Barriers to Integration of Collaborative Governance in ESIA in Urban Development Projects-A Critical Review

This review examines the barriers to integrating Collaborative Governance (CG) into Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) within urban development projects, with a specific focus on Nairobi, Kenya. Rapid urbanization in Kenya, exemplified by Nairobi's growth, places significant pressure on resources and infrastructure, necessitating robust ESIA processes. However, only 10% to 15% of urban development projects in Nairobi fully implement CG in ESIA, leading to inadequate stakeholder engagement, limited transparency, and potential conflicts. to project degradation, and economic losses.

The study, guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework, systematically surveyed and analyzed relevant literature from 2018 to 2024 using Google Scholar. The findings indicate that 100% of selected studies identify CG implementation barriers, while 75% report institutional barriers and 58% report policy barriers. These barriers include inadequate legal frameworks, conflicting policy objectives, insufficient resources, poor coordination among government agencies, and power asymmetries. The review highlights how these challenges contribute delays, increased environmental degradation, and economic losses.

Despite increasing scholarly interest in CG in ESIA, significant obstacles remain in translating its principles into practice, often leading to a focus on autonomous consequences over relational ones. The review emphasizes the need for holistic solutions, stronger policy frameworks, improved institutional arrangements, and enhanced stakeholder participation to foster meaningful collaborative governance in urban development. Ultimately, addressing these barriers is crucial for achieving more sustainable and equitable urban development outcomes.