The programme should work, but will the stakeholders deliver?

Panel: Panel 1. Strategies and integrated policies

Authors:
Jacky Pett, Association for the Conservation of Energy
Pedro Guertler, Association for the Conservation of Energy

Abstract

Designing a programme to promote rational use of energy requires understanding of economic theory, the understanding both of the market and of marketing in order to promote take-up, and good systems design. There must be a delivery agent and a target group. Does it make any difference who these people (or organisations) are? What needs to be understood about other stakeholders in the programme? How are they involved and what can be done to ensure that they assist the programme rather than present a barrier to its success?

An ALTENER funded research project running since 2003 has included analysis of these issues in order to discover how publicly funded programmes delivering rational use of energy (RUE) and renewable energy systems (RES) policies can be made more successful.

Using a framework for stakeholder behaviour adapted from theory of reasoned action coupled with social network theory, the paper identifies the "success factors" that make it more likely that a programme will be delivered by the intermediate stakeholders. The framework is tested through analysis of data collected on forty-six RUE & RES promotional programmes in seven European countries. As a result it has identified various characteristics of key stakeholders in their cultural context together with key scheme design issues that put a programme at greater risk of failure, or of only partial success. This paper presents those factors and characteristics and suggests ways in which programme designers can improve their chance of success through incorporating key stakeholder issues.