Tools for transition : at the moment, many toolboxes for stakeholder engagement exist. This document describes approaches, methods and techniques that can be applied when involving stakeholders in the process of developing transition pathways to a sustainable food system (original) (raw)

At the moment, many toolboxes for stakeholder engagement exist. This document describes approaches, methods and techniques that can be applied when involving stakeholders in the process of developing transition pathways to a sustainable food system. T r a n s i t io n Pa th w a y s Tools Approaches Methods Colophon Intro Principles of Responsible Transitions 'transition pathway' can be used retrospectively to describe past transitions, as well as prospectively to assess possible future transitions. Transition pathways come in many forms [1] and can be used either to envision system change or to reflect on it. Who is this brochure intended for? The brochure is intended for members of teams of researchers, consultants or experts that support practical, innovative projects to make the food system more sustainable. Principles of Responsible Transitions References Introduction Principles for defining responsible transition pathways Inclusiveness and dialogue: working on transition pathways should be inclusive and reflective, and must promote dialogue To solve problems in the food system and reveal new opportunities, it is important that all relevant stakeholders be involved. The principle of inclusiveness applies here. Inclusiveness implies not only directly involved individuals, but also those indirectly involved people who may have to deal with the impact of changes in the food system. However, the involvement of stakeholders alone is not enough to ensure development of responsible transition pathways. The approaches, methods and tools should also contribute to a dialogue in which all stakeholders are taken seriously, can provide their own input and can exert influence. Integrality: working on transition pathways must foster coherence In many projects the focus lies on value chains, but a chain approach is not suitable for the food system, whose greater complexity calls for a system approach. In the system approach, the methods and tools should be chosen that are applicable to multiple actors, multiple scales and multiple places. The presence of multiple actors implies that not only food producers, retailers or consumers are involved, but environmental organisations or cultural organisations as well. The need for multiple scales signifies that the methods should connect problems and solutions on a local scale with requirements from and impacts on the surrounding regional scale, while the regional scale is connected with the national scale, and so forth. The term 'multiple places' is related to multiple scales but focusses on the tradeoffs from one place to another. For instance, a solution for waste in Europe can cause major environmental problems in a third world country where the waste is processed. Contextuality: working on transition pathways should take cultural context into account Not all methods or tools work well in multiple cultural contexts. A method that works very well in the Netherlands will not necessarily work in a country that is part of the same food system but is located elsewhere in the world. This is especially important for methods and tools for the engagement of stakeholders. Methods of communication can differ greatly between countries, as can the hierarchical relationships or the stakeholders' access to the project. Methods should therefore take the cultural context into account. References Introduction Principles of Responsible Transitions Long-term orientation: working on transition pathways should anticipate the long term An important characteristic of transitions is that they last for decades. Transitions such as the introduction of mobile phones went quite rapidly (one decade), while other transitions go much more slowly, such as the introduction of electric cars. Engagement methods and tools need to adhere to either the aspect of time or the aspect of timing. The first aspect, time, relates to the period that a tool is aimed at. When stakeholders are involved in planning, tools should help them to consider the long term. The second aspect, timing, relates to the different phases through which transitions proceed, defined in transition theory as follows: pro-development, takeoff, breakthrough and stabilisation [2]. Each stage requires its own way of working and its own methods and tools. Tangible actions: working on transition pathways should facilitate concrete actions for change Methods and tools should be aimed at supporting or facilitating change by means of concrete actions. The envisioning of transition pathways requires an understanding of future situations and of the kind of system change which could lead to such situations. Also, the use of stakeholder engagement tools requires a concept of the stakeholders' role in the transition process. What concrete change do the stakeholders want to achieve? And how can this tool or activity contribute to concrete actions to achieve change? Tools should help stakeholders to understand how they can contribute to the desired transition.