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Using stakeholder and
power analysis and BCPs
in multi-stakeholder
processes
by HERMAN BROUWER, WIM HIEMSTRA and PILLY MARTIN
Introduction
Many community protocols will be used by
the communities in negotiations with other
(usually more powerful) stakeholders, e.g.
over proposed large-scale developments or
mining or oil exploration on communities’
lands. Similarly, FPIC processes involve
negotiations with other stakeholders.
These negotiating processes are often
referred to as ‘multi-stakeholder processes’
(MSPs). In some cases there is a formal
platform, or common space, that is collectively owned by all the stakeholders, where
negotiations can take place. In other cases,
the stakeholders do not all meet in one
place but are still engaging in various ways.
Analysing the interests of stakeholders and
the power dynamics operating (whether a
formal MSP process is in place or not) is
very important in enabling communities to
plan how to negotiate with these more
powerful parties.
This Tips for Trainers discusses an
action-research programme which is
analysing power dynamics in MSPs and
exploring how to strengthen the capacity of
local communities to negotiate with more
powerful stakeholders. The programme
began in 2011 and includes 12 projects in
nine countries.1 Six Dutch NGOs, their
southern partners and the Change Alliance
are implementing the programme, funded
by PSO, an umbrella organisation of Dutch
development organisations.2 Some of the
action learning sites are already established
multi-stakeholder processes (MSPs), whilst
in other cases communities are pushing for
such a space to be created.
The first part of this Tips looks at the
methodological framework used in the
action-research. The second part focuses
on the efforts of local communities in
Lamu, Kenya to claim their rights through
a biocultural community protocol (BCP)
1 A learning event is planned in 2012 to compare the findings amongst the participants, with
support from an academic expert reference group.
2 The Change Alliance is an emerging global network of organisations joining forces to increase
the effectiveness of the multi-stakeholder processes in which they engage.