Making Stakeholder Engagement Work in a Low Touch Economy 

By Manishankar Prasad,

​Date of Publication: 11 April, 2020

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In the COVID-19 era, with a global lockdown communication has been moved to the cloud. Digital conversations previously situated in the conference rooms gathered around a table have been ‘zoomed’. In the light of (personal and public) health and safety (a future topic for exploration), we have transitioned to a ‘Low-Touch Economy’. This new normal has implications for environmental planning professionals, especially as our work is anchored in physical development. There is nothing very virtual about infrastructure. The solid does not sublimate into thin air, yet.

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A key pillar of the planning process is stakeholder engagement. The communities in which the developmental intervention is situated must be consulted for their views. These consultations map the threads which tie in towards the ‘Social Licence To Operate’ for the project proponent. Polluting industries might face the conundrum of the ‘Not In My Backyard’ or NIMBY syndrome as it might impact the cultural fabric of the community with a rapid influx of foreign workers, leading to a higher level of inflation. The project can trigger greater local employment and sourcing in terms of enhanced economic opportunities.

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The stakeholder engagement program comprises of structured and unstructured interactions including one to one interview, focus groups, advisory boards and even town halls for public disclosure sessions.  These are predominantly in person, especially with vulnerable communities such as migrant workers and indigenous communities. Stakeholder engagement is done in utter confidence and privacy, unless consent is given for release of the names and narratives in the final disclosure to local regulators and financial institutions for institutional loans linked to ESG guidelines and frameworks.

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In a post pandemic ecosystem, the question to ponder upon as stakeholder engagement and planning professionals is whether, the digital can be a legitimate substitute for in person interactions. The key issues are privacy, whether the participant in the interview process would be comfortable in accessing technology, and the more basic factor is the availability of the right digital tools with the community. If a semi-literate migrant worker from South Asia is found in the middle of the desert as project stakeholder, would the person be having the smart phone and the data connection for the IMO or Skype conversation? How would this vulnerability be mapped in our reporting processes as the migrant worker would not know whether the conversation is being recorded and who will be the final recipient. As practitioners we need to figure out data privacy norms before onboarding digital conversations in a low touch economy especially for at-risk communities.

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How would the trust factor be established with the relevant stakeholders on the ground sans any physical meeting, at least initially for an ice breaker over 'Gahwa' or 'Chai Karak'? There are some actions, which in person field work is a fundamental requirement.

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This process would have to begin in an incremental manner, with less sensitive conversations moving to a skype call especially with mainstream authorities and stakeholders. For other stakeholder’s keen on anonymity, proprietary and bespoke digital spaces would have to be provided for sensitive matters. 

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At Yahya, we are thinking about/through stakeholder engagement for a digital only era. If We can help your company in such a conversation, please reach out on manishankar@yahyaengineering.net for more!