Water Management Approaches in the Eastern Special Development Zone Based on the Advocacy Coalition Framework and Social Acceptance

Abstract

This qualitative research aims to synthesize water management approaches in the Eastern Special Development Zone, guided by the Advocacy Coalition Framework and the concept of social acceptance. The study examines the perspectives of multiple stakeholders, including the government, industrial, commercial, and local/agricultural sectors, through focus group discussions. The results reveal that the primary challenge in water management within the EEC is the absence of an authority specifically responsible for overseeing water governance in the area. Additionally, stakeholders from different sectors hold divergent views on which agency should assume this role. Specifically, while the government, industrial, and commercial sectors generally advocate for a centralized management model under a single governmental agency, the local/agricultural sector tends to support a decentralized approach or leadership by a representative closely connected to the local community. Based on stakeholder recommendations, three possible models for water management leadership have been proposed: The River Basin Committee in the Eastern Region, the Office of the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee, and the Provincial Administrative Organization. These findings support Thailand's efforts to achieve specific targets under Sustainable Development Goal 6, particularly target 6.5 on integrated water resource management and target 6.b on encouraging local participation in water governance.