ACCESS4ALL Group

In the Sundarbans Resilience Project (SRP), national government agencies hold the highest level of influence due to their authority over policy, regulation, funding allocation, and implementation of coastal protection and ecosystem management measures. International donors also exert high influence by shaping project priorities through financing and accountability requirements. Local communities are the primary beneficiaries of the project, gaining improved protection from climate hazards, livelihood diversification, and ecosystem services, but they have relatively low formal influence over decision-making.

Government agencies act as primary decision-makers, NGOs and civil society organisations function as local influencers by facilitating community engagement and implementation, and researchers provide technical and scientific inputs that inform project design. Local communities contribute contextual knowledge and stewardship of natural resources while remaining largely dependent on project outcomes for resilience and livelihoods.

A key power imbalance exists between decision-makers and community actors, particularly marginalised groups such as women and forest-dependent households, whose voices may be underrepresented. Stakeholder power and influence were assessed based on control over resources, decision-making authority, ability to shape outcomes, and dependency on project benefits.

In comparing peer stakeholder maps, differences mainly related to the perceived influence of NGOs. While some peers classified NGOs as high-influence actors, this mapping positions them as intermediaries rather than primary decision-makers, highlighting how influence can be interpreted differently depending on whether formal authority or implementation roles are prioritised.