SP5: Understanding social-ecological transformations: the role of governance and institutions

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Andreas Thiel
• Subject Area: Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Policy, Agricultural Sociology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 428658210

Humans’ interrelations are structured by institutions which shape our relations to nature and NCP. They frame attitudes and constrain and enable transformation initiatives, making them a key component of target and transformation knowledge which are core to Kili-SES-2. Work in SP5 builds on the in-depth understandings of SP5 throughout Kili-SES-1. It builds on the acquired knowledge of stakeholders, institutions, actors’ capacities and constraints in relation to land, forest and water uses and the multi-level drivers and powers shaping NCP and institutional change. The research program is motivated by findings on social-ecological challenges that relate to types of forestry and agriculture, to institutions (e.g., kihamba institution regulating inheritance of land use rights, regulations of land use around the national park and water courses), to multi-level exercise of power, to exogenous factors such as demographic and climate change and telecoupled arenas relevant to different land uses. SP 5 is developed in three work packages and coordinated with the water governance-related research of SP5 in Kili-SES-1. SP5 will assess farm types in three case studies, their sustainability and resilience and determinants based on a farm household survey. For farm types relating to food systems and forest conservation initiatives, Causal Loop Diagrams will be developed with stakeholders, Key Informants and Focus Groups. Crucial dimensions of multi-level and tele-coupled governance as well as institutions that shape resilient and sustainable NCP will be identified. The SP uses the framework of Networks of Adjacent Action Situations combined with a characterization of interrelated (hybrid) modes of coordination. Governance and institutions are transversal across Kili-SES-2 which is why SP5 is closely coordinated with all other SPs. With SP1, it works on water-related NCP supply, and with SPs 2 and 6, on biodiversity/ forestry-related NCP supply. The sustainability assessment draws on the expertise of all other SPs. Work on institutions and governance in SP5 will embed the understanding of local agriculture and forestry-related attitudes and initiatives researched in SPs 3 and 4. It will play an integral role in the SP7 synthesis regarding institutions as leverage points for transformations. Understanding on how governance and institutions shape NCP as a basis for sustainability transformations is missing, not least as the gap between systems and institutional analysis has not been adequately addressed. Further, overly complex multi-level SES descriptions often inhibit more parsimonious identification of which configurations (i.e., hybrids) of institutions and governance need to be addressed for transforming these multi-level social-ecological systems towards sustainable NCP. By addressing these issues, we contribute to closing important gaps in IBPES-focused research.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 5064: The role of nature for human well-being in the Kilimanjaro Social-Ecological System (Kili-SES)
• International Connection: Tanzania
• Co-Investigators: Professorin Dr. Suzanne Jacobs; Professorin Dr. Katrin Rehdanz; Professor Dr. Ulrich Schmidt
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Dr. Razack Lokina; Dr. Richard Mbunda