Multi‐Stakeholder Initiatives for Sustainable Development Goals: The Importance of Interlocutors
| Date | 01 May 2017 |
| Author | Kees Biekart,Alan Fowler |
| Published date | 01 May 2017 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/pad.1795 |
MULTI-STAKEHOLDER INITIATIVES FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT GOALS: THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERLOCUTORS
ALAN FOWLER
1
AND KEES BIEKART
2
*
1
University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
2
Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), The Netherlands
SUMMARY
This article argues that the complex multi-stakeholder arrangements anticipated for implementing Sustainable Development
Goals call for a distinct type of host: an interlocutor. This central idea arises from new comparative research on multi-
stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) undertaken in four countries: Costa Rica, Indonesia, Kenya and Kyrgyzstan. This work adds a
detailed dimension to meta-studies on conditions for success and practical guides for establishing and running MSIs. It begins
to fill a significant gap in knowledge by analysing the attributes and competencies required for effectively orchestrating MSIs as
well as illuminating their relative significance over time. The context is an anticipated expansion in demand for finely tuned and
skilled hosting of Sustainable Development Goals-inspired MSIs. This task will probably be more complicated than MSIs
associated with climate change and Millennium Development Goals, both of which saw business on the side lines with uneven
attention paid to the principle of local ownership. Recognising and investing in interlocution as a pivotal role can increase the
performance of internationally inspired MSIs which, to date, have a mixed but generally poor record of effectiveness. © 2017
The Authors Public Administration and Development Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
key words—interlocutor; host; multi-stakeholder initiatives; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Costa Rica; Kenya;
Indonesia; Kyrgyzstan
INTRODUCTION
Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is set to rely on mechanisms bringing together diverse
actors to actively align their efforts towards a shared objective. This article does not take issue with analysts’crit-
ically questioning of a pro-multi-stakeholder stance. Their experience cautions against too readily assuming that
cross-sector, public–private partnerships and other multiple institutional arrangements are suited to the complex
tasks and reconciling contending interests often involved (Brinkerhoff and Brinkerhoff, 2011; Brouwer and
Woodhill, 2015; Stern et al., 2015; Brockmyer and Fox, 2015). Rather, we critically observe that these and other
important works seldom provide detailed information about the actual practice of and responsibility for guiding a
multi-stakeholder initiative (MSI) or the competences required to do so, yet this function is vital for effectiveness.
Moreover, observations about generally poor performance of MSIs raise worries about the efficacy of existing
‘hosting’setups (Isenman et al., 2011; Pattberg and Widerberg, 2014). The more so, given an anticipation of added
difficulties in SDG-driven multiple relational engagements required at greater numbers with higher scales of inte-
gration as part of an Agenda 2030 institutional ecosystem (Freeman et al., 2016).
This article argues that the competencies of the diverse setups that guide MSIs have received inadequate atten-
tion, leading to a central idea or proposition that this function merits recognition as a dedicated, professional role
within international aid and development. Findings from recent empirical research are used to explore and under-
stand ‘interlocutors’as an umbrella category for the secretariats, focal points, platforms, hosts and other labels for a
critical player in making MSIs work well. By its nature, interlocution is an active engagement in ‘conversations’
*Correspondence to: K. Biekart, Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Kortenaerkade 12, 2518
AX The Hague, The Netherlands. E-mail: biekart@iss.nl
public administration and development
Public Admin. Dev. 37,81–93 (2017)
Published online 28 February 2017 in Wiley Online Library
(wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/pad.1795
© 2017 The Authors Public Administration and Development Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and
distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
To continue reading
Request your trial