Power and Participation: Balancing the Sundarbans Resilience Project
In my analysis of the Sundarbans Resilience Project (SRP), I found a significant gap between administrative authority and local impact. The most influence is held by National Agencies and International Donors, who control the project’s funding and regulatory framework, while local communities and marginalized groups benefit the most because their survival depends on the success of mangrove restoration and cyclone shelters (SRP Case Study). Each group plays a specific role: government agencies provide the legal mandate and infrastructure, while NGOs and researchers contribute social advocacy and ecological data, yet they all depend on the project to achieve long-term regional stability. However, a clear power imbalance exists; local villagers have high interest but low formal power, meaning they are often "overlooked voices" whose lack of influence could lead to project failure if their livelihood needs aren't met (World Bank, 2024). I determined these positions by using the Power-Interest Matrix, which ranks stakeholders by their ability to provide resources versus their direct vulnerability to climate impacts.