Development of a participatory network governance model for flood management in Thale Noi Subdistrict, Phatthalung Province

Abstract

Thale Noi Sub-district, Khuan Khanun District, Phatthalung Province, is a wetland of international significance under the Ramsar Convention, yet it faces recurrent flooding within a context of climate change that is growing increasingly severe and unpredictable. Disaster management systems that rely solely on top-down administrative command structures thus face clear structural limitations, including the lack of real-time data integration among agencies, inconsistent participation from the private sector and civil society, and the failure to systematically incorporate local wisdom into modern early warning systems.

          This research article aims to analyze and develop a participatory network governance model for flood management in Thale Noi Sub-district, Phatthalung Province. A qualitative research methodology was employed using a case study approach with participatory action research. The implementation was divided into 3 phases: analysis of network governance patterns and participation, model development, and knowledge transfer and scaling up. The target group consisted of 15 people, including community leaders and residents, local government officials, provincial and regional government officials, and external experts and organizations. A purposive sampling method combined with snowball sampling was used. Research instruments including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and field surveys were utilized for data collection. Content analysis, qualitative inductive analysis, and triangulation were applied as data analysis techniques, with network governance theory, collaborative governance theory, and new public governance theory serving as analytical frameworks.

          The study found that the warning systems and response mechanisms still maintain centralized management characteristics that conflict with network principles. Information technology lacks integration with communities. Structures and agencies lack network-based operations. Private sector participation remains limited and discontinuous. Based on these analytical findings, a four-level integrated network governance model was developed, in which the Incident Command System was adopted as the primary mechanism for establishing management unity and command clarity, while network governance principles were incorporated as the operational structure anchored by goal consensus among all relevant stakeholders. The model comprises: policy level, central database level, operational level, and community level, emphasizing vertical-horizontal linkages, cross-sectoral coordination, and sustainability creation through continuous learning. The developed model can serve as a prototype for other areas with similar characteristics and support the achievement of sustainable development goals.