support of relevant stakeholders. As shown, the
LAG 21 NRW approach takes up this prerequisite by creating interdisciplinary working groups
in which relevant stakeholders come together.
The project approach thus clearly overlaps
with the Nexus approach, which also aims at an
integrated perspective to bridge sectors and
consider interrelated resources (Biermann et al.
2017). While the Nexus approach focuses on
specific interlinkages between the SDGs and, in
particular, on the sustainable use and management of environmental resources (e. g., WaterFood-Energy Nexus Approach), the sustainability strategies developed in the GNK NRW do not
directly focus on SDGs connected to natural
resources. Based on the actors involved, the
model municipalities have set different priorities
in strategy development and thus focus on different SDGs.
Since 2017, the project approach has also
been implemented in other federal states in
Germany, e.g., in Thuringia, Saarland and Schleswig–Holstein. It is also recognized in the
update to the German Sustainable Development
Strategy and was recently highlighted in Brussels
during panel debates about linkages between SD
processes on the local level and the policy
framework at the EU level.
The results of the project-internal processoriented monitoring and evaluation show that the
process is influenced by its participatory approach
(see Sect. 5): (1) Politics and administration must
be involved as important decision-makers. Inclusion should not result in other actors being hindered in their participation. (2) Civil society
stakeholders have tacit knowledge. The process
must take advantage of this important expertise to
enrich it. (3) To this end, the development and
negotiation process has to be open and should not
be predefined by actors from administration and
politics. A basic prerequisite is that all participants
are perceived as equal actors because broad
acceptance can be achieved only if all stakeholders
jointly discuss and negotiate the objectives and
contents. (4) It is shown that complex content is
discussed in integrated planning approaches.
Synergies and trade-offs between target dimensions become apparent. Involving actors with
different professional perspectives and goals is
likely to lead to more conflicts. In contrast to
sectoral planning processes, conflicting target
dimensions (e.g., affordable living vs. land consumption or inner urban development vs. adaptation to climate change) can be considered and
shared jointly from the outset. (5) The processes in
the 15 model municipalities show that the development of IMSS is a challenge for all actors
involved. Content and methodological preparation
is an important prerequisite for a successful process. It must be ensured that all participants are
ultimately convinced of the results. Clearly,
structured methods as well as the transparent and
professional derivation of results foster
acceptance.
Nevertheless, there is no blueprint for successful participation. The involvement of different actors is—depending on the situation—
always subject to these actors’ own dynamics.
Undoubtedly, key success factors have already
been identified by research and best practices, but
it must be recognized that compliance with these
factors does not necessarily guarantee successful
participation and the desired outcome. On one
hand, extensive participation of actors and
interest groups can lead to a loss of control of the
process. On the other hand, citizens involved can
also represent private interests and therefore
unilaterally influence the process. Overall,
extensive participation can create a more
expensive and time-consuming process than
decision making by a single administrator
(Marzuki 2015). In the author’s opinion, especially long-term and far-reaching changes, e.g.,
the transformation to sustainability requires the
active involvement of different municipal actors.
Otherwise, the broad acceptance of such processes will be highly unlikely.
References
Al Radif A (1999) Integrated water resources management (IWRM): an approach to face the challenges of
the next century and to avert future crises. Desalination 124:145–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/S00119164(99)00099-5
254
S. Eichhorn et al.
LAG 21 NRW approach takes up this prerequisite by creating interdisciplinary working groups
in which relevant stakeholders come together.
The project approach thus clearly overlaps
with the Nexus approach, which also aims at an
integrated perspective to bridge sectors and
consider interrelated resources (Biermann et al.
2017). While the Nexus approach focuses on
specific interlinkages between the SDGs and, in
particular, on the sustainable use and management of environmental resources (e. g., WaterFood-Energy Nexus Approach), the sustainability strategies developed in the GNK NRW do not
directly focus on SDGs connected to natural
resources. Based on the actors involved, the
model municipalities have set different priorities
in strategy development and thus focus on different SDGs.
Since 2017, the project approach has also
been implemented in other federal states in
Germany, e.g., in Thuringia, Saarland and Schleswig–Holstein. It is also recognized in the
update to the German Sustainable Development
Strategy and was recently highlighted in Brussels
during panel debates about linkages between SD
processes on the local level and the policy
framework at the EU level.
The results of the project-internal processoriented monitoring and evaluation show that the
process is influenced by its participatory approach
(see Sect. 5): (1) Politics and administration must
be involved as important decision-makers. Inclusion should not result in other actors being hindered in their participation. (2) Civil society
stakeholders have tacit knowledge. The process
must take advantage of this important expertise to
enrich it. (3) To this end, the development and
negotiation process has to be open and should not
be predefined by actors from administration and
politics. A basic prerequisite is that all participants
are perceived as equal actors because broad
acceptance can be achieved only if all stakeholders
jointly discuss and negotiate the objectives and
contents. (4) It is shown that complex content is
discussed in integrated planning approaches.
Synergies and trade-offs between target dimensions become apparent. Involving actors with
different professional perspectives and goals is
likely to lead to more conflicts. In contrast to
sectoral planning processes, conflicting target
dimensions (e.g., affordable living vs. land consumption or inner urban development vs. adaptation to climate change) can be considered and
shared jointly from the outset. (5) The processes in
the 15 model municipalities show that the development of IMSS is a challenge for all actors
involved. Content and methodological preparation
is an important prerequisite for a successful process. It must be ensured that all participants are
ultimately convinced of the results. Clearly,
structured methods as well as the transparent and
professional derivation of results foster
acceptance.
Nevertheless, there is no blueprint for successful participation. The involvement of different actors is—depending on the situation—
always subject to these actors’ own dynamics.
Undoubtedly, key success factors have already
been identified by research and best practices, but
it must be recognized that compliance with these
factors does not necessarily guarantee successful
participation and the desired outcome. On one
hand, extensive participation of actors and
interest groups can lead to a loss of control of the
process. On the other hand, citizens involved can
also represent private interests and therefore
unilaterally influence the process. Overall,
extensive participation can create a more
expensive and time-consuming process than
decision making by a single administrator
(Marzuki 2015). In the author’s opinion, especially long-term and far-reaching changes, e.g.,
the transformation to sustainability requires the
active involvement of different municipal actors.
Otherwise, the broad acceptance of such processes will be highly unlikely.
References
Al Radif A (1999) Integrated water resources management (IWRM): an approach to face the challenges of
the next century and to avert future crises. Desalination 124:145–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/S00119164(99)00099-5
254
S. Eichhorn et al.