Abstract:
Food loss and waste is a wicked problem (a problem with no
single solution). This problem is addressed by Sustainable
Development Goal 12. Solving this wicked problem in South
Africa requires the collaboration of a variety of stakeholders,
all with their own organisational interests. Therefore, multistakeholder
partnerships (MSP) are imperative to the
achievement of SDG 12.3, which focuses on the reduction
of food waste. This qualitative case study unpacks the
necessity for the use of multi-stakeholder partnerships
(SDG 17) in achieving SDG 12.3. The South African Food
Loss and Waste Voluntary Agreement (SAFLWVA) is the
multi-stakeholder partnership being studied in this article.
MSPs cannot be effective without strategic communication.
Therefore, the barriers and enablers of strategic communication
within a multi-stakeholder partnership of this nature
are explored. The study was conducted in South Africa with
stakeholders involved with the SAFLWVA. Semi-structured
interviews were conducted with 15 participants. The findings
indicate that strategic communication is one of the pillars of
a successful MSP. Additionally, the following enablers for
successful communication in MSPs were identified: trust,
information sharing, education about benefits, receiving
value, and gaining ownership. The study contributes to
the understanding of communication barriers and enablers
within MSPs.
