Report: NASAC ASBS webinar on “Effective Stakeholder Engagement”
On September 5, 2024, the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) held a dynamic virtual meeting under its Academy Synergy Building Sessions (ASBS) series, focusing on “Effective Stakeholder Engagement.” The session brought together 18 staff members from national science academies across Africa, offering a platform to exchange best practices for engaging diverse stakeholders—from government agencies and research institutions to industry partners and local communities.
The session featured Bibiana Iraki, a Communication and Stakeholder Engagement expert from ISAAA Africenter, who shared actionable strategies for fostering meaningful stakeholder relationships. Key highlights from her presentation included:
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Mind mapping for visualizing stakeholder connections.
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Stakeholder assessment mapping to prioritize engagement efforts.
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Stakeholder net mapping, a powerful tool for navigating complex engagement ecosystems.
An interactive Q&A session followed, allowing participants to delve deeper into the methodologies and share their own experiences, enriching the collective learning experience.
To reinforce practical application, attendees split into three breakout groups, each tackling critical aspects of stakeholder engagement:
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Group 1: Explored relationship-building strategies, emphasizing trust as the cornerstone of successful engagement.
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Group 2: Discussed conflict resolution and expectation management to align diverse stakeholder interests.
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Group 3: Developed long-term engagement strategies, including methods for measuring impact and sustaining collaboration.
Each group presented key takeaways in the plenary, fostering a shared understanding of stakeholder engagement challenges and solutions.
The session equipped participants with practical tools and frameworks to enhance stakeholder interactions within their academies. By combining expert insights with peer discussions, the meeting not only strengthened knowledge-sharing but also facilitated valuable networking opportunities.
NASAC remains committed to empowering African science academies through collaborative learning. The strategies discussed in this session are expected to strengthen stakeholder partnerships, drive impactful engagements, and foster sustainable scientific collaboration across the continent.
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