Institutional coherence, capacity and multi-stakeholder alignment shape the effectiveness of air-quality management instruments

Air Quality Management Plans (AQMPs) are strategic policy tools used to assess air quality, set objectives, and guide interventions at national, regional, and local levels. Despite their widespread adoption globally, air quality continues to deteriorate in many regions, raising concerns about their effectiveness in achieving intended outcomes. South Africa, with both an advanced air quality management framework and persistent pollution challenges, provides a useful case for evaluation. This study assesses the effectiveness of AQMPs by analysing the perceptions of key stakeholders. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 participants across four stakeholder groups: government, industry, civil society, and consultants. The findings suggest that the perceived ineffectiveness of AQMPs is driven less by the design of the plans themselves and more by broader governance challenges, including institutional fragmentation, weak implementation capacity, and unclear or poorly defined objectives, which collectively constrain their ability to achieve meaningful air quality improvements.