A Methodology for intervention in the design and evaluation of a short-term Multi-Stakeholder Platform

Abstract

This document presents a generic methodology to support the design and evaluation of a Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP), with a focus on platforms which are to address a specific issue. The general situation tackled here is one where a common problem affects several stakeholders. This common problem may be an explicit one; stakeholders' positions may range from a mere disagreement to a state of declared conflict. It can be also that the MSP is thought of to prevent a latent problem to turn into a conflict. In such situations, it is possible to consider solving the problem through a negotiation table involving all the stakeholders, with the objective of reaching a negotiated agreement among them. The methodology was designed having in mind a focus on short term MSPs, although many of the aspects it considers would be also relevant for a permanent one. This methodology is not meant to be a silver bullet to organize MSPs, or a recipe for success. Its aim is to help the organization in charge of the design and facilitation - for instance an NGO thinking of the way they will set up their MSP - merely as a source of inspiration, and maybe also as a list of points to help not to forget issues. In this methodology, there is also an attempt to formalize the evaluation phase, which is often done in an informal way in the case studies describing MSPs. The methodology was set up and tested by the Negowat research project during its facilitation of a negotiation table in Tiquipaya, a peri-urban city nearby Cochabamba in Bolivia. A companion paper presents the implementation of this methodology in that case