Where the power lies: multiple stakeholder politics over natural ...

Step 1. Define the policy and legal context for management by
multiple stakeholder groups
Understanding the context within which stakeholders operate is important as it explains
some of the underlying issues and aspects of how these groups function. At this stage
of the analysis, one must collect enough background information to understand the
broader context in which most of the relations are formed. To the extent possible
one must also try to appreciate the overlaps, intersections and contradictions presented
in multiple stakeholder groups whose members are linked to other levels by different
types of hierarchies and chains of command. The first step in the analysis is to form
some general impression of what the policy and legal framework for multiple
stakeholder groups is within the country, region and internationally. Further, one
should establish the level of experience in multiple stakeholder groups in natural
resources in general and specifically for the resource being managed.
Question:
What is the policy and legal context for multiple stakeholder groups involved in natural
resources management?
Specific questions:
1. What is the policy framework for multiple stakeholder management?
2. What are the current tenure arrangements for the resource being managed?
3. What are the incentives or imperatives driving management based on multiple
stakeholder groups?
Specifically, in this section one would need to gain an understanding of the past and
present systems of management. Further, it is important to explore how multiple
stakeholder systems of management have come about. In some countries, macro
and international events tend to have a profound effect on national policy. One
must be aware of this possible effect and not confine themselves within national
boundaries.
What to look for:
1. Compare policy and actual practice. Sometimes stated intentions in policy documents
bear no relation to how those policies are interpreted and applied.
2. Get a sense of the extent to which local practices are controlled or determined by
actions at the centre or beyond the centre. What is the locus of control?
3. Determine the drivers for multiple stakeholder groups i.e. (democratisation;
participation, devolution or empowerment).
4. Determine whether there is any previous experience of multiple stakeholder groups.
Suggested Methods
Literature reviews and archival searches.
The review of government documents and legislation will provide an overview of the
situation as regards natural resources management. In cases where one is dealing with
systems of management financed by donors or other organizations, it will be necessary
to review the project documents. Often, however, what is described in documents is not
what one sees on the ground and sometimes the interpretations or perceptions of what
the multiple stakeholder group should be or was meant to be also differ among those of
particular stakeholders involved. Opinions should be sought from wide ranging sources
operating at many different levels.
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