Territorial dialogue: the mechanics of project ownership support (AMO)

Abstract

Creating effective frameworks for territorial dialogue requires more than just facilitating meetings; it demands a strategic « participatory engineering » approach. Yet, this field is too often reduced to mere animation techniques—a simplification that strips the process of its depth and can lead to frustration, a loss of trust, and the rejection of its outcomes.
Drawing on experience with France’s Territorial Water Management Projects (PTGE), this article goes beyond standard facilitation tools to explore the core mechanics of project ownership support (assistance à maîtrise d’ouvrage). It sheds light on the rigorous, often unseen work required to steer complex, multi-stakeholder projects toward successful and legitimate results.