Environmental and territorial issues pose a challenge for contemporary public administration. They call for forms of governance that require interdisciplinary and intersectoral approaches, linked to a model of public action that recognizes multiple actors and multiple decision-making centers. In today’s world, there is no longer room for approaches to government action that relegate nature to a secondary role, as the progression of climate change affects not only different biomes but also public health, the economy, environmental conservation, and our ability to exist and live on the planet today and in the future. On this topic, therefore, we are open to various discussions that span administrative, managerial, organizational, and planning aspects of governance, as well as the relationships among federal entities, between the state, civil society, and social movements, and the forces confronting the global consequences of natural resource use. The relationship between humans, society, and nature is one of the fundamental aspects of fostering an environmental culture that affects anyone working in public administration who is committed to building a more socially just world. Social justice is not possible without incorporating environmental justice and rethinking the structures of power.

It covers studies on theory of change, logic models, and the monitoring and evaluation of public policies, including impact evaluation, causal analysis, and the use of evidence in policy formulation and revision.

This theme comprises works based on the dialogue between theory and practice that bring experiences of management and innovation in public policies and service delivery. The focus is on studies that contemplate policy experiences that, for example, influence the lives of citizens; result in the responsible use of resources; incorporate new technologies; represent changes in society in relation to previous practices; and broaden the dialogue between society and Public Administration.

Healthcare management encompasses initiatives in both the public and private sectors. This topic considers two levels. At the level of health policy, it analyses the regulation, funding and organisation of the healthcare system. At the organisational level, it analyses the management of hospitals, clinics, healthcare providers, laboratories and industries, both in the provision of services and in the supply of healthcare products (within the context of the healthcare industrial complex). Papers on financing, costs, quality, access, regulation, innovation and the adoption of healthcare technologies are welcome, approached from economic, political, social and technological perspectives.

The management of public organisations is the central focus of this topic, from both a theoretical and an empirical perspective. This field encompasses studies on human resources in public organisations, organisational design and institutional arrangements for service delivery. It also covers research on institutional and governance capacities, as well as studies on approaches, methods and case studies relating to strategic planning in public organisations.

This theme welcomes papers on social management and third sector organisations, including: management models, civil society organisation networks, ethics in the third sector, the role of the third sector in ESG and sustainability policies, as well as in tackling inequalities and prejudice. The relationships between organisations and social development are of interest to this theme, in areas such as the evaluation of social projects, businesses with a social or environmental impact, and cross-sectoral relationships (the state, the private sector and third sector organisations). We also encourage articles that link themes from Organisational Studies to third sector organisations, including people management, diversity, volunteering, negotiation, communication, etc.

This theme is devoted to research and studies focusing on governance processes from an interdisciplinary perspective, encompassing aspects related to social control, participation and interaction amongst the various stakeholders involved in public issues that form the government’s agenda. In this regard, public action built upon the relationship between the various actors in civil society and the State is considered strategic for the very modernisation of public administration and the strengthening of citizen participation in tackling social issues.

The issue of memory is fundamental to public administration, as it enables the political construction of public action over time. The past, present and future are interlinked in a way that facilitates planning and intervention to resolve the many social issues affecting minority or marginalised groups, as well as sections of the population victimised by inequalities. The demands of social movements presented to the State require the public administration to take a human-centred approach, capable of recognising the diversity that shapes society. This diversity is historically expressed in the life of cities and communities and in models of government management, which must be aligned with the guarantee of rights; ultimately, it is this that gives meaning to public administration itself.

This subject encompasses theoretical studies and empirical analyses in the field of public resource management, from an economic, financial and budgetary perspective. The intended focus is on optimising the use of resources, based on the view that this ongoing objective of public administration can be achieved through a range of strategies, from process improvement to innovation in financial and budgetary management.

It brings together research on the regulatory, legal and economic instruments used by the State, including institutional design, regulatory implementation and the capacities required for the execution of public policies.

The Brazilian public administration faces challenges and dilemmas in terms of governance, transparency, accountability and public participation in decision-making processes. In a complex society, the State increasingly needs to engage with civil society organisations and citizens. Under this theme, papers will be accepted that address this relationship from the perspective of the public administration, focusing on the impacts of practices and experiences and the socio-political dynamics established between the actors involved.