Stakeholder Engagement Process Research Articles

Stakeholder Engagement in the Translation of a Hypertension Control Program to Guatemala's Public Primary Health Care System: Lessons Learned, Challenges, and Opportunities

BackgroundThere is an urgent need to define appropriate intervention strategies to control blood pressure in low- and middle-income countries. In 2018, a program proven effective in Argentina was translated to Guatemala's public primary health care system in rural and primarily indigenous communities. ObjectivesThis paper describes the stakeholder engagement process used to adapt the program to the Guatemalan rural context prior to implementing a type II hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial and shares lessons learned. MethodsWe identified key differences in the 2 contexts that are relevant to translating the intervention to the Guatemalan context. Alongside interviews and focus group discussions, we conducted consultation workshops in July and August 2018, applying a participatory translation process involving patients, family members, community members, health care providers, and Ministry of Health officials. The process consisted of multiple meetings in Guatemala City, as well as meetings in each of the 5 departments where the study will be implemented, and 1 district per department. During the workshops, we presented the evidence-based experience from Argentina and then focused on the challenges and recommended solutions that the participants identified for each of the intervention's 6 components. The process concluded with a meeting in which the research team and Ministry of Health officials defined specific details of the intervention. ResultsThe outcome of the process is an adapted approach appropriate to integrate into Guatemala's public primary health care system in the trial phase. The approach considers the challenges and recommended strategies for each of the 6 intervention components. ConclusionsWe identified lessons learned, challenges, and opportunities during the adaptation process. Findings will inform ongoing stakeholder engagement during the study implementation and future scale-up and efforts to translate evidence-based hypertension control strategies to low- and middle-income countries globally.

The link between women entrepreneurship, innovation and stakeholder engagement: A review

While, women entrepreneurship is synonymous with women empowerment, tremendously contributing to growth of the economy, sustainable entrepreneurship calls for innovations and successful diffusion. Barriers like lower entrepreneurial ability, lack of funds, etc., often inhibit women entrepreneurial innovations. The main objective of this paper is to examine whether women entrepreneurship innovations can be fostered through stakeholders' involvement and engagement. For this prior studies were referred and a conceptual framework involving proactive, interactive two-way stakeholder engagement process between women enterprises and stakeholders; divided into three interconnected parts; along with institutional support is suggested. Stakeholder engagement as a long term growth strategy to build competitive advantage calls for collaborative endeavors, wherein stakeholders work-together to pursue mutually-beneficial, multitudinous goals, which should encourage innovative women entrepreneurial initiatives. Furthermore, the suggested framework, as an interactive, two-way, continuous process interlinking the variables, would help management to work at increasing collaborative value creations through innovative women entrepreneurial ventures.

Stakeholders in the Development of the National Unified Health Research Agenda of the Philippines

Objectives. Stakeholders and stakeholder engagement in agenda setting are not well documented despite its increased recognition. This paper aimed to describe stakeholder engagement in the agenda setting. Specifically, it aimed to (1) describe the process of stakeholder engagement in the development of the NUHRA 2017-2022; (2) describe characteristics of stakeholders involved; and (3) identify lessons learned during the engagement.
 Methods. Documents pertinent to the agenda setting process, which included profile of participants and feedback on the consultation process were reviewed and analyzed. Key informant interviews were also conducted among selected PCHRD officials and members of the Philippine National Health Research System - Research Agenda Committee. Stakeholder mapping was conducted prior to the engagement to identify potential stakeholders. Consultations were conducted in each region involving different stakeholders. Stakeholders in the consultation process were national government agencies, local government units, academe, public and private health facilities, and non-government organizations (NGOs).
 Results. The stakeholder with the highest representation was the national government (n=110), while the lowest were public and private health facilities (n=14 each). Interactive discussion of stakeholders with diverse background, is the top item that went well during the consultation and should be retained in the future, and; brainstorming session and presentation were identified item that needs improvement.
 Conclusion. A diverse and well-represented set of stakeholders is important in an agenda setting to appropriately identify priorities and to improve uptake of the agenda. Stakeholder engagement, however, should not be limited to agenda setting, collaborative work must be sustained in all aspects of the research cycle.

