Stakeholder engagement guidance

Stakeholder engagement is critical to the success of any initiative aimed at addressing nature loss and degradation. The SBTN network has published its "Stakeholder Engagement Guide (V1.0)" to support companies setting science-based targets with guidance and resources based on best practices to include in the implementation of target-setting methods.

The paper focuses on how to collaborate and recognize the knowledge and potential contributions of indigenous peoples, local communities, and other stakeholders who are positively or negatively affected (directly or indirectly) by your company's activities and value chains. Affected stakeholders include both workers within the company and those in other segments of the value chains.

The guide is structured in four sections:

1. Guidance on how to identify the different stakeholder groups to collaborate with and understand factors such as the intersectionality and internal heterogeneity of each of these groups.
2. Key concepts and approaches that support steps 1, 2 and 4 of the science-based targets for nature, related to preparatory work, stakeholder mapping, design and implementation, and facilitation of participation.
3. Advice on how to integrate the voices of affected stakeholders as steps 3 and 5 are implemented, and how to identify and navigate potential conflicts of interest and commitments that may arise in the process.
4. Guidance on how to assess the stakeholder engagement process, including indicators to assess their potential contribution to the achievement of the objectives and guidance on how to identify opportunities for learning and improvement.