Multi-stakeholder Initiatives: Lessons from agriculture

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Author

Melissa Carson; Maaike Bijker; Simon Winter

Year

2017

Abstract

This study used an evidence-based approach to address two related questions- 'When are conditions right to launch a multi-stakeholder initiative (MSI)' and, 'If launching an MSI, what function should the MSI serve?'. The study was limited to one area of focus- climate change impacts on the future of smallholder farming in Africa and how multi-stakeholder collaboration, specifically MSIs, addressing at least some aspects of this issue were formed and designed. While the scope is limited, this paper aims to use climate change and smallholder farming as a starting point to draw more general insights into the MSI format as a tool for complex, large-scale issues. Despite its limitations, this is the first example of a launch analysis on MSIs and a deeper analysis on MSI functional types, and therefore gives a broader understanding of this tool. This study took a grounded theory approach. A broad list of characteristics was examined both to describe the stakeholder landscape just prior to the launch of an MSI and the functional characteristics chosen at launch. These characteristics included the level of issue awareness among relevant diverse stakeholder groups prior to the MSI launch, aims and objectives of the MSI, governance structure characteristics, and types of targets for impact/change. Twelve existing MSIs, in the area of agriculture and climate change with a focus on Africa were then analyzed to identify and draw out which characteristics were instrumental in assessing how the launch context defines the launch story of an MSI, and what elements would define the subsequent related functional design decisions. The analysis was based on desk research and key expert interviews with representatives from each MSI. The remainder of this report presents the results and deeper insights that emerged from this analysis.

Resource Subject

Language

Special Collections

Archival Record ID

MFA.2024.0815