Stakeholder engagement to enhance integrated water management in the context of a river basin in Portugal

Teixeira Cardoso Gamboa, MH

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to define a framework for the enhancement and commitment of public participation in the context of river basin management (RBM) in Portugal based on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) to achieve good water governance.
In Portugal, public participation is often scarce, in spite of stakeholders being invited to participate by water management companies, as later referred to in this research. The WFD also maintains that stakeholders should be involved in RBM decisions.
Based on an interpretivist research philosophy the research adopted case studies and expert interviews to provide multiple sources of evidence on the nature and complexity of River Basin Management and Public Participation
The main case study interviews were carried with the case study managers. Additional expert interviews were carried with other case study stakeholders and general stakeholders (from industry and agriculture sectors).
Data was analysed using content analysis. Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) application produced “rich pictures” to identify the level of engagement and commitment by stakeholders to participation in national water resources management. Cross case analysis was performed using the outcomes of case studies and interviews. Following this, the final framework was developed to meet the aim and objectives of the research.
This research provided the identification of gaps in stakeholders’ participation in RBM. A final conceptual model is presented aiming to guide decision makers to solve this problem. It is proposed that two types of partnering groups are created to fulfil the aim and objectives which were pursued.
The importance of this research relies on RBM improvement and the enhancement of the body of knowledge in Public Participation, to minimize the gaps on good water governance in Portugal. This research provides a framework which may guide some of the policy makers in RBM on how to optimise the participation of the stakeholders, assessing multi-stakeholder viewpoints in parallel. It aims to support the achievement of a major societal goal which is to gain trust among all groups of stakeholders and the community served by the river basin, which can lead to improved contribution and commitment to reach good water governance.

Citation

Teixeira Cardoso Gamboa, M. Stakeholder engagement to enhance integrated water management in the context of a river basin in Portugal. (Thesis). Salford University

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Mar 26, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 26, 2015
• Keywords: Stakeholder participation, basin, integrated water resources management, partnering.