Table 1 Uses of network analysis in participatory water governance.
From: Using stakeholder network analysis to enhance the impact of participation in water governance
Strategy | Network applications | Practical implications for participation |
|---|---|---|
• Describing collaboration patterns | Participatory governance is represented as a social structure of multi-stakeholder interaction. | The understanding of the system depends on the chosen relationship, which can refer to the mere exchange of information or shared decision-making. |
• Identifying leaders and key players | It allows the distribution of power among the different stakeholders involved to be examined. | This information can be useful in regulating representativeness and balance of power in decision-making. |
• Assessing intra- and intersectoral integration | It consists of examining the coordination between the different subgroups that make up the network, sometimes through the identification of intermediaries. | Coordination among diverse stakeholder groups allows for integrated management of the socio-ecosystem. |
• Contributing to strategic planning | The identification of key stakeholders and their relationships generates a shared vision and can be used to generate collective action. | In this case, network analysis is a catalyst for stakeholder involvement and relationship formation. |
• Facilitating conflict resolution | The diagnosis of power dynamics facilitates negotiations. | The relationship map provides a comprehensive representation of the stakeholder groups and their relationships with each other, thus guiding the negotiation process. |
