IntelligenceStep 3 - Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement

• One of the defining features of public health nutrition (PHN) practice is its focus on populations or communities rather than individuals.

• Populations are complex and dynamic, so it is important to not only “know thy community” but also to engage the community in our approach to work.

Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement

Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement

Why Engage Stakeholders?

• Stakeholders are individuals, groups or organisations who have an interest (or stake) and potential to influence the PHN intervention

• Understanding who will be affected or concerned by the identified PHN issue Level of interest and influence in helping develop solutions Additional support and resources Potential barriers to change (so can be managed or neutralised)

• Builds upon community engagement by using these relationships to identify additional stakeholders of relevance to the PHN issue Includes both the winners and losers, and those involved and excluded from the

decision-making processes

Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement

Stakeholder Analysis Considerations

Key preparatory considerations for stakeholder analysis:

• Understanding the culture and context – understand the culture and context from each stakeholders viewpoint

• Knowing the level of analysis – level of analysis (local, regional, national, international) influences who is considered as stakeholders

• Being practical about the extent of analysis – be realistic about the number of stakeholders according to the intervention timeline and scope

• Identifying the analysis team – analysis can be undertaken by an individual or a team

Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement

Who is best to engage stakeholders?

Stakeholder analysis is usually done by the intervention team behind the scenes, as it involves analysis (sizing up) of key players and identifying partners who will support intervention development and implementation or opponents who will act as barriers to action and change.

Its worth the effort to think clearly through this process so that you identify the write stakeholders to work with and those to manage out.

Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement

Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement

Conducting a Stakeholder Analysis

• A stakeholder analysis involves: Identification Engagement Data Collection

• The process and duration of identifying, engaging and analysing stakeholders varies according to the level and complexity of the PHN issue and scope of intervention

Stakeholder analysis should consider the following:1. Who does the problem affect?2. What section of this problem-affected group is most likely to be able to

change? 3. Which ones will be resistant to change or difficult to engage4. Who is in a position to help bring about change to address the problem?5. Who has a vested interest in maintaining the status quo (no change)?6. Who wants to see the problem addressed (what community support for

change is there and who are these supporters?)7. What government or organisational jurisdictions or responsibilities are

involved or should be involved?

Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement

Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement

Organising Stakeholder Analysis Data

• There are several ways of categorising stakeholders that can assist reduce

subjective biases in analysis:

Stakeholder analysis wheel – categorises and plots stakeholders against the different sectors involved in the PHN issue of interest

Stakeholder analysis grid – categorises and plots stakeholders according to their interests and power in relation to the PHN issue

• Visual presentations of stakeholders can assist in identifying potential strategic alliances between influential, highly resourced stakeholders

Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement

Peripheral

Supportive

Involved

Core

Health-related sector

Non- Health services sector

Community/grass roots sector

Government sector

Private sector

Core: part of project team

Involved: consulted often

Supportive: provide some support

Peripheral: need to be kept informed

Stakeholder analysis wheel

Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement

Stakeholder analysis grid

Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement

Engaging Stakeholders• After identifying those stakeholders most useful and relevant to the PHN

intervention the next step is to engage them

• The most effective and practical approach to engage stakeholder is usually to directly contact and invite them to partner in managing the intervention

• Core, involved and potentially supportive stakeholders commonly form the Intervention Management/Steering Committee (governance group) and are responsible for: Sharing the decision-making Managing risks Ensuring achievement of deliverables and quality output