STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION COURSE
COURSE OVERVIEW
1. WHO IS A STAKEHOLDER
A “stakeholder” (or “the public concerned”) is an individual, group, or institution (including
governments) that has a defined and recognized interest, or “stake”, in a decision-making
process or project. Such interests may be, for example, economic, cultural, recreational, or
religious. Stakeholders are defined by whether they will be affected by a decision or project or
have some influence on its outcome.
2. WHY IS STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION IMPORTANT
Stakeholder participation is a dynamic concept that can be applied in different contexts, in
different manners and hence have different meanings. In general, stakeholder participation
processes allow people to influence the outcome of plans and projects. This influence can be
exerted at different levels along a continuum of engagement levels — from simply informing
the stakeholders to actively consulting them or even engaging in cooperative decisionmaking. If stakeholders have been actively involved in the planning phase of a project, the
development of a management plan or a policy, the likelihood of this process to be respected
and successful is much higher. If people have been involved in the development phase they
will also be more interested in taking part in the implementation.
3. AUDIENCE AND OBJECTIVES
The idea for this course grew from a IW:Learn/ Environmental Law Institute course on Public
Participation in International Waters Management The course is aimed at both those
conducting stakeholder participation processes, and at stakeholders themselves. It aims to
build an awareness of the process and its various dimensions: for project proponents or
participation practitioners to better understand how to engage stakeholders; and for
stakeholders to learn how they can play a more active role in the processes that govern their
present and future.
DLIST: Stakeholder Participation Course
Course Overview
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Table 1: Overview of Roles of project supporter/Government versus stakeholders
PROJECT PROPONENT/GOVERNMENT
 Regional councils
 Local constituency offices
 Municipalities
 Projects/programmes
 Private sector
STAKEHOLDERS
 Community Based Organisations (CBOs)
 Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
 Community members
Specific objectives:
 Sensitize to the process, why it is
necessary, and its potential benefits
 Become aware of different aspects of the
communication process – e.g.
 "levels" of SP involvement, from
awareness to participation
 stakeholders’ role in defining
participatory process
 create awareness of issues of
discrimination, inclusivity, bias
 awareness of legal aspects,
existing frameworks
 To propose a few techniques, when they
are appropriate
 basic mapping of stakeholders and
their interests
 setting communication
objectives/planning
 selection of appropriate
communication techniques
Specific objectives:
 Sensitize to the process
 Educate stakeholder groups on their
“rights”
 What they can expect to gain from
participating
 What are their rights, what
can/should they expect to be
consulted
 Create an understanding of the process to
be able to play a stronger role in defining
their own opportunities to participate
 Explore how stakeholders can organize
themselves to have stronger voice/
representation? What structures may be
appropriate?
4. FORMAT
The course is packaged into five modules, of which each can be flexibly tailored to audience
and time limitations.
Each module has a brief introduction to key ideas supported by open discussion in order to
share experiences. This is followed by practical group exercises to build on the concepts
learned and expose the complexities that arise when theory is taken to practice. The
exercises are based on a fictional scenario which is built upon from one step to the next.
5. COURSE MATERIAL
Based on a number of sources, this course attempts to present key concepts by collating
essential references as supporting material. All sources are acknowledged in the reference
list for each module.
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Course Overview
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General material
Course Overview
Who is a stakeholder, why is stakeholder participation important,
audience and objectives, format, course material, how the course
works and further reading
Scenario for working
sessions
Description of a scenario that will be used in working sessions
throughout the course. The participant will have to choose 2 of the
3 scenarios available.
Material for each module
Slide Presentation
Summarised key concepts and questions for discussion
Module Overview
Brief guidance on key concepts and outcomes and supporting
material
Presenter Notes
Collation of essential references covering the key concepts
Case Studies
Examples of stakeholder participation processes that helps the
participant to broaden his/her knowledge in a diversity of aspects
around the globe. The case studies will give the participants a
chance to apply the knowledge acquired through the modules.
6. HOW DOES THE COURSE WORKS
The course is divided in 5 Modules; each of them has an overview, summarised key concepts
and questions for discussions. At the end of each module, the participant will answer a quiz
that helps him to develop ideas and summarize all the information learned from the module.
