Work Package 2 (WP2) of the BlueGreen Governance project focuses on one central question: how can governance systems at the land–sea interface become more collaborative, forward-looking, and capable of dealing with climate, biodiversity, and water challenges?
To answer this, WP2 combines co-creative governance principles with strategic foresight methods and digital tools.
The aim is to co-design innovative schemes of governance in collaboration with scientists and all other stakeholders from target groups and direct users to indirect beneficiaries of marine policies.
- Modes of policy dialogue
- New decision-making processes
- Co-creative marine governance
Interview with Work Package 2 Lead Jean Marc Douguet
Framework for a co-creative governance scheme
Task 2.1 will define the framework for creating innovative governance schemes based on co-creation, engagement and participation of stakeholders. For this, it will draw on the inputs provided by WP1, which relate to the institutional and socio-political barriers in the field as well as enablers, and it will build on scientific insights on co-creation and co-production processes.
Specifically, the framework for innovative governance will enable the identification of stakeholders in marine policies, and it will establish ways to effectively engage them in the policy process. Furthermore, the framework will develop transitioning pathways for co-creation, that is to say, it will elucidate when and how different types of stakeholders can be involved in the policy process, and how these pathways for co-creation can be effectively embedded in the governance scheme.
In addition, the framework for a co-creative governance scheme will identify the administrative skills required from state actors to successfully set up and maintain innovative schemes. Next to the reliance on insights from WP1 and scientific research, Task 2.1 will be developed through a semi-normative approach and a logic of comparison that ensures its applicability to different societal and policy contexts. Moreover, Task 2.1 will employ interactive methods to develop the co-creative governance scheme.
The key components of the framework will be developed in consultation with a select number of stakeholders from the case studies and different levels of governance – including European and international actors. This will be achieved by setting up a validation workshop with a sample of stakeholders from the difference case studies.
Development of Strategic Foresight
Based on the inputs coming from WP1 (including scientific models and traditional and local knowledge), Task 2.2 will develop a Strategic Foresight Framework through establishing the structure of multi-stakeholder deliberations around the question “What should be done?” for the cases investigated in the project.
Task 2.2. will work, in appropriate ways, with stakeholders for the “co-construction” of capacities to frame and assess cumulative impacts and opportunities across the biodiversity-water- climate nexus, and to translate them into collective action and management under the land-sea domain. This task will rely on a combination of different methods used in strategic foresight, including horizon scanning and megatrends analysis.
Results from these preliminary activities will be shared with case studies, as a starting point for the data-driven policy dialogues, to provide a better understanding of the ways that knowledge propositions will facilitate scenario planning and visioning, and transformative actions at the various levels with stakeholders and policy‐makers and will enhance amplification of innovative schemes.
Development of e-governance tools
Task 2.3 uses a set of digital tools for data processing and integration by complementing existing ones for the purpose of allowing a stronger e-government and ensuring open government data. These tools will allow appropriate communication, exchange, coordination and management in marine spatial planning and natural resources management at regional, national and European level.
A digital dashboard will be created that integrates data and tools from various sources to support public consultation on land-sea planning issues. Using an agile approach, three iterations of the dashboard are foreseen: 1) the BGG Dashboard is developed (WP2), tested at temporal increments in the various case studies during the policy dialogues (WP3) and delivered (WP4).
At each stage, feedback will be solicited from users of the tool and participants in engagement efforts in each case study to improve the BGG Dashboard, to achieve the minimal viable product that meets the intended needs.