Author: Saman Mehak Saeed
AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no.DP-26-02
Year: 2026
Academic Program: Development Planning Management and Innovation (DPMI)
Type: Thesis (M. Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2026
Examination Committee: Thi Phuoc Lai Nguyen (Chairperson); Mokbul Morshed Ahmad, Vilas Nitivattananon (Examination Committee Members)
Abstract: Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) represents a persistent urban governance challenge in developing countries, where formal policy frameworks exist but implementation outcomes remain weak. In Pakistan, despite institutional reforms and sustained investments, municipal waste management systems continue to experience coordination failures, capacity constraints, and service delivery gaps. This study examines the role of policy design and local government capacity in shaping implementation outcomes within the MSWM system of Peshawar.The study pursues four objectives: to evaluate the design adequacy of MSWM policies governing Peshawar; to assess local government capacity for policy implementation; to examine how policy design and institutional capacity influence implementation outcomes; and to develop evidence-based recommendations to address identified gaps. Implementation outcomes are interpreted in qualitative governance terms, focusing on coordination, role clarity, decision-making processes, and accountability rather than technical efficiency indicators. Grounded in policy design theory and policy implementation literature, the study examines how policy design features and local government capacity shape municipal solid waste management implementation in Peshawar. A qualitative research design is adopted, combining systematic policy document analysis with semi-structured key informant interviews conducted at provincial and local government levels. Policy documents are analyzed using a structured analytical framework to assess design adequacy, coherence, and implementation guidance, while interviews provide insights into institutional practices, capacity constraints, and implementation experiences. By linking policy design analysis with institutional capacity assessment, this study contributes to the limited empirical literature on governance-oriented approaches to municipal service delivery in developing countries. The findings are expected to inform context-sensitive policy and institutional reforms aimed at improving MSWM implementation in Peshawar and offer insights relevant to other Pakistani cities facing similar governance challenges.
Scholarship Donor(s): PMU-KPCIP- AIT Scholarship
Note: A thesis submitted in patial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Development Planning Management and Innovation
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