"Untangle the tangle" - A case study of Meta-governance approach to Multi-stakeholder partnership for sustainable development in the context of waste management in Hoi An city, Vietnam

Abstract: Objectives: Multi-stakeholder partnership is garnering greater attention worldwide as a means of tackling global wicked problems, implementing sustainable development and leveraging development cooperation. By adopting meta-governance approach, this study investigates the case study of Hoi An - A Green Destination partnership in the waste management context of Hoi An city, Vietnam to understand how stakeholders coming from different sectors with varied motivations work with each other to strengthen the effectiveness of the partnership. Methods: A qualitative single-case study approach is applied. In-depth online interviews were conducted with 11 internal and external stakeholders of the partnership. Due to the limitation of online fieldwork, documentary data is also employed to further the analysis of the selected case study. Principal findings: The findings have also underlined the preceding assumptions that stakeholders in an MSP for sustainable development can merit from the adoption of meta-governance approach to ensure the foundations of the MSP and stakeholder's work while enabling their collaboration to achieve their organisational goals and partnership goals. The research also provides further understanding of the essence of stakeholders' flexibility and adaptability to strengthen the effectiveness of MSP. It helps extend previous studies on stakeholders' motivations and power relations and the effectiveness of MSP for sustainable development implementation.