Influence Of Stakeholders Research Articles

Influence of Stakeholders’ Participation on the Performance of M&E Systems among NGOs Functioning in Loima Sub-County, Turkana, Kenya

Influence of Stakeholders’ Participation on the Performance of M&E Systems among NGOs Functioning in Loima Sub-County, Turkana, Kenya

Determinants and benefits of over‐certification: A signaling theory perspective

AbstractDifferent types of organizations use certifications to reduce information asymmetry in an extensive range of business activities. In some cases, the widespread use of certifications can lead to multiple competing and overlapping standards. Some organizations also obtain similar certifications in a process defined as over‐certification, which is understudied in the literature. The primary objective of this study is to identify the determinants of the over‐certification process, specifically regarding the influence of stakeholders that motivate organizations to engage in over‐certification. Grounded in both signaling and stakeholder theories, this study confirms the isomorphic effect of stakeholders' pressures that creates different motivations for using different (but similar) certifications. An empirical analysis of a sample of 418 European organizations highlights that the decoupling in the interest in certifications is the main antecedent of over‐certification in relation to corporate social responsibility‐related certifications. Our results also show that the occurrence of over‐certification in organizations is mainly due to its ability to impact corporate reputation, confirming the signaling value of different (but similar) certifications.

ESG controversies and insolvency risk: evidence from the insurance industry

PurposeThis study investigates the relationships between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) controversies and insolvency risk in the insurance sector. Drawing from legitimacy and stakeholder theories, the authors explore the impact of ESG controversies on insurers’ insolvency risk and the moderating effect of ESG practices on this relationship.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilises a dataset comprising 120 stock insurance firms spanning from 2011 to 2022. The authors employed system-GMM estimations to control for potential endogeneity and conducted several robustness checks.FindingsESG controversy positively influences insurers’ insolvency risk, with ESG practices mitigating these positive effects. The Governance (G) component of ESG practices plays a key role in counteracting the effects of ESG controversies on insurance companies’ insolvency risk.Originality/valueThis is the first study to investigate the direct relationship between ESG controversies and insolvency risk in the insurance industry. It underscores the critical influence of stakeholders’ perceptions of the company’s legitimacy, which is determined by the number of ESG controversies undertaken by the insurer company, on its insolvency risk. Additionally, by examining the three components of ESG practices individually, the authors offer insights into how managers can gain a competitive edge, particularly by utilising governance practices as safeguards against the adverse effects of ESG controversies on their financial risk.

Mandatory CSR regime strips the competitive advantage: a comparative study of pre-post CSR mandate using the Bandwagon-bias effect theory

PurposeWith corporate social responsibility (CSR) becoming mandatory, several firms in India have been compelled into spending resources on CSR while their business strategy and processes were unprepared to take up CSR activities, effectively. In this light, the CSR relationship with other business functions would be altered. Using Thomson Reuters data from 2010 to 2018 (pre-mandate to post-mandate) this study aims to re-examine the relationship between CSR and financial performance.Design/methodology/approachThe current study is rooted in the bandwagon-bias effect theory and uses a long-term data (2010–2018) of Indian firms. It uses Refinitiv Thomson Reuters ESG rating to measure CSR and accounting measures for financial performance (FP) to make a pre-post analysis of the impact that mandatory CSR regime has had on firms performance. The study uses the weighted panel regression method.FindingsThe relationship between CSR and FP is different when CSR was voluntary than when it has been mandated by Law. CSR has a positive effect over the FP during the voluntary phase but this positive relationship weakens during the mandatory phase. The waning effect of CSR over FP substantiates the presence of bandwagon bias effect which can be explained by the crowding-in of several companies engaged in CSR activities because of the mandatory CSR law.Research limitations/implicationsvFew countries have made CSR mandatory therefore CSR literature is limited. But mandating CSR is a growing phenomenon so this study augments to the body of knowledge. Until now literature generally converged on a positive relationship between CSR performance and FP but the current study shows altering directions to this relationship in a changing CSR environment. The use of the bandwagon-bias theory contributes to the theoretical approaches. Theoretically, the findings add to the body CSR literature and offer impetus to the evolving domain of impact measurement and reporting.Practical implicationsResults of the study offer a clear indication to managers that they need to re-strategise their CSR activities during the mandatory CSR environment if they wish to draw instrumental benefits of a positive impact on the FP of their firms. CSR expenditure is now a leveller so managers may either exceed the mandatory 2% expenditure as some firms did during the voluntary CSR phase or else design their CSR implementation plans to bring about a more impactful positive change. Communicating the impact of CSR to influential and powerful stakeholders beyond the mandatory reporting to the government is yet another way through which managers can draw benefits of CSR activities. Additionally to draw positive results from CSR activities firms may consider adopting international reporting and benchmarking standards such as the GRI and ISO 26000. Finally, the results of the study can be used by policymakers to make a note that the CSR law is causing a weakening of the financial benefits and therefore.Social implicationsThe results of the study can be used by policymakers also need to make a note that the CSR law is causing a weakening of the financial benefits and therefore firms are adopting shortcuts, by donating the required amount of funds. But donation of funds defeats the real purpose of mandatory CSR which is social impact, therefore the regulators may want to make the necessary changes unplug the gaps in the CSR law to ensure better adherence to the law in spirit and a real impact on the ground activities.Originality/valueWhile CSR–FP relationship has been extensively explored but limited studies have explored this relationship in a mandatory CSR environment and no other work presents a comparative view of the CSR–FP relationship, namely, before and after the mandatory CSR policy. The current study is one of the limited few studying the impact of mandatory CSR policy on FP, and the only one that uses the bandwagon-bias effect to explain the phenomenon of weakening impact of CSR on FP of firms. Bandwagon-bias effect has been used in studying consumer behaviour, where group effect impacts behaviour of individuals and with mandatory CSR policy, firms following the other firms leading to crowding in. Using the bandwagon-bias effect has found limited attention from the CSR scholars, the current study uses this theoretical basis and therefore augments the CSR literature.

