You're facing stakeholder resistance in a community project. How can you ensure lasting social impact?

As with all community engagement, optimising social impact is improved when stakeholders are treated as 'people' and 'done with, not to'. By engaging in the design, and not just the evaluation, people as stakeholders and members of stakeholders groups, have agency and ownership which improves participation and retention throughout the social impact measurement process.

To overcome stakeholder resistance and ensure lasting social impact, engage stakeholders early through active listening and transparent communication, addressing their concerns with empathy. Build trust by demonstrating the project’s long-term benefits, aligning it with their values, and highlighting shared goals. Involve them in decision-making to foster a sense of ownership and collaboration. Adapt strategies based on their feedback and ensure that the project is inclusive and sustainable. By maintaining open dialogue, celebrating small wins, and demonstrating commitment to the community's well-being, you can turn resistance into support and create a foundation for lasting impact.

Overcoming stakeholder resistance requires active listening and inclusive dialogue. Early engagement is key—acknowledge their concerns and involve them in decision-making. Transparency fosters trust, so regularly share both successes and challenges. Building local partnerships strengthens your position by creating advocates who can support your project from within the community. In my experience, fostering collaboration and demonstrating shared benefits have been instrumental in overcoming resistance. How have you navigated these challenges?

Impliquer les parties prenantes dans les décisions et les responsabiliser, tout en assurant une bonne compréhension des besoins communautaires. Évaluer l'impact attendu et le fonctionnement du projet, encourager la participation de chacun, et fournir toutes les informations nécessaires pour garantir transparence et communication efficace.

Resistance is information. This is an opportunity to lean into the conversation with curiosity and to make sure you have the right people at the table.