Leverage Points for Meaningful Participation: A 5‐Point Framework From a Rural South African Landscape

ABSTRACT Alternative forms of natural resource management are required. Participation of local actors is necessary but not sufficient, for moving away from the conventional top‐down approaches. This paper develops a 5‐point framework for enabling meaningful participation in rural landscape governance. Embedded within a transdisciplinary project, it draws on a case study of the rural Tsitsa River Catchment in South Africa by iteratively combining action research, interviews, focus groups and systemic analysis. The framework comprises five interdependent leverage points: multidimensional trust, shared understanding, participatory interactions, governance capabilities, and tangible benefits. These points are arranged in descending order of leverage, informed by three metaphors (lever, iceberg and onion) that highlight mechanical advantage, visibility and depth, as well as nested interdependencies. Empirical findings demonstrate how historical inequalities, fragile trust relations and institutional instability shape participation, while also revealing opportunities for transformation through cocreation, capacity building and visible livelihood improvements. Although grounded in the South African context, the framework resonates with broader debates on participatory governance and systemic change, offering a practical tool for researchers and practitioners seeking to design, implement and evaluate participatory interventions in complex landscapes. The work thereby contributes to advancing adaptive, equitable and resilient natural resource governance systems in the Global South and beyond.