Twenty years, twenty studies: what can we learn from San Diego’s innovation ecosystem?

ABSTRACT This study conducts a systematic literature review of San Diego’s innovation ecosystem to analyse its evolution, dynamics, the most influential (key) stakeholders, and success factors. 1,405 documents from Scopus and 809 documents from Web of Science (WoS) were retrieved and analysed to obtain a final sample of twenty articles. The ecosystem’s key organisational stakeholders were identified as UC San Diego, research institutes, venture capitalists, pioneer and leading companies and intermediary organisations. Regarding success factors, key political factors include research funding, other public funding and policies that foster, for example, the actors’ geographical proximity. Key economic factors include start-up support systems, company acquisitions and initial public offerings (IPOs). Several vital social factors, such as collaboration, social networks and risk-taking culture, were also identified. Finally, the key technological success factors include technology transfer, specific focus areas and critical mass in research and development. This systematic review, complemented by expert interviews, provides a comprehensive view and validation of the stakeholders and factors that have contributed to the emergence, evolution and dynamics of the innovation ecosystem. The study also exemplifies an originally nonleading city’s path to success, which can provide valuable innovation policy and planning insights for other nonleading regions.

Who can influence healthy urban development?

ABSTRACT Built and green environments can influence population health and wellbeing. Creating healthy places involves multiple wider determinants of health considerations. It is complex, with many types of stakeholders who may have competing interests and priorities. This article presents learning from a regeneration project in a city in England by a practitioner and embedded researcher in local government. Based on learning from conducting a Health Impact Assessment for a regeneration project, structured around 11 wider determinants of health categories, we examine how health-related issues relevant to large scale urban development can be influenced by different stakeholders. This focuses on developers, local government, and members of the public. This experience may help inform how public health interventions can be developed and targeted to effectively influence creation of healthier places: using Health Impact Assessment approaches; understanding stakeholder influence; and benefiting from embedded researcher knowledge of complex systems.

Influence of policymakers and civil society stakeholders on sewage sludge management strategies: Empirical results from European utilities

Sewage sludge management is crucial for water utilities to move towards a circular valorisation of resources. The current literature focuses mainly on the technological aspects of sludge management strategies. However, the current discussion of these strategies does not consider possible pressures arising from the utilities' civil society stakeholders and from policymakers. To fill this gap, this paper develops a conceptual framework, based on the current literature, that identifies the utility's key decisions on sludge management strategies (valorisation route, overperformance and vertical integration), and links them to possible pressures arising from civil society and existing regulations. Subsequently, the study validates the framework through a multiple explanatory case study, investigating the empirical relevance of such pressures in six water utilities across Europe. The influence of citizens and municipalities is found to be crucial in the choice of sludge valorisation routes. Economic instruments, command and control instruments and, new to the literature, regulatory uncertainty are found to be key policy features influencing utilities' decisions on sludge management. The paper provides a first-of-its-kind investigation that highlights the mechanisms through which policymakers and civil society stakeholders shape utilities' sewage sludge management strategies. The results complement and extend existing theoretical knowledge on the role of institutional pressures in the implementation of sustainable environmental systems.