Towards a strategic research agenda for social sciences and humanities in radiological protection

Reflecting a change in funding strategies for European research projects, and a commitment to the idea of responsible research and innovation in radiological protection (RP), a collective of research institutes and universities have developed a prospective Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) for Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in radiological protection. This is the first time such a research agenda has been proposed. This paper identifies six research lines of interest and concern: (1) Effects of social, psychological and economic aspects on RP behaviour; (2) Holistic approaches to the governance of radiological risks; (3) Responsible research and innovation in RP; (4) Stakeholder engagement and participatory processes in RP research, development, policy and practice; (5) Risk communication; and (6) RP cultures. These topics were developed through broad stakeholder consultation, in conjunction with activities carried out in the framework of various projects and initiatives (EU H2020 CONCERT programme, the EU FP7 projects OPERRA, PREPARE and EAGLE, the 2015–2018 RICOMET series of conferences, and the 2014 and 2016 International Symposia on Ethics of Environmental Health); as well as through dialogues with members of the European radiation protection research communities. The six research lines open opportunities to integrate a range of key social and ethical considerations into RP, thereby expanding research opportunities and programmes and fostering collaborative approaches to research and innovation.

Overcoming “over-tourism”: the closure of Maya Bay

PurposeThe temporary closure of Maya Bay – located at Phi Phi Le Island in Thailand’s Krabi province – was an executive decision made to overcome problems of “over-tourism” and degradation of the marine ecosystems. The purpose of this paper is to assess the process of stakeholder engagement by the Thai authorities before they arrived at decisions on the closure of Maya Bay.Design/methodology/approachA multi-method qualitative research through in-depth interviews and netnography was designed to examine opinions of participants within the context of investigation.FindingsThe key findings revolve around the central research question of “how are stakeholders managed and consulted to overcome ‘over-tourism’ in Maya Bay?”. The research question can be sub-divided into three parts – the identification of “over-tourism,” the process of engaging and consulting with stakeholders on solutions to deal with “over-tourism,” and the final decision on selected approaches to overcome “over-tourism.”Originality/valueThe researchers draw upon the views from the five groups of stakeholders to propose recommendations on tackling “over-tourism” issues that local governments and destination management agencies might face. A business, residents, authorities, visitors and environmentalists (BRAVE) stakeholders framework is proposed by integrating five main stakeholder categories – businesses (B), residents (R), authorities (A), visitors (V) and environmentalists (E). This “BRAVE” stakeholders model is then used to assess the various stakeholders’ positions on the issue of “over-tourism” in Maya Bay, including a cost-benefit analysis in an “over-tourism” situation. Particular attention is placed on how different stakeholders work together and converge on a decision accepted by all.

Dementia Friendly Hospital Design: Key Issues for Patients and Accompanying Persons in an Irish Acute Care Public Hospital.

Research was conducted to investigate the impact of the hospital environment on older people including patients with dementia and their accompanying persons (APs). The article presents key research findings in the case study hospital. For many patients, the hospital is challenging due to the busy, unfamiliar, and stressful nature of the environment. For a person with dementia, the hospital experience can be exacerbated by cognitive impairment and behavioral or psychological symptoms and can therefore prove to be a frightening, distressing, and disorientating place. The findings are based on a stakeholder engagement process where the research team spent approximately 150 hr observing within the hospital, administered 95 questionnaires to patients and/or APs, and conducted 12 structured interviews with patients and APs. A thematic analysis was employed to analyze and generate key themes emerging from the process. Themes were grouped into overarching issues and design issues across spatial scales. This research confirms the negative impact of the acute hospital setting on older people with cognitive impairments including dementia and delirium. The multiple perspectives captured in this study, including most importantly people with dementia, ensure that stakeholder needs can be used to inform the design of the hospital environment. The research points to the value of understanding the lived experience of the person with dementia and APs. The voices of patients, particularly persons with dementia and their APs, are a crucial element in helping hospitals to fulfill their role as caregiving and healing facilities.

