Biodiversa+ has published a revised and expanded edition of its Stakeholder Engagement Handbook, first released in 2014, to help research teams plan and carry out engagement throughout their projects.
The handbook offers guidance to:
- identify and understand stakeholders, including people affected by research who may have limited influence over decisions;
- choose engagement approaches and methods, from sharing information and gathering feedback to collaboration and stakeholder-led action;
- plan inclusive and ethical activities, addressing participation barriers, power relations, informed consent and the handling of data and knowledge;
- manage conflict and evaluate engagement, using feedback to adapt activities and assess their outcomes.
The updated edition pays particular attention to whose perspectives are represented, how decisions are made and how the benefits and burdens of participation are shared. An annex provides specific guidance on research with Indigenous Peoples and case studies from funded projects illustrate contributions and challenges of engagement.