Assessing stakeholder participation in coastal zone management: Methodological proposal and its application in a case study from Cádiz Bay, Andalusia (Spain)

Stakeholder participation (SP) is widely acknowledged in the literature as a vital tool for improving coastal zone management (CZM) and facilitating conflict mediation, resource allocation, and program implementation. However, in Spain, as in other countries, participation in CZM faces significant challenges, including underrepresentation, limited stakeholder influence in decision-making, and various resource-related issues. Despite the robust theoretical framework established in the literature, practical methods for evaluating SP and overcoming these challenges are lacking, with most efforts focused on assessing processes rather than outcomes. This study addresses this gap by proposing a systematic assessment approach built on criteria and operational indicators capable of assessing stakeholder participation in CZM from the process to its outcomes. It also examines stakeholder participation in PAs and CZs of Cádiz Bay (Spain) through the application of this approach to identify which of these challenges are present in the region, highlighting areas for improvement. The approach was developed through a multistep process, including identifying participation components via a literature review, categorizing these components into each participation dimension (who, when, how, why), formulating criteria and indicators based on these components, consulting and validating with experts, and operationalizing the approach through an analysis matrix. Data collection involved reviewing official documents, minutes of participatory arenas, and stakeholder interviews. The approach comprises six criteria - representativeness, timing, promotion, accountability and clearness, influence, and effectiveness - providing a valuable tool for understanding the progression and outcomes of participatory processes. However, the findings also highlight the need for refinement to better capture the quality and significance of participation and to make it more applicable beyond scientific research contexts. The application of the approach in Cádiz Bay revealed challenges such as underrepresentation, limited influence, resource constraints, transparency issues, and effectiveness in fostering cooperation and trust. Participation also appears to be sectorized, reflecting the fragmented institutional framework in the CZM of Cádiz Bay.

Examining Internal Stakeholder Influence on Firm Sustainability: The Moderating Role of Organizational Support

Examining Internal Stakeholder Influence on Firm Sustainability: The Moderating Role of Organizational Support

Comprehensive analysis of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. along the value chain in northeast Inner Mongolia

Abstract Objective To ensure the quality of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. and improve the associated benefits for stakeholders, this study analyzed the influences of different circulation channels and stakeholders on the quality, price, and other factors of P. frutescens with consideration to P. frutescens distribution. Method We interviewed the local stakeholders and e-commerce platforms in Oroqen Autonomous Banner and Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner regarding the origin, circulation, distribution, and prices of different medicinal parts of P. frutescens. In addition, the maximum entropy model was used to predict the potential distribution of P. frutescens in the study area. According to the Chinese Pharmacopeia (2020 edition), we measured the content of index components in the collected Perillae Folium, Perillae Caulis, and Perillae Fructus samples and evaluated the quality of the samples by quantitative and cluster analyses. Remote sensing was employed to distinguish and calculate the P. frutescens area in highly suitable regions. The autoregressive integrated moving average model was adopted to analyze the Perillae Fructus price in the study area. Result The results showed 8 value chains for P. frutescens. The cooperation chain between farmers and enterprises in the study area could maximize the benefits for all stakeholders and guarantee the quality of the medicinal materials. The results of the regionalization analysis showed that the most suitable area for planting P. frutescens was the junction between Oroqen Autonomous Banner and Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner. Chemical results showed that Perillae Fructus and Perillae Caulis samples were unqualified and mostly purchased from e-commerce platforms. We identified 5 land types, among which the cultivated land area was 3247.7501 km2. The price of Perillae Fructus in the study area showed a rising trend, although this trend slowed down. Conclusion This study involved various links in the production and circulation of medicinal materials from planting to consumption by consumers, which can help to facilitate the future research on any link. The findings help to guarantee the quality of medicinal materials and benefits of all stakeholders and promote the development of the P. frutescens industry in the study area.

