| dc.description.abstract | Sustainable development is a well-known, global objective by now, in which governments, individuals, communities, and actors all over the world are striving to achieve. But none of these can do that alone. Sustainable development calls for collaborative efforts, as it is a complex issue affecting anyone and everyone. Research on collaboration and partnership between the public and private sector has emerged over the last decade, and especially in the local context. That is because of the recognized importance local governments hold in sustainability initiatives. The main research area of this thesis is intersectoral cooperation for sustainable development, with a focus on Stavanger municipality and the local private sector. The thesis studies what drives such cooperations, and the opportunities, challenges, and future potential is explored. The various actors’ abilities to cooperate is also explored.
Through a qualitative research method, with semi-structured interviews as a tool for data collection, the findings show that both the private and public sector strives for a fruitful collaboration across the sectoral boundaries to enhance sustainable development. However, conflicting underlying values and interests, lack of trust, and poor communication cause challenges in the partnerships. This thesis can add to the existing body of knowledge regarding intersectoral collaboration, and offer recommendations for actors seeking partnerships. | |