Stakeholder Power, Influence, and Benefits in the Sundarbans Resilience Project (SRP)
The Sundarbans Resilience Project involves multiple stakeholders with varying levels of power, influence, and benefits. A comparison of these stakeholders shows a clear distinction between those who hold decision-making authority and those who benefit most directly from the project.
Influence and Benefits
The stakeholders with the greatest influence are national government agencies and international donors. Government agencies control policies, regulations, forest management, and disaster infrastructure, while international donors provide essential funding and set strategic and accountability requirements. In contrast, local communities benefit the most from the project’s outcomes. They gain improved livelihood security, reduced exposure to climate-induced disasters, and long-term protection from restored mangrove ecosystems. This reflects a common development pattern where high influence does not necessarily align with high benefit.
Roles, Benefits, and Influence
Government agencies play a central role in project planning and implementation and benefit through improved coastal protection and national climate adaptation outcomes. International donors support the project financially and technically and benefit by advancing global climate resilience objectives. Local government institutions assist with coordination and implementation at the community level and benefit from improved local development outcomes. NGOs and civil society organizations facilitate community engagement, livelihood diversification, and advocacy, benefiting through mission fulfillment and strengthened social resilience. Local communities participate in restoration activities and adopt alternative livelihoods; while they have limited formal power, they receive the greatest direct benefits. Researchers and academic institutions contribute through ecological monitoring and climate research, benefiting mainly through knowledge generation and policy relevance.
Contributions and Dependencies
Different stakeholder groups both contribute to and depend on the project. Governments rely on donor funding and community participation, donors depend on national institutions for implementation, NGOs depend on funding and local trust, and communities depend heavily on the project for safety, livelihoods, and environmental stability. Researchers depend on project access for data and monitoring opportunities.
Power Imbalances and Overlooked Voices
A key challenge is the power imbalance between high-influence actors and highly affected communities. Local communities—particularly women and marginalized groups—have limited influence over decisions despite being most vulnerable to climate impacts. If these voices are insufficiently included, it could undermine project effectiveness and long-term sustainability.
Determining Power and Influence
Stakeholder power and influence were determined based on control over resources, decision-making authority, ability to shape outcomes, and level of dependency on the project. Applying power–interest and influence–benefit frameworks helped clarify stakeholder positions and engagement needs.
Conclusion
Overall, the SRP demonstrates a top-down governance structure supported by bottom-up participation. Balancing strong leadership from government and donors with meaningful community engagement is essential for achieving equitable and sustainable climate resilience in the Sundarbans.