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Stakeholders Engage

Scope & review risks, vulnerability & impact

Introducing phase 1 of Tandem: how to build transdisciplinary labs for co-production

This module outlines how to establish the foundations of your transdisciplinary lab, the first phase involved in applying the Tandem Framework. The module is organized into sections that cover the following issues: scoping; identifying stakeholders; aligning goals; values and building trust; and incorporating reflection and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL). These elements are revisited in a continuous learning loop. Each section includes clear goals, Tandem guiding questions, practical tools, and facilitation tips to support thoughtful design and implementation.

Tandem does not impose a formulaic approach. Indeed, experience has shown that a combination of methods is often most effective. Building transdisciplinary labs requires an iterative approach of active participation and reflection. In Tandem we call this scoping – gathering, analysing and assessing. The first question is how to identify and find the stakeholders who should be part of the process. Start by engaging relevant experts to explore their perceptions of risks and vulnerabilities. Use their insights to evaluate who is present and who should be included (remember that experts can refer to those with lived experience as well as traditional academic “experts”). Then continue to strengthen connections to ensure that the lab evolves to reflect the needs, values, and expertise of all participants. These steps create a strong foundation for meaningful co-production. This phase involves three aspects: scoping challenges and stakeholders, engaging stakeholders, and relationship building and aligning as a lab. These topics can be tackled asynchronously; they are deeply intertwined and mutually reinforcing.

As you step into this stage, reflect on the core modules that explored co-design not just as a method but as a mindset. Building a Transdisciplinary Lab within the Tandem Framework requires intentionality in how collaborations are initiated, nurtured, and sustained. This intentionality can be expressed through personal qualities such as deep listening, patience, empathy, and flexibility. These virtues are essential for fostering the relational and regenerative aspects of co-design. These efforts lay the groundwork for meaningful engagement and sustainable outcomes.

Introducing identifying stakeholders

Stakeholder analysis is a powerful tool for understanding both the external and internal dynamics of a lab. Externally, such analysis helps identify who holds power and who is already active; it also helps identify which actors should be engaged. Internally, it supports reflection by revealing gaps in representation or capacity that may limit the lab’s impact. Crucially, mapping should go beyond the current landscape to ask: Who is missing, and why? Ensuring a diversity of perspectives, knowledge systems, and areas of expertise is essential for creating meaningful and inclusive change. Diverseteams not only enrich understanding but also help raise and challenge unconscious biases that may be embedded in individual disciplines.

Stakeholder analysis can be carried out through workshops (some of which are suggested below), interviews, or desk research. Findings can then be recorded in a stakeholder map or a simple table. The table template included as a resource is designed to help you keep track of those you want to engage with, how you plan to connect with them, and the status of that engagement.

It’s important that this stage is approached thoroughly and iteratively – ideally alongside the scoping phase. This helps ensure that a broad and inclusive range of voices shapes the lab’s direction. When combined with interdisciplinarycollaboration, a well-executed stakeholder analysis equips transdisciplinary labs to generate richer insights and effectively engage with the complex systems they aim to transform.

Questions

  • Who can provide climate (and non-climate) information? Which actors may be intermediaries or boundary partners to collaborate in the co-production process? (Note: potential partners may have been working in the region a long time, and may have strong relationships with stakeholders; this can enable better uptake and embedding of any processes.) [KB1] What expertise can they provide?

  • Which organizations, institutions and departments provide relevant sectoral expertise and experience needed?

  • What gaps in skills or expertise may need to be filled through additional partnerships?

  • What are different stakeholders’ (users, intermediaries and providers) roles and responsibilities in influencing or managing the adaptation challenge (and related issues) identified in the Scoping stage?

  • Which groups are impacted on the ground (e.g., at the community level) and can provide representative voice(s)?

  • Which (and whose) decisions and actions can influence the resilience of the system? Which actors are impacted by these issues, are vulnerable to them, or consider them important? What are the relationships between these actors?

  • Which institutional actors are critical to engage in this process? Consider, for example, the local meteorological department; health services; national government; local government decision-makers and councillors; the private sector; and civil society.

  • Can champions or change agents be identified in these organizations?

  • For the different actors identified, what are most pertinent adaptation challenges to deal with first?

Back to introduction

Next element (demo link)

Tandem resources

The resources are intended as options to support you in facilitating this stage by creating canvases to explore the Tandem guiding questions collectively. We encourage you to consider your specific context and needs. Adapt the materials as necessary to ensure that they are relevant and effective.

Tandem Capacity Development Modules

These modules offer more in-depth guidance on how to engage with the Tandem process.

Tandem facilitation canvases PDF

These canvases offer activities designed to help transdisciplinary labs collaboratively explore the Tandem guiding questions. They are available as printable PDFs.

Tandem facilitation canvases Miro

These canvases offer activities to support transdisciplinary labs in collectively exploring the Tandem guiding questions on Miro.

Key resources to help answer these questions

Livelihoods improvement and institutional dynamics

Summaries of different tools, methods and approaches relevant to advancing knowledge on livelihoods improvement and social change with particular emphasis on governance and institutional dynamics.