The Integration of Stakeholder into Participatory Governance and the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals: a case study of Algarrobo City Council (2019-2022).

Abstract

Government institutions should by nature promote the common good through the provision of public services to their community. These services must respond to the demands of the citizenry and therefore must be held accountable for their performance in the responsible management of public resources. The concept of public accountability is based on the premise that citizens have a ‘right to know’, they are entitled to be informed. Global sustainable development is a collective social responsibility (SR) that engages both public and private organisations. In the current context, characterised by uncertainty and constant change, progress in global sustainable development requires a coordinated and participatory approach, as proposed in the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This chapter aims to examine the integration of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in public policy through the lens of citizen participation with a particular focus on the Algarrobo City Council, in the province of Málaga, Spain. Furthermore, this investigation will assess whether the 10 commitments undertaken by the principal actors of social change and their contribution to the United Nations SDGs have been met. The results are promising; the municipality has successfully engaged with these principles, thereby initiating a process of communication, reputation, and governance that extends beyond the act of election.