Stakeholder Power & Influence Reflection
In this project, government agencies and implementing NGOs hold the most influence because they control funding, policy alignment, technical design, and implementation frameworks. However, local communities—especially women, youth, and livelihood-dependent groups—benefit the most from the project’s outcomes through improved resilience, livelihoods, and environmental protection.
Each stakeholder plays a distinct role:
Government agencies provide policy direction, coordination, and legitimacy, with high influence and long-term institutional benefits.
NGOs and civil society organizations act as implementers and facilitators, translating policy into community action and ensuring participation, with medium-to-high influence.
Local communities are the primary beneficiaries and frontline implementers of adaptation practices, though they often have low formal influence despite high dependency on project success.
Researchers and universities contribute evidence, monitoring tools, and best practices, with moderate influence but strong knowledge value.
Donors and development partners hold financial power and strategic influence, shaping project priorities and timelines.
There are clear power imbalances, particularly between funders/government institutions and grassroots communities. Women, pastoralists, and informal settlement residents are sometimes underrepresented in decision-making despite being most affected by climate risks. This imbalance can limit local ownership and sustainability if not addressed through participatory governance.
Power and influence were determined by assessing control over resources, decision-making authority, implementation roles, technical expertise, and dependency on outcomes. Stakeholders with budget authority and policy leverage ranked highest, while those most exposed to climate impacts ranked highest in benefit but lowest in formal power.
Well said.