047 Modelling logical intervention pathways through a stakeholder authored concept map to design complex interventions aimed at improving participation for people with Sjögren’s syndrome

Background: Participation in daily activities is problematic for many people with primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS). A group concept map, co-developed with 232 patients, family and healthcare staff stakeholders (patients with pSS, family members and health professionals) contained 7 themed clusters of prioritized ideas. To utilize the map to develop future interventions, our aims were: 1) model logical clear pathways through the map; 2) identify specific facilitators and outcomes from the ideas within the map which relate to agreed intervention targets within the priority logical pathway. Methods: To utilize these maps to develop future interventions, we explored their content further during three steering group interpretation sessions and through a validation process with clinicians. Steering group members (n = 6) individually considered the map and agreement was reached on the logical pathways following three interpretation meetings. Specific priority intervention targets within one pathway were selected from within the concept map through discussion and reaching consensus. The priority intervention targets and all individual highly rated ideas from within the concept map which explicitly related to these targets were presented to experienced psychologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists (n = 10) for validation. The clinicians were asked to provide specific examples of how these related ideas could be applied and evaluated within a clinical setting. Results: The themed clusters in order of priority included; patient empowerment, symptoms, wellbeing, access & coordination of healthcare, knowledge & support, friends/family and public awareness. Four logical pathways were drawn through the themed clusters within map and are listed in order of priority: 1) To improve patient empowerment the priority symptoms of fatigue, dryness, pain and sleep need to be addressed in order to improve wellbeing. 2) Priority symptoms can be addressed through appropriate access & coordination of healthcare which could positively impact on patient empowerment. 3) Knowledge and support could be delivered through an appropriate healthcare system and may impact on public awareness and support. 4) Friends and family are more likely to be supportive if there was better public awareness of pSS. Their support could facilitate patient empowerment. Pathway 1 included the highest rated themed clusters. The steering group agreed to focus on the intervention targets of fatigue, pain and sleep as these were often not being adequately addressed in current clinics. The clinician validation process provided specific intervention examples for each priority idea relating to the targets of fatigue, pain and sleep and suggested outcome measure tools. Conclusion: A priority logical intervention pathway to improve participation in Sjogren’s syndrome has been developed through a rigorous process of stakeholder engagement and a consensus activity. A clinician validation process has produced specific ingredients and outcomes to form components of a future complex intervention to improve participation in pSS patients.

Exploring the value of participatory system dynamics in two paired field studies of stakeholder engagement in sustainability discussions

This paper presents empirical evidence from two field studies about the effect of participatory system dynamics processes in stakeholder discussions about sustainability issues. Both studies examined paired real‐world group processes in which stakeholders were asked to provide policy recommendations to municipal decision makers. One group in each study used a general meeting facilitation approach, and the other used participatory system dynamics. One pair of groups discussed urban growth issues and met monthly for over a year. The other pair of groups discussed a proposed Zero Waste management initiative and met for one workshop session during a single‐day conference. The urban growth study was an opportunistic, post hoc comparison of two groups with similar stakeholders independently convened at the same time. The participatory system dynamics group followed a full‐group model‐building process. The Zero Waste study was a field experiment in which participants in the same 1‐day conference were divided into two groups for facilitated discussion, and the participatory system dynamics group used an existing system dynamics simulation model for analysis. Content analysis of meeting material as well as participant surveys and interviews in the longer term engagement showed the system dynamics group followed key steps of an “ideal” problem‐solving process more closely, scored higher on most group process and outcome variables, and had higher participant satisfaction than the traditionally facilitated group. In the short‐term processes, prediscussion and postdiscussion surveys showed the participatory system dynamics group produced better policy recommendations, but the traditionally facilitated group reported higher procedural satisfaction. Although the difficulty of strictly controlling for all variation in context limits our conclusions, these field comparisons support the value of participatory system dynamics for improving stakeholder engagement processes. The differences in participant satisfaction outcomes imply that special attention must be paid to satisfaction in shorter term participatory system dynamics activities.

