Methods and tools for enabling effective stakeholders' engagement in the LAA

This technical publication (based on BIOTRAILS deliverables D2.1 and D2.2) provides the stakeholder engagement guidelines for the BIOTRAILS Learning and Action Alliances (LAAs). The first part of the report focuses on the preparatory phase, leading to the launch of six LAAs (four value chain–based, one inter-project, and one trans-project). It presents the stakeholder analysis conducted across the cocoa, aquaculture, handicrafts and gold value chains, including the identification of key actors, the assessment of their aims, needs and interests through semistructured interviews, and stakeholder network analysis. These insights informed the operational guidelines and action plan for establishing the LAAs. The latter part of the report reflects on the implementation phase, drawing on the experience of the LAAs once operational and capturing lessons learned from their use of the BIOTRAILS Learning Platform as a complementary digital space for knowledge exchange. Taken together, the findings highlight both strengths and challenges of the LAA approach and propose governance formats and pathways for sustaining engagement beyond the project.