Integrated coastal zone management under authoritarian rule: An evaluation framework of coastal governance in Egypt

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is an established management process at the international level striving for the sustainable use of coastal areas. Global experiences have produced evaluation frameworks based on accepted guidelines for good practice to measure progress ICZM initiatives. To date, no evaluation framework has been established, widely tested, and validated as a preferred ICZM assessment tool (Gallagher, 2010 and Pickaver et al., 2004). Implementing ICZM in Egypt represents a unique challenge as authoritarian regimes, prima facie, undermine principles inherent in achieving governance approaches to ICZM. A brief investigation of the available ICZM evaluation frameworks in the academic literature results in the choice of Billé’s (2007) approach to ICZM evaluation. Billé’s (2007) proposed framework is applied to Egypt to see what lessons can be learned for ICZM implementation under authoritarian regimes. This paper makes suggestions for future success of IZCM in Egypt and calls for increased attention in formulating evaluations frameworks that incorporate analysis on nation-state’s governance processes to better contextualize the failures and successes of ICZM initiatives.

► ICZM outcome indicators only demonstrate systemic governance failure under authoritarian regimes. ► Progress in ICZM needs to be highlighted and measured despite overarching governance failures. ► Billé’s (2007) ICZM evaluation framework demonstrates progress made even under Egypt’s authoritarian rule. ► “Contextualizing” ICZM evaluation frameworks within a governance regime helps identify driving factors for change.