2.5 Stakeholders Analysis

2.5 Stakeholder Analysis

This part of the chapter identifies all actors involved in the project proposal described in this master thesis, be they the ones who potentially will support the case discussed or the ones who might back down the project. As an important tool of project management, a stakeholder analysis helps in identifying, prioritizing and understanding all the stakeholders involved. However, knowing your stakeholders is only the first step toward conducting a good stakeholder analysis. After listing all the stakeholders, who presumably will have an interest and power towards the topic of WSUD implementation in Tirana, they were categorized in three groups:

1

2

3 Public Entities;

Individuals;

Organizations

The next step of the analysis would be mapping all the stakeholders, based on their level of interest and needs on the matter. They are further analyzed in a tabular form, which helps to identify their concerns and respectively the way of dealing with each of them. For each of the identified stakeholder, their level of interest and power on the matter is categorized as low, medium, high, or very high.

The stakeholders that are classified under the ‘Public Entities’ group, are the ones that have the highest power into the topic of flooding risk adaptation and WSUD project implementation, but not necessarily the highest level of interest. The Municipality of Tirana is the entity responsible for proposing and implementing any project or regulation that concerns the quality of public spaces in Tirana. However, the implementation of such big scale projects needs the approval of the National Territory Council (AKPT, n.d.), where the chairman is Prime Minister, Edi Rama. Based on previous cases, the approval of these projects goes not without a big discussion regarding the fairness of the competition. Moreover, considering the fact that this large-scale intervention in the city is especially presumed to come with a high cost for the budget of a developing country like Albania, it might face shortcomings in its early phase, if the government fails to find the right investors. Therefore, the interest of public institutions on initiating the implementation of WSUD infrastructure as a solution for tackling flooding risk and other climate change effects in the capital, might be lacking.

On the other hand, all the citizens of Tirana, from the ones that are residents in the study area to the visitors, students, workers or even tourists, are the ones who presumably have the highest interest on the topic. The deployment of WSUD infrastructure in urban systems has benefits on many levels, which, directly or not, impact the everyday life of all residents. However, their voice on initiating such large-scale transformations in the city is not always heard. Even though public hearings are conducted, most of the time they lack transparency, are just a formality and fail to voice the actual needs of the public. There have been cases where the citizens have been protesting projects approved by the government without the consent of the public and without a transparent competition process (Block, 2020). Unfortunately, almost in all these cases the government’s will has won.

The third group includes all NGOs and mass media entities. These stakeholders have power over the matter. By mainstreaming topics related to sustainability at an urban level, people become more aware about the impact that a more sustainable city will have on their everyday life, hence they might become more responsible and engaged in such topics. This way, the public pressure on the government might increase.

Table 6 depicts in a compacted way all the identified stakeholders supposedly involved in the proposal of this master thesis.

Stakeholder Interest Power Their responsibilities/ Their concerns How to deal with them/ How to satisfy them

1. Public Institutions

Government Medium Very High Improve the life quality of its citizens // Provide public goods Provide a comprehensive and feasible study that would make the government include the topic of WSUD in their agenda

Municipality of Tirana Medium Very High Local authority, responsible for the implementation of any policies, plans and projects that serve to the well-being of Tirana’s citizens Provide a comprehensive and feasible study that would make the Municipality include the topic of WSUD in their agenda

Tirana Water Supply and Sewerage Utility Very High High Provides water supply and wastewater services for the city (including the periphery of Tirana) Provide a comprehensive and feasible study that emphasizes the impact of WSUD tools on mitigating flooding risk and other ways of improving the existing sewerage network into a more sustainable one

National Territory Council (NTC) Medium Very High Collegial body that determines the national importance of a project, and accordingly has the power to approve or not such big scale projects (AKPT, n. d) Develop a study that will emphasize the importance of a WSUD transformation in the city and how it will improve the life of all the citizens of Tirana in many levels

City Council Medium Medium Legislative body of the city Keep them informed

The National Territorial Planning Agency (NTPA)

Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy

Polytechnic University of Tirana Medium High Responsible for ensuring the sustainable territorial development, guided by well-planned strategies and medium- or long-term programs (AKPT, n. d) Develop a study that will emphasize the importance of a WSUD transformation in the city and how it will improve the life of all the citizens of Tirana in many levels

Medium High Responsible for the financing, maintenance and development of infrastructure projects on a national level

Medium Medium Public university that offers degrees in architecture, engineering and other related fields Provide a strategy on how to include WSUD topics in the study curriculums

Provide a comprehensive and feasible study that emphasizes the impact of WSUD tools on mitigating flooding risk and other ways of improving the existing sewerage network into a more sustainable one, get in contact with advisors who work near the minister

Stakeholder Interest Power Their responsibilities/ Their concerns How to deal with them/ How to satisfy them

1. Public Institutions

2. Individuals

Institute of Geosciences, Energy, Water and Environment (IGEWE)

