Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Dr. George Kieh

Abstract

Abstract:Stakeholders’ competing positions with elected officials created barriers to the effective implementation of sustainable environmental policies. This study aimed to explore the barriers to implementing the National Environmental Policies (NEP), passed by the parliament of Sierra Leone in the 1990s. Sabastier and Jenkin-Smith’s advocacy coalition framework model provided the theoretical foundation for this study. The key research question explored is stakeholders’ perceptions of the barriers to effectively building coalitions to implement sustainable development policies like the NEP in Sierra Leone. A case study research approach was used to understand the barriers to implementing the NEP in Sierra Leone. Data were collected from public documents and structured interviews of 36 respondents. The data were coded inductively, and their content analyzed, which produced six emerging themes that included: the perceived role of stakeholders in environmental policy implementation, the benefits of stakeholders’ engagement, meeting the needs of organizations, perceived challenges in policy implementation, empowering stakeholders to participate in formulating and implementing policies and providing the necessary support for the effective implementation of environmental policies. Recommendation included that more research be conducted to identify why key stakeholders, stakeholder groups, and some governmental stakeholders were not sufficiently included in environmental policy discussions. This study has positive social change implications because it examined issues from stakeholders’ perspectives about the opportunities and barriers to implementing sustainable development policies in Sierra Leone.

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