The course also has 5 case studies with examples of stakeholder participation processes that
give the participant a chance to understand how stakeholder participation works and can be
applied in different contexts. For each case study the participant will have to describe in a
short paragraph what he/her has learned from it. The table below summarizes the content of
the Stakeholder Participation Course.
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Course Modules
Key Contents
1: Introduction to stakeholder participation (SP)
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Who are the stakeholders?
Levels of engagement
Participation as human and legal rights
Benefits of stakeholder participation
The process
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Why do stakeholder analysis?
Identifying the stakeholders
Assessing stakeholder importance and influence
Working Session
Module 1 introduces key concepts surrounding stakeholder participation (SP)
processes. It sets the background for what SP processes might entail in terms of
stakeholder identification, purpose for participation, and degrees of engagement —
issues that will be discussed in further detail in following modules.
2: Conducting a stakeholder analysis
Module 2 deals with Stakeholder Analysis, a key initial step in a SP process and often
overlooked. This step provides indications as to which stakeholder groups should be
part of the process and what the most appropriate participation mechanisms are for the
different groups.
3: Engagement techniques
Module 3 discusses techniques to engage stakeholders.
Module 3a discusses the range of engagement techniques that can be used in SP
processes. The different techniques may be more or less suitable for the different
levels of participation required—from informing to consulting and collaborating—and
need to be selected based on the audience as well as the purpose and stage of the SP
process.
Stakeholder workshops are commonly used to present information, exchange and
discuss views or plan and evaluate options. Module 3b will discuss practicalities when
planning and running stakeholder workshops.
The need for effective communication will be discussed in Module 3c. Strategic
communication is used to change behaviours and can help engage people.
DLIST: Stakeholder Participation Course
3a. Introduction
 Range of techniques
 Different techniques for different levels of engagement
 Selection of techniques
3b. Running a SP workshop
 Why organise a SP workshop?
 Planning the workshop
 Facilitation techniques
 Working session
3c. Strategic communications
 Why and what to communicate?
 Effective communication
 Use of networks
 Being strategic
 Working session
Course Overview
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Course Modules
Key Contents
4: Planning SP
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Opportunities for SP
Different SP models
Communication plan
Monitoring and evaluating
Working session
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Who has how much voice?
For SP practitioners: how to ensure representivity?
For SP participants: how to have a stronger voice?
Quizzes
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Each module has a quiz that helps you to summarize what
you have learned in the module. It presents a number of
mixed questions that can be multiple choice or a development
question.
Case Studies
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The course provides 6 case studies with examples of
stakeholder participation processes. For each of them the
participant will be invited to describe in a half page / one page
what he/she has learned from it.
Scenarios
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The course provides 3 scenarios and the students can choose
which one want to use for the working sessions.
SP processes can be applied in different settings and with different purposes and thus
need to be planned case-by-case. Using examples, Module 4 of the course will
explore different situations where SP approaches can be applied and evaluated, the
basic steps that are required, and how to implement and monitor the process.
5. Representivity
Module 5 deals with representivity in SP processes and the need to consider that not
all stakeholder groups have the same voice. SP practitioners have to account for all
possible constraints that may prevent stakeholders from participating; while
stakeholder groups can resort to representatives, caucusing, or NGO or networks
support to have a stronger voice.
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7. FURTHER READING
General documents on SP
 Bessette, G. (Ed.), 2001. Facilitating Stakeholder Participation Through Communication in
Participatory Natural Resource Management Research—A Guide to Participatory Development
Communication For Research Teams and Practitioners. International Development Research
Centre (IDRC).
 Buckles, D (Ed.), 1999. Cultivating Peace: Conflict and Collaboration in Natural Resource
Management. Chapter 5: Stakeholder analysis and conflict management. IDRC/ World Bank.
http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-27971-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
 Chamber of Mines of South Africa, 2002. Public participation guidelines for stakeholders in the
mining industry. http://www.bullion.org.za/
 DEAT, 2002. Stakeholder Engagement, Integrated Environmental Management, Information Series
3, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), Pretoria.
http://www.environment.gov.za/Services/documents/Publications/eia_info_series_stakeholder_eng
agements_24062003.html
 DFID, 2002. Tools for development: A handbook for those engaged in development activity.
