Engaging stakeholders in blue economy, ocean protection and ocean science in a meaningful way can be a challenge, especially given the complexity of some of these issues. If we are to address these issues, effective stakeholder engagement is critical and can support awareness raising, achievement of targets, management of risk and conflict, better access to resources and sharing of best practices. To support and enhance stakeholder engagement, in particular with Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’ (Mission Ocean) objectives, PREP4BLUE has developed a Stakeholder Engagement Toolkit. The toolkit contains methodologies for stakeholder engagement, recommendations and case study database.
The methodologies or guidelines put forward in the toolkit analyse how to best identify, map and approach stakeholders oriented towards the objectives set in the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”. This approach is designed to support the achievement of a sustainable blue economy and the targets and objectives set in line with the Mission. The guidelines are generally applicable at all four Mission lighthouses: the Atlantic and Arctic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic and North Sea and the Danube River and Black Sea, and incorporate a non-exhaustive stakeholder mapping, which provides several examples per country. The methodologies have been informed in part from insights collected during a workshop held in Brussels (Belgium) on 17 October 2023 titled: “StakeHolders2cO-design! Towards impactful stakeholder engagement in the Mission Ocean, Seas and Waters”.
The toolkit also makes general recommendations for the methodologies described, that address common questions related to stakeholder engagement including: How can one keep the project or action sustainable? How are good relationships built? How is a project to be monitored and assessed, in terms of relevant stakeholder engagement? How can one integrate gender and other inclusivity criteria and what are the actual rights of a stakeholder? Is this a concept that should be further investigated, and should a changing society adapt its legal framework for stakeholder engagement to promote equal chances and responsibilities?
Lastly, the toolkit presents a database showcasing several relevant projects that have been or are active within the Mission and where stakeholder engagement activities have been identified and assessed as best practice.
The report containing the toolkit (P4B D6.1) can be accessed by clicking on the button below.