A conceptual framework for the analysis of areas facing drought : A case study of Living Lab Schouwen-Duiveland, Zeeland, The Netherlands.

Subtitle: “Primary focus on stakeholder theory and analysis” Objectives: The island of Schouwen-Duiveland(NL) is coping with drought. The study focuses on streamlining the decision-making process regarding drought on the island on Schouwen-Duiveland in the Netherlands. I also aim to develop a decision-support tool that helps with analyzing the area for decision-makers. The objectives are to explore the concepts of climate vulnerability, stakeholder theory and climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience-building measures; As well as make a stakeholder analysis for the Living Lab network organization which comprises of many levels of government, private companies, research institutions and other stakeholder organizations. Methodology: I aim to send questionnaires, perform interviews and have a workshop with stakeholders affected and/or interested in drought on the island. Experimental: I will review scientific articles on climate vulnerability, stakeholder theory and climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience-building, to validate my theoretical framework. I will uncover the stakeholder network, categorize and make linkages between stakeholders using stakeholder theory. Research Field: The thesis is focused on the field of social science with subjects such as climate vulnerability and stakeholder theory. Expected Results: I expect to develop a decision-support tool that will aim to make it easier for policy decision makers to identify and analyse areas facing natural hazards such as drought using several general but comprehensive steps.