knowledge of the history of the local and regional institutions and their culture and
experiences. As a result, it was very important to discuss the recommendations and
gather feedback.
3.5 Summary and Conclusion
In this chapter we have introduced the Governance Assessment Tool that has been
used in the DROP project and forms the analytical basis of this book. We started
with the origins of the tool in Contextual Interaction Theory, and proceeded with
the dimensions and criteria that form the backbone of the tool, and form a matrix. In
these matrix evaluative questions are formulated that can be discussed with local
and regional stakeholders. Based on their answers and further information and
insights a judgment can be reached to what extent the governance circumstances are
supportive, restrictive or neutral for drought adaptation. A visualisation with
coloured cells of the matrix can show in one quick glance the governance state of
affairs in that region. To create more precise visualisation, arrows can be added to
each box indicating upward or downward trends for that box. The chapter ends with
a discussion on the application of the GAT. The tool can both be used in relatively
simple ways and as in the DROP project in a very elaborate way.
Open Access This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/), which
permits any noncommercial use, duplication, adaptation, distribution, and reproduction in any
medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, a
link is provided to the Creative Commons license, and any changes made are indicated.
The images or other third party material in this chapter are included in the work’s Creative
Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if such material is not included in
the work’s Creative Commons license and the respective action is not permitted by statutory
regulation, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to duplicate, adapt, or
reproduce the material.
References
Axelrod R (ed) (1976) Structure of decision. The cognitive maps of political elites. Princeton
University Press, Princeton
Bandura A (1986) Social foundations of thought and action. A social cognitive theory. Prentice
Hall, Englewood Cliffs
Bressers H (2004) Implementing sustainable development: how to know what works where when
and how. In: Lafferty WM (ed) Governance for sustainable development: the challenge of
adapting form to function. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham Northampton, pp 284–318
Bressers H (2009) From public administration to policy networks. Contextual interaction analysis.
In: Stéphane N, Varone F (eds) Rediscovering public law and public administration in
comparative policy analysis. A tribute to Peter Knoepfel. Presses polytechniques, Lausanne,
pp 123–142
3 The Governance Assessment Tool and Its Use
63
experiences. As a result, it was very important to discuss the recommendations and
gather feedback.
3.5 Summary and Conclusion
In this chapter we have introduced the Governance Assessment Tool that has been
used in the DROP project and forms the analytical basis of this book. We started
with the origins of the tool in Contextual Interaction Theory, and proceeded with
the dimensions and criteria that form the backbone of the tool, and form a matrix. In
these matrix evaluative questions are formulated that can be discussed with local
and regional stakeholders. Based on their answers and further information and
insights a judgment can be reached to what extent the governance circumstances are
supportive, restrictive or neutral for drought adaptation. A visualisation with
coloured cells of the matrix can show in one quick glance the governance state of
affairs in that region. To create more precise visualisation, arrows can be added to
each box indicating upward or downward trends for that box. The chapter ends with
a discussion on the application of the GAT. The tool can both be used in relatively
simple ways and as in the DROP project in a very elaborate way.
Open Access This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/), which
permits any noncommercial use, duplication, adaptation, distribution, and reproduction in any
medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, a
link is provided to the Creative Commons license, and any changes made are indicated.
The images or other third party material in this chapter are included in the work’s Creative
Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if such material is not included in
the work’s Creative Commons license and the respective action is not permitted by statutory
regulation, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to duplicate, adapt, or
reproduce the material.
References
Axelrod R (ed) (1976) Structure of decision. The cognitive maps of political elites. Princeton
University Press, Princeton
Bandura A (1986) Social foundations of thought and action. A social cognitive theory. Prentice
Hall, Englewood Cliffs
Bressers H (2004) Implementing sustainable development: how to know what works where when
and how. In: Lafferty WM (ed) Governance for sustainable development: the challenge of
adapting form to function. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham Northampton, pp 284–318
Bressers H (2009) From public administration to policy networks. Contextual interaction analysis.
In: Stéphane N, Varone F (eds) Rediscovering public law and public administration in
comparative policy analysis. A tribute to Peter Knoepfel. Presses polytechniques, Lausanne,
pp 123–142
3 The Governance Assessment Tool and Its Use
63