Good governance brings together transparency, accountability, the rule of law, and inclusive decision-making to ensure choices are fair, informed, and widely supported. It is not only about policies and regulations; it is also about relationships, participation, and the conditions that help people work together with clarity and trust.
Governance refers to the institutions, processes, and shared arrangements that shape how decisions are made and carried out. It differs from management, which focuses on implementing objectives efficiently. Governance is about who sets those objectives, how responsibilities are shared, how commitments are honoured, and how rights, responsibilities, and cultural values guide collective action. It operates across multiple levels, from local communities to international networks, and spans political, economic, administrative, and social systems that influence public trust and resource management.
Different governance models distribute power and responsibility in different ways. Hierarchical (regulatory), market-based, and networked models all play a part, but the growing complexity of environmental and social challenges has increased interest in collaborative and networked approaches. These emphasise shared decision-making, participation, and cross-sector partnerships, helping groups respond more adaptively and equitably to changing conditions.
The links on this page focus on participatory, adaptive, and co-designed governance models. They explore how governance can be strengthened through transparency, accountability, equity, and inclusion, and how multi-actor processes benefit from shared learning and reflective practice.
Solving the puzzle of collaborative governance
This Tamarack Institute paper by Liz Weaver introduces practical ways to design and support collaborative governance. It outlines the inward work of building relationships and shared purpose, and the outward work of collective action, offering a set of simple tools to guide decision-making and accountability. The resource is useful for practitioners and community groups seeking clear, accessible guidance on structuring collaboration in complex settings.
Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI)
The 2024 CGGI Report assesses governance performance across 113 countries, using 35 indicators grouped into seven pillars. It highlights progress, emerging challenges, and areas where countries are rebuilding trust and resilience. The report offers time-series data and comparative insights, making it a useful tool for understanding how governance systems respond to issues such as climate change, social wellbeing, and technological change.
Governance principles for community‐centered conservation in the post‐2020 global biodiversity framework.
This 2020 paper by Derek Armitage and colleagues outlines core principles for community-centered conservation governance. It highlights the importance of multilevel collaboration, equity, reconciliation, and rights-based approaches. The authors emphasise strengthening local institutions and recognising Indigenous knowledge to create more legitimate and adaptive biodiversity conservation strategies.
Social dimensions of resilience in social-ecological systems
Joshua Cinner and Michele L. Barnes (2020) introduce key social factors that support resilience in social-ecological systems. These include assets, flexibility, social organisation, learning, socio-cognitive constructs, and agency. The paper highlights emerging research on power dynamics, network-based approaches, and the balance between adaptive and transformative change in resilience-building.
Navigating towards marine co-management with Indigenous communities on-board the Waka-Taurua
This 2020 paper by Kimberley Maxwell and colleagues introduces the Waka-Taurua (double-canoe) framework, integrating Māori kaitiakitanga and ecosystem-based management (EBM) into marine co-management. The authors argue that this dual governance approach provides a more structured and equitable pathway for Indigenous and Western knowledge systems to co-exist in marine policy and management.
Just Transformations to Sustainability
Nathan Bennett et al. (2019) explore just transformations—the need to integrate social justice considerations when shifting towards sustainability. The authors highlight the importance of recognitional, procedural, and distributional justice in decision-making, ensuring marginalised communities are included in shaping sustainable futures. The paper connects just transitions, social movements, and governance reforms to create a more equitable sustainability pathway.
Implementing the OECD Principles on Water Governance: Indicator Framework and Evolving Practices
This OECD report outlines key principles for water governance, providing an indicator framework and best practices from global case studies. The report introduces a traffic-light assessment tool with 36 governance indicators and a checklist to help policy-makers prioritise actions. It highlights how multi-stakeholder participation, accountability, and institutional coordination are essential for effective and sustainable water governance.
How do environmental governance processes shape evaluation of outcomes by stakeholders? A causal pathways approach
Ryan Plummer et al. (2017) examine how stakeholder participation in environmental governance affects perceptions of outcomes. The study finds that learning plays a greater role than collaboration in shaping positive evaluations of governance processes. The authors suggest rethinking participation models to strengthen engagement, transparency, and trust in decision-making.
Improving water governance in New Zealand
Andrew Fenemor, Diarmuid Neilan, Will Allen, and Shona Russell (2011) explore stakeholder perspectives on catchment planning and governance across five New Zealand regions. Despite its date, the paper highlights principles—participation, transparency, and adaptiveness—that remain central to water governance challenges today. The authors show how these principles can guide planning and help close gaps between policy intent and practice.
In the context of governance in the face of ongoing global change, increasing attention is being paid to linked concepts of adaptation and adaptive management. Two pages on this site explore these themes in more detail: the Adaptive management – “learning by doing page examines continuous learning and decision-making flexibility, while the Facilitation tools and techniques page highlights the role of skilled facilitation in building trust, managing power dynamics, and supporting participatory decision-making.