Health equity regional symposia: Convening local stakeholders to address health disparities in the US.

e13695 Background: Health inequities among underserved populations in the U.S. are complex and derive from unequal access to quality healthcare. Addressing these disparities requires a coordinated effort among multiple stakeholders. Genentech’s Health Equity Regional Symposia Program was created to reduce healthcare disparities by convening stakeholders representing community, patient, academic, policy, and health care interests. Methods: Specific criteria were employed to identify hosting locations, including regions with documented health disparities; areas serving a significant proportion of patients of color; sites with a vested interest in engaging historically underserved and/or underrepresented communities in clinical studies; organizations that have built a trusted relationship with the community. Since 2022, 79 programs have been funded and several organizations hosted multiple events. To date, 58% of programs focused on oncology and applied a range of formats including patient panels, research posters, and interactive presentations. Symposium topics were driven by local community needs and included: cancer prevention, screening, treatment barriers, and research; social drivers of health; and mental health. For each symposium, the cultural and preferred language of attendees was considered, and active discussions were held and centered on generating actionable solutions. Results: The symposia have reached more than 11,000 attendees including an estimated 63% healthcare professionals and 37% community members/patient advocates. A diverse mix of health-focused community organizations participated representing 23 states. Building community trust was a consistent theme across the symposia. Key results reported by the hosting organizations included: in a post-event survey, attendees reported more trust in cancer research and clinical trials, and expressed increased motivation to get screened (Bronx, NY); patient educational materials were developed with input from cancer survivors on tips to stay healthy (New Orleans, LA); due to the trusted relationship with patients, primary care physicians act as a crucial gatekeeper in diagnosis and care (Memphis, TN); increased community commitments to conduct cancer screenings (Cleveland, OH). Conclusions: Through our symposia, we successfully convened influential stakeholders focused on generating tangible solutions to improve the health of their communities. This approach can serve as a model to advance patient outcomes.

Commercialization Process for Developing Agritourism: The Use of Commodity Chain Analysis

ABSTRACT Agritourism, a combination of agriculture and tourism, entails a complex process of commercializing agricultural resources into tourist products. This study utilizes the commodity chain model to outline the stages of commercialization for rural resources and shed light on critical challenges and prospects in agritourism development in Taiwan. The research reveals that agritourism commercialization unfolds across seven distinct phases: planning experiential products, designing service delivery, positioning commodities in the market, marketing and promotion, establishing sales channels, ensuring on-site delivery and quality control, and consumption by visitors within the Production-Exchange-Consumption (PEC) framework. By analyzing the commodity chain of agritourism, we gain comprehensive insights into each stage of resource commercialization and its intricate implications for the roles and influences of various stakeholders. This study contributes to academic discourse on agritourism commercialization and offers recommendations to foster sustainable agritourism experiences.

Navigating the currents of coastal narratives in search of sustainable futures

In the face of rapid, consequential changes in coastal conditions, coastal communities and regions must make decisions to address these changes and negotiate pathways towards more sustainable futures. Making just and equitable decisions requires engaging the affected population and influential stakeholders in the process. These processes can be improved by considering and engaging with shared narratives present across both time and location. This paper reviews exemplary instances in which narratives have been employed in facilitating decisions in coastal regions, in particular, future-facing-narratives that reflect the social landscape and dynamics operating in parallel with environmental and geographical conditions. Recognizing and learning from these narratives deepens and facilitates making informed, meaningful decisions on complex, contested, value-laden issues facing coastal communities. This paper argues that decisions at scales from local-to-national can be improved by considering shared narratives of sustainability and social identity as central pillars of the negotiation around both governance processes and desirable outcomes.

The International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB) past, present, and future: critical reflections and a research agenda

Purpose This paper aims to critically reflect on the formation of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), its current agenda and likely future direction. The authors consider the relationships between the ISSB and other standard setters, regulators, practitioners and stakeholders, and develop a comprehensive research agenda. Design/methodology/approach The authors review and critically analyse academic and practitioner publications alongside the ISSB’s workplans to identify the themes impacting the future of the ISSB and to develop a research agenda. Findings Three key themes emerge from the authors’ analysis that are likely to influence the future of the ISSB: the jurisdiction and scope of the ISSB – how far its influence is likely to extend, both geographically and conceptually; the ongoing legitimacy challenge the ISSB is facing in terms of setting an agenda for sustainability reporting; and the “capture” of sustainability reporting by influential stakeholders including capital providers. Originality/value The formation of the ISSB is critical to the future of sustainability reporting. The authors provide a comprehensive and topical overview of the past, present and potential future of the ISSB, highlighting the need for further research and providing a research agenda that addresses outstanding questions in the field.

