[PDF] Community Development Toolkit - CommDev

Stakeholder Identification1DescriptionStakeholder identification is the processused to identify and define your project’sstakeholders – their interests and the waysin which those interests affect the project’sviability. Stakeholder identificationcontributes to project design by learningabout the goals and roles of different groups,and suggesting appropriate forms ofengagement with those groups.Stakeholders are persons or groups who areinterested in, affected by or can affect theoutcome of your project. Stakeholders maybe individuals, interest groups, governmentagencies or corporate organizations.They may include politicians, commercialand industrial enterprises, labour unions,academics, religious groups, national socialand environmental groups, public sectoragencies and the media. Your project’sstakeholders may change over time.In addition, groups of stakeholders mayhold divergent views within what appearto be unified parties. It is important not toassume that all members of a group orcommunity are in one mind over a programor plan, but to seek various points of view.There can be a temptation to only engagewith the stronger voices in a community orwith those who seem to be in charge, suchas traditional chiefs. While it is alwaysimportant to deal with these obvious leaders,it is equally essential to ensure that youengage with the broader community andsociety, for example women, minoritygroups, vulnerable sectors of the communitysuch as the poor, or migrants. If seemingly“powerless” sectors of society are left out ofthe consultative processes, the project canfail due to a lack of comprehension of thebroader context and concerns in which it isbeing implemented. Successful companiesseek to validate who has the right to speakfor or represent others and not just acceptassertions of representativeness at facevalue. There must be broad agreement onwho can be allowed to represent othermembers of the community.In addition, when dealing with customaryleaders, it is crucial you ensure that allcustomary leaders, as well as electedleaders, are consulted. In some culturesthere may be traditional leaders who holdceremonial or spiritual power as well asthose who wield more secular ororganizational power, and if some areexcluded, you may find that the project doesnot have the support of the full community.Women leaders, traditional or secular, areoften overlooked when identifying importantstakeholders.RELATIONSHIPS TOOLSThe key to this process is to undertakeexhaustive discussions over an extendedperiod of time about “who’s who” in acommunity and not to just stop when youthink you have found the leader. Such anassumption can cause problems at alater date.Community Development Toolkit45