A Net-Map analysis to understand the roles and influence of stakeholders in street food safety - A study in Ecuador

Resumen

Street food is a public health concern due to the prevalence of foodborne diseases. Interventions aim to control and improve street food safety. However, the limited knowledge about the roles and influence of stakeholders impedes the best way to allocate efforts and therefore needs to be studied. This study, conducted in Ecuador, elucidates the roles and influence of stakeholders in street food safety by identifying the stakeholders and assessing their linkages, impact, and goals regarding street food safety using the Net-Map methodology as a basis to improve street food safety. Eight stakeholders, their goals (i.e., improvement and control) and linkages were identified for the networks of information supply, training, financial support, and provision of basic services. Most stakeholders are mutually connected in the information and training networks. The municipalities and the National Agency for Health Regulation, Control and Surveillance (ARCSA) are the main stakeholders in street food control. Academic institutions and vendor associations are the main stakeholders in improvement. The municipalities are centrally positioned and influential in the information supply, financial support, and provision of basic services, but external consultants have the best capacity to connect with other stakeholders. The ARCSA is prominent in the training network, but the vendor associations can more easily reach other stakeholders. The positions of the vendor associations and external consultants create opportunities for allocating resources to control and improve street food safety. This is the first study to show the use of the Net-Map methodology in understanding stakeholders’ roles and influence on street food safety.