Building stakeholder networks: Local to global

Successful communication and policy strategies require an open, transparent dialogue with all stakeholders. To begin this dialogue, it is important to establish a common understanding, a base upon which we can all build a fruitful discussion, and accomplish mutual goals. At local levels it may simply be having fun with STEM, and learning something new. This initial engagement can grow to include - “We will learn why this issue is important, and what we can all do to improve things”. Through this process, stakeholder support is bolstered, and supportive stakeholder networks grow. This same principle scales up to global forums. This presentation shows how stakeholder networks can be grown locally to globally, using personal examples from STEM outreach, the USAID President’s Feed the Future Initiative, ESA and AAAS science policy fellowship programs, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). These examples illustrate fundamental principles of understanding that undergird open and transparent policy dialogues, establish common ground, grow stakeholder networks, and facilitate policy initiatives.