How can you identify stakeholders in a conflict impact assessment?

1 Define the scope

Before you start identifying stakeholders, you need to define the scope of your conflict impact assessment. This means clarifying the purpose, objectives, and boundaries of your intervention and the conflict situation. You also need to decide what level of analysis you want to conduct, such as local, national, regional, or global. Defining the scope will help you narrow down the relevant stakeholders and avoid overlooking or including irrelevant ones.

2 Use a stakeholder mapping tool

A stakeholder mapping tool is a visual or analytical method of identifying and categorizing stakeholders based on their attributes, interests, relationships, and influence. There are different types of stakeholder mapping tools, such as matrices, diagrams, or charts. You can use a stakeholder mapping tool to sort stakeholders into groups, such as primary or secondary, internal or external, positive or negative, supportive or opposed, and so on. A stakeholder mapping tool can help you prioritize and engage with stakeholders according to their level of importance and influence.

3 Consult with stakeholders

Another way to identify stakeholders is to consult with them directly or indirectly. You can use various methods of consultation, such as interviews, surveys, focus groups, workshops, or observation. Consultation can help you validate or revise your stakeholder mapping, as well as gain insights into the perspectives, needs, expectations, and concerns of different stakeholders. Consultation can also help you build trust and rapport with stakeholders, and identify potential allies or opponents for your intervention.

4 Review existing sources

You can also identify stakeholders by reviewing existing sources of information, such as reports, studies, media, or data. Existing sources can help you supplement or cross-check your stakeholder mapping and consultation, as well as identify gaps or emerging issues. Existing sources can also help you understand the historical, political, social, economic, and cultural factors that shape the conflict and the stakeholders' roles and interests.

5 Update and refine regularly

Finally, you need to update and refine your stakeholder identification regularly, as the conflict situation and the intervention may change over time. You need to monitor and evaluate the changes in the stakeholder landscape, such as new actors, shifting alliances, evolving interests, or emerging opportunities or challenges. You also need to adapt your intervention accordingly, and ensure that it remains relevant, responsive, and respectful of the stakeholders' needs and aspirations.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?