Performance and Effectiveness Department/ Department for International Development. Version
15/ September 2002.
 DWAF, 2005. Stakeholder Participation. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa.
 ELI, 2007. Public Participation in International Waters Management—A Handbook. Draft for
Review. Environmental Law Institute.
 EWT, n.d. Roadmap for the general public: EIA Process in South Africa. Endangered Wildlife Trust.
http://www.eiatoolkit.ewt.org.za/players/roadmap.html#gen1
 GTZ, 2006. Strategic Communication for Sustainable Development: A Conceptual Overview.
http://www.cbd.int/cepa/toolkit/html/resources/59/5939C452-2E5A-4DAC-AE58653BB66D0FAC/Strategic%20Communication%20for%20Sustainable%20development.pdf
 Hicks, J., n.d. Assessing the effectiveness of community based involvement.
http://www.cpp.org.za/main.php?include=docs/community.html&menu=_menu/pubs.html&title=Doc
uments
 Institute for Regional Planning and Urbanism (VÁTI), Centre for Regional Studies, Central and
Northern, Hungarian Research Institute (RKK/CRS), Government Service for Land and Water
Management (DLG), and International Agricultural Centre (IAC), 2005. Practice of Integrated Rural
Development (PRIDE) – A Guide for Participatory Planning in Hungary..
 Petkova, E. et al, 2002. Closing the Gap: Information, participation, and justice in decision-making
for the environment. World Resources Institute (WRI).
http://archive.wri.org/publication_detail.cfm?pubid=3759
 Ramsar Convention Secretariat, 2007. Participatory skills: Establishing and strengthening local
communities’ and indigenous people’s participation in the management of wetlands. Ramsar
handbooks for the wise use of wetlands, 3rd edition, vol. 5. Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Gland,
Switzerland.
 SAIEA, 2005. A Guide to Opportunities for Public Participation in Environmental Assessment
Processes in the Southern African Development Community. Southern African Institute for
Environmental Assessment (SAIEA). http://www.saiea.com/calabash/pp_rights/Guide.pdf
 SAIEA, 2005. A One Stop Participation Guide—A Handbook for Public Participation in
Environmental Assessment in Southern Africa. Prepared by Commonground. Southern African
Institute for Environmental Assessment (SAIEA).
http://www.saiea.com/calabash/handbook/index.html
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 Sanginga, P. and Chitsike, C. 2004. The power of visioning: Developing community visions of
desired future conditions. A handbook for community development facilitators. Annex H of the Final
Technical Report for project R7856, 'Strengthening social capital for improving policies and
decision-making in NRM'. Kampala, Uganda: CIAT - African Highlands Initiative.
http://www.infobridge.org/asp/output_view.asp?outputID=1847
 UNEP, 2006. Compendium of Relevant Practices: Stakeholder Participation. Vivien Twyford and
Claudia Baldwin on behalf of International Association for Public Participation. United Nations
Environment Programme, Dams and Development Project.
www.unep.org/dams/files/Compendium/Report_SP.pdf
 University of Wageningen, n.d. MSP Resource Portal: Building your capacity to facilitate MultiStakeholder Processes and Social Learning. http://portals.wi.wur.nl/msp/?Tools
 World Bank, 2002. Strategic Communication in PRSP. Draft for comments, October 2002.
http://poverty2.forumone.com/files/12981_comm0916.pdf
Laws, Policies and Guidelines
 Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access
to Justice in Environmental Matters www.unece.org/env/pp/documents/cep43e.pdf
 Department of Provincial and Local Government, 2005. Draft National Policy Framework for Public
Participation. www.thedplg.gov.za/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=23
 Guideline for the public participation for the EIA process: Western Cape (South Africa)
http://www.eiatoolkit.ewt.org.za/documents/WC/guidelines/WCdea&dp_nema_eia_guideline_public
_participation_july2006.pdf
 Public Participation Guidelines as Published in Government Gazette No. 28854, 19 May
2006 (South Africa)
 Revised African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
 Rio Declaration www.unesco.org/education/pdf/RIO_E.PDF
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DLIST: Stakeholder Participation Course
Course
Overview