multidisciplinary insights into governance innovation, post-pandemic recovery, and stakeholder engagement across the Global South.

The issue opens with an exploration of Indonesia’s smart city development plans for its new capital city (SDG 11, Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanisation and capacity for participatory planning; SDG 9, Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure), addressing the governance frameworks behind urban innovation. Another article examines post-COVID-19 recovery strategies for tourism villages through multi-stakeholder participation (SDG 8, Target 8.9: Promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products; SDG 17, Target 17.17: Encourage effective partnerships with civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders), highlighting the importance of inclusive local planning.

Further contributions include a stakeholder salience analysis in the policy formulation of anti-violence measures against women and children (SDG 5, Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls; SDG 16, Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against children), and a bibliometric study tracking vaccine research trends related to COVID-19 in Indonesia and Malaysia (SDG 3, Target 3.b: Support research and development of vaccines and medicines for communicable diseases; SDG 9, Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research and upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors).

The issue also explores anti-corruption education policy through the lens of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (SDG 16, Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms; SDG 4, Target 4.7: Ensure all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development), and concludes with an analysis of collaborative governance mechanisms in the management of Riau’s Grand Forest Park (SDG 15, Target 15.2: Promote the sustainable management of forests and halt deforestation; SDG 17, Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development).

By addressing themes of policy innovation, participatory governance, social justice, and environmental stewardship, this issue offers timely and relevant contributions to sustainable development discourse in the Global South.