Multi-approach strategy for
stakeholder engagement
Sangeetha Rajeesh
RU Manager, LANSA
What is LANSA?
Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition in South Asia
(LANSA)is an international research six-member partnership
funded by DFID, UK Government, and M S Swaminathan
Research Foundation is the lead partner.
We are finding out how agriculture and agri-food systems can
be better designed to advance nutrition.
What change does LANSA
wish to see in South Asia?
LANSA focuses on policies, interventions and strategies that
can improve the nutritional status of children in South Asia
– Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.
The Consortium aims to achieve
• Accelerated rates of reduction of under nutrition in the
countries.
• Policies, programmes, initiatives are more evidenceinformed and pro-nutrition
• Policy & practice communities incorporate new knowledge
into discourse, attitudes, behaviours
LANSA’s approach for
stakeholder
engagement
Examples include:
A multi-approach
strategy to engage with
stakeholders and key
decision-makers in the
nutrition policy process
at South Asia region
level; and at Country
level (national /state /
local governance
levels)
-Face to face extensive interviews
-Stakeholder consultation meetings
-Online dialogues & public forums
-E-newsletters & online campaigns
-Leaflets (translated)
-Website, social media channels,
experimental films
-Media interaction & study site visits
-Sharing via other agri-nutrition networks
Strategy
• Clear, achievable objectives for each engagement idea
• Pre-determined and targeted set of stakeholders
• Planning & preparation, location & mode of engagement
• Assigning roles & responsibilities within the team
• Involving the researchers from the beginning
• Having a troubleshooting person available and ready
• Attentive monitoring & steering discussions
• Encourage participation and promote key stakeholders
• Summaries and feedback to participants
Challenges
• Getting high level stakeholder time commitments
• Internet connectivity / technical hiccups
• Moderating stakeholder participation so as not to dominate or
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•
change course of discussion
Distractions beyond our control that alter stakeholder
concentration or mood
Language barriers & translation requirements
Time zone issues
Wanting to continue discussion after time has ended
Takeaways
• Stakeholders very appreciative for such opportunity
• High need to engage agri-nutrition stakeholders and
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•
•
decision-makers at different levels
LANSA is looked upon as a facilitator to bridge gaps at
various levels of stakeholders
An attitude and behaviour shift witnessed – each begins to
understand the other in a different light
Community building for common cause to look at concrete
and practical solutions
Thank you for listening!
Visit lansasouthasia.org & follow us on @LANSAresearch