Managing multi-stakeholder learning in sector programmes and policy processes 

Growing recognition of civil society concerns and their inclusion in the development agenda of international agreements and conventions such as Agenda 21, CBD, UNFF and others, provided the first experiences in interactive policy in the 1990s. Increasingly, interactive policy approaches such as national forest programmes are also recognised as a way of improving sector governance.

The course aims to introduce experienced decision and policy makers in government and civil society to concepts and practical methods for managing larger processes of policy development and their implementation with involvement of relevant stakeholders and interest groups in society.

A special focus of the course is the facilitation of social learning among individuals, groups and/or organisations within the specific context of national forest programmes or comparable sector wide approaches. Processes of social learning look beyond the simple act of stakeholder participation to focus on the dynamics that make stakeholder participation work as an effective force for sustainable resource governance.

We will analyse and share experiences with ongoing policy developments in South-East Asia, such as the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) programmes, decentralisation and national forest programmes, to explore tools and methods that ensure inclusion of actors at local, regional, and national levels and improve the ownership and commitment for their implementation. For more information: http://portals.wi.wur.nl/forestpolicy/