Key issues and challenges in stakeholder engagement in sustainability reporting

Purpose This paper aims to explore the key issues and challenges that can affect the quality of stakeholder engagement processes and outcomes in relation to sustainability reporting. Design/methodology/approach Case study research was used to gain in-depth insights into the stakeholder engagement practices of three Australian local councils. Findings The findings of this study suggest that the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement can be undermined by certain difficulties and challenges faced by an organisation. These include limited resources, lack of commitment from internal stakeholders, political factors, heterogeneous concerns, inadequate representation and an unwillingness to engage. Research limitations/implications The study adds to the limited literature on stakeholder engagement in sustainability reporting specifically and on sustainability accounting and reporting in public sector organisations (PSOs) more generally. Practical implications This research provides practical guidance to government authorities on the challenges that need to be addressed to enable an effective stakeholder engagement process for sustainability reporting. Social implications Stakeholders have a critical role in holding organisations accountable and research into their engagement with these organisations has societal benefits. Originality/value This research while focused on the Australian context has international relevance as it provides unique insights into the stakeholder engagement process. The implications of this research apply to not just PSOs but also corporations that are grappling with the (difficult) process of effective engagement with stakeholders.

Building a children's health and environment research agenda in Alberta, Canada: A multi-stakeholder engagement process

As new environmental exposures are continuously identified, environmental influences on health are of growing concern. Knowledge regarding the impacts of environmental exposures is constantly evolving and is often incomplete. In this paper, we describe a multi-phased, multi-stakeholder engagement initiative involving diverse stakeholders with an interest in building a children's environmental health research agenda which would link with and support local practices and policies. The intent of this initiative was to identify priority research issues, themes and questions by implementing a tested Research Planning Model that encompassed the engagement of diverse stakeholders. Here, we describe the model application, which was specifically focused on children's health and the environment. A key component of the model was the ongoing stakeholder engagement process. This included two stakeholder forums, during which participants identified three main research themes (social determinants of health, environmental exposures and knowledge translation) and a short list of research questions. Other key components of the model included the development of a Global Sounding Board of key stakeholders, an Advisory Board and a Scientific Panel with mandates to review and prioritise the research questions. In our case, the Advisory Board and Scientific Panel prioritised questions that focused on environmental exposures related to children's respiratory outcomes. The stakeholder engagement described here is an evolving process with frequent changes of context, sustained by the commitment and dedication of the Children's Environment and Health Research planning team and the Advisory Board. In this article, we share the engagement process, outcomes, successes, challenges and lessons learned from this ongoing experience.
 Keywordsstakeholder engagement, children's health, environmental health, health research

Automation-ready framework for urban transport and road infrastructure planning

Abstract “Automation-ready” is currently defined in the H2020 CoEXist project as the capability to conduct transport and infrastructure planning with the incorporation of connected and automated vehicles (CAV) in the same comprehensive manner as for existing modes in future plans, where they complement and coexist with conventional vehicles, public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, to achieve and support higher sustainable mobility goals. This definition will be fine-tuned through stakeholder engagement processes. The H2020 CoEXist project started in May 2017 and will run until April 2020. This paper introduces this project and covers its progress until January 2018, with a focus on the methodology of the “Automation-ready framework” that provides a planning framework for urban road authorities to prepare for the introduction of CAVs on the road network. The two Stuttgart use cases (among the eight use cases in CoEXist) are also elaborated in this paper. The framework includes elements about strategic urban mobility planning for CAVs and a clear guide for urban transport planners with a list of concrete actions that cities can do now to plan for CAVs on their road network.

