The role of the stakeholder analysis within participatory water management

Stakeholder Analysis

The latest edition of the journal Water Policy contains an article that looks at the way that stakeholder analysis contributes to the achievement of integrated water management. It presents a stakeholder analysis methodology that was implemented on a trial basis in Northern Italy.

Abstract

Water is a central resource supporting human activities and ecosystems and it is required for different purposes and uses that are often conflicting. Existing water-related problems are expected to increase and conventional water resource management systems are not likely to be able to face future challenges. There is the need for an integrated water resources management, which should be participatory, technically and scientific informed and which should be based on bottom-up approach.

The Directive 2000/60/EC is based on principles of integrated planning and calls for stakeholder involvement in water management. Involving stakeholders is an important step to ensure that catchment management plans take into consideration local needs, experiences and interests. This paper presents a stakeholder analysis methodology that was developed to support stakeholder participation in water management. The methodology was implemented as a preliminary step in a stakeholder participation project in an alpine sub-catchment in Northern Italy.

Reference

Paola Sabina Lupo Stanghellini, 2010. "Stakeholder involvement in water management: the role of the stakeholder analysis within participatory processes". Water Policy Vol 12 No 5 pp 675-694.

Download the full paper here.