Stakeholder engagement practices in environmental management projects at eThekwini Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.

Abstract

Achieving quality public service delivery in communities has been characterised by increasing conflicts between the responsible local government departments and the recipient communities. To understand the root of these increasing conflicts, the stakeholder management theory examined how the stakeholders have been integrated and engaged in the environmental management projects directed by the eThekwini Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. To investigate the practices undertaken in stakeholder engagement at the Department, this study utilised a case study to evaluate the department's current involvement of stakeholders and management practices to record existing effectiveness, inefficiencies, and limitations to create a combined, proactive strategy for stakeholder engagement and management to aid in developing ways to mitigate the Department's current challenges. A purposive sampling technique was used to identify fourteen participants among various external stakeholders who responded to the interview questions to gain deeper insights into their perspectives on their engagement in seven selected environmental projects currently underway in the eThekwini Municipal area. Using thematic analysis, the study results indicated that there were power disparities and conflicts of interest among stakeholders and a lack of resources and capacity for efficient stakeholder engagement and management. It was also revealed that stakeholders felt marginalised and excluded in the environmental management project decision-making process. The conclusions drawn from the study have shown the shortcomings and the need for improvement of the eThekwini Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs’ current stakeholder engagement practices. Ultimately, developing relationships with stakeholders and earning their trust and credibility are critical to successful stakeholder engagement and management. The study recommends implementing a more inclusive and participatory stakeholder engagement approach that enables all stakeholders involved in environmental management projects to leverage resources, proficiency, and knowledge to achieveenvironmental project objectives.