Participatory approach: Incompatible or compulsory
for sustainable industrial development?
Nadjeli Babinet Rojas
Sustainable Development Director
Centro de Colaboración Cívica
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INDUSTRIAL AREAS: BE COMPETITIVE THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY. CRITERIA FOR BEST PRACTICES | MEXICO 13-14 Oct 2015
Centro de Colaboración Cívica is a non profit,
non
partisan, organization oriented to foster capacities for dialogue
and a culture of positive conflict transformation in Mexico. Our
aim is to enable social change promoting dialogue, democracy,
sustainable development and rule of law.
Strategic programs:
Key actions:
• Sustainable
development
• Citizen security
• Capacity building
• Impartial mediation in conflicts
and disputes.
• Design and facilitation of dialogue
processes.
• Research, systematization and
training on best practices.
INDUSTRIAL AREAS: BE COMPETITIVE THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY.
CRITERIA FOR BEST PRACTICES
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KEY THESIS
• Social resistance to some industrial developments
Social “risk”  uncertainty to invest
• Why? Lack or failure in community involvement
• Participatory processes have the potential to prevent
tensions and to generate an investment environment of
legitimacy and stability.
• However, fear of conflict obstructs social participation,
along with the perception that participatory processes
are not cost-effective.
• There are key lessons and criteria to consider about how
participatory processes must be carried out to increase
social sustainability of IA.
INDUSTRIAL AREAS: BE COMPETITIVE THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY. CRITERIA FOR BEST PRACTICES | MEXICO 13-14 Oct 2015
Index
1. Roots of social conflict related with investment
in infrastructure.
2. The fear of conflict: a barrier for social
participation
3. Participation processes: benefits and costs for
sustainability
4. Approaches for stakeholder participation
management
5. Lessons for sustainability criteria of IA
INDUSTRIAL AREAS: BE COMPETITIVE THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY.
CRITERIA FOR BEST PRACTICES
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1. Roots of social conflict related with
investment in infrastructure.
INDUSTRIAL AREAS: BE COMPETITIVE THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY.
CRITERIA FOR BEST PRACTICES
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2. Which is the principal barrier for opening
spaces for participation?
The fear of conflict
CONFLICT IS ALWAYS PRESENT.
The question is HOW
we manage it.
INDUSTRIAL AREAS: BE COMPETITIVE THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY.
CRITERIA FOR BEST PRACTICES
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POSITIONS VS NEEDS
• Understanding of values,
interests and needs (ZOPA) vs
superficial approach and
positions struggle/polarization
3. Costs and
benefits of
participation
COMMUNITY DECISIONS VS
“LEADERS” DECISIONS
• Inclusive and transparent
agreements with legitimate
decision makers vs fast track
deals with “leaders” (extorsion)
INFORMATION VS MYTHS
• Adjustment of expectations
and common information vs
unrealistic expectations and
fears
4. Approaches for stakeholder
participation management
• How can stakeholder participation be
effectively managed?
• Which different approaches do exist?
INDUSTRIAL AREAS: BE COMPETITIVE THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY.
CRITERIA FOR BEST PRACTICES
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TO GIVE INFORMATION --- BUILD TRUST
(clear, accesible, balanced)
Contribute to
strengthen a
policy or project
Generate
recommendations
Explore opinions,
positions 
needs, priorities
and values
Build
agreements
TO LISTEN -- BUILD COLLABORATIVE
RELATIONS (Stkeholders needs,
values, priorities, commitment)
4. Approaches for stakeholder participation
management
5. Lessons for sustainability criteria of IA
Participatory processes CAN BE strategic to give the
investment greater stability, prevent conflicts and
improve IA reputation.
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5. Lessons for sustainability criteria of IA
Stage 1. Regional Planning
•To identify and communicate
both IA potential and possible
impacts (social and
environmental)
Stage 3. Negotiation and Participation
•To communicate the project characteristics
and impacts
•To define with the community social
investment priorities and transparency
mechanisms
Stage 2. Project planning.
Approach between sectors
•To fully understand local context,
values, needs, collective decision
making organs and legitimate
interlocutors
Stage 4. Construction and
operation
•Participatory monitoring of planned
and unexpected impacts
•To have permanent dialogue and
conflict resolution mechanisms
•To have common protocols for
action and criteria for evaluation
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Nadjeli BABINET
Sustainable Development Director
Centro de Colaboración Cívica
52866440 y 52864899
Cádiz Norte 25 Col. Extremadura Insurgentes
Del. Benito Juárez CP 03740
[email protected]
Title of presentation
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