“Sex Out of Boredom”: Key Stakeholders’ Perspectives on Teen Pregnancy Prevention in Emerging Immigrant Latino Rural Communities

Abstract Introduction Teen pregnancy (TP) rates are 1.5 times higher among Latina youth than the United States national average and one-third times higher in rural counties. The Socio-Ecological framework recognizes the myriad of issues that impact TP, including four bidirectional levels of influence on teenagers’ behaviors: macro, community, institutional, and interpersonal levels. We aim to fill critical knowledge gaps regarding the influence of key community stakeholders living in rural, Latino-majority communities shaping Latino/a, immigrant adolescents’ TP-related environments. Methods A purposive sample of 48 key stakeholders was drawn from three rural counties (Finney, Ford, and Seward) in southwestern Kansas from 2016 to 2017; participants completed a brief demographic survey and a semi-structured qualitative interview. Qualitative data analysis followed grounded theory within a Socio-Ecological framework, and we used descriptive statistics to analyze survey data. Results Respondents (N = 48) included 5 public health department staff, 8 community health workers, 8 healthcare workers, 9 community members, and 18 high school/college administrators. The mean age was 43 years (SD = 15.5) and 50% self-identified as Latino/a. Recommendations included developing TP prevention education programs for parents, utilizing ongoing events and familiar venues, and keeping content consistent with local culture and norms. Conclusions Key stakeholders’ perceptions regarding TP are often unaccounted for but play a role in shaping youth’s decision-making environments. Policy Implications This information could inform the development of culturally specific TP prevention interventions, especially considering the controversial politics centered on immigration to the U.S. and its negative impact on the overall health of Immigrant Latinos living in the U.S.

Influence of different stakeholders on the duration of legislative decision-making in the European Union

Influence of different stakeholders on the duration of legislative decision-making in the European Union

CSR in the banking industry: A longitudinal analysis of the impact on financial performance and risk-taking

Building on the stakeholder influence capacity theory we propose a non-linear relationship between CSR investments and financial performance and between CSR investments and risk-taking behavior in financial firms. We study the impact of ESG scores on both the financial performance and risk-propensity of European banks using panel data from 2005 to 2022. Given the role of Swiss banks as frontrunners regarding the implementation of CSR-related regulations in the financial industry, we also shed light on the Swiss case. Controlling for bank and time fixed effects we confirm a U-shaped relationship between ESG and financial performance, and an inverted U-shaped relationship between ESG and risk for Swiss banks. Remarkably, we find no relationship between CSR initiatives and financial performance for European banks and find a direct negative effect of CSR on risk density. These results indicate the need to consider institutional differences in the CSR debate. Moreover, we show that promoting ESG initiatives in the financial industry might lead to adverse effects (i.e. lower financial performance and higher risk) if banks do not commit sufficiently to those CSR investments.

A stakeholder analysis to prepare for real-world evaluation of integrating artificial intelligent algorithms into breast screening (PREP-AIR study): a qualitative study using the WHO guide

BackgroundThe national breast screening programme in the United Kingdom is under pressure due to workforce shortages and having been paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform how healthcare is delivered by improving care processes and patient outcomes. Research on the clinical and organisational benefits of artificial intelligence is still at an early stage, and numerous concerns have been raised around its implications, including patient safety, acceptance, and accountability for decisions. Reforming the breast screening programme to include artificial intelligence is a complex endeavour because numerous stakeholders influence it. Therefore, a stakeholder analysis was conducted to identify relevant stakeholders, explore their views on the proposed reform (i.e., integrating artificial intelligence algorithms into the Scottish National Breast Screening Service for breast cancer detection) and develop strategies for managing ‘important’ stakeholders.MethodsA qualitative study (i.e., focus groups and interviews, March-November 2021) was conducted using the stakeholder analysis guide provided by the World Health Organisation and involving three Scottish health boards: NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Grampian and NHS Lothian. The objectives included: (A) Identify possible stakeholders (B) Explore stakeholders’ perspectives and describe their characteristics (C) Prioritise stakeholders in terms of importance and (D) Develop strategies to manage ‘important’ stakeholders. Seven stakeholder characteristics were assessed: their knowledge of the targeted reform, position, interest, alliances, resources, power and leadership.ResultsThirty-two participants took part from 14 (out of 17 identified) sub-groups of stakeholders. While they were generally supportive of using artificial intelligence in breast screening programmes, some concerns were raised. Stakeholder knowledge, influence and interests in the reform varied. Key advantages mentioned include service efficiency, quicker results and reduced work pressure. Disadvantages included overdiagnosis or misdiagnosis of cancer, inequalities in detection and the self-learning capacity of the algorithms. Five strategies (with considerations suggested by stakeholders) were developed to maintain and improve the support of ‘important’ stakeholders.ConclusionsHealth services worldwide face similar challenges of workforce issues to provide patient care. The findings of this study will help others to learn from Scottish experiences and provide guidance to conduct similar studies targeting healthcare reform.Study registrationresearchregistry6579, date of registration: 16/02/2021.

