Collective action for environmental health study : the beehive cookstove story in Hanoi, Vietnam

The study primarily used a qualitative approach, with direct observations, 24 key informant interviews, and a data validation session. The study’s objectives addressed the factors needed for collective action and how these factors brought different stakeholders together to address common goals to reduce beehive cookstove use and support a related environmental policy. Collective action is a three-stage process in which facilitators raise an issue, stakeholders convene, and participants act to transform the issue. Some critical factors needed for collective action include political will, an influential facilitator, a diverse network of participants, cross-cutting coordination and communication, and monitoring and accountability. Live and Learn successfully achieved its objectives under Clean Air Green Cities, but, for collective action to be more meaningful in the future, it needs more inclusive participation to sustain decision making in the long term, prioritize actions, accountably monitor progress, and jointly manage resources. This study also examines a case study of collective action around air pollution monitoring in China. Although the case is different, the process and reasons for success were similar, offering lessons about successful collective action that can inform future USAID programming