Elena Hunzinger

Title of Dissertation:
(Relational) Leadership of Multi-Stakeholder-Partnerships for Sustainable Development

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Josef Wieland
University: Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen
Scholarship: KSG Scholarship
Cohort: 3. Cohort, 2016-2019

• Short Abstract

  The UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development defines Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (MSPs) as an instrument to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Nothing less than a revitalized Global Partnership (Goal 17) is supposed to be the remedy for tackling the challenges of the 21^st century which are captured by the SDGs. Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals is a call out to all sectors – the state, the market, civil society and science – to collaborate in MSPs across sectoral silos in order to deliver the SDGs and transform our world by 2030.

  MSPs are characterized by their cross-sectoral nature and their focus on Sustainable Development. Actors from state and non-state sectors aim at joining forces to collaborate for the achievement of the SDGs – despite their sector-specific logics and interests. Since the publication of the SDGs in 2015, roughly 4000 MSPs and similar initiatives have registered on the Partnerships for SDGs platform (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org). Even though MSPs increase in popularity, many of these partnerships lack effectiveness in terms of outcome and impact. Research suggests a lack of clarity regarding How to effectively join forces in such a cross-sectoral partnership from a leadership point of view. Therefore, the objective of my dissertation project is to explore MSPs for Sustainable Development with a focus on leadership as a core success factor.

  Traditional leadership approaches often refer to single organisations and hierarchical settings. Usually, these theories do not reflect the cross-sectoral nature of an MSP and its focus on sustainability. Therefore, my objective is to elaborate on leadership theories that reflect partnership structures and dynamics, such as collective leadership, shared leadership and relational leadership. Relational leadership theory offers a promising approach for conceptualizing leadership in partnerships. Relational leadership theory understands leadership as a phenomenon which emerges in the interactions between individuals and organisations; this notion reflects the relational nature of sustainability challenges.

  Since I am highly interested in Sustainable Urban Development, I will use Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals as a contextual starting point and zoom into SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) in order to explore the partnership and leadership dynamics that fuel sustainable urban development. I will do this by applying a multiple case study approach.

• PhD Related Publications

  • N/A