The challenges southwest municipalities confront while implementing sustainable development strategies.

Abstract

Sustainable development presents a significant challenge, particularly in regions facing structural and procedural hurdles. This study focuses on Southwest Libyan municipalities, undertaking a comprehensive assessment of development projects in terms of planning and implementation, and their alignment with sustainability principles. It also diagnoses the structural and procedural impediments hindering these processes and highlights the impact of governance, transparency, participation, and accountability on the effectiveness of these development projects. To achieve its objectives, the study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach, utilizing a questionnaire to collect data from a sample of 124 individuals across nine major municipalities. From these, 131 questionnaires were retrieved, with 91.9% deemed valid for analysis. The measurement tool demonstrated high reliability, as internal consistency coefficients ranged between 0.731 and 0.897. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, with a Likert scale employed to interpret quantitative results. Mean scores were interpreted as: (1.00-1.79) very low; (1.80-2.59) low; (2.60-3.39) moderate; (3.40-4.19) high; and (4.20-5.00) very high. The findings revealed a clear disparity between official plans and actual implementation. Regarding the application of environmental governance principles, the mean score was 2.43, indicating a low level of application. The results also showed an absence of effective project evaluation and monitoring systems, with a mean score of 2.56, also falling within the low range. This deficiency negatively impacted the projects' ability to achieve sustainable development goals, reflected by a moderate mean score of 3.15. A Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.541 further confirmed a strong, moderate relationship between the study's key variables. Based on these findings, the study recommends restructuring planning and implementation mechanisms, adopting participatory planning models that consider local community priorities, and strengthening governance and oversight principles. This approach aims to ensure balanced to environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainable development in southwestern Libyan municipalities.