Three Sectors, One Vision? Power, Roles and Sustainability of Multi-stakeholder Partnerships in Rural Development - The Case of Local Action Groups in Shirak Region, Armenia

Sammanfattning

Rural development has received an ongoing attention within the development discourses, particularly in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In recent years, the integration of multi-stakeholder partnerships has become increasingly common in development agendas, aiming to address complex social issues, particularly those in rural areas. In this regard, this research examines the dynamics of multi-stakeholder partnerships in rural development, specifically exploring the roles of different sectors within Local Action Groups in the Shirak region of Armenia. It focuses on stakeholder participation, factors influencing their sustainability and collaboration and distribution of power. The study employs a qualitative approach, including semi-structured interviews and document analysis, to explore collaborative dynamics. It also adopts the Collaborative Governance framework as its theoretical grounding. The findings indicate several obstacles in the operationalization of Local Action Group in Shirak Region, including challenges related to institutionalization, imbalances in horizontality and unequal contributions across sectors. The study highlights the importance of adapting Local Action Groups to tackle these challenges, by ensuring state support, redefining stakeholder roles and reconsidering the distribution of power.