Assessment of Project Baseline Effect on Performance of Rwanda Education Funded Projects: A Case of Pan African Education Empowerment Project in Rwanda

A project's baseline is the research conducted at the commencement of the project to identify the current state of the project via data collecting, providing a benchmark against which subsequent modifications may be evaluated. The general objective of the study was the assessment of project baselines on performance of Rwanda education funded projects. A case of Pan African Education Empowerment Project in Rwanda and the specific objectives were to evaluate the influence of stakeholder’s participation as an effective baseline-survey on performance of education funded project of Pan African Education Empowerment Project in Rwanda, to examine the effect of project team competency as an effective baseline-survey on performance of education funded projects of Pan African Education Empowerment Project in Rwanda and to determine the effect of project costs as an effective baseline-survey on performance of education funded project of Pan African Education Empowerment Project in Rwanda. The study guided by the following theories: Stakeholder’s participation theory, project team competency theory, Project Costs Effectiveness theory and Expected Quality Standard theory. Project coordinators, PAEE project officers, District Education Officers in the Nyarugenge District, and project beneficiaries in the Nyarugenge District made up the target population of this descriptive research that used both quantitative and qualitative methods. In all there were 2689 from which a sample size of 348 was picked, the sample size calculated by Yamane formula. Researchers utilized a basic random sample strategy to choose participants from the whole population of interest, and a stratified sampling strategy to divide those participants into manageable subsets. Questionnaires, interviews, and records were used to compile the information needed for the study. Frequency tables, percentages, means, and standard deviations were generated using SPSS version 21 when data processing is complete. The predictors (Project cost effectiveness, Project team competency, and Stakeholders' engagement) and the Performance of education sponsored project of Pan African Education Empowerment Project in Rwanda are well correlated (R value of 0.807). There is a 0.221 coefficient for stakeholders' engagement (t = 3.938, p = 0.000), a 0.398 coefficient for project team competency (t = 8.381, p = 0.000), and a 0.254 coefficient for project cost effectiveness (t = 4.286, p = 0.000). This means that the performance of the Pan African Education Empowerment Project -funded education initiative in Rwanda improves in direct correlation with the level of each of these factors. These coefficients have important statistical significance and major roles in contributing to the success of the education financed project of Pan African Education Empowerment Project in Rwanda, since their p-values are considerably below the normal significance threshold of 0.05. Pan African Education Empowerment Project in Rwanda is recommended to strengthen stakeholder engagement, providing comprehensive training, investing in project team competency through professional development, conducting cost-benefit analyses, and implementing strong monitoring mechanisms to optimize financial resources and enhance the success of education funded projects.

Using a perception matrix to elicit farmers‘ perceptions towards stakeholders in the context of biodiversity-friendly farming

Farmers' pro-environmental action is substantially influenced by various stakeholders from their business and social environment. Recent studies recommend actively involving influential stakeholders in agri-environmental initiatives, information or media campaigns. While it has been argued that farmers' perceptions towards these stakeholders can help inform effective involvement, comprehensive assessments of these perceptions remain scarce, particularly in the context of biodiversity-friendly farming. To understand and compare farmers’ perceptions of these stakeholder quantitatively, we developed and applied a perception matrix. In an exploratory survey with 49 farmers across ten European countries, farmers rated twelve groups of stakeholders (e.g. government bodies, farm advisors and input suppliers) against eight perception constructs (e.g. trustworthiness, interest in protecting biodiversity). We found that perceptions differed significantly both between groups of stakeholders and between constructs. Whereas several stakeholders were, on average, perceived positively regarding their general characteristics, such as trustworthiness, reliability, understanding and support for farming, perceptions regarding their biodiversity-related behavior were significantly more negative. Our findings indicate potential to improve policy development and implementation of agri-environmental initiatives through the involvement of multiple, non-governmental, agricultural and non-agricultural stakeholders in biodiversity-friendly farming initiatives across the entire agri-food value chain. Such multi-stakeholder initiatives could help to not only reinforce biodiversity conservation action among the farming community, but across society as a whole as emphasized by the Convention on Biological Diversity. Further research is needed to confirm the observed trends on a larger, representative sample, for which the presented perception matrix is well suited.