PROCESS TRACING THE IMPLEMENTATION GAP OF ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION DISCLOSURE, CASE OF TANZANIA

Abstract

This study examines in detail the causes of the implementation gap of Environmental Information Disclosure (EID) strategies as a means of implementing environmental policies, tracing back to the country's adoption and implementation of these strategies. The research seeks to answer two questions RQ1. How does the environmental information disclosure policy’s content impact its implementation? And RQ2. How does the context of the environmental information disclosure policy Impact its implementation? The policy system's content and context shed light on the causes of the gap in implementing these strategies in environmental governance. The principal objective is to test causal mechanisms behind the low reporting of environmental information, creating a policy implementation gap. Using explicit Bayesian process tracing, I tested three mutually exclusive hypotheses: (1) hierarchical governance, HHG, (2) closed political systems, HPS and (3) limited civil engagement, HCE. The analysis drew inferences on the key contextual factors that facilitate implementing EID as a tool for environmental governance within the mining industry. The study's findings, which traced the implementation gap of EID in Tanzania, support the HHG hypothesis. The study revealed that not all stakeholders (government, firms and community) were aware of the adoption of EID, and even now, it is not well recognised. The interviewees acknowledged that the implementation of EID is still poorly understood and practised in the community. Additionally, initiatives such as TEITI have yet to incorporate the consolidation of environmental data in their reports. The study's theoretical insight lies in updating the understanding of the political context of EID implementation. A collaborative environment fosters EID's outcome considering that voluntary disclosure was found to have an interacting role in the implementation of legislation, serving as a mechanism for ensuring compliance in business practices which has a higher impact on EID outcome. By examining reporting mechanisms, this study contributes to the ongoing policy dialogues on promoting transparency and inspires further research and policy development in resource governance. The study offers practical implications for improved EID, at its current state there are well-established methods of identifying environmental risks. However, the research recommends to improve information reliability and information dissemination to communities. Similarly, communities are encouraged to act upon information.