Module 3 Engagement techniques 3a Introduction

What’s in Module 3a  Range of techniques  Different techniques for different levels of engagement  Selection of techniques

Range of techniques

Media/ techniques to engage stakeholders Write techniques that can be used to communicate/ involve stakeholders – one each on a card What experiences have people had with each of the techniques/media – any particular strengths/ weaknesses?

Film festival Music event Workshop Survey Road show Training Posters/flyers Print advertising Television Competitions Radio Website Magazine articles Activity – e.g. tree planting A few options to consider…

Many of these processes - though appropriate in some contexts - still afford stakeholders a limited role in defining their own level of engagement. In some cases, stakeholders should ideally have a role in defining project objectives.

Different techniques for different levels of engagement

Degrees of participation DEGREEROLE OF STAKEHOLDERS Information Are informed about the issue – one way communication Consultation Express concerns – two way communication without guarantees Consensus building Negotiate positions and priorities for a group Decision making Collective decisions/ responsibilities towards agreed outcomes Partnership “Equals” working towards a mutual goal, including sharing of risks Self- management Interact in learning process to optimise wellbeing

Media/ techniques to engage stakeholders Can all the techniques on the cards engage stakeholders at the same level? Arrange the techniques on each card by level of stakeholder involvement

Source: SAIEA Examples of techniques

Information: examples  Legal notices  Advertisements  Magazine or news articles & press releases  Background information material  Exhibits or displays  Technical reports  Websites  Field trips  Press conferences  Radio or talk shows  Expert pannels Source: DEAT

Consultation: examples  Public meetings  Public hearings  Open days/ open house  Briefings  Central information contact number of person  Field offices or information centres  Comments and response sheets  Surveys, questionnaires and polls  Interviews  Telephone hotlines  Electronic democracy  Participatory rural appraisal Source: DEAT

Collaboration: examples  Workshops, focus groups or key stakeholder meetings  Advisory pannels and committees  Task force  Citizen juries  Charrettes/ consensus conferences  Imbizo  Indaba  Participatory rural appraisal Source: DEAT

Selection of techniques

How to select the best techniques for each case? From your own experience, think of what should be considered when selecting techniques...

Consider the level of engagement desired

 Range: Number of stakeholders who should get involved and their geographical distribution and availability of communication media  Resources: Amount of time, resources and expertise available  Audience: Level of education (literacy level)  Objectives: Proposed objectives, outputs and impacts of the project/ initiative But also...