Managing natural resources and socio-ecological systems sustainably is one of the greatest challenges for society today. In order to deal with the complexities and uncertainties inherent to this challenge, adaptive management, collaborative (participatory) management and adaptive co-management have been advocated as governing tools instead of a traditional top-down approach. Much research has advocated that the crucial element of these three alternative management approaches is social learning. While a lot of research has investigated the preconditions, contents and outcomes of social learning, little is known about the processes of social learning. This thesis explores how social learning processes unfolded in a regional collaborative project, the Resolve project, carried out in Sweden. The methodological approach used is action research. The data was collected mainly by observing the project team’s internal workshops and also through observing interviews and official workshops in which diverse local stakeholders participated. The present study makes several noteworthy contributions to existing knowledge about social learning by providing detailed descriptions of social learning processes. The significant findings of thesis were that social learning was facilitated and encouraged through the opportunity to ask critical questions and to engage in collective decision-making. These findings enhance our understanding of social learning processes.

L’étude du développement de la performance ESG dans les PME libanaises prouve son importance dans le fait que ces entreprises cherchent des solutions durables pour faire face aux différentes crises politiques et leurs répercussions non négligeables sur l’économie du pays. Notre recherche s’est engagée de souligner à l’aide d’une étude qualitative exploratoire sur quatre PME libanaises, si ces entreprises sont sensibilisées aux critères ESG de la performance en particulier voir le rôle du dirigeant, des parties prenantes et de l’adoption des normes ESG dans la promotion des pratiques responsables pour une meilleure performance globale durable. Les PME libanaises constituent des terrains souvent néophytes en RSE. Leurs défis principaux sont notamment l’amélioration de leur performance économique et financière et surtout leur survie. L’engagement ESG des PME libanaises est justifié par les convictions du dirigeant et ses valeurs, l’amélioration de la performance économique et financière et parfois l’adoption des normes ESG. Des freins sont à signaler notamment le manque des ressources financières dû principalement aux crises économiques et politiques. / The study of the development of ESG performance in Lebanese SMEs proves its importance in the fact that these companies are looking for sustainable solutions to deal with the different political crises and their significant repercussions on the country’s economy. Our research is committed to highlight via a qualitative exploratory study of four Lebanese SMEs if these companies are aware of the ESG performance criteria, underline the role of managers, stakeholders, and the adoption of ESG standards in promoting responsible practices. Lebanese SMEs are often neophytes’ grounds for CSR. Their main challenges include improving their economic and financial performance and especially their survival. The ESG commitment of Lebanese SMEs is mainly justified by the manager’s beliefs and values, the improvement of economic and financial performance and sometimes by the adoption of ESG standards. There are many brakes especially the lack of financial resources mainly due to economic and political crisis.