Session 1 Stakeholder engagement TEEB Training Stakeholder Engagement

Session 1: Stakeholder engagement TEEB Training

Stakeholder Engagement; An introduction What is stakeholder engagement? q Series of activities that seek to inform, consult and ensure the participation of stakeholders. q Allows stakeholders to have an influence on the outcome on plans and projects. q Ranges from informing stakeholders to actively consulting them in cooperative decision making. ©UNEP/GRID-Arendal TEEB Training

Why engage and what are the benefits? Effective and strategically aligned stakeholder engagement can: q Lead to more equitable and sustainable social development q Give those who have a right to be heard q Allow for the pooling of resources to solve problems q Inform, educate, and influence stakeholders TEEB Training

Why engage and what are the benefits? Continued… q Build trust among and between stakeholders q Enhances cooperation and provides the potential to build consensus and avoid conflict among stakeholders q Increases transparency in project activities and legitimacy of decisions q Enhances accountability in decision-making related to the issues in stake q Creates a greater sense of empowerment and social responsibility TEEB Training

The key principles of stakeholder engagement: q Information disclosure q Communication q Consultation and participation q Involvement ©www. 123 rf. com q Cooperation and partnerships TEEB Training

Why is stakeholder engagement important for the implementation of national TEEB studies? q Helps to determine and prioritise the policy questions at stake q Assists in the framing of the TEEB study q Facilitates the identification of which stakeholders should participate and how in a TEEB study q Avoid conflicts between those making and those being affected by decisions concerning ecosystems. ©TEEB for Local and Regional Policy Makers Report TEEB Training

Why is stakeholder engagement important for the implementation of national TEEB studies? Continued…. . q Makes use of local knowledge of ecosystems q Promotes and encourages effective implementation q Ensures for continual engagement throughout the whole process q Cultivates good governance ethics from the outset ©T EEB Manual for Cities q Encourages fairness and equity when making decisions linked to ecosystem and their services TEEB Training

Examples of Success; Collaborative management of The Kipsaina wetlands in Kenya q Formed in 1990 as a partnership of local communities to conserve and restore the Saiwa swamp in national park in Kenya. q With group effort, neighbouring communities have a reliable and clean water source all year round q Increase in the grey-crowned crane population as well as increased income from fish and produce sales. ©Teebtest. rog TEEB Training

Examples of Success cont… “A fund for water” in Quito, Ecuador q Established in the 90’s to help prevent illegal logging and deforestation within the protected areas that were putting Quito’s water supply at risk. q The Nature Conservancy partnered together to establish a water fund, to maintain forests for providing fresh water and prevent soil erosion q The Quito Water Conservation Fund (FONAG) pays for activities for watershed protection. ©Teebtest. org TEEB Training