Stockholder mapping and interest analysis:sundarbans resilience project
Using the Stakeholder Management and Mapping framework, I analyzed the Sundarbans Resilience Project by identifying key stakeholders, their roles, interests, benefits, and levels of influence.
Primary decision-makers with the highest influence include national government agencies, international donors, and the project management unit. These stakeholders control funding, policies, regulations, and strategic direction, placing them high on the power–interest matrix. Their main role is decision-making, coordination, and resource allocation, and they benefit through policy implementation, international commitments, and project success.
Local communities are the primary rights holders and the main beneficiaries of the project outcomes. They benefit most from ecosystem restoration, reduced disaster risk, improved livelihoods, and increased resilience. However, despite their high dependence on the project, their influence remains relatively low, highlighting an imbalance in stakeholder participation.
NGOs and community-based organizations act as local influencers. They facilitate community engagement, ensure informed participation, and support inclusive implementation, especially for women and marginalized groups. Researchers and academic institutions contribute scientific knowledge, monitoring, and evidence-based guidance, supporting effective adaptation planning.
Different groups contribute in complementary ways: governments provide authority and policy support, NGOs enable engagement and inclusion, communities offer local knowledge and labor, and researchers provide technical expertise. At the same time, local communities depend the most on the project for protection, income security, and long-term adaptation.
A key challenge identified is inequitable stakeholder participation. Marginalized voices, particularly women and low-income households, risk being overlooked if engagement is not intentionally inclusive. This could negatively affect adaptation success and sustainability.
I determined stakeholder power and influence using factors outlined in the stakeholder mapping framework, including control over resources, decision-making authority, level of impact on outcomes, and degree of dependency on the project.
I feel like the funder dertemines the agenda. NGO's hold the primary decision making and influence in this case. They have the power in practice whilst the government and their ministries includinf the community and its leaders are just participating in principle.