Stakeholder involvement

Stakeholder involvement processes need to be tailored according to the needs of the local authorities, yet consisting of good basic principles of participatory democracy. The process is transparent and inclusive. It supports the decision-making, offers feedback immediately and makes decisions more binding. The understanding of complicated issues and conflicting arguments increases. The overall interest towards sustainable development is likely to be improved. There are several methods for the cities to use and these will be analyzed and tested during the project.

In municipal decision-making all relevant internal stakeholders (different departments) and external stakeholders (NGO’s, politicians, citizens, private enterprises etc.) should be involved already in defining the problems. Stakeholder involvement is an inseparable element of integrated management system. It is a good governance principle – highly respected but underused. The results of the project will enable all the local authorities to use stakeholders at all levels.

In the project cities have selected a theme and started a stakeholder involvement process at a suitable level of involvement - at the minimum of gathering information. Cities are taking their first steps in linking the participatory elements more systematically to their administration and management routines, especially under their selected themes. The purpose of the project is to enable that participatory elements will be built inside the planning process and management routines in the future.

More will follow as the project proceeds…