Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
NetMap 3 is a tool that combines social network analysis and influence
mapping to help understand, visualize, analyze, discuss and improve situations in
which many different people influence outcomes (Schiffer and Peakes, 2009).
The tool was developed and used in the White Volta Basin in Ghana (Schiffer
and Hauck, 2010). The results helped individuals and groups devise strategies
and plan their networking activities more effectively. The tool was then used for
a wide range of topics where understanding influence and power are important.
Many tools existed for facilitating stakeholder interaction in various
development contexts. Several papers documented the experience of adapting
and applying those tools to new geographical areas or sectors. Magombeyi et
al. (2008) described and analyzed the implementation of a river basin game.
They used it as a tool to facilitate negotiations among upstream and down-
stream irrigation water users in Ga-Sekororo, in the Olifants River basin in
South Africa. By improving people's understanding of the catchment itself and
the situations of other stakeholders, the group was able to reach more equitable
agreements on water use and sharing. Penning de Vries et al. (2007) identified
the 11 “cornerstones” that must be in place for the effective implementation
of multiple-use water services (MUS). They proposed to use the learning
alliance (Lundy, 2004), a mechanism for joint learning in the context of agro-
enterprise development, to assess whether the cornerstones are in place in the
MUS project sites.
A series of papers describes the adaptation and implementation of the
companion modeling (ComMod) approach (Bousquet et al., 2007). ComMod
combined participatory role playing with computer simulation modeling to
support improved multi-stakeholder decision-making in rural communities.
ComMod was used to support water sharing in Bhutan (Gurung et al., 2006),
soil and water management in Northern Thailand (Barnaud et al., 2006;
Barnaud et al., 2007) and ethnic conflict around the establishment of a national
park in Thailand (Ruankaew et al., 2010). ComMod improved information
sharing and collective learning about the importance of collaboration for
adaptive and sustainable management of resources.
The tools above allow stakeholders to interact in new ways and with new
information. Several authors pointed out that stakeholders must understand
and be comfortable with the process, the models and the scenario analysis
approach (Becua et al., 2008). Managing the interactions between more and
less powerful stakeholders was important to achieving good results. Researchers
and local champions had important roles to play to help make this happen
(Barnaud et al., 2010). In their assessment of the participatory approaches of a
small reservoir project in Ghana, Poolman and Giesen (2006) emphasize the
need for a thorough stakeholder analysis. It is also important to use adequate
and appropriate forms of stakeholder engagement. This is to ensure real
participation in both the short and the long term if project teams expect the
interventions to continue once the project and its support ends.
Future work should focus on measuring whether implementation of these
promising approaches is associated with real changes in decision making and
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