Table of contents
- Acknowledgements
- Executive summary
- Objectives, intended users and context of this report
- Outline of this report
- Methodological approach
- Lessons learned from collaborating with member countries through the self-assessment survey
- 1. Rationale for public intervention on adaptation
- 2.1. Key Topic 1: Public and policy awareness of the need for adaptation
- 2.1.1. Awareness of the need for adaptation: what does this include?
- 2.1.2. Findings from self-assessment survey
- 2.1.3. Examples from countries
- 2.1.4. Discussion of findings
- 2.2. Key Topic 2: Knowledge generation and use
- 2.2.1. Knowledge generation and use: what does this include?
- 2.2.2. Findings from self-assessment survey
- 2.2.3. Examples from countries
- 2.2.4. Discussion of findings
- 2.3. Key Topic 3: Planning adaptation
- 2.3.1. Planning adaptation: what does this include?
- 2.3.2. Findings from self-assessment survey
- 2.3.3. Examples from countries
- 2.3.4. Discussion of findings
- 2.4. Key Topic 4: Coordination of adaptation
- 2.4.1. Coordination of adaptation: what does this include?
- 2.4.2. Findings from self-assessment survey
- 2.4.3. Examples from countries
- 2.4.4. Discussion of findings
- 2.5. Key Topic 5: Stakeholder involvement
- 2.5.1. Stakeholder involvement: what does this include?
- 2.5.2. Findings from self-assessment survey
- 2.5.3. Examples from countries
- 2.5.4. Discussion of findings
- 2.6. Key Topic 6: Implementation of adaptation
- 2.6.1. Implementation of adaptation: what does this include?
- 2.6.2. Findings from self-assessment survey
- 2.6.3. Examples from countries
- 2.6.4. Discussion of findings
- 2.7. Key Topic 7: Transnational cooperation
- 2.7.1. Transnational cooperation: what does this include?
- 2.7.2. Findings from self-assessment survey
- 2.7.3. Examples from countries
- 2.7.4. Discussion of findings
- 2.8. Key Topic 8: Monitoring, reporting and evaluation
- 2.8.1. Monitoring, reporting and evaluation (MRE): what does this include?
- 2.8.2. Findings from the self-assessment survey
- 2.8.3. Examples from countries
- 2.8.4. Discussion of findings
- 3. The evolving agenda for national adaptation in Europe
- 4. Glossary
- 5. Acronyms
- 6. References
2.5.1. Stakeholder involvement: what does this include?
Stakeholder involvement is the process of involving those who are affected by and thus have an interest in adaptation throughout the policy cycle. This includes formulation, implementation as well as monitoring and evaluation of adaptation policies. In its basic forms stakeholder involvement relies on the exchange of information among governmental and other interested stakeholders. In-depth involvement is a communication and collaboration process that explicitly seeks to identify and to clarify the various interests at stake, with the ultimate aim of producing well-informed policies that can be implemented in practice. Stakeholder involvement has been seen to be an integral part of policy development, implementation and monitoring and evaluation (IPCC, 2014).
Ways to strengthen stakeholder involvement in the context of climate change adaptation:
- ensure that the broad range of interests is considered;
- help gather data or information, identify gaps in data or information, and identify future data sources;
- provide transparency and accountability regarding both decisions taken and the process by which those decisions were arrived at;
- accustom stakeholders to the fact that choices may have to be made in the way adaptive capacity is strengthened; and
- strengthen commitment to improve adaptive capacity
(Modified and adapted from André et al., 2006; Innes and Booher, 2005.)
Different levels of stakeholder involvement can be identified that differ in type and level of ambition. The self-assessment survey focused on six forms of involvement used by countries in different phases of the adaptation policy process.
Definition of key terms
‘Stakeholders’ in the context of this report includes the following actors:
- Governmental officials from national level (e.g. policy makers, public administration, governmental agencies)
- Governmental officials from sub-national level (including provincial, regional and local level)
- Private sector
- Interest groups (e.g. farmers' associations, NGOs)
- Scientists/researchers
- General public
The following forms of stakeholder involvement were considered in the self-assessment survey:
| Information given | information has been provided to stakeholders (e.g. web-sites, newsletter, reports and informative meetings) |
| Information gathered | information has been collected from stakeholders (e.g. online-survey) |
| Consultation | feedback on policy draft proposals has been obtained from stakeholders (e.g. written feedback on policy drafts) |
| Active involvement | Active involvement |
| Partnerships | decision-making power is redistributed through negotiation between responsible authority and stakeholders |
| Empowerment | final decision is in the hands of the stakeholders |
Active involvement, partnerships and empowerment are considered ‘deeper’ forms of stakeholder involvement in the context of this report. Country responses brought up an additional form of involvement, co-creation, where multiple public and private sector stakeholders work together and share responsibility for developing knowledge, options and solutions. Elements of co-creation can be found in both partnerships and empowerment.
For further definitions see the Glossary in Chapter 4.