Bridging Governance and Accountability Gaps for Sustainable Natural Resource Management: A Pathway to SDGs 13, 15 and 16

Abstract: Governance quality is increasingly recognised as the decisive factor shaping the sustainability of natural resource management (NRM) in developing countries. This manuscript critically examines how governance gaps manifested through institutional fragmentation, weak enforcement, corruption, limited participation, and policy incoherence undermine the sustainable use of natural resources. Employing a desk-based qualitative design, the study synthesised over one hundred peer-reviewed publications and institutional reports (2015–2025) using systematic search procedures and thematic content analysis. Findings reveal that NRM failures are systemic and interdependent: fragmented institutions erode coordination, integrity deficits weaken legitimacy, and inadequate participation limits compliance. The review identifies polycentric governance and policy coherence for sustainable development (PCSD) as complementary frameworks capable of bridging these governance gaps. It concludes that sustainable NRM requires holistic reform integrating institutional capacity, transparency, and inclusive co-management anchored in both national coordination and local autonomy. The study contributes to scholarship and policy by proposing a hybrid governance model that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 13, 15 and 16) and offers a pragmatic pathway towards environmental resilience and socio-economic equity in developing contexts.