Public Transport Sector High Medium Research institute responsible for collecting and analyzing climate data Keep them informed about the ways WSUD and climate data analysis connect

Low Medium Offering transport service for the citizens of Tirana Provide them with information regarding ways of adapting a sustainable approach in the existing sector (e.g., Green bus stops, green buses)

Citizens of Tirana

Residents of the study area High Medium They have the power of choosing their leaders as well as monitoring the local government Organize meetings, public hearings; raise awareness about the foreseeable climate change effects in Tirana, and how it will affect their everyday life

Very High High They are responsible for voicing and raising the issues related with the quality of public space and the poor performance of the sewage network in their district Organize meetings, public hearings in order to better understand their concerns, introduce the topic of WSUD in a comprehensive and simplified way to the public. Clarify the role of the residents in maintaining this kind of infrastructure

Visitors/ Tourists Medium Very Low Due to its historic background, the tourists are especially attracted by this part of Tirana, included in the focus area of this study

Employees Very High Medium Traffic and public life that is not disrupted by weather events

Seniors Very High Medium More green areas in the city, public space that is more inclusive Keep them informed, include them in public hearings

Consider implementing features (info-points in the mobility hubs) that would serve the interest of tourists. Also, with an improved infrastructure and better quality of public space, the interest in visiting the district would certainly increase

Include them in the public hearings and meetings with the residents of the area

Teenagers Very High Low Public space that meets their everyday needs Design public areas that would encourage outdoor activities for teenagers

Children Very High Very Low More playing areas Design playgrounds which are safe and constructed with natural material

Stakeholder Interest Power Their responsibilities/ Their concerns How to deal with them/ How to satisfy them

Private Investors Very High Medium The focus area in this study is especially attractive for private investors Provide a comprehensive and feasibility study that emphasizes the profits that private investors will with the implementation of WSUD

2. Individuals

Business Owners of the Study - Area Very High Medium Almost all businesses (especially those in underground level) are flooded during heavy rainfall events

Academics Medium High They lead the scientific research agenda in universities

Engineers, Architects & Urban Planners Very High Medium Responsible for ongoing and future construction projects Keep them informed about benefits of WSUD and how these tools can be integrated in a building or street level. Involve them in the project

Bikers Medium Low Concerned about having a well-established bike infrastructure in the city

Pedestrians High Low Concerned about increasing the amount of pedestrians zones in the city

Pedestrians High Low Concerned about increasing the amount of pedestrians zones in the city Keep them informed about the benefits that will follow by implementing WSUD, and especially how the issue of urban flooding will be mitigated

Provide a strategy on how to include WSUD topics in the scientific research agenda of universities

Keep them informed, include them in public hearings and meetings

Keep them informed, include them in public hearings and meetings

Keep them informed, include them in public hearings and meetings

Car Owners Low Low Concerned about a mobility network dominated by motorized vehicles. Also interested on increasing the amount of open parking areas in the inner city

Environmental Activists

National Architecture and Urban Planning Offices Very High Medium Concerned about topics related with climate change, and its effect on public life in many levels Keep them informed, include them in public hearings and meetings

High Medium Responsible for ongoing construction projects in the city and interested about upcoming project competitions Keep them informed about benefits of WSUD and how these tools can be integrated in a building or street level

Avoid them

Stakeholder Interest Power Their responsibilities/ Their concerns How to deal with them/ How to satisfy them

International Architecture and Urban Planning Offices

Mass Media (TVs, Online, Press) Medium Low Interested on large scale architectural projects in the city, with a large impact on Tirana’s public life Keep them informed

Medium High Responsible for disseminating news to the masses Provide them information emphasizing the importance of a WSUD transformation in the city and how it will improve the life of all the citizens of Tirana in many levels. Work with them to mainstream this topic in the public

EcoVolis High Medium Community bike sharing program Keep them informed about the added value of WSUD on providing a coherent bike infrastructure

3. Organizations

GIZ High High German development agency that provides services in the field of international development cooperation, especially with developing countries (GIZ, n.d.)

Co-PLAN High Medium Non-profit organization focused on tackling key environmental issues, by enabling sustainable urban development, regional governance and promoting community participation (Co-PLAN, n.d.)

Water Supply and Sewerage Association of Albania

Albanian Architects Association Very High Medium Non-profit association of water supply and sewerage professionals, who intend to improve the management of water sector in Albania (SHUKALB, n. d.) Keep them informed about the project, how WSUD enables the development of a sustainable sewerage network in the city. Seek for expertise support from them

Medium Low Non-profit association of Albanian architects and urban planners

Table 6 | Stakeholder Analysis Source: Author, 2021 Keep them informed and seek to work closely with them in order to ensure not expertise support on the matter of urban flooding

Keep them informed about the project, how WSUD tackles the topic of urban sustainable development. Seek for expertise support from them

Keep them informed