Engineering and environmental studies for decommissioning of subsea infrastructure

Decommissioning of subsea infrastructure requires input from engineering and environmental studies, as well as the stakeholders, so that informed decisions can be made. This paper discusses the technical and environmental considerations relating to the decommissioning of subsea infrastructure for the full range of subsea components, including structures, rigid pipelines, flexible flowlines and control systems. Example engineering and environmental assessments that could be performed are discussed, such as stability, corrosion, lifting, materials degradation, net environmental benefit assessment (NEBA) and marine and fishing studies. The stakeholder engagement process is also presented. The paper discusses processes leading up to the decommissioning decision and what operators can do, to ensure that there is adequate information to support decisions that need to be made on transitioning into the final stage of the asset lifecycle. The paper will provide guidance on execution of the decommissioning works, how to ensure success and considerations for material handling, management and disposal of potentially hazardous and contaminated material and other environmental impacts. The technical aspects will be presented using case studies on past and present decommissioning projects in Australia. Solutions for in situ, recovery and repurposing that have been adopted will be presented, as well as alternative solutions that are currently being developed.

360-degree stakeholder management driving successful CO2 storage research

The CO2CRC Otway Project continues to demonstrate that carbon capture and storage is a viable option for CO2 mitigation. The CO2CRC Otway Project is Australia’s first CO2 demonstration project, with two projects completed, involving geological storage of some 80000 tonnes of CO2 over the past 10 years. The project was initially authorised for a single stage with a finite life, but the growing requirements of the global carbon capture and storage community required further research on carbon capture and storage technologies and behaviour (via Stages 2 and 3), and so the project was extended. CO2CRC has undertaken 360-degree stakeholder engagement processes throughout the project, regularly consulting with regulators, governments, industry, partners, researchers and the community. This has been especially important as the project changed, operating in a niche space between Victorian environment, petroleum and water Acts. This process has allowed CO2CRC to contribute to alignment efforts within regulatory bodies, to enhance regulations to cover project activities, ensuring best practices are documented and observed to the satisfaction of the regulators and wider community. The Otway Basin in south-west Victoria is a region not immune to broader community concerns regarding the oil and gas and other industries. The surrounding area is predominately dairy farming, with locals relying heavily on the aquifers beneath their land. Although such a backdrop suggests potentially high levels of concern and scrutiny, especially when projects necessitate drilling or other invasive activities, the project has maintained strong local stakeholder engagement and support due to ongoing implementation and evaluation of the stakeholder management processes.

Stakeholder Engagement in Developing an Electronic Clinical Support Tool for Tobacco Prevention in Adolescent Primary Care

Following guideline recommendations to promote tobacco prevention in adolescent primary care, we developed a patient-facing clinical support tool. The electronic tool screens patients for use and susceptibility to conventional and alternative tobacco products, and promotes patient–provider communication. The purpose of this paper is to describe the iterative stakeholder engagement process used in the development of the tool. During the pre-testing phase, we consulted with scientists, methodologists, clinicians, and Citizen Scientists. Throughout the development phase, we engaged providers from three clinics in focus groups. Usability testing was conducted via in-depth, cognitive interviewing of adolescent patients. Citizen Scientists (n = 7) played a critical role in the final selection of educational content and interviewer training by participating in mock-up patient interviews. Cognitive interviews with patients (n = 16) ensured that systems were in place for the feasibility trial and assessed ease of navigation. Focus group participants (n = 24) offered recommendations for integrating the tool into clinical workflow and input on acceptability and appropriateness, and anticipated barriers and facilitators for adoption and feasibility. Engaging key stakeholders to discuss implementation outcomes throughout the implementation process can improve the quality, applicability, and relevance of the research, and enhance implementation success.

