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Cited by 165Water Resource Management and QualityComplex Systems and Decision MakingEnvironmental Science and Water Management

Empowering marginalized communities in water resources management: Addressing inequitable practices in Participatory Model Building

Butler, Cameron, Adamowski, Jan·2015·Journal of Environmental Management
DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.02.010
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Abstract

Within the field of water resource management, Group Model Building (GMB) is a growing method used to engage stakeholders in the development of models that describe environmental and socioeconomic systems to create and test policy alternatives. While there is significant focus on improving stakeholder engagement, there is a lack of studies specifically looking at the experiences of marginalized communities and the barriers that prevent their fuller participation in the decision-making process. This paper explores the common issues and presents recommended improved practices, based on anti-oppression, related to the stages of problem framing, stakeholder identification and selection, workshop preparation, and workshop facilitation. For problem defining and stakeholder selection, the major recommendations are to engage diverse stakeholder communities from the earliest stages and give them control over framing the project scope. With regards to planning the model building workshops, it is recommended that the facilitation team work closely with marginalized stakeholders to highlight and address barriers that would prevent their inclusion. With the actual facilitation of the workshops, it is best to employ activities that allow stakeholders to provide knowledge and input in mediums that are most comfortable to them; additionally, the facilitation team needs to be able to challenge problematic interpersonal interactions as they manifest within conversations. This article focuses on building comfortability with political language so that the systemic oppression in which existing participatory processes occur can be understood, thus allowing GMB practitioners to engage in social justice efforts.

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Authors
Butler, C., & Adamowski, J.
Affiliations
McGill University (CA)
Corresponding author
Butler, Cameron
ORCID
Adamowski, Jan
Venue
Journal of Environmental Management
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-04
Volume
153
Pages
153-162
ISSN
0301-4797 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.02.010
OpenAlex
W2075258352
Cited by
164
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 10
FWCI
12.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Environmental Management (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canada
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Water Resource Management and Quality
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Complex Systems and Decision Making
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Environmental Science and Water Management
Keywords
group model building, marginalized communities, stakeholder engagement, anti-oppression, social justice, water resources management, participatory decision-making, problem framing, workshop facilitation, systemic oppression, political language
MeSH terms
Conservation of Natural Resources, Community Participation, Decision Making, Social Justice, Water Resources

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