Are Energy Security Concerns Dominating Environmental Concerns? Evidence from Stakeholder Participation Processes on Energy Transition in Jordan

To satisfy Jordan’s growing demand for electricity and to diversify its energy mix, the Jordanian government is considering a number of electricity-generation technologies that would allow for locally available resources to be used alongside imported energy. Energy policy in Jordan aims to address both climate change mitigation and energy security by increasing the share of low-carbon technologies and domestically available resources in the Jordanian electricity mix. Existing technological alternatives include the scaling up of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind; the deployment of nuclear energy; and shale oil exploration. However, the views, perceptions, and opinions regarding these technologies—their benefits, risks, and costs—vary significantly among different social groups both inside and outside the country. Considering the large-scale policy intervention that would be needed to deploy these technologies, a compromise solution must be reached. This paper is based on the results of a four-year research project that included extensive stakeholder processes in Jordan, involving several social groups and the application of various methods of participatory governance research, such as multi-criteria decision-making. The results show the variety of opinions expressed and provide insights into each type of electricity-generation technology and its relevance for each stakeholder group. There is a strong prevalence of economic rationality in the results, given that electricity-system costs are prioritized by almost all stakeholder groups.

Developing Sexual and Reproductive Health Educational Resources for Young Women with Cystic Fibrosis: A Structured Approach to Stakeholder Engagement.

Stakeholder engagement, specifically integration of patient and family perspectives about what matters, is increasingly recognized as a critical component of patient-centered healthcare delivery. This study describes a structured approach to and evaluation of stakeholder engagement in the development of novel sexual and reproductive health (SRH) educational resources for adolescent and young adult (AYA) women with cystic fibrosis (CF). Key stakeholders participated in a systematic series of steps to iteratively develop and adapt patient educational resources. Process measures (stakeholder recruitment, composition, co-learning, and transparency) and proximal outcomes of stakeholder involvement (impact on the development process and satisfaction) were measured via recorded stakeholder recommendations and a stakeholder survey. Seventeen stakeholders participated in seven group and two patient-only conference calls. The majority of stakeholders understood their roles, had their expectations met or exceeded, and were satisfied with the frequency and quality of engagement in the project. All stakeholders in attendance provided multiple concrete recommen-dations during the development process. Stakeholders explored the motivations of AYA women with CF related to SRH and agreed that the ideal resource should be online. After reviewing the design of existing resources, stakeholders decided by consensus to partner with a pre-existing young women's health website and created 11 CF-specific SRH guides. This study illuminates a path for a formal process of stakeholder engagement and evaluation in educational resource development centered on the SRH care needs of AYA women with CF. Similar systematic, planned processes could be extended to other populations and aspects of healthcare.

Enhancing Rural Population Health Care Access and Outcomes Through the Telehealth EcoSystem™ Model.

The article highlights the Telehealth EcoSystem™ model, a holistic cross-sector approach for socioeconomic revitalization, connectivity, interoperability and technology infrastructure development to address health equity for rural underserved communities. Two guiding frameworks, Community & Economic Development (CED) and Collective Impact, provided the foundation for the Telehealth EcoSystem™ model. Public and private organizational capacities are addressed by comprehensive healthcare and social service delivery through stakeholder engagement and collaborative decision-making processes. A focus is maintained on economic recovery and policy reforms that enhance population health outcomes for individuals and families who have economic challenges.The Telehealth EcoSystem™ utilizes an intranet mechanism that enables a range of technologies and electronic devices for health informatics and telemedicine initiatives. The relevance of the intranet to the advancement of health informatics is highlighted. Best practices in digital connectivity, HIPAA requirements, electronic health records (EHRs), and eHealth applications, such as patient portals and mobile devices, are emphasized. Collateral considerations include technology applications that expand public health services.The ongoing collaboration between a social science research corporation, a regional community foundation and an open access telecommunications carrier is a pivotal element in the sequential development and implementation of the Telehealth EcoSystem™ model in the rural southeastern region community.

Community Engagement and Partnership for Successful E&P Operations in Bolivia

This article, written by Special Publications Editor Adam Wilson, contains highlights of paper SPE 190652, “Community Engagement, Commitments, and Partnership for Successful E&P Operations in Bolivia,” by Eva Calvimontes and Sergio Eduardo Ayala SÁnchez, Vintage Petroleum Boliviana, and Krish Ravishankar, SPE, Occidental Petroleum, prepared for the 2018 SPE International Conference on Health, Safety, Security, Environment, and Social Responsibility, Abu Dhabi, 16–18 April. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Relationships and engagement with communities in direct areas of influence is of paramount importance for successful exploration and production (E&P) operations. Since the beginning of operations in three major areas of Bolivia, a company has worked very closely with neighboring communities at all stages of design, planning, and implementation of projects and programs. The objective has always been the same: to improve the life quality of the society as a whole and be a partner with the communities. Introduction The company’s E&P operations are located in three areas of Bolivia—Naranjillos, Porvenir, and ñupuco fields (Fig. 1). The business units in each of these areas have developed and implemented a social-responsibility program that supports company business objectives and positively affects people, communities, and the environment. A program has been developed that achieves a balance between the E&P interests of the company business and the communities’ expectations and needs. It is carried out through alliances between the company and the communities located inside the areas of influence. Process The company’s social-responsibility commitments and ongoing initiatives are categorized into the following five pillars: Governance and Transparency—The company promotes effective corporate governance by implementing responsible policies and robust management systems to foster and reinforce business practices that are consistently sound, highly principled, and transparent. Workforce Development—The company takes pride in employing a diverse and multicultural global workforce and is committed to maintaining a supportive and challenging work environment to prepare the next generation of leaders. Health and Safety—The company aims to integrate programs and systems to mitigate incidents and reduce risks to employees, contractors, and the communities in which it operates. Environmental Stewardship—The company strives to minimize its operational footprint, protect ecosystems, and implement conservation practices, making stewardship of the environment a responsibility of each member of the workforce. Economic and Social Development—The company works to strengthen the economies where it operates by investing time and resources in programs and initiatives that develop the sustainability of local communities. Following the core values of each of the five pillars and fully understanding the communities’ needs in the areas of influence, the company has developed and implemented the following steps as part of the stakeholder engagement and social-responsibility approval process: Meeting with the community Input from the community Budget preparation Budget approval Project implementation

Evaluating a Stakeholder‐Driven Bass Regulation Change in Florida: Agency Staff and Stakeholder Perspectives

We evaluated stakeholder engagement aspects of a statewide Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides regulation change in Florida. Staff from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) who worked on the project and stakeholders who participated in outreach were interviewed and/or surveyed about their opinions of the process. This was the largest stakeholder engagement process ever conducted by FWC for freshwater fisheries management decision making; therefore, an evaluation was critical to measure the success of the process and to inform future stakeholder engagement. Staff reflected positively on the process but noted breakdowns in communication and a lack of human dimensions expertise. Stakeholders felt that their input was appreciated and used by the agency to aid in decision making. This evaluation illustrates where the project was effective and areas where improvements can be made for future projects.

Environmental flow modelling of the Chalakkudi Sub-basin using ‘Flow Health’

Ecohydrological modelling and prescribing environmental flows (e-flows) is significant in the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) practice. However, for many river basins, there is lack of data on ecosystems and on the relationships between e-flows and ecosystem functioning. This lack of sufficient ecosystem data is mostly addressed in ecohydrological modelling by using hydrological metrics as surrogates of river ecosystem. In this study, we are demonstrating how it helps e-flows modelling and real-life management decisions underway with respect to Inter-basin Water Transfer (IBWT) projects. Desktop model ‘Flow Health’ is used here to design e-flows regime for Chalakkudi Sub-basin in Southern Peninsular India. Chalakkudi Sub-basin is over abstracted with six large dams built as components of the Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP), Asia's largest IBWT network. The monthly e-flow regimes required to maintain alternate levels of ecosystem conservation are estimated in this paper. The additional flood flow volume required for these alternate levels is also discussed. The results are useful in the stakeholder engagement process for informed decision-making on e-flows and redefining the IBWT operations within a broad framework of IWRM.